Quick Start & Troubleshooting Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS Important Information Computer Basics 3 4 Playing Multimedia Files .................... 24 Volume Controls................................ 26 Safety and Comfort .................................... 4 Safety Precautions ................................ 4 Health Precautions ............................... 4 Getting to Know your Computer ................ 5 The Keyboard and Touchpad................ 5 Your Computer's Drives ....................... 6 Power Supply....................................... 8 Ports and Connectors ........................... 9 Turning your Computer ON or OFF ... 11 Upgrading your Computer.................. 12 First steps on the Net ............................... 14 Get Connected! ................................. 14 Network connections ......................... 15 Surf the Net! ...................................... 16 Using Windows and your Software........... 19 Windows Welcome Center................. 19 Setup my PC...................................... 19 Packard Bell Recovery Backup Creator 19 Packard Bell Updator.......................... 22 Your Computer's Documentation ....... 22 Your Software .................................... 23 Helpdesk Safe Computing....................................... Maintenance ..................................... Updates ............................................. Security ............................................. Windows Remote Assistance.............. Diagnose & Repair ................................... Top Troubleshooting Cases ................ Miscellaneous Troubleshooting .......... Restoration and Recovery......................... Packard Bell Smart Restore................. Packard Bell Recovery Program .......... 28 28 28 32 32 37 38 38 44 51 51 51 Packard Bell Limited Warranty Regulatory Information Environment Software License Index 55 60 63 64 65 Table of Contents - 1 of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, whether electronic, chemical, manual or otherwise, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval systems, for any purpose without prior written permission of Packard Bell B.V. Packard Bell B.V. specifically disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to this product and documentation. Updates to software and hardware components are made regularly. Therefore some of the instructions, specifications and pictures in this documentation may differ slightly from your particular situation. All items described in this guide are for illustration purposes only and may not apply to your particular situation. No legal rights or entitlements may be obtained from descriptions made in this manual. Packard Bell B.V. reserves the right to revise or make changes or improvements to this product or documentation at any time without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or improvements. In no event shall Packard Bell B.V. be liable for any consequential or incidental damages, including but not limited to loss of business profits or any other commercial damages, arising out of the use of this product. Copyright Notice Packard Bell Quick Start & Troubleshooting Guide (NB). Copyright © 2008 Packard Bell B.V. All Rights Reserved. No part Disclaimer Microsoft and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. FireWire is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Google is a registered trademark of Google Inc. Packard Bell is a registered trademark of Packard Bell B.V. All other company or product names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Trademark 2 - Quick Start & Troubleshooting Guide IM P O R T A N T I N F O R M A T I O N Thank you for purchasing a Packard Bell computer! This guide has been designed to introduce you to the features of your computer and assist in your computing experience. It will also help you maintain your computer and troubleshoot in case you encounter a problem. To make the most of your computer, Packard Bell recommends you perform the actions described below before you start working with your computer. Setup my PC To make it easy, Packard Bell has gathered all important setup steps in one application! Setup my PC will start automatically when you first turn on your computer, this is an easy step by step process to configure your Internet access, antivirus program, Identity card, etc. (see page 19 for details). Packard Bell Recovery Backup Creator Use Recovery Backup Creator (or Recovery DVD Creator) to copy your computer's recovery data to DVDs. No separate copies of the Windows discs and Microsoft utilities are provided. All the programs are included in your recovery data in a specific partition of your hard drive. Packard Bell recommends you create the recovery DVDs before you start to work with your new computer (see page 19 for details). Packard Bell Updator To ensure that your computer has the latest updates for drivers and software, please use the Packard Bell Updator program as soon as you have configured an Internet connection (see page 22 for details). Packard Bell InfoCentre To discover more about your computer, please make sure you check Packard Bell InfoCentre, the electronic user`s guide installed on your computer. You need to update the guide at least once online (see page 22 for details). Packard Bell Website Remember to visit www.packardbell.com often! Check out the Support section: it contains our online Troubleshooter, up-to-date information, help, drivers and downloads. Packard Bell Support Make sure you write down your computer serial number, date and place of purchase and model name on the cover of this guide. Also, save your proof of purchase. If you call us, please write down any error message causing the problem, and have the computer in front of you and switched on if possible. Having these items to hand when contacting us will ensure better and quicker service. Important Information - 3 COMPUTER BASICS SAFETY AND COMFORT Safety Precautions Please follow the guidelines below to use your computer comfortably and to avoid health problems. Computer Environment Make sure that the computer: is away from direct sunlight and sources of heat; is away from magnetic fields or any device generating static electricity; is kept at least 30 centimetres away from a mobile phone; is not in a dusty or damp environment; is not placed on a carpet or any other surface that may have an electrical charge. Cables Do not cover or place objects on the AC adapter. Keeping the adapter clear of objects allows the adapter Only use the AC adapter that is supplied with your computer. Although other adapters may look similar, using them can damage your computer. to cool properly during use. Cleaning your Computer never spray cleaning product directly on the screen; if you spill liquid on your computer, switch it off immediately, unplug the AC adapter, remove the battery and make sure it is completely dry before switching it on again. Wait overnight if necessary. Health Precautions If you work or play for hours at a time, then make sure you take regular breaks. Look away from the com Arrange your computer so that you can work in a natural and relaxed position. Place items that you use Position your computer directly in front of you for increased safety and comfort. Ensure that your key The computer's underside, power adapter and the air from ventilation slots may become hot board and touchpad are at a comfortable height. The screen should be about 45-70 cm from your eyes. during use. Avoid continuous body contact and do not place the computer on your lap while it is operating. Ensure that the computer's ventilation slots and openings are never obstructed or covered. Do not place the computer on a soft surface (such as a carpet, chair or bed) that may block ventilation slots. Some disorders of the hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders, legs and back may be associated with, or aggravated by certain repetitive actions. To reduce your risk of developing these disorders, type with your wrists straight and your hands and wrists floating above the keyboard. If you experience periods of pain, tingling, numbness or other discomfort, please contact your doctor. We advise that parents monitor the use of games by their children. If you or your child experience any of the following symptoms: dizziness, blurred vision, eye or muscle twitches, loss of consciousness, disorientation, any involuntary movement or convulsion, IMMEDIATELY discontinue use and consult your doctor. This may happen even if the person has no medical history of epilepsy. frequently within easy reach. puter's screen once in a while. Do not use your computer if you are tired. 4 - Quick Start & Troubleshooting Guide GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COMPUTER The Keyboard and Touchpad Keyboard The keyboard is used to enter text or commands. The functions of the keys depend on the program you are using. The keyboard displayed in this guide is just an example. The layout of your keyboard may vary slightly. For a full description of your keyboard, please refer to InfoCentre. 1. Numbers: Used to enter numbers and special characters. Press [Shift] simultaneously for characters on the top and press [Ctrl] + [Alt] for characters on the right. 2. Backspace: Used to go back one space and delete the last key pressed. 3. Del: Deletes characters to the right of the cursor or any highlighted item. 4. Numeric keypad: Functions as a second set of cursor keys. Press the [Numlock] key to enter numbers. 5. Arrow keys: Move the cursor up, down, left and right. 6. Enter: Press to enter a command, insert a paragraph break in a text or accept a chosen option. 7. Space: used to enter an empty space in your text. 8. Shift: Use simultaneously with a letter key to enter capital letters. 9. Esc: Cancels most current tasks. 10.Fn: Use simultaneously with the [F1] to [F12] keys (blue symbols) to activate special functions. Note: To optimise space and weight, certain computers use compact keyboards that do not provide a numeric keypad. If this is the case, you may use the integrated keypad by activating Num Lock and using the keys with characters printed in blue (the keys in the centre-right of the keyboard). Press Num Lock again to return the keys to their normal functions. Computer Basics - 5 Touchpad The touchpad controls the arrow on the screen . This arrow is called the pointer or the cursor. When you slide your finger across the touch-sensitive pad, the pointer will follow this movement. Click one of the touchpad button to select or activate the command the cursor is pointing at. Ensure that you use a light touch on the touchpad surface. Left-click to select the item under the pointer. Double-click to start the program under the cursor, or select an entire word when typing text. Two quick taps on the surface of a touchpad will perform the same action as a double-click. Right-click to bring up a pop-up menu. Note: You may connect a mouse to your computer. Simply connect it to your computer's USB port. This will not deactivate the touchpad function. Improve the motion and visibility of the pointer! Click on `Start' > Control Panel > Mouse > Pointer Options. Your Computer's Drives The drives described below are commonly used on Packard Bell computers. However, this does not mean that they are present on the computer you have purchased, nor that it is limited to these drives. To view documentation specific to the model you have purchased, please check Packard Bell InfoCentre. Memory Card Reader Memory cards are used in a wide selection of digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players and mobile phones. Selected computers include an "all-in-one" memory card reader that allows you to read and write the most common types, such as MMC (Multi Media CardTM), SD (Secure Digital)TM or MS (Memory Stick®). Formatting a Memory Card Before using a card for the first time, it should be formatted. 1. Insert your card in the corresponding slot and click on `Start' 2. Right-click on the card icon and select Format. 3. Click on Start in the format window and then click on OK. > Computer. Removing a card from an External Card Reader 1. Click on the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Notification Area (next to the clock). 2. Click on Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device. 3. Wait until a Safe to Remove Hardware message is displayed. 4. Remove the card. 6 - Quick Start & Troubleshooting Guide Optical Drives An optical drive is able to read from (or write to) a variety of CD or DVD discs (e.g. Audio CD, CD-ROM, DVD). Read-only (ROM) drives Some optical drives are only able to read information from a disc, they cannot be used to store new information. These drives can be used to watch films, install ...