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NEC VERSA P, Manual

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 Getting to Know Your New Information Tool   1-1

Getting to Know Your
New Information Tool

 Your Versa™ P is a terrific tool that’s so easy to take along
that you’ll soon find it indispensable. It’s easy to carry
around with you and can be used for most of your informa-
tion and communication needs.

 This chapter describes the basic features, connectors, buttons,
and controls on your Versa P notebook. It also describes
how to connect the basic devices you need to use the system.
Read it to familiarize yourself with the system.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

 Your Versa P comes with lots of features fully loaded on
the system. All you have to do is open the packing box,
unpack the notebook computer, the cables, and the Quick
Setup sheet. Look for the following.

 Box contents

1 

 

Notebook

Computer

AC Power

Cable

AC/DC

Adapter

User

Guides

Summary of Contents for VERSA P

Page 1: ...NEC product s discussed in this document are warranted in accordance with the terms of the Warranty Statement accompanying each product However actual performance of each such product is dependent upon factors such as system configuration customer data and operator control Since implementation by customers of each product may vary the suitability of specific product configurations and applications...

Page 2: ...PCMCIA slots and other features Chapter 2 offers ideas for using your Versa P for multimedia presentations Chapter 3 focuses on adding options like PCMCIA cards This chapter also describes how to connect external devices like printers monitors speakers and keyboards Chapter 4 describes the power saving programs that come with your Versa P It introduces options for conserving energy and saving batt...

Page 3: ... Appendix C gives information on using the BIOS Update utility Use this guide along with the software documentation that comes with your Versa P TEXT SETUP To make this guide as easy to use as possible text is set up in the following ways Cautions notes and tips have the following format CAUTION Cautions indicate situations that can damage the system hardware or software NOTE Notes give particular...

Page 4: ...eries Battery Guide gives hints about extending the life of your battery pack and suggests energy conserving techniques The Versa Series Quick Reference Card contains brief descriptions of function keys LEDs NEC help telephone numbers and troubleshooting tips Tuck this card inside the notebook when you take it with you The card is designed as a quick portable reference to frequently used functions...

Page 5: ... Adapter 1 6 Installing a Battery 1 7 Replacing a Battery 1 8 Turning on the Versa P 1 11 Features 1 13 LCD Panel 1 13 Keyboard 1 14 Function Keys 1 14 Key Combinations 1 15 Typewriter Keys 1 17 Cursor Control Keys 1 17 Numeric Keypad 1 17 Control Keys 1 19 VersaTrack Ball 1 19 Cleaning the VersaTrack 1 20 Buttons and Controls 1 21 Status Bar 1 23 Microphone and Speaker 1 27 PCMCIA Card Slots 1 28...

Page 6: ...phone 2 2 CD ROM Input 2 3 Mixing 2 3 Playing Back 2 3 MIDI Files 2 4 Using Headphones 2 4 Using Internal Speaker 2 4 Using External Stereo Speakers 2 4 Video 2 5 Using Digital Video Files 2 5 Using Animation Files 2 5 Versa MediaDock 2 5 ultimedia Applications 2 6 3 Adding Options PCMCIA Cards 3 2 Inserting and Removing Cards 3 3 Modems 3 4 Telephone Line Connections 3 4 Connecting a Phone Cable ...

Page 7: ...s 3 22 Port Replicator 3 23 Ports 3 23 4 Understanding Power Management What is Power Management 4 1 Default Settings 4 1 Power Saving Modes 4 2 Active Mode 4 2 Local Stand by Mode 4 2 Suspend Mode 4 3 Smart Power Switch 4 4 Prolonging Battery Life 4 5 5 Using Auto Setup Auto Setup 5 1 How to Enter Auto Setup 5 2 With an Error at POST 5 2 With No Error at POST 5 2 How to Use Auto Setup 5 3 Looking...

Page 8: ...m Solving Problem Checklist 6 1 Start Up Problems 6 3 If You Need Assistance 6 6 Direct Technical Support 6 6 Remote Technical Support 6 7 Features 6 8 7 If You Need Help UltraCare Support 7 3 Support from the NEC Reseller 7 4 Support from NEC 7 4 NEC FastFacts 7 5 NEC Bulletin Board System 7 5 What is the BBS 7 6 How Do You Use the BBS 7 6 NEC Technical Support 7 7 E mail Fax Technical Support Se...

Page 9: ...tart Up C 6 Menu Functions C 7 Information C 7 Display BIOS Version C 8 Customize BIOS C 9 Install New BIOS C 10 Restore Original BIOS C 12 Exit C 14 Errors and Messages C 14 Glossary Index List of Tables Automatic Power Saving Features 4 1 Auto Setup Quick Reference 5 4 System Parameter Options 5 7 Troubleshooting 6 2 POST Error Messages 6 4 ...

Page 10: ...viii Contents ...

Page 11: ...r describes the basic features connectors buttons and controls on your Versa P notebook It also describes how to connect the basic devices you need to use the system Read it to familiarize yourself with the system WHAT S IN THE BOX Your Versa P comes with lots of features fully loaded on the system All you have to do is open the packing box unpack the notebook computer the cables and the Quick Set...

Page 12: ... first time use the instructions found in this chapter THE OUTSIDE OF THE UNIT Look over the outside of the Versa P for the external ports buttons and features without opening the LCD panel Some of the ports on the back of the system are behind a protective cover Use your fingernail to press down on the port cover latch and swing the cover open Opening the port covers Right Rear Cover and Latch Le...

Page 13: ... port allows you to attach a super VGA external monitor for use with your system Serial port lets you attach a serial device like a serial printer to your Versa P Printer port provides a place to connect an external device like a printer Microphone port allows you to attach a microphone to the system Headphones port lets you attach stereo headphones for use with the system Power Connector Port Exp...

Page 14: ...features on the sides and front of the Versa P Side and front features Battery provides battery power for running the Versa P PCMCIA slots allow you to add optional PCMCIA cards to enhance your system The protective cover keeps dust and foreign objects from getting into the unit LCD release latch locks the LCD panel when the system is not in use Also releases the LCD panel to let you use the syste...

Page 15: ...saBay option Currently available options include a PCMCIA Pak and a Video Pak Diskette drive lets you use diskettes with the system Hard disk this contains the system software to oper ate the Versa P VERSA P SETUP Setting up your system is easy Just follow these simple instructions Opening the LCD Panel 1 Locate and press the front latch to open the notebook Pressing the latch and opening the note...

Page 16: ...everse the panel so it faces the other way while system power is on but in Suspend mode Closing the LCD Panel To close the LCD panel simply lower the panel over the keyboard Press down until the latch catches to secure the LCD panel Connecting the AC Adapter Connect the AC adapter to your computer as follows 1 Insert the adapter s DC cable into the power connector port on the back of the system Th...

Page 17: ...se the AC adapter model pro vided with your notebook 3 Connect the other end of the AC power cable to a 100 to 240 volt wall outlet Installing a Battery It is easy to install a battery in your notebook computer Simply insert the battery completely into the battery compartment as shown in the figure Inserting the battery Battery ...

Page 18: ...not have to be shut off if battery replacement requires less than five minutes 1 Press the suspend button to suspend the system if in use Refer to Buttons and Control later in this chapter If the system is attached to AC power you need not put it in Suspend mode 2 Close the LCD panel securely Disconnect any external options you have connected 3 Turn the Versa P upside down ...

Page 19: ...g and installing VersaBay options Locating the release latch 5 Pull the battery out of the system 6 Slide the new battery into the system until the release latch clicks and locks the battery in place 7 Turn the Versa P right side up and reconnect any external options you disconnected 8 Resume the system or turn on power to continue operation Battery Release Latch ...

Page 20: ...Getting to Know Your New Information Tool 1 9 1 ...

Page 21: ...e with a secondary battery as follows 1 Turn off the system power if using battery power or suspend 2 Turn the Versa P upside down 3 Slide the appropriate bottom release latch while pulling the diskette drive out of the compartment Removing the diskette drive Diskette Drive ...

Page 22: ...repare to power on your system as follows 1 Check that your power source is connected For battery power make sure a charged battery pack is installed in the Versa P See the previous section for information about installing a battery pack For AC power make sure the AC adapter is plugged into the Versa P and a wall outlet See Connecting the AC Adapter for information about attaching the AC adapter S...

Page 23: ...3 Locate the power button Pull forward momentarily hold and then release the power button Pressing the power button 4 Adjust the brightness control using the button on the right of the LCD panel for a sharp clear display You are now ready to familiarize yourself with your new Versa Power Button ...

Page 24: ... color LCD panel The active matrix thin film transistor TFT color LCD comes in one of two resolutions 640 x 480 pixels or 800 x 600 pixels The backlit TFT LCD provides a 9 5 inch display area brilliant resolution and an impressive array of colors NOTE NEC LCD panels meet exacting manufactur ing standards Of the 1 440 000 elements involved in creating the display on your screen NEC accepts no TFT s...

Page 25: ...keys Cursor control keys Numeric keypad Control keys Function Keys The function keys are located along the top of keyboard The Fn Function key activates functions printed in blue on keys having dual functions Function keys Some special functions are specific to the Versa P systems These keys set specific parameters that are built into ROM Read Only Memory Function Keys Fn Key ...

Page 26: ... Use to set the color LCD contrast to standard or full high light for DOS text mode LCD CRT F3 Fn LCD CRT Use to toggle between LCD mode only LCD and CRT modes simultaneously and CRT only screen mode Backlight F5 Fn Backlight Used to set the LCD backlight brightness to standard or full Speaker F6 Fn Speaker Use to regulate the speaker volume Press Fn F6 to toggle from off to low medium or high A b...

Page 27: ...drive shuts off to save power Spin up means the disk motor turns on again Pressing Fn F8 bypasses any timeout A beep sounds when the hard disk spins down or up Battery I F9 Fn Battery I Status Use to reset the primary battery icon to four bars on the LCD status bar after the battery icon has shown an unknown state Battery II F10 Fn Battery II Status Use to reset the secondary battery icon to four ...

Page 28: ...he screen where you want On the screen the cursor is a blinking under line or block depending on the application It indicates where the next text typed is inserted Numeric Keypad Pressing Num Lock on the keyboard activates the numeric keypad when an external keyboard is not connected The numeric keys are printed in blue The keypad lets you type numbers and mathematical operands as you would on a c...

Page 29: ...Getting to Know Your New Information Tool 1 17 1 ...

Page 30: ...18 Getting to Know Your New Information Tool When you press Num Lock again the keys revert to their normal function as typewriter keys and the Num Lock icon disappears Numeric keypad Function Keys Fn Key ...

Page 31: ...cursor control key scrolls the entire screen instead of moving the cursor For example pressing the up arrow once moves the entire screen up a line The cursor stays where it was Ins functions depend on the application currently run ning In some programs pressing Ins lets you toggle between inserting text at the current cursor location or typing over the text Usually the application provides some in...

Page 32: ...tton pressed is dragging VersaTrack ball Cleaning the VersaTrack Periodically you need to clean the ball and the rollers inside the VersaTrack Follow these steps 1 If the system s power is on turn off power Remove any cable connected to the rear of the system 2 Tip the system to easily pull and remove the VersaTrack cover and the ball 3 Wash and dry the ball Use isopropyl alcohol for best results ...

Page 33: ...y experience sticking 5 Place the ball into the opening align the notch of the VersaTrack cover with the system and push the cover to secure it into place Buttons and Controls Versa P buttons and controls let you turn on your computer use power saving Suspend mode and control the brightness and contrast of your screen These controls are described next Buttons and controls Brightness Control Suspen...

Page 34: ...spend button again Use Suspend mode when you need to be away from the system for a short time and you want to return to where you left off To activate the Suspend mode press the suspend button or use Auto Setup to set the system to enter Suspend mode automatically after a specified period of inactivity A half moon icon appears on the LCD indicator panel when the system is in Suspend mode To resume...

Page 35: ...r battery life decrease the brightness Status Bar The Versa P has an LCD status indicator bar located above the keyboard It shows status for the following system functions and components LCD status bar Suspend A half moon icon appears when the system is in Suspend or Sleep mode Power Management Faucet icons indicate the level of power management being used LCD Status Bar ...

Page 36: ...t at low High Indicates that high power management is set Custom Indicates that custom power management features are set Hard Disk Drive Access Indicates that the hard disk drive is being accessed Diskette Drive Access Indicates that the diskette drive is being accessed 1 Num Lock Indicates that the numeric keypad lock function is enabled ...

Page 37: ...mary battery and the right battery icon represents the secondary battery Bars within the battery icons represent the remaining bat tery charge when the system is in use 4 bars indicate a 76 100 charge 3 bars indicate a 51 75 charge 2 bars indicate a 26 50 charge 1 bar indicates a 0 25 charge If two fully charged batteries are installed eight bars contained in two battery icons appear in the displa...

Page 38: ...d battery is first inserted To return to fully charged status press Fn F9 if you have one battery and Fn F10 if you have two batteries installed to reset the battery icon Be sure to do this only if you know the battery is fully charged Four or eight bars should appear and the system should work normally If all four bars plus the battery shell are blinking the battery needs to be refreshed To corre...

Page 39: ...ne and Speaker The microphone and speaker are located above the keyboard The internal microphone lets you record audio informa tion in your system data files The speaker allows you to hear previously recorded sound Microphone and speaker Microphone Speaker ...

Page 40: ...hard disk storage Refer to the Versa Series PCMCIA User s Guide for information on card types The PCMCIA slots in your Versa P are located on the left side of the unit stacked one above the other Slot 0 is in the lower position Slot 1 is above it PCMCIA card slots For more information on using PCMCIA cards with your Versa P see the Versa Series PCMCIA User s Guide Slot 1 Slot 0 ...

Page 41: ...rline guide OAG which is published monthly and provides current flight scheduling information If you like the package you can subscribe to it from the online service company Look for information about how to subscribe in the software Plug and Play Your Versa P system has a Plug and Play feature which allows you to add or remove an external mouse keyboard monitor or diskette drive live while the sy...

Page 42: ...ertion means that the system is on and in Active mode while cards are added warm insertion means the system is in Suspend mode while devices are added NOTE Many Plug and Play features require support from the operating system as well as the hardware Batteries There are three battery types that come with the Versa P Main battery Bridge battery CMOS battery Main Battery The main battery is the remov...

Page 43: ...ttery keeps the memory contents and system status when the system is in Suspend mode and the main battery pack is removed To swap a drained battery with a charged battery you do not have to turn off system power if the system is in Suspend mode The bridge battery retains the data you are currently working with while you replace the main battery TIP The bridge battery supplies power for up to five ...

Page 44: ...formation such as configuration date and time NOTE The CMOS battery lasts approximately two years When the CMOS battery no longer retains information contact NEC about CMOS battery re placement Refer to Chapter 7 If You Need Help Online Help The Versa P has online help to assist you when you have questions about using the system Access the online help as follows 1 From Windows look for the NEC Inf...

Page 45: ...r source falls within the system s compatible range of 100 120 or 224 240 volts AC Never use the AC adapter if the voltage falls outside of this range Watch for this when traveling to foreign countries Turn computer power off before attaching or removing connectors Avoid using the computer or AC adapter for extended periods in direct sunlight Do not use the system in humid or dusty environments Av...

Page 46: ...pe the LCD screen with a soft cloth or a screen wipe designed for that purpose Special screen wipes are available through your local computer dealer System case If the Versa P case gets dirty carefully wipe it with a slightly damp almost dry cloth Be extremely careful not to drip any moisture onto or into the Versa P CAUTION If the environmental temperature of the Versa suddenly rises for example ...

Page 47: ...al quality powerful presentations Multimedia combines audio text animation photo images and video sources into one presentation AUDIO The Versa P provides entertainment level sound quality through stereo speakers It handles MIDI files digital audio files and analog audio sources This means the Versa P recognizes WAV MID and AVI files The Versa P is Sound Blaster compatible Recording All informatio...

Page 48: ... to enhance a presentation Ambient sound effects create a sense of place or environ ment and include sounds such as rain heavy traffic chirping birds Specific sound effects accent or illustrate an action Examples of specific sound effects include footsteps a crash a clock chime There are many sources of prerecorded sound effects available on the market or you can record your own sounds Line In acc...

Page 49: ...per application software you can mix analog and digital sounds to produce an overall quality effect You cut copy and paste portions of your soundtrack using an audio editing application The Versa P provides a Sound Blaster Pro compatible mixer map and an extended access mixer map You can also mix the microphone volume Mixing allows you to blend digital and MIDI audio files to get the final high qu...

Page 50: ...headphone port delivers sound at half a watt and you can control the volume The stereo headphones plug in through the output jack located on the rear of the Versa P You can adjust the volume with the audio software on the Versa P or if your headphones have one a built in volume control Using Internal Speaker The Versa P has a built in mono speaker that is always available The volume adjusts throug...

Page 51: ... televisions camcorders and laserdisc players into your Versa P and record motion graphics to your hard drive Use a video frame grabber and store a stream of grabbed stills on your hard disk Using Animation Files You can create a dynamic presentation using an animation application Animation can illustrate a concept drive home an important point or command attention Graphics animation can add punch...

Page 52: ...clude graphics software animation software and authoring packages Graphics software enables you to capture enhance or draw still images With animation software you can create realistic 3 D effects or 3 D titles The authoring packages enable you to pull together all the elements of your design into an exciting interactive multi media presentation ...

Page 53: ...e parallel printers Serial devices like modems or serial printers External keyboard Mouse Monitor Stereo speakers External microphone Docking station Port replicator External speakers microphone The standard diskette drive may be removed and replaced by a VersaBay option For installation information see the documentation that comes with the option NOTE Some of the optional components may not be av...

Page 54: ...or III PCMCIA cards and card combinations Up to two Type I cards Up to two Type II cards One each Type I and Type II card One Type III card If you d like to know more about PCMCIA cards and NEC Versa series computers see the Versa Series PCMCIA User s Guide The PCMCIA slots are located on the left side of the sys tem The Versa s two slots are stacked one above the other The primary slot slot 0 is ...

Page 55: ...urn off the sound on your Versa the beeps do not sound 3 If you like look for the CardView icon on the Windows Program Manager It shows which slot contains a PCMCIA card and which slot is empty 4 To remove the card press the button on the side of the slot A double beep again sounds and the card is ejected You can leave the card in the slot for storage even though it is disconnected from the system...

Page 56: ...dem into the system The modem option comes with an adapter that provides a tele phone cable jack TIP PCMCIA modem connector adapters vary Refer to your modem card s manual for specific setup procedures Connecting a Phone Cable To connect the modem s telephone jack to a wall telephone outlet use a telephone cable with a modular RJ11 connec tor on both ends You can buy telephone cables and any other...

Page 57: ...stem to a phone line 1 Insert the PCMCIA modem into one of the Versa s PCMCIA slots 2 Connect the telephone cable adapter to the modem card Connecting the adapter 3 Connect one end of the modular telephone cable to the adapter s telephone jack Modem Adapter ...

Page 58: ...ect both your system and a telephone to the wall outlet use a dual RJ11 connector Use the following proce dure to attach a dual RJ11 connector 1 Insert the PCMCIA modem into one of the Versa P s PCMCIA slots 2 Connect the modem s adapter to the PCMCIA modem 3 Connect one end of a modular telephone cable to the adapter s telephone jack 4 Connect the other end of the telephone cable to the single ja...

Page 59: ...e 6 Connect another telephone cable to the other available jack of the dual RJ11 connector and to the wall outlet Using a dual RJ11 connector TIP When using a modem outside the U S and Canada you might need an international telephone adapter You can buy this at an electronics supply store For more information on using the modem see the guide that came with the modem ...

Page 60: ...MB memory card 8 MB memory card 12 MB memory card 16 MB memory card 32 MB memory card Use the following steps to install a memory card 1 Make sure the system power is off 2 Remove the memory compartment cover from the sys tem by pressing down slightly and sliding it to the right Lift the cover off the system Remove the disk compart ment cover by sliding it downward Removing covers Memory Compartme...

Page 61: ...nector Press the card to make sure it is securely seated Inserting a memory card 4 Replace the disk compartment cover 5 Replace the memory compartment cover 6 Run Auto Setup to check the new configuration Auto Setup should show a blinking arrow next to the extended memory field The new value should reflect the increase in memory Refer to Using Auto Setup in this guide Memory Card ...

Page 62: ...Adding Options 3 9 3 ...

Page 63: ...d up or transferred your files Use the following procedure to replace the hard disk 1 Check that the Versa power is off 2 Remove the memory compartment cover from the system by pressing down slightly and sliding it to the right Lift the cover off the system Remove the disk compartment cover by sliding it downward Compartment covers Memory Compartment Cover Cover Compartment Disk ...

Page 64: ...Adding Options 3 11 3 Swing the drive lever down and pull the drive out of the compartment Drive lever Drive Lever ...

Page 65: ...d press firmly to make sure the drive is fully seated Installing a hard disk 5 Replace the disk compartment cover 6 Replace the memory compartment cover 7 Run Auto Setup to check the new configuration Auto Setup should show the change with a blinking arrow next to the Hard Disk 1 parameter field Hard Disk ...

Page 66: ...tor for the system and for most parallel print ers a Centronics compatible 36 pin connector NOTE Before you connect a printer be sure you have installed the appropriate printer driver through the Windows Control Panel To connect a parallel device to your Versa P do the following 1 Check that both the Versa and device power are off 2 Open the left rear cover of the system and locate the printer por...

Page 67: ...tor clips Connecting a parallel device 5 Connect the power cable to the device and a properly grounded wall outlet 6 Turn on power to the system and the device TIP Check that the printer is on line before you try to print See the instructions that came with your printer for printing information Screws Connector Clips ...

Page 68: ...ft rear port cover and locate the serial port 3 Align and connect the 9 pin connector with the serial port on the system Secure the connection with the screws provided 4 Align and connect the other end of the cable to the ap propriate port on the device Secure the connections with the screws provided 5 Connect the power cable to the device and a properly grounded wall outlet 6 Turn on power to the...

Page 69: ...al keyboard and external mouse to the system at the same time they share the same port Follow these steps to connect an external keyboard to your system 1 Press the Suspend button on the Versa Check that the system is in Suspend mode CAUTION Make sure the Versa is in Suspend mode whenever you add or remove the keyboard Doing so with the power on in Active mode may damage the keyboard controller ch...

Page 70: ...3 16 Adding Options 3 ...

Page 71: ...board 4 Press the Suspend button again to resume Active mode The system will immediately recognize the keyboard After you connect an external keyboard you can use both the built in keyboard and external keyboard simultaneously NOTE For instructions on connecting an external keyboard to the docking station see the user s guide that came with your docking station ...

Page 72: ... do this with the system powered on but in Suspend mode 1 Check that the Versa is in Suspend mode CAUTION Make sure the Versa is in Suspend mode or powered off whenever you add or remove a mouse Doing so with the power on in Active mode may damage the system 2 Open the left rear cover of the system 3 Connect the mouse cable connector to the key board mouse port on the system The keyboard mouse por...

Page 73: ...the Plug and Play feature You need a display signal cable usually provided with the monitor One end of the cable must have a male 15 pin connector for the system See the back of the Versa P behind the left rear cover for the monitor connector Follow these steps to connect an external monitor to your Versa P 1 Check that the Versa is in Suspend mode or powered off and the monitor power switch is tu...

Page 74: ...ion with the screws provided Connecting a monitor 4 Connect the monitor power cable and plug it into a properly grounded wall outlet 5 Follow any setup instructions in the monitor manual 6 Turn on power to the monitor 7 Press the Suspend button to resume Active mode or power on the Versa P See the section on Function Keys in Chapter 1 for informa tion about using both the LCD and CRT monitor Screw...

Page 75: ...or External Microphone An external microphone plugs into the microphone MIC port on the rear of the Versa P The port accepts a mini type 1 8 inch connector Line In Audio You can receive audio input from CD players VCRs and tape decks to your Versa P The Line In port is located on the rear of the system and accepts a mini type 1 8 inch stereo connector Audio ports Line In Port Headphone Port Microp...

Page 76: ... connecting the docking station Versa docking station Expansion Bays The docking station provides an internal bay for a hard disk drive Its three external bays let you install your choice of floppy diskette CD ROM or tape drive Expansion Slots The docking station also features two ISA expansion slots for sound boards LAN cards CD ROM controller boards or video cards Ports The docking station has a...

Page 77: ...y attached to a port repli cator you can have one connection with all your peripheral resources printer local network monitor mouse and keyboard instead of five Versa port replicator Ports The port replicator provides the following connector ports Enhanced parallel port Serial port VGA CRT monitor supports up to 256 colors at 1024 x 768 PS 2 style mouse Keyboard keypad Replicator Port ...

Page 78: ...rsa P has a combined mouse keyboard port The port replicator allows you to have separate mouse and key board ports NOTE Access to the external headphone micro phone and line in jacks is not possible with the replica tor attached ...

Page 79: ...utton It is wise to keep your Power Management features enabled even when using AC power Default Settings The system arrives set up with many power saving features already enabled See the following table Automatic Power Saving Features DEVICE DEFAULT TIMEOUT COMMENT LCD backlight 2 minutes Backlight is turned off after there is no keyboard or VersaTrack ball input for the specified timeout Hard di...

Page 80: ... you use Power Saving Modes The Versa P has three different power consumption states Active mode Local Stand by mode Suspend mode The system can switch automatically to Local Stand by and Suspend modes This eliminates unnecessary power consumption when you operate the system on battery power or AC Active Mode Active mode is when the system is fully active all components are turned on and active Lo...

Page 81: ...tatus The system resumes Active mode when you press the suspend button if an optional serial port modem detects a ring or if the system is set to resume at a certain time of day The system will not resume Active mode if a PCMCIA modem detects a ring Suspend mode lets you save power without first saving the working data Press the suspend button to enter Suspend mode when you need to be away from yo...

Page 82: ...rt communications Resume Active mode by pressing the suspend button See Using Auto Setup in this guide for information on how to set system modes Smart Power Switch The Smart Power Switch is an automatic feature that pre vents you from accidentally powering off the Versa and losing your data while your system is in Suspend mode The Smart Power Switch senses that the system is in Suspend mode and p...

Page 83: ...p working and return to where you left off Turn off the system when you are finished using it Close the Versa P notebook When you close the note book the LCD panel sensor automatically shuts off the LCD Use the Fn F5 key combination or BACKLITE EXE to toggle the LCD backlight between standard and full brightness Adjust the LCD brightness control to the lowest setting that is comfortable for viewin...

Page 84: ...lly used when the Versa P is connected to a docking station The sample screen in this chapter shows a docked configuration A mobile configuration might look slightly different With Auto Setup you can modify the active configuration This chapter describes Auto Setup and the system parameters you can set with it AUTO SETUP You can access the Auto Setup program at power on you don t need a diskette A...

Page 85: ...T If an Invalid Configuration message prompts you to Press F1 to run Auto Setup during POST simply press F1 at the prompt After you press F1 the system displays a message that it is collecting Auto Setup data Then it displays an error message regarding changes found in the current parameter settings Press Enter to check these settings After you press Enter Auto Setup displays windows that indicate...

Page 86: ...reen How to Use Auto Setup The following sections describe the menu areas keys and procedures you use in Auto Setup for checking and chang ing system parameters Looking at the Screen Auto Setup screens have three main areas of information Auto Setup Summary Exit Comms Drives Keyboard Power System Time Date About System RAM 8 00 MB Current Extended RAM 7 00 MB Previous Extended RAM 7 00 MB Power Ma...

Page 87: ...Using Key Functions The following table provides a quick reference to key func tions that you can use in Auto Setup Auto Setup Quick Reference KEY WHAT IT DOES Tab Moves the cursor to another field in the menu For example pressing Tab moves the cursor up or down a list of current parameters Highlighted character Selects the menu bar option or parameter with the highlighted letter Alt and Opens a w...

Page 88: ...highlighted character in the menu name For example to select Drives press D A window ap pears with a parameter menu and the current setting for each parameter Continue to step 3 2 If you entered Auto Setup with an error condition blinking double carets identify the changed parameter s You can do one of the following accept the change s by pressing Enter and return to the Auto Setup Summary screen ...

Page 89: ...t saving changes press Esc 7 When you are through viewing or changing parameters press X to select Exit in the menu bar The screen dis plays a list of options 8 Use to select Exit and Save Changes and press Enter The screen displays a prompt requesting confirmation that you wish to exit 9 Press Enter to confirm your selection The system reboots with the saved changes SYSTEM PARAMETER OPTIONS This ...

Page 90: ...led Auto Detect Not installed Internal only Enable Enable Disable Keyboard Typematic Rate NumLock Boot Status System Password Keyboard Lock HotKey Normal NumLock OFF Disable Disable Power Power Management Power Management under AC System Suspend Mode Backlight Highlight System Sound Power PCMCIA Power Suspend Warning Tone Resume on Serial Port Ring Resume on Time of Day High Disable Suspend Resume...

Page 91: ...gs only if your system condi tions require different settings For system security you can disable a port entirely by selecting the Disable setting This prevents unauthorized data transfer through the port Drives The Drives option D lets you check or change parameters for your diskette drives and hard disk including security features Unless you are connecting the Versa P to a docking station equipp...

Page 92: ...o drive C PCMCIA Boot Enables system to boot up from bootable PCMCIA cards flash cards See the Versa Series PCMCIA User s Guide Keyboard The Keyboard option K lets you check or change key board parameters and set password options The following information describes the parameters Typematic Rate The typematic rate is the speed at which a key repeats itself when you press the key Use this parameter ...

Page 93: ... power management suspend mode and suspend resume options Power Management The Versa P s ability to manage power can be set to high low custom or turned off completely A High setting provides maximum power saving Low sets minimal savings and Off disables all power manage ment timers You can also customize the system s power management by selecting Custom and entering values for the following timeo...

Page 94: ...either standard or full Using the lower standard setting saves power System Sound Power This option allows you to turn off the speaker amplifier in order to save system power PCMCIA Power This option allows you to turn off power to the PCMCIA slots in order to save system power The slot s power cannot be turned off if a card is installed in the slot Suspend Warning Tone This option lets you enable...

Page 95: ...ou must use the ENABLACU EXE utility At the MS DOS prompt type enablacu Turn the system off and back on again Press F1 in enter Auto Setup Time Date Use this option T to set the current time and date The set tings remain in memory even after you turn off system power To set the time enter the current hour minute and second in hh mm ss 24 hour format For example type 13 30 00 for 1 30 p m To set th...

Page 96: ...is not protected until you enter the initial password Use the following procedures to set and use your system password Setting an Initial System Password Set an initial password as follows 1 Select the Keyboard option K in Auto Setup 2 Select System Password on the Keyboard settings menu 3 Select Enter and Enable 4 At the prompt enter a password up to seven characters long Another window appears w...

Page 97: ... first time and reboot the Versa a password prompt appears each time you power on your system The password prompt is a key icon The key icon appears after POST completes NOTE If a system password is set you can t enter Auto Setup until you enter the password To use your password boot the system by turning the power off and then on again At the password prompt enter your password and press Enter to...

Page 98: ... slash in the following format current password Press Enter Your password clears and you are no longer prompted to enter one when you power on the system To replace your current password with a new one at the password prompt type your current password a slash and your new password in the following format current password new password Press Enter Your password changes to the new pass word The next ...

Page 99: ... pass word in Auto Setup The Lock option appears on the Auto Setup screen only af ter you have enabled a password At this point in Auto Setup you can enable or disable lock Here is how you use keyboard hotlock once it s been enabled 1 To lock your keyboard press Ctrl Alt Back Space 2 To unlock your keyboard enter your password If you remove your password your ability to lock the key board is also ...

Page 100: ... instructions do not help or an error message does not appear use the information in this chapter to determine and fix the problem The problem is often one you can solve yourself PROBLEM CHECKLIST First check the items in the following list If these items do not help see the table that follows the list Power is on to the computer The electrical outlet to which your AC adapter is connected is worki...

Page 101: ... twice Brightness control needs adjustment Adjust the control Power saving mode has shut off the backlight Press any key Fn F5 or use the suspend button The system entered Suspend mode due to low battery power Plug in the AC adapter or replace the battery pack then press the suspend button to resume operation Battery power does not last long Use power saving modes Recharge the battery pack fully I...

Page 102: ...n the up position on Move switch 1 down and retry flashing a BIOS START UP PROBLEMS The system displays an invalid configuration error message at power on when there are the following conditions current configuration information does not match con figuration information stored in Auto Setup such as when an internal option is added the system loses configuration information the lithium battery for ...

Page 103: ...n is securely connected and power is on Press F1 to start Auto Setup to check the diskette drive parameters If there s still a problem drive n might need repair Diskette read failure press F1 to run Auto Setup Press any other key to retry boot Remove the diskette from drive A and press F1 to start the system from the hard disk Or insert a bootable disk in drive A and press F1 Non system disk or di...

Page 104: ...ate the parameters Check to see if the hard disk connector is seated properly If there is still a problem the hard disk might need repair Fixed disk failure Press F1 to start Auto Setup Exit and save to update the parameters Check to see if the hard disk connector is seated properly If there is still a problem the hard disk might need repair Fixed disk controller failure Press F1 to start Auto Set...

Page 105: ...irst review the checklist and troubleshooting table in the previous section If you still have a problem call the NEC Technical Support Center TSC toll free at 1 800 632 4525 Direct technical assistance is available Monday through Friday between 8 30 a m and 8 00 p m eastern time Your system is supplied with remote diagnostic software If you bought a modemto usewith your system a TSC technician may...

Page 106: ...to prepare your system for remote sup port You must have a modem installed in the system and connected to a telephone line 1 With the system power off insert the NEC Hardware Utilities diskette into the diskette drive 2 Turn on the system power A menu appears 3 Type 2 to select Remote Support Session Your screen displays Wait Dial In Set and a message indicating that the system is waiting for the ...

Page 107: ...reen The technician can access data run and control applica tions on your system and print reports using the remote keyboard and mouse Or the technician can simply observe your computer s operations You can simultaneously view what the technician sees on the remote screen The technician can view your keystrokes and whatever appears on your screen ...

Page 108: ...call NEC free of charge from locations in the U S and Canada Other numbers noted in this chapter can be used by NEC users throughout the world to access technical infor mation Local international telephone charges apply to these calls If you purchased your system outside of the United States or Canada check with your local dealer and NEC subsidiary for details about warranty coverage and service T...

Page 109: ...the problem by the NEC warranty If you are enrolled in UltraCare your Versa P is covered anywhere in the U S and Canada and in 26 other countries For more information on what components your warranty does and does not cover review the Limited Warranty Statement The statement is packed with the Versa P product registration materials The warranty covers only NECTECH supplied components Service requi...

Page 110: ... UltraCare coverage To enroll in UltraCare complete the warranty registration program hotloaded on your hard drive and return the regis tration either by mail or fax UltraCare coverage is free for the first year For coverage after the first year you can purchase UltraCare for the second and third years of your Versa P warranty Without UltraCare your Versa P is covered by NEC s standard limited thr...

Page 111: ...NEC directly for support SUPPORT FROM NEC NEC is ready to support you in operating and maintaining your NEC system If you need support NEC suggests that you use the following services in the order presented 1 NEC FastFacts An automated electronic service that offers the latest technical information about all of our products 2 NEC Bulletin Board Service An electronic bulletin board service that pro...

Page 112: ... contains the following information Product brochures Technical information bulletins including Installation procedures Quick reference guides Troubleshooting information NEC Bulletin Board System The NEC Electronic Bulletin Board System BBS is available to all customers free of charge If you dial us directly at 508 635 4706 your only expense is the cost of the phone call The BBS is also accessibl...

Page 113: ... useful files and utilities available for downloading These files include BIOS update files Driver files for CD ROMs video boards and printers Replacement set up disks A Door Menu that makes it possible to run external programs online How Do You Use the BBS To access the BBS you need a computer modem and communications software The communications software allows you to transfer files download or u...

Page 114: ...use if you have a technical problem that cannot be resolved by your dealer NEC s technical support can help you with ques tions about software and hardware compatibility operating system software issues and using the products Call 1 800 632 4525 Monday through Friday between 8 30 a m and 8 00 p m Eastern Standard Time EST E mail Fax Technical Support Services The NEC Technical Support Center offer...

Page 115: ...eive a response to all questions sent by Internet or fax within one business day NEC Customer Service Response Center If the need arises the NEC Customer Service Response Center CSRC can help you with alternatives for servicing and repairing your NEC product The CSRC also provides general information handles call routing and resolves any warranty issues and customer complaints Call the CSRC at 1 8...

Page 116: ...ice through the CSRC at 1 800 632 4525 MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS Maintenance contracts are available for servicing products after their warranties expire The contract continues the same high quality service available during the warranty period See the section on UltraCare earlier in this chapter for information about NEC s industry leading warranty service program You can buy maintenance contracts thr...

Page 117: ...the memory compartment cover If you want to modify the system BIOS you must change one of the System Configuration switch settings The following figure shows the factory settings and func tions of the System Configuration switches Check the switch settings for your particular requirements If you need to change the settings use the procedure that follows the figure Switch settings 8 BIOS REPROGRAM ...

Page 118: ...he system power must be off before changing a switch setting 1 Turn off the system 2 Remove the memory compartment cover 3 Locate the switches 4 Change the appropriate switch setting using a pointed instrument such as a ballpoint pen Check that the setting is correct 5 Replace the memory compartment cover ...

Page 119: ... MB 8 MB 12 MB 16 MB 32 MB increments Video RAM 1 MB Cache RAM L1 16 KB primary 8 KB code 8 KB data L2 256 KB secondary Read only Memory ROM 256 KB Calendar Clock Year month day hour minute second maintained by internal back up battery Input Output I O Facilities Integrated industry standard interfaces Parallel 1 port 25 pin D sub Serial 1 port 9 pin D sub VGA CRT 1 port 15 pin high density D sub ...

Page 120: ...r TFT CCFT backlit color Resolution 640 x 480 pixels Dot Pitch 0 3 mm Colors 4 096 64K colors on external CRT with video subsystem Super VGA Color 4 096 256 colors out of 227 000 colors on external CRT with video subsystem Resolution 800 x 600 pixels Viewing Area 192 mm by 144 mm 7 56 in by 5 67 in 9 5 in diagonal Aspect Ratio 4 3 or true CRT aspect ratio Keyboard Built in 83 keys with standard QW...

Page 121: ...put Voltage 13 V DC 0 1 7 2 8 A 13 V DC 4 1 2 4 0 A Battery Pack Output Voltage 7 2 V DC Capacity 3 800 mAH Battery Life Approximately 2 or 3 hours depending on model under typical operating conditions Recharging Time Approximately 1 6 hours when the system is off Approximately 2 7 hours when the system is on Bridge Battery Fully charged backs up memory contents and system status for up to 30 minu...

Page 122: ...idth 4 2 in 108 mm Depth 4 5 in 114 5 mm Height 0 85 in 21 8 mm Weight System 6 95 lb 3 15 kg 7 1 lb 3 2 kg Battery Pack 1 16 lb 527 6 g Recommended Environment Operation Temperature 41 F to 95 F 5 C to 35 C Relative Humidity 20 to 80 Noncondensing Storage Temperature 4 F to 104 F 20 C to 40 C Relative Humidity 20 to 80 Noncondensing ...

Page 123: ...roubleshooting information and an indexed list of trouble areas Communications Assistance covers a range of tele communications areas such as telephone types file transfer faxing connections paging You can find the NEC Communications Assistant icon in the Versa Help program group in Windows Use the always on top feature while you are using a communications pack age for faxing or file transfer This...

Page 124: ...st version of the BIOS code can be obtained through NEC Technologies Inc or through the NEC Bulletin Board System BBS You need to use a modem to download the utility from the NEC BBS NOTE It takes about 25 minutes to download the BIOS Update Utility from the NEC BBS If you pre fer you can request a BIOS Update Diskette by mail from NEC Technologies Inc NEC will ship you the diskette with one busin...

Page 125: ...r on The BIOS Update utility operates through a simple menu and is quick and easy to use Even though the utility is easy to use there are some things you need to be aware of before updating your BIOS If a conflict or problem arises during the update the utility displays a warning message informing you of the situation Before attempting to update the BIOS make sure your sys tem configuration meets ...

Page 126: ...casional single tone If the procedure ends successfully the system sounds an OK tone and stops An OK tone con sists of three long tones followed by a long short long tone sequence If an error occurs the system sounds a warning or error tone You must turn the system off to stop the tone The warning tone is an alternating high low tone This indicates that the new BIOS could not be installed for some...

Page 127: ...he number that specifies the revision number of the BIOS For example 0 downloads the BIOS version that ships with your system a 1 downloads a BIOS Update diskette with a revision level of 1 B3 creates a 3 1 2 inch BIOS Update diskette NOTE The BBS screens contain information that you might want to read at some later time The fol lowing procedure steps you through downloading as simply as possible ...

Page 128: ...or your computer and the current revision number n 9 Return to the File menu Press D and Enter for download 10 Type the filename for the BIOS Update diskette that you wish to download and press Enter 11 Press Enter twice 12 Select your default protocol xmodemworks in most cases 13 The BBS displays a prompt that it is ready to send the file Execute your software s download or transfer pro cedure to...

Page 129: ... This procedure creates a new BIOS Update diskette that you can use to update your BIOS START UP Use the following steps to load the BIOS Update utility and to display the Main Menu 1 Turn off the power to the system unit Be sure the AC adapter is connected to the back of the system and a wall outlet NOTE The BIOS update only works with a cold boot 2 Insert the BIOS Update diskette into drive A 3 ...

Page 130: ...blem the appropriate message is displayed MENU FUNCTIONS Use the Main Menu to update your BIOS version other menu functions are optional To select a menu function use the arrow keys to highlight the function and press Enter If you need help press F1 for additional information Information This option provides important information about the BIOS Update utility Read this information before proceedin...

Page 131: ...nstalled BIOS version and the version of the new replacement BIOS A message similar to the one below appears NOTE The original BIOS version level is included if the utility has been run previously The currently installed BIOS version xx xx xx The new BIOS version xx xx xx Press any key to continue ...

Page 132: ... The edit option allows you to create or change a custom sign on message This sign on message can be up to 40 characters and is displayed every time the system boots View shows the sign on message if any to be installed into the new BIOS The clear function erases the custom sign on message Exit returns you to the Main Menu Customize BIOS Features Edit Sign on Message View Sign on Messsage Clear Si...

Page 133: ...tion a message similar to the following one appears Press Y then press Enter After a brief pause a message similar to the following is displayed Saving data files please wait Then Please remove any diskette in drive A Press any key to continue This procedure will install the new BIOS in your system After the new BIOS is installed your system must be power cycled Enter Y to continue N Note Your cur...

Page 134: ...rational To reuse the utility you must power the system off and back on again with the BIOS Update diskette inserted in drive A Update Now in Progress Warning During this procedure DO NOT reset turn the power off or otherwise disturb the system This procedure may require 10 to 60 seconds A continuous sound pattern means a failure If this occurs see your user s guide ...

Page 135: ...on displays a message similar to the following one Press Y then press Enter After a brief pause a message similar to the following one appears Please remove any diskette in drive A Press any key to continue This procedure will install the new BIOS in your system After the new BIOS is installed your system must be power cycled Enter Y to continue N Note Your current BIOS will be saved if a copy of ...

Page 136: ...sion operational To reuse the utility you must power the system off and back on again with the BIOS Update diskette inserted in drive A Update Now in Progress Warning During this procedure DO NOT reset turn the power off or otherwise disturb the system This procedure may require 10 to 60 seconds A continuous sound pattern means a failure If this occurs see your user s guide ...

Page 137: ...ht receive when using the BIOS Update utility An error indicating that the system does not contain a Flash ROM The utility cannot be used Be sure that you powered off the system before loading the BIOS Update utility Run Auto Setup to check that your system configu ration settings are correct Or switch one may not be turned off Or the system was warm booted instead of cold booted If you still have...

Page 138: ...em in any way while this screen appears The system resets after the update com pletes Make sure you cold booted on AC power An error noting that your system does not have enough RAM available Make sure you booted the system from the BIOS Update diskette A message stating that the diskette you are about to use has already been used You may not be able to restore the previously installed BIOS if you...

Page 139: ...sional 3 D space and making events happen over time applications programs Software designed to perform specific functions like solving business or mathematical problems audio The range of frequencies that humans hear B base RAM Area of system memory between 0 and 640 kilobytes available to the user for operating system and application programs BIOS Basic Input Output System A collection of primiti...

Page 140: ...oot and warm boot bus An electronic circuit within a computer used for transmit ting data or electrical power from one device to another byte Group of eight contiguous bits C CD audio Also called digital audio uses the same format as conven tional music CDs CD audio sounds have been digitized at a high sampling rate CD ROM reader A computer controlled device that reads high capacity optical discs ...

Page 141: ...uter and turn it on again A cold boot reinitializes all devices crt Cathode Ray Tube A type of display screen used in desk top monitors It forms the screen image using tiny dots called pixels See also LCD cursor A movable image on the display screen that indicates where the next entered data appears D default A value option or setting that the computer automatically selects until you direct it oth...

Page 142: ...e of technology used in some Versa LCD screen displays E enhanced VGA A video interface that offers more colors or higher resolu tion than VGA extended RAM The area of RAM above the first megabyte of memory in the system available for enhancing system performance F FM synthesis A technique for synthesizing sound that uses a combination of modulated sine waves to produce different waveforms functio...

Page 143: ...s simultaneously for a particular function I input output I O The process of transferring data between the computer and external devices IDE Intelligent Drive Electronics A hard disk drive type that has controller electronics built into the drive and delivers high throughput interface A connection that enables two devices to communicate interrupt A special control signal from an I O device that di...

Page 144: ...rea in a computer that retains information and programs A computer has two types of memory read only memory ROM and random access memory RAM menu A video display of programs or options microprocessor A semiconductor central processing unit that is the principal component of a microcomputer Usually contained on a single chip that includes an arithmetic logic unit control logic and control memory un...

Page 145: ...al oxide semiconductor CMOS chip which is backed up by an internal battery The backup battery preserves the clock calendar data and system configuration parameters stored in CMOS See volatile memory O operating system Set of programs that manage the overall operation of the computer overwrite Storing information at a location where information is already stored thus destroying the original informa...

Page 146: ...s communications devices peripheral Input or output device not under direct computer control A printer is a peripheral device pixels Picture elements Tiny dots that make up a screen image port Provides the means for an interface between the microproc essor and external devices A cable connector is usually plugged into the port to attach the device to the computer processor In a computer a function...

Page 147: ...ce to zero or to an initial or arbitrarily selected condition resolution The degree of screen image clarity Video display resolution is determined by the number of pixels on the screen Reso lution is usually specified in pixels by scan lines for exam ple 640 by 480 See pixels RS 232C Standard interface for serial devices This port is sometimes referred to as the serial port S scanner An optical de...

Page 148: ...s such as the system microprocessor are connected T TFT Thin Film Transistor A type of Versa LCD color screen that supports 256 colors and provides exceptional screen display V VGA Video Graphics Array Graphics technology that supports up to 256 colors and a graphics resolution of 640 by 480 pixels volatile memory Storage media that loses its data when system power is turned off Standard memory an...

Page 149: ...ing Ctrl Alt and Del keys simultaneously or the reset button The system returns to an initial or arbitrarily selected condition waveform A graphic representation of a sound wave as displayed on an oscilloscope which converts sound waves into electronic signals write To record or store information to a storage device ...

Page 150: ...ception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from the one to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an ...

Page 151: ...lence number see the modem label The USOC jack required The FCC Registration number see the modem label The ringer equivalence REN is used to determine how many devices can be connected to your telephone line In most areas the sum of the RENs of all devices on any one line should not exceed five 5 If too many devices are attached they may not ring properly Modem Service Requirements If the modem m...

Page 152: ...ephone extension cord The customer should be aware that compliance with the above conditions may not prevent degradation of service in some situations Repairs to certified equipment should be made by an authorized Canadian main tenance facility designated by the supplier Any repairs or alterations made by the user to this equipment or equipment malfunctions may give the telecommunica tions company...

Page 153: ...eur Mettre au rébut les batteries usagées conformément aux instructions du fabricant BATTERY DISPOSAL Your bridge battery not your main battery is made of nickel cadium Nicad the Nicad bridge battery must be collected recycled or disposed of in an environmentally approved manner The incineration landfilling or mixing of Nicad batteries with the municipal solid wasted stream is prohited by law in m...

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