Acer TravelMate 4400 manual

TravelMate 4400 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 computer s your choice fo r meeting y our mobile c omputing 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[...]

iv • Use the power button Note: You can also use the power button to perform power management functions. Se e "Moving aroun d" on page 27 of the AcerSystem User's Guid e . • Use the customized functi ons for power managem ent You can also shut down the comp uter by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn[...]

v • The total ampere ratings of the equipmen t plugged in should not exc eed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of a ll equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating. Taking care of yo ur battery pack Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:[...]

First things first iii Your guides iii Basic care and tips for using your computer iii Turning your compute r on and of f iii Taking care of your computer iv Taking care of your AC adapto r iv Taking care of your b attery pack v Cleaning and ser vicing v A TravelMate tour 1 Front view 1 Closed front view 2 Left view 3 Right view 4 Rear view 4 Base [...]

Taking your notebook PC with you 27 Disconnecting from the desktop 27 Moving around 27 Preparing the co mputer 27 What to take to short meetings 28 What to take to long meetings 28 Taking the computer home 28 Preparing the co mputer 28 What to take with you 29 Special cons iderations 29 Setting up a home office 29 Traveling with the computer 29 Pre[...]

Acer eRecovery 40 Create backup 40 Restore from backup 41 Create factory default image CD 41 Re-install bundled software without CD 41 Change password 42 Troubleshooting 43 Troubleshooting tips 43 Error messages 43 Regulations and safety notices 45 ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 45 FCC notice 45 Modem notices 47 Important safety instructions 50[...]

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 new TravelMate computer . Front view # Item Description 1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays computer output. 2 Power button Turns the computer on and off. 3 Microphone Internal mi[...]

2 English Closed front view 6 Click buttons (left, center and right) The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons; the center bu tton serves as a 4-way scroll button. 7 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequent ly used programs. See "Launch keys" on page 10 for more details. 8 Status indicators Light-Emitting[...]

3 English Left view 7 Power indicator Lights when the computer is on. 8 Latch Locks and releases the lid. # Icon Item Description 1 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. 2 S-video/TV-out port Connects to a television or display device with S- video inpu t (manufacturing option). 3 IEEE 1394 port Connects to I[...]

4 English Right view Rear view # Item Description 1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending o n the optical dri ve type. 2 Optical drive eject button Ejects the op tical drive tray from the drive. # Icon Item Description 1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-com patible computer security lock. 2 Power jack Connects[...]

5 English Base view 8 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use. # Item Description 1 Wirele ss LAN bay Houses the computer's wireless LAN. 2 Battery lock Locks the battery in place. 3 Battery release latch Releases the battery for removal. 4 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack. 5 C ooling fan[...]

6 English Specifications Operating system Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Home Edition Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Professional Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Professional x64 Edition Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Home Edition N Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Professional Edition N Platform AMD Tur ion ™ 64 ML-28/ML-32 processor at 1.6/1.8 GHz or higher with 128 [...]

7 English Dimensions and weight 363 (W) x 278 (D) x 24.0/32.9 (H) mm (14.3 x 10.9 x 0.9/1.3 inches) 3.07 Kg (6.77 lbs.) for 15.4" LCD model Power subsystem ACPI 1.0b power management standard: supports Standby and Hibernation power-saving modes 60 W Li-ion battery pack 3.5-hour battery life 2.5-hour quick-charge; 3.5-hour charg e-in-use 90 W A[...]

8 English Note: The specifications listed above are for reference on ly. The exact config uration of your PC depend s on the model purchased. Software Acer Launch Manager Acer eManager (ePresentation/eRecovery/eSettings) Acer GridVista Acer System Recovery CD Norton AntiVirus ™ Adobe ® Reader ® CyberLink ® PowerDVD ™ NTI CD-Maker ™ Options[...]

9 English Indicators The computer has four 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 Launch keys Located at the upper-right, above th e keyboard are four buttons. These buttons are called launch keys. They a re: mail, Web browser, Acer Empowering Key " " and one user-programmable bu tton. Press " " to run the Acer eManager. Please see "Acer eMana ger" on page 19 . The mail and Web buttons ar[...]

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: Keep your fingers dry and clean wh en using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The tou chpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase th e touchpad's responsiveness. Function Left button (1) Right button (4) Main touch pad (2) Cent[...]

13 English Using the keyboard The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and 12 function 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 small ch[...]

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 De scription <Fn> + <F1> Hotkey help Displays help on hotkeys. <Fn> + <F2> Acer eSettings Launches Acer eSettings in Acer eManager. See "Acer eManager" on page 19 . <Fn> + <F3> Power manageme nt Launches the Power Scheme wind ow. <Fn> + <F4> Sleep Puts the com[...]

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. To type: The Euro symbol 1 Open a text editor or word processor. 2 Either directly press the < Euro> key at the bottom-right of the keyboard, or hold < Alt Gr> and then press the <5> key at the [...]

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 rear o f the computer, lets you connect a [...]

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 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 three main settings: Acer ePresentation, Acer eRecovery and Acer eSettings. To set the " " key, see "Launch[...]

20 English 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 , Display and click on Settings . Select the secondary monitor (2) icon in the d isplay box and the[...]

21 English 3 Enjoy the c onvenienc e of a well- organized desktop. Note: Please ensure that the resolu tion setting of your seco nd monitor is set to the manufa cturer's recommended value. Launch Manager Launch Manager allows you to set the four launch keys located above the keyboard. "Launch keys" on page 10 for the location of the [...]

22 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 and opened the display, but the computer does not start or boot-up. Look at the power indicator: • If it is not lit, no power is being supplied t[...]

23 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 option. • The volume level may be too lo w. In Windows, look at the volume control icon on the taskbar. You can also [...]

24 English • Make sure that the printer cable is connected secu rely to the computer's parallel port or a USB port a nd the corresponding port on the printer. I want to set up my location to use the internal modem. To properly use your commu nication software (e.g. HyperTermin al), you need to set up your location: 1 Click on Start , Setti n[...]

25 English To start the recovery process: 1 Restart the system. 2 While the Acer logo is sho wing, press <Alt> + <F10> at the same time to enter the recovery process. 3 Refer to the on-screen instructio ns to perform system recovery. Important : This fe ature occupies 2 to 3 GB in a hidden partition on your hard drive. Requesting servic[...]

26 English You are required to provide the followin g information: Name: ____________ ___________ ______________ ________ Address: _________ ___________ ___________ ____________ Telephone number: _______ _____________ ___________ __ Machine and model type: ___ ______________ ___________ Serial numbe r: ______________ ___________ ___________ __ Date[...]

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 What to take with you Unless you have some items at home, take the followin g items with you: • AC adaptor and power cord • The printed User's Guide 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 w[...]

30 English What to take with you Take the following items with you: • AC adaptor • Spare, fully-charged battery pack(s) • Additional printer driver files if you plan to u se another printer Special considerations In addition to the guidelines for taking the co mputer home, follow these guidelines to protect your comp uter while traveling: •[...]

31 English Special considerations Follow the same special considerations as when traveling with the computer. In addition, these tips are useful when traveling i nternationally: • When traveling in another coun try, check that the local AC voltage and the AC adaptor power cord specifications are com patible. If not, purchase a power cord that is [...]

32 English • Password on Boot secures your comp uter against unauthorized use. Combine the use of this p assword with password checkpo ints on boot-up and resume from Hibernat ion for maximum security. Important! Do not forget your Supervisor Password! If you forget your password, please get in touc h with your dealer or an authorized service cen[...]

33 English Expanding through options Your notebo ok PC offers yo u a complete mobile comp uting experi ence. 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 network jack on the left hand side of the computer to a network jack or hub on your network. Fast Infrared The computer's Fast Infrared (FIR) port a [...]

35 English Universal Serial Bus (USB) The USB 2.0 port is a high-speed serial bus which allo ws you to connect USB peripherals without taking up precious system resources. IEEE 1394 port The computer's IEEE 1394 port allows you to connect to an IEEE 1394- compatible device like a video camera or dig ital camera. See your video or dig ital came[...]

36 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[...]

37 English Installing memory Follow these steps to install memory: 1 Turn off the computer, unplug the AC adaptor (if connected) and rem ove 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,[...]

38 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[...]

39 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[...]

40 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 sy stem con figuration to hard drive, 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 witho[...]

41 English Restore from backup You can restore backups previously created (as stated in the Create backup section) from hard drive, 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 Recover[...]

42 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[...]

43 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[...]

44 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.[...]

45 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[...]

46 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[...]

47 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[...]

48 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[...]

49 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[...]

50 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[...]

51 English English e If the produc t has been drop ped or the case ha s been damage d. f If the product e xhibits a di stinct chan ge in perf ormance, in dicating 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.[...]

52 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[...]

53 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 [...]

54 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[...]

55 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 t[...]

56 English Federal Communications Comission Declaration of Conformity 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 ac cept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. T[...]

57 English 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 st andards possible, and all the necessary steps have been taken a[...]

58 English Index A AC adapter caring for iv audio 18 adjusting the volume 18 troublesh ooting 23 B battery pack caring for v BIOS utility 37 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 23 troublesh ooting 23 cleaning computer v computer bringing to meetings 2[...]

59 English N network 34 Notebook Man ager hotkey 15 num lock 13 on indicator 9 numeric keypad embedded 13 P password 31 types 31 PC Card 36 ejecting 36 inserting 36 ports 33 printer troublesh ooting 23 problems 22 CD-ROM 23 display 22 keyboard 23 printer 23 startup 22 troublesh ooting 43 Q questions setting location for modem use 24 S safety CD or [...]