Acer 1640, 1640Z User Manual

Aspire 1640 Series

User's Guide

Aspire 1640 Series User's Guide Original Issue: August 2005

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Record the model number, serial number, purchase date and place of purchase information in the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label affixed to your computer. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial number, model number and purchase information.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

Aspire 1640 Series Notebook PC

Model number: __________________________________

Serial number: ___________________________________

Date of purchase: ________________________________

Place of purchase: ________________________________

Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies' product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.

Disposal instructions

Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment, please recycle.

USA For electronic products containing an LCD/CRT monitor or display: Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycled or disposed of

according to local, state or federal laws. For more information, contact the Electronic Industries Alliance at www.eiae.org information, check www.lamprecycle.org

. For lamp-specific disposal

iii

First things first

We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook PC your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs.

Your guides

To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides:

First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer.

The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you to be more productive, please refer to the AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it:

1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem. 2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Reader. If Adobe Reader is

not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Adobe Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Reader, access the Help and Support menu.

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button below the LCD screen beside the easy-launch buttons. See "Front view" on page 1 for the location of the power button.

To turn the power off, do any of the following:

• Use the Windows shutdown command

Click on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off.

• Use the power button

You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4>.

Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to shut down the computer. If you turn off the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before powering up.

Taking care of your computer

Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.

• Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources

of heat, such as a radiator.

• Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0 ºC (32 ºF) or above

50 ºC (122 ºF).

• Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.

• Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.

• Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.

• Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration.

• Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.

• Never place objects on top of the computer.

• Do not slam the computer display when you close it.

• Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.

Taking care of your AC adapter

Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter:

• Do not connect the adapter to any other device.

• Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it.

Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from foot traffic.

• When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull

on the plug.

• The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed

the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating.

Taking care of your battery pack

Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:

• Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off

before removing or replacing batteries.

• Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children.

• Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack. 2 Disconnect the AC adapter.

3 Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. If either of the following occurs:

• the computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged;

• the computer does not operate normally

please refer to "Frequently asked questions" on page 23.

Caution

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority, which is granted by the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this computer.

Operation conditions

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions for wireless option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option device.

An improper installation or unauthorized use may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Also, any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty.

To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors, and installation outdoors is subject to licensing.

For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com

Disposal instructions iii First things first iv

Your guides iv Basic care and tips for using your computer iv

Turning your computer on and off iv Taking care of your computer v Taking care of your AC adapter v Taking care of your battery pack vi Cleaning and servicing vi

An Aspire tour 1

Front view 1 Closed front view 2 Left view 3 Right view 4 Rear view 4

Base view 5 Specifications 6 Indicators 9 Easy-launch buttons 10 Touchpad 11

Touchpad basics 11 Using the keyboard 13

Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad 13

Windows keys 14

Hotkeys 14

Special keys 16 Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 17 Using a computer security lock 17 Audio 18

Adjusting the volume 18 Using the system utilities 19

Acer eManager 19

Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 20

Launch Manager 21

Norton AntiVirus 22 Frequently asked questions 23

Requesting service 26

International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 26 Before you call 26

Acer Arcade (for selected models) 27

Arcade hotkeys 28

InstantOn Arcade mode 28

Finding and playing content 29

Settings 29

Arcade controls 30

Navigation controls 30 Player controls 30

Virtual keyboard 31 Background mode 31

Cinema 32

Settings 32

Album 33

Editing pictures 33 Slide show settings 33

Video 34

Playing a video file 34 Capturing video (TV models only) 34 Snapshot 34

Editing video 35 Music 35 Make DVDs 35

Authoring CD/DVDs 36

Taking your notebook PC with you 37

Disconnecting from the desktop 37 Moving around 37

Preparing the computer 37

What to bring to meetings 38 Taking the computer home 38

Preparing the computer 38

What to take with you 38

Special considerations 39

Setting up a home office 39 Traveling with the computer 39

Preparing the computer 39

What to take with you 39

Special considerations 40 Traveling internationally with the computer 40

Preparing the computer 40

What to bring with you 40

Special considerations 40

Securing your computer 41

Using a computer security lock 41 Using passwords 41

Entering passwords 42

Setting passwords 42

Expanding through options 43

Connectivity options 43

Fax/data modem 43

Built-in network feature 44

Fast Infrared (FIR) 44

Universal Serial Bus (USB) 45

IEEE 1394 port 45

PC Card slot 46

ExpressCard 48

Installing memory 49

BIOS utility 49

Boot sequence 49 Enable disk-to-disk recovery 50 Password 50

Using software 50

Playing DVD movies 50 Power management 51 Acer eRecovery 51

Create backup 52 Restore from backup 52 Create factory default image CD 52 Re-install bundled software without CD 53 Change password 53

Troubleshooting 55

Troubleshooting tips 55 Error messages 55

Regulations and safety notices 57

ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 57 FCC notice 57 Modem notices 58 Important safety instructions 61 Laser compliance statement 63 LCD pixel statement 63 Macrovision copyright protection notice 63 Radio device regulatory notice 64 General 64 European Union (EU) 64 The FCC RF safety requirement 65 Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio communication devices (RSS-210) 66 Federal Communications Comission Declaration of Conformity 67 Declaration of Conformity for CE Marking 68

Index 69

An Aspire tour

After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new Aspire computer.

Front view

8 7

English

6 5

# Item Description 1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD); displays

2 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording. 3 Keyboard For entering data into your computer. 4 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use

computer output.

the computer.

English

# Item Description 5 Click buttons

(left, center and right)

6 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a

7 Status

indicators

8 Easy-launch

buttons

9 Power button Turns the computer on and off.

The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-way scroll button.

computer mouse. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up to show the

status of the computer's functions and components. Buttons for launching frequently used programs.

See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 10 for more details.

Closed front view

# Icon Item Description 1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo

audio output.

2 Power indicator Lights up when the computer is on.

3 Battery indicator Lights up when the battery is being

charged.

4Bluetooth

communication button/indicator (for selected models)

5 Wireless

communication button/indicator

6 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices

Press to enable/disable the Bluetooth function. Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication (optional).

Press to enable/disable the wireless function. Indicates the status of WLAN communication (optional).

(e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman).

# Icon Item Description 7 Microphone jack Accepts input from external

microphones.

8 Headphones/speakers/

line-out jack

9 USB 2.0 port Connect to USB 2.0 devices

10 Latch Locks and releases the lid.

Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones).

(e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).

Left view

# Item Description 1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending

on the optical drive type. 2 LED indicator Lights up when the optical drive is active. 3 Optical drive

eject button

4Emergency

eject hole

Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive.

Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is turned

off.

English

Right view

# Icon Item Description 1 PC Card slot

eject button

2 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II PC Card.

Ejects the PC Card from the slot.

3Two USB 2.0

ports

4 Ethernet (RJ-45)

port

5 Modem (RJ-11)

port

6 Ventilation slot Enable the computer to stay cool,

Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).

Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network.

Connects to a phone line.

even after prolonged use.

Rear view

# Icon Item Description 1 DC-in jack Connects to an AC adapter.

2 External display

(VGA) port

Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).

# Icon Item Description 3 Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington-compatible

computer security lock.

Base view

6 5

# Item Description 1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured with screws). 2Battery

release latch 3 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack. 4 Battery lock Locks the battery in place. 5 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool.

6Memory

compartment

Releases the battery for removal.

Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. Houses the computer's main memory and Mini PCI card.

English

Specifications

English

Operating system

Platform

Memory

Display

Graphics

Audio

Storage Optical

media drive

Microsoft Microsoft

Processor:

Windows® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2)

Windows® XP Professional (Service Pack 2)

•Intel

Pentium® M processor 730/740/750/760/ 770/780 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60/1.73/1.86/2/2.13/2.26 GHz, 533 MHz FSB)

•Intel

Pentium® M processor 725/725A (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FSB)

•Intel

Celeron® M processor 360/370/380 (1 MB L2 cache, 1.40/1.50/1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FSB)

Chipset: Intel

915GM

256/512 MB or 1 GB of DDR2 533 memory, upgradeable to 2 GB using two soDIMM modules

15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing on dual displays via Acer GridVista

15.4" WXGA color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing on dual displays via Acer GridVista

15" XGA color TFT LCD, supporting 1024 x 768 pixel resolution

16.7 million colors

Intel

915GM integrated 3D graphics, featuring Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 and up to 128 MB of shared memory

Microsoft

DirectX® 9.0 and dual independent display support Simultaneous LCD and CRT display with LCD panel resolution at 70 Hz Up to 2048 x 1536 resolution via non-interlaced CRT display MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability

Audio system with two built-in speakers Sound Blaster Pro

™

and MS Sound compatible Built-in microphone 40/60/80/100 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive

Choice of:

• DVD-Dual double-layer drive

• DVD/CD-RW combo drive

Communication

Size and weight

Power

Special keys and controls

I/O ports

Software

Modem: 56K ITU V.92 with PTT approval; Wake-on-Ring ready LAN: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready

™

WLAN: integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED

™

solution, supporting Acer SignalUp WPAN: integrated Bluetooth

wireless technology

network

364 (W) x 279 (D) x 33.9/38.9 (H) mm (14.33 x 10.98 x 1.33/1.53 inches)

2.91 kg (6.4 lbs) for 15" LCD model

2.94 kg (6.5 lbs) for 15.4" LCD model ACPI 1.0b CPU power management standard: supports

Standby and Hibernation power-saving modes

29.6 W or 65 W Li-ion battery pack

2.5-hour rapid charge; 3.5-hour charge-in-use 65 W AC adapter

88-/89-key keyboard, inverted "T" cursor layout, 2.5 mm (minimum) key travel, international language support

Touchpad with 4-way scroll button 12 function keys, four cursor keys, two Windows

keys, hotkey controls, embedded numeric keypad Four easy-launch buttons: Internet, email, Empowering Key, one user-programmable button

Two front-access LED-buttons: WLAN, Bluetooth

Three USB 2.0 ports PC card slot (one Type II) External display (VGA) port Headphones/speaker/line-out port Microphone jack Line-in jack Ethernet (RJ-45) port Modem (RJ-11) port DC-in jack for AC adapter

Acer Arcade Acer eManager (ePowerManagement, eNetManagement, ePresentation, eRecovery, eSettings) Acer GridVista 2.0 Acer Launch Manager

Norton AntiVirus Adobe® Reader NTI CD-Maker

™

English

Optional items

Environment Temperature:

System compliance

Warranty One-year International Travelers Warranty (ITW)

Note: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The exact configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased.

8-cell Li-ion battery pack 65 W AC adapter 256/512 MB or 1 GB DDR2 533 MHz soDIMM modules External USB floppy disk drive

• Operating: 5 °C to 35 °C

• Non-operating: -20 °C to 65 °C

Humidity (non-condensing):

• Operating: 20% to 80%

• Non-operating: 20% to 80%

Mobile PC 2001 ACPI 1.0b DMI 2.0

Indicators

The computer has three easy-to-read status indicators on the upper-right above the keyboard, and four on the front panel.

The power, battery and wireless communication status indicators are visible even when the LCD display is closed.

Icon Function Description

Caps Lock Lights up when Caps Lock is activated.

Num Lock Lights up when Num Lock is activated.

English

Media activity Indicates when the hard disk or optical drive is

active.

Bluetooth Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication.

WLAN Indicates the status of WLAN communication.

Power Lights up when the computer is on.

Battery Lights up when the battery is being charged.

English

1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging.

2. Fully charged: The light shows green when in AC mode.

Easy-launch buttons

Above the keyboard, located at the upper-right, are four buttons. These buttons are called easy-launch buttons. They are: mail, Web browser, Acer

Empowering Key < > and one user-programmable button.

Press < > to run the Acer eManager. Please see "Acer eManager" on page

19. The mail and Web browser buttons are pre-set to email and Internet programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable buttons, run the Acer Launch Manager. See "Launch Manager" on page 21.

Easy-launch button Default application

Web browser Internet browser (user-programmable)

Mail Email application (user-programmable)

User-programmable

Acer eManager (user-programmable)

Touchpad

The built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger across the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support.

Touchpad basics

The following items show you how to use the touchpad:

English

• Move your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor.

• Press the left (1) and right (4) buttons located beneath the touchpad to

perform selection and execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad is the same as clicking the left button.

• Use the 4-way scroll (3) button to scroll up or down and move left or right

a page. This button mimics your cursor pressing on the right scroll bar of Windows applications.

English

Function Left button (1)

Execute Quickly click

twice.

Select Click once. Tap once.

Drag Click and hold,

then use finger on the touchpad to drag the cursor.

Access context menu

Scroll Click and

Note: When using the touchpad, keep it — and your fingers — dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad's responsiveness.

Right button (4)

Click once.

Main touchpad (2)

Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button).

Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button); rest your finger on the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor.

Center button (3)

hold to move up/ down/left/ right.

Using the keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys.

Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad

The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.

Lock key Description Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are

Num Lock <Fn> + <F11>

Scroll Lock <Fn> + <F12>

in uppercase. When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric

mode. The keys function as a calculator (complete with the arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /). Use this mode when you need to do a lot of numeric data entry. A better solution would be to connect an external keypad.

When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively. Scroll Lock does not work with some applications.

English

The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters located on the upper-right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols are not printed on

the keys.

Desired access Num Lock on Num Lock off Number keys on

embedded keypad Cursor-control keys

on embedded keypad Main keyboard keys Hold <Fn> while typing

Type numbers in a normal manner.

Hold <Shift> while using cursor-control keys.

letters on embedded keypad.

Hold <Fn> while using cursor-control keys.

Type the letters in a normal manner.

English

Windows keys

The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions.

Key Description Windows key Pressed alone, this key has the same effect as clicking on

Application key

the Windows Start button; it launches the Start menu. It can also be used with other keys to provide a variety of functions:

< > + <Tab>: Activates the next Taskbar button.

< > + <E>: Opens the My Computer window.

< > + <F1>: Opens Help and Support Center.

< > + <F>: Opens the Search Results window.

<> + <R>: Opens the Run dialog box.

< > + <M>: Minimizes all windows.

<Shift> + < > + <M>: Undoes the minimize all windows action.

This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse button; it opens the application's context menu.

Hotkeys

The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS utility.

To activate hotkeys, press and hold the <Fn> key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination.

+ 56 hidden pages

Acer 1640, 1640Z User Manual

Disposal instructions

First things first

Your guides

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Contents

An Aspire tour

Front view

Closed front view

Left view

Right view

Rear view

Base view

Specifications

Indicators

Easy-launch buttons

Touchpad

Touchpad basics

Using the keyboard

Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad

Windows keys

Hotkeys