The Unofficial Alcam FAQ

The Unofficial FAQ’s for the Alcam FX Series & XL Series Notebooks and for the Designer and Executive Series.

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Important News For Alcam and Total Notebook Owners!




What if your notebook dies! How do you retrieve the data on the hard drive?
This universal adaptor converts your 2.5 inch notebook hard drive to a standard 3.5 inch PC Compatible Hard Drive (Includes Power and 40-pin IDE adapter board). Universal Notebook Hard Drive to Desktop Hard Drive Adaptor.
Best of all,IT'S PRICE IS CHEAP!
Eric		 2.5 to 3.5 HD Adapter
2.5 to 3.5 HD Adapter


Lately people have been asking for files and offering money for them. I'm not willing to take money for them. They're still free.
But I have two solutions for you.
The first is to donate the money to your favorite charity.
The second is to either click on the advertising links on this page or go to The Belly of the Beast for computer related items or to TBob's for non-computer related items and buy something. Yes this is a shameless plug and yes I make a couple of bucks from it...every little bit helps keep us running.
Friday, March 22, 2002 13:43:04

Because of the various free server sites going to either pay or restricting the files to 256 KB, I am no longer able to maintain .ZIP formatted files. Instead, if you need files you will have to email me first and we will arrange a time for you to get the files from my personal server, via FTP client (FTP command line will not work), I wll put in the original CD for your laptop and you can then download the files you need. To email me Click Here
Alcam Corp. declared bankrupcy , Chapter 7(?). It no longer exists and all warranties are void.
Total Peripherals, Inc. has closed its doors as of Nov. 16, 2000 and may declare bankrupcy or open under new management. Total Peripherals, Inc. closed its doors and was liquidated in 2001.

ALCAM & TPI MODEL Notebooks Manufacturer/Model URL
TPI Alcam FX/XL Samsung Sens 500
Samsung Sens Pro 520
Samsung Sens Pro 600 		Samsung
Designer 400 Clevo Corp. Clevo
Executive Series Samsung 700 Samsung
Total Notebooks 3800 & 7200 Exact Model description Unknown Chem USA
Repair Centers and/or parts
Repair Centers Unknown
Parts and Accessories 3 Klix

Get FREE business cards for your business or personal use! You'll receive premium quality, full-color business cards - an $85 value. Easy online design! Click here.

We recomend that you save this web page so that you may peruse the information when you are offline. With most browsers just click on File then click on Save Page and save it to your hard drive. Then make a Short Cut on your Desktop to the .HTML on your hard drive. When you wish to view it just go to your short cut drive and Double Click and there it is.

Any questions, comments ,suggestions or for Tech Support, please email them .(This site is down. See TPI Note above)

I will attempt to help you , if possable. However, I guarantee nothing and if you wish to be insulting or vulgar you will get no answer! If you have just purchased your notebook from an online source, I would suggest that you contact them for a refund or contact your credit card company. Good Luck.

This web page is not supported by Total Peripherals, Inc. or The Alcam Corp. in any way. As some of you may not know, The Alcam Corp. has filed for bankrupcy in March, 2000 and is no longer in buisness. What that means is basically you are SOL when it comes to warranty repairs...the warranty does not exist without Alcam to back it.

Because there are so many people with Alcam Designers and Executive notebooks, this page is for you and for the owners of the older TPI Alcam FX and XL notebooks. The Total Peripherals co. ftp site is no longer up so you need drivers and information. This site will try and help with the basics...beyond that you are on your own.

The Alcam line of notebooks has proven to be most reliable. However, as with any product there are differences in applications. These FAQ’s are to help the Novice and Experienced User through any difficulties they may encounter. Further, these FAQ’s are only for the OEM versions of Windows 95/98 and do not cover Retail versions, Upgrade versions or any Beta versions you may have. For those versions please contact MicroSoft directly for support.

Please be aware that we can only be responsable for the originally installed software. If you have a software problem having to do with third party software, your best bet is to contact the original author or manufacturer of your software for any updates or fixs they may have. Our Tech Support Staff are allowed only to deal with the OEM software we have installed. They may try to assist you, but with the many different programs on the market your most accurate answers will come from the authors.

The Following list are the notebooks that are being supported in this FAQ.

  1. TPI Alcam Series 500 FX/XL
  2. TPI Alcam Series 520 FX/XL
  3. TPI Alcam Series 600 FX/XL
  4. Alcam Designer 400 Model 98
  5. Alcam Designer 400 Model 980
  6. Alcam Designer 600
  7. Alcam Executive 700

Additional Resources and Links for Information


If you wish to find who may be the manufacturer of an item is and have the FCC ID number then click here to search the FCC Database.

  • Y2K Information and Questions
  • Modem Information and Questions
  • For additional Modem information, try www.56k.com
  • Windows NT 4.0 Information and Questions
  • The Chernoble Virus and your Notebook!

    ntfaq_linkto.gif (2323 bytes) For information on Windows 95, WinNT 4.0, Windows 98 and Windows 2000.

    Here's a tip for information from Microsoft that's FREE! It's their automated email and fax back center. Unfortunately we don't have the space to list everything that they list, HOWEVER, if you click on the mailto and put in the subject line INDEX and send it you will recieve a index list of the topics covered. Give it a try...it's FREE! Click Here!

    Security Bug exists in Microsoft Java Virtual Machine! For more information please read Java World, Sept.,1999 or to immediately secure the patch from Microsoft Click here or you can read the Microsoft Security FAQ FAQ

    This is a Linux for Laptop site. While we don't support Linux, this link has been refered to by several people as good.

    1. How do I load windows 95? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)
    2. Do I tell Windows 95 Desk top or Portable during the install? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series , Designer Series and Executive notebooks)
    3. How do I load windows 95 Audio Drivers? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)
    4. How do I load windows 95? Video Drivers? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)
    5. I have a Black Line that is about 3/4" around my screen. Why? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series, Designer Series, Executive and most other Notebooks and Desktops.)
    6. How do I load windows 95 PCMCIA? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)
    7. My CD Rom stopped working between yesterday and today. What happened?(TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)
    8. How do I load WinNT 4.0, Audio, Video & PCMCIA ? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)
    9. How do I install Windows 98?(TPI Alcam FX/XL and Alcam Designer Series )
    10. How do I install the Audio Drivers for Windows 98?
    11. How do I install the Video Drivers for Windows 98?
    12. My CD Rom disappeared 3/4 of the way thorugh the installation of Windows 98! ( TPI Alcam Series 600 ONLY!) How do I load my Modem?

    Notebook Model Picture or Description
    TPI Alcam Model FX/XL 500 Graphics Not Avaiable -Description Only
    TPI Alcam Model 520 FX/XL Graphics Not Avaiable -Description Only
    TPI Alcam Model 600 FX/XL Graphics Available
    Designer 400 Model 98 Graphics Available (.PDF)
    Designer 400 Model 980 Graphics Available (.PDF)
    Designer 600 Graphics Not Avaiable --Description Only
    Executive 700 Graphics Available (.PDF)

    Video/VGA Drivers For TPI Alcam FX/XL Notebooks

    Operating System Series 500 FX/XL Series 520 FX/XL Series 600 FX/XL
    DOS/Win 3.x Not Avaiable disk 1 , 2 , 3

    , 4 , 5

    		Not Avaiable
    Win 95 Not available Disk 1 2 3 4 5 Disk 1 2 3

    4 5 6

    Win 98 Not Available Not Available Disk 1 2 3 4 5 6
    WinNT 4.0
    Not Available
    Disk 1
    Disk 1

    Sound/Audio Drivers For TPI Alcam FX/XL Notebooks

    Operating System Series 500 FX/XL Series 520 FX/XL Series 600 FX/XL
    DOS Not Avaiable Disk 1 Disk 2

    Disk 3

    		Not Avaiable
    Win 3.x Not Avaiable Disk 1 Disk 2 Disk 3 Not Avaiable
    Win 95 Not Available Disk 1

    Disk 2

    		Disk 1

    Disk 2

    Win 98 Not Avaiable Not Avaiable Disk 1

    Disk 2

    WinNT 4.0 Not Avaiable Not Avaiable Disk 1
    Windows 2000 Not Avaiable Not Avaiable Not Avaiable
    -->

    If you have lost your User Manual click on the links below:

    • Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 0 Preface

    Designer 400 Model 98 chapter 1 Introduction

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 2 System

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 3 Media

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 4 Firmware

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 5 Power

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 6 Extra

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 7 Specifications

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 8 Troubleshooting

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 9 Glossary

    Designer 400 Model 98 Chapter 10 Index

    Return to Top of page.

    Designer 400 Model 98 Drivers

    Model 98 Video Drivers for Win 3.1

    Model 98 Video Drivers for Win95

    Model 98 Video Drivers for Win98

    Model 98 Video Drivers for WinNT 4.

    Model 98 Audio Drivers for Win 3.1

    Model 98 Audio Drivers for Win95

    Model 98 Audio Drivers for Win98

    Model 98 BIOS Upgrade ver. 1.06m

    Model 98 BIOS Upgrade ver. 1.08m

    Model 98 Audio Drivers for WinNT 4

    Model 98 PCMCIA Drivers for NT 4

    Return to Top of page.

    Designer 400 Model 980 Drivers

    Model 980 Video Drivers for Win95

    Model 980 Video Drivers for Win98

    Model 980 Video Drivers for WinNT 4

    Model 980 Audio Drivers for Win95

    Model 980 Audio Drivers for Win98

    Model 980 Audio Drivers for WinNT 4

    Model 980 PCMCIA Drivers for WinNT 4

    Return to Top of page.

    Designer 600 Drivers

    Designer 600 Audio Drivers

    Designer 600 Audio Drivers for Win9x

    Designer 600 Audio Drivers for WinNT

    Designer 600 Video Drivers for Win9x
    Designer 600 Video Drivers for NT 4
    Designer 600 CD Rom Drivers for DOS

    Designer 600 DVD Drivers for Win9x

    Return to Top of page.

  • Q. How do I load Windows 95 completely, from scratch?

    Tested with Windows 95 (all OSR’s)

    1. Start your notebook and press the F2 key for Setup
    2. Go to Boot Sequence and follow the instructions for changing the boot sequence. The new sequence should be:
    3. CD Rom
    4. Hard Drive
    5. Disk Drive
    6. Go To Exit and Save Changes.
    7. Place your System Utilities CD in the CD Rom Tray.
    8. When your system boots up you will find the A:\ prompt on your screen. Type the following;
    9. FDISK
    10. Answer Yes at the Menu
    11. Then Press ENTER
    12. Press option 4 and verify that you have an Active DOS Partition, if not then return to the previous menu and create one. Do Not Delete The 150 Meg Non-Dos Partition. Note: If you do not have a 150 MB Non Dos Partition for the Save to disk Partition, use PHDISK.EXE to create it. Syntax:

      PHDISK.EXE /CREATE 150000 /PARTITION

      then press Enter and follow the on screen instructions and reexecute FDISK on reboot.

    13. Then follow the on screen instruction.
    14. Then after rebooting type;
    15. FORMAT C: /U /S
    16. Then press ENTER
    17. answer Yes at the prompt and wait for the format to complete itself.
    18. NOTE: If you receive a warning that the Format can not be completed due to lack of memory type this;
    19. FORMAT C: /Q
    20. Press ENTER
    21. Reboot your notebook and when you reach drive A: type the following;
    22. SYS A: C:
    23. Press Enter
    24. (You should see SYSTEM TRANSFERED)
    25. Reboot your system and follow the next step.
    26. At the A:\> type,
    27. Copy A:\*.* C:
    28. Then Press ENTER
    29. Now reboot your system with the Windows 95 cd in it. You will arrive at the C:\ prompt. Then type;
    30. F:
    31. Press ENTER
    32. at the F:\> prompt type the following;
    33. SETUP
    34. Press ENTER
    35. This will begin the Windows 95 setup .
    36. NOTE:If you receive a warning about Scandisk not being able to run due to no HIMEM.SYS, ignore it and continue with the setup.
    37. NOTE:When Windows 95 is completed, please go to SETUP (Press F2 on start up) and reset you Boot sequence to floppy disk/hard drive/cd rom and return the setting in Security to Write Protect.

    Tested with TPI Alcam Series 500, 520 and 600 Models only.

    Q.How do I load windows 95 Audio Drivers? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)

    1. A. First put the System Utilities/System Boot CD in the CD Rom.
    2. Next double click on My Computer
    3. Double Click on Control Panel and then scroll down to System and double click on the icon
    4. then a single click on Device Manager
    5. Look for the folder with the Yellow Question Mark
    6. Click on the + sign and it’ll open up to show "Unknown Devices"
    7. High Light each device and click on remove
    8. Then check to make sure nothing is listed for sound under the Mulitmedia folder (if it doesn’t exit that’s OK).
    9. Now exit the device manager.
    10. Now exit the Control Panel.
    11. Double click on the CD Rom icon
    12. Double click on the Crystal Folder
    13. Double click on the Windows folder
    14. Double Click on the Win95 Folder
    15. Double click on Setup and follow the on screen instructions.
    16. On the reboot everything should be found. IF it isn’t use the Browse feature and try the following folders C:\WINDOWS or C:WINDOWSSYSTEM.

    Crystal Sound files for Win95 Series 500

    Crystal Sound files for Win95 Series 520

    Crystal Sound files for Win95 Series 600

    (Note: for Alcam Series 500, 520 and 600)Return to Top of FAQ

    How do I load windows 95? Video Drivers? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)

    1. Go to Control Panel and Double Click on Display.
    2. Go to Settings
    3. Click on Advanced.
    4. Click on the adapter change and tell it Have Disk (be sure you have your System Utilities CD in).
    5. Go to the folder D:\VGAUTILWIN95 and click on the INF file.
    6. Click on next and finish.
    7. The Adapter setting should be set for Optimal.
    8. Next click on the Monitor and set it for Standard and Super VGA 1024 x 768
    9. Click on Apply
    10. This should return you to the Display Properties Screen. Set the colors for 256 or higher and the size 800 x 600 (or higher if the monitor will handle it).
    11. Click on apply and you’re done. Reboot as needed.

      VGA files for Win95 Series 500

      alcam/520 series/vgautil/win95/vgawin95.zip" VGA files for Win95 Series 520

      alcam/600 series/vgautil/win9x/vgawin9x600.zip" VGA files for Win9x Series 600

      Q. When I’m installing Windows it asks if this is for Desktop or Portable. What should I do?

      Install it as a Desktop unit and add whatever features you want to have installed on the system.

    Q. How do I load windows 95 PCMCIA? (TPI Alcam FX/XL Series Only)

    1. First you need to be sure that your PCMCIA Sockets have been loaded.
    2. Go to Control Panel , double click,
    3. then go to System, double click,
    4. go to Device Manager, click once
    5. Then scroll down to Other Devices,
    6. click on the Plus sign (+)
    7. Highlight and Remove each entry
    8. Then Go to PCMCIA Sockets (if it exists) and Remove any items there.
    9. Then click on Close.
    10. Go to Add New Hardware, double click
    11. Click Next
    12. Check off NO (You want to select the items to add!)
    13. Click Next
    14. Scroll down to PCMCIA Sockets
    15. Double click
    16. Scroll down to Cirrus Logic
    17. Click on Have Disk
    18. Put your Windows95 disk in the cd rom
    19. Click on Browse
    20. Go To D:\
    21. Go to \Windows
    22. Go to \Pcmcia
    23. Go to \Other
    24. Go To \Cirrus, then double click
    25. When you return to the manufacturers screen click on Cirrus Logic
    26. Click on the second item on the right side,
    27. Then click on Next until you get to the Finish.
    28. After clicking on Finish you should get the PCMCIA Wizard screen,
    29. Press Enter 3 times and youre done.
    30. Close your Control Panel
    31. Go to the Start Button and select Shutdown and Restart.
    32. Congratulations. PCMCIA should be active and running now.
    33. NOTE WELL: Do not use the Phoenix Card Manager for controlling your PCMCIA slots. If you have installed it, use the Uninstall Procedure and remove it. Then reinstall your PCMCIA Sockets.

    (Note: for Alcam Series 500, 520 and 600)Return to Top of FAQ

    Q. My CD Rom doesn’t work and it worked fine yesterday. What do I do?
    1. First leave the CD Rom installed and go to Control Panel then go to Device Manager.
    2. Look for Yellow Splats (Yellow Ball with an Exclamation mark) in the Hard Drive Controllers.
    3. If you find these splats exit device manager.
    4. Close Control Panel and all other windows and/or programs.
    5. Now go to the Start Button (Far Left of the Task Bar). Click on it.
    6. Go To RUN
    7. Type in REGEDIT and press Enter
    8. A WARNING follow this exactly and DON’T make any changes!
    9. Go to EDIT in the Menu
    10. Go To Find
    11. Type in the word NOIDE and press enter.
    12. It will find the phrase and on the Left portion of your screen there will be a folder named IOS.
    13. Delete the folder IOS
    14. Exit REGEDIT and shut down and reboot your notebook.
    15. Your CD Rom will operate at this time.
    16. When the desktop returns double Click on My Computer
    17. Go to your CD Rom and double click
    18. Go To Sysutil and double click
    19. Look for the folder named INF or AX--- (depends on your CD version)
    20. Go To Setup double click and follow the on screen instructions.
    21. When your machine reboots you should have a CD Rom and if you check the Device Manager your Hard Drive Controllers will now be Intel versions.

    (Note: for Alcam Series 600)Return to Top of FAQ

  • ADDITIONAL NOTE: You should also do a Virus check on your computer. A common symptom in Windows 95 of a virus is the loss of the CD Rom .

    Q. I installed Windows 98 and at the end of the installation it lost my CD Rom.

    A. You must have loaded Win98 on a 600 series with a 20 speed CD Rom. Contact Tech Support for 2 files one to flash the CD Rom firmware and one to reset the Registry.

    The CD Rom drives affected by this are 1602 and 1702 only. Send an email and then get mirrorcd.zip and rc80707.zip from the ftp site.

    Return to Top of FAQ

    Setting up NT 4.0 for TPI Alcam

    1. Press F2 on Power up for the Setup
    2. Go To Advanced
    3. Disable Plug and Play
    4. Disable USB (if available on your notebook),
    5. Go To Integrated Peripherals
    6. Go to Com 2 and Disable it
    7. Change FIR to Modem
    8. Leave all other items alone and exit the screen.
    9. Go To Security and set the hard drive to Normal.

    10. Now for the Fun!!!

    11. Reboot with the System Utilities/System Boot CD.
    12. When it reachs the A:\ drive prepare the drive as you would for a regular Win9x install (See above). That is, use PHDISK to make the Save to Disk Partition (PHDISK /CREATE 150000 /PARTITION)

    13. A tip, While NT 4.0 does not use the Save to Disk feature, add in the Save to Disk Partition so that you don't get the Red Screen on start up saying the Partition is damaged or Corrupted...it can be very unsettling!

    14. Now on the reboot put your NT 4.0 Workstation CD in the CD Rom and begin the installation process. The first decision you need to make is whether you will format in FAT or NTFS, your choice.

      The initial setup is easy and straight forward. When it is complete, begin the installation on NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 (or if you have it Service Pack 4). That's right don't try and add Sound and Video they need at least Service Pack 2 and if you want to use a PCMCIA Modem (yes they do work on notebooks under NT) you will need Service Pack 3.

      Now, if you've added SP3 you can begin the install of the Sound.

    15. Go To Control Panel
    16. Go To Multimedia
    17. Go To Multimedia Devices and click on it.
    18. Click on Add Unlisted Device.
    19. Click on Have Disk. (Put your System Utilities CD in)
    20. Go To the Crystal folder
    21. Go To Winnt
    22. Add the driver
    23. Follow the on screen prompts.
    24. Next add in the Video!
    25. Go To Control Panel
    26. Go To Display
    27. Go To Advanced
    28. Go To Change Adapter
    29. Go To the CD to the VGAUtil folder.
    30. Go To Winnt
    31. Add the driver
    32. Apply and Test as it instructs.

    33. NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!! DO NOT REBOOT! When it asks if you want to reboot say NO...otherwise it'll give you error messages and drive you nuts (sorry about the extreme non technical language). Instead do a full Shut Down (Power OFF) and the start it up. You should have a full screen with all the colors that it is capable of handling.

    34. Now here's another tip. Contrary to what is recommended with any Service Pack, do not reinstall the Service Pack. If you do it'll mean you have to reload the video all over again!

  • Also, if you are installing a network card, set the IRQ to 9, not the default of 10 or 11.

    • Return to Top of FAQ

    Q. I have a black band around my screen roughly ¾ to 1 inch. Why?

    1. You need to install the correct video driver.
    2. Go to Control Panel and Double Click on Display.
    3. Go to Settings
    4. Click on Advanced.
    5. Click on the adapter change and tell it Have Disk (be sure you have your System Utilities CD in).
    6. Go to the folder D:\VGAUTILWIN95 and click on the INF file.
    7. Click on next and finish.
    8. The Adapter setting should be set for Optimal.
    9. Next click on the Monitor and set it for Standard and Super VGA 1024 x 768
    10. Click on Apply
    11. This should return you to the Display Properties Screen. Set the colors for 256 or higher and the size 800 x 600 (or higher if the monitor will handle it).
    12. Click on apply and you’re done. Reboot as needed.

    VGA files for Win95 Series 500

    VGA files for Win95 Series 520

    VGA files for Win9x Series 600

    (Note: for Alcam Series 500, 520 and 600)Return to Top of FAQ

    How do I load Windows 98 onto my TPI Alcam or Alcam Designer notebook?

    If this is a brand new hard drive (never formatted) then download alcam/phdisk.exe"PHDISK.EXE and create the Save To Disk Partition. The syntax is:

    PHDISK /Create 150000 /Partition

    Follow the on screen instructions.

    This will create a 150 Meg, Non-DOS partition for the Save to Disk features of your notebook. Now for Windows.

    1. Begin by turning your notebook on and pressing F2 to enter Setup.

    2. Once in Setup go to Boot Options and select as your first bootable device the cd rom

    3. Go to Exit and Save and your notebook will reboot.

    4. Place your Windows 98 CD in the CD tray as you boot up.

    5. Windows will discover that you have not Fdisked your hard drive and ask you a series of questions, just answer Yes or go with the defaults. This will create the partition and next it will Format the hard drive.

    6. Next Windows will begin loading data and copying files. You won't have much to do but wait.

    7. When it is completed it will reboot and ask for your name and the license number on the front of your Windows 98 manual.

    8. The rest of the install is basically the drivers that are found on your system CD and there are more descriptions of the files to be used in your User Manual. Please refer to those for additional information.

    9. One additional point. After the setup go to Control Panel, then Device Manager scroll down to PCMCIA Sockets, click on the + sign and highlight the first PCMCIA Socket (it should have a red X on it). Pull up Properties and uncheck "Disable in Hardware", press Enter and the Enter again 3 times (you'll be going through the PCMCIA Wizard). Repeat this step for the second PCMCIA Socket and your PCMCIA will be completed.

    10. DO NOT Use the modem file on the CD for your modem. This is for an internal modem only, not a PCMCIA modem.

    Return to Top of page.

    My Notebook hangs when exiting the Internet!

    This is generally due to more than one copy of the modem software and/or serial cables being loaded.

      Go To Control Panel Go To System Go To Device Manager Go To Modem and left click on the + sign Remove ALL MODEMS and SERIAL CABLES or DEVICES listed there. Next check and see if you have a entry in yellow labled ?OTHER DEVICES. If it exists remove all entries under it. Finally, go to the Sound, Video and Game Section and remove any wave devices for modems. Now close out the Device Manager and then do a Shut Down and Restart of the system. On Restarting you will now see New Hardware Found looking for software screens coming up. You may have to redirect them to your modem software (assuming you have run the modem software prior to this, if not you may have to do this again). (See Designer Modems for software downloads)

      Tips for extending the life of your battery (NiMh)
      The NiMH battery pack may lose part of its capacity or may reduce its battery life temporarily or even permanently, for a variety of reasons: exposure to low temperatures, age, internal discharges, the so-called "memory effect", or overcharging.

      The NiMH battery will better hold a charge if it is allowed to fully discharge and fully re-charged at least once a week. The chemical reactions that correspond to full discharge and full charge in a rechargeable NiMH battery could make the NiMH battery pack to obtain the maximum number of discharge/charge cycles and to improve its battery life.

      1. The following procedures are needed to be performed when an extraordinarily short battery life is noticed on the NiMH battery pack:
      2. 1. Unplug the AC adapter from the notebook and turn it on. Let the notebook run under battery power until the notebook turns off, indicating that the battery is fully discharged.
      3. 2. Remove the battery pack.
      4. 3. Wait 5 minutes, let the battery pack cool down.
      5. 4. Re-insert the battery pack.
      6. 5. Plug the AC adapter into the notebook and check the wall outlet, making sure the
      7. connection is firm.
      8. 6. With the notebook turned off, let the battery charge until the battery LED indicator or
      9. icon glows green.
      10. 7. Unplug the AC adapter.
      11. 8. Remove the battery.
      12. 9. Wait 5 minute to let the battery pack cools down and re-insert the battery pack.
      13. 10. Plug the AC adapter back in.
      14. 11. Let the battery recharge until the battery LED indicator turns green or the icon displays 100%.
      15. 12. Now your battery should be fully charged. Unplug the notebook from the AC wall outlet and turn on the notebook. You should discern longer battery life.
      Return to Top of FAQ

      The Chernoble Virus aka CIH-activates April 26, May 26 and June 26 of all years.

      The Chernoble Virus activates on the 26th of the month. When it activates it WILL DESTROY AMI and AWARD BIOS's! However, the Alcam notebooks use the Pheonix Bios, a so called "unaffected" BIOS.

      What this means is if your machine is infected you can expect that it will "lose" the hard drive and then find it again. It may stop during POST and say "CMOS Mismatch". When you enter CMOS (BIOS) and check the hard drive it will be missing. Have it Autodetect the drive and it finds it.

      If you are able to get into Windows you will get errors from EXPLORER and most executables forcing you to shut down improperly!

      If you do not have an anti-virus program running, shame on you!

      What I use to delete it is a anti-virus program called F-Prot ver. 3.05 (DOS Freeware version), which you can get from Data Fellows.

      The files you will need are: F-Prot.exe ENGLISH.TX0 MACRO.DEF SIGN.DEF

      Place these 4 files on a 1.44MB (3.5 in) diskette. Write protect the diskette. Boot up and press F8 for the C:\ prompt. Then type A: for the A: prompt and then type F-PROT. It'll take about 1 minute before you get to the menu. When you do select Start and run it for a REPORT only. (Just to verify what viruses you have or have not got.) If CIH shows up as a virus then you will need to start from the menu and select DISINFECT and rerun the program.

      When it is completed Windows will most likely boot up for you. However, you might want to reload it just to be sure that it is functioning properly. CIH or Chernoble affects only executable files.

      Q. My modem works only in Hyperterminal and won't connect to the Internet!

      A. Although it is very rare for a modem to not work with the Internet protocals, it happens. What you need to do is;
      1. Go to Control Panel
      2. Double Click on Modem (the icon), go to diagnostics, click on Com3 (or where ever your modem comm port is)
      3. Click More Info. This will give you a small screen of information (we just want to be sure that everything works in this example).
      4. Exit the Modem and got to Networks.
      5. Networks, check and see what you have listed for Adapters and Protocals.
      6. You should have at a minimum a Dial Up Adapter, TCP/IP and Microsoft Client for
      7. Windows and Windows Logon.
      8. If you don't have these then add them (call your ISP for details on the adding in of IP
      9. numbers for TCP/IP).
      10. When you are finished your modem should connect to the Internet without a problem.

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