Important Information About Your Macintosh PowerBook 2300 Series Computer
Congratulations on purchasing your Macintosh PowerBook 2300 series computer. This document adds to and updates the information in the manuals that came with your computer. It is a good idea to read this document now, and keep a copy handy for future reference.
If your PowerBook is connected to a printer, choose Print from the File menu to print a copy of this document. When you are finished reading and printing, choose Quit from the File menu to quit the SimpleText application program.
Contents
Tips
- Charging your battery
- Using the Battery Monitor in the Control Strip
- Using the trackpad
- Using a modem
- Using your PowerBook in SCSI disk mode
- Using multiple SCSI devices
- Using the Password Security control panel
- Printing
- Using MIDI with your PowerBook
Troubleshooting
- Problems starting your PowerBook
- Using an external monitor with your PowerBook
- Using video mirroring
- Using Drive Setup
- Using Acrobat Reader after installing QuickDraw GX
- Using Apple Remote Access
- Using a DigiSign Signature Card with PowerTalk
- AppleShare Displays Incorrect Information for Large Drives
- AppleShare Server Software
- Application Programs Using Sound
- Using QuickDraw GX with a Fax Modem
- Using PowerTalk and PowerTalk Direct Dialup Mail
- Using the Apple Internet Connection Kit
- Using the Japanese Language Kit
- Using the Chinese Language Kit
Important Information About Virtual Memory
Tips
Charging your battery
You should connect the power adapter to your computer and let the battery charge overnight when you first unpack your computer. (The battery may have been depleted between the time it was charged at the factory and the time you purchased the computer.)
Using the Battery Monitor in the Control Strip
The estimated time remaining that is displayed in the Battery Monitor portion of the Control Strip depends on the charge remaining and the battery consumption rate. The battery consumption rate depends on the software and hardware features you are using.
The battery icon in the Battery Monitor portion of the Control Strip may show the battery as charging even after the PowerBook has been plugged in for a while.
Using the trackpad
If the trackpad seems unresponsive, try the following in the order listed:
1) Put your PowerBook to sleep (by closing the display) and then wake it
up (by pressing any key on the keyboard).
2) Press the reset button on the back of the computer.
3) Reset the parameter RAM (PRAM). (To reset PRAM, restart your Macintosh.
Immediately after hearing the startup sound, press the Command, Option,
P, and R keys simultaneously. For complete instructions on resetting
PRAM, see the Troubleshooting chapter in your user's guide.)
4) Attach an external mouse.
Using a modem
To improve modem performance, turn off LocalTalk in the Chooser.
When accessing the internet using the InterSLIP protocol, use the 14.4K baud rate rather than the 28.8K baud rate for better performance. The actual throughput at 14.4K baud is higher than at 28.8K baud.
Using your PowerBook in SCSI disk mode
Using Norton Utilities Speed Disk or Disk Doctor from a desktop computer on your PowerBook while it is in SCSI disk mode may cause the desktop computer to crash or freeze. To avoid this problem, create an emergency startup floppy disk using Norton Utilities and then use that disk to startup your PowerBook.
You cannot use password protection on your PowerBook while the PowerBook is in SCSI disk mode. Turn off password protection in the Password Security control panel before connecting your PowerBook in SCSI disk mode.
Using multiple SCSI devices
If you are using several SCSI devices in a chain and are having problems starting your computer, follow these steps:
1. Make sure all the SCSI devices are properly connected.
2. Make sure all the SCSI devices are plugged in to working power outlets
and turned on.
3. Make sure the SCSI chain is terminated at the end.
If you still have problems starting your computer, try placing a terminator at the beginning and the end of the SCSI chain.
Using the Password Security Control Panel
The Password Security control panel provides security for information stored on your hard disk. To use this feature, you must enter a password and turn it on. If you forget or lose your password, you will not be able to access your hard disk. Should you lose your password, Apple may charge for assistance.
You cannot use your PowerBook in SCSI disk mode with password protection turned on in the Password Security control panel. You must turn it off before using your PowerBook in SCSI disk mode.
Printing
If you are printing on a network printer, make sure you have the same version of printer software as others on the network. If you are using a StyleWriter II on a network, make sure you use the StyleWriter printer driver that came with your computer. (Printer drivers are found in the Extensions folder).
Using MIDI with your PowerBook
To avoid errors in data transfer, turn off AppleTalk in the Chooser when using a MIDI interface connection (to the serial port) with your PowerBook.
NOTE: When AppleTalk is off, your LocalTalk and Ethernet connections will be unavailable, and you cannot use external devices, such as printers, that have AppleTalk or Ethernet connections. All these connections will be available when you turn AppleTalk on again.
Troubleshooting
Problems starting your PowerBook
When you shut down the computer, be sure to wait at least 10 seconds before restarting. If you encounter a software problem that requires restarting (such as the pointer freezing), wait at least 10 seconds before restarting with the Command-Control-Power key combination.
If you see an error message (sad Mac icon) after you restart, press the reset button on the back of the computer to correct the problem.
Using an external monitor with your PowerBook
On some systems, the Monitors control panel does not include buttons named "Rearrange on Restart" and "Rearrange on Close" as described in Macintosh Guide.
Using Video Mirroring
Some application programs are not compatible with video mirroring, and may cause information to be displayed inconsistently.
Using Drive Setup
Make sure you only use the Drive Setup application program that comes with your PowerBook to update and partition hard disks. If you use an earlier version of Drive Setup (called Apple HD SC Setup) you might damage files or data on your computer.
Using Acrobat Reader after installing QuickDraw GX
Once you install QuickDraw GX, you need to reinstall Acrobat Reader on your computer in order to use it. Double-click the Acrobat Reader Installer icon in the Adobe Acrobat Reader folder (inside the Applications folder).
Using Apple Remote Access
Make sure you use only Apple Remote Access Client 2.0.1 (or later) or Apple Remote Access Personal Server 2.0.1 (or later) on your PowerBook. Earlier versions will not work. If you use the Personal Server, an ARA 1.0 call will not connect to your PowerBook.
Using a DigiSign Signature Card with PowerTalk
To use the Apple DigiSign Utility with PowerTalk, follow these steps:
1) Turn off processor cycling in the PowerBook control panel.
To see the option for processor cycling, hold down the option key while
you select Custom in the PowerBook control panel.
2) Follow the steps for creating a Signer file.
If you need help, select "How do I obtain a valid Signer file?" in the
Digital Signatures topic of the PowerTalk Guide.
3) Turn processor cycling back on in the PowerBook control panel.
AppleShare displays incorrect information for large drives
If you use file sharing to connect to a disk attached to another computer, and the shared disk is larger than 2 gigabytes (GB), the Get Info box for that disk shows an incorrect size. (Get Info reports the disk to be 2 GB in size, even if it is larger.)
AppleShare Server software
Make sure you use only AppleShare server software version 4.2 or later on your PowerBook.
NOTE: This note is not part of the original Read Me, it is being added to correct information presented here. AppleShare 4.2 or later is not sold separately and is available when purchasing a Workgroup Server. Also AppleShare v 4.2 is not supported on these computers.
Application programs using sound
If you have application programs that make extensive use of sound, you should turn off virtual memory while using those programs. When virtual memory is turned on, it can compromise the programs' sound quality.
Some older versions of programs, especially games, may generate sounds that seem too slow or too fast. For best results with these programs, open the Sound control panel, choose Sound Out from the pop-up menu, and set the sample rate to 22.050 kHz.
Using QuickDraw GX with a fax modem
If you installed QuickDraw GX and you have a fax modem, you need a QuickDraw GX modem driver in order to send faxes. Contact the fax software manufacturer to obtain the QuickDraw GX driver.
If you have installed QuickDraw GX and do not yet have the QuickDraw GX modem driver, you can temporarily turn off QuickDraw GX and use your previous fax modem driver. To turn off QuickDraw GX:
1) Hold down the Space bar while you choose Restart from the Special menu
to restart your PowerBook. Continue to hold down the Space bar until
the Extensions Manager appears on the screen.
2) Click the QuickDraw GX extension to remove the check beside it.
This prevents the QuickDraw GX software from loading.
3) Click the close box in the Extensions Manager window to resume startup.
Your fax modem should work normally. You won't be able to use any
QuickDraw GX features until you turn the extension back on again.
Using PowerTalk and PowerTalk Direct Dialup Mail
If you use PowerTalk Direct Dialup Mail and have trouble sending a fax, it may be because both Direct Dialup and STF PowerFax PE are set to auto-answer. To turn off STF auto-answer, open the STF Setup window and set 'n' to "never" (in the "Answer on 'n' rings" section).
Using the Apple Internet Connection Kit
The Apple Internet Connection Kit version 1.0 is incompatible with virtual memory (VM). If you want to use the Apple Internet Connection Kit version 1.0, first turn off VM in the Memory control panel.
Using the Japanese Language Kit
To use the Japanese Language Kit with your Macintosh PowerBook, make sure you use version 1.2 or later. Customers outside of the United States should contact their local Apple-authorized dealer.
After you install the Japanese Language Kit 1.2, you need to replace an extension that gets installed with the software. Follow these steps:
1) Follow the instructions for installing the Japanese Language Kit 1.2
that came with the software.
2) After you see that the installation was successful, restart the
computer with the Extensions off. To do this, hold down the shift key
while you press the Restart button in the installer screen (or as you
choose Restart from the Special menu).
3) Double-click the Apple Extras folder to open it.
4) Double-click the JLK 1.2 Update folder to open it.
5) Drag the file called "Font Extension 3" to the Extensions folder
(inside the System folder) on your hard disk. Click OK if you see a
dialog box asking if it is ok to replace this file.
6) Choose Restart from the Special menu.
Using the Chinese Language Kit
To use the Chinese Language Kit with your Macintosh, make sure you use version 1.1.1 or later. To install the Chinese Language Kit version 1.1.1, first install the World Script Updater 1.0. Then install the Chinese Language Kit version 1.1. Finally, install the Chinese Language Kit Updater to update your software to version 1.1.1.
To install the World Script Updater, follow these steps:
1) Double-click the Apple Extras folder to open it.
2) Double-click the World Script Install folder to open it.
3) Double-click the World Script Installer icon.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
4) Follow the instructions that came with the language kit to install the language kit software.
Important Information About Virtual Memory
Virtual memory (VM) is a feature of the Macintosh that lets you use part of your hard disk as additional memory. If you are using an application program designed especially for Power Macintosh computers (often called a "native" application program), turning on virtual memory may help you avoid running out of memory.
Your computer comes with virtual memory turned on. With virtual memory turned on, a Power Macintosh program uses less memory than when virtual memory is turned off. If you check the program's Get Info box before and after turning on virtual memory, you'll see that the numbers in the Memory Requirements box change. That is because turning on virtual memory allows the program to use memory more efficiently.
If you notice performance problems using certain programs, you may want to turn off virtual memory. You may also want to turn virtual memory off from time to time to extend work time while using the battery. You can turn virtual memory on and off in the Memory control panel. For specific information on how to turn virtual memory on and off, choose Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu, and click the Memory topic area. Then click "How do I use hard disk space as memory?" and "How do I manage Power Macintosh memory?"
For best performance, try setting virtual memory to no more than 150% of the amount of physical memory (RAM), or no more than 50% of your currently available hard disk space, whichever number is lower. For example, if your computer has 16 MB of RAM and your hard drive has 50 MB of available space, set virtual memory to a maximum of 24 MB (150% of 16, which is less than 50% of 50).
Note: You cannot set virtual memory to more than 1024 MB, even if you have 1 gigabyte (GB) or more available space on your hard disk.
To improve performance, you can also add physical memory (RAM) to your computer. See the user's manual that came with your computer for more information.