Acer 2400, 3210 User Manual

TravelMate 2400/3210 Series

User's Guide

Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated.

All Rights Reserved.

TravelMate 2400/3210 Series User's Guide

Original Issue: May 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.

TravelMate 2400/3210 Series Notebook Computer

Model number: __________________________________

Serial number: ___________________________________

Purchase date: ___________________________________

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.

iii

First things first

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

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.

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:

1Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem.

2Click on AcerSystem User's Guide.

Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem 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 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.

iv

•Use the power button

Note: You can also use the power button to perform power management functions.

•Use the customized functions for power management

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 adaptor

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

•Do not connect the adaptor 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.

v

•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:

1Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack.

2Disconnect the AC adaptor.

3Use 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 22.

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.

Contents

First things first	iii
Your guides	iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer	iii
Turning your computer on and off	iii
Taking care of your computer	iv
Taking care of your AC adaptor	iv
Taking care of your battery pack	v
Cleaning and servicing	v
A TravelMate 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
Frequently asked questions	22
Requesting service	25

International Travelers Warranty (ITW)	25
Before you call	25

Taking your notebook PC with you	27
Disconnecting from the desktop	27
Moving around	27
Preparing the computer	27
What to take to short meetings	28
What to take to long meetings	28
Taking the computer home	28
Preparing the computer	28
What to take with you	29
Special considerations	29
Setting up a home office	29
Traveling with the computer	29
Preparing the computer	29
What to take with you	30
Special considerations	30
Traveling internationally with the computer30
Preparing the computer	30
What to bring with you	30
Special considerations	31
Securing your computer	31
Using a computer security lock	31
Using passwords	31
Entering passwords	32
Setting passwords	32
Expanding through options	33
Connectivity options	33
Fax/data modem	33
Built-in network feature	34
Fast Infrared (on selected models)	34
Universal Serial Bus (USB)	35
IEEE 1394 port	35
PC Card slot	36
BIOS utility	37
Boot sequence	37
Enable disk-to-disk recovery	38
Password	38
Using software	38
Playing DVD movies	38

Power management

39

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

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

English

#	Item	Description
1	Display screen	Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays
		computer output.
2	Power button	Turns the computer on and off.
3	Easy-launch	Buttons for launching frequently used programs.
	buttons	See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 10 for more details.
4	Microphone	Internal microphone for sound recording.

English

2

#	Item	Description
5	Status	Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on and off to
	indicators	show the status of the computer's functions and
		components.
6	Palmrest	Comfortable support area for your hands when you use
		the computer.
7	Click buttons	The left and right buttons function like the left and
	(Left and right)	right mouse buttons.
8	Touchpad	Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a
		computer mouse.
9	Keyboard	For entering data into your computer.

Closed front view

#	Icon	Item	Description
1		Speaker-out/line-out/	Connects to audio line-out devices
		Headphone jack	(e.g., speakers, headphones).
2		Mic-in jack	Accepts inputs from external
			microphone.
3		Speakers	Left and right speakers deliver stereo
			audio output.

4Bluetooth® communication button/indicator

Press to enable/disable Bluetooth function. Lights to indicate the status of Bluetooth communications (option only available for TravelMate 3210).

5	Wireless	Press to enable/disable the wireless
	communication	function. Indicates the status of wireless
	button/indicator	LAN communication.
6	Power indicator	Lights when the computer is on.

3

#	Icon			Item	Description
7				Battery indicator	Lights when the battery is being
					charged.

Left view

English

# Icon					Item	Description
1					External display	Connects to a display device (e.g.,
					port	external monitor, LCD projector).
2					S-video out port	Connects to a television or display
						device with S-video input. (on
						selected models)
3					Network jack	Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/
						1000-based network (depends on
						model).
4					Modem jack	Connects to a phone line.
5					Two USB 2.0 ports	Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB
						mouse, USB camera).
6					IEEE 1394 port	Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.
						(on selected models)
7					PC Card slot	Accepts one Type II PC Card.
8					5-in-1 card reader	Accepts an MS, MS PRO, MMC, SD,
						xD-Picture card
						(on selected models).
						Note: Only one card can operate at
						any given time.
9					Infrared port	Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.,
						infrared printer and IR-aware
						computer) (on selected models).
10					PC Card slot eject	Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
					button

English

4

Right view

#	Icon	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	Ejects the optical drive tray from the
		eject button	drive.
4		Emergency	Ejects the optical drive tray when the
		eject hole	computer is turned off.
5		Ventilation	Enable the computer to stay cool, even
		slots	after prolonged use.
6		Security	Connects to a Kensington-compatible
		keylock	computer security lock.

Rear view

#	Icon Item						Description
1						Battery bay	Houses the computer's battery pack.
2						Power jack	Connects to an AC adaptor.
3						USB 2.0 ports	Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB
							mouse, USB camera).

Base view

5

English

#	Item	Description
1	Battery bay	Houses the computer's battery pack.
2	Battery lock	Locks the battery in place.
3	Cooling fan	Helps keep the computer cool.
		Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan.
4	Memory	Houses the computer's main memory and mini PCI Card.
	compartment
5	Hard disk bay	Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by a screw).
6	Battery release	Releases the battery for removal.
	latch

English

6

Specifications

Operating	Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2)
system	Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional (Service Pack 2)
Platform	TravelMate 3210:
	Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology, featuring:
	• Intel® Pentium® M Processor 730/740/750/760/770 (2
	MB L2 cache, 1.60/1.73/1.86/2/2.13 GHz, 533 MHz FSB)
	• Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60
	GHz, 400 MHz FSB)
	• Intel® 915GM/PM Express chipset
	• Wireless solution: integrated Intel® PRO/Wireless
	2200BG network connection (dual-band 802.11b/g)
	Wi-Fi® CERTIFIED™ solution, supporting Acer
	SignalUp wireless technology
	TravelMate 2400:
	Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60
	GHz, 400 MHz FSB)
	Intel® Celeron® M Processor 350/360/370 or higher (1 MB
	L2 cache, 1.30/1.40/1.50 GHz, 400 MHz FSB)
	Intel® 910GML Express chipset
	Integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi® CERTIFIED™ solution,
	supporting Acer SignalUp wireless technology
System memory	256/512 MB of DDR2 400/533 MHz memory, upgradeable
	to 2 GB using two soDIMM modules (dual-channel
	support)
Display and	14.1" WXGA color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 resolution; 16:10
graphics	viewing ratio, supporting simultaneous multi-window
	viewing on dual displays via Acer GridVista
	16.7 million colors
	Intel® 915GM (TravelMate 3210)/ Intel® 910GML
	(TravelMate 2400) integrated 3D graphics, featuring
	Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 and up to 128 MB
	of VRAM, supporting Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 and dual
	independent display
	ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X700 with 64 MB or higher of
	dedicated VRAM, supporting ATI POWERPLAY™ 5.0, PCI
	Express™, Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 and DualView™
	(TravelMate 3210 only)
	MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability
	S-video/TV-out (NTSC/PAL) support (TravelMate 3210 only)

		7
Storage	40/60/80 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive
subsystem	Optical drive options:
		• DVD-Super Multi double layer (TravelMate 3210)
		• DVD-Dual double layer (TravelMate 2400)
		• DVD/CD-RW combo
	5-in-1 card reader supporting Secure Digital (SD),
	MultiMediaCard (MMC), xD-Picture Card™ (XD), Memory
	Stick® (MS) and Memory Stick PRO™ (MS-Pro)
Dimensions	335 (W) x 240 (D) x 31.9/34.1 (H) mm
and weight	(13.2 x 9.45 x 1.26/1.34 inches)
	2.38 kg (5.25 lbs.)
Power	ACPI 1.0b power management standard: supports Standby
subsystem	and Hibernation power-saving modes
	53.6 W (6-cell) and 80.3 W (9-cell) Li-ion battery packs (for
	TravelMate 3210)
	•	3-hour battery life for models using ATI MOBILITY™
		RADEON® X700 (6-cell battery)
	•	4.5-hours battery life for models using Intel® 915GM
		integrated graphics (6-cell battery)
	44.6 W (6-cell) Li-ion battery pack (for TravelMate 2400)
	•	4-hour battery life
	2.5-hour rapid charge system-off; 3.5-hour charge-in-use
	3-pin 65 W AC adaptor
Input devices	84-/85-key Acer FineTouch™ keyboard
	Touchpad with 4-way scroll button
	Four easy-launch buttons
	Two front-access LED-buttons: WLAN and Bluetooth®
Audio	Audio system with built-in speakers and microphone
	Intel® AC'97 audio support
	Sound Blaster Pro™ and MS-Sound compatible
	S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) support for digital
	speakers
Communication	Modem: 56K ITU V.92 with PTT approval; Wake-on-Ring
	ready
	LAN: 10/100 Mbps (TravelMate 2400) or gigabit
	(TravelMate 3210) Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready

WLAN: integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi® CERTIFIED™ solution (TravelMate 2400) or Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG network

connection (dual-band 802.11b/g) Wi-Fi® CERTIFIED™ solution (TravelMate 3210)

Acer SignalUp wireless technology support WPAN: integrated Bluetooth®

English

English

8

I/O interface	Three USB 2.0 ports
	5-in-1 card reader (MS/MS-PRO/MMC/SD/XD)
	PC Card slot (one Type II)
	IEEE 1394 port (TravelMate 3210 only)
	Fast infrared (FIR) port (TravelMate 3210 only)
	External display (VGA) port
	S-video/TV-out (NTSC/PAL) port (TravelMate 3210 only)
	Headphones/speaker/line-out port
	Microphone/line-in jack
	Ethernet (RJ-45) port
	Modem (RJ-11) port
	DC-in jack for AC adaptor
Security	Kensington lock slot
	BIOS user and supervisor passwords
Software	Acer eManager
	(ePowerManagement/ePresentation/eRecovery/eSettings)
	Acer GridVista
	Acer Launch Manager
	Acer System Recovery CD
	Norton AntiVirus™
	Adobe® Reader®
	CyberLink® PowerDVD™
	NTI CD-Maker™
Options and	512 MB or 1 GB DDR2 533 MHz soDIMM memory modules
accessories	External USB floppy disk drive
	9-cell Li-ion battery pack
	3-pin 65 W AC adaptor
Environment	Temperature:
	• 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%
System	Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX)
compliance	Wi-Fi®
	Mobile PC 2001
	ACPI 1.0b
	DMI 2.0
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.

9

Indicators

The computer has three easy-to-read status indicators on the upper-left 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.
	Media activity	Indicates when the hard disk or optical drive is active.
	Bluetooth	Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication.
	Wireless LAN	Indicates the status of wireless LAN 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.

English

10

Easy-launch buttons

Located at the upper-left, above the keyboard 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 buttons are pre-set to email and Internet programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable keys, run the Acer Launch Manager. See "Launch Manager" on page 21.

Easy-launch button	Default application
Mail	Email application (user-programmable)
Web browser	Internet browser (user-programmable)
	Acer eManager (user-programmable)

P

User-programmable

11

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:

•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

English

12
Function	Left button (1)	Right	Main touchpad (2)	Center
		button (4)		button (3)
Execute	Quickly click		Tap twice (at the same
	twice.		speed as double-clicking
			a mouse button).
Select	Click once.		Tap once.
Drag	Click and hold,		Tap twice (at the same
	then use		speed as double-clicking
	finger on the		a mouse button); rest
	touchpad to		your finger on the
	drag the		touchpad on the second
	cursor.		tap and drag the cursor.
Access		Click once.
context
menu
Scroll				Click and
				hold to move
				up/down/
				left/right.

Note: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad 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.

13

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.

English

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.

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 on	Hold <Shift> while using	Hold <Fn> while using
embedded keypad	cursor-control keys.	cursor-control keys.
Main keyboard keys	Hold <Fn> while typing	Type the letters in a
	letters on embedded keypad.	normal manner.