User manual ACER TRAVELMATE 230

TravelMate 230/280 series User's guide Copyright © 2002. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. TravelMate 230/280 series User's guide Original Issue: November 2002 Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label affixed to your computer. All 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, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated. TravelMate 230/280 series Notebook computer Model Number : __________________________________ Serial Number: ___________________________________ Purchase Date: ___________________________________ Place of Purchase: ________________________________ Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other company's 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 TravelMate series of notebook computers your choice for your mobile computing needs. We hope you will be happy with your TravelMate as much as we enjoyed making it for you. Your guides To help you use your TravelMate, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer. This User's guide introduces you to the many ways your computer can help you be more productive. This guide provides clear and concise information about the computer, so read it thoroughly. If you ever need to print out a copy, this User's guide is also available in PDF (Portable Document Format). Follow these steps: 1 Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate. 2 Click on TravelMate User's guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on TravelMate 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 menu. Lastly, there may be a Read me first sheet included with your package which contains important reminders and updates. So, please read through it. iv For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our Web site (global.acer.com). 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 switch below the LCD screen beside the Launch keys. See "Front view" on page 3 for the location of the power switch. 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 switch Note: You can also use the power switch to perform power management functions. See "Power management" on page 26. · Use the customized functions for power management You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hot key (Fn-F4). See "Power management" on page 26. Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power switch 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/C (32/F) or above 50/C (122/F). Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields. Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture. v · · · · · · Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer. Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration. Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt. Never place objects on top of the computer to avoid damaging 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 personal 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. · · 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 at all possible. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1 2 3 Power off the computer and remove the battery pack. Disconnect the AC adapter. Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. vi If any of the following occurs: · · · The computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged. Liquid has been spilled into the product. The computer does not operate normally. Please refer to "Troubleshooting my computer" on page 59. First things first Your guides Basic care and tips for using your computer iii iii iv 1 Getting to know your TravelMate A TravelMate tour Front view Left view Right view Rear view Bottom view Features Indicators Understanding the icons Using the keyboard Special keys Touchpad Touchpad basics Storage Hard disk Optical drive Floppy drive Audio Adjusting the volume Power management Moving around with your TravelMate Disconnecting from the desktop Moving around Taking the computer home Traveling with the computer Traveling internationally with the computer Securing your computer Using a computer security lock 1 3 3 4 5 6 7 9 11 12 13 13 20 20 22 22 22 24 25 25 26 27 27 27 28 30 30 32 32 2 Customizing my computer Expanding through options Connectivity options Upgrade options Using system utilities Notebook Manager Launch Manager BIOS Utility 35 37 37 41 44 44 44 45 Contents viii Contents 3 Troubleshooting my computer Frequently-asked questions Error messages Requesting service International Traveler's Warranty (ITW) Before you call 59 61 65 69 69 69 Appendix A Specifications Appendix B Notices Index 71 77 85 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Your TravelMate computer combines highperformance, versatility, power management features and multimedia capabilities with a unique style and ergonomic design. Work with unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power computing partner. 3 A TravelMate tour After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new TravelMate computer. Front view # 1 Item Display screen Description Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display), displays computer output. 4 1 Getting to know your TravelMate # 2 Item Status indicators Description LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that turn on and off to show the status of the computer, its functions and components. 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 scroll up/down button. Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the computer. Inputs data into your computer. Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See"Launch Keys" on page 18 for more details. Turns on the computer power. 3 Touchpad 4 Click buttons (left, center and right) 5 Palmrest 6 7 Keyboard Launch Keys 8 Power switch Left view # 1 Item PC Card slot Description Connects to one Type III or one Type II 16-bit PC Card or 32-bit CardBus PC Card. Ejects the PC Card from the slot. 2 Eject button 5 # 3 Item Floppy activity indicator Description LED (light-emitting diode) that turns on and off when the floppy is active. Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones). 4 Speaker/Headphone-out jack 5 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman). 6 Microphone-in jack Accepts a mono/stereo condenser microphone. 7 Floppy drive Internal diskette drive; accepts 3.5inch diskettes. Controls the volume of the speakers. Push this button to eject the floppy disk. 8 9 Volume control Floppy disk eject button Right view # 1 2 Item Battery bay Optical drive Description Houses the computer's battery pack. Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending on the optical drive type. 6 1 Getting to know your TravelMate # 3 4 Item LED indicator Emergency eject slot Description Lights up when the optical drive is active. Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is turned off. See page 62 for more details. Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive. Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. 5 6 Eject button Security keylock Rear view # 1 Item Power jack Description Connects to an AC adapter. 2 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel printer). 3 USB ports (2) Connect to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). 4 Modem jack Connects to a phone line. 7 # 5 Item Network jack Description Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network. 6 External display port Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector) and displays up to 16M colors at 1024x768 resolution. Bottom view # 1 2 Item Battery bay Battery release latch Hard disk bay Description Houses the computer's battery pack. Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack. Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by a screw). 3 8 1 Getting to know your TravelMate # 4 Item Memory compartment Description Houses the computer's main memory. 9 Features Below is a brief summary of the computer's many features: Performance · · · · · · · Intel® Mobile Pentium® 4 processor with 512 KB L2 cache or Intel® Mobile Celeron® processor with 256 KB L2 cache 64-bit memory bus CD, DVD or DVD/CD-RW combo drive Built-in floppy drive High-capacity Enhanced-IDE hard disk High-capacity battery pack Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI) power management system Display · 14.1" or 15" Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) displaying 16M color at 1024x768 XGA (eXtended Graphics Array) resolution 3D capabilities Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support Supports other output display devices such as LCD projection panels for large-audience presentations "Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and conserves power Dual display capability · · · · · Multimedia · · · 16-bit high-fidelity AC'97 stereo audio with 3D sound and wavetable synthesizer Built-in dual speakers High-speed CD, DVD or DVD/CD-RW combo drive Connectivity · High-speed fax/data modem port 10 1 Getting to know your TravelMate · · · · Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 ports 802.11a/802.11b wireless LAN option Bluetooth option Human-centric design and ergonomics · · · · All-in-one design (CD, DVD or combo drive, floppy drive, and hard disk) Sleek, smooth and stylish design Full-sized keyboard Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device Expansion · · One Type III or one Type II CardBus PC Card (formerly PCMCIA) slot Upgradeable memory 11 Indicators The computer has six easy-to-read status icons below the display screen. The Power and Sleep status icons are visible even when you close the display cover so you can see the status of the computer while the cover is closed. Icon Function Power Description Lights when the computer is on. Sleep Lights when the computer enters Standby mode and blinks when it enters into or resumes from hibernation mode. Lights when the floppy drive, hard disk or optical drive is active. Lights when the battery is being charged. Media Activity Battery Charge Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated. 12 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Icon Function Num Lock Description Lights when Num Lock is activated. Understanding the icons When the cover of your computer is closed, 4 easy-to-read icons are shown, indicationg which state or feature is enabled or disabled. No. 1 2 3 4 Description Lights up when Bluetooth is enabled. Lights up when the wireless LAN is enabled. Lights up when the computer is on. Lights when the computer enters Standby mode and blinks when it enters into or resumes from hibernation mode. 13 Using the keyboard The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and twelve function keys. Special keys Lock keys The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off. Lock key Caps 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. Num Lock (Fn-F11) Scroll Lock (Fn-F12) 14 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Embedded numeric keypad 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 Cursor-control keys on embedded keypad Main keyboard keys Num lock on Type numbers in a normal manner. Hold Shift while using cursor-control keys. Num lock off Hold Fn while using cursor-control keys. Hold Fn while typing letters on embedded keypad. Type the letters in a normal manner. Note: If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the computer, the Num Lock feature automatically shifts from the internal keyboard to the external keyboard or keypad. 15 Windows keys The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions. Key Windows logo key Description Start button. Combinations with this key perform shortcut functions. Below are a few examples: + Tab (Activates next taskbar button) + E (Explores My Computer) + F (Finds Document) + M (Minimizes All) Shift + + M (Undoes Minimize All) + R (Displays the Run... dialog box) Application key Opens a context menu (same as a right-click). Hot keys The computer employs hot keys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS Utility. 16 1 Getting to know your TravelMate To activate hot keys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hot key combination. Hot key Fn-F1 Icon Function Hot Key Help Description Displays help on hot keys. Fn-F2 Setup Accesses the computer's configuration utility. Fn-F3 Power Management Scheme Toggle Switches the power management scheme used by the computer (function available if supported by operating system). Puts the computer in Sleep mode. Switches display output between the display screen, external monitor (if connected) and both the display screen and external monitor. Turns the display screen backlight off to save power. Press any key to return. Fn-F4 Sleep Fn-F5 Display Toggle Fn-F6 Screen Blank 17 Hot key Fn-F7 Icon Function Touchpad Toggle Description Turns the internal touchpad on and off. Turns the speakers on and off. Fn-F8 Speaker Toggle Fn- Brightness up Increases the screen brightness. Decreases the screen brightness. Functions as the "Home" key. Fn- Brightness down Fn-PgUp Home Fn-PgDn End Functions as the "End" key. Alt GrEuro Euro Types the Euro symbol. The Euro symbol If your keyboard layout is set to United States-International or United Kingdom or if you have a keyboard with a European layout, you can type the Euro symbol on your keyboard. Note for US keyboard users: The keyboard layout is set when you first set up Windows. For the Euro symbol to work, the keyboard layout has to be set to United States-International. To verify the keyboard type: 1 2 3 4 Click on Start, Control Panel. Double-click on Regional and Language Options. Click on the Language tab and click on Details. Verify that the keyboard layout used for "En English (United States)" is set to United States-International. 18 1 Getting to know your TravelMate If not, select and click on ADD; then select United StatesInternational and click on OK. 5 Click on OK. To type the Euro symbol: 1 2 3 Locate the Euro symbol on your keyboard. Open a text editor or word processor. Hold Alt Gr and press the Euro symbol. Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to http://www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq12.htm for more information. Launch Keys Located at the top of the keyboard are five buttons. These buttons are called launch keys. They are designated as Wireless/Bluetooth button, Web browser button, mail button, P1 and P2. The Wireless/Bluetooth button cannot be set by the user. To set the other four launch keys, run the Acer Launch Manager. 19 Note: Press the Wireless/Bluetooth button once to enable the wireless LAN feature, press again to enable the Bluetooth feature. Pressing the button a third time turns on both features, while pressing it the fourth time turns off both features. No. 1 Description Wireless/Bluetooth Default application 802.11a/802.11b wireless LAN/Bluetooth (Optional) Internet browser application Email application User-programmable User-programmable 2 3 4 5 Web browser Mail P1 P2 20 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Touchpad The built-in touchpad is a PS/2-compatible pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger on the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support. Note: When using an external USB mouse, you can press Fn-F7 to disable the touchpad. Touchpad basics The following items teach you how to use the touchpad: · · Move your finger across the touchpad to move the cursor. Press the left (1) and right (3) buttons located on the edge of the touchpad to do selection and execution functions. These two 21 buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad produces similar results. · Use the center (2) button (top and bottom) to scroll up or down a page. This button mimics your cursor pressing on the right scroll bar of Windows applications. Function Execute Left button Click twice quickly Right button Center buttons Tap 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) then hold finger to the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor Click once Select Drag Click once Click and hold, then use finger to drag the cursor on the touchpad Access context menu Scroll Click and hold the up/ down button Note: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movements. Hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad's responsiveness. 22 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Storage This computer supplies you with the following media storage: · · · High-capacity Enhanced-IDE hard disk Optical (CD, DVD, or DVD/CD-RW combo) drive Floppy drive Hard disk The high-capacity hard disk is the answer to your storage needs. This is where your data files and applications are stored. Optical drive Your computer comes equipped with an optical drive which may be one of the following: · · · CD-ROM drive DVD-ROM drive DVD/CD-RW combo drive Ejecting the CD or DVD tray To eject the CD or DVD tray when the computer is turned on, press the drive eject button; then pull out the tray. When the power is off, you can eject the drive tray using the emergency eject hole. See page 62. 23 Playing DVD movies When the DVD drive module is installed in the optical drive bay, you can play DVD movies on your computer. 1 Eject the DVD tray and insert a DVD movie disc; then close the DVD tray. Important! When you launch the DVD player for the first time, the program asks you to input the region code. DVD discs are divided into 6 regions. Once your DVD drive is set to a region code, it will play DVD discs of that region only. You can set the region code a maximum of five times (including the first time), after which the last region code set will remain permanent. Recovering your hard disk does not reset the number of times the region code has been set. Refer to the table later in this section for DVD movie region code information. 2 The DVD movie will automatically play after a few seconds. Region Code 1 2 3 4 5 6 Country or Region U.S.A., Canada Europe, Middle East, South Africa,Japan Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Korea (South) Latin America, Australia, New Zealand Former U.S.S.R., parts of Africa, India People's Republic of China Note: To change the region code, insert a DVD movie of a different region into the DVD drive. 24 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Floppy drive The internal floppy drive accepts standard 3.5-inch, 1.44 MB diskettes. Ejecting a diskette Eject a diskette by pressing the floppy disk eject button (1) and pull out the diskette (2) to remove it. 25 Audio The computer comes with 16-bit high-fidelity AC'97 stereo audio. The built-in dual stereo speakers are easy to access. There are audio ports on the left panel of the computer. See "Left view" on page 4 for more information on external audio devices. Adjusting the volume Adjusting the volume on the computer is easy with a rotary volume control knob on the left panel. Turn the knob in the appropriate direction: (1) to increase the volume and (2) to decrease the volume. 26 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Power management This computer has a built-in power management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any activity involving one or more of the following devices: keyboard, mouse, floppy drive, hard disk, peripherals connected to the parallel port, and video memory. If no activity is detected for a period of time (called an inactivity timeout), the computer stops some or all of these devices in order to conserve energy. This computer employs a power management scheme that supports ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface), which allows for maximum power conservation and maximum performance at the same time. Windows handles all power-saving chores for your computer. 27 Moving around with your TravelMate This section gives you tips and hints on things to consider when moving around or traveling with your computer. Disconnecting from the desktop Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessories: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Save your work in progress. Remove any media, diskette or compact disc, from the drive(s). Shut down the operating system. Turn off the computer. Close the display cover. Disconnect the cord from the AC adapter. Disconnect the keyboard, pointing device, printer, external monitor, and other external devices. Disconnect the Kensington lock if you are using one to secure the computer. Moving around "when you are just moving within short distances, for example, from your office desk to a meeting room" Preparing the computer Before moving the computer, close and latch the display cover to place it in Sleep mode. You can now safely take the computer anywhere you go within the building. To bring the computer out of Sleep mode, open the display. If you are taking the computer to a client's office or a different building, you may choose to shut down the computer: 1 2 Click on Start, Turn Off Computer. Click on Turn Off. - or - 28 1 Getting to know your TravelMate you can put the computer in Sleep mode by pressing Fn-F4. Then close and latch the display. When you are ready to use the computer again, unlatch and open the display, and press and release the power switch. If the power indicator is off, the computer has entered Hibernation mode and turned off. Press and release the power switch to turn the computer back on. Note that the computer may enter Hibernation mode after a period of time it is in Sleep mode. Turn the power on to wake up the computer from Hibernation mode. What to bring to short meetings A fully charged battery runs the computer for about 3 hours under most circumstances. If your meeting is shorter than that, you probably do not need to bring anything with you other than the computer. What to bring to long meetings If your meeting will last longer than 3 hours or if your battery is not fully charged, you may want to bring the AC adapter with you to plug in your computer in the meeting room. If the meeting room does not have an electrical outlet, reduce the drain on the battery by putting the computer in Sleep mode. Press FnF4 or close the display cover whenever you are not actively using the computer. Then tap any key or open the display to resume. Taking the computer home "when you are moving from your office to your home or vice versa" Preparing the computer After disconnecting the computer from your desktop, follow these steps to prepare the computer for the trip home: · Check if you have removed all media, diskettes and compact discs, from the drive(s). Failure to remove the media can damage the drive head. Pack the computer in a protective case that can prevent the computer from sliding around and cushion it if it should fall. · 29 Caution: Avoid packing items next to the top cover of the computer. Pressure against the top cover can damage the screen What to bring with you Unless you already have some items at home, bring the following items with you: · · AC adapter and power cord The printed user's manual Special considerations Follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling to and from work: · · Minimize the effect of temperature changes by keeping the computer with you. If you need to stop for an extended period of time and cannot bring the computer with you, leave the computer in the trunk of the car to avoid exposing the computer to excessive heat. Changes in temperature and humidity can cause condensation. Allow the computer to return to room temperature, and inspect the screen for condensation before turning on the computer. If the temperature change is greater than 18°F (10°C), allow the computer to come to room temperature slowly. If possible, leave the computer for 30 minutes in an environment with a temperature between outside and room temperature. · Setting up a home office If you frequently work on your computer at home, you may want to purchase a second AC adapter for use at home. With a second AC adapter, you can avoid transporting the extra weight to and from home. If you use your computer at home for significant periods of time, you might also want to add an external keyboard, monitor, or mouse. 30 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Traveling with the computer "when you are moving within a larger distance, for instance, from your office building to a client's office building or traveling locally" Preparing the computer Prepare the computer as if you were taking it home. Make sure that the battery in the computer is charged. Airport security may require you to turn on your computer when bringing it into the gate area. What to bring with you Bring the following items with you: · · · AC adapter Spare, fully-charged battery pack(s) Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printer Special considerations In addition to the guidelines for taking the computer home, follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling: · · Always take the computer as carry-on luggage. If possible, have the computer inspected by hand. Airport security X-ray machines are safe, but do not put the computer through a metal detector. Avoid exposing floppy disks to hand-held metal detectors. · Traveling internationally with the computer "when you are moving from country to country" Preparing the computer Prepare the computer as you would normally prepare it for traveling. What to bring with you Bring the following items with you: · AC adapter 31 · · · · · Power cords that are appropriate for the country to which you are traveling Spare, fully-charged battery packs Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printer Proof of purchase, in case you need to show it to customs officials International Traveler's Warranty passport Special considerations Follow the same special considerations as when traveling with the computer. In addition, these tips are useful when traveling internationally: · When traveling in another country, check that the local AC voltage and the AC adapter power cord specifications are compatible. If not, purchase a power cord that is compatible with the local AC voltage. Do not use converter kits sold for appliances to power the computer. If you are using the modem, check if the modem and connector is compatible with the telecommunications system of the country you are traveling in. · 32 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Securing your computer Your computer is a valuable investment that you need to take care of. Learn how to protect and take care of your computer. Security features include hardware and software locks -- a security notch and passwords. Using a computer security lock A security keylock notch located on the right panel of the computer lets you connect a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. Wrap a computer security lock cable around an immovable object such as a table or locked drawer handle. Insert the lock into the notch and turn the key to secure the lock. Some keyless models are also available. Setting a password Follow these steps: 1 Use the cursor up/down keys to highlight a password parameter and press the Enter key. The password box appears. 33 2 3 4 Type a password. The password may consist of up to eight characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9). Press Enter. Retype the password to verify your first entry and press Enter. After setting the password, the computer automatically sets the chosen password parameter to Present. Removing a password Should you want to remove a password, do the following: 1 2 3 Use the cursor up/down keys to highlight a password parameter and press the Enter key. The password box appears. Enter the current password and press Enter. Press Enter twice without entering anything in the new and confirm password fields to remove the existing password. Note: When you want to remove the Hard Disk (or 2nd Hard Disk) password, you are prompted for the current Hard Disk password before it is removed. Changing a password Should you want to change a password, do the following: 1 2 Remove the current password. Set a new password. Setting passwords You can set passwords using: · · Notebook Manager BIOS Utility 34 1 Getting to know your TravelMate 2 Customizing my computer After learning the basics of your TravelMate computer, let's get acquainted with the advanced features of your computer. In this chapter, you will learn how to add options, upgrade components for better performance, and customize your computer. 37 Expanding through options Your TravelMate offers you a complete mobile computing experience. Connectivity options Ports allow you to connect peripheral devices to your computer as you would with a desktop PC. Modem Your computer has a built-in V.90 56Kbps AC'97 Link modem. Warning! This modem port is not compatible with digital phone lines. Plugging this modem into a digital phone line will damage the modem. To use the modem, connect a phone cable from the modem jack to a phone line jack. 38 2 Customizing my computer Start your communications software program. See your communications manual for instructions. Network Your computer has built-in Ethernet/Fast Ethernet capabilities. To use the network feature, connect an Ethernet cable from the network jack to an network jack or hub. Consult your network administrator for details. 39 Universal Serial Bus The Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 port is a high-speed serial bus which allows you to connect and daisy-chain USB peripherals without taking up precious system resources. Your computer has two ports available. 40 2 Customizing my computer PC Card slot There is one Type II/Type III CardBus PC Card slot found on the left side of the computer. This slot accepts credit-card-sized cards that enhance the usability and expandability of the computer. These cards should have a PC Card logo on them. PC Cards (formerly PCMCIA) are add-on cards for portable computers, giving you expansion possibilities long afforded by desktop PCs. Popular type III cards include flash memory, SRAM, fax/data modem, LAN and SCSI cards. CardBus improves on the 16-bit PC card technology by expanding the bandwidth to 32 bits. Note: Refer to your card's manual for details on how to install and use the card and its functions. Inserting a PC Card Insert the card into the lower slot and make the proper connections (e.g., network cable), if necessary. See your card manual for details. Ejecting a PC Card Before ejecting a PC Card: 1 2 Exit the application using the card. Left-click on the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar and click on the PC Card item. Click OK to confirm. 41 3 Press the slot eject button (1) to pop out the eject button; then press it again (1) to eject the card (2). Upgrade options Your computer delivers superior power and performance. However, some users and the applications they use may demand more. This computer allows you to upgrade key components when you need increased performance. Note: Contact your authorized dealer if you decide to perform a key component upgrade. Memory upgrade Memory is expandable to 1 GB, employing 128/256/512-MB 64-bit industry standard soDIMMs (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules). The computer supports SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory). There are two memory slots on your computer, one of which is occupied by standard memory. You can upgrade memory by installing a memory module into the available slot, or replacing the standard memory with a higher-capacity memory module. 42 2 Customizing my computer Installing memory Follow these steps to install memory: 1 Turn off the computer, unplug the AC adapter (if connected) and remove the battery pack. Then turn the computer over to access its base. Remove the screw from the memory cover (1); slide the cover as shown in the illustration (2); then lift up and remove the memory cover (3). 2