Acer 660 series manual

T ravelMate 660 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 switch. To turn the po wer off, do any of the fo llowi[...]

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 3 Use a soft cloth moistened with water . Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. 4 T o clean the display scre en, use an LCD cleaning kit. If any of the following occurs: • The computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged. • Liquid has been spil led into the produc t. • The computer does not operate normally . Please refe[...]

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 4 Left view 6 Right view 7 Rear view 8 Bottom view 9 Features 11 Indicators 13 Using th e keyboar d 14 Special keys 14 Launch Keys 20 Touchpad 22 Touchpad b asics 22 Storage 24 Ha[...]

Contents viii Launch Manager 54 BIOS Utility 54 3 Troubleshooting my computer 55 Frequently-asked questions 57 Troubleshooting tips 60 Error messages 61 Requesting service 62 International Traveler’s Warr anty (ITW) 62 Before you call 62 Appendix A Specifications 65 Appendix B Notices 71 Index 79[...]

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

Y our T ravelMate computer combines high- performance, versatility , power management features and multimedia capabilities with a unique style and ergonom ic design. W ork with unmatched productivi ty and reliability with your new powe r computing 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. 2 Power button T urns on the compu ter . 3 To u c h p a d T ouch-[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 4 English Front view 5 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the computer . 6 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer . 7 Status indicators LEDs (light-emitting diode) th at turn on and off to show the status of the computer , its functions and components. 8 Microphone Internal microphone f[...]

5 English Notes: 1.Four-in-one card reader is a manufactu ring option, subj ect to configuration. Only o ne card can operate at any given tim e. 2.Bluetoot h button and indi cator work on models with Bluetooth only . 3 . I n v i L i n k b u t t o n a n d i n d i c a t o r w o r k o n m o d e l s w i t h w i r e l e s s LAN only . 5 Bluetooth b utto[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 6 English Left view # Item Description 1 Four USB 2.0 ports Connect to Universal Serial Bus devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). 2 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices. 3 Smart Card slot Slot for Smart Card interface with pre-boot authentication system . 4 Line-i n jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g[...]

7 English Right view Note: The positions of the AcerMedia in dicator , eject button and emergency eject hole may differ depending on the optical drive module installed. # Item Description 1 AcerMedia drive Houses a removable media drive module. 2 AcerMedia indicator Lights up when the AcerMedia drive is active. 3 Eject button Ejects the drive tray [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 8 English Rear view # Item Description 1 Modem jack Connects to a phone line. 2 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network. 3 Expansion port Connects to I/O port replicator or EasyPort expansion devices. 4 Parallel port Connec ts to a parallel device (e.g., parallel printer). 5 External display port[...]

9 English Bottom view # Item Description 1 AcerMedia bay release latch Unlatches the AcerMedia drive for removing the optical drive. 2 AcerMedia bay Houses an AcerMedia drive module. 3 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack. 4 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack. 5 Battery lock Locks the battery in pl[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 10 English 10 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool. Note : Don’t cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. 11 Personal identification slot Insert a business card or similar-sized identification card to personalize your computer . # Item Description[...]

11 English Featur es Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features: Performance • Intel® Pentium® M Processor at 1.3G~1.6G and higher • Memory upgradeable up to 2 GB with 2 slots (Only one sl ot for user accessible) • Internal removable optical drive (AcerMedia bay) • High-capacity , Enhanced-IDE hard disk • Li-ion main bat[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 12 English Connectivity • High-speed fax/data modem port • Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port • Fast infrared wireless communication • Four (4) USB 2.0 (Universal Serial Bus) ports • IEEE 1394 port • InviLink 802.11b or 802.11a/g wireless LA N (manufacturing optional) • Bluetooth ready (manufacturi ng optio[...]

13 English Indicators The computer has three easy-to-read status indicators below the display screen, and two on the front of the computer. The Power and Battery sta tus indica tors are visible even when the display is closed. Icon Function Description Caps lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated. Num lock Lights when Num Lock is activated. Media A[...]

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 three lock keys which you can togg le on and off. Lock key Description Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabet[...]

15 English Embedded numeric keypad The embedded numeric keypad func tions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small ch aracters located on the upper right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols are not printed on the keys. Note: If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the computer [...]

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. Hot keys The computer employs hot keys or ke y combinations to access most of the computer’s controls like screen brightness , volume output an d the BIOS Utility. Key Description Windows logo key Start button. Combina[...]

17 English To activate hot keys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key i n the hot key comb ination. Hot key Icon Function Description Fn-F1 Hot key h elp Displays help on hot keys. Fn-F2 Setu p Accesses the computer’ s configuration utility . Fn-F3 Power management scheme toggle Switches the power management scheme used by the [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 18 English The Euro symbol If your keybo ard 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. Fn-F6 Screen b lank T urns the display screen backlight off to save power . Press any key to return. Fn-F7 T[...]

19 English 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 be set to United States-International. To verify the keyboard type in Windows Millenniu m Edition and Windows 2000, follow the steps below: 1 Click on Start , Settings , Control Panel . 2 Double-cl[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 20 English Launch Keys Located above the keyboard are five butt ons. The left-most button is the power butto n. To the right of the power button are the four launch keys. They are de signated as the mail butt on, the web browse r button, and two pr ogrammable butt ons (P1 and P2). E-Mail Detection Click right butt[...]

21 English Aside from the email checking functi on, there is a mail button that is used to launch the email applicatio n. It is located above the keyboard right below the LCD.[...]

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. Note: W hen using an external USB m ouse, you ca[...]

23 English T apping on the touchp ad produces similar results. • Use the 4-way scroll (2) button (top/b ottom/left and right) to scroll a page up, down, left or right. This button mimics yo ur cursor pressing on the vertical and horizo ntal scroll ba rs of Windows applications. Note: Keep your fingers dry and c lean when using the touchpad. Also [...]

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 • AcerMedia dr ive Har d disk The high-capacity hard disk is the answer to your storage needs. This is where your programs and data are stored. AcerMedia bay The AcerMedia bay accepts a wid[...]

25 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, yo u can ejec t the drive tray using the emergency eject hole. See page 58 . Using softwar e Playing DVD movies When the DVD-ROM drive module is installed i n the AcerM edia bay,[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 26 English 2 The DVD movie will automatica lly play after a few seconds. Note: T o change th e region code, insert a DVD movie of a different region into the DVD-RO M drive. Please refer to the online help for more informa tion. Region code Country or region 1 U.S.A., Ca nada 2 Europe, Middle East, South Africa, J[...]

27 English Audio The computer comes with 16-bit hi gh-fidelity AC’9 7 stereo audio , and includes a built-i n sensitive micr opho ne and dual stereo speakers. There are audio ports on the left of the computer. Se e “Left view” on page 6 for more information on conn ecting external audio devices. Adjusting the volume Adjusting the volume on th[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 28 English Power management This computer ha s a built-in powe r management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any activity involving on e 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 memo[...]

29 English Moving ar ound with your T ravelMate This section gi ves you tips and hin ts to consider wh en moving around or traveling wi th your comp uter. 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, diskette or compact disc, f rom the dr[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 30 English - or - 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 slide and release the power switch. Note: If the sleep indicator is off, the computer has entered Hibernatio n mode and t[...]

31 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 cover can damage the screen What to br[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 32 English If you use your computer at home for significant periods of time, you might also want to add an extern al keyboard, monitor, or mouse . T raveling with the computer “when you are moving within a larger distance, for instance, from your office building to a c lient’s office buil ding or traveling loc[...]

33 English What to bring with you Bring the foll owing items with you: • AC adapter • Power cords that are appropriate for the country to which you are traveling • Spare, fully-c harged batter y packs • AcerMedia dr ive module(s) • Additional printer driver files if you plan to use ano ther printer • Proof of purchase, in case you need [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 34 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 security notch, Smart Card and passwords. Using a computer security lock A security keylock no[...]

35 English the Smart Card. If your Smart Card is unavailable, you can use the Emergency Card as a temporary replacement card. • PlatinumKey auto-authentica te and auto cache with one-click logons to all password- required websites (patent pending), eliminates the overhead cos ts as socia ted with memorizing and typing user IDs and passwords wh en[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 36 English Registering your Smart Card Important! Y our Acer notebook is equipped with a Smart Card security feature that protects the computer from unautho rized access. If you enable this feature, please make sure that your warranty card is completed and sent back to Acer . This information will be used by Acer [...]

37 English PlatinumSecure Options Click on the PlatinumSecure Options button to open the Smart Card Options window . It provides gr eat flexibilit y to meet the various privacy protecti on needs of many differe nt users. • Disable Smart Ca rd Authentication When Disa ble PlatinumP AS is selected, the Plat inumP AS Preboot Authentication System wi[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 38 English Smart Card Manager The Multiple user support is impl emented and managed in Smart Card Manager. Please note that fiv e user s can be registered on one PC. If you registered as the Primary User, ONLY you can add/remove other users. If you registered as a regula r user, other registered users could add/re[...]

39 English Running PlatinumKey PlatinumKey provides one-cli ck logon to all password-required websites. With its unique Smart Card caching techn ology, you can greatly extend the limited card me mory size to unlimited use by storing your private data in an encrypted file ei ther on the Smart Card, or on the 360 Degre e Web secure we bsite server. I[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 40 English Password, and Web URL. Si milarly, type the first letter(s) of a site on the list, and the site will be searched and selected. You can Edit and Delete the sites as well as other in formation, and Save or Cancel the ch anges yo u made, by selecting the button corresponding to each command. Using passwor [...]

41 English parameter is enabled, a prompt appears at boot-up. • T ype the User Password and press Enter to use the compute r . If you enter the password incorrect ly , a warning message appears. T ry again and press Enter . • When the Hard Disk Pa ssword is se t, a prompt appears at boot -up. • T ype the Hard Disk Password and press Enter to [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 42 English[...]

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 .[...]

45 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 46 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 r ear of the co mputer to a network jack or hub on your network. Fast infrar ed The computer[...]

47 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 four ports available.[...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 48 English IEEE 1394 port The computer's IEEE 1 394 port allo ws you to connect to an IEEE 1394 supported devices like a video camera or digital camera. See your video or digital camera 's do cumentation for details. PC Card slot The type II CardBus PC Ca rd slot foun d on the left side of the computer accepts c[...]

49 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 50 English Port expansion devices Two types of expansion devices are available for your computer: • I/O replicato r - adds serial port and parallel port connections to your computer . • EasyPort - adds a host of ports for your c omputer , and allows you to connect and disconnect peripherals from your co mputer in one [...]

51 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 52 English Swapping AcerMedi a drive modules Note : The hard disk drive modul e is not hot-swappable. Y ou have to turn off your computer be fore you can sw ap the module. You can swap the AcerMedia driv e with any optional AcerMedia modules. First slide the AcerMedia relea se latch as shown in the illustration (a). Then [...]

53 English Using system utilities Notebook Manager The computer has a built-in system setup program called Notebook Manager. The Windows-based Notebo ok Manager allows you to set passwords, the star tup sequence of the drives, and po wer management settings. It also show s current hardware configurat ions. To start the Notebook Ma nager, press Fn-F[...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 54 English Launch Manager Launch Manager allows you to set the four launch keys located above the keyboard. See “Launch Keys ” on page 20 for the location of the launch key. You can access the Laun ch Manager by clic king on Start , Programs , and then Launch Manager to start the applicat ion. BIOS Utility The BIOS Ut[...]

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[...]

57 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 slid the power switch and opened the display , but the comput er does not start or boot -up. Look at the Power indicator: • If it is not lit, no po wer is[...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 58 English Image is not full-screen. The computer display has a native resolution of 1 024 x 768 (XGA) for the 14.1” and 1400 x 1050 (SXGA+) for the 15.0”. If you set the resolution lower than this, the scre en expands to fill the computer display. Right-c lick on your Windows deskto p and select Pr operties to b[...]

59 English The keyboard does not respond. Try attaching an external keyboard to the USB 2.0 connector on the rear of the computer. If it works, co ntact your dealer or an authorized service center as the internal keyboard cable may be loose. The infrared port does not work. Check the following: • Make sure that the infrared port s of the two devi[...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 60 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 61 . If the problem cannot be resolved, contact you[...]

61 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 62 English Requesting service Inter national T raveler ’ s W arranty (ITW) Your computer is backed by an In ternational Trave ler’s Warranty (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 [...]

63 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 64 English[...]

Appendix A Specifications[...]

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

67 English Micropr ocessor • Intel® Pentium® M Processo r with 1024KB L2 cach e Memory • Main memory expandab le up to 2 GB • T wo DDR DIMM slots (Only one slot for use r accessible) • Support 256M, 512M & 1GB DDR RAM modules • 512 KB Flash ROM BIOS Data storage • One high-capa city , Enhanced-I DE hard disk • One 5.25-inch inte[...]

Appendix A Specifications 68 English I/O ports • One type II CardBu s PC Card slot • One RJ-45 jack (Et hernet 10/100) • One RJ-11 ph one jack (V .90/92) • One DC-in jack for AC adapter • One parallel port • One VGA port for ex ternal monitor • One speaker/headphone-out jack (3.5mm mini ja ck) • One audio line-i n jack (3.5mm min i [...]

69 English System • ACPI support • DMI 2.0-compliant • Microsoft Wi ndows operati ng system Power • Battery pack • 65Wh Li-ion battery pack • 2.0-hour rapi d charge /3.5-hour charge-in-u se • AC adapter • 75-Watt • Auto sensing 90~264V ac, 47~63 Hz Options • 256MB/512MB/1GB memor y upgrade modules • Additional Li-Ion battery p[...]

Appendix A Specifications 70 English[...]

Appendix B Notices[...]

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

73 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 74 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[...]

75 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 76 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[...]

77 English Lithium battery statement The TravelMate 660 series uses the lithium batter y, models SQ- 1100 and SQU-202 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 possi[...]

Appendix B Notices 78 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[...]

79 Index A AC adapter caring for v AcerMedia drive 24 audio 27 adjusting the volume 27 troublesh ooting 58 B battery pack caring for v BIOS utility 54 brightness hotkeys 18 C caps lock 14 on indicator 13 care AC adapter v battery pack v computer iv CD-ROM ejecting 25 ejecting manually 5 8 troublesh ooting 58 cleaning computer v computer bringing to[...]

80 installing 51 upgrading 50 messages error 61 modem 45 N network 46 Notebook Man ager 53 hotkey 17 notice DVD copyright protection 78 num lock 14 on indicator 13 numeric keypad num lock 15 O online services 62 options memory upgrade 50 P password 40 types 40 PC Card 48 ejecting 49 inserting 49 ports 45 POST (power-on self-test) 54 printer trouble[...]

81 W warranty International Traveler’s Warran - ty 62 Windows keys 16[...]