HP Pavilion G4 2100 Notebook Pc Series User Guide

							Conserving battery power
Use the following tips for conserving battery power and maximizing battery life:
●Lower the brightness on the display.
●Select the Power saver setting in Power Options.
●Remove the battery from the computer when it is not being used or charged.
●Turn off wireless devices when you are not using them.
●Disconnect unused external devices that are not plugged into an external power source, such as
an external hard drive connected to a USB port.
●Stop, disable, or remove any external media cards that you are not using.
●Before you leave your computer, initiate Sleep or Hibernation, or shut down the computer.
Identifying low battery levels
When a battery that is the sole power source for the computer reaches a low or critical battery level,
the power meter icon in the notification area displays a low or critical battery notification.
NOTE:For additional information about the power meter, see Using the power meter on page 38.
The computer takes the following actions for a critical battery level:
●If Hibernation is enabled and the computer is on or in the Sleep state, the computer initiates
Hibernation.
●If Hibernation is disabled, and the computer is on or in the Sleep state, the computer remains
briefly in the Sleep state, and then shuts down and loses any unsaved information.
Storing a user-replaceable battery
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of damage to a battery, do not expose it to high temperatures for
extended periods of time.
If your computer will be unused and unplugged from external power for more than 2 weeks, remove
the battery and store it separately in a cool, dry place to prolong the battery charge.
A stored battery should be checked every 6 months. If the capacity is less than 50 percent, recharge
the battery before returning it to storage.
Running on battery power 41 
						

							Disposing of a user-replaceable battery
WARNING!To reduce the risk of fire or burns, do not disassemble, crush, or puncture; do not short
external contacts; do not dispose of in fire or water.
See the Regulatory, Safety and Environmental Notices for proper battery disposal. To access this
guide, select Start > Help and Support > User Guides.
Replacing a user-replaceable battery
Battery Check in Help and Support notifies you to replace the battery when an internal cell is not
charging properly or when the battery storage capacity has reached a weak condition. If the battery is
possibly covered by an HP warranty, instructions include a warranty ID. A message refers you to the
HP website for more information about ordering a replacement battery.
42 Chapter 6   Managing power 
						

							Running on external power
For information about connecting to AC power, see the Setup Instructions provided in the computer
box.
The computer does not use battery power when the computer is connected to external power with an
approved AC adapter or an optional docking/expansion device.
WARNING!To reduce potential safety issues, use only the AC adapter provided with the computer,
a replacement AC adapter provided by HP, or a compatible AC adapter purchased from HP.
Connect the computer to external power under any of the following conditions:
WARNING!Do not charge the computer battery while you are onboard an aircraft.
●When charging or calibrating a battery
●When installing or modifying system software
●When writing information to a disc
●When running Disk Defragmenter on computers with internal hard drives
●When performing a backup or recovery
When you connect the computer to external power:
●The battery begins to charge.
●The display brightness increases.
●The Power Meter icon in the notification area changes appearance.
When you disconnect external power, the following events occur:
●The computer switches to battery power.
●The display brightness automatically decreases to save battery life.
●The Power Meter icon in the notification area changes appearance.
Running on external power 43 
						

							HP CoolSense
HP CoolSense  automatically detects when the computer is not in a stationary position and
adjusts performance and fan settings to keep the surface temperature of your computer at the
optimum level of comfort.
When HP CoolSense is off, the position of the computer is not detected and the performance and fan
options remain at the factory setting. As a result, the surface temperature of the computer may be
higher than it would be with HP CoolSense on.
To turn CoolSense off or on, follow these steps:
1.Select Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > HP CoolSense.
2.Select On or Off.
Shutting down the computer
CAUTION:Unsaved information is lost when the computer shuts down.
The Shut down command closes all open programs, including the operating system, and then turns
off the display and computer.
Shut down the computer under any of the following conditions:
●When you need to replace the battery or access components inside the computer
●When you are connecting an external hardware device that does not connect to a USB or video
port
●When the computer will be unused and disconnected from external power for an extended
period
Although you can shut down the computer with the power button, the recommended procedure is to
use the Windows Shut down command:
NOTE:If the computer is in the Sleep state or in Hibernation, you must first exit Sleep or
Hibernation before shutdown is possible.
1.Save your work and close all open programs.
2.Select Start > Shut down.
If the computer is unresponsive and you are unable to use the preceding shutdown procedures, try
the following emergency procedures in the sequence provided:
●Press ctrl+alt+delete, and then click the Shut down icon on the display.
●Press and hold the power button for at least 5 seconds.
●Disconnect the computer from external power.
●Remove the battery.
44 Chapter 6   Managing power 
						

							7 Managing and sharing information
Drives are digital storage devices or solid-state drives that help you store, manage, share, and
access information. Your computer has an internal hard drive that stores your computers software,
operating system, as well as providing storage for all of your personal files. Some computers also
have a built-in optical drive that allows you to read or write to a CD, DVD, or (on select models) Blu-
ray Disc (BD), to play and record audio and video.
For added capacity or functionality, connect an external drive (purchased separately), such as an
optical drive or hard drive, or insert a digital storage card to import information directly from your
phone or camera. A USB flash drive, connected to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on your
computer, also allows quick data transfer. Some devices use the computers power to run; others
have their own power source. Some devices come with software that must be installed.
NOTE:For information about connecting external wireless devices, see Connecting to a network
on page 15.
NOTE:For more information about required software and drivers, or to learn which computer port to
use, see the manufacturers instructions.
Using a USB device
Most computers have more than one USB port, because this versatile interface allows you to connect
to numerous kinds of external devices to your computer, such as a USB keyboard, mouse, external
drive, printer, scanner, or USB hub.
Your computer has more than one type of USB port. See 
Getting to know your computer on page 4
for the types of USB ports you have on this computer. Be sure to purchase devices that are
compatible with your computer.
Type Description
USB 2.0 Transfers data at 60 MB/s.
USB 3.0 Transfers data at 640 MB/s. USB 3.0 ports, also known as
SuperSpeed ports, are also compatible with USB 1.0 and 2.0
devices.
Connecting a USB device
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of damage to a USB connector, use minimal force to connect the
device.
Using a USB device 45 
						

							▲Connect the USB cable for the device to the USB port.
NOTE:The USB port on your computer may look slightly different from the illustration in this
section.
A sound indicates that the device has been detected.
NOTE:The first time you connect a USB device, a message in the notification area lets you know
that the device is recognized by the computer.
Removing a USB device
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of damage to a USB connector, do not pull on the cable to remove
the USB device.
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of loss of information or an unresponsive system, use the following
procedure to safely remove the USB device.
1. To remove a USB device, save your information and close all programs associated with the device.
2. Click the remove hardware icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar, and then
follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Remove the device.
Connecting a powered USB device
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of damage to the equipment when connecting a powered device, be
sure that the device is turned off and its AC power cord is unplugged.
1.Connect the device to the computer.
2.Plug the device power cord into a grounded AC outlet.
3.Turn on the device.
To disconnect an unpowered external device, stop the device, and then disconnect it from the
computer. To disconnect a powered external device, turn off the device, disconnect it from the
computer, and then unplug the AC power cord.
46 Chapter 7   Managing and sharing information 
						

							Inserting and removing a digital storage card
To insert a digital storage card:
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of damage to the digital card connectors, use minimal force to insert
a digital card.
1.Hold the card label-side up, with the connectors facing the computer.
2.Insert the card into the digital storage slot, and then press in on the card until it is firmly seated.
A sound indicates that the device has been detected, and a menu of options displays.
To remove a digital storage card:
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of loss of data or an unresponsive system, use the following
procedure to safely remove the digital card.
1.Save your information and close all programs associated with the digital card.
2.Click the remove hardware icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar. Then
follow the on-screen instructions.
3.Press in on the card (1), and then remove it from the slot (2).
NOTE:If the card is not ejected, pull the card out of the slot.
Inserting and removing a digital storage card 47 
						

							Using optical drives
An optical disc drive uses laser light to read or store large amounts of information. Some drives can
only read information, but others can also write (burn) information onto a blank disc.
Use these tips for best performance of your optical drive:
●When the battery is the only source of power, be sure the battery is sufficiently charged before
writing to media.
●Do not type on the keyboard or move the computer while an optical drive is writing to a disc. The
write process is sensitive to vibration.
●Make sure you have installed the latest software updates for the drive.
●If the disc you are using is not clean, wipe it with a dry, lint-free, soft cloth.
Your computer may include an optical drive that supports one or more of the following disc
technologies:
●CD—A compact disc stores data that is read by a laser from the optical disc drive. The following
CD formats are available:
◦CD-Recordable (CD-R), which allows the computer to read information and to record
information one time on the CD. Once the information is recorded on the CD-R disc, it
cannot be changed or erased; it is permanent.
◦CD-Re-Writable (CD-RW), which allows you to read information and record information
many times to the CD. Information on the CD can be erased.
●DVD—A digital video disc is a high-capacity optical disc. It can store more information than a
CD. A double-sided DVD can store up to 17 GB. The following DVD formats are available:
◦DVD-Recordable (DVD-R or DVD+R), which allow the computer to read information and to
record information one time on the DVD. After the information is recorded on the disc, it
cannot be changed or erased; it is permanent. The DVDs can be used in DVD±R drives.
◦DVD-Re-Writable (DVD-RW or DVD+RW), which allow to read information and record
information many times to the disc. Information on the disc can be erased. The DVDs can
be used in DVD±R drives.
●BD—a Blu-ray Disc holds more information than the other optical discs and they can used to
record, rewrite, and play back high-definition (HD) video.
Note the following when using BDs:
●CyberLink PowerDVD is installed on the computer to play BD movies.
●Playing most BD movie titles on an external display requires an HDMI digital connection. The
computer can support up to 1080p resolution on an external display, which requires a 1080p-
capable HDTV or monitor.
●Attempting to play a BD movie simultaneously on both the internal and an external display may
cause an error, so choose only one.
●For copy protection purposes, Advanced Access Content System (AACS) keys are integrated
into the computer. AACS keys require occasional renewal to support playback of new BD movie
releases. The CyberLink PowerDVD program will request an update to continue playback when
48 Chapter 7   Managing and sharing information 
						

							such a BD movie release is inserted in the drive. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the
update.
●If lines appear on the display when viewing a BD, they may be caused by interference from the
wireless network. To resolve the issue, close any open applications and turn off your wireless
feature.
Inserting an optical disc
1.Turn on the computer.
2.Press the release button (1) on the drive bezel to release the disc tray.
3.Pull out the tray (2).
4.Hold the disc by the edges to avoid touching the flat surfaces and position the disc label-side up
over the tray spindle.
NOTE:If the tray is not fully accessible, tilt the disc carefully to position it over the spindle.
5.Gently press the disc (3) down onto the tray spindle until the disc snaps into place.
NOTE:If the tray is not fully accessible, tilt the disc carefully as you remove it.
6.Close the disc tray.
NOTE:After you insert a disc, a short pause is normal. If you have not selected a media player, an
AutoPlay dialog box opens. It prompts you to select how you want to use the media content.
Removing an optical disc
1.Press the release button (1) on the drive bezel to release the disc tray, and then gently pull out
the tray (2) until it stops.
Using optical drives 49 
						

							2.Remove the disc (3) from the tray by gently pressing down on the spindle while lifting the outer
edges of the disc. Hold the disc by the edges and avoid touching the flat surfaces.
NOTE:If the tray is not fully accessible, tilt the disc carefully as you remove it.
3.Close the disc tray and place the disc in a protective case.
If the disc tray does not open normally, see 
Disc drive problems on page 81.
Sharing drives on the network
You can access software and data and install applications by sharing drives connected to another
computer in your network.
NOTE:Some discs, such as DVD movies and games, may be copy-protected and therefore
unusable through DVD or CD drive sharing.
To share on the same network:
1.From the computer you are sharing, select Start > Computer.
2.Right-click what you want to share, and click Properties.
3.Select the Sharing tab, and then select Advanced Sharing.
4.Select the Share this folder check box.
5.Type a name in the Share name text box.
6.Click Apply, and then click OK.
7.To view the shared drive:
▲Select Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
50 Chapter 7   Managing and sharing information