2 Oct 2001

This file contains the most up-to-date information on the following topics:

Sources of Information about the HP notebook computer and Windows

Precautions
Using Wireless LAN
Using an External Monitor
Removing the Hard Disk Drive
Playing DVD Movies
Using a TV as a Monitor
Using AOL 5.0 Software
Using a CD-RW Module with a Docking System

Windows 98
Swapping Plug-In Modules
Using the Infrared Port
Maintaining Power Management
Using a Video Card in the F1477 Docking System.

Windows 2000
Changing the Refresh Rate for an External Monitor
Using the Volume Controls
Booting from a Network
Reinstalling HP One-Touch
Using VirusScan with a Network Connection

Windows XP
Using an External Keyboard
Using Wireless LAN Connections
Using an Internet Proxy Server

Windows NT
Restoring Operation under Windows NT
Standby Mode and the F1477 Docking System
Using PC Cards
Installing VirusScan and Card Executive
Installing the Service Pack for Windows NT 4.0
Matching the Keyboard and Driver
Using Media Player
Dr. Watson Errors during Software Installation

Best Practices for Using Your HP Notebook Computer

Physical Care
General Use

Sources of Information

* The printed Startup Guide introduces the notebook computer and shows you the basics. It also contains
troubleshooting information.

For other Service and User Manuals, go to www.ManualDepot.com

* The online Reference Guide shows how to set up the operating system, install and connect accessories,
and maintain and upgrade the computer (Start, Programs, HP Library).

* The Microsoft Windows manual, shipped with your computer, contains information about using the
standard features of your Windows operating system.

* For updates to the BIOS and other technical documentation, connect to our website at
http://www.hp.com/notebooks or http://www.europe.hp.com/notebooks (European mirror).

Precautions

This section describes certain situations that could cause serious loss of data.

Do not remove a data storage PC Card while it is actively reading or writing. This could cause its data to
become corrupted.

Certain applications, such as Intuit's Quicken, keep their working files open, and they update the files as you
make changes. For such applications, you should open only files that reside on the hard drive, not on a
removable disk. An open file on a removable disk (such as a floppy disk or PC Card) is susceptible to
corruption in certain situations.

Before suspending, docking, or undocking your computer, always save your data and close any applications
you have open, especially applications that are not power aware, audio and video applications, and
applications using PC Cards and I/O devices such as a CD-ROM drive.

Using Wireless LAN

Here are some suggestions about setting the wireless LAN configuration:

* To set up an AdHoc connection between computers, select a channel that is not the same as or adjacent to
a channel used by a nearby access point, and use an SSID that is not used by a nearby access point.

* To set up encryption, you may have to enter the encryption key manually. If you know the key or are
creating the key, use the same key on all wireless products in the group.

If you know only the alphanumeric passphrase, run the key-conversion program to determine the correct
encryption key to use. Click Start, Programs, HP Wireless LAN, Encryption Key Converter. If the
passphrase was created for a Lucent/Agere-based wireless product, select that conversion option to find
the correct key. For other wireless products, use the other conversion option to find the key. You should
use that key for all products in the group. As an example, the HP F2135 and F2136 accessories are
Lucent/Agere-based products.

* When you connect to a wireless network via an access point, your computer should be able to use
network resources. If, when you log on, your computer cannot connect to network resources, your
computer may not have been assigned an IP address. To check your IP address, click Start, Run and type
winipcfg (for Windows 98) or ipconfig (for Windows 2000). If the subnet mask for your wireless
connection is 255.255.000.000, the network server did not assign an IP address to your computer, and
you may have to release and renew your network IP address--see the readme file mentioned below. If this
does not fix the problem, the access point may need to be rebooted.

* If you want to change the SSID to a different value to connect to a different access point, or if you want
to change from Infrastructure mode to AdHoc mode, you may first have to release and renew the internet
IP address. See the readme file mentioned below.
If you have trouble setting up or using a wireless LAN connection, see the information about wireless LAN
in c:\hp\Drivers\Wireless\Readme.txt.

Using an External Monitor

If you connect an external monitor to the computer, you can turn on both displays (internal and external) by
pressing Fn+F5 one or more times. If the image on the external monitor is offset to one side when both
displays are on, use the controls on the monitor to center the image.

You should avoid pressing Fn+F5 while graphic-intensive applications are running, such as OpenGL
applications. In some situations, switching displays can cause video corruption or application shutdown.

Removing the Hard Disk Drive

To remove the hard disk drive from the computer, you must remove three screws on the bottom of the
computer. One screw holds the cover, and two additional screws hold it through the bottom casing.

Playing DVD Movies

* The DVD player must be set to the region code used by DVD movies in your region of the world in order
to play movies. When you insert a DVD movie, the software detects the region code and asks you to set
your code. If you make a mistake, you can change the code only four times--then it is permanently locked
in the drive. Note: If you lock your DVD drive on a region code you do not want, the drive replacement is
not covered under your warranty, and you will be responsible for replacement or repair charges.

* When playing DVD movies on battery power, you should make sure your processor runs at optimum
speed for movies. In Windows 98 or 2000, set the SpeedStep setting to Max Performance. In Windows
XP, use Power Options in Control Panel to select the Portable/Laptop power scheme.

Using a TV as a Monitor

If you attach a TV to the S-video port and part of your Windows desktop extends beyond the edges of the
TV screen, try reducing the size of your desktop to 1024 x 768 resolution or lower. The TV may not be able
to display higher resolutions.

Using AOL 5.0 Software

AOL software version 5.0 automatically detects your modem and changes settings accordingly. However, if
your computer has an Ambit/ESS modem, the ESS generic modem settings may prevent the modem from
connecting at higher speeds. To change the settings, use the AOL software to open the Sign On screen, then
click Setup, Expert Setup. On the Devices tab, select the ESS modem and click Edit, then change the
modem to Hayes Compatible.

Using a CD-RW Module with a Docking System

If you use a CD-RW drive module in your notebook computer and in a docking system, you should
recalibrate the drive each time you move it, especially if you will be writing CDs. Use the CD-RW software
and a clean commercial CD for the calibration.
Windows 98

Swapping Plug-In Modules

In Windows 98, you should not remove or insert a plug-in module while the computer is in Standby mode.
Standby mode is indicated by a blinking power-mode light. If you installed BayManager hot-swap software,
you can click the taskbar icon and swap modules while the computer is turned on--but if you swap modules
in Standby mode, the computer may stop responding in certain situations. You can also swap modules when
the computer is shut down.

If you insert a plug-in module but it is not accessible in Windows, you can tell BayManager to recognize the
drive. To do this, double-click the BayManager icon in the taskbar, then click Insert in the BayManager
window.

Using the Infrared Port

If you use the infrared port in Windows 98, you should follow these suggestions:

* After enabling the infrared port in BIOS Setup, follow any additional setup instructions in
c:\hp\Drivers\Ir\Readme.txt.

* If you have problems sending or receiving data, see the notes about infrared use in
c:\hp\Drivers\Ir\Readme.txt.

* If you need to use the Recovery CD to reinstall the factory software on your hard disk, disable the
infrared port in BIOS Setup. The system may not restart correctly if this port is enabled.

Maintaining Power Management

When Windows 98 detects that your Automated Power Management (APM) system is not operating
properly, it may ask you whether you would like to disable APM. Answer No to ensure longer battery use.
If APM is disabled, the computer will not suspend, hibernate, or timeout.

In some cases, Windows 98 will automatically disable APM and remove the Standby option from the Shut
Down window. Use these steps to restore APM.

1. In Control Panel, open System.

2. On the System Manager tab, expand the System Devices item. Select Advanced Power Management and
click Remove.

3. Restart the computer.

4. In Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware and follow the prompts to install support for APM.

5. Restart the computer.

If you have problems, visit http://search.microsoft.com/default.asp and search for Q188134 in the Support
& the Knowledge Base. When the search is complete, click on the article entitled "Standby Missing from
Windows Shutdown Dialog Box."

Using a Video Card in the F1477 Docking System.

When using an external video adapter in the F1477 docking system, your computer may lock up when the
computer is suspended, or if you dock or undock the computer while it is turned on.

In Windows 98, to avoid this problem with an external video adapter in the docking system, set the Primary
Video Adapter BIOS setup option to Internal so that the BIOS uses the internal video adapter and leaves the
external video adapter for use by Windows 98 as a second video adapter. With this setting in Windows 98,
there are no restrictions to suspending the computer, or docking or undocking the computer while it is
turned on.

Windows 2000

Changing the Refresh Rate for an External Monitor

If you have an undesirable pulsating image on an external monitor connected to the computer, you may
want to change the refresh rate. To change the refresh rate for an external monitor, you should use the
following steps while the monitor is connected:

1. In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, Control Panel and double-click Display.

2. On the Settings tab, click Advanced.

3. On the ATI Display tab, click Monitor, then change the refresh setting.

Using the Volume Controls

When you use the volume bar on the right side of the computer or press Fn+F7, an on-screen display shows
the volume settings. However, if you open the Windows volume controls, such as by clicking the volume
icon in the taskbar, the on-screen display may stop working for the volume bar and Fn+F7, even though
these controls continue working. If this happens, you can restore the on-screen display by restarting the
computer.

Booting from a Network

If your computer has a built-in LAN port, you can boot from a network by making Intel Boot Agent the first
boot device in BIOS Setup. However, your computer may restart unexpectedly during the process of
booting. To avoid this, you should shut down the computer completely before rebooting.

Reinstalling HP One-Touch

Your computer comes with HP One-Touch software preinstalled. If you need to reinstall or update the HP
One-Touch software, you must log in as administrator to complete the installation properly.
Using VirusScan with a Network Connection

If you connect to a network using a logon that's different from your Windows logon, you may get an error
message from VirusScan each time you connect. To eliminate the message, assign Windows administrator
privileges to the network logon.

Windows XP

Using an External Keyboard

Fn hot-keys are not supported on any external PS/2 or USB keyboard under Windows XP. However, all
hot-key functions are available via software.

Using Wireless LAN Connections

If you want to turn the wireless radio on or off in Windows XP, you can press the wireless on-off button, or
you can use these methods:

* To turn off the radio, right-click the wireless connection icon in the taskbar and select Disable.

* To turn on the radio, click Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections, Network
Connections, then double-click the wireless network connection icon.

With Windows XP, you probably will not have problems setting up wireless encryption using passphrases
or hexadecimal keys. Therefore, the encryption key converter is not present in the Start menu. If you want
to use the key converter, run c:\hp\drivers\wireless\aeiwlwep.exe.

Using an Internet Proxy Server

If you set up an Internet connection that uses a LAN proxy server, you should enable the option for
bypassing the proxy server for local addresses. Otherwise, you may experience delays accessing local
computers or other resources on your network.

Windows NT 4.0

Restoring Operation under Windows NT

For Windows NT, if you install new services, hardware devices, or applications, you must reinstall the
Service Pack from the Recovery CD— see the topic farther below. This ensures that the Service Pack
components and other related components work properly. It will not write over any applications, settings, or
drivers you have installed.
For example, if you install Windows network support, you should reinstall the Service Pack so that other
components work properly.

Standby Mode and the F1477 Docking System

The computer may lock up if the computer is suspended while docked to the F1477 docking system. This is
true even if the Phoenix APM driver is loaded. To avoid suspending:

* Do not push the blue power button.

* Leave Time-out on AC disabled in the BIOS Setup.

Using PC Cards

Use of some point-enabled cards and possibly other cards may prevent the system from hibernating when
battery power is low. Instead, the batteries can drain to the point of a nonrecoverable shutdown (data is
lost). To prevent this from happening when using these cards, do not leave the system unattended when the
batteries may drain to this low level. Instead, either connect a charger or power the system off. If APM is
installed on the computer, the system will warn about low battery conditions. You should save any data at
this time.

Using multiple PC Cards configured with Auto configuration may cause IRQ conflicts. If this occurs,
configure the PC Cards manually when more than one is installed. When installing an ATA disk, run
winmsd.exe in \winnt\system32\ and click the Resources tab to find an unused IRQ (not displayed in the
list). In the factory configuration, IRQ 9 is usually available. Click OK to quit winmsd and then manually
configure the disk to the available IRQ.

Installing VirusScan and Card Executive

If you will be installing both McAfee VirusScan and Card Executive, install McAfee VirusScan first.

If you've already installed Card Executive, install the Windows NT Service Pack (see the next topic) before
installing VirusScan. If you don't install the Service Pack after Card Executive, you may get an error while
installing VirusScan. If you already got this error, install the Service Pack, then VirusScan.

Reinstalling the Service Pack for Windows NT 4.0

A recent Service Pack is installed by default in the original HP software. It is located on Recovery CD in
the root directory \NT4_SPX, where X shows you the Service Pack number on your computer. Follow these
steps if you need to install it again:

1. Connect the ac adapter and turn on the computer.

2. From the Start menu, click Run.

3. From the CD-ROM drive, run \NT4_SPX\SpXi386.exe, where X is the Service Pack number.

Matching the Keyboard and Driver

The Windows NT keyboard driver defaults to the OS language. For example, a unit with a French OS
defaults to the French keyboard driver, regardless of what keyboard is actually installed. If your computer
has a keyboard other than the standard keyboard for your OS language (for example,
French Canadian), the keyboard may not work properly.

To select the correct driver for your keyboard

1. From Control Panel, double-click Keyboard, Input Locales.

2. Select the correct keyboard input locales and layout for your keyboard.

Using Media Player

If Media Player does not play certain AVI files correctly, try opening them with Mplay32.exe. Click Start,
Run, type mplay32 and click OK.

Dr. Watson Errors during Software Installation

If you get a Dr. Watson error message during a software installation, acknowledge the message and
continue the installation. For more information about the Dr. Watson utility, see the Microsoft website at
http://www.microsoft.com.

Best Practices for Using Your HP Notebook Computer

The following are recommendations on how to maintain your notebook computer during everyday use, as
well as how to prevent potential physical damage or data loss. Hard disk drives and other internal
components are not infallible, and can be damaged by inappropriate handling and operation.

Physical Care

* Avoid bumps or jolts.

- Suspend or shut down the computer before transporting it. This turns off the hard drive. A drop of a
few inches onto a rigid surface while the hard drive is operating could cause loss of data or damage to
the drive.
- Carry the computer in a padded case to protect against bumps and jolts.
- Set down the computer gently. Take precautions against accidental bumps.
- Do not operate the computer while traveling over bumpy terrain.

* Make sure there is adequate ventilation around the computer. Suspend or shut down the computer before
putting it in a carrying case or other enclosed space.

* Do not pick up or carry the computer by the display.

* Do not use the computer outside in the rain or snow (inclement weather) or in any extremes of
temperature or humidity.

General Use
* Set the brightness of your display to the lowest comfortable level. This will help prolong your battery
charge.

* Back up your work regularly. Copy files to floppy, tape or network drives.

* Use a virus scanning program, preferably one that will run automatically, to check the integrity of your
files and operating system on a periodic basis. Check your disk using "scandisk" and "defrag" utilities.

* Before undocking, you may need to shut down the computer.

- For Plug-n-Play operating systems, you do not have to shut down before undocking.

See your manual for details on how to start and stop your HP notebook computer.

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