Acer TravelMate 2420 manual

TravelMate 2420 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 Disposal instructions Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protectio n of the global environment, please recycle. USA For electronic products c ontaining an LCD/CRT mo nitor or display: Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycl ed or disposed of accordin[...]

iv First things first We would like to thank you for mak ing an Acer notebook your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Your guides To help you use your Acer notebook, we h ave 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 release th e powe[...]

v To turn the power off, do any of th e followin g: • Use the Windows shutdown command Click on Sta rt , 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[...]

vi 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 possi[...]

Disposal instructions iii First things first iv Your guides iv Basic care and tips for using your computer iv Turning your computer on and off iv Taking care of your computer v Taking care of your AC adapter v Taking care of your battery pack vi Cleaning and servicing vi Acer Empowering Technology 1 Acer eDataSecurity Management 2 Acer eLock Manage[...]

Audio 26 Adjusting the volume 26 Using the system utilities 27 Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 27 Launch Manager 28 Norton AntiVirus 29 Frequently asked questions 30 Requesting service 33 International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 33 Before you call 33 Taking your notebook PC with you 34 Disconnecting from the desktop 34 Moving around 34 Prepa[...]

Universal Serial Bus (USB) 41 PC Card slot 42 Installing memory 43 BIOS utility 43 Boot sequence 43 Enable disk-to-disk recovery 44 Password 44 Using software 44 Playing DVD movies 44 Power management 45 Acer eRecovery Management 45 Create backup 46 Restore from backup 46 Create factory default image CD 47 Re-install bundled so ftware without CD 47[...]

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1 Empowering Technology Acer Empowering Technology Acer's innovative Empowering Technology makes it easy for yo u to access frequently used functi ons and manage yo ur n ew Acer notebook. It features the following handy utilities: • Acer eDataSecurity Manage ment protects data with passwords and advanced encryption algorith ms. • Acer eLoc[...]

2 Empowe ring Tech nology For more information, press the < > key to launch the Empowering Technology menu, then click on the appropriate utility and select the Help function. Acer eDataSecurity Management Acer eDataSecurity Management is a h and y file encryption utility that pro tects your files from being accessed by unauth orized persons.[...]

3 Empowering Technology Acer eLock Management Acer eLock Management i s a security utility that allows you to loc k up your removable data, optical and floppy dr ives to ensure that data can't be stolen while your notebook is unattend ed. • Removable data device s — includes USB disk drives, US B pen drives, USB flash drives, USB MP3 drive[...]

4 Empowe ring Tech nology Acer ePerformance Management Acer ePerformance Management is a syste m optimization tool that boosts the performance of your Acer noteb ook. It provides you with the following options to enhance overall system performance: • Memory optimization — releases unused memory and che ck usage. • Disk optimization — remove[...]

5 Empowering Technology Acer eRecovery Management Acer eRecovery Management is a po werful utility that does away with the need for recovery disks provided by th e manufacturer. The Acer eRecovery Management utility occupies space in a hid den partition on your system's HDD. User-created backups are stored on D: drive. Acer eReco very Managem[...]

6 Empowe ring Tech nology Acer eSettings Management Acer eSettings Management allows you to inspec t hardware specifications and to monitor the system health status. Fu rthermore, Acer eSettings Management enables you to optimiz e your Windows operating system, so your computer runs faster, smoother and better. Acer eSettings Management also: • P[...]

7 Empowering Technology Acer ePower Mana gement Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch it, select Ac er ePower Managem ent from the Empo wering Technol ogy interface, or double-click the Acer ePower Manag ement icon in the task tray. AC mode The default setting is "Ma ximum Performance." You can adjust[...]

8 Empowe ring Tech nology You can also click "Advanced Settings" to: • Set alarm s. • Re-load factory defaults. • Select what actions will be taken when the cover is close d, and set passwords for accessing the system after Hiberna tion or Standb y. • View information about Acer ePower Manageme nt. Acer ePresentati on Management A[...]

9 English Your Acer notebook tour After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... po ster, let us show you around yo ur new Acer notebook. Front view # Item Description 1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays computer output. 2 Status indicators Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up to sho [...]

10 English Closed front view 4 Touchpad Touch-sensiti ve pointing dev ice which funct ions like a computer mouse. 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 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the [...]

11 English Left view 7 Battery indicator Indicates th e computer's batttery status. 8 Power indicator Indicates the computer's power status. 9 Latch Locks and releases the lid. # Icon Item Description 1 Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington-co mpatible computer security lock. 2 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or [...]

12 English Right view Rear view # Icon Item Description 1 Three USB 2.0 ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB cam era). 2 Ventilation slots Enable the comp uter to stay cool, even after prolonged use. 3 Modem (RJ-11) po rt Conn ects to a phone line. 4 Ethernet (RJ-45) port Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-b ased network. # Icon [...]

13 English Base view # Item Description 1 Battery lock Locks the battery in position. 2 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool . Note : Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. 3 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured with screws). 4 Memory compartment Houses th e computer's main memory. 5 Battery release latch R[...]

14 English Specifications Operating system • Genuin e Windows ® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2) • Genuine W indows ® XP Professional (Service Pack 2) Platform • Intel ® Celeron ® M processor 370/380/390 (1 MB L2 cache, 1.50/1.60/1.70 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) or high er • Intel ® Pentium ® M processor 725 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FS[...]

15 English Communication • Modem: 56K ITU V.92 with PTT approval; Wake-on-Ring ready • LAN: 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready • WLAN: integrated Acer InviLink ™ 802 .11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ™ solution, su pporting Acer SignalUp ™ wireless technology I/O interface • Three USB 2.0 ports • PC Card slot (one Type II) • Extern[...]

16 English Note: The specifications listed above are for reference on ly. The exact config uration of you r PC depend s on the model p urchased. System compliance • ACPI 1.0b • DMI 2.0 • Mobile PC 2001 • Wi-Fi ® • Cisco Compa tible Ex tensions (CCX ) Warranty One-year International Travelers Warranty (ITW)[...]

17 English Indicators The computer has seven easy-to-read statu s indicators, in cluding four on the front panel. The power, battery and wireless communi cation status indicators are visible even when the LCD display is cl osed. Icon Function Description Caps Lock Lights up when Caps Lock is activated. Num Lock Lights up when Num Lock is activated.[...]

18 English 1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The light sho ws green when in AC mode. Easy-launch buttons Located above the keyboard are fou r buttons. These buttons are called easy-launch buttons. They are: mail, Web browser, Emp owering Key < > and one user-programmable button. Press < >[...]

19 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:[...]

20 English • Move your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor. • Press the left (1) and right (4) bu ttons located beneath the to uchpad to perform selection and execution functi ons. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mo use. Tapping on the tou chpad is the same as clicking the left button. • Use the [...]

21 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 [...]

22 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 [...]

23 English Hotkey Icon Function Description <Fn> + <F1> Hotkey help Displays help on hotkeys. <Fn> + <F2> Acer eSettings Launches Acer eSettings in Acer Empowering Technology. See "Acer Empowering Technology " on page 1 . <Fn> + <F3> Acer ePower Management Launches Acer ePower Management i n Acer Empowe[...]

24 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 keyboard, or ho ld < Alt Gr> and then press the <5> key at the upper-center of the keyboard[...]

25 English Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray (for selected models) Press the drive eject button to eject the optical drive tray when the com puter is on. Insert a clip to the emerg ency eject hole to eject the optical drive tray when the computer is off. Using a computer security lock The notebook comes with a Kens ington- com patible sec[...]

26 English Audio The computer comes with 32-bi t Intel High-Definition audio, an d built-in stereo speakers. Adjusting the volume Adjusting the volume on the computer is as easy as pressing some buttons. See "Hotkeys" on page 22 for more information on ad justing the speak er volume.[...]

27 English Using the system utilities Note: The system utilities work under Microsoft Win dows XP only. Acer GridVista (dual- display compatible) Note: This feature is only available on certain models. To enable the dual monitor feature of you r notebook, first ensure that the second moni tor is conn ected, then, select Start , Control Panel , D is[...]

28 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 s econd monitor is set to the [...]

29 English You can acces s the Launch Mana ger by click ing on Start , All Programs , and then Launch Man ager to start the application. 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 Syst[...]

30 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 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 being supplied to the computer. Check the fo[...]

31 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 control icon on the taskbar. You can a[...]

32 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[...]

33 English Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Your computer is backed by an Internation al Travelers Warranty (ITW) that gives you security and peace of mind when traveling. Our 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 you[...]

34 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[...]

35 English Note: If the Sleep indicator is of f, the computer has entered Hibernation mode and is turned o f 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 Hibernatio n mode after b[...]

36 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 extende d period of time and can not carry the computer with you, leave the co mputer in the trunk of the car to a voi[...]

37 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. Airport security X-ray machines are safe, but do not put th e computer throug h a me[...]

38 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 The notebook comes with a Kens ington- com patible security slot for a [...]

39 English Entering passwords When a password is set, a password prompt appears in the ce nter 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 pa[...]

40 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[...]

41 English Built-in network feature The built-in network feature allows you to connect you r 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[...]

42 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[...]

43 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, [...]

44 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[...]

45 English Note: To change the region code, in sert a DVD movie of a different region into the DVD drive. Please refer to the online 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: ke[...]

46 English Create backup You can create and save b ackup images to hard disk, CD or DVD. 1 Boot to Windows XP 2 Press <Alt> + <F10> to open the Acer eRecovery Managem ent utility. 3 Enter the password to proceed. Th e default password is six zeros. 4 In the Acer eRecovery Management windo w, select Recovery settings and click Next . 5 I[...]

47 English Create factory default image CD When the System CD and R ecovery CD are not available, you can create them by using this feature. 1 Boot to Windows XP. 2 Press <Alt> + <F10> to open the Acer eRecovery Managem ent utility. 3 Enter the password to proceed. Th e default password is six zeros. 4 In the Acer eRecovery Management w[...]

48 English Change password Acer eRecovery Managemen t and Acer disk-to-disk recovery a re protected by a password that can be changed by the user. Follow the steps below to change the password in Acer eRecovery Management. 1 Boot to Windows XP. 2 Press <Alt> + <F10> to open the Acer eRecovery Managem ent utility. 3 Enter the password to[...]

49 English 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. Troubleshoo[...]

50 English If you still encounter problems after going thro ugh the corrective measures, please contact your dealer or an authorized service c enter for assistance. Some problems may be solved using the BIOS u tility.[...]

51 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[...]

52 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[...]

53 English English Your telephone company may make chang es in its facilities, equipment, operations, or procedures that could a ffect the proper functioning of your equipment. If they do, you will be notified in ad vance to give you an opportunity to maintain unin terrupted telephone service. If this equipment should fail to operate properly, disc[...]

54 English Notice for New Zealand For modem with approval numb er PTC 211/03/008 1 The grant of a Telepermit for any item of terminal equ ipment indicates only that Telecom has accepted that the item complies with minimum conditions for connection to its netw ork. It indicates n o endorsement of the product b y Telecom, nor do es it provide any sor[...]

55 English English 3 This device is equipped with p ulse dialing while the Telecom standard is DTMF tone dialing. There is no guarantee that Telecom lines will always continue to support puls e dialing. 4 Use of pulse dialing, when this equipment is con nected to the same line as other equipment, may giv e rise to bell tinkle or noise and may also [...]

56 English 8 If an extension cord is used with this product, m ake sure that the total ampere rating of the equipment plugge d into the extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere ra ting. Also, ma ke sure that the total rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does no t exceed the fuse rating. 9 Never push objects of any ki[...]

57 English English Laser compliance statement The CD or DVD drive used with this computer is a laser p roduct. The CD or DVD drive's classification label (sho wn below) is located on the drive. CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT CAUTION: INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WH EN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM. APPAREIL A LASER DE CLASSE 1 PROD UIT LASERATTENTION: RAD [...]

58 English Radio device regulatory notice Note : Below regulatory information is for mo dels with wireless LAN and/o r Bluetooth on ly. General This product complies with the radio fre quency and safety standards of any country or region in which it has been approved for wireless use. De pending on configura tions, this prod uct may or may not con [...]

59 English English List of applicable countries EU member states as of May 2004 are: Belgium , Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdo m Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hung ary, Czech Republic, Slovak Rep ublic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta. Usage all[...]

60 English 2 This device is restricted to indoor us e due to its operation in the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz frequency range. FCC requires this prod uct to be used indoors for the frequency range 5.15 to 5.25 GHz to reduc e the potential for harmful interference to co-channel Mo bile Satellite systems. 3 High power radar are allocated as primary users of the[...]

61 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[...]

62 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[...]

63 English Index A AC adapter caring for v audio 26 adjusting the volume 26 troublesh ooting 31 B battery pack caring for vi BIOS utility 43 brightness hotkeys 23 C caps lock 21 on indicator 17 care AC adapter v battery pack vi computer v CD-ROM ejecting manually 31 troublesh ooting 31 cleaning computer vi computer caring for v cleaning vi disconne[...]

64 English P password 38 types 38 PC Card 42 ejecting 42 inserting 42 ports 40 printer troublesh ooting 31 problems 30 CD-ROM 31 display 30 keyboard 31 printer 31 startup 30 troublesh ooting 49 Q questions setting location for modem use 31 S safety CD or DVD 57 FCC notice 51 general instructions 55 modem notices 52 scroll lock 21 security keylock 2[...]