In Need of Help! HGL-30

Hello everyone from notebookreviews.com!

I have been reading the forums for a while now, although I have never managed to post a reply. I have been following the HGL-30 for about a month now, and as time closed in for college, I pulled the trigger to order one. I was going to order from powernotebooks.com, but they were out of stock at that moment ... and I was on a tight schedule. In result, I ordered from agearnotebooks.com, who is also known as a great vendor on these forums.

I just recieved the laptop today and have been trying to play around with it. Here are the specs:

1.66GHz T2300
thermal paste (high density polysynthetic silver)
1gb ddr2-667 memory (2x 512)
60gb 5400 rpm sata/150 hdd
dvd/cd-rw drive

I ordered with no Microsoft OS (seeing that I had an original extra) - no bluetooth, tv tuner.

That being said, I turned on the laptop and right from the start ... it goes to the bios (pheonix). As I exit from the bios, it went into Windows XP?! I know i ordered the hgl-30 without an os system installed, so I was kind of shocked. However, the windows xp looked a little weird (maybe a test version - seeing as some options weren't available - such as standby).

After that, I deleted my C artion1 and re-made it so that i can install the windows home xp (extra one that I had). When installation was complete, I tried hooking up the internet, but nothing. I also noticed that there are only 2 resolutions (800x600 // 1024x768). I know that this screen goes up to 1280x800.... but i dont see it. Also, it seems to be laggy when i hold a scroll bar down/up or drag a window side to side .... i'm very concerned!

Now i know i have to install drivers and such, but I need help finding them. I feel so helpless right now, because I am new to this. ANy kind of help would be greatly appreciated!

 

you need device drivers i think

 

device drivers? Where can I get these? I'm kind of a noob when it comes to this kind of stuff.

Basically, what drivers do I need in order for my hgl-30 to be up to par?

 

Look in your accessories box for your drivers CD...you will find them all there...along with your manual (take a minute and read the manual first). You will also need to install your DVD software and your CD burning software.

Then, go to Windows Update and download all of the security patches and updates.

Then make sure you have plenty of security. Go here for a great article on Internet Security and a bunch of free downloads.

Then...ENJOY

 

wow .... the cd's were hidden within the laptop case (free deluxe carrying case). I was too clumsy to see it. This helps out a bunch. I've installed all the drivers and just need to set up service pack 2!

By the way, did any other HGL-30 users get this registry sweeper error message? It says to download the program going to regdoc32.com, installing the program, then sccanning for errors. I haven't done it yet, but the error message box keeps popping out.

 

That is not an error message, it is an advertisment for http://registrysweeper.net/ that you must have picked up while surfing the Internet unprotected, or is bloatware installed by your reseller.

Please read my post above about Internet Security and get protected before you pick up more dangerous stuff.

 

thanks for the people who replied to this thread. I appreciate it very much. I found all the drivers and now just need to tweek some stuff around.

However, I might plan on using an external keyboard. But I dont see a spot for a plug on the hgl30? Am I missing something here?

 

You have USB ports, but no P/S2 port.

You will need an external keyboard with USB connectivity. If you have an old keyboard with a P/S2 connector you will need to either replace it, or get a P/S2 to USB adapter.

 

ive gotten rid of the regdoc32 program.

i got a question, is there any way to reduce heat coming from the hard drive? maybe like a program or something? i'm a very anal person when it comes to little things that may bother me. My right palm rest is very comfortable (even through hours on the laptop). However, the heat that's generated from the harddrive (which i'm guessing) under the left palm rest makes me feel uneven.

 

There really isn't anything you can do about the warmth on the left side except adjust to it.

Laptops, unlike desktops that are on the floor and away from you, have a lot of components that generate warmth under your hands. It is the nature of the beast. You have to decide if you are willing to adjust to these minor inconveniences in exchange for being mobile with a powerful machine.

 

Yeah, that makes total sense Donald. Since it's my first laptop, I'm not very used to having heat under my palms. After using for a few days, I've become used to the warmth and such. It isn't really a big deal anymore. I still might look into separate keyboards though, just so I can game on it when inside my room.

 

I think the external keyboard idea is a good one, kyonge. I personally will always opt for an external keyboard and mouse whenever it's feasible.

Also keep in mind that your Compal is one of the cooler running laptops out there.

 

And to finish the set up off, put that keyboard in front of a nice big external monitor, with your laptop right next to it on the left.

Using two screens is more productive than faster processor, memory and hard drive speeds combined. Just try it for two days and you will never go back

 

Now, this is an interesting concept... a new one to me. I'll be selling my desktop soon and I was considering selling the monitor also, a beautiful 19" Samsung LCD. But, what are the advantages of working with two screens? You can have different apps. running on either, I know that much, but, is it ever practical to do so? Does it really redefine "multitasking" that much? Opinions welcome...

C.

 

claudione314,

You really have to talk to Donald about that stuff. He really knows how to make that setup work! He'll give you some great tips and ideas.

 

IMO, I haven't really found much reason to have two screens working at the same time. To me, having the short, squatty laptop screen and a taller, desktop LCD is distracting. I just connect an external LCD and use it as my primary display when I'm at home.

 

That's pretty much my feeling as well, saturnotaku: how can it be functional without being distracting? I am quite open to experimenting with it before selling my LCD, though. Will indeed talk to Donald about it when I get my laptop, thanks chrisyano.

C.

 

I use two screens with my laptop here at work. I often keep documentation, web browser, etc. open on the monitor (which is to the left of my laptop, not the right ), and work on the laptop's screen. It's easier than alt-tabbing between all kinds of open apps (though I'm also a virtual desktop user. Makes things very nice). But it depends on what you're doing, and how your workflow normally is.
It's all very easy to set up in Windows, so you should figure it out quite simply.

 

Hey, you guys are really missing out by not using two monitors...I use 3

I can tell you that using mulitple monitors will increase your productivity far more than faster components.

The reason I have my laptop on the left is that I use an ergonomic keyboard directly in front of my 20" WSXGA+ LCD. I use the laptop LCD as my resource screen and my LCDs (I also have another 20" LCD on the right) as my project screens.

So, you can have two applications open at the same time (I have 3) and you don't have to spend time toggling, or resizing windows to look at two open at the same time.

Lots of uses. Much more productive.