User manual ACER ASPIRE-1690-DDR2

Aspire 1690 Series User's Guide Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Aspire 1690 Series User's Guide Original Issue: March 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 1690 Series Notebook Computer Model number: __________________________________ Serial number: ___________________________________ Purchase date: ___________________________________ 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 First things first We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook computers 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 Acrobat Reader. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Acrobat Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat 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 launch keys. See "Front view" on page 1 for the location of the power button. 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. iv · Use the power button Note: You can also use the power button to perform power management functions. See "Moving around" on page 39 of the AcerSystem User's Guide. · Use the customized functions for power management You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey + . See "Moving around" on page 39 of the AcerSystem User's Guide. 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 adaptor Here are some ways to take care of your AC adaptor: · · · Do not connect the adaptor 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. v · 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. 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 adaptor. 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 22. 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. Contents First things first Turning your computer on and off Taking care of your computer Taking care of your AC adaptor Taking care of your battery pack Cleaning and servicing iii iii iv iv v v Your guides iii Basic care and tips for using your computer iii An Aspire tour 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 Specifications Indicators Launch keys Touchpad Front view Closed front view Left view Right view Rear view Base view 6 9 10 11 13 11 13 14 14 16 Using the keyboard Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad Windows keys Hotkeys Special keys Touchpad basics Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 17 Using a computer security lock 17 Audio 18 Using the system utilities Acer eManager Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) Launch Manager Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Before you call Adjusting the volume 19 18 Frequently asked questions 22 19 20 21 25 25 25 Acer Arcade (for selected models) Arcade hotkeys Finding and playing content Arcade controls Cinema Album Video Navigation controls Player controls DVD settings Slideshow settings Playing a video file Video authoring Settings 27 28 29 29 30 32 33 34 35 33 34 33 31 30 30 29 Music Burner TV Copy -- Back up your CD/DVD collection 35 Audio -- Create your own greatest hits CDs 35 Data -- Store files simply and easily 35 Video -- Your world in pictures 35 Instant replay Recorded TV Scheduling recordings TV preview Using TeleText functions TV settings 35 36 36 37 37 37 37 Taking your notebook PC with you Disconnecting from the desktop Moving around Preparing the computer What to take to short meetings What to take to long meetings Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations Setting up a home office 39 39 39 39 40 40 40 41 41 41 Taking the computer home 40 Traveling with the computer 41 Traveling internationally with the computer42 Preparing the computer What to bring with you Special considerations 42 42 43 Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations 41 42 42 Securing your computer Entering passwords Setting passwords 43 Using a computer security lock Using passwords 43 43 Expanding through options Connectivity options Fax/data modem Built-in network feature Fast Infrared Universal Serial Bus (USB) IEEE 1394 port PC Card slot Boot sequence Enable disk-to-disk recovery Password Playing DVD movies 45 44 44 45 45 46 46 47 47 48 BIOS utility 49 49 50 50 50 Using software 50 Power management Acer eRecovery 51 52 52 53 53 53 54 Troubleshooting Create backup Restore from backup Create factory default image CD Re-install bundled software without CD Change password Troubleshooting tips Error messages 55 Regulations and safety notices ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 57 57 55 55 FCC notice Modem notices Important safety instructions 57 59 62 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 4 5 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. Click buttons The left and right buttons function like the left and (Left and right) right mouse buttons. 2 English # 6 7 Item Touchpad Status indicators Launch keys Power button Description Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a computer mouse. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on and off to show the status of the computer's functions and components. Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See "Launch keys" on page 10 for more details. Turns the computer on and off. 8 9 Closed front view # 1 2 3 4 5 Icon Item Speakers Infrared port Power indicator Battery indicator Description Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output. Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g., infrared printer and IR-aware computer). Lights when the computer is on. Lights when the battery is being charged. Press to enable/disable Bluetooth function. Bluetooth Lights to indicate the status of Bluetooth communication communications. button/indicator (for selected models) Wireless communication button/indicator Line-in jack Mic-in jack Press to enable/disable the wireless function. Indicates the status of wireless LAN communication. Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman). Accepts inputs from external microphone. 6 7 8 3 # 9 10 11 Icon Item Speaker-out/lineout/Headphone jack USB 2.0 ports Latch Description Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones). Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Locks and releases the lid. English Left view # 1 2 3 4 Item Optical drive LED indicator Emergency eject hole Optical drive eject button 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 when the computer is turned off. Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive. Note: The positions of the AcerMedia indicator, eject button and emergency eject hole may differ depending on the optical drive module installed. 4 English Right view # 1 2 3 4 Icon Item IEEE 1394 port PC Card slot eject button PC Card slot 4-in-1 card reader Description Connects to IEEE 1394 devices. Ejects the PC Card from the slot. Accepts one Type II PC Card. Accepts an MS, MS PRO, MMC or SD card (manufacturing option). Note: Only one card can operate at any given time. Connects to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Connects to a television or display device with S-video input. 5 6 7 8 9 Two USB 2.0 port S-video out port Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000based network (depends on model). Modem jack Ventilation slots Connects to a phone line. Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. 5 Rear view English # 1 2 3 Icon Item Power jack Description Connects to an AC adaptor. External display port Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector). Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. Base view # 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 by a screw). 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 Microprocessor · · Intel® Pentium® M Processor at 1.5 ~ 2.13 GHz or higher Intel® Celeron® M Processor at 1.3 ~ 1.6 GHz or higher Memory · · 256/512 MB of DDR2 SDRAM standard, upgradeable to 2048 MB with dual soDIMM modules 512 KB flash ROM BIOS Data storage · · · One 40 GB and above E-IDE hard disk (2.5", 9.5mm, UltraDMA-100) One internal optical drive 4-in-1 Card Reader (for selected models) Display and video · Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) displaying at: 15.0" XGA (1024x768) 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) 15.0" SXGA+ (1400x1050) Acer CrystalBrite (for selected models) ATI MOBILITYTM RADEONTM X600 with 64/128 MB of video memory (for selected models) ATI MOBILITYTM RADEONTM X700 with 64/128 MB of video memory (for selected models) Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support Dual independent display "Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and conserves power · · · · · · Connectivity · · · Integrated 10/100/1000 Mbps Fast Ethernet connection Built-in 56Kbps fax/data modem Three Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports 7 · InviLinkTM 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g dual-band tri-mode Wireless LAN (for selected models) English Audio · · · 16-bit AC'97 stereo audio Dual speakers and one internal microphone Separate audio ports for headphone-out, line-in and microphonein devices Keyboard and pointing device · · 88/89-key Windows keyboard Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device with scroll function I/O ports · · · · · · · · · · · · · One Type II PC Card slot One RJ-11 phone jack (V.92, 56Kbps modem) One RJ-45 network jack One DC-in jack (AC adapter) One external monitor port One speaker/headphone-out jack One audio line-in jack One microphone-in jack One Infrared (FIR) port One IEEE 1394 port One S-video TV-out port Three USB 2.0 ports 4-in-1 MS/MS Pro/MMC/SD card reader (for selected models) Weight (with battery) · 6.6 lbs (3 kg) Dimensions 360 (W) x 279 (D) x 33.9/38.9 (H) mm 8 English Environment · Temperature: Operating: 5°C ~ 35°C Non-operating: -20°C ~ 65°C Humidity (non-condensing): Operating: 20% ~ 80% RH Non-operating: 20% ~ 80% RH · System · · · · Microsoft® Windows® XP Home/Pro/MCE (MCE for selected models) ACPI 1.0b support DMI 2.0-compliant Wi-Fi®-compliant Power · · 8-cell (65W) or 4-cell (32W) Li-ion battery pack 65W AC adapter 19V 3.42A Options · · · · · 256MB/512MB/1GB memory upgrade module Additional 65W AC adapter Addition Li-ion battery pack Additional hard disk USB floppy drive 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 four 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 Wireless LAN 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 wireless LAN 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. Launch keys Located at the upper-right, above the keyboard are four buttons. These buttons are called launch keys. 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 buttons are pre-set to email and Internet programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable keys, run the Acer Launch Manager. See "Launch Manager" on page 21. Launch key 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: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad 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 keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and 12 function 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 on Hold while using 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. Opens the Find: All Files dialog box. Opens the Run dialog box. Minimizes all windows. > + + < Undoes the minimize all windows action. Application This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse key 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 Acer eSettings Description Displays help on hotkeys. Launches Acer eSettings in Acer eManager. See "Acer eManager" on page 19. + Launches Acer ePowerManagement in Acer ePowerMana- Acer eManager. See "Acer eManager" on page 19. gement Sleep Display toggle Screen blank Touchpad toggle Speaker toggle Volume up 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. + + + + + + <> + <> + <> + <> Volume down Decreases the sound volume. Brightness up Increases the screen brightness. Brightness down 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. To type: The Euro symbol 1 2 Open a text editor or word processor. Either directly press the key 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 directly press the key 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 rear 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 Acer eManager The innovative Acer eManager software is designed for easy access to frequently used functions. Press " " to launch the Acer eManager user interface, featuring five main settings: Acer ePowerManagement, Acer eNetManagement, Acer ePresentation, Acer eRecovery and Acer eSettings. English To set the " " key, see "Launch keys" on page 10. Acer ePowerManagement (on selected models) provides a central location from which to control all your PC's power schemes and maximize battery life. Acer eNetManagement (on selected models) helps users 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. For more information, open Acer eManager, click on the appropriate application and select the Help function. 20 English 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 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: 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 Run Acer GridVista and select your preferred screen configuration for each display from the taskbar. Drag and drop each window into the appropriate grid. 21 3 Enjoy the convenience of a well-organized desktop. English Note: Please ensure 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 launch keys located above the keyboard. "Launch keys" on page 10 for the location of the launch keys. You can access the Launch Manager by clicking on Start, All Programs, and then Launch Manager to start the application. 22 English 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. I pressed the power button and opened the display, 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 adaptor to recharge the battery pack. Make sure that the AC adaptor 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. 23 No audio is heard from the computer. Check the following: English · 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 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. I cannot eject the optical drive tray. There is a mechanical eject hole on the optical drive. Simply insert the tip of a pen or paperclip and push to eject the tray. The keyboard does not respond. Try attaching an external keyboard to a USB 2.0 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. 24 English · 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. 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 Modems. Click on Dialing Properties 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 setup utility and save changes. The system will reboot. Note: To activate the BIOS setup utility, press during POST. 25 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 on-screen instructions to perform system recovery. English Important: This feature occupies 2 to 3 GB in a hidden partition on your hard drive. 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). 26 You are required to provide the following information: Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Telephone number: _________________________________ Machine and model type: ____________________________ Serial number: ______________________________________ Date of purchase: ___________________________________ English 27 Acer Arcade (for selected models) Acer Arcade is an integrated player for music, photos, DVD movies and videos. To watch or listen, click a content button (e.g., Music, Video, etc.) on the Arcade home page. English · · · · · · · Cinema -- Watch DVDs or VCDs Album -- View photos stored on your hard drive or removable media Video -- Watch and/or edit video clips Music -- Listen to music files in a variety of formats Burner -- Create CDs and/or DVDs to share or archive data TV -- Watch digital or analog TV programs (optional) Settings -- Adjust Acer Arcade according to your preferences Note: While watching videos, DVDs or slideshows, your screensaver and power-saving features are unavailable. These functions are enabled when you listen to music. 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 Online help menu Acer ePowerManagement with battery information Display toggle Screen blank Speaker toggle Volume up; increases the speaker volume. Volume down; decreases the speaker volume Brightness up; increases the screen brightness Brightness down; decreases the screen brightness Play; press to start playing the audio track or video file. Press again to pause. Stop; press to stop playing the audio track or video file. Backward; press to skip backward to the previous track or video file and start playing. Forward; press to skip forward to the next track or video file. 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 left side. 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 Settings There are settings in Acer Arcade that allow you to fine tune its performance to your machine and your personal preferences. The Settings page is reached by the Advanced Settings button on the Home page. Use the "screen ratio" setting to choose between standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) display. "Audio output" should be set to "Stereo" if you are listening to speakers, or "Virtual surround sound" if you are using headphones. Note: If your speakers are not capable of outputting low frequency signals, it is recommended that you do not select this option in order to avoid damaging your speakers. Click About Acer Arcade to open a page with version and copyright information. Click Restore to factory settings to return the Acer Arcade settings to their default values. Arcade controls When watching video clips, movies, or slideshows as full-screen visual content, two pop-up control panels are shown when you move the mouse. 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. 30 English 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 a previous screen, click Return. The buttons in the upper right (minimize, maximize, and close) have standard PC behaviours. To quit Arcade, click the Close button in the upper right corner of the window. You can also click To PC. Player controls At the bottom of the window, the player controls -- used for video, slideshows, 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, there are additional controls added to the right of the volume controls. These are discussed in more detail in the Cinema section of this guide. 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 mouse. 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 Subtitle Language 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. 31 DVD settings There are two types of DVD settings: "Video" and "Language." Click the appropriate button to open its settings page. English Video The Video settings control the video output of DVDs/VCDs. Hardware acceleration takes advantage of the special processing power of some graphics cards to reduce CPU loading when playing back DVDs and video files. If you have problems with video quality, try turning this option Off. Select an output type: · · · · · · 4:3 Standard or 16:9 Widescreen according to your display preferences. The Letterbox option displays widescreen movie content in its original aspect ratio and adds black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. The Pan & Scan feature is for DVD titles with a widescreen aspect ratio. Acer CinemaVision is a nonlinear video stretching technology that produces minimal distortion in the center of the picture. Stretch stretches the video display to the size of the display screen. The "Color profile" option allows you to select from a list of color configurations to change the overall color of the video content during playback. "Original" uses the color scheme of the disk you are watching, while "Vivid," "Bright" and "Theater" add enhanced color to the video display. Acer ClearVision 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. Click Restore to factory settings to return the settings to their default values. · · Language The "Language settings" control the audio and subtitle output of DVDs/VCDs. "Subtitle" selects the default subtitle language for DVDs when available. The factory setting is "Off." "Closed caption" 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 factory setting is "Off." "Audio" selects the default language for DVD titles. 32 English Album Acer Arcade lets you view digital photos individually or as a slideshow, from any available drive on your computer. Click the Album button on the Arcade Home page to show the Album main page.