User manual ACER ASPIRE 9500

Aspire 9500 Series User's Guide Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Aspire 9500 Series User's Guide Original Issue: July 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 9500 Series Notebook PC 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 Disposal instructions Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment, please recycle. USA For electronic products containing an LCD/CRT monitor or display: Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycled or disposed of according to local, state or federal laws. For more information, contact the Electronic Industries Alliance at www.eiae.org. For lamp-specific disposal information, check www.lamprecycle.org. iv First things first We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook PC your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Your guides To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer. The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you to be more productive, please refer to the AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it: 1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem. 2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Reader. If Adobe Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Adobe Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Reader, access the Help and Support menu. Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button below the LCD screen beside the easy-launch buttons. See "Front view" on page 10 for the location of the power button. v To turn the power off, do any of the following: Use the Windows shutdown command Click on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off. Use the power button You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey + . · · Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to shut down the computer. If you turn off the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before powering up. Taking care of your computer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. · · · · · · · · · · Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator. Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0 ºC (32 ºF) or above 50 ºC (122 ºF). Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields. Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture. Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer. Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration. Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt. Never place objects on top of the computer. Do not slam the computer display when you close it. Never place the computer on uneven surfaces. Taking care of your AC adapter Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter: · · · · Do not connect the adapter to any other device. Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it. Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from foot traffic. When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the plug. The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating. vi Taking care of your battery pack Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack: · · · Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off before removing or replacing batteries. Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children. Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if possible. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1 2 3 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack. Disconnect the AC adapter. Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. the computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged; the computer does not operate normally If either of the following occurs: · · please refer to "Frequently asked questions" on page 33. Caution Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority, which is granted by the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this computer. Operation conditions This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions for wireless option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option device. An improper installation or unauthorized use may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Also, any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty. To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors, and installation outdoors is subject to licensing. For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com. Disposal instructions First things first Your guides Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off Taking care of your computer Taking care of your AC adapter Taking care of your battery pack Cleaning and servicing Acer Empowering Technology Acer eDataSecurity Management Acer eLock Management Acer ePerformance Management Acer eRecovery Management Acer eSettings Management Acer eNet Management Acer ePower Management Acer ePresentation Management An Aspire tour Front view Closed front view Left view Right view Rear view Base view Specifications Indicators Easy-launch buttons Touchpad Touchpad basics Using the keyboard Lock keys Windows keys Hotkeys Special keys Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray Using a computer security lock Audio Adjusting the volume Using the system utilities Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) Launch Manager Norton AntiVirus Microphone features Frequently asked questions Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Before you call iii iv iv iv iv v v vi vi 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 8 9 10 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 21 23 23 24 24 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 31 32 33 36 36 36 Contents Acer Arcade (for selected models) Arcade hotkeys InstantOn Arcade mode 48-button remote control Remote functions Mini remote control Finding and playing content Settings Arcade controls Navigation controls Player controls Virtual keyboard Background mode Cinema Settings Album Editing Pictures Slide Show settings Video Playing a video file Capturing video (TV models only) Snapshot Editing video Music TV (for selected models) Time-Shifting TV Recorded TV Scheduling recordings Program guide Find program TV settings Using TeleText functions Make DVDs Authoring CD/DVDs Taking your notebook PC with you Disconnecting from the desktop Moving around Preparing the computer What to bring to meetings Taking the computer home Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations Setting up a home office Traveling with the computer Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations 37 38 38 39 40 41 42 42 43 43 43 44 44 45 45 46 46 46 47 47 47 47 48 48 49 49 50 50 50 50 50 51 52 52 53 53 53 53 54 54 54 54 55 55 55 55 55 56 Traveling internationally with the computer Preparing the computer What to bring with you Special considerations Securing your computer Using a computer security lock Using passwords Entering passwords Setting passwords Expanding through options Connectivity options Fax/data modem Built-in network feature Fast Infrared (FIR) Universal Serial Bus (USB) IEEE 1394 port PC Card slot ExpressCard Installing memory Connecting your TV and AV-in cables Acer Arcade TV set-up wizard (Windows XP Home and Professional) BIOS utility Boot sequence Enable disk-to-disk recovery Password Using software Playing DVD movies Power management Acer eRecovery Management Create backup Restore from backup Create factory default image CD Re-install bundled software without CD Change password Troubleshooting Troubleshooting tips Error messages Regulations and safety notices ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance FCC notice Modem notices Important safety instructions Laser compliance statement LCD pixel statement Macrovision copyright protection notice Radio device regulatory notice General 56 56 56 56 57 57 57 57 58 59 59 59 60 60 61 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 68 68 68 69 69 70 70 70 71 71 72 72 73 73 73 75 75 75 76 79 81 81 81 82 82 European Union (EU) The FCC RF safety requirement Canada -- Low-power license-exempt radio communication devices (RSS-210) Federal Communications Comission Declaration of Conformity Declaration of Conformity for CE Marking Index 82 83 84 85 86 87 1 Acer Empowering Technology Acer's innovative Empowering Technology makes it easy for you to access frequently used functions and manage your new Acer notebook. It features eight handy utilities: Empowering Technology · · · · · · · · Acer eDataSecurity Management protects data with passwords and advanced encryption algorithms. Acer eLock Management limits access to external storage media. Acer ePerformance Management improves system performance by optimizing disk space, memory and registry settings. Acer eRecovery Management backs up/recovers data flexibly, reliably and completely. Acer eSettings Management accesses system information and adjusts settings easily. Acer eNet Management hooks up to location-based networks intelligently. Acer ePower Management extends battery power via versatile usage profiles. Acer ePresentation Management connects to a projector and adjusts display settings conveniently. 2 For more information, press the < > key to launch the Empowering Technology menu, then click on the appropriate utility and select the Help function. Empowering Technology Acer eDataSecurity Management Acer eDataSecurity Management is a handy file encryption utility that protects your files from being accessed by unauthorized persons. It is conveniently integrated with Windows Explorer as a shell extension for quick and easy data encryption/decryption and also supports on-the-fly file encryption for MSN Messenger and Microsoft Outlook. There are two passwords that can be used to encrypt/decrypt a file: the supervisor password and the file-specific password. The supervisor password is a "master" password that can decrypt any file on your system; the file-specific password is assigned when you encrypt each individual file. The Acer eDataSecurity Management setup wizard will prompt you for a supervisor password and default file-specific password. This file-specific password will be used to encrypt files by default, or you can choose to enter your own file-specific password when encrypting a file. Note: The password used encrypt a file is the unique key that the system needs to decrypt it. If you lose the password, the supervisor password is the only other key capable of decrypting the file. If you lose both passwords, there will be no way to decrypt your encrypted file! Be sure to safeguard all related passwords! 3 Empowering Technology Acer eLock Management Acer eLock Management is a security utility that allows you to lock up your removable data, optical and floppy drives to ensure that data can't be stolen while your notebook is unattended. · Removable data devices -- includes USB disk drives, USB pen drives, USB flash drives, USB mp3 drives, USB memory card readers, IEEE 1394 disk drives and any other removable disk drives that can be mounted as a file system when plugged into the system. Optical drive devices -- includes any kind of CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives. Floppy disk drives -- 3.5-inch disks onl. · · To activate Acer eLock Management, a password must be set first. Once set, you may apply locks to any of the three kinds of devices. Lock(s) will immediately be set without any reboot necessary, and will remain locked after rebooting, until unlocked. If you do not set a password, Acer eLock Management will reset back to the initial status with all locks removed. Note: If you lose your password, there is no method to reset it except by reformatting your notebook or taking your notebook to an Acer Customer Service Center. Be sure to remember or write down your password. 4 Empowering Technology Acer ePerformance Management Acer ePerformance Management is a system optimization tool that boosts the performance of your Acer notebook. It provides you with the following options to enhance overall system performance: · · · Memory optimization -- release unused memory and check usage. Disk optimization -- remove unneeded items and files. Speed optimization -- improve the usability and performance of your Windows XP system. 5 Acer eRecovery Management Acer eRecovery Management is a powerful utility that does away with the need for recovery disks provided by the manufacturer. The Acer eRecovery Management utility occupies space in a hidden partition on your system's HDD. User-created backups are stored on D:\ drive. Acer eRecovery Management provides you with: Empowering Technology · · · Password protection. Recovery of applications and drivers. Image/data backup: · · · · · · Backup to HDD (set recovery point). Backup to CD/DVD. Image/data recovery tools: Recover from a hidden partition (factory defaults). Recover from the HDD (most recent user-defined recovery point). Recover from CD/DVD. For more information, please refer to "Acer eRecovery Management" on page 70 in the AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: If your computer did not come with a Recovery CD or System CD, please use Acer eRecovery Management's "System backup to optical disk" feature to burn a backup image to CD or DVD. To ensure the best results when recovering your system using a CD or Acer eRecovery Management, detach all peripherals (except the external Acer ODD, if your computer has one), including your Acer ezDock. 6 Empowering Technology Acer eSettings Management Acer eSettings Management allows you to inspect hardware specifications and to monitor the system health status. Furthermore, Acer eSettings Management enables you to optimize your Windows operating system, so your computer runs faster, smoother and better. Acer eSettings Management also: · · · · · Provides a simple graphical user interface for navigating through the program effortlessly. Displays general system status and advanced monitoring for power users. Logs when a hardware component has been removed or replaced. Permits you to migrate personal settings. Keeps a history log of all alerts that were previously issued. Acer eNet Management Acer eNet Management helps you to quickly and easily connect to both wired and wireless networks in a variety of locations. To access this utility, either click on the "Acer eNet Management" icon on your notebook, or start the program from the Start menu. You also have the option to set Acer eNet Management to start automatically when you boot up your PC. Acer eNet Management automatically detects the best settings for a new location, while offering you the freedom to manually adjust the settings to match your needs, simply by right-clicking on the icon in the taskbar. 7 Empowering Technology Acer eNet Management can save network settings for a location to a profile, and automatically apply the appropriate profile when you move from one location to another. Settings stored include network connection settings (IP and DNS settings, wireless AP details, etc.), as well as default printer settings. Security and safety concerns mean that Acer eNet Management does not store username and password information. 8 Empowering Technology Acer ePower Management Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch it, select Acer ePower Management from the Empowering Technology interface, or double-click the Acer ePower Management icon in the task tray. AC mode The default setting is "Maximum Performance." You can adjust CPU speed, LCD brightness and other settings, or click on buttons to turn the following functions on/off: Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, CardBus, Memory Card, Audio, and Wired LAN. DC mode To suit your usage, there are four pre-defined profiles -- Entertainment, Presentation, Word Processing, and Maximum Battery. Or, you can define up to three of your own profiles. Create new power scheme 1 2 3 4 5 Assign a name for the new scheme. Choose existing scheme to use as a templat. Select whether used for mains (AC) or battery mode. Choose which power options best fit your needs, then click OK. The new profile will appear on the main screen. Battery status For real-time battery life estimates based on current usage, refer to the panel on the lower left-hand side of the window. 9 You can also click "Advanced Settings" to: Empowering Technology · · · · Set alarms. Re-load factory defaults. Select what actions will be taken when the cover is closed, and set passwords for accessing the system after Hibernation or Standby. View information about Acer ePower Management. Acer ePresentation Management Acer ePresentation Management lets you select from two of the most common projector resolutions: XGA and SVGA. 10 English 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. Front view # 1 2 3 4 5 Item Display screen Status indicators Easy-launch buttons Power button Keyboard Description Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays computer output. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up to show the status of the computer's functions and components. Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 20 for more details. Turns the computer on and off. For entering data into your computer. 11 # 6 7 8 Item Microphones Touchpad Click buttons (left, center and right) Palmrest Description Internal microphones for stereo sound recording. Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a computer mouse. The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-way scroll button. Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the computer. English 9 Closed front view # 1 2 Icon Item Speakers Wireless communication button/indicator Bluetooth communication button/indicator CIR receiver Power indicator Battery indicator Arcade/media buttons Description Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output. Press to enable/disable the wireless function. Lights to indicate the status of wireless LAN communication. Press to enable/disable Bluetooth function. Lights to indicate the status of Bluetooth communications. Receives signals from a remote control. Indicates the computer's power status. Indicates the computer's batttery status. For use with Acer Arcade and other media playing programs (for selected models). 3 4 5 6 7 12 English # 8 9 Icon Item Media control Latch Description Five-way multimedia button (for selected models). Locks and releases the lid. Left view # 1 2 3 Icon Item USB 2.0 port PCI Express card slot Headphone/ speaker/line-out S/PDIF jack Line-in jack Microphone jack Slot-load optical drive Slot-load optical drive eject button LED indicator Description Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Accepts one PCI Express card. Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones), S/PDIF compatible Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman). Accepts input from external microphones. Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs. Ejects the optical disk from the drive. Lights up when the optical drive is active. 4 5 6 7 8 13 Right view English # 1 2 3 Icon Item PC Card slot eject button PC Card slot 5-in-1 card reader Description Ejects the PC Card from the slot. Accepts one Type II PC Card. Accepts Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital (SD), and xD-Picture Card. Note: Only one card can operate at any given time. 4 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g., infrared printer and IR-aware computer). IEEE 1394 port Two USB 2.0 ports Connects to IEEE 1394 devices. Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). 5 6 14 English Rear view # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Icon Item Ventilation slots DC-in jack External display (VGA) port S-video/TV-out port Parallel port DVI-D port RF jack Audio/video in port Ethernet (RJ-45) port Description Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. Connects to an AC adapter. Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector). Connects to a television or display device with S-video input. Connects to a printer. Supports digital video connections. (for selected models) For digital and analog TV input (for selected models). Supports both audio and video input. (for selected models). Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-based network. Modem (RJ-11) port Connects to a phone line. USB 2.0 port Connects to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. 15 Base view English # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Item Cooling fan Memory compartment Battery lock latch Battery release latch Battery bay Hard disk bay Sub woofer PCI Card bay Description Helps keep the computer cool. Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. Houses the computer's main memory. Locks the battery in place. Releases the battery for removal. Houses the computer's battery pack. Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by a screw). Emits low frequency sound output. Houses the computer's Mini PCI Card. 16 English Specifications Operating system Platform Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2) Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional (Service Pack 2) Microsoft® Windows® Media Center Edition Intel® Pentium® M processor 725a (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60GHz 400 MHz FSB ) 730/740/750/760/770 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60/1.73/1.86/2/2.13 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) or higher Intel® Celeron® M processor 370 (1 MB L2 cache, 1.60GHz 400 MHz FSB ) or higher Intel® 915PM/915GM Express chipset System memory Display and graphics 256/512 MB of DDR2 533 MHz memory, upgradeable to 2 GB using two soDIMM modules 17" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite colour TFT LCD, 1440 x 900 pixel resolution or 17" Wide WSXGA+ TFT color LCD or 17" Wide WXGA TFT color LCD (Dual Lamp) 16:10 viewing ratio 16.7 million colors ATI MOBILITYTM RADEONTM X700(M26P) with 128/256 MB of external DDR video RAM supporting Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 ATI POWERPLAYTM support PCI ExpressTM X16 graphic card support, or Intel® 915GM integrated 3D graphics featuring Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 and up to 128 MB of VRAM, supporting Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 Dual independent display support MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability DVI-D support, S-video/TV-out support (NTSC/PAL) Acer CinemaVisionTM video technology (Acer Arcade) Acer ClearVisionTM video optimisation technology (Acer Arcade) Storage subsystem 60/80/100 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive Optical drive options: · DVD-Dual double-layer drive (Slot-load type) · DVD/CD-RW combo drive (Slot-load type) 17 Dimensions and weight Single lamp LCD model: 402 (W) x 286 (D) x 35.8/38.5 (H) mm (15.83 x 11.26 x 1.41/1.52 inches) 3.6 kg (7.9 Ibs) Double lamp LCD model: 402 (W) x 286 (D) x 39.3/42.0 (H) mm (15.83 x 11.26 x 1.55/1.65 inches) 3.9 kg (8.6 Ibs) ACPI 2.2 CPU power management standard supporting Standby and Hibernation power-saving modes 65 W Li-ion battery pack (8-cell) 2.5-hour rapid charge, 3.5-hour charge-in-use 3-pin 90 W AC adapter 103-key keyboard Touchpad with 4-way integrated scroll button 12 function keys, four easy-launch buttons Two front-access buttons: WLAN LED-button and Bluetooth® LED-button Media console with Arcade, stop, play/pause, rewind, and fast forward buttons, and 5-way media controls Remote control for Acer Arcade applications or MCE OS Audio Audio system with two built-in speakers SPDIF support for digital speakers Intel high-definition audio and MS-Sound compatible Built-in microphones (x2) S/W VoIP support Modem: 56K ITU V.92 with PTT approval; Wake-on-Ring ready WLAN: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection (dual-mode 802.11b/g) or 2915ABG (dual-band tri-mode 802.11a/b/g)Wi-Fi® CERTIFIEDTM solution, supporting Acer SignalUpTM wireless technology WPAN (optional): integrated Bluetooth® v2.0 Security Options and accessories Kensington lock slot BIOS user and supervisor passwords 256/512 MB, and 1 GB soDIMM memory modules 8-cell Li-ion battery pack 3-pin 90 W AC adapter External USB floppy disk drive English Power subsystem Input devices Communication 18 Software Acer Empowering Technology Acer Launch Manager Acer GridVista Acer System Recovery CD Norton AntiVirusTM Adobe® Reader® CyberLink® PowerDVDTM NTI CD-MakerTM Acer Arcade Bluetooth profile I/O interface Five USB 2.0 ports IEEE 1394 port Express card slot Ethernet (RJ-45) port Modem (RJ-11) port External display (VGA) port S-video/TV-out (NTSC/PAL) port DVI-D port Parallel port Microphone jack Line-in jack Headphone/speaker/line-out/SPDIF port Infrared (FIR) port CIR port PC Card slot (one Type II) AV-in (7-pin) port RF input for digital TV and analog TV (optional) DC-in jack for 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% Mobile PC 2001 ACPI 2.2b DMI 2.0 Wi-Fi® Warranty One-year International Travelers Warranty (ITW) English Environment System compliance Note: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The exact configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased. 19 Indicators The computer has three easy-to-read status indicators on the upper-right above the keyboard, and four on the front panel. English The power, battery and wireless communication status indicators are visible even when the LCD display is closed. Icon Function Caps Lock Num Lock Media activity Bluetooth 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 amber when in stand-by or sleep mode) Lights up when the battery is being charged. 20 English 1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The light shows green when in AC mode. Easy-launch buttons Located at the upper-right, 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 Empowering Technology. Please see "Acer Empowering Technology" on page 1. The mail and Web browser buttons are pre-set to email and Internet programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable buttons, run the Acer Launch Manager. See "Launch Manager" on page 30. Easy-launch button Default application Acer Empowering Technology (user-programmable) P Web browser Mail User-programmable Internet browser (user-programmable) Email application (user-programmable) 21 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. · 22 English Function Execute Left button (1) Quickly click twice. Click once. Click and hold, then use finger on the touchpad to drag the cursor. Right button (4) Main touchpad (2) Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button). Tap once. Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button); rest your finger on the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor. Center button (3) Select Drag Access context menu Scroll Click once. Click and hold to move up/ down/left/ right. Note: When using the touchpad, keep it -- and your fingers -- dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad's responsiveness. 23 Using the keyboard The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys. English Lock keys 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 right hand side numeric keypad is in numeric mode. The keys function as a calculator (complete with the arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /). When Num Lock is off, the keys assume cursor and other shortcut functions. 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 + 24 English Windows keys The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions. Key Windows key Description Pressed alone, this key has the same effect as clicking on the Windows Start button; it launches the Start menu. It can also be used with other keys to provide a variety of functions: < < < < < < > + : Activates the next Taskbar button. > + : Opens the My Computer window. > + : Opens Help and Support Center. > + : Opens the Search Results window. > + : Opens the Run dialog box. > + : Minimizes all windows. + < > + : Undoes the minimize all windows action. Application key This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse button; it opens the application's context menu. Hotkeys The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS utility. To activate hotkeys, press and hold the key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination. 25 English Hotkey + Icon Function Hotkey help Description Displays help on hotkeys. + Acer eSettings Launches Acer eSettings in Empowering Technology. See "Acer Empowering Technology" on page 1. + Acer ePower- Launches Acer ePower Management in Management Empowering Technology. See "Acer Empowering Technology" on page 1. Sleep Display toggle Screen blank Touchpad toggle Speaker toggle Media lock 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. Turns the front panel Arcade media buttons on and off Increases the sound volume. + + + + + + + <> Volume up + <> Volume down Decreases the sound volume. + <> + <> Brightness up Increases the screen brightness. Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness. 26 English Special keys You can locate the Euro symbol and the US dollar sign at the upper-center of your keyboard. The Euro symbol 1 2 Open a text editor or word processor. To type the < > symbol, 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. To type the < > symbol, hold and then press the <4> key at the upper-center of the keyboard. Note: These functions may vary depending on keyboard layout and language setting. 27 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 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. 28 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 24 for more information on adjusting the speaker volume. 29 Using the system utilities Note: The system utilities work under Microsoft Windows XP only. English Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) To enable the dual monitor feature of your notebook, first ensure that the second monitor is connected, then, select Start, Control Panel, Display and click on Settings. Select the secondary monitor (2) icon in the display box and then click the check box Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor. Finally, click Apply to confirm the new settings and click OK to complete the process. Acer GridVista is a handy utility that offers four pre-defined display settings so you can view multiple windows on the same screen. To access this function, please go to Start, All Programs and click on Acer GridVista. You may choose any one of the four display settings indicated below: 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 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. 30 Acer GridVista is simple to set up: 1 2 3 Run Acer GridVista and select your preferred screen configuration for each display from the taskbar. Drag and drop each window into the appropriate grid. Enjoy the convenience of a well-organized desktop. English Note: Please ensure that the resolution setting of your second monitor is set to the manufacturer's recommended value. Launch Manager Launch Manager allows you to set the four easy-launch buttons located above the keyboard. "Easy-launch buttons" on page 20 for the location of the easylaunch buttons. 31 You can access the Launch Manager by clicking on Start, All Programs, and then Launch Manager to start the application. English Norton AntiVirus Norton AntiVirus is an anti-virus software that finds and repairs infected files, and protects against viruses to keep your computer data safe and secure. How do I check for viruses? A Full System Scan scans all files on your computer. To perform a system scan: 1 Start Norton AntiVirus. Double click on the Norton AntiVirus Icon on the desktop or click on the Start menu in the Windows taskbar, highlight Programs, and select Norton AntiVirus. 2 In the Norton AntiVirus main window, click Scan for Viruses. 3 4 5 In the Scan for Viruses panel, click Scan My Computer. Under Actions, click Scan. When the scan is complete, a scan summary appears. Click Finished. You can schedule customized virus scans that run unattended on specific dates and times or at periodic intervals. If you are using the computer when the scheduled scan begins, it runs in the background so that you do not have to stop working. For more information refer to the Norton AntiVirus Help menu. 32 English Microphone features The stereo microphones in your Aspire PC can perform several special functions to provide you with the best quality sound possible. You can access these functions from the taskbar. To access the microphones functions: Double click the HD Audio Manager icon located on the taskbar. Then select the Microphone tab on the main menu. Acoustic echo cancellation Acoustic echo cancellation technology is used to improve performance of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications . A common problem with such applications is an echo caused when the microphone picks up sound output from the speakers. Enabling echo cancellation prevents speaker output from being picked up by the microphone, reducing echo. Click Acoustic Echo Cancellation to enable this feature. Noise suppression Noise suppression can be enabled to reduce background noise, such as the sound generated by your PC's cooling fan, which interferes with the sound quality of your notebook. Click Noise Suppression to enable this feature. Beam forming Beam forming is a form of directional recording. Once enabled, beam forming only records the sound from a certain direction. The best quality can be obtained at an angle of exactly 90', or directly in front of the microphone. Click Beam Forming to enable this feature. 33 Frequently asked questions The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy solutions are provided for each one. English I pressed the power button, but the computer does not start or boot up. Look at the power indicator: · If it is not lit, no power is being supplied to the computer. Check the following: · · · If you are using 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. 34 English No audio is heard from the computer. Check the following: · The volume may be muted. In Windows, look at the volume control (speaker) icon on the taskbar. If it is crossed-out, click on the icon and deselect the Mute all option. The volume level may be too low. In Windows, look at the volume control icon on the taskbar. You can also use the volume control buttons to adjust the volume. See "Hotkeys" on page 24 for more detail. If headphones, earphones or external speakers are connected to the lineout port on the computer, the internal speakers automatically turn off. · · The keyboard does not respond. Try attaching an external keyboard to a USB port on the computer. If it works, contact your dealer or an authorized service center as the internal keyboard cable may be loose. The infrared port does not work. Check the following: · · · Make sure that the infrared ports of the two devices are facing each other (+/- 15 degrees) a maximum of 1 meter apart. Make sure there is a clear path between the two infrared ports. Nothing should be blocking the ports. Make sure you have the appropriate software running on both devices (for file transfers) or you have the appropriate drivers (for printing to an infrared printer). During the POST, press to access the BIOS utility and verify that the infrared port is enabled. Make sure both devices are IrDA-compliant. · · The printer does not work. Check the following: · · Make sure that the printer is connected to a power outlet and that it is turned on. 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. 35 I want to set up my location to use the internal modem. To properly use your communication software (e.g. HyperTerminal), you need to set up your location: 1 2 3 Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel. Double-click on Phone and Modem Options. Click on Dialing Rules and begin setting up your location. English Refer to the Windows manual. Note: Please note, on first booting your notebook, that you can skip the Internet Connection setup, as it is not necessary to complete the installation of your Operating System. After the Operating System is set up, you can proceed with the Internet Connection setup. I want to restore my computer to its original settings without recovery CDs. Note: If your system is the multilingual version, the operating system and language you choose when you first turn on the system will be the only option for future recovery operations. This recovery process helps you restore the C: drive with the original software content that is installed when you purchase your notebook. Follow the steps below to rebuild your C: drive. (Your C: drive will be reformatted and all data will be erased.) It is important to back up all data files before using this option. Before performing a restore operation, please check the BIOS settings. 1 2 3 Check to see if Acer disk-to-disk recovery is enabled or not. Make sure the D2D Recovery setting in Main is Enabled. Exit the BIOS utility and save changes. The system will reboot. Note: To activate the BIOS utility, press during POST. 36 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 disk. Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Your computer is backed by an International Travelers Warranty (ITW) that gives you security and peace of mind when traveling. Our worldwide network of service centers are there to give you a helping hand. An ITW passport comes with your computer. This passport contains all you need to know about the ITW program. A list of available, authorized service centers is in this handy booklet. Read this passport thoroughly. Always have your ITW passport on hand, especially when you travel, to receive the benefits from our support centers. Place your proof-of-purchase in the flap located inside the front cover of the ITW passport. If the country you are traveling in does not have an Acer-authorized ITW service site, you can still get in contact with our offices worldwide. Please consult http://global.acer.com. Before you call Please have the following information available when you call Acer for online service, and please be at your computer when you call. With your support, we can reduce the amount of time a call takes and help solve your problems efficiently. If there are error messages or beeps reported by your computer, write them down as they appear on the screen (or the number and sequence in the case of beeps). You are required to provide the following information: Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Telephone number: _________________________________ Machine and model type: ____________________________ Serial number: ______________________________________ Date of purchase: ___________________________________ 37 Acer Arcade (for selected models) Acer Arcade is an integrated player for music, photos, TV, DVD movies and videos. It can be operated using your pointing device or remote control. To watch or listen, click or select a content button (e.g., Music, Video, etc.) on the Arcade home page. English · · · · · · · Cinema -- watch DVDs or VCDs Video -- watch and/or edit video clips Album -- view photos stored on your hard disk or removable media Music -- listen to music files in a variety of formats TV -- watch and record digital or analog TV programs (optional) Settings -- adjust Acer Arcade according to your preferences Make DVD -- burn a combination of media to a CD/DVD Note: While watching videos, DVDs or slide shows, your screensaver and power-saving features are unavailable. 38 English Arcade hotkeys When running in the Windows environment, the key combinations listed below are available to control and fine-tune the features and settings of Acer Arcade. Hotkey + + + + + <> + <> + <> + <> Function Display toggle Screen blank Speaker toggle Lock/unlock front panel media buttons (for selected models) Volume up; increases the speaker volume Volume down; decreases the speaker volume Brightness up; increases the screen brightness Brightness down; decreases the screen brightness InstantOn Arcade mode With some Aspire models, it is possible to use Acer Arcade to watch TV, listen to music, and view photos without first switching on your PC. To do this, push the Arcade button located on the front panel of your notebook. This will start InstantOn Arcade mode. You can use either the media controls located on the front of your notebook or the remote control to navigate the menus and manage Acer Arcade. InstantOn Arcade mode does not share all the same functions as standard Arcade. In InstantOn mode the following functions are unavailable: · · TV recording Bluetooth devices 39 48-button remote control If your Aspire is bundled with a TV-tuner card, a 48-button remote control is included for use with the Acer Arcade software. The table below explains the functions for this controller. English 1 2 3 14 15 16 4 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Warning! The Arcade and Power buttons have different functions depending on the current mode. See below for details. Button functions may change depending on your power option settings. For InstantOn Arcade mode, push the Arcade button to start Acer Arcade. Pushing it again at any time will return you to the Arcade main page. Push the Power button to shut down the system. For Arcade in Windows mode, push the Arcade button to start Arcade. Push it again at any time to return to the main menu. Pushing the Arcade button again will close Arcade mode. Pushing the Power button will put your notebook into Standby mode. Push it again to resume. 40 English Remote functions # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Item Record Arcade Color buttons 0-9 buttons Last Ch Previous CH + / Rewind Pause Play Back Navigation/ OK buttons Ch scan Live TV Power TeleText/CC Full Screen Capture Repeat Mute Next VOL + / Fast Forward DVD menu Stop Language Info/EPG Subtitle Angle SAP Description Record TV Launch/quit Acer Arcade; return to Arcade main page Teletext shortcut functions* Input TV channel numbers Return to previous channel Skip back one music track, DVD chapter, or photo Change channels up and down Rewind through media Pause audio, video, slide shows, live or recorded TV Play selection Back to previous page Navigate between selections and menu items, OK to select option, enter, play and pause. Shortcut to scan channel page; scan TV channels Launch Live TV mode Power off; sleep (depending on mode) Launch TeleText*/ closed captions Toggle between full screen and window view Capture the current TV/Video screen Repeat a music track Toggle audio on/off Skip ahead one music track, DVD chapter, or photo Increase or decrease the audio playback level Fast forward through media Launch DVD menu screen Stop current playing or recording operation Open DVD language menu** Show DVD or TV listings information Open subtitles menu** Toggle between different viewing angles** Toggle between sound modes (mono, stereo, etc.) **Dependent on individual DVD content *TeleText regions only