User manual ACER ASPIRE 1640

Aspire 1640 Series User's Guide Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Aspire 1640 Series User's Guide Original Issue: August 2005 Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Record the model number, serial number, purchase date and place of purchase information in the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label affixed to your computer. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial number, model number and purchase information. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated. Aspire 1640 Series Notebook PC Model number: __________________________________ Serial number: ___________________________________ Date of purchase: ________________________________ Place of purchase: ________________________________ Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies' product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies. iii Disposal instructions Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment, please recycle. USA For electronic products containing an LCD/CRT monitor or display: Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycled or disposed of according to local, state or federal laws. For more information, contact the Electronic Industries Alliance at www.eiae.org. For lamp-specific disposal information, check www.lamprecycle.org. iv First things first We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook PC your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Your guides To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer. The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you to be more productive, please refer to the AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it: 1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem. 2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Reader. If Adobe Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Adobe Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Reader, access the Help and Support menu. Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button below the LCD screen beside the easy-launch buttons. See "Front view" on page 1 for the location of the power button. v To turn the power off, do any of the following: · · Use the Windows shutdown command Click on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off. Use the power button You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey + . Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to shut down the computer. If you turn off the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before powering up. Taking care of your computer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. · · · · · · · · · · Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator. Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0 ºC (32 ºF) or above 50 ºC (122 ºF). Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields. Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture. Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer. Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration. Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt. Never place objects on top of the computer. Do not slam the computer display when you close it. Never place the computer on uneven surfaces. Taking care of your AC adapter Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter: · · · · Do not connect the adapter to any other device. Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it. Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from foot traffic. When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the plug. The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating. vi Taking care of your battery pack Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack: · · · Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off before removing or replacing batteries. Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children. Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if possible. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1 2 3 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack. Disconnect the AC adapter. Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. the computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged; the computer does not operate normally If either of the following occurs: · · please refer to "Frequently asked questions" on page 23. Caution Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority, which is granted by the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this computer. Operation conditions This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions for wireless option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option device. An improper installation or unauthorized use may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Also, any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty. To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors, and installation outdoors is subject to licensing. For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com. Disposal instructions First things first Your guides Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off Taking care of your computer Taking care of your AC adapter Taking care of your battery pack Cleaning and servicing An Aspire tour Front view Closed front view Left view Right view Rear view Base view Specifications Indicators Easy-launch buttons Touchpad Touchpad basics Using the keyboard Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad Windows keys Hotkeys Special keys Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray Using a computer security lock Audio Adjusting the volume Using the system utilities Acer eManager Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) Launch Manager Norton AntiVirus Frequently asked questions Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Before you call Acer Arcade (for selected models) Arcade hotkeys InstantOn Arcade mode Finding and playing content Settings Arcade controls Navigation controls Player controls iii iv iv iv iv v v vi vi 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 9 10 11 11 13 13 14 14 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 26 26 26 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 30 Contents Virtual keyboard Background mode Cinema Settings Album Editing pictures Slide show settings Video Playing a video file Capturing video (TV models only) Snapshot Editing video Music Make DVDs Authoring CD/DVDs Taking your notebook PC with you Disconnecting from the desktop Moving around Preparing the computer What to bring to meetings Taking the computer home Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations Setting up a home office Traveling with the computer Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations Traveling internationally with the computer Preparing the computer What to bring with you Special considerations Securing your computer Using a computer security lock Using passwords Entering passwords Setting passwords Expanding through options Connectivity options Fax/data modem Built-in network feature Fast Infrared (FIR) Universal Serial Bus (USB) IEEE 1394 port PC Card slot ExpressCard 31 31 32 32 33 33 33 34 34 34 34 35 35 35 36 37 37 37 37 38 38 38 38 39 39 39 39 39 40 40 40 40 40 41 41 41 42 42 43 43 43 44 44 45 45 46 48 Installing memory BIOS utility Boot sequence Enable disk-to-disk recovery Password Using software Playing DVD movies Power management Acer eRecovery Create backup Restore from backup Create factory default image CD Re-install bundled software without CD Change password Troubleshooting Troubleshooting tips Error messages Regulations and safety notices ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance FCC notice Modem notices Important safety instructions Laser compliance statement LCD pixel statement Macrovision copyright protection notice Radio device regulatory notice General European Union (EU) The FCC RF safety requirement Canada -- Low-power license-exempt radio communication devices (RSS-210) Federal Communications Comission Declaration of Conformity Declaration of Conformity for CE Marking Index 49 49 49 50 50 50 50 51 51 52 52 52 53 53 55 55 55 57 57 57 58 61 63 63 63 64 64 64 65 66 67 68 69 1 An Aspire tour After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new Aspire computer. English Front view 1 2 3 9 8 7 4 6 5 # 1 2 3 4 Item Display screen Microphone Keyboard Palmrest Description Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD); displays computer output. Internal microphone for sound recording. For entering data into your computer. Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the computer. 2 # 5 Item Click buttons (left, center and right) Touchpad Status indicators Easy-launch buttons Power button Description The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-way scroll button. Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a computer mouse. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up to show the status of the computer's functions and components. Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 10 for more details. Turns the computer on and off. English 6 7 8 9 Closed front view 10 # 1 2 3 Icon Item Speakers Power indicator Battery indicator Description Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output. Lights up when the computer is on. Lights up when the battery is being charged. Press to enable/disable the Bluetooth function. Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication (optional). Press to enable/disable the wireless function. Indicates the status of WLAN communication (optional). Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman). 4 Bluetooth communication button/indicator (for selected models) Wireless communication button/indicator Line-in jack 5 6 3 # 7 8 9 10 Icon Item Microphone jack Description Accepts input from external microphones. English Headphones/speakers/ Connects to audio line-out devices line-out jack (e.g., speakers, headphones). USB 2.0 port Latch Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Locks and releases the lid. Left view # 1 2 3 4 Item Optical drive LED indicator Optical drive eject button Emergency eject hole Description Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending on the optical drive type. Lights up when the optical drive is active. Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive. Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is turned off. 4 English Right view # 1 2 3 4 5 6 Icon Item PC Card slot eject button PC Card slot Two USB 2.0 ports Ethernet (RJ-45) port Modem (RJ-11) port Ventilation slot Description Ejects the PC Card from the slot. Accepts one Type II PC Card. Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network. Connects to a phone line. Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. Rear view # 1 2 Icon Item DC-in jack External display (VGA) port Description Connects to an AC adapter. Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector). 5 # 3 Icon Item Description English Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. Base view 1 6 5 4 3 2 # 1 2 3 4 5 6 Item Hard disk bay Battery release latch Battery bay Battery lock Cooling fan Memory compartment Description Houses the computer's hard disk (secured with screws). Releases the battery for removal. Houses the computer's battery pack. Locks the battery in place. Helps keep the computer cool. Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. Houses the computer's main memory and Mini PCI card. 6 English Specifications Operating system Platform Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2) Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional (Service Pack 2) Processor: · Intel® Pentium® M processor 730/740/750/760/ 770/780 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60/1.73/1.86/2/2.13/2.26 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) · · Intel® Pentium® M processor 725/725A (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) Intel® Celeron® M processor 360/370/380 (1 MB L2 cache, 1.40/1.50/1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) Chipset: Intel® 915GM Memory Display 256/512 MB or 1 GB of DDR2 533 memory, upgradeable to 2 GB using two soDIMM modules 15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing on dual displays via Acer GridVista 15.4" WXGA color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing on dual displays via Acer GridVista 15" XGA color TFT LCD, supporting 1024 x 768 pixel resolution 16.7 million colors Intel® 915GM integrated 3D graphics, featuring Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 and up to 128 MB of shared memory Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 and dual independent display support Simultaneous LCD and CRT display with LCD panel resolution at 70 Hz Up to 2048 x 1536 resolution via non-interlaced CRT display MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability Audio Audio system with two built-in speakers Sound Blaster ProTM and MS Sound compatible Built-in microphone 40/60/80/100 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive Choice of: · · DVD-Dual double-layer drive DVD/CD-RW combo drive Graphics Storage Optical media drive 7 Communication Modem: 56K ITU V.92 with PTT approval; Wake-on-Ring ready LAN: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready WLAN: integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIEDTM network solution, supporting Acer SignalUpTM wireless technology WPAN: integrated Bluetooth® Size and weight 364 (W) x 279 (D) x 33.9/38.9 (H) mm (14.33 x 10.98 x 1.33/1.53 inches) 2.91 kg (6.4 lbs) for 15" LCD model 2.94 kg (6.5 lbs) for 15.4" LCD model ACPI 1.0b CPU power management standard: supports Standby and Hibernation power-saving modes 29.6 W or 65 W Li-ion battery pack 2.5-hour rapid charge; 3.5-hour charge-in-use 65 W AC adapter 88-/89-key keyboard, inverted "T" cursor layout, 2.5 mm (minimum) key travel, international language support Touchpad with 4-way scroll button 12 function keys, four cursor keys, two Windows® keys, hotkey controls, embedded numeric keypad Four easy-launch buttons: Internet, email, Empowering Key, one user-programmable button Two front-access LED-buttons: WLAN, Bluetooth® I/O ports Three USB 2.0 ports PC card slot (one Type II) External display (VGA) port Headphones/speaker/line-out port Microphone jack Line-in jack Ethernet (RJ-45) port Modem (RJ-11) port DC-in jack for AC adapter Acer Arcade Acer eManager (ePowerManagement, eNetManagement, ePresentation, eRecovery, eSettings) Acer GridVista 2.0 Acer Launch Manager Norton AntiVirusTM Adobe® Reader® NTI CD-MakerTM English Power Special keys and controls Software 8 Optional items 8-cell Li-ion battery pack 65 W AC adapter 256/512 MB or 1 GB DDR2 533 MHz soDIMM modules External USB floppy disk drive Temperature: · Operating: 5 °C to 35 °C · Non-operating: -20 °C to 65 °C Humidity (non-condensing): · Operating: 20% to 80% · Non-operating: 20% to 80% Mobile PC 2001 ACPI 1.0b DMI 2.0 One-year International Travelers Warranty (ITW) English Environment System compliance Warranty Note: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The exact configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased. 9 Indicators The computer has three easy-to-read status indicators on the upper-right above the keyboard, and four on the front panel. English The power, battery and wireless communication status indicators are visible even when the LCD display is closed. Icon Function Caps Lock Num Lock Media activity Bluetooth WLAN Power Battery Description Lights up when Caps Lock is activated. Lights up when Num Lock is activated. Indicates when the hard disk or optical drive is active. Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication. Indicates the status of WLAN communication. Lights up when the computer is on. Lights up when the battery is being charged. 10 English 1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The light shows green when in AC mode. Easy-launch buttons Above the keyboard, located at the upper-right, are four buttons. These buttons are called easy-launch buttons. They are: mail, Web browser, Acer Empowering Key < > and one user-programmable button. Press < > to run the Acer eManager. Please see "Acer eManager" on page 19. The mail and Web browser buttons are pre-set to email and Internet programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable buttons, run the Acer Launch Manager. See "Launch Manager" on page 21. Easy-launch button Default application User-programmable Acer eManager (user-programmable) P Web browser Mail Internet browser (user-programmable) Email application (user-programmable) 11 Touchpad The built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger across the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support. English Touchpad basics The following items show you how to use the touchpad: · · Move your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor. Press the left (1) and right (4) buttons located beneath the touchpad to perform selection and execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad is the same as clicking the left button. Use the 4-way scroll (3) button to scroll up or down and move left or right a page. This button mimics your cursor pressing on the right scroll bar of Windows applications. · 12 English Function Execute Left button (1) Quickly click twice. Click once. Click and hold, then use finger on the touchpad to drag the cursor. Right button (4) Main touchpad (2) Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button). Tap once. Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button); rest your finger on the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor. Center button (3) Select Drag Access context menu Scroll Click once. Click and hold to move up/ down/left/ right. Note: When using the touchpad, keep it -- and your fingers -- dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad's responsiveness. 13 Using the keyboard The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys. English Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off. Lock key Caps Lock Num Lock + Description When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in uppercase. When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric mode. The keys function as a calculator (complete with the arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /). Use this mode when you need to do a lot of numeric data entry. A better solution would be to connect an external keypad. When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively. Scroll Lock does not work with some applications. Scroll Lock + The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters located on the upper-right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols are not printed on the keys. Desired access Number keys on embedded keypad Num Lock on Type numbers in a normal manner. Hold while using cursor-control keys. Num Lock off Cursor-control keys Hold while using on embedded keypad cursor-control keys. Main keyboard keys Hold while typing Type the letters in a letters on embedded keypad. normal manner. 14 English Windows keys The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions. Key Windows key Description Pressed alone, this key has the same effect as clicking on the Windows Start button; it launches the Start menu. It can also be used with other keys to provide a variety of functions: < < < < < < > + : Activates the next Taskbar button. > + : Opens the My Computer window. > + : Opens Help and Support Center. > + : Opens the Search Results window. > + : Opens the Run dialog box. > + : Minimizes all windows. + < > + : Undoes the minimize all windows action. Application key This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse button; it opens the application's context menu. Hotkeys The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS utility. To activate hotkeys, press and hold the key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination. 15 English Hotkey + Icon Function Hotkey help Description Displays help on hotkeys. + Acer eSettings Launches Acer eSettings in Acer eManager. See "Acer eManager" on page 19. Launches Acer ePower Management in Acer eManager. See "Acer eManager" on page 19. Puts the computer in Sleep mode. Switches display output between the display screen, external monitor (if connected) and both. Turns the display screen backlight off to save power. Press any key to return. Turns the internal touchpad on and off. Turns the speakers on and off. Increases the sound volume. + Acer ePower Management + + Sleep Display toggle + Screen blank + + + <> Touchpad toggle Speaker toggle Volume up + <> Volume down Decreases the sound volume. + <> + <> Brightness up Brightness down Increases the screen brightness. Decreases the screen brightness. 16 English Special keys You can locate the Euro symbol and the US dollar sign at the upper-center and/or bottom-right of your keyboard. The Euro symbol 1 2 Open a text editor or word processor. Either press < > at the bottom-right of the keyboard, or hold and then press the <5> key at the upper-center of the keyboard. Note: Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq12.htm for more information. The US dollar sign 1 2 Open a text editor or word processor. Either press < > at the bottom-right of the keyboard, or hold and then press the <4> key at the upper-center of the keyboard. Note: This function varies according to the language settings. 17 Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray To eject the optical drive tray when the computer is turned on, press the drive eject button. English When the power is off, you can eject the drive tray by using the emergency eject hole. Using a computer security lock A security keylock notch, located on the chassis of the computer, lets you connect a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. Wrap the computer security lock cable around an immovable object such as a table or handle of a locked drawer. Insert the lock into the notch and turn the key to secure the lock. Some keyless models are also available. 18 English Audio The computer comes with 16-bit high-fidelity AC'97 stereo audio and dual stereo speakers. Adjusting the volume Adjusting the volume on the computer is as easy as pressing some buttons. See "Hotkeys" on page 14 for more information on adjusting the speaker volume. 19 Using the system utilities Note: The system utilities work under Microsoft Windows XP only. English Acer eManager The innovative Acer eManager software is designed for easy access to frequently used functions. Press < > to launch the Acer eManager user interface, which features five main settings: Acer ePowerManagement, Acer eNetManagement, Acer ePresentation, Acer eRecovery and Acer eSettings. To set the < > key, see "Easy-launch buttons" on page 9. Acer ePowerManagement Provides a central location from which to control all your PC's power schemes and maximize battery life. Acer eNetManagement Helps you to quickly and easily connect to networks in a variety of locations. Acer ePresentation Simplifies resolution settings when connecting to a projector. Acer eRecovery Creates backups and recovers system configurations reliably. Acer eSettings Makes managing system settings and security easy. 20 For more information, open Acer eManager, click on the appropriate application and select the Help function. English Note: If your computer did not come with a Recovery CD or System CD, please use Acer eRecovery's "System backup to optical disk" feature to burn a backup image to CD or DVD. To ensure the best results when recovering your system using a CD or Acer eRecovery, detach all peripherals (except the external Acer ODD, if your computer has one), including your Acer ezDock. Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) Note: This feature is only available on certain models. To enable the dual monitor feature of your notebook, first ensure that the second monitor is connected, then, select Start, Control Panel, Display and click on Settings. Select the secondary monitor (2) icon in the display box and then click the check box Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor. Finally, click Apply to confirm the new settings and click OK to complete the process. Acer GridVista is a handy utility that offers four pre-defined display settings so you can view multiple windows on the same screen. To access this function, please go to Start, All Programs and click on Acer GridVista. You may choose any one of the four display settings indicated below: 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 21 Double (vertical), Triple (primary at left), Triple (primary at right), or Quad Acer Gridvista is dual-display compatible, allowing two displays to be partitioned independently. Acer GridVista is simple to set up: 1 2 3 Run Acer GridVista and select your preferred screen configuration for each display from the taskbar. Drag and drop each window into the appropriate grid. Enjoy the convenience of a well-organized desktop. English Note: Please ensure that the resolution setting of your second monitor is set to the manufacturer's recommended value. Launch Manager Launch Manager allows you to set the four easy-launch buttons located above the keyboard. See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 10 for the location of the easy-launch buttons. 22 You can access the Launch Manager by clicking on Start, All Programs, and then Launch Manager to start the application. English Norton AntiVirus Norton AntiVirus is an anti-virus software that finds and repairs infected files, and protects against viruses to keep your computer data safe and secure. How do I check for viruses? A Full System Scan scans all files on your computer. To perform a system scan: 1 Start Norton AntiVirus. Double click on the Norton AntiVirus Icon on the desktop or click on the Start menu in the Windows taskbar, highlight Programs, and select Norton AntiVirus. 2 In the Norton AntiVirus main window, click Scan for Viruses. 3 4 5 In the Scan for Viruses panel, click Scan My Computer. Under Actions, click Scan. When the scan is complete, a scan summary appears. Click Finished. You can schedule customized virus scans that run unattended on specific dates and times or at periodic intervals. If you are using the computer when the scheduled scan begins, it runs in the background so that you do not have to stop working. For more information refer to the Norton AntiVirus Help menu. 23 Frequently asked questions The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy solutions are provided for each one. English I pressed the power button, but the computer does not start or boot up. Look at the power indicator: · If it is not lit, no power is being supplied to the computer. Check the following: · · · If you are using on the battery, it may be low and unable to power the computer. Connect the AC adapter to recharge the battery pack. Make sure that the AC adapter is properly plugged into the computer and to the power outlet. Is a non-bootable (non-system) disk in the external USB floppy drive? Remove or replace it with a system disk and press + + to restart the system. If it is lit, check the following: · Nothing appears on the screen. The computer's power management system automatically blanks the screen to save power. Press any key to turn the display back on. If pressing a key does not turn the display back on, three things might be the cause: · · · The brightness level might be too low. Press + <> (increase) to adjust the brightness level. The display device might be set to an external monitor. Press the display toggle hotkey + to toggle the display back to the computer. If the Sleep indicator is lit, the computer is in Sleep mode. Press and release the power button to resume. Image is not full-screen. Each computer display has a different native resolution depending on the screen. If you set the resolution lower than this native resoution, the screen expands to fill the computer display. Right-click on your Windows desktop and select Properties to bring up the "Display Properties" dialog box. Then click on the Settings tab to make sure that the resolution is set to the appropriate resolution. Resolutions lower than the specified resolution are not full-screen on the computer or on an external monitor. 24 English No audio is heard from the computer. Check the following: · The volume may be muted. In Windows, look at the volume control (speaker) icon on the taskbar. If it is crossed-out, click on the icon and deselect the Mute all option. The volume level may be too low. In Windows, look at the volume control icon on the taskbar. You can also use the volume control buttons to adjust the volume. See "Hotkeys" on page 14 for more detail. If headphones, earphones or external speakers are connected to the lineout port on the computer, the internal speakers automatically turn off. · · I want to eject the optical drive tray without turning on the power. There is a mechanical eject hole on the optical drive. Simply insert the tip of a pen or paperclip into the hole and push to eject the tray. The keyboard does not respond. Try attaching an external keyboard to a USB port on the computer. If it works, contact your dealer or an authorized service center as the internal keyboard cable may be loose. The infrared port does not work. Check the following: · · · Make sure that the infrared ports of the two devices are facing each other (+/- 15 degrees) a maximum of 1 meter apart. Make sure there is a clear path between the two infrared ports. Nothing should be blocking the ports. Make sure you have the appropriate software running on both devices (for file transfers) or you have the appropriate drivers (for printing to an infrared printer). During the POST, press to access the BIOS utility and verify that the infrared port is enabled. Make sure both devices are IrDA-compliant. · · The printer does not work. Check the following: · Make sure that the printer is connected to a power outlet and that it is turned on. 25 · Make sure that the printer cable is connected securely to the computer's parallel port or a USB port and the corresponding port on the printer. English I want to set up my location to use the internal modem. To properly use your communication software (e.g. HyperTerminal), you need to set up your location: 1 2 3 Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel. Double-click on Phone and Modem Options. Click on Dialing Rules and begin setting up your location. Refer to the Windows manual. Note: Please note, on first booting your notebook, that you can skip the Internet Connection setup, as it is not necessary to complete the installation of your Operating System. After the Operating System is set up, you can proceed with the Internet Connection setup. I want to restore my computer to its original settings without recovery CDs. Note: If your system is the multilingual version, the operating system and language you choose when you first turn on the system will be the only option for future recovery operations. This recovery process helps you restore the C:\ drive with the original software content that is installed when you purchase your notebook. Follow the steps below to rebuild your C:\ drive. (Your C:\ drive will be reformatted and all data will be erased.) It is important to back up all data files before using this option. Before performing a restore operation, please check the BIOS settings. 1 2 3 Check to see if Acer disk-to-disk recovery is enabled or not. Make sure the D2D Recovery setting in Main is Enabled. Exit the BIOS utility and save changes. The system will reboot. Note: To activate the BIOS utility, press during POST. 26 To start the recovery process: 1 2 3 Restart the system. While the Acer logo is showing, press + at the same time to enter the recovery process. Refer to the onscreen instructions to perform system recovery. English Important! This feature occupies 2 to 3 GB in a hidden partition on your hard disk. Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Your computer is backed by an International Travelers Warranty (ITW) that gives you security and peace of mind when traveling. Our worldwide network of service centers are there to give you a helping hand. An ITW passport comes with your computer. This passport contains all you need to know about the ITW program. A list of available, authorized service centers is in this handy booklet. Read this passport thoroughly. Always have your ITW passport on hand, especially when you travel, to receive the benefits from our support centers. Place your proof-of-purchase in the flap located inside the front cover of the ITW passport. If the country you are traveling in does not have an Acer-authorized ITW service site, you can still get in contact with our offices worldwide. Please consult http://global.acer.com. Before you call Please have the following information available when you call Acer for online service, and please be at your computer when you call. With your support, we can reduce the amount of time a call takes and help solve your problems efficiently. If there are error messages or beeps reported by your computer, write them down as they appear on the screen (or the number and sequence in the case of beeps). You are required to provide the following information: Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Telephone number: _________________________________ Machine and model type: ____________________________ Serial number: ______________________________________ Date of purchase: ___________________________________ 27 Acer Arcade (for selected models) Acer Arcade is an integrated player for music, photos, DVD movies and videos. It can be operated using your pointing device or remote control. To watch or listen, click or select a content button (e.g., Music, Video, etc.) on the Arcade home page. English · · · · · · Cinema -- watch DVDs or VCDs Video -- watch and/or edit video clips Album -- view photos stored on your hard disk or removable media Music -- listen to music files in a variety of formats. Settings -- adjust Acer Arcade according to your preferences Make DVD -- burn a combination of media to a CD/DVD Note: While watching videos, DVDs or slide shows, your screensaver and power-saving features are unavailable. 28 English Arcade hotkeys When running in the Windows environment, the key combinations listed below are available to control and fine-tune the features and settings of Acer Arcade. Hotkey + + + + + <> + <> + <> + <> Function Display toggle Screen blank Speaker toggle Lock/unlock front panel media buttons (for selected models) Volume up; increases the speaker volume Volume down; decreases the speaker volume Brightness up; increases the screen brightness Brightness down; decreases the screen brightness InstantOn Arcade mode With some Aspire models, it is possible to use Acer Arcade to watch TV, listen to music and view photos without first switching on your PC. To do this, push the Arcade button located on the front panel of your notebook. This will start InstantOn Arcade mode. You can use either the media controls located on the front of your notebook or the remote control to navigate the menus and manage Acer Arcade. InstantOn Arcade mode does not share all the same functions as standard Arcade. In InstantOn mode, the following functions are unavailable: · · TV recording Bluetooth devices 29 Finding and playing content Clicking a button on the Arcade home page opens the corresponding feature's home page. The content pages have buttons on the left and a content browsing area on the right. If a button shows one of several choices, such as sort order, the current setting is shown by a brightly colored ball on the button. To pick content, click an item in the content area. When there is more than one CD or DVD drive, all drives will be shown. Pictures and videos are shown as files (with thumbnails) and organized into folders. To browse a folder, click to open it. To go back up to the folder above it, click the Up one level button. If there is more content than will fit on a page, use the buttons at the lower right to scroll through the pages. English Note: For more detailed information on the features of Acer Arcade, please refer to the Arcade Help menu. This can be accessed from the Arcade home page by selecting Help. Settings There are settings in Acer Arcade that allow you to finetune its performance to suit your machine and your personal preferences. The Settings page is reached by the Advanced Settings button on the Home page. Click Acer Arcade Help for comprehensive help on each Arcade mode. In Display Settings: Use the "screen ratio" option to choose between standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) display when watching movies. The "4:3 movie display type" option allows you to select between "CinemaVisionTM" or "letterbox" mode. · · Acer CinemaVisionTM is a nonlinear video stretching technology that produces minimal distortion in the center of the picture. The Letterbox option displays widescreen movie content in its original aspect ratio and adds black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. "Color profile" allows you to choose between "original" or "Acer ClearVisionTM." · Acer ClearVisionTM is a video enhancement technology that detects video content and dynamically adjusts the brightness/contrast/saturation levels so that you do not need to change the color settings if the movie you are watching contains scenes that are overly dark or too bright. In Audio Settings: Use "speaker environment" to choose between "headphones," "SPDIF," 2 or more speakers depending on your audio equipment. 30 "Output mode" should be set to "Stereo" if you are listening to speakers; Dolby surround" or "Virtual surround sound" if you are using headphones. English Note: If your speakers are not capable of outputting lowfrequency signals, it is recommended that you do not select Virtual surround sound, in order to avoid damaging your speakers. Click Run Setup Wizard to change your original start-up settings. Click About Acer Arcade to open a page with version and copyright information. Click Restore default settings to return the Acer Arcade settings to their default values. Arcade controls When watching video clips, movies or slide shows as full-screen visual content, two pop-up control panels are shown when you move the pointer. They automatically disappear after several seconds. The "Navigation controls" panel appears at the top and the "Player controls" panel appears at the bottom of the screen. Navigation controls To return to the Arcade home page, click the Home button in the upper-left corner of the window. To go up one folder level while searching for content, click Up one level. To return to the previous screen, click the red arrow. The buttons in the upper right (minimize, maximize, close) have standard PC behaviors. To quit Arcade, click the Close button in the upper right corner of the window. Player controls At the bottom of the window, the player controls -- used for video, slide shows, TV, movies and music -- are shown. The group on the left provides standard playback controls (play, pause, stop, etc.). The group on the right controls volume (mute and volume up/down). Note: When playing DVDs and watching TV, there are additional controls added to the right of the volume controls. These are discussed in more detail in the Cinema and TV sections of this guide. 31 Virtual keyboard Whenever you are required to enter search information, or name a file, DVD or folder, you can use the onscreen virtual keyboard. You can quickly enter the information you need using the mouse, cursor keys or keyboard. English Background mode With Acer Arcade, you can continue listening to music or watching live TV while you perform certain other functions. TV, video and music will continue playing in a small window located in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. You can press the stop button on the remote or click the onscreen stop icon to stop the playback at anytime. 32 English Cinema If your computer came with a DVD drive, you can play movies from DVDs and Video CDs (VCDs) with the Cinema function of Acer Arcade. This player has the features and controls of a typical DVD player. When you insert a disk into the DVD drive, the movie begins playing automatically. To control the movie, the pop-up player control panel appears at the bottom of the window when you move the pointer. If more than one optical drive contains a playable disk, click the Cinema button on the Home page to open the Cinema content page, then select the disk you'd like to watch from the list on the right. When viewing DVDs, the following special controls are added to the pop-up panel: · · · · · DVD Menu Subtitles Language Snapshot Angle The disk currently playing will be shown in the area above the list of drives. This page is also displayed when you press the Stop button during a movie. The buttons on the left side allow you to resume the movie from the point it was stopped, restart the movie from the beginning, jump to the DVD menu, eject the disk or go to the "DVD Settings" page. Settings To access the settings for Cinema, first click the "Settings" button on the main menu, and then click on Cinema. This allows you to change "Video" and "Language"settings. "Settings" control the audio and subtitle output of DVDs. "Subtitles" selects the default subtitle language for DVDs when available. The factory setting is "Off." "Closed captions" turns on the closed captions on DVDs. This function displays captions encoded in the video signal that describe onscreen action and dialog for the hearing impaired. The default setting is "Off." "Audio" selects the default language for DVD titles. "Display upon mute" lets you choose whether to turn on the subtitles or captions when you mute the sound for any reason. 33 Album Acer Arcade lets you view digital photos individually or as a slide show, from any available drive on your computer. Click the Album button on the Arcade Home page to show the Album main page. English The content area on the right shows both individual pictures and folders. Click on a folder to open it. To view a slide show, open the folder containing the pictures you wish to view, then click Play Slide Show. The slide show is played full screen. Use the pop-up control panel to control the slide show. You can also view a single picture by clicking on it. This opens the picture full screen. You can then use the onscreen player controls to zoom in and out, and to pan in four directions. Editing pictures Choose "Edit," and you can "Rotate," "Remove red eye," and "Auto fix" (optimize the brightness and contrast) pictures to improve the appearance of your images. Slide show settings To change slide show settings, click the Advanced button on the Album page and select "Settings." "Slide Duration" determines how long each slide is shown before automatically advancing to the next picture in the slide show. "Slide Show Transition" sets the style of transition used between pictures; you can choose between motion, cell, fade, random, wipe and slide transition modes. 34 To add background music to a slide show, click on the "Slide Show Music" option. The Slide Show Music page will ask you to choose music from your personal music library. Click Load Default Settings to return your settings to their default values. English Video To open the Video function, click Video on the Arcade Home page. Note: The Video feature is designed to play back many different kinds of video formats. Refer to the Video help section for a full list of compatible formats. If you want to watch a DVD or VCD, use the "Cinema" function. Playing a video file Click Play to watch video files. The Video page shows the video files in the content area on the right side. They are organized by folders and a thumbnail image shows the first frame of each video. To play a video file, click on it. The video will play full screen. The pop-up control panel will appear at the bottom of the screen when you move the mouse. To return to the Video page, click Stop. Snapshot Snapshot mode is available in Cinema and Video modes. This function can be used to capture the onscreen image at any time. A single frame image will be captured and stored in a user designated directory. The destination directory can be changed from the "Settings"menu. Editing video Acer Arcade offers the capability to edit captured video clips, photos and footage from a camcorder into a movie. You can also select a movie style, and add special transition effects and music to create the perfect home movie. To edit a movie, click Advanced, and then select "Edit Video." Then you select the clips you wish to edit from your folders. To complete your movie, you may also choose a "Movie Style," "Background Music," the perfect ratio of music and audio, as well as the length of the movie. "Select Scenes" can be used to include your favorite or the most important scenes, or the editing decisions can be left to the editing program. Once compiled, the final movie can then be burned to disk to share with family and friends. 35 English Note: For more details on editing video and all the associated features, please refer to the Acer Arcade help menu. Music For convenient access to your music collection, click Music on the Arcade homepage to open the Music homepage. Acer Arcade allows you to view your music library using a number of categories, these include Album, Genre, Artist, Playlist and All Songs. Select the folder, CD or category that contains the music you want to listen to. Click Play to listen to the entire content from the beginning, or select the song that you want to hear from the list in the content area. The songs in the folder are shown in the content area, while the left side has controls for "Play," "Shuffle" and "Repeat All." The Visualize option allows you to watch computer generated visuals while you listen to music. When playing music, the control panel at the bottom of the page makes it easy to adjust the volume and control playback. To rip music from an audio CD, after you have inserted the CD, click Rip CD. In the page that opens, select the songs you would like to rip (or click Select or Clear All), then click Start Ripping. The progress of the ripping operation will be displayed on screen. You can change the file quality of the ripped tracks by clicking on "Settings." Make DVDs Acer Arcade provides an easy and complete solution for recording data, audio, photos or videos. You can burn and share any combination of data, music, photos or videos onto a CD or DVD -- direct from Make DVD mode or some of the other Acer Arcade media modes. Authoring CD/DVDs With Acer Arcade, it is possible to create CD or DVDs directly from the main menu or from whichever media mode you may be using. The burn DVD option can be found in the "Advanced" or "Main" menu of Video, Album and Music media modes. You can burn your favorite songs to a CD or convert songs from your music collection to MP3 and other popular audio formats. You can even create MP3 CDs with over 100 of your favorite songs and listen to them on your PC or MP3 CD player. With Arcade, you can also turn digital photos into a slide show with background music or burn TV and film clips into an amateur movie. You can 36 share any event with your friends and family for playback on most DVD players. You can even add customized theme menus and menu music. It is also possible to burn combo CD/DVDs with music, photos, film and TV clips all in one. The possibilities are endless! For specific details about each of these options, click the Help button to open the Arcade help menu. English File type compatibility For details on file compatibility, please refer to the first page of the Arcade online help menu for each media mode. 37 Taking your notebook PC with you This section gives you tips and hints to consider when moving around or traveling with your computer. English Disconnecting from the desktop Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessories: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Save any open files. Remove any media, floppy disks or compact disks from the drive(s). Shut down the computer. Close the display cover. Disconnect the cord from the AC adapter. Disconnect the keyboard, pointing device, printer, external monitor and other external devices. Disconnect the Kensington lock if you are using one to secure the computer. Moving around When you are just moving within short distances, for example, from your office desk to a meeting room. Preparing the computer Before moving the computer, close and latch the display cover to place it in Sleep mode. You can now safely take the computer anywhere you go within the building. To bring the computer out of Sleep mode, open the display; then press and release the power button. If you are taking the computer to a client's office or a different building, you may choose to shut down the computer: Click on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off (Windows XP). Or: You can put the computer in Sleep mode by pressing + . Then close and latch the display. When you are ready to use the computer again, unlatch and open the display; then press and release the power button. 38 English Note: If the Sleep indicator is off, the computer has entered Hibernation mode and is turned off. If the power indicator is off but the Sleep indicator is on, the computer has entered Sleep mode. In both cases, press and release the power button to turn the computer back on. Note that the computer may enter Hibernation mode after being in Sleep mode for a period of time. What to bring to meetings If your meeting is relatively short, you probably do not need to bring anything with you other than your computer. If your meeting will be longer, or if your battery is not fully charged, you may want to bring the AC adapter with you to plug in your computer in the meeting room. If the meeting room does not have an electrical outlet, reduce the drain on the battery by putting the computer in Sleep mode. Press + or close the display cover whenever you are not actively using the computer. To resume, open the display (if closed), then press and release the power button. Taking the computer home When you are moving from your office to your home or vice versa. Preparing the computer After disconnecting the computer from your desktop, follow these steps to prepare the computer for the trip home: · · Check that you have removed all media and compact disks from the drive(s). Failure to remove the media can damage the drive head. Pack the computer in a protective case that can prevent the computer from sliding around and cushion it if it should fall. Caution: Avoid packing items next to the top cover of the computer. Pressure against the top cover can damage the screen. What to take with you Unless you have some items at home, take the following items with you: · · AC adapter and power cord The printed User's Guide 39 Special considerations Follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling to and from work: English · ·