Acer 4020 Series manual

TravelMate 4020 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 revisions o r change s. Su ch chan ges will b e incorp orated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publ ications. This company makes no representations or warra nties, either expre ssed or implied, with[...]

iii First things first We would like to thank you for making th e TravelMate series of notebook PC your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Your guides To help you use your TravelMate, we have designed a set of guides: Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off To turn on the computer, simply press and [...]

iv To turn the power off, do any of th e followin g: • Use the Windows shutdown command Click on Start , Turn Off Computer , then click on Turn Off . • Use the power button You can also shut down the comp uter by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4> . Note: If you cannot power off the com puter norm[...]

v Taking care of yo ur 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 accordin g to local regulations. Recycle if possib[...]

First things first iii Your guides iii Basic care and tips for using your computer iii Turning your computer on and off iii Taking care of your computer iv Taking care of your AC adapter iv Taking care of your battery pack v Cleaning and servicing v A TravelMate tour 1 Front view 1 Closed front view 2 Left view 3 Right view 4 Rear view 4 Base view [...]

Taking your notebook PC with you 27 Disconnecting from the desktop 27 Moving around 27 Preparing the computer 27 What to bring to meetings 28 Taking the computer home 28 Preparing the computer 28 What to take with you 28 Special considerations 29 Setting up a home office 29 Traveling with the computer 29 Preparing the computer 29 What to take with [...]

Restore from backup 40 Create factory default image CD 40 Re-install bundled software without CD 40 Change password 41 Troubleshooting 42 Troubleshooting tips 42 Error messages 42 Regulations and safety notices 43 ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 43 FCC notice 43 Modem notices 45 Important safety instructions 48 Laser compliance statement 49 LCD p[...]

1 English A TravelMate tour After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you a round your ne w TravelMate c omputer . Front view # Item Description 1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays computer output. 2 Microphone Internal microphon e for sound recording. 3 Keyboard Fo[...]

2 English Closed front view 5 Click buttons (left, center and right) The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons; the center button serv es as a 4-way scroll button. 6 Touchpad Touch-sensiti ve pointing dev ice which funct ions like a computer mouse. 7 Status indicators Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up to sho[...]

3 English Left view 7 Microphone jack Accepts input from external microphones. 8 Headphone/speaker/ line-out jack Connects to aud io line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones). 9 USB 2.0 port Connect to USB 2.0 device s (e.g., USB mouse, US B camera) . 10 Latch Locks and releases the lid. # Item Description 1 Optical drive Internal optical drive[...]

4 English Right view Rear view # Icon Item Description 1 PC Card slot eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot. 2 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II PC Card. 3 Two USB 2.0 ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g ., USB mouse, USB camera). 4E t h e r n e t (RJ-45) port Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network. 5 Modem (RJ-11) port Connects to a[...]

5 English Base view # Item Description 1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's h ard disk (secure d with screws). 2 Battery release latch Releases the battery for removal. 3 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack. 4 Battery lock Locks the battery in place. 5 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool. Note : Do not cover o r obstruct [...]

6 English Features Microprocessor Intel® Centrino ™ Mobile Techno logy, featuring: • Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725/730/740 /750/760/770 or higher • Intel® 915GM Express chipset Memory • 256/512 MB of DDR2 SDRAM standa rd, upgrade able to 2048 MB with dual soD IMM modules • 512 KB flash ROM BIOS Data storage • One 40 GB and above E[...]

7 English Audio • 16-bit AC’97 stereo audio • Dual speakers and one int ernal micr ophone • Separate audi o ports fo r headphon e-out, line -in and mic rophone- in devices Keyboard and pointing device • 88/89-key Windows keyboard • Ergonomically-cen tered touchpad pointi ng device with scro ll function • Acer FineTou ch™ keyboar d w[...]

8 English Environment • Temperature: - Operating: 5°C ~ 35°C - Non-operating : -20°C ~ 65°C • Humidity (non-con densing): - Operating: 20% ~ 80% RH - Non-operating : 20% ~ 80% RH System • Microsoft® Windows® XP Home/Pro • ACPI 1.0b support • DMI 2.0-compliant • Wi-Fi®-compl iant Power • 8-cell (65W) or 4-cell (32W) Li-ion batte[...]

9 English Indicators The computer has three easy-to-read statu s indicators on the upper-right above the keyboard, and four on the fron t panel. The power, battery and wireless communi cation status indicators are visible even when the LCD display is cl osed. 1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The lig[...]

10 English Easy-launch buttons Located at the upper-right, above th e keyboard are four buttons. These buttons are called easy-launch button s. They are: mail, Web browser, Acer Empowe ring Key < > and one user-program mable button. Press < > to run the Acer eManager. Please see "Acer eManag er" on page 19 . The mail and Web b[...]

11 English Touchpad The built-in touchpad is a poin ting device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor respon ds as you move your finger across the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum co mfort and support. Touchpad basics The following items show you how to use the tou chpad: • Move y[...]

12 English Note: When using the touchpad, keep it — and your fingers — dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder w ill not increase the touchpad's responsiveness. Function Left button (1) Right button (4) Main touchpad (2) Center button (3) Execute Qui[...]

13 English Using the keyboard The keyboard has full-sized keys and a n embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, functi on and special keys. Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off. The embedded numeric k eypad functions like a desktop n umeric keypad. It is indicated by [...]

14 English Windows keys The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions. Hotkeys The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access m ost of the computer's controls like screen b rightness, volume output an d the BIOS utility. To activate hotkeys, press and hold the <Fn> key before pressing the other key in the [...]

15 English Hotkey Icon Function Description <Fn> + <F1> Hotkey he lp Displays help on hotkeys. <Fn> + <F2> Acer eSettings Launches Acer eSettings in Acer eManager. See "Acer eMan ager" on page 19 . <Fn> + <F3> Acer ePowerMana -gement Launches Acer ePowerManagement in Acer eManager. See "Acer eManag[...]

16 English Special keys You can locate the Euro symbol and th e US dollar sign at the upper-center and/or bottom-right of yo ur keyboard. The Euro symbol 1 Open a text editor or word processor. 2 Either press " " at the bottom-ri ght of the ke yboard, o r hold < Al t Gr> and then press the <5> key at the upper-center of the ke[...]

17 English Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray To eject the optical drive tray when the computer is turned on, press the drive eject button. When the power is off, you can eject the drive tray by using the emergency eject hole. Using a computer security lock A security keylock notch, located on the c hassis of the computer, lets you connect[...]

18 English Audio The computer comes with 16-bit high -fidelity AC'97 stereo audio, and dual stereo speakers. Adjusting the volume Adjusting the volume on the computer is as easy as pressing some buttons. See "Hotkeys" on page 14 for more information on ad justing the speak er volume.[...]

19 English Using the system utilities Note: The system utilities work under Microsoft Win dows XP only. Acer eManager The innovative Acer eMa nager software is designed for easy access to frequently used functions. Press < > to launch the Acer eManager user interface, which features four main settings: Acer ePowerMa nagement, Acer ePresentati[...]

20 English Note: If your computer did not com e with a Recovery CD or System CD, please use A cer eRecovery's "System backup to optical disk" feature to burn a backu p image to CD or DVD. To ensure the best results when recovering your system using a CD or Acer eRecovery, detach all perip herals (except the external Acer ODD, if your[...]

21 English Acer GridVista is simple to set up: 1 Run Acer GridVista and select your preferred screen configuration for each display from the taskbar. 2 Drag and drop each win dow into the approp riate grid. 3 Enjoy the c onvenience of a well-o rganized de sktop. Note: Please ensure that the resolu tion setting of your seco nd monitor is set to the [...]

22 English Norton AntiVirus Norton AntiVirus is an anti-v irus software that finds and repairs infected files, and protects against viruses to keep your computer d ata safe and secure. How do I check for viruses? A Full System Scan scans all files on yo ur computer. To perform a system scan: 1 Start Norton AntiVirus. Double click on the Norton Anti[...]

23 English Frequently 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 o ne. I pressed the power button, but the computer does not start or boot up. Look at the power indicator: • If it is not lit, no power is being supplied to the computer. Check t[...]

24 English No audio is heard from the computer. Check the following: • The volume may be muted. In Windo ws, look at the volume control (speaker) icon on the taskbar. If it is crossed-out, click on the icon and deselect the Mute all option. • The volume level may be too lo w. In Windows, look at the volume c ontrol icon on the taskbar. You can [...]

25 English Note: Please note, on first booting your notebook, that you can skip the Internet Connection setup, as it is not necessary to complete the installation of yo ur Operating System. After the Operating System is set up, you can proceed with the Internet Connection se tup. I want to resto re my computer to its original settings without recov[...]

26 English Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Your computer is backed by an Inte rn ational Travelers Warranty (ITW) that gives you security and peace of mind when traveling. Ou r worldwide network of service centers are there to give you a helping hand. An ITW passport comes with yo ur computer. This passport c ontains all y[...]

27 English Taking your notebook PC with you This section gives you tips and hin ts to consider when moving around or traveling with your comp uter. Disconnecting from the desktop Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessories : 1 Save any open files. 2 Remove any media, floppy disks or compact disks from the drive(s). 3 Sh[...]

28 English Note: If the Sleep indicator is of f, the computer has entered Hibernation mode and is turned of f. If the power indicator is off but the Sleep indicator is on, the compu ter has entered Sleep mode. In both cases, press and release the power button to turn the computer back on. Note that the co mputer may enter Hibernation mode after bei[...]

29 English Special considerations Follow these guidelines to protect yo ur computer while traveling to and from work: • Minimize the effects of temperature changes by keeping th e computer with you. • If you need to stop for an extended period of time and cannot carry th e computer with you, leave the co mputer in the trunk of the car to a void[...]

30 English Special considerations In addition to the guidelines for taking the co mputer home, follow these guidelines to protect your comp uter while traveling: • Always take the computer as carry-on luggage. • If possible, have the computer inspected by hand. A irport security X-ray machines are safe, but do not put th e computer throug h a m[...]

31 English 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 compu ter. Security features include hardware and software locks — a security notch and passwords. Using a computer security lock A security keylock notch, located on the c hassis of the computer, lets[...]

32 English Entering passwords When a password is set, a password prompt appears in the center of the display screen. • When the Supervisor Password is set, a prompt appears when yo u press < F2 > to enter the BIOS utility at boot-up. • Type the Supervisor Password an d press < Enter > to access the BIOS utility. If you enter the pas[...]

33 English Expanding through options Your notebo ok PC offers you a complete mo bile computi ng experien ce. Connectivity options Ports allow you to connect peripheral de vices to your computer as you would with a desktop PC. For instru ctions on how to connect different external devices to the computer, read the following section. Fax/data modem Y[...]

34 English Built-in network feature The built-in network feature allows you to con nect your computer to an Ethernet-based network. To use the network feature, connect an Ethernet cab le from the Ethernet (RJ-45) port on the chassis of the comp uter to a network jack or hub o n your network. Universal Serial Bus (USB) The USB 2.0 port is a high-spe[...]

35 English PC Card slot The Type II PC Card slot of the comp uter accepts PC Cards that enhance the usability and expandability of the com puter. These cards should have a PC Card logo on the m. PC Cards (formerly PCMCIA) are add-on cards for portable computers, giving you expansion possibilities long afford ed by desktop PCs. Popular PC Cards incl[...]

36 English 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. 2 Remove the screws from the memory co ver; then lift up and remove the memory cover. 3 (a) Insert the memory module diag onally into the slot, [...]

37 English Enable disk-to-disk recovery To enable disk-to-disk recovery (hard disk recovery), activate the B IOS utility, then select Main from the categories listed at the top of the screen. Find D2D Recovery at the bottom of th e screen and use the <F5> and <F6> keys to set this value to Enabled . Password To set a password on boot, a[...]

38 English Note: To change the region code, in sert a DVD movie of a different region into the DVD dr ive. Pl ease refer t o the o nline help for more information. Power management This computer has a built- in power management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any ac tivity involving one or more of the following devices[...]

39 English Acer eRecovery Acer eRecovery is a tool to quickly backup and restore the system. You can create and save a backup of the current system configuration to hard disk, CD or DVD. Acer eRecovery consists of the following functions: 1 Create backup 2 Restore from backup 3 Create factory default image CD 4 Re-install bundled so ftware without [...]

40 English Restore from backup You can restore backups previously created (as stated in the Create backup section) from hard disk, CD or DVD. 1 Boot to Windows XP. 2 Press <Alt> + <F10> to open the Acer eRecovery utility. 3 Enter the password to proceed. Th e default password is six zeros. 4 In the Acer eRecovery window, select Recovery[...]

41 English 6 Select the desired driver/application and follow the in structions on screen to re-install. At first launch, Acer eRecovery prepares all the needed software and may take few seconds to bring up th e software content window. Change password Acer eRecovery and Acer disk-to-disk recovery are protected by a p assword that can be changed by[...]

42 English Troubleshooting This chapter shows you how to deal with common system problems. Read it before calling a technician if a pro blem occurs. Solutions to more serious problems require openin g up the computer. Do not atte mpt to open the computer yourself; co ntact your dealer or authorized service center for assistance. Troubleshooting tip[...]

43 English English Regulations and safety notices ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance As an ENERGY STAR partner, Acer Inc. has de termined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficien cy. 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 ru[...]

44 English Operation conditions This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC R ules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this d evice may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, inclu ding interference that may cause undesired ope ration. Notice: Canadian users This Class B di[...]

45 English English Modem notices Notice for USA This equipment complies with Part 68 of the FCC rules. Located on the modem is a label that contains, among other info rmation, the FCC Registration Number and Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) for this equip ment. Upon request, you must provide this information to your telep hone company. If your telep[...]

46 English List of applicable countries EU member states as of May 2004 are: Belgium, Denmark, Germ any, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxemb ourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovak Rep ublic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta. Usage allowed in t[...]

47 English English 4 Some parameters required for comp liance with Telecom's Telepermit requirements are dependent on the equipm ent (PC) associated with this device. In order to operate within th e limits for compliance with Telecom's specifications, the associated equipment shall be set to ensure that automatic calls to different number[...]

48 English Important safety instructions Read these instructions carefully. Save them 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 water-moistened cloth for cleaning. 3 Do not use this produc t n[...]

49 English English e If the produc t has been drop ped or the case has b een damaged. f If the product ex hibits a distin ct change in performance , indicati ng a need for service. 12 The notebook PC series uses lithium batteries. Replace the battery with the same type as the product's battery we recommend in the product specificatio n list. U[...]

50 English ADVARSEL: LASERSTRÅLING NAR DEKSEL ÅP NESSTIRR IKKE INN I STRÅLEN LCD pixel statement The LCD unit is prod uced with high-precision ma nufacturing techniqu es. Nevertheless, some pixels may occasion ally misfire or appear as black or red dots. This has no effect on the re corded image and do es not constitute a malfunction. Macrovisio[...]

51 English English European Union (EU) This device complies with the essentia l requirements of the Europ ean Council Directives listed below: 73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive • EN 60950 89/336/EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive • EN 55022 • EN 55024 • EN 61000-3-2/-3 99/5/EC Radio & Telecommunica tions Terminal Equipment [...]

52 English The FCC RF safety requirement The radiated output power of the wire less LAN Mini PCI Card and Bl uetooth card is far below the FCC radio frequen cy exposure limits. Nevertheless, the notebook PC series shall be used in such a mann er that the potential for human contact during norm al operation is minimized as follo ws: 1 Users are requ[...]

53 English English 4 An improper installation or un authorized use may c ause harmful interference to radio communications. Also any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty. Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio communication devices (RSS-210) a Common information Operation is subject to the following[...]

54 English Environmental Policy Declaration To minimize po llution and e nsure utmost pr otection of the glo bal environm ent, all applicable environmental regulato ry requirements were met during the manufactur e of this de vice. The manufacturing facilities and manag ement meet the requirements of the ISO 14001 Environmental Manage ment System (E[...]

55 English English Federal Communications Comission Declaration of Conformity This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This d evice may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must ac cept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired opera[...]

56 English Declaration of Conf ormity for CE Marking Is in compliance with the essential requ irements and other relevant provisions of the following EC directives. The product specified ab ove was tested conforming to the applicable Rules under the most accurate measurement standards possible, and all the necessary steps have been taken and are in[...]

57 English Index A AC adapter caring for iv audio 18 adjusting the volume 18 troublesh ooting 24 B battery pack caring for v BIOS utility 36 brightness hotkeys 15 C caps lock 13 on indicator 9 care AC adapter iv battery pack v computer iv CD-ROM ejecting 17 ejecting manually 24 troublesh ooting 24 cleaning computer v computer caring for iv cleaning[...]

58 English num lock 13 on indicator 9 numeric keypad embedded 13 P password 31 types 31 PC Card 35 ejecting 35 inserting 35 ports 33 printer troublesh ooting 24 problems 23 CD-ROM 24 display 23 keyboard 24 printer 24 startup 23 troublesh ooting 42 Q questions setting location for modem use 24 S safety CD or DVD 49 FCC notice 43 general instructions[...]