Asus X50rl Hardware User Manual

							
21
3. Getting Started
Using AC Power
Using Battery Power
Powering ON the Notebook PC
Checking Battery Power    
Restarting or Rebooting
Powering OFF the Notebook PC
Special Keyboard Functions
Switches and Status Indicators 
						

							
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3    Getting Started

IMPORTANT!  Damage may occur if you use a different adapter to power the Notebook 
PC  or  use  the  Notebook  PC’s  adapter  to  power  other  electrical  devices.  If  there  is 
smoke, burning scent, or extreme heat coming from the AC-DC adapter, seek servic-
ing. Seek servicing if you suspect a faulty AC-DC adapter. You may damage both your 
battery pack(s) and the Notebook PC with a faulty AC-DC adapter.
NOTE: This Notebook PC may come with either a two or three-prong plug depending 
on territory. If a three-prong plug is provided, you must use a grounded AC outlet or 
use a properly grounded adapter to ensure safe operation of the Notebook\
 PC.
WARNING! THE POWER ADAPTER MAY BECOME WARM TO HOT WHEN IN USE. BE 
SURE NOT TO COVER THE ADAPTER AND KEEP IT AWAY FROM YOUR BODY.
Power System
Using AC Power
The Notebook PC power is comprised of two parts, 
the  power  adapter  and  the  battery  power  system. 
The power adapter converts AC power from a wall 
outlet to the DC power required by the Notebook 
PC.  Your  Notebook  PC  comes  with  a  universal 
AC-DC adapter. That means that you may connect 
the power cord to any 100V-120V as well as 220V-
240V  outlets  without  setting  switches  or  using 
power converters. Different countries may require 
that  an  adapter  be  used  to  connect  the  provided 
US-standard AC power cord to a different standard. 
Most hotels will provide universal outlets to sup-
port different power cords as well as voltages. It is always best to ask an experienced traveler about AC 
outlet voltages when bringing power adapters to another country. 
TIP:  You  can  buy  travel  kits  for  the  Notebook  PC  that  includes  power  and  modem 
adapters for almost every country.
With the AC power cord connected to the AC-DC converter, connect the AC power cord to an AC outlet 
(preferably with surge-protection) and then connect the DC plug to the Notebook PC. Connecting the 
AC-DC adapter to the AC outlet first allows you to test the AC outlet’s power and the AC-DC converter 
itself for compatibility problems before connecting the DC power to the Notebook PC. The power indi-
cator on the adapter (if available) will light if the power is within \
accepted ranges. 
						

							
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Getting Started    3

IMPORTANT!    Never  attempt  to  remove  the  battery  pack  while  the  Notebook  PC  is 
turned ON, as this may result in the loss of working data.
IMPORTANT!  Only use battery packs and power adapters supplied with this Notebook 
PC or specifically approved by the manufacturer or retailer for use with this model or 
else damage may occur to the Notebook PC.
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To install the battery pack:To remove the battery pack:
WARNING!  For  safety  reasons,  DO  NOT  throw  the  battery  in  fire,  DO  NOT 
short  circuit  the  contacts,  and  DO  NOT  disassemble  the  battery.  If  there  is 
any  abnormal  operation  or  damage  to  the  battery  pack  caused  by  impact, 
turn OFF the Notebook PC and contact an authorized service center.
Battery Care
The Notebook PC’s battery pack, like all rechargeable batteries, has a limit on the number times it can be recharged. The battery pack’s useful life will depend on your environment temperature, humidity, and how your Notebook PC is used. It is ideal that the battery be used in a temperature range between 5˚C and 35˚C (41˚F and 95˚F). You must also take into account that the Notebook PC’s internal temperature is higher than the outside temperature. Any temperatures above or below this range will shorten the life of the battery. But in any case, the battery pack’s usage time will eventually decrease and a new battery pack must be purchased from an authorized dealer for this Notebook PC. Because batteries also have a shelf life, it is not recommended to buy extras for storing.
Using Battery Power
The Notebook PC is designed to work with a removable battery pack. The battery pack consists of a set 
of battery cells housed together. A fully charged pack will provide several hours of battery life, which 
can be further extended by using power management features through the BIOS setup. Additional battery 
packs are optional and can be purchased separately through a Notebook PC\
 retailer.
Installing and Removing the Battery Pack
Your Notebook PC may or may not have its battery pack installed. If your Notebook PC does not have 
its battery pack installed, use the following procedures to install the \
battery pack. 
						

							
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3    Getting Started

IMPORTANT! If warnings are still given during bootup after running a software disk 
checking  utility,  you  should  take  your  Notebook  PC  in  for  servicing.  Continued  use 
may result in data loss. 
IMPORTANT!  To protect the hard disk drive, always wait at least 5 seconds after turn-
ing OFF your Notebook PC before turning it back ON. 
NOTE:  Before bootup, the display panel flashes when the power is turned ON. This is 
part of the Notebook PC’s test routine and is not a problem with the \
display.
WARNING! DO NOT carry or cover a Notebook PC that is powered ON with any materi-
als that will reduce air circulation such as a carrying bag.
Powering ON the Notebook PC
The Notebook PC’s power-ON message appears on the screen when you turn it ON. If necessary, you 
may adjust the brightness by using the hot keys. If you need to run the BIOS Setup to set or modify the 
system  configuration,  press  [F2]  upon  bootup  to  enter  the  BIOS  Setup.  If  you  press  [Tab]  during  the 
splash screen, standard boot information such as the BIOS version can be seen. Press [ESC] and you will 
be presented with a boot menu with selections to boot from your availabl\
e drives.
The Power-On Self Test (POST)
When you turn ON the Notebook PC, it will first run through a series of software-controlled diagnos-
tic  tests  called  the  Power-On  Self Test  (POST). The  software  that  controls  the  POST  is  installed  as  a 
permanent part of the Notebook PC’s architecture. The POST includes a record of the Notebook PC’s 
hardware configuration, which is used to make a diagnostic check of the system. This record is created 
by using the BIOS Setup program. If the POST discovers a difference between the record and the exist-
ing hardware, it will display a message on the screen prompting you to correct the conflict by running 
BIOS Setup. In most cases the record should be correct when you receive the Notebook PC. When the 
test is finished, you may get a message reporting “No operating system found” if the hard disk was not 
preloaded with an operating system. This indicates that the hard disk is correctly detected and ready for 
the installation of a new operating system.
Self Monitoring and Reporting Technology
The S.M.A.R.T. (Self Monitoring and Reporting Technology) checks the hard disk drive during POST and 
gives a warning message if the hard disk drive requires servicing. If any critical hard disk drive warning 
is given during bootup, backup your data immediately and run Windows disk checking program. To run 
Window’s disk checking program: (1) right-click any hard disk drive icon in “My Computer”, (2) choose 
Properties, (3) click the Tools tab, (4) click Check Now, (5) select a hard disk drive, (6) select Thorough to 
also check for physical damages, and (7) click Start. Third party disk utilities such as Symantec’s Norton 
Disk Doctor can also perform the same functions but with greater ease and more features. 
						

							
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Getting Started    3

NOTE:  You  will  be  warned  when  battery  power  is  low.  If  you 
continue to ignore the low battery warnings, the Notebook PC 
eventually enters suspend mode (Windows default uses STR).
WARNING!  Suspend-to-RAM (STR) does not last long when the battery power is depleted. 
Suspend-to-Disk  (STD)  is  not  the  same  as  power  OFF.  STD  requires  a  small  amount  of 
power and will fail if no power is available due to complete battery depletion or no power 
supply (e.g. removing both the power adapter and battery pack).
Right-click the battery icon for sub-menus�Left-click the battery icon for power management settings�
Note: Screen captures shown here are examples only and may not re-flect what you see in your system. 
Move your mouse over the battery icon for remaining power information�
When the AC power is connected, charging status will be shown� 
WARNING!  Do not leave the battery pack discharged. The battery pack will discharge 
over  time.  If  not  using  a  battery  pack,  it  must  continued  to  be  charged  every  three 
months to extend recovery capacity or else it may fail to charge in the \
future. 
NOTE: The battery stops charging if the temperature is too high or the battery voltage 
is too high. BIOS provides a smart battery refreshing function. If the battery calibration 
process fails, stop charging and contact an authorized service center.
Checking Battery Power
The  battery  system  implements  the  Smart  Battery  standard  under the Windows  environment,  which  allows  the  battery  to  accurately report the amount of charge left in the battery. A fully-charged battery pack provides the Notebook PC a few hours of working power. But the actual figure varies depending on how you use the power saving features, your general work habits, the CPU, system memory size, 
and the size of the display panel.
To  check  the  remaining battery  power,  move  your  cursor  over  the power icon. The power icon is a “battery” when not using AC power and  a  “plug”  when  using AC  power.  Double  click  on  the  icon  for more information and settings.
Charging the Battery Pack
Before you use your Notebook PC on the road, you will have to charge the battery pack. The battery pack 
begins to charge as soon as the Notebook PC is connected to external power using the power adapter. 
Fully charge the battery pack before using it for the first time. A new battery pack must completely charge 
before the Notebook PC is disconnected from external power. It takes a few hours to fully charge the 
battery  when  the  Notebook  PC  is  turned  OFF  and  may  take  twice  the  time  when  the  Notebook  PC  is 
turned ON. The battery charge light turns OFF when the battery pack is charged. 
						

							
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3    Getting Started

Restarting or Rebooting
After  making  changes  to  your  operating  system, 
you  may  be  prompted  to  restart  the  system.  Some 
installation  processes  will  provide  a  dialog  box  to 
allow  restart. To  restart  the  system  manually,  click 
Windows  Start  button  and  select  Shut  Down  and 
then choose Restart. 
Powering OFF
In  Windows  XP,  power  OFF  the  Notebook  PC  by 
clicking Windows Start button and select Shut Down 
and  then  choose  Turn  off  (or  Shut  down).  For  op-
erating systems without proper power management 
(DOS, Windows NT), you must close all applications and exit operating systems and then power OFF 
by holding the power switch for 2 seconds (as opposed to 1 second to power ON). Holding the power 
switch for 2 seconds is necessary in order to prevent accidental power-OFFs.
IMPORTANT!  To protect the hard drive, wait at least 5 seconds after turning OFF your 
Notebook PC before turning it back ON. 
(Screens are different depending on security settings�)
IMPORTANT!  Do not use emergency shutdown while data is being written; doing so 
can result in loss or destruction of your data.
TIP:  Use  a  straightened  paper  clip  to 
press the shutdown button.
Emergency Shutdown
In  case  your  operating  system  cannot  properly  turn  OFF  or  restart,  there  are  two  additional  ways  to 
shutdown your Notebook PC:
(1) Hold the power button  over 4 seconds, or  (2) Press the shutdown button . 
						

							
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Getting Started    3

Special Keyboard Functions
Colored Hot Keys
The  following  defines  the  colored  hot  keys  on  the  Notebook  PC’s  keyboard.  The 
colored  commands  can  only  be  accessed  by  first  pressing  and  holding  the  function 
key while pressing a key with a colored command.
ASUS F5 ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
NOTE: The Hot Key locations on the function keys may vary depending on model but the 
functions should remain the same. Follow the icons instead of the functi\
on keys.
(continued on next page)
Radio	Tower	(F2):	Wireless  Models  Only: Toggles  the  internal  wireless  LAN  or  Blue-
tooth (on selected models) ON or OFF with an on-screen-display. When enabled, the cor-
responding wireless indicator will light. Windows software settings are necessary to use 
the wireless LAN or Bluetooth.
Speaker 	Down	Icon	(F11):	
Decreases the speaker volume (only in Windows OS)
Scr	Lk	 (Del): Toggles the “Scroll Lock” ON and OFF. Allows you to use a larger portion 
of the keyboard for cell navigation.
Num	 Lk	(Ins): Toggles the numeric keypad (number lock) ON and OFF. Allows you to 
use a larger portion of the keyboard for number entering.
Speaker 	Up	Icon	(F12):	
Increases the speaker volume (only in Windows OS)
Speaker	Icons	(F10):	
Toggles the speakers ON and OFF (only in Windows OS)
LCD/Monitor 	Icons 	(F8): Toggles between the Notebook PC’s LCD display and an external 
monitor in this series: Notebook PC LCD -> External Monitor -> Both. (This function does 
not work in 256 Colors, select High Color in Display Property Settings.) IMPORTANT:	
Connect	an	external	monitor 	before	booting	up	the	Notebook	PC.
LCD	Icon	(F7):	Toggles the display panel ON and OFF. This also stretches your screen 
area (on certain models) to fill the entire display when using low resolution modes.
Open	Sun	Icon	(F6):	
Increases the display brightness
Filled	Sun	Icon	(F5):	
Decreases the display brightness
“Zz”	 Icon	(F1):	Places the Notebook PC in suspend mode (either Save-to-RAM or Save-
to-Disk depending on sleep button setting in power management setup). 
						

							
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3    Getting Started

Colored Hot Keys (Cont.)
Fn+V: Toggles “ASUS Life Frame” software application.
Battery ModeAC Mode
Power4	Gear+	(Fn+Space	 Bar): The  Power4  Gear+  button  toggles  power  savings  be-
tween various power saving modes. The power saving modes control many aspects of the 
Notebook PC to maximize performance versus battery time.
When  you  are  using  an  AC  power  adapter,  Power4  Gear+  will  switch  between  modes 
in  the AC  power  mode  segment. When  you  remove  the AC  adapter,  Power4  Gear+  will 
switch between modes in the battery (DC) mode segment. When you remove or apply the 
AC adapter, Power4 Gear+ will automatically shift you up or down into the proper mode 
segment (AC or DC).
Fn+T: Toggles “ASUS Power 4 Phone” software application.
OSD Icons
Fn+C: Toggles “Splendid Video Intelligent Technology” function ON and OFF. This al-
lows switching between different display color enhancement modes in order to improve 
contrast, brightness, skin tone, and color saturation for red, green, and blue independently. 
You can see the current mode through the on-screen display (OSD). 
						

							
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Getting Started    3

NOTE: The arrow symbols are illustrated here for your reference. They are not labeled 
on the keyboard as shown here.
Microsoft Windows Keys
There are two special Windows keys on the keyboard as described below.
The key with the Windows Logo activates the Start menu located at the bottom left of the Win-
dows desktop.
The other key, that looks like a Windows menu with a small cursor, activates the properties menu 
and is equivalent to pressing the right mouse button on a Windows object. 
Keyboard as a Numeric Keypad 
The  numeric  keypad  is  embedded  in  the  keyboard  and 
consists of 15 keys that make number intensive input more 
convenient. These dual-purpose keys are labeled in orange on 
the key caps. Numeric assignments are located at the upper 
right hand corner of each key as shown in the figure. When 
the  numeric  keypad  is  engaged  by  pressing  [Fn][Ins/Num 
LK], the number lock LED lights up. If an external keyboard 
is  connected,  pressing  the  [Ins/Num  LK]  on  the  external 
keyboard enables/disables the NumLock on both keyboards 
simultaneously. To disable the numeric keypad while keeping 
the keypad on an external keyboard activated, press the  [Fn][Ins/Num LK] keys on the Notebook PC.
Keyboard as Cursors
The keyboard can be used as cursors while Number Lock is 
ON or OFF in order to increase navigation ease while entering 
numeric data in spreadsheets or similar applications.
With	Number 	Lock	 OFF, press [Fn] and one of the cursor 
keys shown below. For example [Fn][] for up, [Fn][K] for 
down, [Fn][U] for left, and [Fn][O] for right. 
With	 Number 	Lock	 ON, use [Shift] and one of the cursor 
keys shown below. For example [Shift][] for up, [Shift][K] 
for down, [Shift][U] for left, and [Shift][O] for right. 
						

							
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3    Getting Started

Switches
Switches and Status Indicators
ASUS F5 ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Battery ModeAC Mode
Power4 Gear+ Key
The Power4 Gear+ button toggles power savings between various power saving modes. The 
power saving modes control many aspects of the Notebook PC to maximize performance 
versus battery time.
When you are using an AC power adapter, Power4 Gear+ will switch between modes in the 
AC power mode segment. When you remove the AC adapter, Power4 Gear+ will switch between modes 
in the battery (DC) mode segment. When you remove or apply the AC adapter, Power4 Gear+ will au-
tomatically shift you up or down into the proper mode segment (AC or DC).
Internet Launch Key
Pressing this button will launch your Internet browser application while\
 Windows is running.
Touchpad Lock Key
Pressing this button will lock (disable) the built-in touchpad. Locking the touchpad will prevent you from 
accidentally moving the cursor while typing and is best used with an external mouse (pointing device). 
To unlock (enable) the touchpad, simply press this button again.
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Instant Fun PLUS
Pressing this button will launch a media player application to view DVDs, VCDs, videos, photos 
(in My Documents\My Pictures), or television programs (when equipped with a TV tuner); or 
listen to music CDs or files.