Acer 270 manual

T ravelMate 270 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 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 com puting 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 informa[...]

iv Basic care and tips for using your computer T urning your computer on and off To turn on the computer, simply slide and then release the power switch on the righ t side of your TravelMate. See page 3 for the location of th e power swit ch. To turn the po wer off, do any of the fo llowing: • Use the Windows shutdown command For Windows 2000: Cl[...]

v • 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 display when you close it. • Never place the computer on uneven [...]

vi 3 Use a soft cloth moistened with water . Do not u se 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 refer to &q[...]

Contents First things first iii Your guides iii Basic care and ti ps for using you r computer iv 1 Getting to know your TravelMate 1 A TravelMate tour 3 Front view 3 Left view 4 Right view 5 Rear view 6 Bottom view 8 Features 9 Indicators 11 Using th e keyboar d 12 Special keys 12 Touchpad 20 Touchpad b asics 20 Storage 22 Hard disk 22 Optical driv[...]

viii 3 Troubleshooting my computer 45 Frequently-asked questions 47 Requesting service 50 International Traveler’s Warrant y (ITW) 50 Before you call 50 Appendix A Specifications 53 Appendix B Notices 59 Index 67[...]

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 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 view # Item Description 1 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display), displays computer output. 2 Launch keys Special keys for launching internet browser , email program and [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 4 Left view 5 Click buttons (left, center and right) The left and right butt ons function like the left and right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-way scroll button. 6 Floppy disk drive (or card reader if installed) Reads/writes data from/to the media. 7 Floppy eject button Ejects floppy disk. 8 Spea[...]

5 Note: The positions of the Optical drive indicator , eject button and emergency eject hole may differ depending on the optical drive module installed. Right view 4 Emergency eject slot Ejects the drive tray when the computer is turned off. See page 48 for more details. # Item Description 1 Microphone/Line-i n jack Accepts audio line-in devices(e.[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 6 Rear view 4 PC card slots Accepts two type II or one type III PC ca rds. 5 Modem jack Connects to a phon e line. 6 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-ba sed network. 7 PS/2 port Connects to a PS/2 keyboard or mouse. # Item Description 1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer secur[...]

7 3 External display port Connects to a display devic e (e.g., external monitor , LCD projector). 4 Parallel port Connec ts to a parallel device (e.g., parallel printer). 5 Serial port Connects to a serial device (e.g., serial mouse). 6 S-video Connects to a television or display device with S-video input. 7 IEEE 1394 port Connects to an IEEE 1394 [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 8 Bottom view # Item Description 1 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer coo l. Note : Don’t cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. 2 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack. 3 Battery release latches Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack. 4 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard d[...]

9 Featur es Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features: Performance • Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor-M with 512 KB level 2 cache featuring th e new Enhanc ed Intel® Speed Step™ techn ology or Mobile Intel® Celeron® proces sor with 256KB level 2 cache • Memory expandable up to 1 GB • Internal optical drive • High-c[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 10 Connectivity • High-speed fax/data modem port • Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port • USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports • IEEE 1394 port • Optional Invilink 802. 11b wireless LAN Human-centric design and ergonomics • 4-way scroll button • Sleek, smo oth and stylis h design • Full-sized keyboard • Ergon[...]

11 Indicators The computer has seven easy-to-rea d status icons below the display screen. Icon Function Description Power Lights green when the computer is on and lights orange when the computer is i n Standby mode. Media activity Lights when the hard disk is active. Battery charge Lights green wh en the battery is being charge d. Lights orange whe[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 12 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 whic h you can toggle on an d off. Lock key Description Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic char[...]

13 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 th e keyboard legend, cur sor-control key symbols are not printed on the keys. Desire d access Num lock on Num lock off Number keys on embedded keypad T y[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 14 W indows keys The keyboard has two keys that perform Wind ows-specific functions. Key Description Windows logo key á Start button. Combinations with this key pe rform shortcut functions. Below are a few exam ples: á + T ab (Activates next taskbar button) á + E (Explores My Computer) á + F (Finds Documen t) [...]

15 Hot keys The computer employs hot keys or ke y combinations to acces s most of the computer’s contro ls like screen bright ness, volume output. 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 help Displays help on hot keys. Fn-F2 System [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 16 Fn-F5 Display toggle Switches display output between the display screen, external monitor (if connected) and b oth the display screen and external monitor . Fn-F6 S creen bla nk T urns the display scree n backlight off to save power . Press any key to return. Fn-F7 T ouch pad togg le T urns the inte rnal tou ch[...]

17 The Euro symbol If your ke yboard 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. 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[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 18 5 Click on OK . To type the Euro symbol: 1 Locate the Euro symbol on your keyboard. 2 Open a text editor or word proc essor . 3H o l d Alt Gr and press the Euro symbol. Note : Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to www .microsoft.com/typograp hy/faq/faq12.htm for more informatio[...]

19 E-Mail Detection Click right button at the Launch Manager icon on the taskbar and click on E-Mail Detection. In this dialog box, you have the op tion to enable/ disable mail checking, set the time in terval for mail ch ecking, etc. If you already have an email account, you can fill in Us er Name, Password and POP3 Sever in the di alog box. The P[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 20 T ouchpad The built-in touchpad is a pointing de vice that sen ses movement on its surface. This means the cursor resp onds as you mo ve your f inger on the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmre st provide s optimal comfort and su pport. Note: W hen using an external USB m ouse, you can pr[...]

21 a page up, down, left or right. This bu tton mimics you r cursor pressing on the vertical and horizo ntal scroll ba rs of Windows applications. Note: Keep your fingers d ry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean . The touchpad is sensitive to finger movements. Hence, th e lighter the touch, the better the respons[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 22 Storage This comput er suppli es you with the following media storage: • High-capacity Enhanc ed-IDE hard disk • Optical drive Har d disk The high-capacity hard disk is the answer to your storage needs. This is where your programs and data are stored. Optical drive The optical driv e bay accepts a wide vari[...]

23 Using softwar e Playing DVD movies When the DVD-ROM drive module is in stalled i n the opti cal drive b ay, you can play DVD movies on your c omputer. 1 Eject the DVD tray and insert a DV D movie disc; then close the DVD tray . Important! When you launc h the DVD player for the first time, the program asks you to input the region code. DVD discs[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 24 Audio The computer comes with 16-bit high -fidelity AC’97 ste r eo audio, an d includes a built-i n sensitive micr opho ne and dual stereo speakers. There are audio ports on the right side of the computer. See “Right view” on page 5 for more informati on on connecting external audi o devices. Adjusting th[...]

25 Power management This computer ha s a built-in powe r management unit that monitors system activity. System a ctivity refe rs to any activity involving one or more of the following devices: keyb oard, mouse, floppy drive, hard disk, peripherals connecte d to the serial and pa rallel ports. If no activity is detected for a period of time (called [...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 26 Moving ar ound with your T ravelMate This section gi ves you tips and hints to consider when moving around or traveling with your compute r. 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 co[...]

27 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 Hibernation mode and turned o ff. If the power indicator is off but the s[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 28 • 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 against the top cover can dama ge the screen What to bring with you Unless you already have some item s[...]

29 T raveling with the computer “when you are moving within a larger distance, for instance, from your office building to a client’s office building or trav eling locally” Preparing 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 turn o[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 30 • Power cords that are appropriate for the country to which you are traveling • Spare, fully-c harged batter y packs • Proof of purchase, in case you need to show it to Customs offi cials • International T raveler’ s Warranty passport Special considerations Follow the same special considerations as wh[...]

31 Securing your computer Your computer is a valuable invest ment 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 securit y notch and passwor ds. Using a computer security lock A securi ty keylock n otch loca ted on th e rear pa nel of the computer l e[...]

1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 32 on boot-up and resume from hi bernation for maximum security . • Hard Disk Password protects your data by preventing unauthorized access to yo ur hard disk. Even if the hard disk is removed from the computer and moved to another computer , it cannot be accessed without the Hard Disk Pas sword. Important! Do n[...]

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1 Getting to know your T ravelMate 34[...]

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 .[...]

37 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. Fax/data modem Your computer have a built- in V.90 56Kbps AC’97 Link fax/data modem. W arning! This modem port is not compatible with[...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 38 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. Universal Serial Bus The Universal [...]

39 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 / type III Ca rdBus PC Card slot fo und on the right side of the computer accepts credit-card-sized cards [...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 40 Inserting a PC Card Insert the card into the slot and make the proper co nnection (e.g., network cable), if necessary. See your card manual 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 P[...]

41 Upgrade options Your computer delivers sup erior power and performance. However, some users and the appl ications they use may demand more. This computer allo ws you to upgrad e ke y components when you need increased performance. Note: Contact your authorized dealer if you decide to perform a key component upgrade. Memory upgrade Memory is expa[...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 42 2 Remove the screw from the memory cover (a); then lift up and remove the memory cover (b). 3 Insert the memory module diagonally into the sl ot (a), then gently press it down (b) un til it clicks i nto place. 4 Replace the memory cover an d secure it with the screw . 5 Reinstall the battery pack, and reconnect the AC [...]

43 Using system utilities Launch Manager Launch Manager allows yo u to set the five launch ke ys locate d above the keyboard. See “Launch Keys” on page 18 for the location of the launch key. You can access the Launch Manager by clicking on Start , All Programs , and then Launch Manager to start the application. You can manually switch off t he [...]

2 Customizi ng my computer 44 To activate the BIOS Utility, press F2 during the POST (power-on self- test) while the TravelMate logo is being d isplayed. See your on line guide for more information.[...]

3 T r oubleshooting my computer[...]

This chapter instructs y ou on how to deal with common system problems. 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 y ourself. Contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance. key link: www .acersupport.com[...]

47 Fr equently-asked questions The following is a list of possible situations th at may arise during the use of your computer. Easy answer s and solutions are provided for each one. I opened the display and pr essed the power switch, but computer does not start or boot- up. Look at the Power indicator: • If it is not lit, no power is being app li[...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 48 Image is not full-screen. The computer display has a native resolution of 1 024 x 768 (XGA) for the 14.1”/15.0” or 1400 x 1050 (SXGA+ ) for the 15.0”(select ed models only). If you set the resolution lo wer than this, the screen expands to fill the comp uter display. Right-cl ick on your Windows desktop and [...]

49 cannot eject the optical drive tray . There is a mechanical eject button on the optical drive. Simply insert the tip of a pen or pap ercli p and push to eject the tray. The keyboard does not respond. Try attaching an external keyboard to the USB or PS/2 ports of the computer. If it wo rks, contact your dealer or an au thorized service center as [...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 50 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 peace of mind when traveling. Our worldwide network of service center s are there to give you a helping hand. An ITW passport comes with your comp [...]

51 You are required to provide the following information: Name:________________________________________ Address:______________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___ Telephone number:____________________________ Machine and model type:_______________________ Serial number:_________________________________ Date of pu[...]

3 T roubleshooting my co mputer 52[...]

Appendix A Specifications[...]

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

55 Micropr ocessor • Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor-M with 512 KB level 2 cache featuring th e new Enhanc ed Intel® Speed Step™ techn ology or Mobile Intel® Celeron® proces sor with 256KB level 2 cache Memory • Main memory expandable to 1 GB • Dual 200-pin soDIMM sockets • PC2100 DDR-SDRAM (Double Data Rate-Synchronous Dynamic Ra[...]

Appendix A Specifications 56 • Ergonomically-cent ered touchpad pointing device with 4-way scroll button I/O ports • T wo type II / one type III Ca rdBus PC Card slo ts • One RJ-45 jack (Et hernet 10/100) • One RJ-45 jack (V .90/56Kbps) • One DC-in jack • One parallel port (ECP/EPP) • One serial port (16550-compatible) • One PS/2 po[...]

57 System • ACPI support • DMI 2.0-compliant • Microsoft Wi ndows operati ng system Power • Battery pack • 57Wh Li-Ion battery pack • 3-hour rapid charge/6-hou r charge-in-use • AC adapter • 65-Watt • Auto sensing 100~240V ac , 50~60Hz Options • 128/256/512-MB memor y upgrade modules • Additional Li-Ion battery pack • Additi[...]

Appendix A Specifications 58[...]

Appendix B Notices[...]

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

61 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 designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This device generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not insta[...]

Appendix B Notices 62 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. Modem notic[...]

63 1 Follow all warnings and instruct ions marked on the product. 2 Unplug this produ ct from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do no t use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a d amp cloth for cleaning. 3 Do not use th is product near water . 4 Do not place thi s product on an unstable cart, stand , or table. The product may fall, causing seri[...]

Appendix B Notices 64 f If the produc t exhibits a distinct cha nge in perf ormance, in dicating a need for service. 12 Replace the battery with the same type as the product's battery we recommend. Use of anothe r battery may present a risk of fire or explosion. 13 Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly . Do not disassemble or [...]

65 same or equiv alent type rec ommended by the manufacturer . Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Rec ycle if at all possible. ADV ARSEL ! Lithiumbatteri - Eksplosionsfare ved fejla gtig håndtering. Udskiftning må kun ske med batteri af samme fabrikat og type. Léver det brugte batteri tilbage til leverandøren. ADV ARSEL E[...]

Appendix B Notices 66 A-T ick notice For safety reasons, only connect headsets with a telecommunications compliance label. This includes custo mer equipment previously labelled permitted or certified.[...]

67 Index A AC adapter caring for v audio 24 adjusting the volume 24 troublesh ooting 48 B battery pack caring for v charging indicator 11 BIOS utility 43 brightness hotkeys 16 C caps lock 12 on indicator 11 care AC adapter v battery pack v computer iv CD-ROM ejecting 22 ejecting manually 4 9 troublesh ooting 49 cleaning computer v computer bringing[...]

68 on indicator 11 memory installing 41– 42 upgrading 41 modem 37 N network 38 Notebook Man ager hotkey 15 notice DVD copyright protection 65 num lock 12 on indicator 11 numeric keypad embedded 13 num lock 13 O online services 50 options memory upgrade 41 Optical drive 22 P password 31 types 31 PC Card 39 ejecting 40 inserting 40 ports 37 POST (p[...]

69 Windows keys 14[...]

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