Acer 620 User Manual

TravelMate 620 series

User’s guide

TravelMate 620 series User’s guide Original Issue: September 2001

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 620 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.

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:

1 Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate. 2 Click 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.

iii

A handy Hot key pocket reference card is useful for quick glances at functional key combinations.

An Online guide is your helping hand on-the-go, with easy to access, detailed and linked information about your computer.

To access the online guide: 1 Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate. 2 Click on TravelMate Online guide.

Lastly, there may be a Read me first sheet along with other documents included with your package which contain important reminders and updates. So, please read through it.

For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our Web site (global.acer.com

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on the computer, simply slide and then release the power switch on the right side of your TravelMate. See “Right view” on page 5 for the location of the power switch.

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

• Use the Windows shutdown command

For Windows 2000 and Windows Me:

Click on Start, Shut

Down..., and select Shut down; then click on OK.

- or For Windows XP:

Click on Start, Turn off Computer; then click

Tur n Off .

• Use the power switch

Note: You can also use the power switch to perform power management functions. See Windows help for more information.

• 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 the online guide for

details.

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 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⁄C (32⁄F) or

above 50⁄C (122⁄F).

• 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 and vibration.

• Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.

• Never place objects on top of the computer to avoid damaging 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 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:

1 Power off the computer and remove the battery pack. 2 Disconnect the AC adapter. 3 Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or

aerosol cleaners.

4 To clean the display screen, 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 spilled into the product.

• The computer does not operate normally.

Please refer to "Troubleshooting my computer" on page 57.

First things first iii

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

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 10 Indicators 12 Using the keyboard 14

Special keys 14 Touchpad 22

Touchpad basics 22 Storage 24

Hard disk 24

AcerMedia drive 24

Using software 25 Audio 27

Adjusting the volume 27 Power management 28 Moving around with your TravelMate 29

Disconnecting from the desktop 29

Moving around 29

Taking the computer home 30

Traveling with the computer 32

Traveling internationally with the computer 32 Securing your computer 34

Using a computer security lock 34

Using the Smart Card 34

Using passwords 40

Contents

2 Customizing my computer 43 Expanding through options 45

Connectivity options 45

Upgrade options 50 Using system utilities 53

Notebook Manager 53

Launch Manager 53

BIOS Utility 55

viii

3 Troubleshooting my computer 57 Frequently-asked questions 59 Troubleshooting tips 62 Error messages 63 Requesting service 64

International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW) 64 Before you call 64

Appendix A Specifications 67

Appendix B Notices 73

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

# Item Description

1 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display),

displays computer output.

2 Status indicators LEDs (light-emitting diode) that turn on and

off to show the status of the computer, its functions and components.

3 Launch keys Special keys for launching internet browser,

email program and frequently used programs. See “Launch Keys” on page 20 for more details.

Getting to know your TravelMate4

# Item Description

4 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which

functions like a computer mouse.

5 Click buttons (left,

center and right)

6 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.,

7 Speakers Outputs sound.

8 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands

9 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.

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

infrared printer, IR-aware computer).

when you use the computer.

Left view

# Item Description

1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by

a screw).

2 USB port Connects to Universal Serial Bus devices (e.g.,

3 PC Card eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot.

USB mouse, USB camera).

# Item Description

4 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II 16-bit PC Card or 32-bit

CardBus PC Card.

5 Smart Card eject

button

6 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.

7 Video capture kit

slot

8 Smart Card slot Slot for Smart Card interface with pre-boot

Ejects the Smart Card from the slot.

Accepts the video capture kit option on the left side of the computer.

authentication system.

Right view

# Item Description

1 AcerMedia drive Houses a removable media drive module.

2 AcerMedia indicator Lights up when the AcerMedia drive is active.

3 Eject button Ejects the drive tray.

4 Emergency eject slot Ejects the drive tray when the computer is

turned off. See page 60 for more details.

5 Power switch Turns on the computer power.

Getting to know your TravelMate6

# Item Description

6 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible

computer security lock.

Note: The positions of the AcerMedia indicator, eject button and emergency eject hole may differ depending on the optical drive module installed.

Rear view

# Item Description

1 Power jack Connects to an AC adapter.

2 USB port Connects to Universal Serial Bus devices (e.g.,

USB mouse, USB camera).

3 S-video Connects to a television or display device

with S-video input.

4 External display

port

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

16.7 million colors and up to 1400x1050 resolution.

# Item Description

5 Expansion port Connects to I/O port replicator or EasyPort

expansion devices.

6 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel

printer).

7 Speaker/

Headphone-out jack

8 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD

9 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.

10 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based

11 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.

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

player, stereo walkman).

network.

Getting to know your TravelMate8

Bottom view

# Item Description

1 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool.

Note: Don’t cover or obstruct the opening of the fan.

2 AcerMedia bay

release latch

3 AcerMedia bay Houses an AcerMedia drive module.

4 Personal

identification slot

5 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the

6 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.

7Memory

compartment

Unlatches the AcerMedia drive for removal or swapping.

Insert a business card or similar-sized identification card to personalize your computer.

battery pack.

Houses the computer's main memory.

# Item Description

8 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured

by a screw).

9 Hard disk protector Protects the hard disk from accidental

bumps and vibration.

Getting to know your TravelMate10

Features

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

Performance

• Mobile Intel® Pentium® III Processor-M with 512 KB level 2 cache

featuring the new Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep™ technology

• Memory expandable up to 1 GB

• Internal removable optical drive (AcerMedia bay)

• High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk

• Li-Ion main battery pack

• Power management system with ACPI (Advanced Configuration

Power Interface)

• Smart Card interface with pre-boot authentication system for

added security

Display

• Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) displaying 16-

bit high color up to 1024 x 786 eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) resolution for 13.3” and 14.1” and 1400 x 1050 Super eXtended Graphics Array + (SXGA+) resolution for 15”

• 3D capabilities

• Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support

• S-video for output to a television or display device that supports S-

video input

• "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

• Built-in microphone

• High-speed optical drive (AcerMedia bay)

Connectivity

• High-speed fax/data modem port

• Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port

• Fast infrared wireless communication

• USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports

• IEEE 1394 port

• Optional InviLink 802.11b wireless LAN

Human-centric design and ergonomics

• Internet 4-way scroll button

• Sleek, smooth and stylish design

• Full-sized keyboard

• Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device

Expansion

• One type II CardBus PC Card slot

• Upgradeable memory

• EasyPort port replicator

Getting to know your TravelMate12

Indicators

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

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

Wireless communication

Power Lights when the computer is on.

Sleep Lights when the computer enters Standby

Media activity Lights when the floppy drive, hard disk or

Battery charge Lights when the battery is being charged.

Lights when the Wireless LAN capabilities are enabled.

mode and blinks when it enters into or resumes from hibernation mode.

AcerMedia drive is active.

Icon Function Description

Caps lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated.

Num lock Lights when Num Lock is activated.

Getting to know your TravelMate14

Using the keyboard

The full-sized keyboard includes an embedded numeric 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.

Lock key Description

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

uppercase.

Num Lock (Fn-F11)

Scroll Lock (Fn-F12)

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.

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 embedded keypad

Cursor-control keys on embedded keypad

Main keyboard keys Hold Fn while typing letters

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.

Type numbers in a normal manner.

Hold Shift while using cursor-control keys.

on embedded keypad.

Hold Fn while using cursor-control keys.

Type the letters in a normal manner.

Getting to know your TravelMate16

Windows keys

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

Key Description

Windows logo key



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

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)



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

management scheme toggle

Fn-F4 Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep

Fn-F5 Display toggle Switches display output

Fn-F6 Screen blank Turns the display screen

Switches the power management scheme used by the computer (function available if supported by operating system).

See “Power management” on page 28.

mode. See “Power management” on

page 28.

between the display screen, external monitor (if connected) and both the display screen and external monitor.

backlight off to save power. Press any key to return.

Getting to know your TravelMate18

Hot key Icon Function Description

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 speaker volume.

Fn-↓ Volume down Decreases the speaker

volume.

Fn-→ Brightness up Increases the screen

Fn-

←

Brightness down Decreases the screen

brightness.

The Euro symbol

If your keyboard layout is set to United States-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 United States-International.

To verify the keyboard type in Windows Millennium Edition and Windows 2000, follow the steps below:

1 Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel. 2 Double-click on Keyboard. 3 Click on the Language tab. 4 Verify that the keyboard layout used for "En English (United

States)" is set to United States-International. If not, select and click on Properties; then select United States-

International and click on OK.

5 Click on OK.

To verify the keyboard type in Windows XP, follow the steps below: 1 Click on Start, Control Panel. 2 Double-click on Regional and Language Options. 3 Click on the Language tab and click on Details. 4 Verify that the keyboard layout used for "En English (United

States)" is set to United States-International. If not, select and click on ADD; then select United States-

International and click on OK.

5 Click on OK.

To type the Euro symbol: 1 Locate the Euro symbol on your keyboard. 2 Open a text editor or word processor. 3 Hold Alt Gr and press the Euro symbol.

Note: Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq12.htm more information.

for

Getting to know your TravelMate20

Launch Keys

Located at the top of the keyboard are five buttons. These buttons are called launch keys. They are designated as P1, P2, P3, mail button and Web browser button.

Note: To the left of these five launch keys is the wireless communication button. For more information on this feature, please refer to the wireless communication manual.

Launch key Default application

P1 User-programmable

P2 User-programmable

P3 Multimedia application

Mail Email application. The LED of the mail button will

flash when the user has incoming email.

Web browser Internet browser application

+ 64 hidden pages