Acer 240P, 250P User Manual

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TravelMate 240P/250P series

User’s guide

TravelMate 240P/250P series User’s guide

Original Issue: June 2003

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revision 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, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

TravelMate 240P/250P series Notebook computer

Model Number : __________________________________

Serial Number: ___________________________________

Purchase Date: ___________________________________

Place of Purchase: ________________________________

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

iii

First things first

We would like to thank you for making the TravelMate series of notebook computers your choice for your mobile computing needs. We hope you will be happy with your TravelMate as much as we enjoyed making it for you.

Your guides

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

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

This User’s guide introduces you to the many ways your computer can help you be more productive. This guide provides clear and concise information about the computer, so read it thoroughly.

If you ever need to print out a copy, this User’s guide is also available in PDF (Portable Document Format). Follow these steps:

1Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate.

2Click on TravelMate User’s guide.

Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on TravelMate User’s guide will run the Acrobat Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, access the Help menu.

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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 switch below the LCD screen beside the Launch keys. See “Front view” on page 3 for the location of the power switch.

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 switch

Note: You can also use the power switch to perform power management functions. See “Power management” on page 30.

•Use the customized functions for power management

You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hot key (Fn-F4). See “Power management” on page 30.

Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power switch 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 attempt to use the “TIPS” as show in the following:

•Do not fold the “TIPS” in the position as shown:

•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 0ºC (32ºF) or above 50ºC (122ºF).

•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.

	v
	• Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration.
	• Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration.	English
	• Never place objects on top of the computer to avoid damaging the	English
	• Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.
	computer.
	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 personal 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 at all possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

1Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.

2Disconnect the AC adapter.

3Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

If any of the following occurs:

	vi
	• The computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged.
English
English	•	The computer does not operate normally.
	•	Liquid has been spilled into the product.

Please refer to "Troubleshooting my computer" on page 61.

First things first	iii
Your guides	iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer	iv

1 Getting to know your TravelMate	1
A TravelMate tour	3
Front view	3
Left view	4
Right view	5
Rear view	6
Bottom view	7
Features	9
Indicators	11
Understanding the icons	12
Using the keyboard	13
Special keys	13
Touchpad	20
Touchpad basics	20
Storage	22
Hard disk	22
Optical drive	22
Floppy drive	24
Audio	25
Adjusting the volume	25
Power management	26
Moving around with your TravelMate	27
Disconnecting from the desktop	27
Moving around	27
Taking the computer home	28
Traveling with the computer	30
Traveling internationally with the computer	30
Securing your computer	32
Using a computer security lock	32

2 Customizing my computer	35
Expanding through options	37
Connectivity options	37
Upgrade options	41
Using system utilities	44
Notebook Manager	44
Launch Manager	44
BIOS Utility	45

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viii Contents

3 Troubleshooting my computer	59
Frequently-asked questions	61
Error messages	65
Requesting service	69
International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW)	69
Before you call	69
Appendix A Specifications	71
Appendix B Notices	77
Index	85

1 Getting to know your

TravelMate

Your TravelMate computer combines highperformance, versatility, power management features and multimedia capabilities with a unique style and ergonomic design. Work with unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power computing partner.

A TravelMate tour

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

Front view

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#	Item	Description

1	Display screen	Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display),
		displays computer output.

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4		1 Getting to know your TravelMate

#	Item	Description

2	Status indicators	LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that turn on
		and off to show the status of the
		computer, its functions and components.

3	Launch Keys	Buttons for launching frequently used
		programs. See“Launch Keys” on page 23
		for more details.

4	Power switch	Turns on the computer power.

5	Palmrest	Comfortable support area for your hands
		when you use the computer.

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

7	Touchpad	Touch-sensitive pointing device which
		functions like a computer mouse.

8	Keyboard	Inputs data into your computer.

9	Ventilation Slot	Enables the computer to stay cool, even
		after prolonged use.

Left view

#	Item	Description

1	PC Card slot	Connects to two Type II 16-bit PC Card
		or 32-bit CardBus PC Card.

#	Item	Description	English
#	Item	Description

2	Eject button	Ejects the PC Card from the slot.

3	Optical drive	Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or
		DVDs depending on the optical drive
		type.

4	Infrared port	Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.,
		infrared printer, IR-aware computer).


5	LED indicator	Lights up when the optical drive is
		active.

6	Emergency eject button	Ejects the optical drive tray when the
		computer is turned off. See page 64
		for more details.

7	Eject button	Ejects the optical drive tray from the
		drive.

8	Speaker	Delivers stereo audio output.

9	Tablet Input Panel Support	A folding support to facilitate writing
	(TIPS)	on the screen.

Right view

#	Item	Description

1	Speaker	Delivers stereo audio output.

2	Floppy activity	LED (light-emitting diode) that turns on and
	indicator	off when the floppy is active.

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6		1 Getting to know your TravelMate

#	Item	Description

3	Floppy drive	Internal diskette drive; accepts 3.5-inch
		diskettes.

4	Floppy disk eject	Push this button to eject the floppy disk.
	button

5	Security keylock	Connects to a Kensington-compatible
		computer security lock.

6	Tablet Input Panel	A folding support to facilitate writing on the
	Support (TIPS)	screen.

Rear view

#	Item	Description

1	Power jack	Connects to an AC adapter.



2	Parallel port	Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel
		printer).







3	External display	Connects to a display device (e.g., external
	port	monitor, LCD projector) and displays up to
		16M colors at 1024x768 resolution.

4	USB 2.0 ports (4)	Connect to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
		devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).

#	Item	Description

5	Network jack	Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based
		network.


6	Modem jack	Connects to a phone line.

7	Speaker/Line-out	Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g.,
	Headphone jack	speakers, headphones).

8	Line-in/Mic-in jack	Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD
		player, stereo walkman).

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8	1 Getting to know your TravelMate

Bottom view

#	Item	Description

1	Battery bay	Houses the computer's battery pack.

2	Battery release	Unlatches the battery to remove the battery
	latch	pack.

3	Memory	Houses the computer's main memory.
	compartment

Using your computer in tablet mode

Your computer is designed for convenience, ergonomic use, and portability. Running the Windows XP Tablet PC edition operating system, your TravelMate utilizes an EMR stylus for pen-based input. Software developed specifically for the computer allows for both handwriting recognition converted to application text, or handwriting captured as rich digital ink for manipulation, editing, and formatting. “Tablet Input Panel Support” (TIPS) located on the back of the display screen is a folding support to facilitate writing on the screen under Windows XP Tablet edition.

Writing in the tablet mode

To write in the table mode, follow the steps below:

1Turn the latch to the right (a) and open the display screen in the direction as shown in the illustration below (b).

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	10	1 Getting to know your TravelMate
	2 Push the display screen in the direction as shown in the illustration
English
English		below until the "TIPS" stands firmly.
		below until the "TIPS" stands firmly.

3Adjust "TIPS" to the angle where you desire. (Suggested angle :125~150 degrees)

4 Begin to write in the tablet mode.

5When you finish writing in the tablet mode, close the display screen and store “TIPS” back to the “TIPS” slot in the illustration below.

English

English

12	1 Getting to know your TravelMate

Warning: “TIPS” is not a handle ! Do NOT use the "TIPS" to lift the computer !

Do NOT store"TIPS" to rear side !

Avoid “TIPS” placing pressure on rear cables !

Features

Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:

Performance

•Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 processor with 512 KB L2 cache or Intel® Celeron® processor with 128 KB L2 cache

•CD, DVD, DVD/CD-RW combo or DVD Rewritable drive

•Built-in floppy drive

•High-capacity Enhanced-IDE hard disk

•High-capacity battery pack

•Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI) power management system

Display

•14.1” Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) supporting pen-based input, with 16M color at 1024x768 XGA (eXtended Graphics Array) resolution

•3D capabilities

•Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support

•Supports other output display devices such as LCD projection panels for large-audience presentations

•"Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and conserves power

•Dual display capability

Multimedia

•16-bit high-fidelity AC’97 stereo audio with 3D sound and wavetable synthesizer

•Built-in dual speakers

•High-speed CD, DVD, DVD/CD-RW combo or DVD Rewritable drive

Connectivity

•High-speed fax/data modem port

•Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port

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14	1 Getting to know your TravelMate

•USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 ports

•802.11a+g/802.11b wireless LAN option

•Bluetooth option

Human-centric design and ergonomics

•All-in-one design (CD, DVD or combo drive, floppy drive, and hard disk)

•Sleek, smooth and stylish design

•Full-sized keyboard

•Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device

Expansion

•Two Type II CardBus PC Card slots

•Upgradeable memory

Indicators

The computer has six easy-to-read status icons below the display screen.

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The Power and Sleep status icons are visible even when you close the display cover so you can see the status of the computer while the cover is closed.

Icon	Function	Description
	Power	Lights when the computer is on.
	Sleep	Lights when the computer enters Standby mode
		and blinks when it enters into or resumes from
		hibernation mode.
	Media Activity	Lights when the floppy drive, hard disk or
		optical drive is active.
	Battery Charge	Lights when the battery is being charged.
	Caps Lock	Lights when Caps Lock is activated.

Num Lock	Lights when Num Lock is activated.

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16	1 Getting to know your TravelMate

Indicators in Cover

When the cover of your computer is closed, 2 easy-to-read icons are shown, indicating which state or feature is enabled or disabled.

Icon Description

Lights up when the computer is on.

Lights when the computer enters Standby mode and blinks when it enters into or resumes from hibernation mode.

Using the keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and twelve function keys.

Special keys

Lock keys

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

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Lock key	Description

Caps Lock	When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in
	uppercase.

Num Lock	When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric
(Fn-F11)	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.

Scroll Lock	When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down
(Fn-F12)	when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively.
	Scroll Lock does not work with some applications.

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18	1 Getting to know your TravelMate

Embedded numeric keypad

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	Type numbers in a normal
embedded keypad	manner.

Cursor-control keys	Hold Shift while using	Hold Fn while using
on embedded	cursor-control keys.	cursor-control keys.
keypad

Main keyboard keys	Hold Fn while typing letters
	on embedded keypad.

Type the letters in a normal manner.

Note: If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the computer, the Num Lock feature automatically shifts from the internal keyboard to the external keyboard or keypad.

Windows keys

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

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Key	Description

Windows logo key	Start button. Combinations with this key perform
	shortcut functions. Below are a few examples:
	+ Tab (Activates next taskbar button)
	+ E (Explores My Computer)
	+ F (Finds Document)
	+ M (Minimizes All)
	Shift +	+ M (Undoes Minimize All)
	+ R (Displays the Run... dialog box)

Application key	Opens a context menu (same as a right-click).

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20	1 Getting to know your TravelMate

Hot keys

The computer employs hot keys or key combinations to access most of the computer’s controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS Utility.

To activate hot keys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hot key combination.



Hot key	Icon	Function	Description

Fn-F1		Hot Key Help	Displays help on hot keys.

Fn-F2		Setup	Accesses the computer’s
			configuration utility.

Fn-F3		Power	Switches the power
		Management	management scheme used by
		Scheme Toggle	the computer (function
			available if supported by
			operating system).

Fn-F4		Sleep	Puts the computer in Sleep
			mode.

Hot key	Icon	Function	Description
Fn-F5		Display Toggle	Switches display output
			between the display screen,
			external monitor (if
			connected) and both the
			display screen and external
			monitor.
Fn-F6		Screen Blank	Turns the display screen
			backlight off to save power.
			Press any key to return.
Fn-F7		Touchpad Toggle	Turns the internal touchpad
			on and off.
Fn-F8		Speaker Toggle	Turns the speakers on and off.
Fn-↑		Volume up	Increases the sound volume.
Fn-↓		Volume down	Decreases the sound volume.
Fn-→		Brightness up	Increases the screen
			brightness.
Fn-←		Brightness down	Decreases the screen
			brightness.
Fn-PgUp		Home	Functions as the “Home” key.
Fn-PgDn		End	Functions as the “End” key.
Alt Gr-		Euro	Types the Euro symbol.
Euro

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