Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
This video provides answers to frequently asked questions about HP notebook computers.
The questions covered in this video are: What features are on your notebook?
What software is on your notebook? Where can I find help for my notebook?
How do I perform an HP System Recovery? How do I turn on wireless networking?
How do I check the battery status? How do I adjust the volume?
How can I extend the life of my notebook?
The quickest way to learn what features are on your notebook is to look at the product
specifications.
HP notebooks with Windows 7 come with a support application customized for your computer.
This application is called HP Support Assistant, and it provides the specifications for your
notebook.
To open HP Support Assistant, click Start, then All programs.
Scroll to the HP folder, and select HP Support Assistant.
When the HP Support Assistant window opens, select the Learn section.
A summary of the specifications displays to the right. You can see information about the
notebook's processor, hard drive, system memory, and graphics devices.
If you want more detailed information, select More information.
From here, you can see additional information about your notebook, such as the serial number,
product name, and product number, which you will need to know if you ever have to contact
HP.
Your software applications are listed in the Windows Start menu.
To find your applications, open the Start menu and click All Programs.
To view the applications, scroll through the list, expand the folders, and see what's
there. For example, if you want to see what games are on your notebook, click the Games
folder.
If you're looking for a specific type of software, such as photo editing software,
type "photo" in the Start menu Search box. From the search results list, you can
select the application you want to use.
If you need help or have questions about your notebook, HP Support Assistant provides options
for self-help and for contacting HP.
Open HP Support Assistant and select Get assistance.
Use Self-help options to find answers to common questions and to find steps for how to fix
issues on your own. For example, the Run automated diagnostics and troubleshoot option runs a
health analysis of your system and then provides actions you can take to fix a problem.
You can also Visit the HP Support Forums, where you can post questions to other forum
members.
Use Contact options to call an HP support technician.
You can also get assistance on HP's support website.
Open your browser and type "www.hp.com/support" in the Address box.
On the map, click to select your region or country (or you can select from the drop-down
box).
For this example, we will select North America, and then United States English.
From here, you can go to your computer's drivers and software page, the product support
page, or HP support forums.
For this example, we will go to the product support page.
Click Product Support & Troubleshooting.
Type your notebook product number into the search field. You can find the product number
in HP Support Assistant.
In this example, we are using a dm4-3007xx. Your notebook model may be different.
The product support page is like a library of all the support information and software
specific to your HP product.
From here, you can download the latest software and drivers, use documents and videos with
step-by-step instructions, learn about your computer's specifications and warranty,
review product manuals, read FAQs, and even go to the forums.
Performing an HP system recovery will return your notebook software to its original factory
condition. This may be necessary if your operating system is damaged, the hard drive is corrupted,
or the computer is infected by a virus.
If you need to run a system recovery, use HP Recovery Manager.
Click Start and type "recovery" in the search box.
Then select Recovery Manager.
Click System Recovery and follow the onscreen prompts.
If your computer is not working properly, and you can't get to Windows, you may be
able to perform a system recovery by turning on the Notebook and then pressing the F11
key repeatedly as soon as the display shows the first screen.
If your wireless connection is not working and you can't connect to the Internet, make
sure the wireless feature on your notebook is enabled. On most HP notebooks, you can
simply press the wireless button on the keyboard to turn it on and off.
If your notebook does not have a wireless button, you can enable wireless using HP's
wireless connection software that is accessible through the system tray.
If you are wondering how much charge is left on your battery, hover the mouse pointer over
the battery icon in the system tray. The remaining charge displays.
A quick way to adjust the volume on your notebook is to control the volume using the keys on
the keyboard.
You can also adjust the volume by clicking on the speaker icon in the system tray.
You can make your notebook last longer by following some basic care and maintenance
tips.
One of the best things you can do is keep your notebook from overheating. Too much heat
can wear down the cooling fans and damage internal components.
Make sure you don't block the air vents when using the notebook.
Avoid using your notebook on carpet or on cloth like a blanket.
Regularly clean the air vents. You can use canned air or a small electronics vacuum.
Use the Maintain section of HP Support Assistant to follow HP tips, run tune-ups, and perform
recommended actions.
Thank you for viewing this video. For more help, go to hp.com/support.