Acer Aspire E E5-771G manual

- 1 User’s Manual[...]

2 - © 2014. All Rights Reserved. Aspire E 17 Series Covers: Aspire E5-771 / E5-771G / E5-731 / E5-731G / E5-721 This revision: Apr il 2014 Sign up for an Acer ID an d enable Acer Remote Files Open the Acer Portal from the Start screen t o sign up for an Acer ID or sign in if you already have an Acer ID. There are three great reason for you to get [...]

Table of contents - 3 T ABLE OF CONTENTS First thing s first 6 Your guides .................................... ......... 6 Basic care and tips for using your computer......................................... ......... 6 Turning your computer off ................... ........ 6 Taking c are of your computer ..................... 7 Taking c are of yo[...]

4 - Table of co ntents Troubleshooting tips........ ................ .......... 69 Error mess ages.... ............. .......... ............. . 69 Internet and online s ecurity 71 First steps on the net ...................... ....... 71 Protecting your compute r .. ............. ........... 71 Choose an Internet Service Provider . ....... 71 Networ[...]

- 5 Getting started... In this section you will find: • Useful information on caring for yo ur computer and your health • Where to find the power button, port s and connectors • T ip s and tricks for using the touchp ad and keyboard • How to create recovery backups • Guidelines for connecting to a network and using Bluetooth • Informati[...]

6 - First th ings first F IRST THINGS FIRST We would like to thank you for maki ng this Acer note book your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Y our guides To help you use you r Acer notebook, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Setup Guide helps you get started with setting up your computer. The Quick Guide introduces you[...]

First things first - 7 You can also put the computer in sleep mode by pressing the sleep hotkey < Fn > + < F4 >. T aking care of your co mputer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. • Do not expose the compu ter to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator . • Do not expose the com[...]

8 - First th ings first cord. Also, the tot al current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning the comp uter, follow these step s: 1. T urn of f the computer. 2. Disconnect the AC adapter . 3. Use a soft, mo ist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. If[...]

Your Acer no tebook tour - 9 Y OUR A CER NOTEBOOK TOUR After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Setup Guide, let us show you around your n ew Acer computer. Screen view # Icon Item Description 1 Webcam Web camera for video communicat ion. A light next to the webcam indicates that the webcam is active. 2 Screen Displays computer output. [...]

10 - Your Ac er notebook tour Keyboard view # Icon Item Description 1 Power button T urns the co mputer on and of f. 2 Keyboard For entering dat a into your computer . See "Using the keyboard" on page 14 . 3 Microphone Internal stereo microphone for sound recording. 4 T ouchpad T ouch-sensitive pointing device. The touchpad a nd selection[...]

Your Acer notebook tour - 11 Lef t view 12 3 4 6 5 # Icon Item Description 1 DC-in jack Connects to an AC adapter . 2 External display (VGA) port Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor , LCD projector). 3 Ethernet (RJ-45) port Connects to an Etherne t 10/100/ 1000-based network. 4 HDMI port Supports high-defin ition digit al video con[...]

12 - Your Ac er notebook tour Right view 12 3 4 6 5 # Icon Item Description 1 USB port Connects t o USB devices. 2 Optical drive Internal optical drive ; accepts CDs or DVDs. 3 Optical disk ac cess indicator Lights up when th e optical drive is active. 4 Optical drive eject b utton Ejects the optical disk fro m the drive. 5 Emergency eject ho le Ej[...]

Your Acer notebook tour - 13 Base view 2 1 3 # Icon Item Description 1 V entilation and cooling fan Allows the computer to st ay cool. Do not cover or obstruct the ope nings. 2 Battery reset pinhole Simulates removing and reinst alling the battery . Insert a paperclip into the hole and press f or four seconds. 3 Sp e a k e r s Deliver stereo audio [...]

14 - Using the keyb oard U SING THE KEYBOARD The keyboard has full-sized keys and a separate numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys. Lock keys The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off. Hotkeys The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls li[...]

Using the keyboard - 15 Windows keys The keyboard has two keys that perfo rm Win dows-specific functions. < Fn > + < F6 > Display off T urns the display screen backlight of f to save power . Press any key to return. < Fn > + < F7 > T ouchpad toggle T urns the built-in touchpad on and off . < Fn > + < F8 > S peake[...]

16 - Touchpad T OUCHPAD T ouchp ad basics The touchpad controls the arrow (o r 'cursor') on the screen. As you slide your finger across the t ouch pad, the cursor will follow this movement. The cursor is controlled by some basic gestures: • Single-finger slide: Slide a finger across the touchpad to move the cursor . • Single-finger pr[...]

Touchpad - 17 This allows you to control applica tions with a few simple gestu res, such as: • Swipe in from edge: Access Windows tools by swiping into the center of the touchpa d from the right, top or lef t. • Swipe in from right edge: T oggle t he charms. • Swipe in from top edge: T oggle the app commands. • Swipe in from lef t edge: Swi[...]

18 - Recovery R ECOVERY If you are having trouble with your computer , and the frequently asked questions ( see Frequently as ked questions on page 58 ) do not help, you can 'recover' your computer - i.e. retu rn it to an earlier state. This section describes the recovery tools available on your computer. Acer provides Acer Recovery Manag[...]

Recovery - 19 1. From Sta r t , type 'Recovery' and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of app s. 2. Click Create Factory Default Backup . The Recov ery Drive window opens. Make sure Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive is select ed. This provides the most complete and safest recovery back up. 3. Plu[...]

20 - Recovery • Since the recovery backup requires at least 16 GB of storage after formatting, it is recommended to u se a USB drive with a cap acity of 32 GB or larger . 4. Y ou will be shown the backup progress on the screen. 5. Follow the process until it completes. 6. After creating the recovery back up, you can choose to delete the recovery [...]

Recovery - 21 may use either a USB storage drive or , if your compu ter features a DVD recorder , one or more blank recordable DVDs. 1. From Sta r t , type 'Recovery' and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of app s. 2. Click Create Drivers and Applications Backup . Plug in the USB drive o r insert a blank DVD into the op tica[...]

22 - Recovery with a permanent marker . If multiple discs are required, insert a new disc when prompted, then click OK . Continue until the process is co mplete. • If you are using a USB drive, unpl ug the drive and label it clearly . Recovering your syst em To recover your system : 1. Perform minor fixes. If only one or two items of software or [...]

Recovery - 23 Reinst alling drivers and applications As a troubleshooting step, you may need to reinstall the ap plications and device drivers that came pre-installed on your computer fro m the factory. You can reinstall using eith er your hard drive or the backup you have created. • Other applications - If you need to reinstall sof tware that di[...]

24 - Recovery 3. Y ou should see the Content s section of the Acer Resource Center . Images for reference only . 4. Click the inst all icon for the item you want to install, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation. Repeat this step for each item you want to reinst all. If you are reinstalling from a Dr ivers and Applicati[...]

Recovery - 25 2. Y ou should see the Content s section of the Acer Resource Center . Images for reference only . 3. Click the inst all icon for the item you want to install, then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the insta llation. Repeat this step for each item you want to reinst all. Returning to an earlier system snap shot Microsoft System[...]

26 - Recovery 4. Click the latest resto re point (a t a time when your system worked correctly), click Next , then Finish . 5. A confirmation window appear s; click Ye s . Y our system is restored using the restore point you specified. This process may take several minutes, and may restart your comp uter . Returning your system to it s factory cond[...]

Recovery - 27 the Windows Store). See Customized Restore wi th Acer Recovery Management on page 28 . Restore Factory Settings wi th Acer Recovery Management 1. Click Restore Factory Settings . 2. The Reset your PC window opens. Images for reference only . 3. Click Next , then choose how to erase you r files: a. Just remove my files quickly erases a[...]

28 - Recovery 5. The recovery process begins by re starting you r computer , then continues by copying files to you r hard drive. 6. After the recovery has finished, you can st art using your computer by repeating the first-st art process. Recovering from t he har d drive during startup 1. T urn on your computer and press < Alt > + < F10 &[...]

Recovery - 29 2. The Refresh your PC window opens. Images for reference only . 3. Click Next , then Refresh . 4. The recovery process begins by re starting you r computer , then continues by copying files to your hard drive. This process takes about 30 minutes. Recovering from a recovery ba ckup To recover from a recovery backup on a USB drive: 1. [...]

30 - Recovery b. Windows start s from the recovery backup instead of the normal startup process. 6. Select your keyboard type. 7. Select T roubleshoot and then choose the type of recovery to use: a. Click Advanced then System Restore to st art Microsoft System Restore: Microsoft System Restore periodically t akes a ’snap shot’ of your system se[...]

Recovery - 31 2. Click Next. 3. Select the operating system to recover (normally only one option is available). 4. Choose to keep any change s to the hard drive: a. If you have deleted the recove ry partition or otherwise cha nged the partition s on the hard drive and want to keep these changes, select No . b. T o restore your computer to Factory S[...]

32 - Connecting to the Internet C ONNECTING TO THE I NTERNET This chapter includes basic inform ation on types of connections, and getting connected to the Internet. For detailed information, plea se refer to Network connections on page 73 . Connecting with a cable Built-in network feature The built-in network feature makes it easy for you to conne[...]

Connecting to th e Internet - 3 3 Connecting wirelessly Connecting to a wireless LAN A wireless LAN (or WLAN) is a wireless local area n etwork , which can link two or more computers without using wires. Once connected to WLAN, you can access the Internet. You can also share files, other devices, and even your Internet connection itself. Your compu[...]

34 - Connecting to the Internet Connecting to a 3G network If your computer has a SIM slot, you can connect to the Internet using a 3G (cellular phone) network. To do this, you must have a compatible SIM card and a data contract with your cellular provider. Note Please contact your cellular provider for deta ils on connecting to th e Internet via 3[...]

Using a Blue tooth connect ion - 35 U SING A B LUETOOTH CONNECTION Bluetooth is a technology enabling you to transfer data wirelessly over short distances between many differ ent types of devices. Bluetooth- enabled devices include comput ers, cell phones, tablets, wireless headsets, and keyboards. To use Bluetooth, you must ensure the following: 1[...]

36 - Using a Bluetooth conn ection 4. T ap the device you wish to add from the list of discovered devices, and tap Pair . A code displays on your comput er , which should match the code displayed on your device. Select Yes . Then, accept the pairing from your devi ce. Note Some devices using older versions of the Bluetooth techn ology require both [...]

- 37 Keeping your computer and data safe... In this section you will find: • How to secure your compute r • Setting passwords • What you need to prep are when you’re traveling • How to get the most out of your battery[...]

38 - BIOS utility BIOS UTILITY The BIOS utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer's BIOS. Your computer is already properly configured and optimized, and you do not normally need to run this utility. Ho wever, if you encounter configuration problems, you may nee d to run it. To activate the BIOS utility, press < F[...]

Securing your computer - 39 S ECURING 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 a nd software locks — a security notch and passwords. Using a computer security lock The computer comes with a Kensington-compatible secu [...]

40 - Securing your computer Entering p asswords When a password is set, a password prompt appears in the center of the display screen. • When the Supervisor Passwo rd is set, a prompt appears when you enter the BIOS utility . • T ype the Supervisor Password and press < Enter > to access the BIOS utility . If you enter the password incorre[...]

Power managem ent - 41 P OWER 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, hard disk, peripherals connected to the co mputer, and video memory. If no activity is detected for a period of ti me, the [...]

42 - Power mana gement 5. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable . 6. Scroll down and disable T urn on fast startup. 7. Select Save changes .[...]

Battery pack - 4 3 B ATTERY PACK The computer uses an embedded Lithium battery that gives you long use between charges. Battery characteristics The battery is recharged whenever yo u connect the computer to the AC adapter. Your computer suppor ts charge-in-use, enabling you to recharge the battery while you continue to operate the computer. However[...]

44 - Battery pa ck Use this conditioning process for al l new batteries, or if a bat tery hasn't been used for a long time. The battery conditioning process ens ures your battery accepts the maximum possible charge. Failure to fo llow this pro cedure will prevent you from obtaining the maximum ba ttery charge, and will also shorten the effecti[...]

Battery pack - 4 5 Checking the battery level The power meter indicates the current battery level. Rest the cursor over the battery/power icon on the taskbar to see the battery's present charge level. Battery-low warning When using battery power pay attention t o the power meter. When the battery-low warning appears, the recommende d course of[...]

46 - Traveling with your comp uter T RAVELING WITH YOUR COMPUTER This section gives you tips and hin ts 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. Save any open files. 2. Remove discs from optical drive. 3. Shut down the [...]

Traveling wi th your compute r - 47 You can put the computer in Sleep mode by pressin g < Fn > + < F4 > or by closing the disp lay. When you are ready to use the compu ter again, open the display and, if necessary, press and release the power butto n. What to bring to meetings If your meeting is relatively s hort, you probably do no t n[...]

48 - Traveling with your comp uter What to t ake with you Unless you have some items at home, take the following items with you: • AC adapter and powe r cord. • The printed Setup Guide . S pecial considerations Follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling to and from work: • Minimize the effe cts of temperature changes by [...]

Traveling wi th your compute r - 49 T raveling with the computer When you are moving within a larger distance, for instance, from your office building to a client's off ice building or traveling locally. Prep aring the computer Prepare the computer as if you were taking it home. Make sure that the battery in the computer is charged. Airport se[...]

50 - Traveling with your comp uter Prep aring the computer Prepare the computer as you would n ormally prepare it for traveling. What to bring with yo u Bring the following items with yo u: • AC adapter . • Power cords that are appropriate fo r your destination(s). • Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printe r . • Pr[...]

- 51 Ports and connectors... In this section you will find: • Information on the port s and connectors fitted to your computer[...]

52 - Memory card rea der M EMORY CARD READER Connectivity options Your computer has a card reader a nd other ports/jacks that allow you to connect peripheral devices to your computer. For instructio ns on how to connect different external devices to the computer, read the following section. Memory card reader Memory cards are used in a wide selecti[...]

Memory card reader - 53 (2 TB). Your computer provides an SDHC or SDXC compatible card reader. Removing a card from a memory card reader 1. Click on Show hidden icons arrow in the Notification Area (next to the clock). 2. Click on the Safely Remove Hardware icon. 3. Click on Eject SD Card (or the name of the device). 4. W ait until a Safe to Remove[...]

54 - Video a nd audio conn ectors V IDEO AND AUDIO CONNECTORS Connect to a monitor with a VGA or DVI port (the type of connection supported depends on your computer’s conf iguration). The appropriate cable is usually included with the monitor. Follow these steps to connect an monitor to your computer: 1. Check that the compute r is powered of f a[...]

HDMI - 55 HDMI HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Inte rface) is a high-quality, digital audio/video interface. HDMI allows you to connect any compatible digital audio/video source, such as your computer, a set-t op box, DVD player, and audio/video receiver to a ny compatible digital audio and/or video monitor, such as a digit al te levision (DTV) wi[...]

56 - Universal S erial Bus (USB) U NIVERSAL S ERIAL B US (USB) The USB port is a high-spe ed port which allows you to con nect USB peripherals, such as a mouse, an external keyboard, additio nal storage (external hard disks), or any other compatible device. You can also charge devices such as tablets, smartp hones, or other devices through a USB po[...]

- 57 Got a question? In this section you will find: • Frequently asked questions • T ips for using Windows 8.1 • T roubleshooting information • How to protect yourself wh ile online • Where to find Acer service center cont act information[...]

58 - Frequently a sked questions F REQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy solutions are provided for each one. I turned on the power , but the computer does not start or boot up. Look at the power indicator: • If it is not lit, no power is be ing supplied to th[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 59 • The volume may be muted. Look at the volume control (speaker) icon in the taskba r . If it is crosse d-out, click the icon and deselect the Mute all option. • The volume level may be too low . Check the volume from the volume control (speaker) icon in t he taskbar . Y ou can also use the volume control buttons[...]

60 - Frequently a sked questions I want to restore my computer to its original settings. This recovery process helps you restore the C: drive with the original software content that is in stalled when you purchased your computer. Before performing a restore operation, please check the BIOS settings. 1. Check to see if Acer disk-to-d isk recovery is[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 61 If the country you are traveling in does not have an Acer-au thorized ITW service site, you can still get in contact with our offices worldwide. Please visit www.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 c[...]

62 - Frequently a sked questions T ip s and hint s for using Windows 8.1 We know this is a new operating system that will take some gett ing used to, so we've created a few pointers t o help you get started. How do I get to St a r t ? Press the Windows key; click the Start button on the desktop taskbar; or move your cursor into the upper right[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 63 Can I boot directly to the desktop? Yes, you can, just follow these steps: 1. Go to the desktop. 2. Right-click the taskbar an d select Properties from the menu that opens. 3. From the Navigation tab, che ck Go to the desktop instead of St art when I sign in . How do I jump between apps? Move your cursor to the uppe[...]

64 - Frequently a sked questions Can I personalize the Lock screen? You can personalize the lock screen with a different image, to run a slideshow of images, or to show you quick status an d notifications to suit your personal needs. To change the background, move your cursor to the upper right -hand corner of the screen an d click Settings > Ch[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 65 Can I make tiles bigger or smaller? Right-click anywhere on Start to open the Customize menu, click the tile(s) you wish to resize and click Resize . Select a size from the menu that appears. How do I close an app? Move your cursor to the top of the screen. You will see it change to a hand, click and drag the hand d[...]

66 - Frequently a sked questions 5. Save the alarm by clicking the Save icon in the upper right-hand corner . Where are my app s? Move your cursor to the upper rig ht-hand corner of the screen and click Search , start typing the name of the app you would like to open. Results will be displayed on the right-h and side of the screen. How do I make an[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 67 How do I make an app a ppear on my taskbar? If you're in All apps and you want to make an app appear on the taskbar, right-click a tile to select it and open the Cus tomize menu. Select Pin to taskbar . How do I install app s? You can download Window s Store apps from Store . You will need to have a Microsoft I[...]

68 - Frequently a sked questions sign in to your favorite websites. When you sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account, you'll connect y our PC to the people, files, and devices you care about. Do I need one? You do not need a Microso ft ID to use Windows 8.1, but it makes life easier because you can sync data ac ro ss different machines you[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 69 T roubleshooting This chapter shows you how to deal with common system problems. Read it before calling a technician if a problem occurs. Solution s to more serious problems require opening up the co mputer. Do not attempt to open the computer yourself; contact your dea ler or authorized service center for assistanc[...]

70 - Frequently a sked questions If you still encounter problems after going through the corrective measures, please contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance. Keyboard error or no keyboard connected Contact your de aler or an authorized service center . Keyboard interface error Contact your de aler or an authorized service[...]

Internet and online security - 71 I NTERNET AND ONLINE SECURITY First step s on the net Protecting your computer It is vital to protect your computer from viruses and a ttacks over the Internet ( see Security on page 75 ). A comprehensive Internet security program is offered when you first start your computer. You should activate this protection as[...]

72 - Intern et and online security Internet as the connection speed is low and connection t ime is typically charged per hour. DSL (e.g. ADSL) DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is an ‘always-on’ connection that runs over the phone line . As DSL and phone do not use the same frequencies, you can use your te lephone at the same time you are connected[...]

Internet and online security - 73 Network connections A LAN (Local Area Network) is a group of computers (for example, within an office building or home) that share a common communications line and resources. When you set up a network, you can share files, peripheral devices (such as a printer) and an Internet connection. You can set up a LAN using[...]

74 - Intern et and online security services. Read carefully the docum entation supplied with your Access point/router for detailed setup instructio ns. Network cable (RJ45) A network cable (also called RJ45 c able) is used to connect the host computer to the access point (see illustration below); this type of ca ble may also be used to connect peri[...]

Internet and online security - 75 Surf the Net! To surf the Internet , you need a program called an Internet browser. Internet Explorer provides an easy and secure web browsing experie nce. As soon as you have your Internet access installed and you are connected, from Start, click the Internet Explorer tile or the icon located on the desktop and ta[...]

76 - Intern et and online security computer in various ways, using up resources or clogging up a network. What is spyware? Spyware refers to generally unwanted programs that are downloaded onto your computer while connected to the Intern et, often without you knowing it. Once it has infected your computer, it can snoop on your browsing activity, co[...]

Internet and online security - 77 would allow it (i.e. a game connecting to a multi-player server or an encyclopaedia making a content update). How to protect your computer Cybercrime prevention can be straight-forward - when armed with a little technical advice and comm on sense, many attacks can be avoided. In general, online criminals are trying[...]

78 - Intern et and online security The next line of de fense many times is your antivirus software , which monitors all online activities such as email messages and Web browsing and protects an individual fr om viruses, worms, Trojan ho rse and other types of malicious programs. Your antivirus and antispyware software should be configured to up dat[...]

Internet and online security - 79 of your online account s, one of the first steps you can t ake is to change your password. Protect your pers onal information Exercise caution when sharing pers onal information such as your name, home address, phone number, a nd email address online. To take advantage of many onlin e servic es, you will inevitably[...]

80 - Intern et and online security • Pay attention to privacy policies on W eb sites and in sof tware. It is important to underst and how an organization might collect and use your personal information before you share it with them. • Guard your email address. S pammers and "phishers" sometimes send millions of messages to ema il addr[...]

Internet and online security - 81 that something bad may have happened and you should take necessary action. Protect your computer with Windows security tools Windows provides a variety o f protection applications. Windows Updates If you have an active Internet connection, Windows can check for important updates for your computer a nd install them [...]

82 - Playing Blu-Ra y or DVD movies P LAYING B LU -R AY OR DVD MOVIES If your computer is equipped with a Blu-Ray or DVD drive, you can play movies on your computer or on a high-definition TV via the HDMI port. 1. Insert the disc into the d rive. 2. After a few se conds, the movie will start playing. 3. If the movie does not start playing, open you[...]