Acer Aspire Z3-615 manual

- 2 Aspire All-in-one Computer User’s Manual[...]

3 - © 2013. All Rights Reserved. Aspire All-in-one Computer Covers: T ouch-enabled all-in-one models This revision: October 2013 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 an Acer ID[...]

Table of contents - 2 T ABLE OF CONTENTS Register y our Acer p roduct ............ .......... ... 2 Manage your registered products ... ............ 2 First thing s first 5 Your guides .................................... ......... 5 Basic care and tips for using your computer......................................... ......... 5 Turning your comput[...]

- 2 Getting started... In this section you will find: • Useful information on caring for yo ur computer and your health • How to create recovery backups • Guidelines for connecting to a network • Information on using Acer ’s bu ndled software[...]

First things first - 2 F IRST THINGS FIRST We would like to thank you for ma king this Acer desktop computer your choice for meeting you r computing needs. Y our guides To help you use your Acer desktop computer, we ha ve designed a set of guides: First off, the Setup Guide helps you get started with setting up your computer. The Quick Guide introd[...]

3 - First th ings first 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 co[...]

First things first - 4 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, moist cloth. Do not use liquid o r aerosol cleaners. If [...]

Recovery - 2 R ECOVERY If you are having trouble with your computer , and the frequently asked questions ( see Frequently as ked questions on page 78 ) 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 Manage[...]

3 - Recovery 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 Recovery Dri ve 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[...]

Recovery - 4 • 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 i[...]

5 - Recovery may use either a USB storage drive or , if your computer 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 tical[...]

Recovery - 6 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 h[...]

7 - Recovery 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 did[...]

Recovery - 8 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 inst all, 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[...]

9 - Recovery 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 inst all, 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[...]

Recovery - 10 4. Click the latest restore point (a t a time when your system worked correctly), click Next , then Finish . 5. A confirmation window appears; 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 condit[...]

11 - Recovery the Windows Store). See Customized Restore wi th Acer Recovery Management on page 13 . 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 your files: a. Just remove my files quickly erases a [...]

Recovery - 12 5. The recovery process begins by rest arting your 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 &g[...]

13 - Recovery Customized Restore with Acer Recovery Management 1. Click Customized Restore (Ret ain User Data) . 2. The Refresh your PC window opens. Images for reference only . 3. Click Next , then Refresh . 4. The recovery process begins by rest arting your computer , then continues by copying files to your hard drive. This process takes about 30[...]

Recovery - 14 b. Use the left or right arrow keys to select the Ma in menu. c. Press t he down key until F12 Boot Menu is sele cted, press < F5 > to change this setting to En abled . d. Use the left or right arrow keys to select the Exit menu. e. Depending on the type of BIOS your computer uses, select Save Changes and Exit or Exit Saving Cha[...]

15 - Recovery Reset your PC from the recovery backup 1. The Reset your PC window opens. Images for reference only . 2. Click Next. 3. Select the operating system to recover (n ormally only one option is available). 4. Choose to keep any changes to t he hard drive: a. If you have deleted the recovery p artition or otherwise changed the partition s o[...]

Recovery - 16 Refresh your PC from the recovery backup 1. The Refresh your PC window opens. 2. Click Next . 3. Select the operating system to recover (n ormally only one option is available). 4. Click Refresh . 5. The recovery process begins by rest arting your computer , then continues by copying files to your hard drive. This process takes about [...]

Connecting to t he Internet - 2 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 53 . Connecting with a cable Built-in network feature The built-in network feature makes it easy for you to conne[...]

Acer Touch Tools - 2 A CER T OUCH T OOLS Acer Touch Tools makes using you r Windows device easier and more convenient. You can se lect, drag or tap on small items in the u ser interface. You can run Acer Touch Tools, from Start or from the Desktop taskbar. T ouch tool controls The Touch Tools control panel has several ico ns: No. Item Description 1[...]

3 - Acer Touc h Tools Pointing The AccuFinger pointer's fine tip allows you to work with even very small screen elements. This can be particularly helpful when using operating system setting and configuration windows with small buttons, boxes or other small items. Using AccuFinger With AccuFinger you can: • Point : Place your fingertip on th[...]

Acer Touch Tools - 4 • T ext edit : Y ou can select text in supported programs by tapping on a word or text block to select it or insert the cursor . Y ou can then type or perform other operation s on the selected text. RepliV iew Your touch device’s onscreen virtual keyboard can sometimes block your view of where you are typing. RepliView disp[...]

5 - Acer Touc h Tools or left-hand operation, which optimize s pointer orientation for the selected mode.[...]

Acer Screen Gr asp - 2 A CER S CREEN G RASP Acer Screen Grasp is a handy screen capture too l that allows you to capture all or part of anything that’s displayed on your computer’s screen. It works for both the desktop and Start screen applications. To launch Acer Screen Grasp, press < Ctrl > + < Shift > + < PrtSc >. Once you [...]

3 - Acer Screen Grasp Adjusting the Settings Tap the Settings icon to adjust the de faults for Acer Screen Grasp. You can enable or disable the l aunch gesture (tap the screen with three fingers), set the app to launch the editing tool after capturin g, pin the program to the taskbar, view a short introd uction tutorial, or view the Help content. T[...]

Acer Screen Gr asp - 4 4 Marker tool. 5 T ext tool. 6E r a s e r . 7 Mosaic effe ct. 8 Lasso tool. 9 Share capture to... • Windows clipboard • Facebook • Acer Scrapboard •W o r d • PowerPoint • Outlook 10 Save. 1 1 Pin/unpin the toolbars. No. Description[...]

5 - Acer Scrapb oard A CER S CRAPBOARD Acer Scrapboard is a useful tool to manage your screen captures. Screen captures are automatica lly sorted by date. Tap the icon on the screen capture to open the website in In ternet Explorer. You can also create tags to as sist in sorting your image s. 1. T ap and drag an image down to open the menu at the b[...]

- 2 Keeping your computer and data safe... In this section you will find: • How to secure your compute r • Setting passwords[...]

BIOS utility - 2 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 < F2[...]

Securing your computer - 2 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. Using p asswords Passwords protect your computer from unauthorized access. Setting these passwords creates sev eral differ ent levels of pro tection for your computer and data:[...]

3 - Securing your comput er • T ype the User Password and press < Enter > to u se the computer . If you enter the passwo rd incorrectly , a warning message appears. T ry again and press < Enter >. Important You have three cha nces to enter a pa ssword. If you fail to ente r the password correctly after th ree tries, the system halts. [...]

Power management - 2 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 co[...]

3 - Power management 5. Scroll down and disable T urn on fast st artup. 6. Select Save changes .[...]

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

Ports and connectors - 2 P ORTS AND CONNECTORS The tables below indicate what the different icons repre sent. Information on USB 3.0 • USB 3.0 compatible po rts are blue. • Compatible wit h USB 3.0 and earlier devices. • For optimal performance, u se USB 3.0-certified devices. Note The ports and connectors listed below may not be available on[...]

3 - Ports an d connectors • Defined by the USB 3.0 specification (SuperS peed USB). Rear p anel audio port s The table below indicates the functi ons of the audio jacks on the rear panel (if available). Icon color Headset Stereo Quadrophonic 5.1-channel Blue Rear Rear Green Headset Front Front Front Blue Mic-in Mic-in Mic-in Center/ woofer[...]

Memory card reader - 2 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 selection[...]

3 - Memory card reade r (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[...]

Video and au dio connectors - 4 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 computer is po wered of f and[...]

HDMI - 2 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) wit[...]

Universal Serial Bus (U SB) - 2 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 por[...]

- 2 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[...]

Frequently asked questions - 2 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 the [...]

3 - Frequently aske d questions • 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 [...]

Frequently asked questions - 4 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 yo ur computer. Before performing a restore operation, please check the BIOS settings. 1. Check to see if Acer disk-to-disk recov ery is [...]

5 - Frequently aske d questions 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 ca[...]

Frequently asked questions - 2 T ip s and hints for using W indows 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; tap the Start b utton on the desktop taskbar; or swipe the right-hand edge of the screen [...]

3 - Frequently aske d questions Can I boot directly to the desktop? Yes, you can, just follow these steps: 1. Go to the desktop. 2. T ap and hold the t askbar until you see the squa re outline. Select Properties from the menu that opens when you remove you r finger . 3. From the Navigation tab, ch ec k Go to the desktop instead of S tart when I sig[...]

Frequently asked questions - 4 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, swipe the right-hand edg e of the screen inwards and tap Settings > Change PC settings &g[...]

5 - Frequently aske d questions 3. Choose which days the alarm should go off. 4. Select the notification. 5. Save the alarm by ta pping the Save icon in the upper right -hand corner . How do I move tiles? Tap and hold a tile to select it, th en drag it to the place on Start that you want it to appear. Other tiles will be moved to accommodate the ti[...]

Frequently asked questions - 6 How do I close an app? Swipe the window downwards from the top to the bottom of the screen. You need to swipe the win dow past the half-way point of the screen. Can I change the screen resolution? Swipe the right-hand edge of the screen inwards and tap Search , tap the text box to open the onscreen keyboard and start [...]

7 - Frequently aske d questions How do I install app s? You can download Window s Store apps from Store . You will need to have a Microsoft ID to purchase and downloa d apps from Store . I can't find apps like Notepa d and Paint! Where are they? Swipe the right-hand edge of the screen inwards and tap Search , type the name of the app you would[...]

Frequently asked questions - 8 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 sign in to using a Microsoft ID. How do I get one? If you've alrea[...]

Frequently asked questions - 2 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 assistance.[...]

3 - Frequently aske d 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 a nd online security - 2 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 Securi ty on page 6 ). A comprehensive Internet security program is offered when you first start your computer. You sho uld activate this protection a[...]

3 - Internet a nd online securi ty 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 a nd online security - 4 Wireless networks A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area network, which may link two or more computers without using wires. Setting up a wireless network is easy and allows you to share file s, peripheral devices and an Internet connection. What are benefits of a wireless network? Mobility Wireless LAN sys[...]

5 - Internet a nd online securi ty Wireless adapter Diagram of a working network 1. Access point/router 2. Desktop computer 3. Modem 4. Printer 5. Portable computer 6. PDA/Smartphone 7. Network cables (RJ45) Turning on/off a wirele ss network connection If your computer has wireless access, but does not feature a Communication button, you may turn [...]

Internet a nd online security - 6 www.acer.com is your portal to a wo rld of online activities and services: visit us regularly for t he la test information and downloads! Security You are probably eager to explore eve rything the Internet has to offer. In order for you to be safe online, Acer has pre-installed McAfee Internet Security Suite on you[...]

7 - Internet a nd online securi ty Spyware is sometimes used by u nscrupulous companies to monitor and track the sites you visit on the In ternet so as to determine your web-surfing habits and display targeted pop-up ads on your screen. However, some kinds of spyware go beyond simple tracking and actually monitor keystrokes and capture passwo rds, [...]

Internet a nd online security - 8 By regularly updating your computer, you block attacke rs from being able to take advantage of soft ware flaws (vulnerabilities) that they could otherwise use to break into your syst em. While keeping your computer up-to-date will not protect you from all attacks, it makes it much more difficult for hacke rs to gai[...]

9 - Internet a nd online securi ty A complete version of McAfee Internet Securit y Suite is pre-installed on your Acer system. It includes a free trial subscription to protection updates. Make sure you Activate it! Choose strong passwords and keep them safe Passwords are a fact of life on the Internet today; we use them for everything from ordering[...]

Internet and online security - 10 addresses that are entirely numbe rs where there are normally words, and anything else out of the ordin ary . Additionally , phishing messages will often tell you that you have to act quickly to keep your account open, update your se curity , or urge you to provide information immediately or else something ba d wil[...]

11 - Intern et and online security secret investment tricks sure to make you untold fortunes, and contests that you've surprisingly wo n without entering are the e nticing hooks used by companies to grab your atte ntion. While you may not directly pay for the so ftware or service with money, the free software or service you asked f or may have[...]

Internet and online security - 12 How do I know when my co mputer is at risk? If the Action Center re ports an alert, or if your computer behaves erratically, crashes unexpectedly or if some of your programs do not work correctly, your computer may be infected by malicio us software. However, do not blame every computer problem on a virus! If you s[...]

Playing Blu-Ray or DVD movies - 2 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 drive . 2. After a few second s, the movie will st art playing. 3. If the movie does not st art playing, open you[...]