Aspire 3020/5020 Series User's Guide Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Aspire 3020/5020 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 3020/5020 Series Notebook Computer Model number: __________________________________ Serial number: ___________________________________ Purchase date: ___________________________________ Place of purchase: ________________________________ Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies' product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies. iii First things first We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook computers your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Your guides To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer. The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you to be more productive, please refer to the AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options, and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it: 1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem. 2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Acrobat Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, access the Help and Support menu. Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button below the LCD screen beside the launch keys. See "Front view" on page 1 for the location of the power button. To turn the power off, do any of the following: · Use the Windows shutdown command Click on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off. iv · Use the power button Note: You can also use the power button to perform power management functions. See "Moving around" on page 39 of the AcerSystem User's Guide. · Use the customized functions for power management You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey + . See "Moving around" on page 39 of the AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to shut down the computer. If you turn off the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before powering up. Taking care of your computer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. · · · · · · · · · · Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator. Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0 ºC (32 ºF) or above 50 ºC (122 ºF). Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields. Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture. Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer. Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration. Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt. Never place objects on top of the computer. Do not slam the computer display when you close it. Never place the computer on uneven surfaces. Taking care of your AC adaptor Here are some ways to take care of your AC adaptor: · · · Do not connect the adaptor to any other device. Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it. Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from foot traffic. When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the plug. v · The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating. Taking care of your battery pack Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack: · · · Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off before removing or replacing batteries. Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children. Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if possible. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1 2 3 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack. Disconnect the AC adaptor. Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. the computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged; the computer does not operate normally If either of the following occurs: · · please refer to "Frequently asked questions" on page 22. Caution Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority, which is granted by the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this computer. Operation conditions This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions for wireless option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option device. An improper installation or unauthorized use may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Also, any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty. To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors, and installation outdoors is subject to licensing. For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com. Contents First things first Turning your computer on and off Taking care of your computer Taking care of your AC adaptor Taking care of your battery pack Cleaning and servicing iii iii iv iv v v Your guides iii Basic care and tips for using your computer iii An Aspire tour 1 Specifications Indicators Launch keys Touchpad Front view Closed front view Left view Right view Rear view Base view 6 9 10 11 13 1 2 3 4 4 5 Using the keyboard Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad Windows keys Hotkeys Special keys Touchpad basics 11 Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 17 Using a computer security lock 18 Audio 18 Using the system utilities Acer eManager Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) Launch Manager Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Before you call 13 14 14 16 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 33 34 33 31 30 30 29 Music Burner 34 35 TV Copy -- Back up your CD/DVD collection 35 Audio -- Create your own greatest hits CDs 35 Data -- Store files simply and easily 35 Video -- Your world in pictures 35 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 Instant replay Recorded TV Scheduling recordings TV preview Using TeleText functions TV settings 39 36 36 37 37 37 37 39 39 39 40 40 Taking the computer home 40 Traveling with the computer 41 40 41 41 41 Traveling internationally with the computer42 Preparing the computer What to bring with you Special considerations 42 42 43 Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations 41 42 42 Securing your computer Entering passwords Setting passwords 43 Using a computer security lock Using passwords 43 43 Expanding through options Connectivity options Fax/data modem Built-in network feature Fast Infrared Universal Serial Bus (USB) IEEE 1394 port PC Card slot Boot sequence Enable disk-to-disk recovery Password Playing DVD movies 45 44 44 45 45 46 46 47 47 48 49 50 50 50 BIOS utility 49 Using software 50 Power management Acer eRecovery 51 52 52 53 53 53 54 55 55 Troubleshooting Create backup Restore from backup Create factory default image CD Re-install bundled software without CD Change password Troubleshooting tips Error messages 55 57 Regulations and safety notices ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 57 FCC notice Modem notices Important safety instructions 57 59 62 1 An Aspire tour After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new Aspire computer. English Front view # 1 2 3 4 5 Item Display screen Power button Microphone Keyboard Touchpad Description Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays computer output. Turns the computer on and off. Internal microphone for sound recording. For entering data into your computer. Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a computer mouse. 2 English # 6 Item Description Click buttons The left and right buttons function like the left (left, center and right) and right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-way scroll button. Launch keys Status indicators Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See "Launch keys" on page 10 for more details. 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. 7 8 9 Palmrest Closed front view # 1 2 Icon Item Speakers Bluetooth communication button/indicator Wireless communication button/indicator Line-in/mic-in jack Description Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output. Press to enable/disable Bluetooth function. Lights to indicate the status of Bluetooth communications (manufacturing option). Press to enable/disable Wireless function. Lights to indicate the status of wireless LAN communications (manufacturing option). Accepts input from external microphones. 3 4 5 6 Speaker-out/line-out/ Connects to audio line-out devices headphone jack (e.g., speakers, headphones). Battery indicator Lights when the battery is being charged. 3 # 7 8 Icon Item Power indicator Latch Description Lights when the computer is on. Locks and releases the lid. English Left view # 1 2 Icon Item Ventilation slots S-video/TV-out port IEEE 1394 port 3 USB 2.0 ports Infrared port Description Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. Connects to a television or display device with S-video input (manufacturing option). Connects to IEEE 1394 devices (manufacturing option). Connects to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Interfaces with infrared devices like infrared printer and IR-aware computer (manufacturing option). Accepts one Type II PC Card. Accepts an MS, MS PRO, MMC, SD, SM, or xD-Picture card (manufacturing option). Note: Only one card can operate at any given time. 3 4 5 6 7 PC Card slot 6-in-1 card reader 8 PC Card slot eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot. 4 English Right view # 1 2 3 Item Optical disk access indicator Optical drive Description LED that indicates when an optical disk is being read or written. Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending on the optical drive type. Optical drive eject button Ejects the optical dri ...