Asus X50rl Hardware User Manual

							
41
Using the Notebook PC    4

Optical Drive
Inserting an optical disc 
1. While the Notebook PC’s power is ON, press 
the drive’s eject button and the tray will eject 
out partially.
2.  Gently pull on the drive’s front panel and slide 
the tray completely out. Be careful not to touch 
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 
printed side up. Push down on both sides of 
the disc’s center until the disc snaps onto the 
hub. The	 hub	 should	 be	higher 	than	 the	
disc	when	correctly	mounted.	
4. Slowly push the drive’s tray back in. The drive 
will begin reading the table of contents (TOC) 
on the disc. When the drive stops, the disc is 
ready to be used.
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

A CD drive letter should be present regardless of the presence of a CD disc in the drive. After the CD is 
properly inserted, data can be accessed just like with hard disk drives; except that nothing can be written 
to or changed on the CD. Using the proper software, a CD-RW drive or DVD+CD-RW drive can allow 
CD-RW discs to be used like a hard drive with writing, deleting, and editing capabilities. 
Vibration is normal for all high-speed optical drives due to unbalanced CDs or CD print. To decrease 
vibration, use the Notebook PC on an even surface and do not place labels on the CD.
Listening to Audio CD
The optical drives can play audio CDs, but only the DVD-ROM drive can play DVD audio. Insert the 
audio CD and Windows™ automatically opens an audio player and begins playing. Depending on the 
DVD  audio  disc  and  installed  software,  it  may  require  that  you  open  a  DVD  player  to  listen  to  DVD 
audio. You can adjust the volume using hotkeys or Windows™ speaker icon on the taskbar.
Using the Optical Drive
Optical  discs  and  equipment  must  be  handled  with  care  because  of  the  precise  mechanics  involved. 
Keep in mind the important safety instructions from your CD suppliers. Unlike desktop optical drives, 
the Notebook PC uses a hub to hold the CD in place regardless of the angle. When inserting a CD, it is 
important that the CD be pressed onto the center hub or else the optical drive tray will scratch the CD.
WARNING!  If the CD disc is not properly locked onto the center hub, the CD can be 
damaged when the tray is closed. Always watch the CD closely while closing the tray 
slowly to prevent damage.
Eject the tray and gently pry the edge of the disc 
upwards  at  an  angle  to  remove  the  disc  from 
the hub.
The emergency eject is located in a hole on the op-
tical drive and is used to eject the optical drive tray 
in case the electronic eject does not work. Do not 
use the emergency eject in place of the electronic 
eject. Note:	Make	 sure	not	to	stab	 the	activity	
indicator 	located	in	the	same	area.
Actual location will vary by model�
Optical Drive (Cont.)
Emergency ejectRemoving an optical disc  
						

							
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Using the Notebook PC    4

MS (Memory Stick)Duo/Pro/Duo Pro/MG
MS (Memory Stick)Select
MS (Memory Stick)Magic Gate (MG)
MS (Memory Stick)
MS adapter
MMC (Multimedia Card)SD (Secure Digital)

Supported Memory Types
IMPORTANT!  Never remove cards while or immediately after reading, copying, format-
ting, or deleting data on the card or else data loss may occur.
ASUS F5 ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
SD / MMC
MS / MS Pro
512MB
Flash Memory Card Reader
Normally a PCMCIA memory card reader must be purchased separately in order to use memory cards 
from devices such as digital cameras, MP3 players, mobile phones, and PDAs. This Notebook PC has 
a  single  built-in  memory  card  reader  that  can  read  the  following  flash  memory  cards:  Secure  Digital 
(SD),  Multi-Media  Card  (MMC),  Memory  Stick  (MS),  Memory  Stick  Select  (MS  Select),  Memory 
Stick Duo (with MS adapter), Memory Stick Pro, and Memory Stick Pro Duo (with MS Pro adapter). 
Memory Sticks may be standard or with MagicGate technology. The built-in memory card reader is not 
only  convenient,  but  also  faster  than  most  other  forms  of  memory  card  readers  because  it  utilizes  the 
high-bandwidth PCI bus.
Hard Disk Drive
Hard  disk  drives  have  higher  capacities  and  operate  at  much  faster  speeds  than 
floppy  disk  drives  and  optical  drives.  The  Notebook  PC  comes  with  a  replace-
able 2.5” (6.35cm) wide and approximately .374” (.95cm) high hard disk drive. 
Current hard drives support S.M.A.R.T. (Self Monitoring and Reporting Technol-
ogy) to detect hard disk errors or failures before they happen. When replacing or 
upgrading the hard drive, always visit an authorized service center or retailer for 
this Notebook PC. 
IMPORTANT!    Poor  handling  of  the  Notebook  PC  may  damage  the  hard  disk  drive. 
Handle  the  Notebook  PC  gently  and  keep  it  away  from  static  electricity  and  strong 
vibrations  or  impact.  The  hard  disk  drive  is  the  most  delicate  component  and  will 
likely be the first or only component that is damaged if the Notebook PC is dropped. 
						

							
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4    Using the Notebook PC

NOTE: The built-in modem and network cannot be installed later as an upgrade. After 
purchase, modem and/or network can be installed as an expansion card.
CAUTION: For electrical safety concerns, only use telephone cables rated 26AWG or 
higher. (see Glossary for more information)
NOTE: When you are connected to an online service, do not place the Notebook PC 
in suspend (or sleep mode) or else you will disconnect the modem conne\
ction.  
Connections
Example	of	the	Notebook	PC	connected	to	a	telephone	jack	for	use	with	the	built-in	modem:
OFFONEXPRESS
Modem Connection (on selected models)
The  telephone  wire  used  to  connect  the  Notebook  PC’s  internal  modem  should  have 
either two or four wires (only two wires (telephone line #1) is used by the modem) and 
should have an RJ-11 connector on both ends. Connect one end to the modem port and 
the other end to an analog telephone wall socket (the ones found in residential buildings). 
Once the driver is setup, the modem is ready to use. 
Telephone Wall Jack
Telephone cables with RJ-11 connectors
Telephone connection is optional
 Telephone connector is the smaller of the two� 
						

							
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Using the Notebook PC    4

WARNING!  Only use analog telephone outlets. The built-in modem does not support 
the voltage used in digital phone systems. Do not connect the RJ-11 to digital phone 
systems found in many commercial buildings or else damage will occur!
Example	of	the	 Notebook	 PC	connected	 to	a	Network	 Hub	or	Switch	 for	use	 with	 the	built-in	
Ethernet	controller.
Network Connection
Connect a network cable, with RJ-45 connectors on each end, to the modem/network port on the Note-
book PC and the other end to a hub or switch. For 100 BASE-TX / 1000 BASE-T speeds, your network 
cable must be category 5 or better (not category 3) with twisted-pair wiring. If you plan on running the 
interface at 100/1000Mbps, it must be connected to a 100 BASE-TX / 1000 BASE-T hub (not a BASE-T4 
hub). For 10Base-T, use category 3, 4, or 5 twisted-pair wiring. 10/100 Mbps Full-Duplex is supported 
on this Notebook PC but requires connection to a network switching hub with “duplex” enabled. The 
software default is to use the fastest setting so no user-intervention is required. 
1000BASE-T (or Gigabit) is only supported on selected models. 
 
Twisted-Pair Cable
The cable used to connect the Ethernet card to a host (generally a Hub or Switch) 
is  called  a  straight-through Twisted  Pair  Ethernet  (TPE). The  end  connectors  are 
called RJ-45 connectors, which are not compatible with RJ-11 telephone connectors. 
If connecting two computers together without a hub in between, a crossover LAN 
cable is required (Fast-Ethernet model). (Gigabit models support auto-crossover so 
a crossover LAN cable is optional.)
OFFONEXPRESS
Network Hub or Switch
Network cable with RJ-45 connectors
 LAN connector is the larger of the two� 
						

							
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4    Using the Notebook PC

These are examples of the Notebook PC connected to a Wireless Network�
Desktop PC
PDA
Notebook PC
Access Point
Desktop PC
PDA
Notebook PC
Wireless LAN Connection (on selected models)
The optional built-in wireless LAN is a compact easy-to-use wireless Ethernet adapter. Implementing 
the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless LAN (WLAN), the optional built-in wireless LAN is capable of 
fast data transmission rates using Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Orthogonal Frequency 
Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technologies on 2.4GHz/5GHz frequencies. The optional built-in wire-
less LAN is backward compatible with the earlier IEEE 802.11 standards allowing seamless interfacing 
of wireless LAN standards.
The  optional  built-in  wireless  LAN  is  a  client  adapter  that  supports  Infrastructure  and Ad-hoc  modes 
giving you flexibility on your existing or future wireless network configurations for distances up to 40 
meters between the client and the access point.
To provide efficient security to your wireless communication, the optional built-in wireless LAN comes 
with a 64-bit/128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) 
features.
Ad-hoc mode
The Ad-hoc mode allows the Notebook PC to connect 
to  another  wireless  device.  No  access  point  (AP)  is 
required in this wireless environment.
(All devices must install optional 802�11 wireless LAN adapters�)
Infrastructure mode
The Infrastructure mode allows the Notebook PC and 
other wireless devices to join a wireless network cre-
ated  by  an  Access  Point  (AP)  (sold  separately)  that 
provides a central link for wireless clients to commu-
nicate with each other or with a wired network.
(All devices must install optional 802�11 wireless LAN adapters�) 
						

							
4
Using the Notebook PC    4

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Bluetooth Wireless Connection (on selected models)
Notebook PCs with Bluetooth technology eliminates the need for cables for connecting Blue-
tooth-enabled devices. Examples of Bluetooth-enabled devices may be Notebook PCs, Desktop 
PCs, mobile phones, and PDAs. 
Note: If your Notebook PC did not come with built-in Bluetooth, you need to connect 
a USB or ExpressCard Bluetooth module in order to use Bluetooth. 
Bluetooth-enabled	mobile	phones
You can wireless connect to your mobile phone. Depending on your mobile phone’s ca-
pabilities, you can transfer phone book data, photos, sound files, etc. or use it as a modem 
to connect to the Internet. You may also use it for SMS messaging. 
Bluetooth-enabled	computers	or	PDAs
You can wireless connect to another computer or PDA and exchange files, share peripherals, 
or share Internet or network connections. You may also make use of Bluetooth-enabled 
wireless keyboard or mouse.
Pairing with Bluetooth-enabled devices
You first need to pair your Notebook PC with a Bluetooth-enabled device before you can 
connect to it. Make sure the Bluetooth-enabled device is turned ON and ready to accept a 
pair.  Launch Bluetooth	Settings	from  Windows Start	|	Programs	 |	Bluetooth	or  select 
Add	New	Connection	from the Bluetooth taskbar icon if available. 
Add New Connection from the Bluetooth taskbar iconBluetooth Settings from Windows Start | Programs | Bluetooth
Click New Connection from Bluetooth Settings�Follow the wizard to add Bluetooth devices�After complete, you should see your device in the window � 
						

							
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4    Using the Notebook PC

You can launch the Security Platform application from Windows “Control Panel”�
You can launch the Security Platform application from Windows “Start” menu� 
When the Security Platform is running, this icon will show in the Windows taskbar� You can choose to initialize or manage here�
When you launch the Security Platform application for the first time, answer Yes and follow the instructions to configure it.
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) (on selected models)
The TPM, or Trusted Platform Module, is a security hardware device on the system board that will hold 
computer-generated keys for encryption. It is a hardware-based solution that an help avoid attacks by 
hackers looking to capture passwords and encryption keys to sensitive data. The TPM provides the abil-
ity to the PC or notebook to run applications more secure and to make transactions and communication 
more trustworthy.  
The security features provided by the TPM are internally supported by the following cryptographic capa-
bilities of each TPM: hashing, random number generation, asymmetric key generation, and asymmetric 
encryption/decryption. Each individual TPM on each individual computer system has a unique signature 
initialized during the silicon manufacturing process that further enhances its trust/security effectiveness. 
Each individual TPM must have an Owner before it is useful as a security device. 
TPM	Applications	
TPM is useful for any customer that is interested in providing an addition layer of security to the com-
puter system. The TPM, when bundled with an optional security software package, can provide overall 
system  security,  file  protection  capabilities  and  protect  against  email/privacy  concerns.  TPM  helps 
provide security that can be stronger than that contained in the system BIOS, operating system, or any 
non-TPM application.  
Note: The TPM is disabled by default. Use BIOS setup to enable it.
Important: Use your TPM application’s “Restore” or “Migration” function to backup 
your TPM security data. 
						

							
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Using the Notebook PC    4

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 9. 
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 time-out can be set through Windows power management (higher priority). 
To resume system operation, press any key. 
						

							
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4    Using the Notebook PC

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 saf\
e 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.
Power State Summary
STATEENTRY EVENTEXIT EVENT
“Stand by”•   “Stand by” through Windows Start button•   Timer as set though “Power Management” in Windows Control Panel (higher priority)
•   Any device•   Battery low
STR (“Stand by”)(Suspend-to-RAM)•  Hotkey (see “Colored Hotkeys” under “Special Keyboard Functions” in the previous section)•   Signal from modem port•   Power button or any key
STD (“Hibernate”)(Suspend-to-Disk)•  Hotkey (see “Colored Hotkeys” under “Special Keyboard Functions” in the previous section)•   Power button
Soft OFF•   Power button (can be defined as STR or STD)•   “Shut down” through Windows Start button•   Power button