Asus A8N-E: 4 Using the Notebook PC

4 Using the Notebook PC

OS

Operating System

This Notebook PC may offer (depending on territory) its customers the choice of a pre-installed operating

system such as Microsoft Windows XP. The choices and languages will depend on the territory. The

levels of hardware and software support may vary depending on the installed operating system. The

stability and compatibility of other operating systems cannot be guaranteed.

Support Software

This Notebook PC comes with a support CD that provides BIOS,

drivers and applications to enable hardware features, extend

functionality, help manage your Notebook PC, or add functionality

not provided by the native operating system. If updates or

replacement of the support CD is necessary, contact your dealer

for web sites to download individual software drivers and utilities.

The support CD contains all drivers, utilities and software for all popular operating systems including

those that have been pre-installed. The support CD does not include the operating system itself. The

support CD is necessary even if your Notebook PC came pre-configured in order to provide additional

software not included as part of the factory pre-install.

A recovery CD is optional and includes an image of the original operating system installed on the hard

drive at the factory. The recovery CD provides a comprehensive recovery solution that quickly restores

the Notebook PC’s operating system to its original working state provided that your hard disk drive is

in good working order. Contact your retailer if you require such a solution.

Note: Some of the Notebook PC’s components and features may not work until the

device drivers and utilities are installed.

Touchpad activation with external USB mouse

Software on Notebook PC models with newer chipsets

will automatically disable the Notebook PC’s touchpad

when an external USB mouse is attached. To turn OFF

this feature, deselect the option in Windows Control

Panel - Mouse Properties - Device Settings.

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Using the Notebook PC 4

Pointing Device

The Notebook PC’s integrated touchpad pointing

Cursor

device is fully compatible with all two/three-button

Movement

and scrolling knob PS/2 mice. The touchpad is

pressure sensitive and contains no moving parts;

therefore, mechanical failures can be avoided. A

Vertical

device driver is still required for working with some

Scroll Area

application software.

IMPORTANT! Do not use any objects in

Right Click

place of your finger to operate the touch-

Left Click

pad or else damage may occur to the

touchpad’s surface.

Using the Touchpad

Light pressure with the tip of your finger is all that

is required to operate the touchpad. Because the

Slide finger

forward

touchpad is electrostatic sensitive, objects cannot

be used in place of your fingers. The touchpad’s

Slide

Slide finger

primary function is to move the cursor around or

finger left

right

select items displayed on the screen with the use of

your fingertip instead of a standard desktop mouse.

Slide finger

The following illustrations demonstrate proper use

backward

of the touchpad.

Moving The Cursor

Place your finger in the center of the touchpad and

slide in a direction to move the cursor.

Scrolling (on selected models)

Slide your finger up or down on the right side to

scroll a window up or down.

Scroll DownScroll Up

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4 Using the Notebook PC

Touchpad Usage Illustrations

Clicking/Tapping - With the cursor over an item, press the left button or use your fingertip to touch the

touchpad lightly, keeping your finger on the touchpad until the item is selected. The selected item will

change color. The following 2 examples produce the same results.

Clicking Tapping

(press the left cursor button and release) (lightly but rapidly strike the touchpad)

Double-clicking/Double-tapping - This is a common skill for launching a program directly from the

corresponding icon you select. Move the cursor over the icon you wish to execute, press the left button

or tap the pad twice in rapid succession, and the system launches the corresponding program. If the

interval between the clicks or taps is too long, the operation will not be executed. You can set the

double-click speed using the Windows Control Panel “Mouse.” The following 2 examples produce the

same results.

Double-Clicking

Double-Tapping

(press the left button twice and release) (lightly but rapidly strike the touchpad twice)

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Using the Notebook PC 4

Dragging - Dragging means to pick up an item and place it anywhere on the screen you wish. You can

move the cursor over the item you select, and while keeping the left button depressed, moving the

cursor to the desired location, then release the button. Or, you can simply double-tap on the item and

hold while dragging the item with your fingertip. The following illustrations produce the same results.

Dragging-Clicking Dragging-Tapping

(hold left button and slide finger on touchpad)

(lightly strike the touchpad twice, sliding finger

on touchpad during second strike)

NOTE: A software-controlled scrolling function is available after setting up the included

touchpad utility to allow easy Windows or web navigation. Basic functions can be ad-

justed at the Windows control panel to allow comfortable clicking and tapping.

Caring for the Touchpad

The touchpad is pressure sensitive. If not properly cared for, it can be easily damaged. Take note of the

following precautions.

• Make sure the touchpad does not come into contact with dirt, liquids or grease.

• Do not touch the touchpad if your fingers are dirty or wet.

• Do not rest heavy objects on the touchpad or the touchpad buttons.

• Do not scratch the touchpad with your finger nails or any hard objects.

NOTE: The touchpad responds to movement not to force. There is no need to tap the

surface too hard. Tapping too hard does not increase the responsiveness of the touch-

pad. The touchpad responds best to light pressure.

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4 Using the Notebook PC

Storage Devices

Storage devices allow the Notebook PC to read or write documents, pictures, and other files to various

data storage devices. This Notebook PC has the following storage devices:

• ExpressCard

• Optical drive

• Flash memory reader

• Hard disk drive

ExpressCard

One 26pin Express card socket is available to support one ExpressCard/34mm or one

ExpressCard/54mm expansion card. This new interface is faster by using a serial bus

supporting USB 2.0 and PCI Express instead of the slower parallel bus used in the PC

card socket. (Not compatible with previous PCMCIA cards.)

Inserting an ExpressCard

Be sure the ExpressCard

is level when inserting.

1. If there is an ExpressCard socket protector, re-

3. Carefully connect any cables or adapters

move it using the “Removing an ExpressCard”

needed by the ExpressCard. Usually connec-

instructions below.

tors can only be inserted in one orientation.

Look for a sticker, icon, or marking on one side

2. Insert the ExpressCard with the connector side first

of the connector representing the top side.

and label side up. Standard ExpressCards will be

flush with the Notebook PC when fully inserted.

Removing an ExpressCard

The ExpressCard socket does not have an eject

button. Press the ExpressCard inwards and release

to eject the ExpressCard. Carefully pull the ejected

ExpressCard out of the socket.

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Using the Notebook PC 4

Optical Drive

Inserting an optical disc

1. While the Notebook PC’s power is ON,

2. Gently pull on the drive’s front panel and slide

press the drive’s eject button and the tray

the tray completely out. Be careful not to touch

will eject out partially.

the CD drive lens and other mechanisms.

Make sure there are no obstructions that may

get jammed under the drive’s tray.

3. Hold the disc by the edge and face the disc’s

4. Slowly push the drive’s tray back in. The drive

printed side up. Push down on both sides of

will begin reading the table of contents (TOC)

the disc’s center until the disc snaps onto

on the disc. When the drive stops, the disc is

the hub. The hub should be higher than

ready to be used.

the disc when correctly mounted.

NOTE: It is normal to hear as well as feel the CD spinning with great intensity in the

CD drive while data is read.

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4 Using the Notebook PC

Power Management Modes

The Notebook PC has a number of automatic or adjustable power saving features that you can use to

maximize battery life and lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). You can control some of these features

through the Power menu in the BIOS Setup. ACPI power management settings are made through the

operating system. The power management features are designed to save as much electricity as possible

by putting components into a low power consumption mode as often as possible but also allow full

operation on demand. These low power modes are referred to as “Stand by” (or Suspend-to-RAM) and

“Hibernation” mode or Suspend-to-Disk (STD). The Standby mode is a simple function provided by

the operating system. When the Notebook PC is in either one of the power saving modes, the status will

be shown by the following: “Stand by”: Power LED Blinks and “Hibernation”: Power LED OFF.

Full Power Mode & Maximum Performance

The Notebook PC operates in Full Power mode when the power management function is disabled by

configuring Windows power management and SpeedStep. When the Notebook PC is operating in Full

Power Mode, the Power LED remains ON. If you are conscious of both system performance and power

consumption, select “Maximum Performance” instead of disabling all power management features.

ACPI

Advanced Configuration and Power Management (ACPI) was developed by Intel, Microsoft, and Toshiba

especially for Windows and later to control power management and Plug and Play features. ACPI is the

new standard in power management for Notebook PCs.

NOTE: APM was used in older operating systems like Windows NT4 and Windows 98.

Because newer operating systems like Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows ME

utilize ACPI, APM is no longer fully supported on this Notebook PC.

Suspend Mode

In “Stand by” (STR) and “Hibernation” (STD), the CPU clock is stopped and most of the Notebook PC

devices are put in their lowest active state. The suspend mode is the lowest power state of the Notebook

PC. The Notebook PC enters suspend mode when the system remains idle for a specified amount of time

or manually using the [Fn][F1] keys. The Power LED blinks when the Notebook PC is in STR mode. In

STD mode, the Notebook PC will appear to be powered OFF. Recover from STR by pressing any

keyboard button (except Fn). Recover from STD by using the power switch (just like powering

ON the Notebook PC).

Power Savings

In addition to reducing the CPU clock, this mode puts devices including the LCD backlight in their

lower active state. The Notebook PC enters “Stand by” mode (low priority) when the system remains

idle for a specified amount of time. The timeout can be set through Windows power management

(higher priority). To resume system operation, press any key.

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Using the Notebook PC 4

Power State Summary

STATE ENTRY EVENT EXIT EVENT

“Stand by” • “Stand by” through Windows Start button, • Any device

• Timer as set though “Power Management” • Battery low

in Windows Control Panel (higher priority) --

STR (“Stand by”) • Hotkey [Fn][F1] • Signal from modem port

(Suspend-to-RAM) -- • Power button • Any key

STD (“Hibernate”) • Hotkey [Fn][F1] • Power button

(Suspend-to-Disk) -- --

Soft OFF • Power button (can be defined as STR or STD) • Power button

• “Shut down” through Windows Start button --

Thermal Power Control

There are three power control methods for controlling the Notebook PC’s thermal state. These power

control cannot be configured by the user and should be known in case the Notebook PC should enter

these states. The following temperatures represent the chassis temperature (not CPU).

• The fan turns ON for active cooling when the temperature reaches the safe upper limit.

• The CPU decreases speed for passive cooling when the temperature exceeds the safe upper limit.

• The system shut down for critical cooling when temperature exceeds the maximum safe upper limit.

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4 Using the Notebook PC

Stand by and Hibernate

Power management settings can be found in the Windows control panel. The following shows the

power options properties in Windows. You can define “Stand By” or “Shut down” for closing the

display panel, pressing the power button, or activating sleep mode. “Stand by” and “Hibernate” saves

power when your Notebook PC is not in use by turning OFF certain components. When you resume

your work, your last status (such as a document scrolled down half way or email typed half way will

reappear as if you never left. “Shut down” will close all applications and ask if you want to save your

work if any are not saved.

“Stand by” is the same as Suspend-to-RAM (STR). This

function stores your current data and status in RAM while

many components are turned OFF. Because RAM is volatile,

it requires power to keep (refresh) the data. To operate: select

“Start” | “Shut down”, and “Stand by”.

“Hibernate” is the same as Suspend-to-Disk (STD) and

stores your current data and status on the hard disk drive. By

doing this, RAM does not have to be periodically refreshed

and power consumption is greatly reduced but not completely

eliminated because certain wake-up components like LAN

needs to remain powered. “Hibernate” saves more power

compared to “Stand by”. To operate: Enable hibernation in

“Power Options” and select “Start” | “Shut down”, and

“Hibernate”.

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Appendix

Optional Accessories

Optional Connections

Glossary

Declarations and Safety Statements

Notebook PC Information

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