Computer Tech Link Meridian manual

User Manual Congratulations! Your new CTL Computer System is a powerful, state-of-the-art electronic product that can both increase your productivi ty and provide you with a new level of entertainment and educational opportunities. Your CTL Computer System has been individua lly hand-assembled and tested by a highly trained CTL Production Technicia[...]

- 2 - Important Information Notes, Cautions, and Warnings Throughout this guide, blocks of text will be displa yed inside two parallel bold lines to indicate a Note, Caution, or Warning, described below: NOTE A NOTE details important information to k eep in mind. No personal injury or equipment damage will occur from disregarding a note. CAUTION! A[...]

- 3 - Typographical and Listing Conventions The following list defines typographical conventions used to depict specific elements of text used in this manual: • Titles of windows, names of buttons and icons, and menu options that appear on the display screen are presented in bold. Example: Click Start • Labels that appear on the keyboard keys a[...]

- 4 - System Configuration Your CTL computer comes fully tested and configured for optimum performance and compatibility. CTL’s engineers have used considerable expertise and spent a great deal of time in the installation, configuration, and optimization of your hardware and software. It is important that you take steps to protect your investment[...]

- 5 - Exclusions from CTL Corporation Limited Warranty Programs All other expressed and implied warranties for CTL products purchased from CTL after January 1, 2002 are hereby disclaimed. If this product is not in good working order as warranted above, CTL Corporation’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be repair or replacement as stated above. In [...]

- 6 - Your Serial Numbers Please use the space below to writ e your system’s serial number. System Serial Number: ________________________________ Warranty Number: ________________________________ These numbers are located on the back of your computer. Should you ever need to call CTL Technical Services, you must have this number r eadily availab[...]

- 7 - Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement This equipment generates and uses radio frequency and if not installed and used properly (that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions) may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been tested and found to comply with the li[...]

- 8 - Table of Contents Chapter 1 CTL Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Valeo™, Vision™ & Vista™ 10 V e c t o r ™ 10 M e r i d i a n ™ 10 N e x u s ™ 10 Chapter 2 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

- 9 - FireWire™ IEEE 1394 26 Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) 26 Network Interface Card (NIC) 26 FAX/Modem 27 Operating System 27 S e c u r i t y 2 8 Power Management 28 Chapter 4 Getting the Most From Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 How to Get Maximum Performance From Your Computer 29 Chapter 5[...]

- 10 - 1. CTL Models CTL Corporation desktop systems are available in six distinct series: Valeo™, Vision™, Vista™, Vector™, Meridian™ and Nexus™. The systems in each series have been designed with specific functions in mind and are geared towards various computing environments. Valeo, Vision and Vista The computer systems in the Valeo,[...]

- 11 - 2. Getting Started This chapter contains information needed to set up your computer for the first time. It includes information on planning your workspace, ergonomics, unpacking your new computer, and connecting components and peripherals. Computer Workspace It is important that your computer be properly set up in order to protect your syste[...]

- 12 - • Your chair should provide good lumbar (lower back) support. • Your forearms should be horiz ontal and wrists in a comfortable neutral position while typing or using the mouse. • There should be space to rest your hands on your desk while using the keyboard/mouse. • Allow your upper arms to hang naturally at your sides. • Sit erec[...]

- 13 - Unpacking Your System Make sure the location you select for your new computer has room for the monitor, keyboard, mouse, case, speakers, printer, and other com ponents. Be sure the electrical outlets are grounded and that you are using a surge suppressor. Examine shipping containers for holes, smashed corners, dents, watermarks, or other dam[...]

- 14 - Identifying Ports CTL computers are built-to-order and the layout and configuration of your system determines the location of the different connectors . It is important that you pay par ticular attention to the labels above the connectors when attaching the components. Figure 2-1 illustrates a typical back panel on a computer. While the loca[...]

- 15 - Game, Joystick, or MIDI Port The game port, also sometimes referred to as t he MIDI or joystick port, uses a 15-pin female connector to connect a joystick or game pad. This port is on the front control panel of some computers. Be aware that the standard Thick Et hernet connector is identical to the game port connector. VGA Monitor Port Exter[...]

- 16 - Making Connections Please read the following warning and cauti onary notes before making any connections. WARNING! Route all cables where no one will trip on them and where the cables will not be subject to abrasion or other damage. Frayed c ables could cause personal injury and/or damage to your computer. CAUTION! To avoid damage, make sure[...]

- 17 - • Network. Will vary according to the type of card - could be coaxial cable (BNC) or twisted-pair (RJ-45). 6. Connect one end of the monitor power cord to the monitor and the other end to a surge suppressor. 7. Connect one end of the system power cord to the system and the other end to a surge suppressor. Make sure the power s upply’s vo[...]

- 18 - 3. Using Your Computer This chapter contains information on using your new CTL system and its components, as well as some tips on how to achieve maximu m performance from your computer. Turning Your System On The Pow er and Reset buttons for most systems are located on the front of the computer case and are clearly marked. Refer to “Genera[...]

- 19 - applies to you. Restart Procedures • If you are using Windows XP, Window s 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 Professional, or Windows Me, click Start at the bottom left of your screen, then select Shut Dow n . Click Restart from the menu that appears. Your computer will reboot. • Press [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del]. If you are in DOS, this will caus[...]

- 20 - • Powering the system off after completing your work - This alternative is best if you use the computer infrequently, especially w here the periods of use are short. • Leaving the system on and only power ing off at the end of the day - If you use your computer many times a day or for long peri ods, it is probably better to leave it on. [...]

- 21 - follow the shutdown procedure described in “Turni ng Your System Off,” found earlier in this chapter. The power indicator light illuminat es whenever the system is on. Reset Button Pressing Reset forces the computer to reboot. Reset should only be used as described under “Emergency Restart Procedure,” found earlier in this chapter to[...]

- 22 - ROM drives have an earphone jack and volume contro l. This allows you to enjoy CD audio even if your computer does not hav e a sound card and/or speakers. NOTE Unlike most stereo systems, plugging earphones into the CD-ROM will not disable any external speakers attached to your system. Basic Controls Figure 3-5 illustrates the front of a typ[...]

- 23 - will slide partway out of the drive. Grasp it by the edges, and lift it gently out of the slot. Tray-equipped CD-ROM: Use the following procedure to load a CD into a tray-equipped CD-ROM: 1. Press Eject to open the CD-ROM tray. 2. Pick up the CD-ROM by the edges and i dentify the side with writing on it. 3. Gently lay the CD-ROM in the tr ay[...]

- 24 - 17GB. Also, DVD-ROM drives can read standard audi o or data CDs. If your CTL computer comes with a DVD-ROM drive, please refer to the uni t's documentation for complete information on using your DVD capabilities. External controls and disk loading procedures on these drives are similar to the controls on a CD-ROM drive described previou[...]

- 25 - 1024 x 768. Some monitors can achieve reso lutions as high as 2048 x 1536. The higher you set the resolution on your monitor, the larger the viewable desktop, with the limit dictated by the physical size of your screen. WYSIWIG (W hat-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) resolutions are resolutions that correspond 1:1 to the printed output. For a 15” [...]

- 26 - supported by Windows XP, Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000. Please refer to the device-specific documentation for info rmation on using devices with USB. FireWire TM – IEEE 1394 FireWire provides a plug-and-socket connection on which up to 63 devices can be attached with data transfer speeds up to 400 Mbps. This standard describes a[...]

- 27 - Networks may use third-party software such as Nove ll® or Banyan to configure individual NICs as well as the network itself, or they may rely on Windows' built-in networking capabilities. A typical network connection allows your computer to acce ss additional remote drives/devices as if they were local drives, i.e., on your computer. F[...]

- 28 - Security Physical security involves placing the computer in an inherently safe location (for example, in a secured building). Security personnel or your supervisor may have complete information regarding physical security issues. Access-control security protects your computer from unauthorized use. Windows contains numerous security features[...]

- 29 - 4. Getting the Most From Your System Like an automobile, a computer gets out of tune with use. This chapter descr ibes how to maintain your computer for maximum performance. Ma intaining your system is an ongoing process requiring conscious thought and effort, but the time invested will pay off in increased performance and reliability. How t[...]

- 30 - • Make regular backups of syst em files, applications, and data - You may inadvertently install software that negatively affects your sy stem and is impossible to uninstall, or make a mistake in critical operating system setti ngs that can take hours to repair. Periodic backups of system files and applicati ons, and updating these backups [...]

- 31 - 5. Troubleshooting Although your computer system is designed to provide you with trouble-free operation, any system can malfunction. Incorrectly setting up or configuring your system during hardware or operating system upgrades is the cause of most malfunctions. Loose mechanical connections such as cards, cables, or components are also frequ[...]

- 32 - Operating System Tools Windows XP, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Professional all include a variety of tools that can be of great help in troubleshooting problems. Simply searching for a particular topic in the Help system of Windows can yield a lot of information about the problem. Various tools and troubleshooting[...]

- 33 - This procedure requires you to work inside your computer. Please perform the steps listed in the WARNING at the beginning of this chapter before you proceed. 1. After performing the steps listed in the WARNING at the beginning of this chapter, remove the case (see “Opening Your Computer Case,” page 6-10). Reseat all cards and reconnect a[...]

- 34 - 3. Adjust your monitor's br ightness and contrast controls. 4. Ensure that the video cable is properly connected to the video port at the back of the computer. 5. Remove the cover (see “Opening Your Computer Case,” page 6-10) and ensure all cards, cables, and components are properly seated or connected. Display is on but flickering [...]

- 35 - 5. Run BIOS Setup to verify that the driv e is defined correctly. Refer to the motherboard User Manual for instructions on running BIOS Setup. CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD- RAM & CD-RW/DVD Combo Drives The CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM or CD- RW/DVD-Combo Drive does not work Most likely cause: CD-ROM drivers are not loaded or are confli[...]

- 36 - check both the System and Multimedia in Control Panel to ensure that you have the proper settings for your sound card (consul t your sound card/audio subsystem manual and your Windows documentation). Check your software to verify that the volume settings are not turned off. No sound when playing audio CDs Most likely cause: software driver n[...]

- 37 - system. Windows recognizes a standard PS/2 or Serial mouse and installs generic drivers. If this solves the problem, then t here is a conflict between the mouse software and some other program or hardware in the system. Call CTL Technical Support for help. 4. Try a different mouse or try it on another computer to see if it is defective. Netw[...]

- 38 - 3. In Windows, open the Control Panel and select Modem/Diagnostic . Select the modem's COM port, and then click More Info . Make sure Windows reports the correct modem information. Refer to your m odem and Windows documentation for further information. 4. If these tests fail, the fax/modem may be defective. System dials out but does not[...]

- 39 - 9. Windows will boot without installing any spec ific drivers. Once in Windows, remove and then re-install the offending driver(s). The procedure for Windows ME is similar to the procedure outlined above, except the Command Prompt or Safe Command Prompt Only options have been removed. In this case, boot into Safe Mode directly instead of a S[...]

- 40 - 5. After the process of installing from the Qu ick Restore CD is completed, the computer will reboot automatically. At this point, you need to either remove the Quick Restore CD from the CD Drive or, alternatively, you can refrain from pressing a key when prompted so that the computer can boot the new installation of the operating system on [...]

- 41 - Phillips screwdriver. Note: Only three screws must be removed to open the case. Step 2: Gently slide the cover straight back.[...]

- 42 - Index A AC3 Out, 15 Advanced Power Management, 28 audio port, 14 troubleshooting, 35,36 B backup devices, 24 backups data, 30 system restore, 32 C CD-ROM disk loading a disk, 22 manual ejection, 23 CD-ROM drive front panel illustration, 22 controls, 22, 23 CD-RW drive, 23 CD-RW / DVD Combo Drive, 24 coaxial cable network connection, 27 tv an[...]

- 43 - troubleshooting, 34 use, 21 G game port, 14, 15 grounding electrical outlets, 12 H hard drive defragmentation, 21 maintenance, 21 troubleshooting, 31, 32, 33 J joystick, 14,15 K keyboard ergonomics, 11 port, 14, 15 troubleshooting, 36 L license agreements, 3, 40 M maintenance, 29 MIDI port, 14, 15 modem connecting, 16 definition, 27 port, 14[...]

- 44 - power button, 20 power management, 19, 20 printer connecting, 14, 16 Q quick restore CD use of, 39, 40 R reset button, 19, 21 restart restart procedure, 19 emergency restart procedure, 19 S S Video In/out, 15 SCSI, 26 security power-on password, 28 screen saver password, 28 serial number, 6 serial port, 14 shutdown procedure, 18 speakers jac[...]