Acer Aspire 1700 series User's guide Copyright © 2003 All Rights Reserved Acer Aspire 1700 Series Computer User's Guide Original Issue: March 2003 Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revision 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 correspondense 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, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated. Acer Aspire 1700 series computer Model Number : _________________________________ Serial Number: ___________________________________ Purchase Date: ___________________________________ Place of Purchase: ________________________________ All trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective companies. First things first Your guides Basic care and tips for using your computer vii vii vii Getting familiar with your computer A tour of your computer Opened front view Closed Front view Left view Right view Rear view Bottom view Features Display Indicators Keyboard Special keys Keyboard ergonomics Touchpad Touchpad basics Launch keys Storage Ejecting the optical drive tray Emergency ejection of the optical drive tray Connectivity options Ethernet and LAN Fax/data modem Audio Audio DJ Securing your computer Security slot Passwords 1 3 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 15 15 19 20 20 22 23 23 24 25 25 26 27 28 30 30 30 Operating on battery power Battery pack(Optional) Battery pack characteristics Installing and removing the battery pack Charging the battery Checking the battery level Battery-low warning Power management 33 35 35 36 38 38 39 40 Contents iv English Peripherals and options External display devices External keypad External pointing device Printer Expansion devices PC Card USB devices Miscellaneous options Installing New Components Opening The Case CPU upgrade Hard disk upgrade Memory upgrade I 41 43 44 44 45 46 46 47 48 49 49 50 52 53 54 Moving with your computer Disconnecting from the desktop Moving around Preparing the computer What to bring to short meetings What to bring to long meetings Taking the computer home Preparing the computer What to bring 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 your computer Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations 55 57 58 58 58 58 59 59 59 59 60 61 61 61 61 62 62 62 62 Software System software Launch Manager BIOS Setup Utility 63 65 65 66 v Frequently asked questions 69 Appendix A Specifications Appendix B Notices Index 73 79 89 English Troubleshooting 67 English English vi vii Your guides A set of guides is provided to help you set up and use your Aspire computer.: The Just for starters... poster shows you how to set up your computer. This User's Guide provides clear and concise information on using your computer productively. You are advised to read it thoroughly and keep it handy for future reference. For more information on our products, services, and support, please visit our web site www.global.acer.com. Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off To turn on your computer, open the lid and press the power button above the keyboard. To turn the power off, you can do any of the following: · · Click on the Start button in Windows, and then select Shut Down on the popup menu. Push the power button. To use this method, you must first click on the Power Management icon in Windows Control Panel, and then check that the power button is set to shut down the computer when pressed. See Windows Help for more information. English First things first English viii English Note: if you are unable to shut down the computer in the usual way, press and hold the power switch for more than four seconds. You should then wait at least two seconds before turning the computer on again. 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°C (32°F), or above 50°C (122°F). Do not expose 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. Do not place objects on top of the computer. Do not slam the lid shut. Close the computer gently. Do not place the computer on unstable or uneven surfaces. Taking care of your AC adapter It is important that you look after your AC adapter. · · Do not connect the adapter to any other device. Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on it. Route the power cord away from areas where people might walk on it or trip over it. Do not pull on the power cord when disconnecting from the mains power socket. Grasp and pull the plug instead. The total ampere ratings of equipment plugged into a power strip should not exceed the ampere rating for that power strip. · · ix It is also important that you look after your computer's battery pack. · · · · Use the correct battery model for your computer. Do not use other kinds of batteries. Turn the power off before removing or replacing the battery. Do not tamper with the battery. Keep the battery away from children. Dispose of batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if possible. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning your computer, it is important that you follow these steps: 1 2 3 Turn off the computer and remove the battery. Disconnect the AC adapter. Clean with a soft cloth moistened with a little water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Refer to the chapter entitled "Frequently asked questions" on page 69 if any of the following occurs: · · · You drop the computer or damage the case. You spill liquid on the computer. The computer does not operate normally. English Taking care of your battery pack(Optional) English English x Getting familiar with your computer 2 Getting familiar with your computer English Your Aspire 1700 series computer combines solid performance, versatility, multimedia capabilities and portability with a stylish design. Increase your productivity by working wherever you are. This chapter provides an in-depth "tour" of your computer's features. 3 After setting up your new Aspire computer, as illustrated in the Just for starters... poster, take a few minutes to explore the unit. Opened front view # 1 Item Display Description Large liquid crystal display (LCD) provides visual output. Turns the computer on and off. Full-size keyboard for inputting typed data. Touch sensitive pad that functions like a computer mouse. 2 3 4 Power button Keyboard Touchpad English A tour of your computer English 4 Getting familiar with your computer English # 5 Item Click buttons & scroll key Description Right and left buttons that provide the same functions as the buttons on a computer mouse. The scroll key scrolls the contents of a window up and down. Button and indicators for the Audio DJ function. For more information, see "Audio" on page 27.. Provides a comfortable platform for your hands when typing on the keyboard. 1 switch button for wired LAN /wireless LAN 1 e-mail launch button 1 launch button for Internet browser 2 programmable buttons 6 Audio DJ controls and indicator Palm rest 7 8 Launch keys 9 Status indicators Light emitting diodes (LED) that show the status of the computer and its components. Note: This wireless communiction button works for models with 802.11b & 802.11a+b wireless LAN only. 5 # 1 2 Item Speakers Wireless communication indicator Power indicator Description Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output Lights when the Wireless LAN capability is enabled. 3 Lights when the computer is on. English Closed Front view English 6 Getting familiar with your computer English Left view # 1 Item Optical drive Description Depending on your model, the optical drive is one of the following: · · · CD-ROM drive for reading CDs. DVD-ROM drive for reading CDs and DVDs. DVD/CD-RW combo drive for reading CDs and DVDs, and writing to CD-Rs and CD-RWs.. 2 Optical disc read indicator Light emitting diode (LED) that indicates when an optical disc is being read. Press the eject button to remove a disc from the optical drive. Used to eject an optical disc when the computer is turned off. Accepts 3.5 inch floppy disk. Locks and releases the lid.(One on the right and one on the left) Press the eject button to remove a PC card from the PC card slot. The slot supports a standard Type II PC card (PCMCIA). 3 Optical drive eject button 4 Optical drive emergency eject hole Floppy drive Left Latch 5 6 7 PC card eject button 8 PC card slot 7 # 1 Item Right Latch Description Locks and releases the lid.(One on the right and one on the left) Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g.,speakers, headphones). 2 Speaker/Headphone-out jack 3 Line-in/Mic-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman). Selection is through the OS Windows mixer. Connects to an IEEE 1394 device. 4 IEEE 1394 port 5 IEEE 1394 port Connects to an IEEE 1394 device. 6 USB ports 2 ports for connecting USB 2.0 devices. 7 DC-in jack Connects the AC adapter. English Right view English 8 Getting familiar with your computer English Rear view # 1 Item USB ports Description 2 ports for connecting USB 2.0 devices. 2 Modem jack Connects the built-in fax/data modem to a phone line. 3 S-video Connects to a television or dispaly device with Svideo input. 4 External display port Connects an external (VGA) display devices monitor. Connects to other serial interface devices. Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network. 5 6 COM port Network jack 7 Parallel port Connects a parallel device, such as a printer. 8 PS2 port Connects to a PS2 mouse 9 Kensington lock slot For attaching a security connector. 9 # 1 2 3 Item Battery cover Sub-woofer Ventilation slots Description Protects the battery bay. Enhance the audio quality. Enables the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. English Bottom view English 10 Getting familiar with your computer English Features Performance · · · · · · Intel Pentium 4 Northwood/Celeron processor. L2 cache 512K (Northwood), 128K (Celeron). SiS M650 with SiS 962, support 400/533Mhz Front Side Bus , Intel HTT support 40 GB or higher-capacity Desktop 5400rpm, 7200rpm HDD. Microsoft Windows XP operating system. Optional 6-in-1 Multimedia memory card module Multimedia · · · · · · · · CD-ROM. DVD-ROM. DVD/CD-RW combo. Audio input and output jacks. Optional 6-in-1 Multimedia memory card module Hardware 3D graphic engine Two stereo speakers + One sub-woofer 15" Desktop XGA color LCD, 1024x768, 16M colors / 17" Desktop SXGA LCD, 1280x1024, 16M colors Connectivity · · · · · · Modem: Software Modem V9.0/V9.2 56Kbps (MDC). 10/100 Mbps Lan . Optional Mini-PCI 802.11b / 802.11a+b / bluetooth(+modem) One switch to enable or disable wireless function Keyboard and Pointing Device 4 universal serial bus (USB) ports. Human-centric design and ergonomics · · · · All-in-one design (incorporating hard drive, optical drive and floppy disk drive). Rugged and space saving. Full-size Desktop keyboard. No need to turn on the system for playing CD or MP3 11 Expansion · · PC card slot enables a range of add-on options. Upgradeable CPU, hard disk and memory modules. English · Large & comfortable palm rest area with well-positioned touchpad. English 12 Getting familiar with your computer English Display The 15" or 17" display panel provides a large viewing area for maximum efficiency and ease-of-use. The liquid crystal display (LCD) supports extended graphics array (XGA) resolution, enabling 16 million colors at 1024 x 768 for 15". For 17", it supports SXGA resolution with16 million colors at 1280 x 1024 . Video performance Your Aspire 1700 series computer feature ...