Getting Started with your iPaq 5450

Your iPaq 5450 is a useful tool for communicating and collaborating with fellow students and faculty members. Your iPaq has come preloaded with several useful applications for this purpose. However, before you start using your iPaq, there are several important items of which you need to be aware.

Overview and Tasks

When you receive your iPaq, may wish to complete these activities:

  • Change the owner information
  • Enable biometric authentication
  • Enter your username in the VPN client and ActiveSync
  • Install ActiveSync on your computer and establish a partnership

Power Button and Reset Button

The power button is located in the upper right-hand corner of the iPaq. When you press the button to turn it on, the iPaq will resume in the state it was in when you turned the iPaq off. Note that the power button does not completely turn off the unit. It will continue to use battery power to keep the programs and data in memory. It is important to keep your iPAQ charged or you may loose some data.

Next to the power button is the charging indicator. If the iPaq is charging the indicator will blink. If it is fully charged, the indicator will be on. When the iPaq is unplugged, the indicator will be off.

Occasionally, you will need to reset your iPaq. There are two types of resets, a soft or normal reset and a hard or full reset. A soft reset will restart the iPaq, but will preserve the data and programs that are in memory. A hard reset will reset the iPaq to the factory defaults, including removing installed programs and deleting data. See the resetting instructions for more information.

Battery

The battery in an iPaq will typically last for 3-5 hours of use. Several settings affect the battery life of your iPaq including the backlight brightness and the balance between standby time and run time. Also, turning off the wireless networking when not in use will save power.

Reducing the brightness of the display will greatly enhance the amount of time the battery will last. Your iPaq comes configured with the brightness set to auto adjust to the current light level.

The balance between standby time and run time affects how much battery life the iPaq will reserve for standby use only. If you turn the amount of standby time up, you will have less run time on a fully charged battery. When the iPaq runs out of run time, it will not allow you to power on the unit. Your iPaq comes configured to reserve 48 hours of battery life for standby time.

You must be careful not to allow the battery to run out. If you allow the battery to run out, you will lose all programs you have installed and all data on the iPaq. You will have to charge the unit and restore from a backup in order to use the unit again.

Clicking

Left-clicking on an iPaq is done by tapping the screen. Double-clicking is done by tapping twice. However, right-clicking is done a bit differently. To right-click, press the stylus to the screen and hold it there. A circle of red dots will appear around the stylus. After a second, the context menu will appear.

First Use

When you turn on your iPaq you should see the Today screen. IAIT recommends that you turn on the biometric authentication that comes with the iPaq 5450. Since you will have several important passwords stored on the iPaq and the iPaq is easy to lose or steal, you should enable this option to protect your personal information. See the Biometric Authentication instructions for more information.

Installed Software

Several applications have been loaded on your iPaq. This includes Adobe Reader for Pocket PC, ClassInHand classroom collaboration software, AIM, a time tracking tool, and Pocket Hosts.

The Start Menu

Like other versions of Windows, the Pocket PC has a Start Menu. Your iPaq has a customized Start Menu with commonly used applications on it. Also, at the top of the Start Menu you will find the icons for the last several programs you have used. The programs that aren't on the Start Menu can be found under Programs on the Start Menu. System tools and settings can be found under Settings on the Start Menu.

File Explorer

The File Explorer program on the Start Menu can be used to organize files. Like on a regular PC, most user data is stored in the My Documents folder. Other important folders include the iPaq File Store folder and, if you have a SD card inserted, the Storage Card folder. The File Explorer can be used to move files between these 3 locations.

Wireless Networking

Wireless networking is an essential part of the Pocket PC. The iPAQs are configured to automatically use the VPN whenever they are using the wireless network. Once connected you can use Pocket IE and ActiveSync.

Using ActiveSync to check Email

Once ActiveSync is configured, all that has to be done is to open ActiveSync and tap Sync. If you need to setup ActiveSync for the first time, follow thse instructions:

  1. tap Start -> ActiveSync -> Tools -> Options -> Server -> Options
  2. Enter your username, clear the password field, and then enter your password
  3. Tap Sync. It may take your iPAQ a few minutes to sync up the first time.
By default, this will sync your Contacts, Calendar, and Inbox from Exchange. Keep in mind that any changes to these items on your iPAQ will be sent back to the server (on your next sync). You will have to open ActiveSync and tap Sync to get new updates to your iPAQ (they do not sync automatically).

Backup and Restore

Backing up your data and programs is essential. Without backing up, when your battery runs out you will have to reinstall all your programs and you may not be able to recover important data. Fortunately, the iPaq provides a persistent file store and backup software for this purpose. If the battery runs out, this backup will be preserved and can be easily restored. Backing up your iPaq to this file store is exceptionally quick and easy. See the backup and restore instructions for more information.

In addition, the backup that was used to put the preloaded software on your iPaq is included in the iPaq file store. If you ever want to restore the iPaq software that was included when you received your iPaq, simply restore this backup.

ActiveSync for your computer

While ActiveSync is not absolutely necessary for using your iPaq, it is useful for moving files back and forth between your iPaq and PC and for installing new software. It is also used to synchronize tasks, files, and favorites.

When you receive your iPaq you should install ActiveSync and then plug in the docking cradle. When you place the iPaq in the cradle, it will prompt you to create a partnership. Choose Standard Partnership. If you connect your iPaq to another computer after you have setup this partnership, make sure you select Guest partnership. Otherwise you will overwrite the partnership for your main computer.