Over the Past 8 years we have culminated a wide array of questions asked by our customers. Below you'll find these frequently asked questions as well as the answers. Just click on the question and you'll be led to the answer.
GENERAL
QUESTIONS
PCMCIA
QUESTIONS
TOUCHPAD
/ Pointing Device QUESTIONS
BATTERY
QUESTIONS
Short Battery Life and Memory Effect
Disk
Drive/Floppy
Video
Display/LCD
General
Care & Maintenance
GENERAL
QUESTIONS
Q. How do I disable my power on password?
A.
When prompted, type in the password immediately followed by
a forward slash character. If you do not know the password you will
have to take the unit to an authorized service provider.
Q. My computer has locked up and the power
switch will not work. What can I do to reset it?
A.
If an computer is locked up the power switch will probably
not respond. To reset the system simultaneously press down on the
display switch and the standby button. One is a small button above the
power switch and the other is a gray button to the right of the power
switch. If this does not shut down the computer, remove the battery,
wait for the symbols on the status panel to disappear, then reinsert
the battery and turn the power back on.
Q. How do I
decrease the size of the border around the display on my computer?
A.
This border is normal on a computer with an SVGA display
when it is set to a resolution of 640 by 480. The border will be
smaller if you set the resolution to 800 by 600. In Windows 3-dot-1
the resolution can be changed through Windows Setup. Under Windows 95,
right click anywhere on the desktop, choose properties from the menu
and select the settings tab.
Q. I just installed Windows 95 and the
trackball no longer works properly?
A.
If the integrated trackball on your computer is no longer
responding correctly after installing Windows 95 try using the other
trackball button. When Windows 95 is installed it swaps your mouse
buttons so that the rear one is now set as the primary mouse button.
To swap the buttons back to the way they were go to Control Panel,
double click on the Mouse icon and under Button Configuration choose
Left Handed.
Q: My computer
is not running correctly!
A:
Troubleshooting problems on your computer is simple and a
matter of narrowing down the problem that may be the cause of the
problem. In general, some of the most common areas that cause your
computer to function abnormally are:
-
You installed new software.
-
You added new memory.
-
You added new hardware
device(s).
The best thing to do is back-tracking. If you have added something
new and then all of a sudden your system starts to misbehave then undo
the steps and see if the computer is back to normal. If it is, then
you know that the problem occurring is due to whatever was installed.
Q: What if my
system freezes up?
A:
If your system freezes, press Ctrl, Alt and Delete
simultaneously. In the "Close Program" window, select
"Free Access" and click "End Task".
Boot Up/System Error
Q: My system
won't boot.
A:
First check the obvious possible causes. If you are running
on AC power (as when it is plugged into the wall socket) check to make
sure the AC connection is good. Plug in another appliance that you
know works. Flip the wall switch on and off. If you are running the
system on DC (battery power), try using AC. Connect the AC adapter and
plug in the notebook. If it still refuses to boot, the internal AC-DC
converter may have a short. Call customer service for repair.
PCMCIA QUESTIONS
Q: My computer does not recognize my PCMCIA
devices. 
A:
Most PCMCIA problems occur from the installation of more
than one card manager. Your notebook computer ships with PCMCIA card
manager pre-installed if you choose DOS and Windows 3.1 as an
operating system. Windows 95 has internal support for PCMCIA device
and you do not need any additional card manager. If you are using a
modem in DOS and Windows 3.1, please be sure that you have your COM
Ports and IRQ addresses set correctly under both DOS and Windows.
However, if you prefer to use the point enable that comes with your
PCMCIA devices, please disable the PCMCIA card manager first. (note,
if you do this and you have a I/O slice, then extra PCMCIA sockets
will not be recognized, if any are available.)
Q: I can't get my laptop to use my PCMCIA
card, why?
A:
You probably do not have the right drivers installed. Check
to see that you have loaded the appropriate software for the card you
are trying to use. If you still have problems getting the card to
work, contact the PCMCIA Card manufacturer for product support, and
find out if the card is a listed compatible product for the model you
have.
Q: Why does my
PCMCIA socket only support 16-bit cards and not 32-bit cards?
A:
The system is designed to use 16-bit cards only.
Q: I reinstalled
Windows, now my PCMCIA modem is not working, now what do I need to do
to get the modem to work?
A:
You probably do not have the right drivers installed. Check
to see that you have loaded the appropriate software for the card you
are trying to use. If you still have problems getting the card to
work, contact the PCMCIA Card manufacturer for product support, and
find out if the card is a listed compatible product for the model you
have.
If your PCMCIA modem is not working, check System Properties,
Device Manager, and check to see if the Controller of the PCMCIA
socket is Intel PCIC compatible PCMCIA controller. If it is, then go
to Control Panel, Modems, click on Diagnostics, click on the COM Port
that is listed for use by your modem. Click More Info. That should
tell you whether your modem is installed properly or not. If you
cannot find a COM port listed with your modem, then you have not
loaded the modem driver. If that is the case, try installing and
reinstalling the modem driver.
TOUCHPAD /
Pointing Device QUESTIONS
Q: My Touch Pad
is overly sensitive.
A:
The Touch Pad is operated on static energy as your finger
glides over the pad. If your Touch Pad is overly sensitive, you may
tune down the sensitivity in the control panel. If it is still too
sensitive for you, you may wish to use an external mouse.
Q: I am running Windows 95 and the Touch Pad
is being recognized as a PS/2 pointing device and acts very erratic.
A:
Please download the newest driver for the touchpad and
follow the instructions in the readme file. This should install the
ALPS driver for Windows 95
Q: My laptop has a touchpad. When I try to
use the the Windows 95 Enhancements features under Mouse the options
are grayed out, why?
A:
If your features are grayed out, you have a Logitech
touchpad and need to install the drivers. Check your utility driver CD
and load the appropriate driver for that manufacturer's touchpad. Use
Control Panel, Mouse, Driver, click on General, and if the name is
Synaptics PS/2 touchpad, then click Change. Then click Have Disk,
insert Utility CD in the CD-ROM drive, click Browse, then go to the D:
drive, Mouse folder, Logitech, then click Next, then keep clicking
okay or next to finish the installation. If you want to Enhanced
features, then go to Start, click on "Restart computer in MS-DOS
mode," go to D: mouse, Logitech folder, then type
"Setup."
Q: My trackball is sluggish/not
responding/not moving in one or more directions.
A:
The ball and its contact points need cleaning. Refer to your
user's manual for directions on how to go about cleaning it.
Q: When I click the left mouse button
nothing happens.
A:
Over time, trackball pointing devices can lose their ability
to make the connection necessary for the button to work. Contact
customer service. You can also use a serial mouse.
Q: My touchpad pointing device is acting up.
A:
Some older model touchpads can become extremely sensitive.
Even newer ones can sometimes respond erratically. First try adjusting
the sensitivity of the touchpad under Control Panel, Mouse.
BATTERY QUESTIONS
Q: Why don't some notebooks charge the
battery while the unit is on?
A:
This "feature" was taken out as it can cause
memory effect on batteries. The unit has to be off in order for the
battery to be charged.
Q: When my computer runs from battery it
starts beeping after 10-15 min. ?
A:
Condition your battery by following these steps:
1. Plug your AC adapter in, and power on your system. Go to the
CMOS setup by doing a FN + F2 keys. Take a look at the % of the
battery, and remove the AC adapter and let it discharge here.
2. Your battery icon will start to blink when the % gets low.
Do a ESC and y (for the Slimnote 8 series) ESC and F4 for the
Slimnote 6 series. Try to get the % to the lowest possible it will
go. Once this is done then power off your computer.
3. Plug the AC adapter in and let the system charge the
battery. The charge should take any where from one to two hours.
Once the charge light goes off then remove the AC adapter and
power on your unit. Go into the CMOS settings as in step 1 and
verify the charge % on the battery is 100% or close to it. If it
is not then exit out and power off your system and plug your AC
adapter back in and let it charge further taking note how long the
charge light remains on.
4. After doing all of this please power on your unit and
re-verify your %. You battery should be charged and you should get
one hour of time from the battery.
Q: How to condition the battery to get a
better charge. 
A:
Please do the followings:
Full charge the battery.
Power on the system.
Go into the CMOS setup by hitting "F2" on power up.
Run the battery down while staying in the setup screen until
the unit completely dies.
Repeat the process at least 3 times, to get better battery
performance.
Q: My battery does not seem to be charging.
How long does it to take to charge my battery?
A:
Normally it takes two hours to charge the battery if you are
not operating the system. If the battery does not seem to be charging,
cycle the battery. In other words, discharge then recharge it. The 700
Series battery can be charged in either media bay. Try both bays. If
the charging function stops, which is indicated by the battery icon on
the status panel, and the battery has still not fully charged, unplug
the AC-adapter then reconnect it. If it still does not charge, you may
need a new battery, as the old one may be shot.
Q: Does my notebook accept Lithium or NiMH
batteries?
A:
It depends on the model. Newer systems will accept Lithium
Ion batteries. Earlier models use Nickel Metal Hydride type batteries.
Q: How long does the battery last, is there a
lithium battery available? (Any notebook)
A:
Battery run time will vary depending on usage. A typical
high-drain usage is when the CD-ROM and hard drives are being
accessed. Check your User's Manual for tips on improving battery
run-times, but common is 2-3 hours.
Short Battery Life and Memory Effect
After being fully charged, the main system battery will only last
for 10-20 minutes.
Battery will not charge at all
:
Allow the battery to completely discharge
and then charge the battery until the charger indicates that a full
charge has been reached. Repeat this process three times and see if
the battery functions normally. Replace the battery due to memory
effect.
Technical
Tip: Compaq Computer Corporation
uses the latest in battery technology to provide our customers
with a dependable and stable power source. There are several
factors that affect how long a battery will last for any
particular user. This technical tip will cover what those factors
are and will hopefully provide you with enough information so that
you can customize your settings to find the combination that works
best for you.
TERMS
-
Battery Life: The amount of time a battery will supply
power starting from a full charge and can range from 30 minutes to
over 7 hours. The amount of time that a battery can used until it will
no longer take a charge, usually 2-5 years or more.
- Short Battery Life:
A condition that occurs either as an
inherent defect or through improper maintenance of rechargeable
batteries where battery life is greatly reduced.
- Memory Effect: A condition that occurs when a battery is
charged to the same level several times consecutively. The battery
develops a chemical "memory" of that level and will not
allow a charging past that point.
- Power Conservation:
Measures taken by computer users to
maximize the battery life of there systems. This is done through the
use of power conservation utilities and regular battery maintenance.
- Deep-Cycle Discharge:
A process by which a rechargeable
battery is totally discharged and then charged to its fullest
capacity.
BATTERY
Deep-Cycle
Discharge
Batteries should be periodically (once or twice a month) deep-cycle
discharged. This is one of the most effective means for prolonging
battery life. The factors that most affect battery life are : Display
brightness/contrast settings Hard drive activity Internal and External
options ( PCMCIA cards, etc. ) Power Conservation settings. There is
no magic combination of Power Conservation settings and battery
maintenance procedures that works best for all situations. Power
Conservation settings are very personalized and the values used
depends greatly on the type of work being done. The best way to find
out what settings work best for you is to experiment with the
available options and regular battery maintenance.
Disk Drive/Floppy
Q: Why does my floppy disk drive say
5.25" underneath the MY COMPUTER when the drive is a 3.5"?
A:
You have set up the supervisor or user password in the BIOS;
however, you did not provide the password when you were asked by the
system during the bootup phase. You will not be able to access the
floppy drive until you reboot the system, and enter the proper
password.
Q: Why can't I hot swap my floppy and CD-ROM?
A:
Some notebooks are not designed to do a hot swap, meaning
you cannot remove and insert the CD-ROM or FDD while the unit is on.
You will damage the unit and this is not a warranty issue.
Q: I get a message "not a bootable
diskette" or "disk failure drive A."
A:
If your notebook floppy disk drive won't work with diskettes
that you are sure good (you can check them by trying them on another
personal computer system) then your floppy disk drive has probably
gotten out of alignment. A malfunctioning floppy disk drive can
scratch diskettes on the boot sector, causing the boot failure
message. This problem is especially prevalent on older drives.
Q: I have tried using brand new floppy
diskettes, but my floppy drive still won't read/write.
A:
If your notebook floppy disk drive won't work with diskettes
you have tried on another system, your floppy disk drive may need
service. This problem is especially prevalent on older drives. Contact
customer service for repair information.
Q: My system freezes while accessing the
Internet.
A:
Download "V.90 flash.exe" file from
drivers
to upgrade the modem to V.90.
Q: My system will not warm boot.
A:
The wrong CD-ROM driver is installed. Copy the driver called
tricd.sys from the EzBook utility CD to the Windows directory (the
driver is located in D:\cdrom\torisan directory). Then edit the
config.sys file by replacing the word "Oakcdrom.sys"
with "tricd.sys"
in the line:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\OAKCDROM.SYS/D:OEMCD001
Q: With a battery installed in the floppy
drive bay I get the following error message:
"Warning no bootable
floppy drive 0 installed" "Warning - Floppy information
invalid - run SCU" "Hit F1 to continue"
A:
On boot up, the BIOS will always search for the floppy drive
first, anticipating that normally the floppy drive will be inserted in
the bay, rather than a battery. Simply press F1 to continue.
Video Display/LCD
Q: Why is the display quality so much better
at 1024 x 768 resolution than 640 x 480?
A:
The display system was created to optimize XGA screen
resolutions; therefore, 1024 x 768 will provide a much sharper image
than 640 x 480.
Q: Can my LCD display be upgraded?
A:
Since your notebook has electronics specifically designed
for your current LCD display, upgrading your display to one of a
different type is not possible/practical.
Q: What is wrong with my video display it
keeps flickering, distorted or no display at all?
A:
Evidently your system is experiencing an intermittent
display problem associated with the VGA controller and/or the DSTN
display unit. Call Customer Service for diagnosis and advice.
Q: Why do the icons on my display blink?
A:
If the icons on the LCM blink, the battery is probably
overcharging.
Q: My LCD is perfect except for some tiny
lines.
A:
If the display is good except for lines on the screen, you
may have a loose video chip or loose video cable. Call customer
service for further help.
Q: I cannot adjust my notebook dual scan
display's contrast and/or brightness.
A:
The internal DC-AC converter may need replacing. My 600
Series notebook doesn't run my MPEG video software. MPEG is an
optional feature with the 600 notebooks. You must first purchase and
install the MPEG video card for the system to run MPEG video files.
Contact customer service for details on how to run MPEG software on
the 600s.
Q: Why should someone buy a laptop?
A:
Anyone who ever needs to take their work on the road, even if
it's just to the library or across town between home and office.
Traveling businesspeople-- especially salespeople-- are obviously the
most likely notebook buyers, but other candidates include people in
education (students too); small-business owners who never take off
their various professional hats, even on leisure trips; and other
professionals who must always have access to email, faxes, the office
server, and other communications.
Q: What is the downside to having a laptop?
A:
Today's notebooks go a long way toward addressing the old
limitations: poor multimedia (especially sound), cramped keyboards,
limited drive types and hard drive space, and so on. But even on some
high-end notebooks, you'll experience a difference in graphics and
sound quality between a desktop system and a notebook with the same
processing power. Using a notebook for heavy-duty data entry will
usually leave your hands and wrists aching sooner than using a
full-size keyboard. And of course, notebook input devices are often
inferior. Whether you prefer a touchpad or a pointing stick, you'll
still find yourself missing your mouse for heavy editing work.
Q: What advantages, if any, do laptops have
over desktop models, besides portability?
A:
At this point, portability is the main benefit of a notebook,
especially since they're still more expensive than desktop systems.
But today's notebooks offer usability gains over desktops too. Drives
and ports are accessible, for one thing, and they're often
hot-swappable. (That is, you can switch connections without powering
down first.) What's more, notebooks offer a modular capability few
systems can match. For example, many units allow you to remove hard
drives with the press of a button-- so you can protect your data from
theft or swap in a larger hard drive almost instantly.
Q: Laptops, portables, and notebooks: Are the
terms interchangeable?
A:
Yes, they all mean the same thing. There are quite a few
categories of notebooks, but at PC Computing, we see four main
categories emerging: value notebooks, mid-range notebooks,
state-of-the-art notebooks-- we sometimes call these "desktop
replacements"-- and ultralights.
One last piece of advice: If you really want to get a sense of how
a notebook feels-- you'd be surprised how important this is,
especially for desktop replacements-- it's a great idea to go to a
local computer store to play with a few different models. Even if they
don't have the exact machine you want at the exact price, at least
you'll learn what you want in a keyboard, weight, screen size, and
input device (touchpad or pointing stick). You can buy online from
almost all major computer vendors.
Q: Is there any danger in leaving a laptop on
24 hours a day?
A:
As long as it's in a well-ventilated area, there's no real
danger. At least, no more danger than there would be if you left your
desktop computer on all day. The danger to laptops is overheating.
Because all the hardware is in such cramped quarters, it tends to get
very hot. The bottom gets hot, so be careful where you put it. You may
even want to put it on something raised so the air can get to the
bottom. If you leave a laptop on blankets or a bed, it will often
overheat because the insulation of the material is keeping the heat
in. A tip that may help you when you're transporting your laptop is to
take out the battery to ensure that you don't accidentally leave the
laptop on.
Q: What's the difference between DSTN
displays and TFT displays?
A:
The less expensive DSTN (double-layer supertwist nematic) is a
passive-matrix display. The TFT (thin film transistor) display is
active matrix. The cheaper dual-scan screen is not as bright,
readable, or fast as the active matrix screen. While the DSTNs are
still good screens, if you move your mouse too fast, you'll notice
that it disappears. That's because the DSTN has a lower screen refresh
rate. Also, you can't read DSTN screens at a wide angle. A TFT active
matrix screen can be read at almost 180 degrees. To be able to read a
passive matrix DSTN screen, you need to be right in front of the
display. A shallow viewing angle isn't always a bad thing. Some people
prefer the passive matrix screens for privacy reasons. For example, if
you do a lot of traveling on airplanes, you probably don't want your
seatmate reading everything on your screen. You can just compare two
types of screens and see if you can tolerate the less expensive one.
If you're happy with it, that's all that matters.
General
Care & Mantinace
Q: How much damage is done to a laptop that
is left in a hot car?
A:
There are many things that can potentially damage your laptop,
including heat. But if you leave your laptop in the car, it's probably
going to get stolen before it has a chance to overheat! To answer your
question: yes, the heat inside a car can get well above the
temperature at which a chip can function properly, so be careful.
If you love your laptop, follow these tips:
-- Never leave your laptop unattended.
-- Never expose your laptop to extreme heat or extreme cold.
-- Don't let your laptop out of your sight.
-- Don't expose your laptop to resonating noises, for example loud
bass noise from speakers, heavy machinery, and so on.
-- Properly care for your laptop battery.
-- Keep magnetic devices away from your laptop.
-- Minimize exposure to airport x-rays.
-- Avoid eating and drinking near your laptop.
-- Keep your laptop clean and dust free.
-- Never leave your laptop unattended.
Q: Will a PCMCIA card modem drain my laptops
battery if left in when not in use?
A:
Often, yes. In fact, modem cards are notorious for draining
batteries dry. Some modem cards drain the battery even when you're not
online. To stop up the power leak, just make sure you shut off power
to the modem card when it's not in use. .
Here are some general tips to help keep your notebook humming:
-- Use a lithium (Li) ion battery if your system supports them.
-- Shut off power to peripherals when you're not using them.
-- Take advantage of Windows 98's Advanced Configuration and Power
Interface (ACPI) specification, along with Advanced Power Management (APM)
1.2 extensions.
ACPI lets you use various Power Schemes built into the Power
Management control panel. Power Schemes are designed to save power in
various ways optimized for your computer's hardware setup. If you have
a laptop, that might be a reason to update to Win98.
Q. Can I hot swap the Multi-Bay devices for
my LTE 5000 series computer?
A.
A utility which allows users to swap Multi-Bay devices in an
LTE 5000 series computer while the unit is in Standby is now available
for DOS and Windows 3-dot-1 or Windows NT 3-dot-51. To obtain the
utility for DOS and Windows 3-dot-1 download SoftPaq file SP1589.EXE.
For Windows NT 3-dot-51 download SoftPaq file SP1587.EXE. Both files
are available from the Compaq Download Facility at 281-518-1418 or
from the Compaq Internet Site at http://www.compaq.com. These files
are self extracting and will create an installation diskette, see the
README.TXT file on the installation disk for details and instructions.
Q. How do I disable my power on password?
A.
When prompted, type in the password immediately followed by
a forward slash character. If you do not know the password you will
have to take the unit to an authorized service provider.
Q. My LTE 5000 series computer has locked up
and the power switch will not work. What can I do to reset it?
A.
If an LTE 5000 series computer is locked up the power switch
will probably not respond. To reset the system simultaneously press
down on the display switch and the standby button. One is a small
button above the power switch and the other is a gray button to the
right of the power switch. If this does not shut down the computer,
remove the battery, wait for the symbols on the status panel to
disappear, then reinsert the battery and turn the power back on.
Q. How do I turn off my Contura 400 series
laptop when it is docked in a convenience base with an external
keyboard attached?
A.
Since the internal keyboard is disabled, you cannot use the
left hand control alt power button sequence. Instead, use the shutdown
icon in the Compaq Utilities Group or simply type the word SHUTDOWN
from the DOS prompt and press enter.
Q. How can I obtain backup diskettes for my
laptop?
A.
Backup diskettes for the preinstalled software can be
purchased for a nominal fee from the Compaq Customer Order Center by
calling 1-800-952-7689 in the US or 1-800-349-8498 in Canada.
Q. How do I decrease the size of the border
around the display on my notebook computer?
A.
This border is normal on a notebook computer with an SVGA
display when it is set to a resolution of 640 by 480. The border will
be smaller if you set the resolution to 800 by 600. In Windows 3.1,
the resolution can be changed through Windows Setup. Under Windows 95,
right click anywhere on the desktop, choose properties from the menu
and select the settings tab.
Q. I just installed Windows 95 and the
trackball no longer works properly?
A.
If the integrated trackball on your notebook computer is no
longer responding correctly after installing Windows 95 try using the
other trackball button. When Windows 95 is installed it swaps your
mouse buttons so that the rear one is now set as the primary mouse
button. To swap the buttons back to the way they were go to Control
Panel, double click on the Mouse icon and under Button Configuration
choose Left Handed.
Battery Step Charge:
1. Unplug the computer from the AC adapter and turn it on. Let
the computer run under battery power until
the computer turns off, indicating that the battery is fully
discharged.
2. Remove the battery pack.
3. Using a soft cloth, wipe off the battery packs connectors and
the AC adapters connectors.
4. Re-insert the battery pack.
5. Plug the computer into the AC adapter and check the wall
outlet, making sure the connection is firm.
6. With the PC turned off, let the battery charge until the
battery status light or icon glows green.
7. Unplug the AC adapter.
8. Remove the battery.
9. Wait 30 seconds and re-insert the battery.
10. Plug the AC adapter back in.
11. Let the battery recharge until the battery status light turns
green or the icon displays 100%.
12. Now your battery should be fully charged. Unplug the computer
from the AC wall outlet and turn on the
PC. You should notice longer battery life and stronger bootup.
13. All batteries hold less charge as they age. Over time, if you
attempt to charge a battery and the battery
indicator does not show a full charge, you may need to purchase a
new battery.
Q: Can I install Windows 98 on my notebook
which originally shipped with Windows 95?
A:
While it is a user's option to install any software, our
support is limited to the operating system that shipped on the unit.
If you would like to install an operating system other than the one
that shipped on the unit, we recommend you check with our technical
support analysts prior to making any changes.
Q:
Where
do I get DirectX drivers for my notebook?
A:
DirectX is a Microsoft product. Get
it here
Q:
If
I install a BETA version of an operating system or third party
application, where should I go for assistance?
A:
For assistance with these please contact the vendor of the
software/operating system.
Q: My unit was manufactured with a USB port,
how do I enable USB?
A:
By default, some notebooks have the USB port disabled so as
not to use up resources if the user does not have any USB peripherals.
To enable USB on these notebooks, you will need to enable the device
in the BIOS settings.
Q: Why is my 56K modem not connecting at 56K
speeds?
A:
Several factors can affect connection speed, such as line
noise, number of people connecting or connected to your ISP, and the
age and condition of the telephone lines. A 56K modem does not
guarantee all connections at 56K; rather it offers the ability to
connect at up to 56K baud. Presently FCC regulations limit speeds to
53K maximum and this is with absolutely perfect conditions.
Q: My unit shipped with an internal modem;
will I be able to use it with a cellular phone?
A:
The internal modems in most notebooks are not cellular ready
modems.
Q: I have a digital phone line, can I use my
internal modem on that line?
A:
The internal modems in most notebooks will work on analog
lines only.
Q: How do I condition my battery?
A:
There are different ways to condition your battery depending
on which type battery you have. There are battery conditioning
instructions located in the Users Guide for your notebook that pertain
to your notebook / battery combination. You can find a link to your
Users Guide on the Technical Support page.
Q: Is there a BIOS update for my notebook?
A: Note:
Incorrect usage of BIOS upgrades will cause damage to
your system and is not covered under the manufacturer's limited
warranty. BIOS upgrades are designed to address specific functions of
the computer. Acer does not recommend making any changes to your BIOS,
unless the upgrade addresses the issue you are experiencing. If you
are experiencing an issue with your system that may require a BIOS
upgrade, please check the Downloadable Files area for your system.
Q:
Which
PC-Card can I use in my notebook?
A:
The PC Card industry is a fast growing and ever-changing
industry. Every day new cards are being manufactured. Please check
with the manufacturer of the PC Card for information on their products
and the PC Card's performance in your notebook.
Q:
When
I try to create the flash BIOS diskette, I get the error message
"Destination disk does not match image type"
A:
There is a difference between the Windows 95 format and a
format done from DOS. To resolve this, you will need to reformat the
diskette from a DOS prompt.
Click on the "Start" button.
Go to "Programs", then "MS-DOS Prompt".
At the DOS prompt (C:\), type "format a:" (without the
quotes) and then press enter.
When the format is complete type "exit" to re-enter
Windows
Repeat the BIOS upgrade install process.
A: If your notebook is to be stored for
a month or longer, turn the machine off, and remove all Lithium ION
batteries. Store your notebook and batteries separately in a cool, dry
location. If you store your notebook with a battery installed, the
battery will discharge, and battery life will be reduced.
Caution:
If your battery is installed with your notebook while in storage, and
the battery is faulty, this could cause damage to your notebook.
A: An old version of Adobe Acrobat may
be causing this problem. Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader, prior to
version 2.1, when installed on a computer with the Windows 95
Operating System, will cause the computer to "lock-up"
during system start-up. This will prevent you from accessing any of
your programs or files. If you have installed an older version of
Adobe Acrobat, you will need to upgrade to a newer version (2.1 or
greater) or delete the program from your system. You can do this by
booting into Safe Mode and upgrading the program or removing it.
A: AOL requires a Custom Initialization
String. You can make this change in the America Online Modem Setup.
Follow these steps:
- Open AOL
- In the Welcome window, Click on the SETUP
button.
- In the Network & Modem Setup
window, Click on Setup Modem,
- Select Hayes Compatible
(it's the default choice).
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