NEC VERSA P User manual

First Printing —November 1994

NEC Technologies, Inc. NEC Corporation

1414 Massachusetts Avenue 7-1 Shiba 5-Chome, Minato-Ku

Boxborough, MA 01719 Tokyo 108-01, Japan

PROPRIETARY NOTICE AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related

materials, is the valuable property of NEC Corporation (NEC) and/or its licensors.

NEC and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reserve all patent, copyright and other

proprietary rights to this document, including all design, manufacturing,

reproduction, use, and sales rights thereto, except to the extent said rights are

expressly granted to others.

The 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 must be determined by the customer and is not

warranted by NEC.

To allow for design and specification improvements, the information in this

document is subject to change at any time, without notice. Reproduction of this

document or portions thereof without prior written approval of NEC is prohibited.

Versa is a U.S. trademark of NEC Technologies, Inc.

All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or

registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

Using this Guide ix

Using this Guide

This Versa™ P Series User’s Guide contains all the infor-

mation you need to use your notebook computer. To help

you get the most out of your Versa P, this guide describes

system features, options, and setup programs.

Read the following chapters to find out more about

your Versa P.

■Chapter 1 gives basic information like setting up the

notebook computer, using function keys, and reading

LCD status icons.

Chapter 1 describes the Versa P buttons, controls,

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 battery power.

■Chapter 5 introduces you to the Versa P Auto Setup

program. This software lets you change the system

date and time, set a password, and define many other

system options.

■Chapter 6 gives you a checklist to follow if you

have problems with the Versa P. Solutions are

also suggested.

x Using this Guide

■Chapter 7 provides telephone numbers for NEC help and

information lines. This chapter guides you to locating

the help you need for basic system service or upgrades.

■Chapter 8 provides switch setting information on SW1.

■Appendix A lists system specifications.

■Appendix B describes the NEC Communications

Assistant.

■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 particularly important information

about whatever is being described.

TIPS: Tips give helpful hints about getting the most

out of your system.

Using this Guide xi

■Names of keys are printed as they appear on the key-

board, for example, Ctrl, Alt, or Enter.

■Text that you have to type or keys that you must press

are presented in bold type. For example, type dir and

press Enter.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

In addition to this guide, a number of other documents ship

with your Versa P system, including:

Hardware Documents

■

The Versa P Quick Setup shows you how to set up your

system after you unpack it.

■The Versa P Series 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.

■The Versa Series PCMCIA User’s Guide contains

information about optional PCMCIA cards, their

installation, and use.

Software Documents

■

Microsoft Windows and MS-DOS 6 User’s Guide pro-

vides a comprehensive source of information for using

Windows™ and MS-DOS®.

Contents iii

Contents

Using this Guide...................................................................... ix

Text Setup ............................................................... x

Related Documents................................................... xi

1 Getting to Know Your New Information Tool

What’s in the Box .................................................... 1-1

The Outside of the Unit ............................................ 1-2

Versa P Setup .......................................................... 1-5

Opening the LCD Panel....................................... 1-5

Closing the LCD Panel........................................ 1-6

Connecting the AC 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

VersaBay............................................................ 1-29

Promotional Software.......................................... 1-29

Plug and Play...................................................... 1-29

iv Contents

Batteries.............................................................. 1-30

Main Battery.................................................. 1-30

Bridge Battery................................................ 1-31

CMOS Battery............................................... 1-32

Online Help......................................................... 1-32

System Care............................................................. 1-33

Precautions ......................................................... 1-33

Storage Requirements.......................................... 1-34

Routine Cleaning................................................. 1-34

2 Using Your Versa P for Multimedia

Audio....................................................................... 2-1

Recording............................................................ 2-1

Line-In........................................................... 2-2

Microphone.................................................... 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.............................. 3-4

Connecting a Phone and a Versa P.................. 3-6

Memory Expansion .................................................. 3-8

Contents v

Hard Disk ................................................................ 3-10

External Devices ...................................................... 3-13

Parallel Devices................................................... 3-13

Serial Devices ..................................................... 3-15

External Keyboard .............................................. 3-16

Mouse................................................................. 3-18

Monitor............................................................... 3-19

Stereo Speakers/Headphones ............................... 3-21

External Microphone........................................... 3-21

Line-In Audio...................................................... 3-21

Docking Station........................................................ 3-22

Expansion Bays................................................... 3-22

Expansion Slots................................................... 3-22

Ports................................................................... 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 at the Screen..................................... 5-3

Using Key Functions ...................................... 5-4

Checking/Setting System Parameters .............. 5-5

vi Contents

System Parameter Options........................................ 5-6

Comms ............................................................... 5-8

Drives................................................................. 5-8

Keyboard............................................................ 5-9

Power ................................................................. 5-10

System................................................................ 5-12

Time/Date........................................................... 5-12

Security Options....................................................... 5-13

System Password ................................................ 5-13

Setting an Initial System Password ................. 5-13

Using the System Password............................ 5-14

Removing/Replacing a Password.................... 5-15

Keyboard Lock Hotkey........................................ 5-16

6 Problem 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 Services .......... 7-7

NEC Customer Service Response Center............. 7-8

Mail-in Service......................................................... 7-9

Maintenance Contracts............................................. 7-9

Contents vii

8 Setting Switch Functions

A Specifications

B NEC Communications Assistant

C Using the BIOS Update Utility

Receiving the BUU................................................... C-4

Start-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 TablesAutomatic Power-Saving Features............................ 4-1

Auto Setup Quick Reference..................................... 5-4

System Parameter Options........................................ 5-7

Troubleshooting ....................................................... 6-2

POST Error Messages.............................................. 6-4

viii Contents

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