Aspire 3010/5010 Series User's Guide Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Aspire 3010/5010 Series User's Guide Original Issue: March 2005 Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label affixed to your computer. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial number, model number, and purchase information. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated. Aspire 3010/5010 Series Notebook Computer Model number: __________________________________ Serial number: ___________________________________ Purchase date: ___________________________________ Place of purchase: ________________________________ Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies' product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies. iii First things first We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook computers your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Your guides To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer. The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you to be more productive, please refer to the AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options, and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it: 1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem. 2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Acrobat Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, access the Help and Support menu. Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button below the LCD screen beside the launch keys. See "Front view" on page 1 for the location of the power button. To turn the power off, do any of the following: · · Use the Windows shutdown command Click on Start, Turn Off Computer; then click on Turn Off. Use the power button iv Note: You can also use the power button to perform power management functions. See "Moving around" on page 37 of the AcerSystem User's Guide. · Use the customized functions for power management You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey +. See "Moving around" on page 37 of the AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to shut down the computer. If you turn off the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before powering up. Taking care of your computer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. · · · · · · · · · · Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator. Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0º C (32º F) or above 50º C (122º F). Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields. Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture. Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer. Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration. Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt. Never place objects on top of the computer. Do not slam the computer display when you close it. Never place the computer on uneven surfaces. Taking care of your AC adaptor Here are some ways to take care of your AC adaptor: · · · · Do not connect the adaptor to any other device. Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it. Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from foot traffic. When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the plug. 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. v Taking care of your battery pack Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack: · · · Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off before removing or replacing batteries. Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children. Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if possible. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1 2 3 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack. Disconnect the AC adaptor. Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. If either of the following occurs: · · the computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged. the computer does not operate normally. 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 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 adaptor Taking care of your battery pack Cleaning and servicing iii iii iii iii iv iv v v An Aspire tour Front view Left view Right view Rear view Base view Specifications Indicators Launch keys Touchpad Touchpad basics Using the keyboard Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad Windows keys Hotkeys Special keys Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray Using a computer security lock Audio Adjusting the volume Using the system utilities Acer eManager Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) Launch Manager Frequently asked questions Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Before you call 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 9 10 11 11 13 13 14 14 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 19 21 22 25 25 25 Acer Arcade (for selected models) Finding and playing content Arcade controls Cinema Album Video Navigation controls Player controls DVD settings Slideshow settings Playing a video file Video authoring Settings 28 29 29 30 31 33 30 30 29 32 33 34 35 33 34 Music Burner Copy -- Back up your CD/DVD collection Audio -- Create your own greatest hits CDs Data -- Store files simply and easily Video -- Your world in pictures 35 35 35 35 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 37 37 37 37 38 38 38 39 39 39 39 40 40 40 40 41 Taking the computer home 38 Traveling with the computer 39 Traveling internationally with the computer 40 Securing your computer Using a computer security lock Using passwords 41 41 41 Entering passwords Setting passwords 42 42 Expanding through options Connectivity options Fax/data modem Built-in network feature Fast Infrared Universal Serial Bus (USB) IEEE 1394 port PC Card slot Boot sequence Enable disk-to-disk recovery Password Playing DVD movies 43 43 43 44 44 45 45 46 47 48 48 48 BIOS utility 47 Using software 48 Power management Acer eRecovery Create backup Restore from backup Create factory default image CD Re-install bundled software without CD Change password Troubleshooting Troubleshooting tips Error messages Regulations and safety notices ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance FCC notice Modem notices Important safety instructions 49 50 50 51 51 51 52 53 53 53 55 55 55 57 60 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 Item Display screen Status indicators Power button Description Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays computer output. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on and off to show the status of the computer's functions and components. Turns the computer on and off. 3 2 English # 4 5 6 Item Launch keys Palmrest Description Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See "Launch keys" on page 10 for more details Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the computer. Click buttons & The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons; the 4-way scroll key scrolls the 4-way scroll contents of a window up, down, left and right. key (Left and right) Touchpad Keyboard Ventilation slot Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a computer mouse. For entering data into your computer. Enables the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. 7 8 9 Left view # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Icon Item PC Card slot PC Card slot eject button Optical drive IEEE 1394 port Infrared port LED indicator Optical drive eject button Description Connects to one Type III or two Type II CardBus PC Cards. Ejects the PC Card from the slot. Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending on the optical drive type. Connects to IEEE 1394 devices. Interfaces with infrared devices like infrared printer and IR-aware computer. Lights up when the optical drive is active. Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive. 3 # 8 9 Icon Item Emergency eject hole Speakers Description Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is turned off Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output. English Right view # 1 2 3 Icon Item Speakers Security keylock Ventilation slot Description Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output. Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. Enables the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. Rear view # 1 2 Icon Item Power jack DVI-D port (Aspire 5010 series only) Description Connects to an AC adaptor. For digital visual input. 4 English # 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Icon Item Ventilation slot S-video out port Description Enables the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. Connects to a television or display device with S-video input. External display port Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector). Four USB 2.0 ports Network jack Modem jack Speaker/Line-Out/ Headphone jack Line-in/Mic-in jack Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Connects to an Ethernet LAN network. Connects to a phone line. Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers and headphones). Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player and stereo walkman). Base view # 1 2 3 Item Battery bay Battery release latch Memory compartment Description Houses the computer's battery pack. Release the battery for removal. Houses the comput ...