Dear Parents and Students, 

At the onset of this year and with the transition to N4B in the Grades 11 & 12, we want to thank you for your trust and to pledge our continuous quest to improve the educational environment for your children.

We take this opportunity to provide you with this compilation of Do’s and Don’ts and a general student handbook. You will find here the maintenance guidelines of the notebook computer your child is receiving and other general aspects of application.

 

The above units come with a 3-year international warranty available at the school and endorsable to the student upon graduation. 

Best of breed technology is brought to you by IBM & HP on your ThinkPads & nc6320 which are intended to serve your academic needs in the most efficient manner.

Interconnect FZ LLC will be your forefront partner in all service and support requirements during your experience with the notebook.

Your Notebook is a precision machine. It is designed and tested to be durable and reliable under normal work conditions (Your Notebook is like a car. You can start it cold and run it until it drops or you can take good care of it and it will run forever.) – However for maximum efficiency and to extend its lifetime you must always keep the following in mind – please read the following carefully.

Notebook Don'ts:

          1.      Do not remove the serial number sticker on your Notebook or on any of the removable parts.

2.      Do not leave the base of your Notebook in contact with your lap or any part of your body for an extended period when it is functioning or when the battery is charging - heat is dissipated during normal operation and extended contact to the skin could cause discomfort or a skin burn.

3.      Do not subject your Notebook to physical punishment like dropping or bumping. Take extra care not to drop it on your foot; it will give you Mega hurts!!

4.      Do not place heavy objects on your Notebook even when it is inside a suitable carrying case.

5.      Do not spill or allow liquids into your Notebook.

6.      Do not use your Notebook in or near water – there is a danger of electrical shock

7.      Do not pack your Notebook in a tightly packed suitcase or bag - the pressure might cause internal damage.

8.      Do not disassemble your Notebook in case of a malfunction – it must be repaired only by an Authorized IBM or HP Engineer.

9.      Do not bang your keyboard. Do not type excessively fast like your normal keyboard as they are fragile.

10.  Do not scratch, twist, hit or push the surface of your Notebook Display.

11.  Do not place any objects between the Display and Keyboard or under the Keyboard.

12.  Do not pick up or hold your Notebook by the display - when picking it up with the Display open hold it by the bottom (Keyboard) half.

13.  Do not modify or tape the latches to keep the Display open or closed.

14.  Do no turn your Notebook over while the AC Adapter is plugged in – it could break the adapter plug.

15.  Do not use or store your Notebook where the temperature is below 5 Degree Celsius or above 35 Degree Celsius.

In country like UAE, it is important to be careful about temperature. Due to growing demands, a laptop is made to run various applications that require PC Cards, CD Drives, Modem etc and large amounts of RAM, to maintain high performance of processor. As a result computer becomes hot due to increase power consumption when it is in use for long time.

Manufacturers consider all these but still you have a role to play.

ü       Avoid exposing your laptop to direct sunlight, high ambient temperature for a long period. (In cars, in the playground…)

ü       Place the machine only on solid, flat surface. Make sure vents, which cool internal components, are unhindered. Do not allow articles like printer/ scanner and sometimes even your own palm to block the vent. Avoid using soft surfaces like fabric, cushions / pillow or carpet that may block the vent for easy airflow.

ü       Switch off the machine if it will not be used for long time.

ü       Let your computer warm up or cool down to room temperature before turning it on or attempting to use it.

ü       In other words, if you are comfortable in a temperature, most likely your laptop will be.

16.  Do not place your Notebook closer than 13 cm (5 inches) from any electrical appliance that generates a strong magnetic field, such as a motor, magnet, TV, refrigerator or large audio speakers. Information can easily get erased from your hard disk.

17.  Do not hard-mount your Notebook in a vehicle or anywhere that it is subject to strong vibration.

18.  Do not keep your Notebook in very humid area.

19.  Do not crush, drop or physically punish the external or removable Hard Disk Drive, Diskette Drive or CD-ROM Drive when it is outside of your Notebook.

20.  Do not press on the middle part of the Diskette Drive (if provided).

21.  Do not insert the diskette at an angle - not inserting the diskette straight into the drive can damage the drive.

22.  Do not place more than one label on a diskette - multiple or loose labels can detach or tear and then lodge in the drive.

23.  Do not touch the lens on the CD-ROM tray - you should hold the CD / DVD by the edges and not touch its surface.

24.  Do not connect a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) or other digital telephone extension line to your Notebook – only use a public-switched telephone network (PSTN). Use of a phone line other than PSTN can damage your Notebook’s Modem. If you are not sure which kind of phone line you are using contact your telephone company. Many hotels or office buildings use digital telephone extension lines, so check before connecting the telephone cable in such places.

  

Notebook Do's:

1. Replace the plastic bezel faces (if supplied) when you exchange drives in your Notebook.
2. Store your external and removable Hard Disk Drive, Diskette Drive and CD-ROM Drive in the appropriate container or packaging when not in use.
3. When installing your Hard Disk Drive, Diskette Drive or CD-ROM Drive, apply pressure only where indicated on the device.
4. When installing the CD-ROM or Diskette Drive into the UltraBay, ensure the AC Adapter is disconnected from your computer.
5. Ensure that you carry your Notebook in a quality carry case. Also ensure that accessories are properly arranged within the Carry Case. You may be tempted to use it with carrying case as a cushion when sitting in a public place but it may turnout to be a very expensive cushion if you are unable to retrieve your data/information when it is required most.
6. Treat your Notebook like a precision piece of electronic machinery. Keep liquid away from it to prevent costly repairs. Avoid using it in very humid area.
7. Register your Notebook products with IBM or HP - this can help authorities return your Notebook to you if it is lost or stolen
8. Retain and store packing materials safely out of reach of children to prevent the risk of suffocation from plastic bags.

 

Cleaning the Notebook

Danger! Isopropyl Alcohol is a flammable liquid - Do not use this cleaner near an exposed flame or when the Notebook is on.

Always disconnect the power supply of the Notebook before cleaning it.

Disconnect all peripherals before cleaning The Notebook or any of its components.

You should occasionally clean your Notebook as follows:

1. Use a soft lint-free cloth moistened with non-alkaline detergent to wipe the exterior of the Notebook.
2. Don't spray cleaner directly on the Display or Keyboard. Liquids and cleaning solvents may permanently damage your Notebook’s exterior finish and the components.
3. The LCD of your Notebook is very sensitive and also one of the most expensive and irreparable part which should be taken care of while closing and opening. To remove stain and lint, gently wipe the LCD with a dry, soft lint-free cloth - if a stain remains, moisten the cloth with LCD cleaner and wipe the stain again - be sure to dry the LCD before closing it. You may avoid such steps if you believe in preventive maintenance.
4. Grease on the Touch-Pad may be the reason for cursor to jump around on the screen. To avoid this, clean the Touch-Pad with a damp cloth. Always use clean hands to operate the machine. If you are uncomfortable using the touch-pad, get an additional wireless/optical mouse.
5. Regular cleaning of the keyboard is necessary for smooth operation of the keyboard and also for personal hygiene. To prevent keys from sticking and to remove dust, lint or any other particles that may be trapped underneath the keys use clean air from a small hand blower or any air-blowing device. In absence of that, use a small vacuum cleaner used for cleaning other electronic items. Avoid using a household vacuum cleaner to clean the keyboard, because normal household waste may deposit on the surfaces from the brush, rather than remove it. Never use liquids of any sort on the keyboard.

 

NOTE: A 50-50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water or water alone may be used as a LCD cleaner to moisten your cloth. Antistatic LCD cleaning cloths and Kim Wipes are also acceptable alternatives.

 

 

How to Carry the Notebook

When carrying your Notebook follow these instructions to prevent possible damage to your Notebook and Data:

1. Remove any media from the CD-ROM Drive or Diskette Drive.
2. Turn off all attached devices.
3. Turn off the Notebook or put it on Standby Mode and close the LCD.
4. Unplug all external cables and cords connected to your Notebook. Store them properly as they break very easily and are expensive to replace.
5. Make sure all the doors and covers are closed. Take extreme precaution when exchanging CD drives, as “doors” tend to break-off very easily.