Acer Aspire V5 manual

- 1 Aspire V7 & V5 Series (15") User’s Manual[...]

2 - © 2013. All Rights Reserved. Aspire V7 & V5 Series (15") Covers: Aspire V7-581G / V7-581 / V5-573G / V5-573 / V5-572G / V5-572 / V5-552G / V5-552 This revision: October 2013 Sign up for an Acer ID an d enable Acer Remote Files Open the Acer Portal from the Start screen t o sign up for an Acer ID or sign in if you already have an Acer [...]

Table of contents - 3 T ABLE OF CONTENTS First thing s first 6 Your guides .................................... ......... 6 Basic care and tips for using your computer......................................... ......... 6 Turning your computer on and off .............. . 6 Taking c are of your computer ............. ........ 7 Taking c are of your A[...]

4 - Table of co ntents Explorer ?......... .......... ............. ............. ...... 7 3 How do I check for Windows upd ates? ..... 73 Where can I get more information?....... .... 73 Troubleshooting ..................................... 74 Troubleshooting tips........ ................ .......... 74 Error mess ages.... ............. ...........[...]

- 5 Getting started... In this section you will find: • Useful information on caring for yo ur computer and your health • Where to find the power button, port s and connectors • T ip s and tricks for using the touchpa d and keyboard • How to create recovery backups • Guidelines for connecting to a network and using Bluetooth • Informati[...]

6 - First th ings first F IRST THINGS FIRST We would like to thank you for maki ng this Acer note book your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Y our guides To help you use you r Acer notebook, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Setup Guide helps you get started with setting up your computer. The Quick Guide introduces you[...]

First things first - 7 You can also put the computer in sleep mode by pressing the sleep hotkey < Fn > + < F4 >. T aking care of your co mputer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. • Do not expose the compu ter to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator . • Do not expose the com[...]

8 - First th ings first cord. Also, the tot al current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning the comp uter, follow these step s: 1. T urn of f the computer. 2. Disconnect the AC adapter . 3. Use a sof t, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. If[...]

Your Acer no tebook tour - 9 Y OUR A CER NOTEBOOK TOUR After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Setup Guide, let us show you around your n ew Acer computer. Screen view # Icon Item Description 1 Webcam Web camera for video communicat ion. A light next to the webcam indicates that the webcam is active. 2 Screen Displays computer output. [...]

10 - Your Ac er notebook tour Keyboard view # Icon Item Description 1 Power indicator Indicates the computer ’s power st atus. Battery indicator Indicates battery status. Charging: The light is amber when the battery is charging. Fully charged: The light is blue. 2 Keyboard For entering dat a into your computer . See "Using the keyboard"[...]

Your Acer notebook tour - 11 Lef t view 1 2 # Icon Item Description 1 USB port Connects to USB devices. 2 Power button T urns the computer on a nd off. Information on USB 3.0 • USB 3.0 compatible po rts are blue. • Compatible wit h USB 3.0 and earlier devices. • For optimal performance, u se USB 3.0-certified devices. • Defined by the USB 3[...]

12 - Your Ac er notebook tour Rear view 2 1 34 5 67 # Icon Item Description 1 V entilation and cooling f an Allows the computer to st ay cool. Do not cover or obst ruct the op enings. 2 Ethernet (RJ-45) port Connects t o an Ethernet 10/100/ 10 00-based network. Pull the lip down to open the port fu lly . 3 USB port with power-off charging Connect t[...]

Your Acer notebook tour - 13 Base view 1 2 3 # Icon Item Description 1 V e ntilation and cooling fan Allows the computer to st ay cool. Do not cover or obstruct the ope nings. 2 Battery reset pinhole Insert a paperclip into the hole and press f or four seconds to reset the computer (simulates removing and reinstalling the ba ttery). 3 Sp e a k e r [...]

14 - Using the keyb oard U SING THE KEYBOARD The keyboard has full-sized keys and an separat e numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys. Lock keys The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off. Hotkeys The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls [...]

Using the keyboard - 15 Windows keys The keyboard has two keys that perfo rm Win dows-specific functions. < Fn > + < F6 > Display off T urns the display screen backlight of f to save po wer . Press any key to return. < Fn > + < F7 > T ouchpad toggle T urns the built-in touchp ad on and off . < Fn > + < F8 > S pea[...]

16 - Using the keyb oard Application key This key has the same ef fect as clicking the right mouse button; it opens the application' s context menu. Key Description[...]

Touchpad - 17 T OUCHPAD T ouchp ad basics The touchpad controls the arrow (o r 'cursor') on the screen. As you slide your finger across the t ouch pad, the cursor will follow this movement. The cursor is controlled by some basic gestures: • Single-finger slide: Slide a finger across the touchpad to move the cursor . • Single-finger pr[...]

18 - Touchpad This allows you to control applica tions with a few simple gestu res, such as: • Swipe in from edge: Access Windows tools by swiping into the center of the touchpa d from the right, top or lef t. • Swipe in from right edge: T oggle t he charms. • Swipe in from top edge: T oggle the app commands. • Swipe in from lef t edge: Swi[...]

Recovery - 19 R ECOVERY If you are having trouble with your computer , and the frequently asked questions ( see Frequently as ked questions on page 63 ) do not help, you can 'recover' your computer - i.e. retu rn it to an earlier state. This section describes the recovery tools available on your computer. Acer provides Acer Recovery Manag[...]

20 - Recovery 1. From Sta r t , type 'Recovery' and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of app s. 2. Click Create Factory Default Backup . The Re covery Drive window opens. Make sure Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive is select ed. This provides the most complete and safest recovery back up. 3. Plu[...]

Recovery - 21 • Since the recovery backup requires at least 16 GB of storage after formatting, it is recommended to u se a USB drive with a cap acity of 32 GB or larger . 4. Y ou will be shown the backup progress on the screen. 5. Follow the process until it completes. 6. After creating the recovery back up, you can choose to delete the recovery [...]

22 - Recovery may use either a USB storage drive or , if your compu ter features a DVD recorder , one or more blank recordable DVDs. 1. From Sta r t , type 'Recovery' and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of app s. 2. Click Create Drivers and Applications Back up . Plug in the USB drive o r insert a blank DVD into the op tic[...]

Recovery - 23 with a permanent marker . If multiple discs are required, insert a new disc when prompted, then click OK . Continue until the process is co mplete. • If you are using a USB drive, unpl ug the drive and label it clearly . Recovering your syst em To recover your system : 1. Perform minor fixes. If only one or two items of software or [...]

24 - Recovery Reinst alling drivers and applications As a troubleshooting step, you may need to reinstall the ap plications and device drivers that came pre-installed on your computer fro m the factory. You can reinstall using eith er your hard drive or the backup you have created. • Other applications - If you need to reinstall sof tware that di[...]

Recovery - 25 3. Y ou should see the Content s section of the Acer Resource Center . Images for reference only . 4. Click the inst all icon for the item you want to install, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation. Repeat this step for each item you want to reinst all. If you are reinstalling from a Dr ivers and Applicati[...]

26 - Recovery 2. Y ou should see the Content s section of the Acer Resource Center . Images for reference only . 3. Click the inst all icon for the item you want to install, then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the insta llation. Repeat this step for each item you want to reinst all. Returning to an earlier system snap shot Microsoft System[...]

Recovery - 27 4. Click the latest restore point (a t a time when your system worked correctly), click Next , then Finish . 5. A confirmation window appears; click Ye s . Y our system is restored using the restore point you specified. This process may take several minutes, and may restart your comp uter . Returning your system to it s factory condit[...]

28 - Recovery the Windows Store). See Customized Restore wi th Acer Recovery Management on page 30 . Restore Factory Settings wi th Acer Recovery Management 1. Click Restore Factory Settings . 2. The Reset your PC window opens. Images for reference only . 3. Click Next , then choose how to erase your files: a. Just remove my files quickly erases al[...]

Recovery - 29 5. The recovery process begins by re starting you r computer , then continues by copying files to you r hard drive. 6. After the recovery has finished, you can start using your computer by repeating the first-st art process. Recovering from t he har d drive during startup 1. T urn on your computer and press < Alt > + < F10 &g[...]

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

Recovery - 31 b. Use the lef t or right arrow keys to select th e Main menu. c. Press t he down key until F12 Boot Menu is sele cted, press < F5 > to change this setting to En abled . d. Use the lef t or right arrow keys to select th e Exit menu. e. Depending on the type of BIOS your computer uses, select Save Changes and Exit or Exit Saving [...]

32 - Recovery Reset your PC from the recovery backup 1. The Reset your PC window opens. Images for reference only . 2. Click Next. 3. Select the operating system to recover (normally only one option is available). 4. Choose to keep an y changes to the hard drive: a. If you have delete d the recovery partition or otherwise cha nged the partition s o[...]

Recovery - 33 Refresh your PC from the recovery backup 1. The Refresh your PC window opens. 2. Click Next . 3. Select the operating system to recover (normally only one option is available). 4. Click Refresh . 5. The recovery process begins by re starting you r computer , then continues by copying files to your hard drive. This process takes about [...]

34 - Connecting to the Internet C ONNECTING TO THE I NTERNET This chapter includes basic inform ation on types of connections, and getting connected to the Internet. For detailed information, plea se refer to Network connections on page 78 . Connecting with a cable Built-in network feature The built-in network feature makes it easy for you to conne[...]

Connecting to th e Internet - 35 Connecting wirelessly Connecting to a wireless LAN A wireless LAN (or WLAN) is a wireless local area n etwork , which can link two or more computers without using wires. Once connected to WLAN, you can access the Internet. You can also share files, other devices, and even your Internet connection itself. Your comput[...]

36 - Connecting to the Internet Connecting to a 3G network If your computer has a SIM slot, you can connect to the Internet using a 3G (cellular phone) network. To do this, you must have a compatible SIM card and a data contract with your cellular provider. Note Please contact your cellular provider for details on connecting to th e Internet via 3G[...]

Using a Blue tooth connectio n - 37 U SING A B LUETOOTH CONNECTION Bluetooth is a technology enabling you to transfer data wirelessly over short distances between many differ ent types of devices. Bluetooth- enabled devices include comput ers, cell phones, tablets, wireless headsets, and keyboards. To use Bluetooth, you must ensure the following: 1[...]

38 - Using a Bluetooth connect i on 4. Select the Allow Bluetooth devices to fin d this computer check box, click Apply , and then click OK . Adding a Bluetooth device Every new device must first be "paired" with your computer’s Bluetooth adapter. This means it must first be authe nticated for security purposes. You only need to pair on[...]

Using a Blue tooth connectio n - 39 Click on the device you want to add. A code displays on your comput er , which should match the code displayed on your device. Select Yes . Then, accept the pairing from your devi ce. Your device will show up in the list of devices if it was successfully paired. Open the Control Panel and under Hardware and Sound[...]

40 - Using a Bluetooth connect i on click on View devices and printers. Right click on you r device and select Advanced Operations > Connect to operat ion window . The operation window enables you to play music and audio from your device through your computer, send files to your device and change Bluetooth settings.[...]

- 41 Keeping your computer and data safe... In this section you will find: • How to secure your compute r • Setting passwords • What you need to prep are when you’re traveling • How to get the most out of your battery[...]

42 - BIOS utility BIOS UTILITY The BIOS utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer's BIOS. Your computer is already properly configured and optimized, and you do not normally need to run this utility. Ho wever, if you encounter configuration problems, you may nee d to run it. To activate the BIOS utility, press < F[...]

Securing your computer - 43 S ECURING YOUR COMPUTER Your computer is a valuable investment that you need to take care of. Learn how to protect and take care of your computer. Security features include hardware a nd software locks — a security notch and passwords. Using a computer security lock The computer comes with a Kensington-compatible secu [...]

44 - Securing your computer Entering p asswords When a password is set, a password prompt appears in the center of the display screen. • When the Supervisor Passwo rd is set, a prompt appears when you enter the BIOS utility . • T ype the Supervisor Password and press < Enter > to access the BIOS utility . If you enter the password incorre[...]

Power managem ent - 45 P OWER MANAGEMENT This computer has a built-in power management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any activity involving one or more of the following devices: keyboard, mouse, hard disk, peripherals connected to the co mputer, and video memory. If no activity is detected for a period of ti me, the [...]

46 - Power mana gement 5. T o access Shut down Settings, select Change settings that are currently unavailable . 6. Scroll down and disable T urn on fast startup. 7. Select Save changes .[...]

Battery pack - 4 7 B ATTERY PACK The computer uses an embedded Lithium battery that gives you long use between charges. Battery characteristics The battery is recharged whenever yo u connect the computer to the AC adapter. Your computer suppor ts charge-in-use, enabling you to recharge the battery while you continue to operate the computer. However[...]

48 - Battery pa ck Use this conditioning process for al l new batteries, or if a bat tery hasn't been used for a long time. The battery conditioning process ens ures your battery accepts the maximum possible charge. Failure to fo llow this pro cedure will prevent you from obtaining the maximum ba ttery charge, and will also shorten the effecti[...]

Battery pack - 4 9 Checking the battery level The power meter indicates the current battery level. Rest the cursor over the battery/power icon on the taskbar to see the battery's present charge level. Battery-low warning When using battery power pay attention t o the power meter. When the battery-low warning appears, the recommende d course of[...]

50 - Traveling with your comp uter T RAVELING WITH YOUR COMPUTER This section gives you tips and hin ts to consider when moving around or traveling with your computer. Disconnecting from the desktop Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessories: 1. Save any open files. 2. Remove discs from optical drive. 3. Shut down the [...]

Traveling wi th your compute r - 51 You can put the computer in Sleep mode by pressin g < Fn > + < F4 > or by closing the disp lay. When you are ready to use the compu ter again, open the display and, if necessary, press and release the power butto n. What to bring to meetings If your meeting is relatively s hort, you probably do no t n[...]

52 - Traveling with your comp uter What to t ake with you Unless you have some items at home, take the following items with you: • AC adapter and powe r cord. • The printed Setup Guide . S pecial considerations Follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling to and from work: • Minimize the effe cts of temperature changes by [...]

Traveling wi th your compute r - 53 When you are moving within a larger distance, for instance, from your office building to a client's off ice building or traveling locally. Prep aring the computer Prepare the computer as if you were taking it home. Make sure that the battery in the computer is charged. Airport security may require you to tur[...]

54 - Traveling with your comp uter What to bring with yo u Bring the following items with yo u: • AC adapter . • Power cords that are appropriate fo r your destination(s). • Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printe r . • Proof of purchase, in case you n eed to show it to customs of ficials. • International T ravel[...]

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

56 - Acer Conve rter Port A CER C ONVERTER P ORT The Acer Converter Port is a proprie tary port that allows you to extend the connectivity options of your computer using a single cable. The Acer Converter Port supports one or more of the following through a dedicated cable: A LAN connection, a n external display (VGA) port and an additional USB por[...]

Memory card reader - 57 M EMORY CARD READER Connectivity options Your computer has a card reader a nd other ports/jacks that allow you to connect peripheral devices to your computer. For instructio ns on how to connect different external devices to the computer, read the following section. Memory card reader Memory cards are used in a wide selectio[...]

58 - Memory card rea der (2 TB). Your computer provides an SDHC or SDXC compatible card reader. Removing a card from a memory card reader 1. Click on Show hidden icons arrow in the Notification Area (next to the clock). 2. Click on the Safely Remove Hardware icon. 3. Click on Eject SD Card (or the name of the device). 4. W ait until a Safe to Remov[...]

Video and a udio connecto rs - 59 V IDEO AND AUDIO CONNECTORS Connect to a monitor with a VGA or DVI port (the type of connection supported depends on your computer’s conf iguration). The appropriate cable is usually included with the monitor. Follow these steps to connect an monitor to your computer: 1. Check that the computer is powered of f an[...]

60 - HDMI HDMI HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Inte rface) is a high-quality, digital audio/video interface. HDMI allows you to connect any compatible digital audio/video source, such as your computer, a set-t op box, DVD player, and audio/video receiver to a ny compatible digital audio and/or video monitor, such as a digit al te levision (DTV) wi[...]

Universal Serial Bus (US B) - 61 U NIVERSAL S ERIAL B US (USB) The USB port is a high-spe ed port which allows you to con nect USB peripherals, such as a mouse, an external keyboard, additio nal storage (external hard disks), or any other compatible device. You can also charge devices such as tablets, smartp hones, or other devices through a USB po[...]

62 - Got a question? In this section you will find: • Frequently asked questions • T ips for using Windows 8.1 • T roubleshooting information • How to protect yourself wh ile online • Where to find Acer service center cont act information[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 63 F REQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy solutions are provided for each one. I turned on the power , but the computer does not start or boot up. Look at the power indicator: • If it is not lit, no power is be ing supplied to th[...]

64 - Frequently a sked questions • The volume may be muted. Look at the volume control (speaker) icon in the taskba r . If it is crosse d-out, click the icon and deselect the Mute all option. • The volume level may be too low . Check the volume from the volume control (speaker) icon in t he taskbar . Y ou can also use the volume control buttons[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 65 2. Make sure the D2D Rec overy setting in Main is Enabled . 3. Exit the BIOS utility a nd save changes. The system will reb oot. For detailed information on the recovery pro cess, see Recovering your system on page 23 . Requesting service International T ravel ers W arranty (ITW) Your computer is backed by an Intern[...]

66 - Frequently a sked questions Serial number: _______________________ __________ Date of purchase: __________ ____________________[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 67 T ip s and hint s for using Windows 8.1 We know this is a new operating system that will take some gett ing used to, so we've created a few pointers t o help you get started. How do I get to St a r t ? Press the Windows key; click the Start button on the desktop taskbar; or move your cursor into the upper right[...]

68 - Frequently a sked questions Can I boot directly to the desktop? Yes, you can, just follow these steps: 1. Go to the desktop. 2. Right-click the t askbar and select Properties from the menu that opens. 3. From the Navigation tab, che ck Go to the desktop instea d of S tart when I sign in . How do I jump between apps? Move your cursor to the upp[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 69 Can I personalize the Lock screen? You can personalize the lock screen with a different image, to run a slideshow of images, or to show you quick status an d notifications to suit your personal needs. To change the background, move your cursor to the upper right -hand corner of the screen an d click Settings > Ch[...]

70 - Frequently a sked questions How do I set the alarm? Your computer can act as an alarm clock. Start t yping ’Alarms’ to search for the Alarms app. 1. Set the time using the sliders on th e left-hand side of the screen. 2. Select AM or PM. 3. Choose which days the alarm should go of f. 4. Select the notification. 5. Save the alarm by clickin[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 71 Can I make tiles bigger or smaller? Right-click anywhere on Start to open the Customize menu, click the tile(s) you wish to resize and click Resize . Select a size from the menu that appears. How do I close an app? Move your cursor to the top of the screen. You will see it ch ange to a hand, click and drag the hand [...]

72 - Frequently a sked questions How do I install app s? You can download Window s Store apps from Store . You will need to have a Microsoft ID to purchase and downloa d apps from Store . I can't find apps like Notepa d and Paint! Where are they? Move your cursor to the upper rig ht-hand corner of the screen and click Search , type the name of[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 73 Microsoft account, you'll connect y our PC to the people, files, and devices you care about. Do I need one? You do not need a Microso ft ID to use Windows 8.1, but it makes life easier because you can sync data ac ro ss different machines you sign in to using a Microsoft ID. How do I get one? If you've alr[...]

74 - Frequently a sked questions T roubleshooting This chapter shows you how to deal with common system problems. Read it before calling a technician if a problem occurs. Solution s to more serious problems require opening up the co mputer. Do not attempt to open the computer yourself; contact your dea ler or authorized service center for assistanc[...]

Frequently asked quest ions - 75 If you still encounter problems after going through the corrective measures, please contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance. Keyboard error or no keyboard connected Contact your de aler or an authorized service center . Keyboard interface error Contact your de aler or an authorized service[...]

76 - Intern et and online security I NTERNET AND ONLINE SECURITY First step s on the net Protecting your computer It is vital to protect your computer from viruses and a ttacks over the Internet ( see Security on page 80 ). A comprehensive Internet security program is offered when you first start your computer. You should activate this protection a[...]

Internet and online security - 77 Internet as the connection speed is low and connection t ime is typically charged per hour. DSL (e.g. ADSL) DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is an ‘always-on’ connection that runs over the phone line . As DSL and phone do not use the same frequencies, you can use your te lephone at the same time you are connected [...]

78 - Intern et and online security Network connections A LAN (Local Area Network) is a group of computers (for example, within an office building or home) that share a common communications line and resources. When you set up a network, you can share files, peripheral devices (such as a printer) and an Internet connection. You can set up a LAN usin[...]

Internet and online security - 79 services. Read carefully the docum entation supplied with your Access point/router for detailed setup instructio ns. Network cable (RJ45) A network cable (also called RJ45 c able) is used to connect the host computer to the access point (see illustration below); this type of ca ble may also be used to connect peri [...]

80 - Intern et and online security Surf the Net! To surf the Internet , you need a program called an Internet browser. Internet Explorer provides an easy and secure web browsing experie nce. As soon as you have your Internet access installed and you are connected, from Start, click the Internet Explorer tile or the icon located on the desktop and t[...]

Internet and online security - 81 computer in various ways, using up resources or clogging up a network. What is spyware? Spyware refers to generally unwanted programs that are downloaded onto your computer while connected to the Intern et, often without you knowing it. Once it has infected your computer, it can snoop on your browsing activity, col[...]

82 - Intern et and online security would allow it (i.e. a game connecting to a multi-player server or an encyclopaedia making a content update). How to protect your computer Cybercrime prevention can be straight-forward - when armed with a little technical advice and comm on sense, many attacks can be avoided. In general, online criminals are tryin[...]

Internet and online security - 83 The next line of de fense many times is your antivirus software, which monitors all online activities such as email messages and Web browsing and protects an individual fr om viruses, worms, Trojan ho rse and other types of malicious programs. Your antivirus and antispyware software should be configured to up date [...]

84 - Intern et and online security of your online account s, one of the first steps you can t ake is to change your password. Protect your pers onal information Exercise caution when sharing pers onal information such as your name, home address, phone number, a nd email address online. To take advantage of many onlin e servic es, you will inevitabl[...]

Internet and online security - 85 • Pay attention to privacy policies on Web sites and in sof tware. It is important to underst and how an organization might collect and use your personal information before you share it with them. • Guard your email address. S pammers and "phishers" sometimes send millions of messages to ema il addres[...]

86 - Intern et and online security that something bad may have happened and you should take necessary action. Protect your computer with Windows security tools Windows provides a variety o f protection applications. Windows Updates If you have an active Internet connection, Windows can check for important updates for your computer a nd install them[...]

Playing Blu -Ray or DVD movie s - 87 P LAYING B LU -R AY OR DVD MOVIES If your computer is equipped with a Blu-Ray or DVD drive, you can play movies on your computer or on a high-definition TV via the HDMI port. 1. Insert the disc into the drive. 2. After a few seconds, the movie will start playing. 3. If the movie does not start playing, open your[...]