Contents Chapter 1: Checking Out Your Notebook ............................... 1 Keyboard and LCD Panel....................................................................... 2 System Status Indicators ......................................................................... 4 Left side.................................................................................................... 5 Back .........................................................................................................
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Battery status.................................................................................. Swapping the battery ............................................................................ Maximizing the battery life .................................................................. Managing power ................................................................................... Windows 98 ................................................................................... Windows 95 and Windows NT ..
Chapter 1: Checking Out Your Notebook Keyboard and LCD Panel ....................................... 2 System Status Indicators ......................................... 4 Left side.................................................................... 5 Back.......................................................................... 6 Right Side................................................................. 8 Bottom......................................................................
Keyboard and LCD Panel 2 Component Description A. XGA Color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Provides sharp, crisp resolution with backlit anti-glare screen. B. Power button Press to turn power ON or OFF. Can also be configured to Suspend/Resume mode. C. Keyboard Provides full functionality of a desktop computer keyboard. Many of these keys have been assigned alternate functions, including shortcut keys for Windows 95 and Windows 98, Status Display menus, and numeric keypad.
Component Description D. Speakers Provide high quality sound reproduction for software and audio CDs. E. CD-ROM drive/Diskette drive combination module The CD-ROM drive reads data CDs or audio CDs. The diskette drive accepts 3.5-inch diskettes. F. EZ Pad™ TouchPad Controls the cursor movement on the screen. Buttons below the pad function as left and right mouse buttons for clicking. G. Hard drive access cover panel Opens to reveal and remove hard disk drive. H.
System Status Indicators Indicator 4 Icon Description A. Hard drive access light Indicates that the hard drive is in use. B. CD-ROM/Diskette disk drive Indicates that the CD-ROM or the diskette drive is in use. C. Caps lock Indicates that the caps lock in on. When the Caps lock light is on, you type in all capital letters. D. Pad lock Indicates that the pad lock is on. When the Pad lock light is on, you can access the embedded numeric keypad. E.
Left side Component Icon Description A. Volume wheel Adjusts built-in speaker volume, external speaker, and headphone volume. Other port volume levels are controlled by multimedia software. B. PC Card slots Accepts two Type II PC Cards or one Type II Card. C. Eject buttons Ejects the PC Cards from the PC Card slots. D. Speaker Provides high quality sound reproduction for software and audio CDs.
Back Port 6 Icon Description A. Parallel port (LPT1) Connect parallel device such as a printer to this port. B. Joystick/MIDI port Connect a game joystick or an electronic MIDI musical instrument this port. The port provides both MIDI In and Out capabilities. C. Fast IR (Infrared) port Sends infrared signals between the notebook and a remote device that uses infrared (for example, another computer, printer, or other peripheral). Place infrared devices up to 3 feet (1 meter) apart. D.
Port Icon Description H. Composite Video Out port Lets you view your notebook’s display on a TV screen by connecting the notebook to the TV or VCR using a standard video cable. I. Composite Video In port Lets you display NTSC/PAL format video on your notebook’s screen from a VCR or video camera using a standard video cable. J. Reset switch Restarts the notebook, if necessary. Insert a paper clip to press switch. K. Kensington lock Attach Kensington lock to this port. L.
Right Side Component 8 Icon Description A. Speaker Provides high quality sound reproduction for software and audio CDs. B. USB ports Plug optional USB serial devices into these ports. C. Power connector Connect an AC power adapter to this port.
Bottom Component Description A. Flip foot Flips out to tilt the notebook. B. Back ports cover (open position) Flips open to reveal ports. C. System identification label Provides product model number, serial number, display type, and processor speed. D. Memory bay Open the memory bay cover to install or remove SO-DIMM memory modules. E. Battery pack bay Slide battery pack into bay for battery power and battery charging. F.
10 Using Your Gateway Solo™ 9100 Multimedia Notebook
Chapter 2: Using Your System Connecting AC Power........................................... 12 Starting Up............................................................. 13 LCD Panel.............................................................. 14 Using the Keyboard............................................... 15 EZ Pad Pointing Device ........................................ 20 Using an External Mouse or Keyboard ................ 21 Swapping Option Bay Modules............................
Connecting AC Power Your notebook is powered by one of the longest-lasting batteries available and was shipped to you charged, ready to use. You might, however, want to use the AC adapter to provide a constant supply of power while you are checking out some of the features. Connecting the AC adapter 1. Connect the power cord to the AC adapter. Caution! Replace the power cord if it becomes damaged. The replacement cord must be of the same type and voltage rating as the original cord.
Starting Up Slide the latch on the front face of your notebook to the right to release the cover and open up your notebook. To turn on your notebook, press the power button, located in the upper left corner on the notebook surface, close to the left LCD hinge. The power button on your system is preset in On/Off mode. However, you can set it to function either in On/Off or Suspend/Resume mode using the setup screens (see “Using the BIOS Setup Utility” on page 49).
LCD Panel Note: Your notebook features a color LCD XGA panel providing sharp, crisp resolution and up to 256K (18 bits per pixel) color depth. This system ships with the “Auto dim with battery” feature enabled. Auto dim cuts LCD power 50% when your notebook is operating on battery power. Tilt your notebook’s entire cover forward or backward to adjust the viewing angle. Press the FN key together with the up arrow and down arrow keys to control display brightness.
Using the Keyboard Your notebook features a full-size keyboard that has the full functionality of a desktop computer keyboard. Many of the keys have been assigned alternate functions, including shortcut keys for Windows, function keys for specific system operations, and pad lock keys for the numeric keypad.
Function keys Press the FN key together with one of the following keys (with blue letters) to get these “on-the-fly” functions: Key Combination Description + Displays the power status in the upper left corner of the Windows desktop. Press the key combination again to make the display disappear. Toggles between the LCD display, external monitor, both displays at the same time, or TV display (NTSC or PAL format). See “LCD Panel” on Page 14. Windows 95: LCD and Hard Drive shut off.
Key Combination Description + Makes changes to the video source (VIDEOSRC) settings by toggling the settings from: DVD, select if using your DVD drive (optional) TV IN, select if using the Composite Video In port PCMCIA, select if using a zoomed video card in PCMCIA slot DISABLED After about 30 seconds, the display disappears. Enables the Pad Lock function so you can use the numeric keypad. The Pad Lock icon stays lit while this function is enabled.
Key Combination Description + Decreases LCD brightness and displays the brightness meter for the Popup Status Display reflecting the changes. Use the FN+F2 key combination to make the display disappear. Special keys The following keys help you use shortcuts when working with some software: Key Description Use this key to display the Windows Start menu. Use this key to provide quick access to shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.
Pad Lock keys Press FN+F9 (PAD LOCK) keys to activate the keypad. The keypad section of the keyboard functions as a numeric keypad. Press FN+F9 to bring the keyboard back into standard mode.
EZ Pad Pointing Device Like a mouse, the EZ Pad touch pad pointing device controls the movements of the cursor on the screen. Press a finger against the pad, then slide it in the direction that you want the cursor to move. Use the buttons or tap on the pad to select something. EZ pad Touch pad buttons When you first start your system, the Information about your Touchpad displays. Select Tell me more for detailed information about features and how to customize the EZ Pad.
♦ Position the cursor on the item and hold down the left button while sliding your finger to reposition the cursor, then release the button ♦ Position the cursor on the item and tap on the pad twice. After the second tap, hold and slide (without lifting your finger) to reposition the cursor, then lift your finger to release. Customizing the EZ Pad You can customize the EZ Pad to work the way you want when you set button configuration, drag, and edge motion or cursor speed, rate, and size.
Swapping Option Bay Modules Your notebook features a modular option bay that accepts the modular CDROM/Diskette disk combination drive or an additional battery. The CD-ROM/Diskette disk combination drive can be replaced by a second battery module in the modular option bay. Each time you switch them, however, you must restart your system.
To switch the combination module for the battery module 1. Save all work and use the Shut Down procedure in your operating system. 2. Close the cover and turn your notebook over. 3. Locate the modular bay access latch. Slide and hold the latch open, then place your fingers over the raised bar near the front of the notebook.
4. Pull the CD-ROM/Diskette disk combination drive module straight out and away from your notebook, and release the latch. 5. Install the correct faceplate on the second battery. For details, see the instructions that come with the second battery. Note: Anytime you replace a module you must restart your system for the module to work. The restart has to occur after the module is correctly seated. 6. Turn the battery module over.
Using the Audio Your system comes with flexibility for using audio. You can record audio for presentations, attach voice messages to your e-mail, listen to audio CDs, and use it for many other multimedia applications. This section tells you more about using audio. Adjusting the volume There are numerous ways to adjust audio input and output on your Solo notebook computer. The Volume Control Wheel controls the Speaker Out port and the internal system speakers.
Making an Audio Recording Note: To make an audio recording, use the built-in microphone or connect an external microphone to the Mic port. Connecting an external microphone will disable the built-in microphone. To make an audio recording 1. Click Start, Programs, Accessories, Multimedia, then Sound Recorder. The Sound Recorder opens. 2. Click Edit, then Audio Properties, then set or check record volume levels. 3. Click OK. 4. Click the ● (Record) button. Recording starts. 5.
2. Click File, then Open. The Open dialog box appears. 3. Select the file to play back. 4. Click Open. 5. To play the file, click the (Play) button. 6. To stop the file, click the ■ (Stop) button.
Using Disc Media (CD-ROM) Your system has a CD-ROM drive. This section describes some of the ways to use CD-ROM media. To insert a CD 1. Press the Eject button. The CD drive tray opens. 2. Insert the CD. Press down carefully on the CD to ensure that it snaps under the clips that hold the CD in the tray. Be sure to place the CD in the tray so that the label side is facing up. If the disc has two playable sides, place the disc so that the name of the side you want to play (A or B) is facing up. 3.
- OR If the CD did not auto-start, then click Start, Programs, Accessories, Multimedia, and CD Player to start the CD Player software. 3. Slide the mouse pointer slowly over the control buttons on the CD Player software to get familiar with each button function. 4. You can change music tracks, view playing times, control the volume, set preferences, define a play list and even set the system to continuous or random play using this dialog box. 5. Control audio play as desired.
Removing or Replacing the Hard Disk Drive You can remove your notebook's hard disk drive (HDD) for replacement or to switch between optional additional hard drives. To remove and replace the hard disk drive 1. Save all work. 2. Use your operating system’s shut down procedure to turn your notebook completely off. 3. Close the LCD lid. 4. Disconnect the AC power and turn your notebook over. 5. Locate the modular bay access latch.
Flap door Hard drive 7. Grasp the black flap and pull the hard disk drive straight out from the notebook. Caution! Do not force the hard drive. Slide the new hard drive firmly into your notebook and close the flap door. 8. 9. Reinstall the CD-ROM/diskette combination drive module and AC connections.
Using PC Cards Your notebook’s PC Card slots (also known as PCMCIA card slots) are located behind the PC Card doors. These slots accept PC Card 16, PC Card 32 (CardBus), or Zoomed Video cards. Your notebook is configured to automatically accept most PC Cards. If you ordered your notebook with a modem, then the modem drivers are already installed. You do not need to restart your notebook when changing most cards because your notebook supports “hot-swapping.
6. Press the PC Card eject button a second time to eject the PC Card. 7. Press the PC Card eject button to reset back into the notebook. About CardBus Cards The relatively new 32-bit CardBus technology (sometimes referred to as “PC Card 32 cards”) supports DMA and bus mastering technologies that are useful in performance-intensive applications like full-motion video, high speed network connections, full-motion video capture and display, and high performance peripheral interfaces.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) Ports USB is a new type of serial interface that serves as a single port alternative to connecting devices that traditionally have required their own specific ports such as mice, joysticks, keyboards, scanners, video conferencing cameras, and speakers. To use, connect the USB-compatible peripheral in the USB port. The USB automatically installs and configures the necessary drivers and the system resources.
Using the Composite Video Ports The Composite Video Out port allows you to view your notebook’s display on a TV screen by connecting the notebook to the TV or VCR using a standard video cable. The Composite Video In port allows you to display video on your notebook’s screen from a VCR or video camera using a standard video cable. Note: In addition to the hardware connections necessary to perform the functions described in this section, you also need to have a video display program installed.
Using the VidCap Demonstration Program VidCap is a video capture utility program that lets you display and capture video (single frame or video stream) from the Composite Video In port. You cannot edit video using VidCap. You can purchase a video editing package from a software retailer. To use VidCap: 1. Connect the Video Out port of your external source, such as a video camera, to the Composite Video In port on your notebook. 2.
9. The first time you use VidCap, the Set Capture File dialog box opens. Set the path you want the file to be saved to, name the file, then click Open. The default file name is always the last name specified. Select Set Capture File from the File menu and change the file name before you capture the video to avoid overwriting a previous video capture. 10. The first time you use VidCap, the Set File Size dialog box opens.
38 Using Your Gateway Solo™ 9100 Multimedia Notebook
Chapter 3: Managing Power Consumption Using the battery.................................................... 40 Swapping the battery ............................................. 42 Maximizing the battery life................................... 44 Managing power.................................................... 45 Using the BIOS Setup Utility................................
Using the battery The battery must be installed in the notebook and connected to an AC power source to charge completely. The battery will charge if your notebook is operating as long as the AC adapter is properly connected. The notebook can run on a fully charged battery for about 3 to 4 hours of normal use before the battery needs recharging. Battery learning software About once a year you will need to run the Battery Learning Software to recalibrate the battery gauge.
Battery status You can check the battery status several ways. ♦ Position the cursor over the power cord (AC) or battery icon in the lower right corner of the task bar. A battery status screen appears. Moving the cursor anywhere on the display causes the screen to disappear. -OR- ♦ Click twice on the power cord or battery icon in the lower right corner of the task bar. A more detailed battery status screen will appear. Click on the X in the upper right corner of the screen to close it.
Swapping the battery Battery packs can be “warm-swapped” in the battery bay. This means that you can change battery packs while in Standby mode (Windows 98) or Suspend mode (Windows 95). To replace the battery pack 1. Save all work. 2. In Windows 98, press the FN key together with the F4 key to put the system into standby mode. In Windows 95, press the FN key together with the F5 key to put the system into suspend mode. 3. Close the cover and turn your notebook over. 4.
6. Slide the battery pack straight out and away from your notebook. You may now release the battery release latch. 7. Slide a battery pack (bottom side up) straight into the battery bay until it “snaps” into place. 8. Turn the notebook right side up and open the cover. 9. Press the power button to resume power to the system.
Maximizing the battery life You can extend the battery life by following these practices: ♦ ♦ Dim the display brightness as low as is comfortable. ♦ Remove PC Cards when not in use. Some PC Cards use battery power even when they are not in use. Check the PC Card manufacturer’s documentation to find out if the card uses power when not in use. ♦ Keep the battery pack in the computer when using AC power to continuously charge the battery. ♦ Minimize using CD-ROM drive.
Managing power A battery-powered session for your notebook is affected by many things such as using screen savers rather than the suspend function, or playing music CD-ROMs while using a word processor. If no AC power outlet is available, you want to make the battery-powered session last as long as possible. Power management is handled differently in Windows 98 than in Windows 95 and Windows NT. The following two sections address these differences. Refer to the section that applies to your operating system.
Power schemes A power scheme is a named set of properties selected in the Power Schemes window. For example, the Portables/Laptop power scheme changes the settings to maximize battery life in your notebook system. You can select one of three pre-defined power schemes from the Power schemes drop-down list. You can also create your own power scheme and add it to the list. To create a power scheme 1. In the Power Schemes window, set the properties as you want them to be in your power scheme. 2.
Alarm settings Even though there are several ways to keep tabs on your battery power, alarms letting you know that you might be about to lose battery power are useful. The Alarms window lets you turn off and turn on the alarms, set the point at which your notebook alerts you that your battery is running low, and select the notification method.
Using Standby mode in Windows 98 Windows 98 uses Standby mode. When in Standby mode, your notebook enters a sleep state. Cutting off power to most devices except memory. The following table shows how to change the system modes in Windows 98. If your notebook is... ...and you want to... ...then do this: Off Start up Press the power button On Standby Click Start, Shut Down, Standby, then click OK.
The following table shows how to change the system modes in Windows 95 and Windows NT. If your notebook is... ...and you want to... then do this: Off Start up Press the power button On Suspend Click Start, Suspend In Suspend mode Resume power Press the power button briefly On Shut down Click Start, Shut Down, Shut down the computer, then click Yes. Modifying the power button mode You can change the power button mode in the BIOS setup program from On/Off to Standby/Resume.
Using the Power Menu The Power menu is a part of the BIOS Setup Utility that contains the power management settings and system timeouts. Use the Power menu to make changes to the system to improve the battery-powered session time and performance. The rest of the BIOS Setup Utility screens are explained in Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your Solo Notebook. To access the Power Setup menu 1. Start-up your notebook. 2. Press the F2 key when prompted to do so. The “Entering Setup...
The settings you are most likely to change include: ♦ Power button mode; which sets power switch functionality. When you press the power button, the system can be set to either Shut Down or Suspend. Press the spacebar to select On/Off or Suspend/Resume. ♦ PM Control, which provide preset or customized power management. Setting this option to Maximum Performance provides the notebook with the best system performance.
Status display Note: Changes in power management levels are temporary and do not affect the power settings in the BIOS setup screens. The changes are only in effect until the system is rebooted or powered off, then the BIOS power settings are restored. The Status menu display feature is supported by the VGA controller chip. The displays appear in the upper left corner of the display and disappear after about 30 seconds.
Appendix A: Solo Notebook Accessories
Accessories Note: For more information on this or other Gateway accessories for your notebook, call (800) 8462000. We offer many accessories that can help you make the most of using your Solo notebook. Visit our website at www.gateway.com or call our Add-Ons group to help you find products that will best fit your needs.
Appendix B: Contacting Gateway Contacting Gateway .............................................. 56 Calling Gateway.............................................
Contacting Gateway Note: Your Client ID number and order number can be found on your invoice. The serial number can be found on the bottom of your notebook. If you have any trouble while using your Gateway Solo Multimedia Notebook, please contact Gateway. You will need to supply your Client ID, serial number, and order number to the customer support technicians. Make a note of these numbers here. If your computer is ever stolen, be sure to contact your local police and a Gateway representative at once.
Index A AC connector 8 AC power 12 accessories notebook 54 application key 18 arrow down 18 arrow up 17 assistance resources 56 audio connectors 35 audio recording creating 24, 26 auto dim with battery 14, 51 automobile/airline adapter 54 B batteries 40, 54 battery charger 54 battery gauge accuracy 40 battery latch 9, 42 battery learning software 40 battery life maximizing 44 battery pack bay 9 replacing 42 battery status 41 break function key 17 button power 2 standby/resume 2 C calling Gateway 56 U.S.
F9 17 fan 7 Fast IR 6 Fast IR port 34 function keys 16 break 17 pad lock 17 pause 17 power management 16 scroll lock 17 keys application 18 F10 17 F11 17 F12 17 F2 16 F3 16 F4 16 F6 16 F9 17 function 16 pad lock 18 Windows 18 G Gateway contacting 56 L H hard disk drive 4, 30 hard drive removing 30 replacing 30 http://www.gateway.
external 21 processor speed 9 N R notebook accessories 54 numeric keypad 17, 18 removing battery 9 hard disk drive 30 PC cards 32 replacing battteries 42 replacing drives hard disk 30 O on/off mode 51 order number 56 P pad lock 4 function keys 17, 18 parallel port 6 pause function key 17 PC card 32 cards 33 PC cards inserting 32 removing 32 using 32 PCMCIA.
T technical support 56 U USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports 34 using Fast IR port 34 keyboard 21 mouse 21 PC cards 32 V VGA port 7 video ports 35 volume wheel 5 W Windows key 18 Windows 98 standby mode 48 Z zoomed video 32 60 Using Your Gateway Solo™ 9100 Multimedia Notebook
Index 61
Regulatory Compliance Statements American Users: Caution! The Federal Communications Commission warns the users that changes or modifications to the unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.
This Information Technology Equipment has been tested and found to comply with the following European directives: European Users: [i]EMC Directive 89/336/EEC amending directive 92/31/EEC & 93/68/EEC as per - EN 50081-1:1992 according to EN 55022:1995 Class B EN 61000-3-2:1995 or EN 60555-2:1986 EN 61000-3-3: 1995 - EN50082-1:1992 according to EN 61000-4-2:1995 or IEC 801-2:1984 ENV 50140:1994 or IEC 801-3:1984 EN 61000-4-4:1988 or IEC 801-4:1998 [ii]Low Voltage Directive (Safety) 73/23/EEC as per EN 60950
Notices Copyright © 1998 Gateway 2000, Inc. All Rights Reserved 610 Gateway Drive N. Sioux City, SD 57049 USA All Rights Reserved This publication is protected by copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of it may be reproduced or transmitted by any means or in any form, without prior consent in writing from Gateway 2000. The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate. However, changes are made periodically.
