User manual ACER ASPIRE 5500

Aspire 3600/5500 Series User's Guide Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Aspire 3600/5500 Series User's Guide Original Issue: May 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 3600/5500 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 Easy-launch buttons. 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. · 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 + . 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. 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 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 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 adapter 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 4 5 Specifications Indicators Easy-launch buttons Touchpad Using the keyboard Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad Windows keys Hotkeys Special keys Touchpad basics Front view Closed front view Left view Right view Rear view Base view 6 9 10 11 13 11 13 14 14 16 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 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 Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations Preparing the computer What to bring with you Special considerations 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 36 36 36 36 37 37 37 38 38 38 38 39 39 39 39 40 Taking the computer home 37 Traveling with the computer 38 Traveling internationally with the computer39 Securing your computer Using a computer security lock Using passwords Entering passwords Setting passwords 40 40 40 41 41 Expanding through options Connectivity options Fax/data modem Built-in network feature Fast Infrared (selected models only) Universal Serial Bus (USB) IEEE 1394 port (selected models only) PC Card slot Boot sequence Enable disk-to-disk recovery Password Playing DVD movies 42 42 42 43 43 44 44 45 BIOS utility 46 46 47 47 47 Using software 47 Power management Acer eRecovery 48 49 49 50 50 50 51 52 52 Troubleshooting Create backup Restore from backup Create factory default image CD Re-install bundled software without CD Change password Troubleshooting tips Error messages 52 54 Regulations and safety notices ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance FCC notice Modem notices Important safety instructions 54 54 56 59 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 Item Display screen Power button Easy-launch buttons Microphone Description Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays computer output. Turns the computer on and off. Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 10 for more details. Internal microphone for sound recording. 4 2 English # 5 Item Status indicators Description Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on and off to show the status of the computer's functions and components. Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the computer. The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons, the center button serves as a 4way scroll button. Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a computer mouse. For entering data into your computer. 6 7 Palmrest Click buttons (Left, center, and right) Touchpad Keyboard 8 9 Closed front view # 1 2 3 4 Icon Item Speaker-out/line-out/ Headphone jack Mic-in jack Speakers Bluetooth communication button/indicator Wireless communication button/indicator Power indicator Description Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones). Accepts inputs from external microphone. Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output. 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 wireless LAN communication. Lights up when the computer is on. 5 6 3 # 7 Icon Item Battery indicator Description Lights up when the battery is being charged. English Left view # 1 2 Icon Item External display port S-video out port Description Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector). Connects to a television or display device with S-video input. (selected models only) Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000 based network (depending on model). Connects to a phone line. 3 Network jack 4 5 6 7 8 Modem jack Two USB 2.0 ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). IEEE 1394 port PC Card slot Connects to IEEE 1394 devices. (selected models only) Accepts one Type II PC Card. (selected models only) 5-in-1 card reader Accepts an MS, MS PRO, MMC, SD, or xD-Picture card (selected models only). Note: Only one card can operate at any given time. (selected models only) Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices e.g., infrared printer and IR-aware computer. (selected models only) 9 4 English # 10 Icon Item PC Card slot eject button Description Ejects the PC Card from the slot. Right view # 1 2 3 Icon Item Optical drive eject button Optical drive Description Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive. Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending on the optical drive type. (slot or tray design, depending on model) Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. LED indicator Lights up when the optical drive is active. 4 5 Ventilation slots Security keylock Rear view # 1 Icon Item Battery Description Powers the computer. 5 # 2 3 Icon Item Power jack USB 2.0 port Description Connects to an AC adapter. Connects to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). English Base view # 1 2 3 4 5 6 Item Battery bay Battery lock Cooling fan Memory compartment Hard disk bay Battery release latch Description Houses the computer's battery pack. Locks the battery in position. 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. Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by a screw). Releases the battery for removal. 6 English Specifications Operating system Platform Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2) Aspire 3600 Intel® Pentium® M processor 725 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.6 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) Intel® Celeron® M processor 350/360/370 or above (1 MB L2 cache, 1.3/1.4/1.5 GHz or above , 400 MHz FSB) Intel® 910GML Express chipset Aspire 5500 Intel® Pentium® M processor 730/740/750/760/770 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.6/1.73/1.86/2.0/2.13 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Intel® Pentium® M processor 725 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.6 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) Intel® 915PM Express chipset System memory Display and graphics 256/512 MB of DDR2 400/533 memory, upgradeable to 2 GB using two soDIMM modules 14.1" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite color TFT LCD: 1280 x 800 resolution 16.7 million colors Aspire 3600 Intel® 910GML integrated 3D graphics, featuring Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 and up to 128 MB of VRAM, supporting Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 Aspire 5500 ATI MOBILITYTM RADEON® X700 with 64 MB or above of DDR video RAM, supporting ATI POWERPLAYTM 5.0, Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 and PCI ExpressTM DualviewTM support S-video/TV-out support Dual independent display support MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability Storage subsystem 40/60/80 GB or larger ATA/100 hard disk drive Optical drive options: Aspire 3600 DVD-Dual double layer DVD/CD-RW combo Aspire 5500 DVD-Dual slot loading type double layer DVD/CD-RW combo 7 Dimensions and weight Power subsystem 335 (W) x 240 (D) x 31.9/34.1 (H) mm (13.2 x 9.45 x 1.26/1.34 inches) 2.38 kg (5.25 lbs.) ACPI 1.0b power management standard: supports Standby and Hibernation power-saving modes 53.6 W (6-cell) and 80.3 W (9-cell) Li-ion battery packs (for Aspire 5500) English · 3-hour battery life for models using ATI MOBILITYTM RADEON® X700 (6-cell) 44.6 W (6-cell) Li-ion battery pack (for Aspire 3600) · 2.5-hour battery life 2.5-hour rapid charge, 3.5-hour charge-in-use 3-pin 65 W AC adapter Input devices 84-/85-key keyboard Touchpad with 4-way integrated scroll button Four easy-launch buttons Two front-panel buttons: WLAN LED-button and Bluetooth® LED-button Audio Audio system with two built-in speakers Sound Blaster ProTM and MS-Sound compatible Built-in microphone S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) support Communication Modem: 56K ITU V.92 with PTT approval; Wake-on-Ring ready LAN: 10/100 Mbps (Aspire 3600) or gigabit (Aspire 5500) Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready WLAN: Aspire 3600 Integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi® CERTIFIEDTM solution supporting Acer SignalUp wireless technology support Aspire 5500 Integrated Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection (dual band 802.11b/g) Wi-Fi® CERTIFIEDTM solution supporting Acer SignalUp wireless technology support WPAN: integrated Bluetooth® 8 I/O interface Three USB 2.0 ports IEEE 1394 port (depending on model) Ethernet (RJ-45) port Modem (RJ-11) port External display (VGA) port S-video/TV-out (NTSC/PAL) port (depending on model) Microphone/line-in jack Headphones/speaker/line-out port with S/PDIF support Infrared (FIR) Port (depending on model) Type II PC Card slot 5-in-1 card reader (MS/MS PRO/MMC/SD/XD) (depending on model) DC-in jack for AC adapter Kensington lock slot BIOS user and supervisor passwords Acer eManager (eSettings/ePresentation/ ePowerManagement/eNetManagement/eRecovery) Acer GridVista Acer Arcade Acer Launch Manager Acer System Recovery CD Norton AntiVirusTM Adobe® Reader® CyberLink® PowerDVDTM NTI CD-MakerTM Options and accessories 512 MB or 1 GB soDIMM memory External USB floppy disk drive 9-cell Li-ion battery pack 65 W AC adapter 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% Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) Mobile PC 2001 ACPI 1.0b DMI 2.0 One-year International Travelers Warranty (ITW) English Security Software 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-left 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. 1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The light shows green when in AC mode. 10 English Easy-launch buttons Located at the upper-left, above the keyboard 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 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 Mail Web browser Default application Email application (user-programmable) Internet browser (user-programmable) Acer eManager (user-programmable) P 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. + Acer ePower- Launches Acer ePowerManagement in Management Acer eManager. See "Acer eManager" on page 19. 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 (tray design drives only.) 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 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. English To set the " " key, see "Easy-launch buttons" 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 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. For more information, open Acer eManager, click on the appropriate application and select the Help function. 20 English Note: When recovering your system using a CD or Acer eRecovery, detach all peripherals, including your Acer ezDock, to ensure the best results. 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: 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: 21 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. 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 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. 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 (tray design only.) 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 (selected models only.) 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 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 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 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. The content area on the right shows both individual pictures and folders. Click on a folder to open it. 33 To view a slideshow, open the folder containing the pictures you wish to view, then click Play slideshow. The slideshow is played full-screen. Use the pop-up control panel to control the slideshow. To rotate a picture in full-screen, click Rotate right or Rotate left. You can also view a single picture by clicking on it. This opens the picture full-screen. English Slideshow settings To change slideshow settings, click the Settings button on the Album page. "Slide duration" determines how long each slide is shown before automatically advancing to the next picture in the slideshow. "Transition effects" sets the style of transition used between pictures. To add background music to a slideshow, set the "Play music during slideshow" option to "Yes." The Select Music page will ask you to choose music from your personal music library. Click Restore to factory settings to return your settings to their default values. Video To open the Video function, click Video on the Arcade Home page. Note: The Video feature is designed to play back MPEG1, MPEG2 (if a DVD drive is installed), AVI, WMV and ASF formats. If you want to watch a DVD or VCD, use the "Cinema" function. Two options are shown on the Video page: "Video Play" or "Video Edit." Playing a video file Click Video 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 the 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. 34 English Video authoring Click the Video Authoring button to open the PowerProducer program, which allows you to finalize your digital video productions and burn them to disk. Before you produce your movie using PowerProducer, first gather (or create) its component parts: video clips, photos, and background music. You may collect raw footage yourself with a camcorder or other recording device, or you may simply use files that you have on hand; including movies you have already created in a video editing program. When your movie is ready for production, use PowerProducer, which offers basic video editing tools. PowerProducer's production functions include: · · · · · · · · · burns CDs, DVDs, VCDs, SVCDs and editable DVDs erases rewritable disks that contain unwanted content copies disks defragments disks for appending video content burns DV content straight to DVD sets chapters within video content adds background music to videos and menus offers custom menu layouts for buttons, frames and backgrounds captures from DVD, firewire devices, analog capture cards, USB devices and files For help with authoring video, refer to PowerProducer's online help system.