Acer 370 series manual

T ravelMate 370 series User’ s guide[...]

Changes may be made peri odically to the infor mation in this publication without obligation to notify any person o f such revision or changes. Such changes wi ll be inco rporated in new editions of this ma nual or supplementary docum ents and publications. This company makes no representations or warra nties, either expre ssed or implied, with res[...]

iii English First things first W e would like to thank you for m aking the T ravelMate series of notebook computers your choice fo r your mobile computing needs. W e hope you will be happ y with your T ravelMate as much as we enjoyed making it for you. Yo u r g u i d e s To help you use your TravelMat e, we have design ed a set of guides: For more [...]

iv English Basic care and tips for using your computer T urning your computer on and off To turn on the computer, simply pr ess the power butto n on the left of the launch keys found above your Tr avelMate’s standard keyboar d. See “Front open view” on page 3 for the location of the power button . To turn the po wer off, do any of the fo llow[...]

v English • Do not expose the co mputer to rain or moisture. • Do not spill water or any liquid o n the computer . • Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration. • Do not expose the co mputer to dust and dirt. • Never pla ce objec ts on to p of the co mputer to avoid d amaging the computer . • Do not slam the computer displ[...]

vi English Cleaning and servicing • When cleaning the computer , follow these steps: • Power off the computer and remove the battery pack. • Disconnect the AC adap ter . • Use a soft cloth moistened with water . Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. • T o clean the display scre en, use an LCD cleaning kit. If any of the following occurs:[...]

First things first iii Your guides iii Basic care and tips for using your computer iv 1 Getting to know your TravelMate 1 A TravelMate tour 3 Front open view 3 Front view 5 Left view 6 Right view 7 Rear view 8 Bottom view 9 Features 10 Indicators 12 Using th e keyboar d 14 Special keys 14 Launch Keys 21 Touchpad 22 Touchpad b asics 22 Storage 24 Ha[...]

BIOS Utility 45 Disk to Disk Recovery 46 3 Troubleshooting my computer 47 Frequently-asked questions 49 Troubleshooting tips 52 Error messages 53 Requesting service 54 International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 54 Before you call 54 Appendix A Specifications 57 Appendix B Notices 63 Index 73[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate[...]

Y our T r avelMate computer combines high- performance, versatility , power management features and multimedia capabilities with a unique style and ergonomic design. W ork with unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power co mputing partner .[...]

3 English A T ravelMate tour After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you ar ound your new TravelMate computer. Front open view # Item Description 1 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display), displays computer output.[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 4 English 2 Status indicators LEDs (light-emitting diode) th at turn on and off to show the status of the computer , its functions and components. 3 Power button T urns on the compu ter . 4 Launch keys T wo special keys for frequently used programs. See “Launch Keys” on page 21 for more details. 5 Palmrest Com[...]

5 English Front view # Item Description 1 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g., infrared printer , IR-aware computer). 2 Latch Latch for opening and cl osing the computer . 3 3-in-1 card reader 1 Reads cards from Memory Stick, MultiMedia, and Secure Digital cards. Notes: 1 . T h r e e - i n - o n e c a r d r e a d e r i s a m a n u [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 6 English Left view # Item Description 1 Modem port Connects to a phon e line. 2 Ethernet port Connects to an Ethernet 10/100- based network. 3 DC-in jack Connects the AC adapter . 4 USB 2.0 port Connects to Universal Serial Bus devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). 5 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.[...]

7 English Right view 7 Microphone/line-in jack Accepts input from external microp hones , or other audio line-in devices (e.g. audio CD player , stereo walkman and etc .) 8 PC Card slot Accepts one T ype II 16-bit PC Card or 32-bit CardBus PC Card. 9 Eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot. # Item Description 1 HDD Houses the computer’s har[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 8 English Rear view 3 V antilation Slot Enables the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. 4 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-co mpatible computer security lock. # Item Description 1 External display port Connects to a display devic e (e.g., external monitor , LCD projector) a nd displays up to [...]

9 English Bottom view # Item Description 1 RAM slot The slot that houses the compu ter's main memory . 2 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack. 3 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack. 4 V antilation Slot Enables the c omputer to stay cool, even after prolonged use.[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 10 English Featur es Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features: Performance • Intel® Pentium® M Processor at 1.3 ~1.7 GHz or higher • Intel 855GM chi pset • Memory upgradeable up to 2 GB with 2 slots • High-capacity , Enhanced-IDE hard disk • Li-ion main battery pack • Power manageme[...]

11 English Connectivity • High-speed fax/data modem port • Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port • Fast infrared wireless communication • T wo USB 2.0 ports • IEEE 1394 port • InviLink 802.11b or 802.11 a/ g wireless LAN (manufact uring optional) • SD/MMC/MS memory s lot (m anufa cturing option al) Human-centric design and ergonomics • Intern[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 12 English Indicators The computer has seven easy-to-read st atus indicators on the display screen and three on the LCD panel. The Wireless, Power and Sleep status indicators are vi sible even when the display is closed. Icon Function Description Wireless Orange i ndicates that wireless LAN is e n abled . Power Li[...]

13 English Media Activity Lights when the floppy driv e, hard disk or optical drive is active. Battery Charge Lights when the battery is being charged . Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated. Num Lock Lights when Num Lock is activated. Icon Function Description[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 14 English Using the keyboar d The full-sized keyboard includes an embedded n umeric ke ypad, separate cursor keys, two Window s keys and twelve function keys. Special keys Lock keys The keyboard has four lock keys which you can togg le on and off. Lock key Description Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabeti[...]

15 English Embedded numeric keypad The embedded numeric keypad func tions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated b y small characters located on the upper right corner of the keycaps. T o simplify the keyb oard legen d, cursor -control key symbols are not printed on the keys. Desire d access Num lock on Num lock off Number keys on embedded [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 16 English W indows keys The keyboard has two keys that pe rform Windows-spec ific functio ns. Key Description Windows logo key Start button. Combinations with this key perform shortcut functions. Below are a few examples: + T ab (Activates next taskbar button) + E (Explores My Computer) + F (Finds Document) + M ([...]

17 English Keyboard Hot keys The computer employs hot keys or ke y combinations to acces s most of the computer’s controls like screen brightness, volume output an d the BIOS Utility. To activate a ke yboard ho t key, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key(s) in the hot key combination. Hot key Icon Function Description Fn-F1 Hot[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 18 English Fn-F5 Display toggle Switches display output between the display screen, external monitor (if connected) and b oth the display screen and external monitor . Fn - F6 Screen bl ank T urns the display screen backlight off to save power; press any key to resume. Fn-F7 To u c h p a d To g g l e T urns the in[...]

19 English The Euro symbol If your ke yboard la yout is set to United Stat es-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 b[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 20 English If not, select an d click on ADD ; then select United State s- International and click on OK . 5 Click on OK . To type the Euro symbol: 1 Locate the Euro symbol on your keyboard. 2 Open a text editor or word proc essor . 3H o l d Alt Gr and press the Euro symbol. Note : Some fonts and software do not su[...]

21 English Launch Keys Located above the keyboard are six buttons . These keys are special one-click but tons that pe rform special functions. # Launch key Default appl ication 1 Wirele ss This button permits user Enabled/D isabled Wireless LAN network. 2 P1 User-programmable 3 P2 User-programmable 4 P3 User-programmable 5 Web browser Launch Intern[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 22 English T ouchpad The built-in touchpad is a pointing de vice that sen ses movement on its surface. This means the cursor respon ds as you move your finger on the surface of the touchpad. The cent ral location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support. T ouchpad basics The following items teach yo u [...]

23 English Note: A .Keep your fingers dry and clean when usin g the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean . The touchpad is sensitive to finger movements. He nce, the lighter the touch, the better the response. T apping harder will not increase the touchpad’ s responsiveness. B .When using an extern al USB mouse, you can press Fn-F7 to d[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 24 English Storage This comput er suppli es you with the following media storage: • High-capacity Enhanc ed-IDE hard disk • IEEE 1394 Optical (CD, DVD, DV D/CD-RW combo, or DVD-Dual) drive • USB Floppy drive Har d disk The high-capacity hard disk is the answer to your storage needs. This is where your progra[...]

25 English Using softwar e Playing DVD movies When the DVD-ROM drive module is installed, you can play DVD movies on your computer. 1 Eject the DVD tray and insert a DV D movie disc; then close the DVD tray . Important! When you launc h the DVD player for the first time, the program asks you to input the region code. DVD discs are divided into 6 re[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 26 English Audio The computer comes with 16-bit high -fidelity AC’97 stereo audio, and stereo speaker. Adjusting the volume Adjusting the volume on the comput er is as easy as pressing some buttons. See “Keyboard Hot keys” on page 17 for more informations on adjusting the speaker volume.[...]

27 English Power management This computer ha s a built-in powe r management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refe rs to any activity involving one or more of the following devices: keyb oard, mouse, floppy drive, hard disk, peripherals connecte d to the serial and pa rallel ports, and video memory. If no activity is detected for [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 28 English Moving ar ound with your T ravelMate This section gi ves you tips and hints to consider when moving around or traveling with your compute r. Disconnecting fr om the desktop Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessorie s: 1 Save your work in progress. 2 Remove any media, disket[...]

29 English 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 comp uter again, unla tch and open the display; then press and release the power button . Note: If the sleep indicator is off, the computer has entered Hibernatio n mode and turne d off. If the power indicator is off[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 30 English from the drive(s). Failure to re move the media can damage the drive head. • Pack the computer in a protecti ve case that can prevent the computer from slid ing around and cushio n it if it should fall . Caution: Avoid packing items next to the top cover of the computer . Pressure a gainst the top cov[...]

31 English T raveling with the computer “when you are moving within a larger distance, for instance, from your office building to a client’s office building or trav eling locally” Preparing the computer Prepare the computer as if you were taking it home. Make sure that the battery in the computer is char ged. Airport security may require you [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 32 English • AC adapter • Power cords that are appropriate for the country to which you are traveling • Spare, fully-c harged batter y packs • IEEE 1394 optical drive module(s) • Additional printer driver files if you plan to use ano ther printer • Proof of purchase, in case you need to show it to cust[...]

33 English Securing your computer Your computer is a valuable i nvestme nt that you need to take care of. Learn how to protect and tak e care of your comput er. Security features include hardware and software locks — a securit y notch and passwor ds. Using a computer security lock A security keylock notch located on the rear of the computer le ts[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 34 English • Password on Boot secures yo ur compu ter ag ain st unauthorized use. Combine the use of this pass word with passwo rd checkpoints on boot-up and resume from hi bernation for maximum security . Important! Do not forget your Supervisor! If you forget your password, please get in touch with your dealer[...]

2 Customizing my computer[...]

After learning the basics of your T ravelMate computer , let’ s get acquainted with the advanced features of your computer . In this chapter , you will lear n how to add options, upgrade components for better performance, and customize your computer .[...]

37 English Expanding thr ough options Your TravelMate offers you a complete mobile computing experience. Connectivity options Ports allow you to co nnect peripheral devices to your comput er as you would with a desktop PC. For instructions on how to connect different external devices to the computer, see your online guide for more details. Fax/data[...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 38 English Built-in network feature The built-in network feature allows you to connect your computer to an Ethernet-based (1 0/100 Mbps) network. To use the network feature, conn ect an Ethernet c able from the network jack on the l eft of the c omp uter to a network jack or hub on your network. Fast infrar ed The compute[...]

39 English Universal Serial Bus The Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0) port is a high-speed seri al bus which allows you to connect and daisy-ch ain USB peripheral s without taking up precious system resources. Your computer has two ports available, one on left and the other one on rig ht.[...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 40 English IEEE 1394 port The computer's IEEE 1 394 port allo ws you to connect to an IEEE 1394 supported devices like a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD/CD-RW Combo or DVD-Dual drive. PC Card slot The type II CardBus PC Ca rd slot foun d on the left side of the computer accepts credit-car d-si zed cards that enhance the usabili[...]

41 English Inserting a PC Card Insert the card into th e slot and make the prop er connections (e .g., network cable ), if nec essary. Se e your card m anual for details. Ejecting a PC Card Before ejecting a PC Card: 1 Exit the applicatio n using the card. 2 Left-click on the PC Card icon on the taskbar and stop the ca rd operation. 3 Press the slo[...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 42 English Upgrade options Your computer delivers sup erior power and performance. However, some users and the applications they use ma y demand more. This computer allo ws you to upgrad e ke y components when you need increased performance. Note: Contact your au thorized dealer if you decide to perform a key component up[...]

43 English Installing memory Follow these steps to install m emory: 1 T urn of f the computer , unplu g th e AC adapter (if connected) and remove the battery pack. Then turn the computer over to access its base. 2 Remove the screws from the memory cover (a); then lift up and remove the memory cover (b). 3 Insert the memory module diagonally into th[...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 44 English Using system utilities Notebook Manager The computer has a built-in syst em setup program called Notebook Manager . The Windows-based Notebo ok Manager allows you to set passwords, the star tup sequenc e of the drives, and po wer management settings. It also show s current hardware configurat ions. T o start th[...]

45 English Launch Manager Launch Manager allo ws you to se t the two launch keys located above the keyboard. See “Launch Keys ” on page 21 for the location of the launch key. You can access the Launch Manager by clicking on Start , All Programs , and then Launch Manager to start the application. BIOS Utility The BIOS Utility is a hardware conf [...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 46 English Disk to Disk Recovery Disk to Disk Recovery allows you to restore the hard drive with the original software content that was in stalled when you purc hased your notebook. Follow the steps below to access Disk to Disk Recovery. It is important to back up all data files before you use this option because your dri[...]

3 T r oubleshooting my computer[...]

This chapter instructs y ou on how to deal with common system problem s. Read it before calling a technician if a problem occurs. Solutions to more se rious problems require opening up the computer . Do not attempt to open the computer by yourself. Contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance. Key link: www .acersupport.com[...]

49 English Fr equently-asked questions The following is a list of possible situations th at may arise during the use of your compute r. Easy answe rs and solutions ar e provided for each one. I pressed the power button and opened the display , but the computer does n ot start or boot-up. Look at the Power indicator: • If it is not lit, no po wer [...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 50 English to fill the computer di splay. Right-click on your Windows desktop and select Pr operties to bring u p the Display Properties dialog box. Then click on the Settings tab to make sure that the resolution is set to the approp riate res olutio n. Resolu tions lowe r than t he specif ied res olution are not ful[...]

51 English • During the POST , press F2 to acce ss the BIOS Utility and ver ify that the infrared port is enable d. • Make sure both devi ces are IrDA-co mpliant. The printer does not work. Check the following: • Make sure that the printe r is conn ected to a power outlet and that it is turned on. • Make sure that the printer cabl e is conn[...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 52 English T r oubleshooting tips This notebook computer inc orporates an advanced design that delivers onscreen error message reports to help you solve problems. If the system reports an err or message or an err or sy mptom occurs, see “Error me ssages” on page 53 . If the problem cannot be resolved, contact you[...]

53 English Err or messages If you receive an e rror message, note the message and take the corrective action. The fo llowing table lists th e error messages in alphabetical order together with the recommended course of action. If you still encounter problems a fter going through the corrective measures, please contact your dealer or an authorized s[...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 54 English Requesting service Inter national T ravelers W arranty (ITW) Your computer is backed by an In ternational Travelers Warrant y (ITW) that gives you security and peac e of mind when tr aveling. Our worldwide network of service center s are there to give you a helping hand. An ITW passport comes with your co [...]

55 English You are required to provide the following information: Name:________________________________________ Address:______________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___ Telephone number:____________________________ Machine and model type:_______________________ Serial number:_________________________________ Da[...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 56 English[...]

Appendix A Specifications[...]

This appendix lists the gener al specifications of your computer .[...]

59 English Micropr ocessor • Intel® Pentium® M Processo r with 1024 KB L2 cache Memory • Main memory expandab le up to 2 GB • T wo DDR DIMM slots • Support 128 MB, 256 M B, 512 MB & 1GB DDR SDRAM modules • 512 KB Flash ROM BIOS Data storage • One high-capa city , Enhanced-I DE hard disk • One 5.25-inch internal hot-swappable op [...]

Appendix A Specifications 60 English I/O ports • One type II CardBu s PC Card slot • One RJ-45 jack (Et hernet 10/100) • One RJ-11 phone jack (V .92) • One DC-in jack for AC adapter • One VGA port for ex ternal monitor • One speaker/headphone-out jack (3.5mm mini ja ck) • One microphone-in jac k • One IEEE 1394 port • T wo USB 2.0[...]

61 English System • ACPI support • DMI 2.0-compliant • Microsoft Wi ndows operati ng system Power • 6-cell battery • 48.84 Wh Li-ion battery pack • 2.5-hour rapi d charge /3.0-hour charge-in-u se • 4-cell battery • 26.64 Wh Li-ion battery pack • 1.5-hour rapi d charge /2.5-hour charge-in-u se • AC adapter • 65-Watt • Auto se[...]

Appendix A Specifications 62 English[...]

Appendix B Notices[...]

This appendix lists the gene ral notices of your computer .[...]

65 English FCC notice This device has been tested and fo und to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are d esigned to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This device generates, uses , and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if[...]

Appendix B Notices 66 English Notice: Canadian users This Class B digital apparatus meets all require ments of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipm ent Regulations. Remarque à l’intention de s utilisateurs canadiens Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respected toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du C anada. Mod[...]

67 English Important safety instructions Read these instructions carefully . Save these instructions for future reference. 1 Follow all warnings and instruct ions marked on the product. 2 Unplug this product from the wall outlet before c leaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a d amp cloth for cleaning. 3 Do not use t his prod[...]

Appendix B Notices 68 English controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the produ ct to normal condition. e If the produc t has been drop ped or the cabin et has been dama ged f If the prod uct exhibi ts a distinct c hange in perf ormance, indicating a need for service. 12 Replace the b[...]

69 English Lithium battery statement The TravelMate 370 series uses the lithium batt ery, models BT P- 50T3 , BT P -73E1 only. CAUTION Danger of explosion if battery is in correctly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recyc le if at all po[...]

Appendix B Notices 70 English LCD pixel statement The LCD unit is pr oduced with hig h-precision ma nufacturing techniques. Nevertheless, some pixe ls may occasionally misfire or appear as black or colored dots. Th is has no effect on the record ed image an d does not con stitut e a malfunc tion. Macrovision copyright pr otection notice This produc[...]

71 English Canada - Industry Canada (IC) • This device complies with RSS 210 of Indu stry Canada. Europe - EU Declarat ion of Conformity This device complies with the sta ndards liste d below, foll owing the provisions of the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC: • ETSI EN 301 489-1/17 • ETSI EN 300 328-2 • EN 300 328 V1.4.1. USA - Federal Communica ti[...]

Appendix B Notices 72 English limits are designed to provide reas onab le protectio n against harmful interference in a residential inst al lation. This equipment generates, uses and can radia te radio frequ ency energy and, if not installe d and used in accordance wi th the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio co mmunications. How[...]

73 Index A AC adapter caring for v AcerMedia drive 24 audio 26 adjusting the volume 26 troublesh ooting 50 B battery pack caring for v BIOS utility 45, 46 brightness hotkeys 18 C caps lock 14 on indicator 13 care AC adapter v battery pack v computer iv CD-ROM ejecting 24 ejecting manually 5 0 troublesh ooting 50 cleaning computer vi computer bringi[...]

Index 74 error 53 modem 37 N network 38 Notebook Man ager 44 hotkey 17 notice DVD copyright protection 70 num lock 14 on indicator 13 numeric keypad num lock 15 O online services 54 options memory upgrade 42 P password 33 types 33 PC Card 40 ejecting 41 inserting 41 ports 37 POST (power-on self-test) 45 printer troublesh ooting 51 problems 49 CD-RO[...]