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1

Starting right

This computer is a powerful tool designed to enhance your work and entertainment. Read this 

chapter to learn about best practices after you set up your computer, fun things to do with your 

computer, and where to find additional HP resources.

Visit the HP Apps Store

The HP Apps Store offers a wide choice of popular games, entertainment and music apps, 

productivity apps, and apps exclusive to HP that you can download to the Start screen. The selection 

is updated regularly and includes regional content and country-specific offers. Be sure to check the 

HP Apps Store frequently for new and updated features.

IMPORTANT:

You must be connected to the Internet to access the HP Apps Store.

NOTE:

HP picks is available in select countries only.

To view and download an app:

1.

From the Start screen, select the Store app.

2.

Select HP picks to view all the available apps.

3.

Select the app you want to download, and then follow the on-screen instructions. When the 

download is complete, the app appears on the All apps screen.

Best practices

After you set up and register the computer, we recommend the following steps to get the most out of 

your smart investment:

If you haven’t already done so, connect to a wired or wireless network. See details in 

Connecting 

to a network on page 16

.

Become familiar with the computer hardware and software. For more information, see 

Getting to 

know your computer on page 5

 and 

Enjoying entertainment features on page 22

.

Update or purchase antivirus software. Learn more at 

Using antivirus software on page 54

.

Back up your hard drive by creating recovery discs or a recovery flash drive. See 

Backing up, 

restoring, and recovering on page 59

.

Visit the HP Apps Store

1

Summary of Contents for 15-R181NR

Page 1: ...User Guide ...

Page 2: ...Product notice This guide describes features that are common to most models Some features may not be available on your computer Not all features are available in all editions of Windows This computer may require upgraded and or separately purchased hardware drivers and or software to take full advantage of Windows functionality See http www microsoft com for details To access the latest user guide...

Page 3: ...other hard surface such as an adjoining optional printer or a soft surface such as pillows or rugs or clothing to block airflow Also do not allow the AC adapter to come into contact with the skin or a soft surface such as pillows or rugs or clothing during operation The computer and the AC adapter comply with the user accessible surface temperature limits defined by the International Standard for ...

Page 4: ...iv Safety warning notice ...

Page 5: ...ured with an Intel Atom E3800 processor and a Windows operating system Do not change the processor configuration setting in msconfig exe from 4 or 2 processors to 1 processor If you do so your computer will not restart You will have to perform a factory reset to restore the original settings v ...

Page 6: ...vi Processor configuration setting select models only ...

Page 7: ...11 Button 12 Keys 13 Bottom 14 Labels 15 3 Connecting to a network 16 Connecting to a wireless network 16 Using the wireless controls 16 Using the wireless button 16 Using operating system controls 17 Sharing data and drives and accessing software 17 Using a WLAN 17 Using an Internet service provider 18 Setting up a WLAN 18 Configuring a wireless router 18 Protecting your WLAN 18 Connecting to a W...

Page 8: ...nnecting to Miracast compatible wireless displays select models only 26 5 Navigating the screen 27 Using the TouchPad and gestures 27 Tapping 28 Scrolling 28 2 finger pinch zoom 29 2 finger click 29 Rotating select models only 30 Close an app 30 Edge swipes 31 Display and select a charm 31 Switch between open apps 31 Display the Customize icon 32 Using touch screen gestures select models only 32 O...

Page 9: ... external power is available 43 Resolving a low battery level when no power source is available 43 Resolving a low battery level when the computer cannot exit Hibernation 43 Storing a user replaceable battery 43 Disposing of a user replaceable battery 43 Replacing a user replaceable battery 44 Running on external AC power 44 Troubleshooting power problems 44 Refreshing your software content with I...

Page 10: ...lications and information 55 Using an optional security cable lock 55 9 Using Setup Utility BIOS and HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI 56 Starting Setup Utility BIOS 56 Updating the BIOS 56 Determining the BIOS version 56 Downloading a BIOS update 57 Using HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI 57 Downloading HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI to a USB device 58 10 Backing up restoring and recovering 59 Creat...

Page 11: ...Operating environment 63 12 Electrostatic Discharge 64 Index 65 xi ...

Page 12: ...xii ...

Page 13: ...only To view and download an app 1 From the Start screen select the Store app 2 Select HP picks to view all the available apps 3 Select the app you want to download and then follow the on screen instructions When the download is complete the app appears on the All apps screen Best practices After you set up and register the computer we recommend the following steps to get the most out of your smar...

Page 14: ...y using an HDMI cable on page 25 You know that you can listen to music on the computer But did you know that you can also stream live radio to the computer and listen to music or talk radio from all over the world See Using audio on page 23 Use the TouchPad and the new Windows touch gestures for smooth control of images and pages of text See Using the TouchPad and gestures on page 27 2 Chapter 1 S...

Page 15: ...se your comfort and decrease your risk of injury Electrical and mechanical safety information Regulatory Safety and Environmental Notices To access this guide From the Start screen type support and then select the HP Support Assistant app Important regulatory notices including proper battery disposal information Limited Warranty To access this guide 1 From the Start screen type support and then se...

Page 16: ... number warranty period found on your service label name and postal address IMPORTANT Do NOT return your HP product to the addresses above For U S support go to http www hp com go contactHP For worldwide support go to http welcome hp com country us en wwcontact_us html 4 Chapter 1 Starting right ...

Page 17: ...system hardware components and the system BIOS version number press fn esc Locating software To find out what software is installed on your computer From the Start screen click the down arrow in the lower left corner of the screen Front Component Description Memory card reader Reads optional memory cards that store manage share or access information To insert a card Hold the card label side up wit...

Page 18: ...el reads an optical disc or reads and writes to an optical disc NOTE For disc compatibility information go to the Help and Support web page see More HP resources on page 3 Follow the web page instructions to select your computer model Select Drivers Downloads and then follow the on screen instructions 3 Optical drive eject button select models only Releases the disc tray 6 Chapter 2 Getting to kno...

Page 19: ...io device such as a high definition television any compatible digital or audio component or a high speed HDMI device 6 RJ 45 network jack status lights Connects a network cable White The network is connected Amber Activity is occurring on the network 7 USB 3 0 port Connects an optional USB device such as a keyboard mouse external drive printer scanner or USB hub 8 Audio out headphone Audio in micr...

Page 20: ... Blinking The computer is in the Sleep state a power saving state The computer shuts off power to the display and other unneeded components Off The computer is off or in Hibernation Hibernation is a power saving state that uses the least amount of power NOTE For select models the Intel Rapid Start Technology feature is enabled at the factory Rapid Start Technology allows your computer to resume qu...

Page 21: ...pe camera and then select Camera from the list of applications 5 Internal microphone Records sound 6 Internal display switch Turns off the display and initiates Sleep if the display is closed while the power is on NOTE The internal display switch is not visible from the outside of the computer The antennas are not visible from the outside of the computer For optimal transmission keep the areas imm...

Page 22: ...tems on the screen NOTE The TouchPad also supports edge swipe gestures For more information see Edge swipes on page 31 2 Left TouchPad button Functions like the left button on an external mouse 3 Right TouchPad button Functions like the right button on an external mouse 10 Chapter 2 Getting to know your computer ...

Page 23: ...on Hibernation is a power saving state that uses the least amount of power 2 Caps lock light On Caps lock is on which switches the keys to all capital letters 3 Mute light Amber Computer sound is off Off Computer sound is on 4 Wireless light On An integrated wireless device such as a wireless local area network WLAN device and or a Bluetooth device is on NOTE On some models the wireless light is a...

Page 24: ...the computer has stopped responding and Windows shutdown procedures are ineffective press and hold the power button down for at least 5 seconds to turn off the computer NOTE For select models the Intel Rapid Start Technology feature is enabled at the factory Rapid Start Technology allows your computer to resume quickly from inactivity For more information see Initiating Sleep and Hibernation on pa...

Page 25: ...he Windows desktop NOTE Pressing the Windows key again will return you to the previous screen 4 Action keys Execute frequently used system functions 5 num lock key Alternates between the navigational and numeric functions on the integrated numeric keypad NOTE The keypad function that is active when the computer is turned off is reinstated when the computer is turned back on 6 Integrated numeric ke...

Page 26: ...ent Enable airflow to cool internal components NOTE The computer fan starts up automatically to cool internal components and prevent overheating It is normal for the internal fan to cycle on and off during routine operation 4 Battery release latch Releases the battery 5 Speaker openings 2 Produce sound 14 Chapter 2 Getting to know your computer ...

Page 27: ...e service label on your computer Component 1 Serial number 2 Product number 3 Warranty period 4 Model number select models only Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label select models only prior to Windows 8 Contains the Windows Product Key You may need the Product Key to update or troubleshoot the operating system HP platforms preinstalled with Windows 8 or Windows 8 1 do not have the physical ...

Page 28: ... devices such as computers phones printers headsets speakers and cameras In a PAN each device communicates directly with other devices and devices must be relatively close together typically within 10 meters approximately 33 feet of each other For more information about wireless technology see the information and website links provided in Help and Support From the Start screen type help and then s...

Page 29: ...ctions To share drives on the same network 1 From the Windows desktop right click the network status icon in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar 2 Select Open Network and Sharing Center 3 Under View your active networks select an active network 4 Select Change advanced sharing settings to set sharing options for privacy network discovery file and printer sharing or other network ...

Page 30: ...wireless and wired computers can be connected to the network to access the Internet For help in setting up your WLAN see the information provided by your router manufacturer or your ISP Configuring a wireless router For help in configuring a wireless router see the information provided by your router manufacturer or your ISP NOTE It is recommended that you initially connect your new wireless compu...

Page 31: ...ndows desktop right click the network status icon and then select Open Network and Sharing Center Click Set up a new connection or network A list of options is displayed allowing you to manually search for and connect to a network or to create a new network connection 6 Follow the on screen instructions to complete the connection After the connection is made place the mouse pointer over the networ...

Page 32: ...the computer For information about HP Mobile Broadband and how to activate service with a preferred mobile network operator see the HP Mobile Broadband information included with your computer Using Bluetooth wireless devices select models only A Bluetooth device provides short range wireless communications that replace the physical cable connections that traditionally link electronic devices such ...

Page 33: ...to a network wall jack 2 or router NOTE If the network cable contains noise suppression circuitry 3 which prevents interference from TV and radio reception orient the circuitry end of the cable toward the computer Connecting to a wired network 21 ...

Page 34: ... are some of the entertainment features on your computer Component Description 1 Webcam light On The webcam is in use 2 Webcam Records video and captures photographs Some models allow you to video conference and chat online using streaming video From the Start screen type camera and then select Camera from the list of applications 3 Internal microphone Record sound 4 Optical drive select models on...

Page 35: ...uter speakers are disabled NOTE Be sure that the device cable has a 4 conductor connector that supports both audio out headphone and audio in microphone 8 USB 3 0 port Each USB 3 0 port connects an optional USB device such as a keyboard mouse external drive printer scanner or USB hub 9 HDMI port Connects an optional video or audio device such as a high definition television any compatible digital ...

Page 36: ...ckground noise Connecting headphones and microphones You can connect wired headphones or headsets to the audio out headphone audio in microphone jack on your computer Many headsets with integrated microphones are commercially available To connect wireless headphones or headsets to your computer follow the device manufacturer s instructions WARNING To reduce the risk of personal injury lower the vo...

Page 37: ...I port which allows you to connect a high definition monitor or TV IMPORTANT Be sure that the external device is connected to the correct port on the computer using the correct cable Check the device manufacturer s instructions Connecting video devices by using an HDMI cable NOTE To connect an HDMI device to your computer you need an HDMI cable sold separately To see the computer screen image on a...

Page 38: ...kbar and then select Playback devices 2 On the Playback tab select the name of the digital output device 3 Click Set Default and then click OK To return the audio stream to the computer speakers 1 From the Windows desktop right click the Speakers icon in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar and then click Playback devices 2 On the Playback tab click Speakers 3 Click Set Default an...

Page 39: ...rated numeric keypad Using the TouchPad and gestures The TouchPad allows you to navigate the computer screen and control the pointer by using simple finger movements You can customize the touch gestures by changing settings button configurations click speed and pointer options You can also view demonstrations of TouchPad gestures From the Start screen type control panel select Control Panel and th...

Page 40: ...n and then tap one finger on the TouchPad zone to make a selection Double tap an item to open it Scrolling Scrolling is useful for moving up down or sideways on a page or image Place two fingers slightly apart on the TouchPad zone and then drag them up down left or right 28 Chapter 5 Navigating the screen ...

Page 41: ...placing two fingers together on the TouchPad zone and then moving your fingers apart 2 finger click 2 finger click allows you to make menu selections for an object on the screen NOTE Using 2 finger click is the same action as using right click with the mouse Place two fingers on the TouchPad zone and press down to open the options menu for the selected object Using the TouchPad and gestures 29 ...

Page 42: ...on from 12 o clock to 3 o clock To reverse the rotation move your forefinger from 3 o clock to 12 o clock NOTE Rotate is intended for specific apps where you can manipulate an object or image Rotate may not be functional for all apps Close an app Place three fingers on the center of the TouchPad zone and swipe your fingers all the way down to the bottom of the TouchPad until the app is closed 30 C...

Page 43: ...s or change settings 1 With your finger swipe from the right side of the TouchPad 2 Scroll up or down to switch between the charms and then select the charm you want to open Switch between open apps The left edge swipe accesses your recently opened apps so that you can switch between them quickly Swipe your finger gently from the left edge of the TouchPad Using the TouchPad and gestures 31 ...

Page 44: ...ctly with your fingers TIP On touch screen computers you can perform the gestures on the screen or on the TouchPad You can also perform on screen actions with the keyboard and mouse One finger slide The one finger slide is mostly used to pan or scroll through lists and pages but you can use it for other interactions too such as moving an object To scroll across the screen lightly slide one finger ...

Page 45: ...pping To make an on screen selection use the tap function Use one finger to tap an object on the screen to make a selection Double tap an item to open it Using touch screen gestures select models only 33 ...

Page 46: ... them in an up down left or right motion 2 finger pinch zoom 2 finger pinch zoom allows you to zoom out or in on images or text Zoom out by placing two fingers apart on the screen and then moving your fingers together Zoom in by placing two fingers together on the screen and then moving your fingers apart 34 Chapter 5 Navigating the screen ...

Page 47: ... clock NOTE Rotate is intended for specific apps where you can manipulate an object or image Rotate may not be functional for all apps Edge swipes With edge swipes you can perform tasks such as changing settings and finding or using apps Right edge swipe The right edge swipe reveals the charms which let you search share start apps access devices or change settings Gently swipe your finger inward f...

Page 48: ...inger swipe back toward the left edge to reveal all open apps Top edge swipe and bottom edge swipe The top edge swipe or bottom edge swipe displays app command options that allow you to customize apps IMPORTANT When an app is open the top edge gesture varies depending on the app Gently swipe your finger from the top edge or the bottom edge to reveal the app command options 36 Chapter 5 Navigating ...

Page 49: ...n key feature is enabled at the factory You can disable this feature in Setup Utility BIOS See Using Setup Utility BIOS and HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI on page 56 for instructions on opening Setup Utility BIOS and then follow the instructions at the bottom of the screen After you have disabled the action key feature you can still perform each function by pressing the fn key in combination with...

Page 50: ...e fn key and then briefly press the second key of the combination Using the integrated numeric keypad The computer includes an integrated numeric keypad and it also supports an optional external numeric keypad or an optional external keyboard that includes a numeric keypad For more details about the integrated numeric keypad see Keys on page 13 Component Description num lock key Controls the funct...

Page 51: ...isk of possible audio and video degradation loss of audio or video playback functionality or loss of information do not initiate Sleep while reading from or writing to a disc or an external media card NOTE You cannot initiate any type of networking connection or perform any computer functions while the computer is in the Sleep state or in Hibernation Intel Rapid Start Technology select models only...

Page 52: ...r button does 3 Click Change Settings that are currently unavailable 4 In the When I press the power button area select Hibernate 5 Click Save changes When the computer exits Hibernation the power lights turn on and your work returns to the screen NOTE If you have set a password to be required on wakeup you must enter your Windows password before your work will return to the screen Setting passwor...

Page 53: ...he AC adapter is disconnected from the computer the computer automatically switches to battery power and the screen brightness decreases to conserve battery life The battery in the computer slowly discharges when the computer is off and unplugged from external power Computer battery life varies depending on power management settings programs running on the computer screen brightness external devic...

Page 54: ...ttery power and maximizing battery life Lower the brightness on the display Select the Power saver setting in Power Options Remove a user replaceable battery from the computer if it will not be used or charged for more than 2 weeks Turn off wireless devices when you are not using them Disconnect unused external devices that are not plugged into an external power source such as an external hard dri...

Page 55: ...attery level when the computer cannot exit Hibernation When the computer lacks sufficient power to exit Hibernation follow these steps 1 Replace the discharged user replaceable battery with a charged battery or connect the AC adapter to the computer and to external power 2 Exit Hibernation by pressing the power button Storing a user replaceable battery CAUTION To reduce the risk of damage to a bat...

Page 56: ...m HP Connect the computer to external AC power under any of the following conditions WARNING Do not charge the computer battery while you are onboard aircraft When charging or calibrating a battery When installing or modifying system software When writing information to a disc select models only When running Disk Defragmenter on computers with internal hard drives When performing a backup or recov...

Page 57: ...as emails When the computer exits Sleep you have immediate access to your updated information To enable this feature or manually adjust the settings from the Start screen type smart and then select Intel Smart Connect Technology Shutting down turning off the computer CAUTION Unsaved information is lost when the computer shuts down Be sure to save your work before shutting down the computer The Shu...

Page 58: ...id Graphics or AMD Dual Graphics is installed on your computer see your notebook graphics processor configuration and software Help Both Hybrid Graphics and AMD Dual Graphics offer two modes for processing graphics High Performance mode Applications assigned to this mode run on the higher performance graphics processing unit GPU for optimal performance Power Saving mode Applications assigned to th...

Page 59: ... improves over the performance available using only one of the graphics devices This improvement applies to DirectX versions 10 or 11 DX10 and DX11 applications operating in full screen mode In windowed mode or when running non DX10 11 applications the system operates in a manner similar to Hybrid Graphics For more information see the AMD Dual Graphics software Help Hybrid Graphics and AMD Dual Gr...

Page 60: ...e to vibration Before you move a computer that is connected to an external hard drive initiate Sleep and allow the screen to clear or properly disconnect the external hard drive Using Disk Defragmenter As you use your computer over time the files on the hard drive become fragmented A fragmented drive means data on your drive is not contiguous sequential and because of this the hard drive works har...

Page 61: ...s when they become available If you would like to update your program and drivers follow these instructions 1 From the Start screen type support and then select the HP Support Assistant app 2 Click Updates and tune ups and then click Check for HP updates now 3 Follow the on screen instructions Cleaning your computer Use the following products to safely clean your computer Dimethyl benzyl ammonium ...

Page 62: ...internal components do not use a vacuum cleaner attachment to clean the keyboard A vacuum cleaner can deposit household debris on the keyboard surface CAUTION To prevent damage to internal components do not allow liquids to drip between the keys To clean the TouchPad keyboard or mouse use a soft microfiber cloth or a chamois moistened with one of the cleaning solutions listed previously or use an ...

Page 63: ...installed the use of these devices may be restricted in some environments Such restrictions may apply aboard aircraft in hospitals near explosives and in hazardous locations If you are uncertain of the policy that applies to the use of a particular device ask for authorization to use your computer before you turn it on If you are traveling internationally follow these suggestions Check the compute...

Page 64: ...hoose to secure your computer information and to protect online transactions Several types of passwords can be set For example when you set up your computer for the first time you were asked to create a user password to secure your computer Additional passwords can be set in Windows or in the HP Setup Utility BIOS that is preinstalled on your computer You may find it helpful to use the same passwo...

Page 65: ...uter If you forget your power on password you cannot turn on or restart the computer NOTE The administrator password can be used in place of the power on password NOTE A power on password is not revealed as it is set entered changed or deleted To set change or delete an administrator or power on password in Setup Utility BIOS 1 To start Setup Utility BIOS turn on or restart the computer quickly pr...

Page 66: ...work to protect all the computers on the network When a firewall is installed on a system all data sent to and from the system is monitored and compared with a set of user defined security criteria Any data that does not meet those criteria is blocked Installing software updates HP Microsoft Windows and third party software installed on your computer should be regularly updated to correct security...

Page 67: ...ing on page 59 Using an optional security cable lock A security cable lock which is purchased separately is designed to act as a deterrent but it may not prevent the computer from being mishandled or stolen Security cable locks are only one of several methods that should be employed as part of a complete security solution to help maximize theft protection The security cable slot on your computer m...

Page 68: ...HP website are packaged in compressed files called SoftPaqs Some download packages contain a file named Readme txt which contains information regarding installing and troubleshooting the file Determining the BIOS version To determine whether available BIOS updates contain later BIOS versions than those currently installed on the computer you need to know the version of the system BIOS currently in...

Page 69: ...ore recent than your BIOS make a note of the path to the location on your hard drive where the BIOS update is downloaded You will need to access this path when you are ready to install the update NOTE If you connect your computer to a network consult the network administrator before installing any software updates especially system BIOS updates BIOS installation procedures vary Follow any instruct...

Page 70: ... HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI are provided in English only There are two options to download HP PC Hardware Diagnostics to a USB device Option 1 HP PC Diagnostics homepage Provides access to the latest UEFI version 1 Go to http hp com go techcenter pcdiags 2 Click the UEFI Download link and then select Run Option 2 Support and Drivers pages Provide downloads for a specific product for earlier a...

Page 71: ...p and then select Help and Support Creating HP Recovery media HP Recovery Manager is a software program that offers a way to create recovery media after you successfully set up the computer HP Recovery media can be used to perform system recovery if the hard drive becomes corrupted System recovery reinstalls the original operating system and the software programs installed at the factory and then ...

Page 72: ...em Choose the method that best matches your situation and level of expertise Windows offers several options for restoring from backup refreshing the computer and resetting the computer to its original state For more information and steps see Help and Support From the Start screen type help and then select Help and Support If you need to correct a problem with a preinstalled application or driver u...

Page 73: ...e HP Recovery partition select models only allows System Recovery and Minimized Image Recovery What you need to know HP Recovery Manager recovers only software that was installed at the factory For software not provided with this computer you must either download the software from the manufacturer s website or reinstall the software from the media provided by the manufacturer Recovery through HP R...

Page 74: ...ich is the order of devices listed in BIOS where the computer looks for startup information You can change the selection for an optical drive or a USB flash drive To change the boot order 1 Insert the HP Recovery media you created 2 Restart the computer quickly press esc and then press f9 for boot options 3 Select the optical drive or USB flash drive you want to boot from 4 Follow the on screen in...

Page 75: ...ions Operating voltage and current varies by platform Input power Rating Operating voltage and current 19 5 V dc 2 31 A 45 W 19 5 V dc 3 33 A 65 W DC plug of external HP power supply NOTE This product is designed for IT power systems in Norway with phase to phase voltage not exceeding 240 V rms NOTE The computer operating voltage and current can be found on the system regulatory label Operating en...

Page 76: ...rmation observe these precautions If removal or installation instructions direct you to unplug the computer first be sure that it is properly grounded and then remove the cover Keep components in their electrostatic safe containers until you are ready to install them Avoid touching pins leads and circuitry Handle electronic components as little as possible Use nonmagnetic tools Before handling com...

Page 77: ...er 49 cleaning your computer 49 components bottom 14 display 9 front side 5 left side 7 right side 6 top 10 computer traveling 43 connecting to a WLAN 19 connector power 7 corporate WLAN connection 19 critical battery level 43 critical security updates installing 54 D deleted files restoring 60 Disk Cleanup software 49 Disk Defragmenter software 48 E edge swipe gestures 35 edge swipe gestures top ...

Page 78: ...nt 63 optical drive identifying 6 22 original system recovery 61 P passwords Setup Utility BIOS 53 Windows 53 pinching touch screen gesture 34 pinching TouchPad gesture 29 ports charging powered 23 HDMI 7 23 25 USB 2 0 6 USB 3 0 7 23 power battery 41 power button identifying 12 power connector identifying 7 power lights identifying 8 11 product name and number computer 15 public WLAN connection 19...

Page 79: ...ying 7 23 using external AC power 44 using passwords 52 V vents identifying 7 14 video 25 W webcam identifying 9 22 using 23 webcam light identifying 9 22 Windows File History 60 restoring files 60 system restore point 59 Windows key identifying 13 Windows passwords 53 Wireless Assistant software 16 wireless button 16 wireless certification label 15 wireless controls button 16 operating system 16 ...

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