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Q: My monitor/computer seems to "shutdown" if I leave it idle for a while. Why?
The ROCKY notebook computer has a built-in power saving feature. While it's a good idea, some computer users don't like the fact that the power saving feature hinders the computer's ability to stay "on" for long periods of time.
To change your computer's power management features:
1. Click on "Start".
2. Select "Settings", then select "Control Panel".
3. Select "Power Options". Here you can set length of time required for the system to be idle before entering power saving mode.
Q: When I hit my "Start" button, the floppy disk drive makes noise, and the computer takes a long time to respond. Why?
Most likely someone has recently saved a document to a floppy disk in the floppy disk drive. The operating system (Windows) keeps a list of recently used documents in the Start Menu and the computer is attempting to locate the file on the floppy disk.
To remove the list of recently used documents:
1. Click on "Start”.
2. Select "Settings".
3. Select “Task Bar Menu”, and then click on the "Start Menu Programs" tab. There will be a button labeled "Clear".
4. Click the "Clear" button. This will remove the list of recently used documents from the Start Menu.
Q: I'm trying to use an external serial mouse, but none of the ports will recognize it.
If you currently have a touch screen or internal modem, restart the computer. Press the "Delete" (Del) button to go into the bios setup, then go to "Integrated Peripherals" and set the ports to the default settings.
Re-start the computer and perform the following:
1. Click on "Start”.
2. Select "Settings".
3. Select “Control Panel”.
4. Click "System" icon.
5. Click on the "Device Manager" tab.
6. Expand "System Devices".
7. Right-click "Advanced power management".
8. Select Properties.
9. Check "Disable this device from this profile".
10. Re-start the computer.
Q: I recently bought a new printer, it doesn't work when I plug it in to my notebook computer but works just fine with my desktop.
For most printers there is no special requirement for connection. However, some printer cables don't contain all 25 wires. To avoid malfunctioning, the printer adapter cable that comes with your computer should be attached to the printer cable. The purpose of this is to re-connect all the ground pins, which guarantees the printer and computer will interact properly. External devices like a scanner, a Laplink cable, etc. should also be connected to the ROCKY notebook computer using the printer adapter cable in order to guarantee proper operation the external device.
Q: What if there is no response when the power is turned ON?
A: When using external power:
- Check the AC adapter. The green indicator light should be ON.
- If the indicator light is off, check the AC adapter cable connection at both ends (system and power source).
- Turn the computer on.
If the indicator light is still off then:
- Remove the battery, sometimes a defective battery will cause unit power failure.
- Connect AC adapter cable into unit and plug into available power source.
- Test the power source for power or try using a different power source and restart computer.
When using an internal power supply (battery).
- Remove and re-insert the battery.
- Turn the computer on.
- If the indicator light is still off, the battery may need charging.
Repeat the steps mentioned. If all steps have been completed and the computer still does not have power, please contact AMREL technical support.
Q: Why does my computer hang (hang: become stuck at one point in boot-up process) before the operating system starts?
First, identify how many of the following actions occur while the system is powering up:
- The BIOS runs a POST (Power on Self-Test): a series of several brief status and copyright messages.
- A single of beeps indicate the end of POST.
- The computer will attempt to boot from the floppy disk drive before proceeding to boot from the hard disk.
- The operating system will finish loading.
If your system successfully completed step 1 and 2, but not 3 the two most likely problems are:
- The operating system may be corrupted -you might try to re-load windows (please refer to FAQ section - H. Reinstalling the Operating System).
- If re-loading windows does not fix the problem, or if you are unable to successfully complete the re-installation of windows, your hard dive may be bad. Call the system manufacturer or contact AMREL technical support.
Q: What if the Power is ON but the start up fails before loading the software?
- Were you able to hear a short beep sound? If yes, the unit's self-posttest is OK.
- Were any other sounds made? One long beep means unit did not detect the RAM.
- One long plus two short peeps mean the unit did not detect VGA.
- Leave the power ON for a while to charge the CMOS battery. Sometimes the unit will not start up when CMOS battery is too low. Turn the computer on.
In any of these cases, please contact AMREL technical support.
Q: What can I do if the Computer seems slow?
Use an AC adapter. The computer will run slower when driven by the battery. Run SETUP; make sure that "Speed Step Technology" is enabled.
Q: What happens when the computer does a Boot Up?
The computer turns ON and loads the operating system (such as Windows) into the system memory. This start-up procedure is called a "boot up".
Q: What does the term POST mean?
POST stands for the ROM BIOS Power on Self-Test (POST). Each time the computer powers on, it automatically performs a self-test of its memory and hardware devices.
Q: What if there is no display after powering ON?
- Connect unit to an external monitor (CRT).
- If external monitor is operational, run SETUP, set the system BIOS "LCD & CRT" to "Both" and restart the computer.
- Increase the display's brightness by using the brightness controls on the front of display.
- If LCD is blank but the backlight is ON, contact AMREL technical support.
Q: What if the power is ON, but then the display seems to power off by itself after a certain period of time?
- Press any key on the keyboard or move the mouse, if the computer has been set to "power saving mode" this will restore the display.
- Press the suspend button on front panel of the display (DP). This will remove the computer from suspend mode. The computer may switch into suspend mode if the display is left on and is inactive for an extended period of time.
Q: What if I can't get an external monitor to display after I connect it to my ROCKY?
- Check the monitor's power. Make sure it is turned ON.
- Check the connection between system unit and the monitor.
- Run SETUP; set the "LCD & CRT" to "Both".
- Check power connection to the monitor.
- Be sure a separate power supply is used for your LCD display. Your system unit and display unit require separate power sources.
- If possible, try using another monitor to determine whether it is the monitor malfunctioning.
Q: What do I do if the Monitor (LCD and/or CRT) looks distorted?
- Check the Windows display settings.
- Make sure the correct video driver version is selected.
Q: What do I do if the Touch Screen feature appears to be malfunctioning?
- Run SETUP, COM1 should be set to "Touch Scrn".
- Check to see if the Micro Touch software is loaded correctly.
- Run Micro touch Touch Screen properties IHardware > Find Touch screen, has touchscreen been detected OK? Check the settings.
- Calibrate the touch screen.
Q: What do I do if my HDD cannot be detected?
- Run SETUP to check the HDD parameters.
- Set the IDE Primary Master to "AUTO", save the setting, turn off the power on-plug and plug the HDD firmly to the bay and start unit again.
Q: What do I do if my HDD (or Windows) is not functioning properly?
- Run a scandisk to check the bad sector of HDD.
- Run a virus scan to check for viruses.
- If Windows was able to start in safe mode, reset Windows to load missing files.
- Reload a clean copy of Windows.
- Contact AMREL technical support if you need further assistance.
Q: What can I do in case my FDD seems to be malfunctioning?
- Run SETUP, the correct type for the BIOS setting should be I1.44m, 3.5in.
- Try using a new diskette.
- Turn off computer and remove the FDD modular unit.
- Re-insert the FDD so that it is firmly in the bay, restart computer, and try to operate FDD.
- Contact AMREL technical support if you need further assistance.
Q: What can I do in case my CD-ROM seems to be malfunctioning?
- Test the CD-ROM drive to be sure it is the drive and not the CD. To do this, try to run a CD that has worked before. If the second CD is not working, the malfunction is most likely in the CD-ROM drive.
- Turn off computer and remove the CD-ROM modular unit.
- Re-insert the CD-ROM modular unit so that it is firmly in the bay, restart computer, and try to operate CD-ROM.
- Contact AMREL technical support if you need further assistance.
Q: I can't use my ROCKY without being plugged into an outlet. Whenever I put my battery in the ROCKY, the laptop doesn't detect it. How can I get my battery to work?
- Visually inspect the battery to see if it appears to be assembled correctly. If there is a defect in the battery, do not use. Contact AMREL technical support immediately.
- Check the "power meter" in Windows. If the battery level is too low, the battery will need to be recharged.
- Leave the battery in the bay and let it charge for more than 10 minutes. After the battery is charged try to operate the system using the battery.
- If there is a voltage meter available, the charging output from unit should above 15 volts and battery should keep at least 10 volts.
Q: What do I do when the power indicator or battery indicator is not lit?
- Power on the computer.
- Check the cable connection between the AC adapter and the power source.
- Check the cable connection between the AC adapter and the computer.
- Check battery connection. Remove and replace battery if necessary.
- Check the AC adapter power indicator.
- Disconnect and reconnect the AC adaptor.
- Contact AMREL technical support if you need further assistance.
- Please note that the battery indicator will display “Off” when battery is fully charged.
Q: What do I do when the keyboard cannot be detected or seems like it may be malfunctioning?
- Run SETUP to make sure the USB keyboard is set to "enabled".
- Check the connection between the keyboard and the system.
- Plug the (USB) keyboard to different USB slot (there are three of them) check for functionality.
- Please note the RT686 series and Durin unit have only one USB slot and the RT786 series has two USB slots. Please call AMREL for further assistance.
Q: How do I replace Modules (floppy, CD-ROM, hard drives, etc.)?
**Caution!You must turn the power OFF before replacing the FDD, CD-ROM, and HDD modules.
- Turn OFF the computer.
- Disconnect all power sources.
- Use a coin to turn loose the screws on the modules.
- Remove the battery from the compartment.
- Push the latch knob to release the CD-ROM or HDD module and push them outward.
- Remove the module from the computer.
To replace the modules:
- Insert the module into the module compartment. Make sure the module is fully seated in the module compartment.
- Use a coin to tighten the screws on the module to secure it to the computer.
- Re-insert the battery into the battery compartment.
- Re-connect all cables to the computer.
- Turn ON the computer.
Q: My monitor/computer seems to "shutdown" if I leave it idle for a while. Why?
The ROCKY notebook computer has a built-in power saving feature. While it's a good idea, some computer users don't like the fact that the power saving feature hinders the computer's ability to stay "on" for long periods of time.
To change your computer's power management features:
1. Click on "Start".
2. Select "Settings", then select "Control Panel".
3. Select "Power Options". Here you can set length of time required for the system to be idle before entering power saving mode.
Q: When I hit my "Start" button, the floppy disk drive makes noise, and the computer takes a long time to respond. Why?
Most likely someone has recently saved a document to a floppy disk in the floppy disk drive. The operating system (Windows) keeps a list of recently used documents in the Start Menu and the computer is attempting to locate the file on the floppy disk.
To remove the list of recently used documents:
1. Click on "Start”.
2. Select "Settings".
3. Select “Task Bar Menu”, and then click on the "Start Menu Programs" tab. There will be a button labeled "Clear".
4. Click the "Clear" button. This will remove the list of recently used documents from the Start Menu.
Q: I'm trying to use an external serial mouse, but none of the ports will recognize it.
If you currently have a touch screen or internal modem, restart the computer. Press the "Delete" (Del) button to go into the bios setup, then go to "Integrated Peripherals" and set the ports to the default settings.
Re-start the computer and perform the following:
1. Click on "Start”.
2. Select "Settings".
3. Select “Control Panel”.
4. Click "System" icon.
5. Click on the "Device Manager" tab.
6. Expand "System Devices".
7. Right-click "Advanced power management".
8. Select Properties.
9. Check "Disable this device from this profile".
10. Re-start the computer.
Q: I recently bought a new printer, it doesn't work when I plug it in to my notebook computer but works just fine with my desktop.
For most printers there is no special requirement for connection. However, some printer cables don't contain all 25 wires. To avoid malfunctioning, the printer adapter cable that comes with your computer should be attached to the printer cable. The purpose of this is to re-connect all the ground pins, which guarantees the printer and computer will interact properly. External devices like a scanner, a Laplink cable, etc. should also be connected to the ROCKY notebook computer using the printer adapter cable in order to guarantee proper operation the external device.
For more information:
- Complete AMREL’s Request Information Form.
- Call toll free 1-800-882-6735 from anywhere in the U.S.
(M-F 8am – 5pm PST) to speak with a LIVE AMREL representative.
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