Acer AcerNote 370C, AcerNote Light Multimedia User Guide

AcerNote Light Multimedia

User’s Manual

Copyright © 1996 by Acer Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

Disclaimer

Acer Incorporated makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any warranties, merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Any Acer Incorporated software described in this manual is sold or licensed “as is”. Should the programs prove defective following their purchase, the buyer (and not Acer Incorporated, its distributor, or its dealer) assumes the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair, and any incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect in the software. Further, Acer Incorporated reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes from time to time in the contents hereof without obligation of Acer Incorporated to notify any person of such revision or changes.

Acer is a registered trademark of Acer Incorporated. Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows and Windows 95 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference.

2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

4. Do not use this product near water.

5. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.

6. Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect it from overheating, these openings must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface. This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.

7. This product should be operated from the type of power indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult your dealer or local power company.

8. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this product where persons will walk on the cord.

9. If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the fuse rating.

10. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

iii

11. Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

12. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

a. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed b. If liquid has been spilled into the product c. If the product has been exposed to rain or water d. If the product does not operate normally when the operating

instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions since improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to

normal condition. e. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged f. If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating

a need for service

13. Replace battery with the same type as the product's battery we recommend. Use of another battery may present a risk of fire or explosion. Refer battery replacement to a qualified serviceman.

14. Warning! Battery may explode if not handled properly. Do not recharge, disassemble or dispose of in fire. Keep away from children and dispose of used battery promptly.

15. Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided in your accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified, type SVT/SJT, rated 6A 125V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).

Canadian Department of Communications

Regulatory Statement

This digital apparatus does not exceed Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n'émet pas de bruits radio-électriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe B prescrites dans le Réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le ministère des Communications du Canada.

FCC Class B Radio Frequency Interference Statement

Note:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

2. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

3. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

4. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

Notice 1:

The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

Notice 2:

Shielded interface cables, if any, must be used in order to comply with the emission limits.

About This Manual

Purpose

This manual discusses the features of the notebook and tells how to use and configure it. This manual, along with the online help, should familiarize you with all aspects of the notebook computer.

Manual Structure

This manual consists of eight chapters and two appendices: Chapter 1, Getting Started, tells you how to get started with the notebook. Chapter 2, System Tour, gives a guided and in-depth “tour” of the notebook

and its features. Chapter 3, Power, discusses issues on battery use and includes information

on the unique power management system. Chapter 4, Options, tells how to connect and install hardware options. Chapter 5, Software, describes how to use certain system applications. Chapter 6, Setup, explains how to configure the system using the BIOS

Setup utility. Chapter 7, Traveling with the Notebook, includes informative and useful tips

on travel. Chapter 8, Troubleshooting, lists the steps you can take to resolve problems

in an easy Q&A format. Appendix A, Specifications, lists the specifications of the notebook. Appendix B, Address and Interrupt Tables, shows the address and interrupt

tables. An index is found after the appendices.

vii

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

C:\setup,

[Enabled], etc.

message displayed

b,e,r, etc

Represent text input by the user, default settings and recommended selections

Denotes actual messages that appear on screen

Represent the actual keys that you have to press on the keyboard

NOTE

Gives bits and pieces of additional information related to the current topic

WARNING

Alerts you if damage may result from doing or not doing specific actions

CAUTION

Gives precautionary measures to avoid possible hardware or software problems

IMPORTANT

Reminds you to take action relevant to the accomplishment of the procedure at hand

TIP

Tells how to complete a procedure with minimum steps through little shortcuts

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Table of Contents

1 Getting Started

1.1 Item Checklist.......................................................................................1-2

1.2 Taking Care of Your Computer..............................................................1-3

1.2.1 Notebook..................................................................................1-3

1.2.2 AC Adapter...............................................................................1-6

1.2.3 Battery Pack.............................................................................1-6

1.2.4 Cleaning and Servicing.............................................................1-7

1.2.5 Diskettes...................................................................................1-7

1.3 Connecting the Notebook......................................................................1-9

1.4 Creating Backup and Startup Diskettes for Windows 95...................... 1-11

1.5 Getting Help Online.............................................................................1-12

2 System Tour

2.1 Features................................................................................................2-2

2.2 Display..................................................................................................2-4

2.3 Indicator Light .......................................................................................2-6

2.4 Keyboard ..............................................................................................2-7

2.4.1 Keyboard Layout and Special Keys ...........................................2-7

2.4.2 Keyboard Ergonomics............................................................. 2-13

2.5 Touchpad............................................................................................2-14

2.6 Storage............................................................................................... 2-16

2.6.1 Hard Disk................................................................................ 2-16

2.6.2 Internal Media ......................................................................... 2-16

2.6.3 PC Card Slots.........................................................................2-18

2.7 Ports...................................................................................................2-20

2.8 Audio .................................................................................................. 2-22

2.9 Securing your Notebook......................................................................2-23

2.9.1 Security Notch........................................................................2-23

2.9.2 Passwords ..............................................................................2-23

3 Power

3.1 Battery Pack .........................................................................................3-2

3.1.1 Battery Pack Characteristics.....................................................3-2

3.1.2 Removing and Installing the Battery Pack .................................3-3

3.1.3 Charging the Battery.................................................................3-4

3.1.4 Checking the Battery Level.......................................................3-5

3.1.5 Optimizing Battery Life .............................................................3-6

3.1.6 Battery-low Warning .................................................................3-7

3.2 Power Management..............................................................................3-9

3.2.1 Power Management Modes ......................................................3-9

3.2.2 Advanced Power Management (APM) .................................... 3-13

4 Options

4.1 External Monitor....................................................................................4-2

4.2 External Keyboard.................................................................................4-3

4.3 External Keypad....................................................................................4-4

4.4 External Pointing Device.......................................................................4-5

4.5 Printer...................................................................................................4-6

4.6 Audio Devices.......................................................................................4-7

4.7 File Transfer Cable ...............................................................................4-8

4.8 Additional Power Packs.........................................................................4-9

4.8.1 Battery Pack.............................................................................4-9

4.8.2 AC Adapter.............................................................................4-10

4.8.3 External Battery Charger ........................................................4-11

4.9 Key Component Upgrades .................................................................. 4-13

4.9.1 Memory Upgrade....................................................................4-13

4.9.2 Hard Disk Drive Upgrade........................................................ 4-14

4.9.3 CPU Upgrade ......................................................................... 4-14

5 Software

5.1 System Software...................................................................................5-2

5.2 Sleep Manager......................................................................................5-3

5.2.1 Accessing the Sleep Manager ...................................................5-3

5.2.2 Sleep Manager Functions .........................................................5-6

5.2.3 Running Sleep Manager ...........................................................5-9

5.2.4 Sleep Manager Troubleshooting Tips......................................5-10

5.2.5 Uninstalling Sleep Manager ...................................................5-11

5.3 Touchpad Driver ................................................................................. 5-13

5.3.1 Configuring the Touchpad ....................................................... 5-13

5.3.2 Swapping Buttons for Left and Right Handed Users................5-13

6 Setup

6.1 When to Use Setup...............................................................................6-2

6.2 Entering Setup......................................................................................6-3

6.3 Basic System Configuration ..................................................................6-5

6.3.1 Date and Time..........................................................................6-5

6.3.2 Floppy Disk Drives....................................................................6-5

6.3.3 Hard Disk Drive ........................................................................6-6

6.3.4 Num Lock After Boot ................................................................6-6

6.3.5 Memory Test ............................................................................6-6

6.4 Advanced System Configuration...........................................................6-7

6.4.1 Power Management Mode........................................................6-7

6.4.2 Display Device..........................................................................6-8

6.4.3 Battery-low Warning Beep ........................................................6-9

6.4.4 Suspend Upon Battery-low........................................................6-9

6.4.5 Modem Ring Wake Up From Standby ......................................6-9

6.4.6 Password Check During Resume..............................................6-9

6.5 System Security..................................................................................6-12

6.5.1 Floppy Disk Drive Control....................................................... 6-13

6.5.2 Hard Disk Drive Control.......................................................... 6-13

6.5.3 System Boot Drive Control .....................................................6-14

6.5.4 Boot From CD-ROM...............................................................6-15

6.5.5 Serial Port Base Address........................................................ 6-15

6.5.6 Parallel Port Base Address ..................................................... 6-16

6.5.7 Parallel Port Operation Mode .................................................. 6-16

6.5.8 Passwords ..............................................................................6-17

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6.6 Load Setup Default Settings ................................................................ 6-18

7 Traveling with the Notebook

7.1 Traveling Preparations..........................................................................7-2

7.2 International Traveler’s Warranty ..........................................................7-3

7.3 Worldwide Support................................................................................7-4

8 Troubleshooting

8.1 Q&A......................................................................................................8-2

8.2 Error Messages.....................................................................................8-6

A Specifications

B Address and Interrupt Tables

B.1 System Memory Map ............................................................................ B-1

B.2 I/O Address Map ................................................................................... B-2

B.3 Interrupt Levels .....................................................................................B-3

B.4 DMA Channels...................................................................................... B-4

Index

xiii

List of Figures

1-1 Write-protecting a 3.5-inch Diskette ......................................................1-8

2-1 Display..................................................................................................2-5

2-2 Indicator Light.......................................................................................2-6

2-3 Keyboard Layout...................................................................................2-7

2-4 Palm Rest...........................................................................................2-13

2-5 Touchpad............................................................................................ 2-14

2-6 Internal Drive...................................................................................... 2-16

2-7 Ports and Connectors..........................................................................2-20

2-8 Built-in Speakers................................................................................. 2-22

4-1 Connecting an External Monitor............................................................4-2

4-2 Connecting an External Keyboard.........................................................4-3

4-3 Connecting an External Keypad............................................................4-4

4-4 Connecting an External Pointing Device ...............................................4-5

4-5 Connecting a Parallel Printer.................................................................4-6

4-6 Connecting Audio Devices....................................................................4-7

4-7 Using the File Transfer Cable................................................................4-8

4-8 External Battery Charger.....................................................................4-11

xiv

List of Tables

2-1 Indicator Status Descriptions .................................................................2-6

2-2 Lock Key Descriptions...........................................................................2-8

2-3 Using the Embedded Keypad................................................................2-9

2-4 Windows 95 Key Descriptions.............................................................2-10

2-5 Hot Key List ........................................................................................2-11

2-6 Touchpad Functions............................................................................2-15

2-7 Port Descriptions.................................................................................2-21

3-2 Course of Action for Battery-low Condition............................................3-8

4-1 Memory Configurations.......................................................................4-13

4-2 Hard Disk List......................................................................................4-14

5-1 Sleep Manager Window Items...............................................................5-5

5-2 Swapped Touchpad Functions ............................................................5-14

6-1 Display Device Settings ........................................................................6-9

6-2 System Status Descriptions.................................................................6-10

6-3 Floppy Disk Drive Control Settings...................................................... 6-13

6-4 Hard Disk Drive Control Settings......................................................... 6-13

6-5 System Boot Drive Control Settings.................................................... 6-14

6-6 CD-ROM Image Descriptions..............................................................6-15

8-1 POST Error Messages..........................................................................8-6

Getting Started

Congratulations on your purchase of the AcerNote Light Multimedia notebook computer. Guaranteed and backed by Acer’s world-class support, you can be sure of top-notch performance with your new AcerNote. This chapter guides you through the first few steps on setting up your notebook computer.

Chapter 1

Getting Started 1-1

1.1 Item Checklist

Carefully unpack the carton and remove the contents. If any of the following items are missing or damaged, contact your dealer immediately.

• Notebook computer

• Accessory box

• AC adapter

• Battery pack

• External microphone

• User’s manual

• Other user documentation

• System utilities

• Third-party software and/or documentation

Check for optional items, if any.

1-2 User’s Manual

1.2 Taking Care of Your Computer

•

Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. This section tells you how to care for the notebook. Also, re-read the important safety instructions at the beginning of this manual.

1.2.1 Notebook

Do not expose the notebook to direct sunlight. Do not place near sources of heat, such as a radiator.

Do not expose to temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF)

above 50ºC (122ºF).

Getting Started 1-3

•

Do not subject the notebook to

•

magnetic fields.

Do not expose the notebook to rain or moisture.

Do not spill water on the notebook.

Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration.

1-4 User’s Manual

•

Do not expose the notebook to

•

dust and dirt.

Never place objects on top of the notebook to avoid damaging the notebook.

Never place the notebook on uneven surfaces.

Getting Started 1-5

1.2.2 AC Adapter

Here are some ways of taking 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.

1.2.3 Battery Pack

Here are some ways of taking 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.

1-6 User’s Manual

1.2.4 Cleaning and Servicing

When cleaning the notebook, follow these steps:

1. Power off the notebook 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.

Contact your dealer or see your service technician if any of the following occurs:

• Notebook has been dropped or the body has been damaged.

• Liquid has been spilled into the product.

• The notebook does not operate normally.

See section 7.3 for contact information.

1.2.5 Diskettes

Following are some tips on diskette management:

• Always make backup copies of diskettes that contain important data or

program files.

• Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields and sources of heat.

• Avoid removing a diskette from a drive when the floppy drive activity

light is on.

Getting Started 1-7

• Write-protect your diskettes to prevent accidental erasure. To do this,

slide the write-protect tab to the write-protect position.

Write-protected

Not write-protected

Figure 1-1 Write-protecting a 3.5-inch Diskette

• When you put a label on a 3.5-inch diskette, make sure that the label is

properly attached (flat on the surface) and within the labelling area (area with slight surface depression) on the diskette. An improperly attached label may cause a diskette to get stuck in the drive when you are inserting or removing it.

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1.3 Connecting the Notebook

After reading through the previous section, you are now ready to experience your new AcerNote.

Connecting the Battery Cover

Slide the battery compartment cover over the battery until both the cover and the battery are firmly attached.

Inserting the Battery Pack

Insert the battery pack into the battery compartment and slide the battery compartment cover in place.

Connecting the AC Adapter

Connect one end of the AC adapter to the DC-in port on the notebook’s rear panel and the other end to a properly grounded power outlet.

Getting Started 1-9

Turning on the Power

Press the power switch to turn on the power.

The POST (Power On Self-Test) routine executes and Windows 95 begins loading.

1-10 User’s Manual

1.4 Creating Backup and Startup Diskettes for Windows 95

Entering User Information

When Windows 95 loads for the first time, enter your user information. Have your Windows 95 serial number ready, found in the Windows 95 documentation package.

Creating Backup and Startup Diskettes

If your Windows 95 package contains a Windows 95 CD-ROM, you do not need to create backup diskettes.

Windows 95 prompts you to create backup and startup diskettes. Prepare approximately thirty (30) 3½-inch 1.44MB diskettes for backing up Windows 95 and label them accordingly. Labels are included with the Windows 95 documentation package.

After you are through labelling the disks, begin the backup process.

Do not neglect creating the Windows 95 startup (system) diskette.

If you do not wish to perform the backup at this time, you can skip through this step during Windows 95 setup. Access the Create System Disk tool when you wish to do so. However, we suggest you create these disks as soon as possible.

Now may be the perfect time to read through the user’s manual and get familiar with the AcerNote Light Multimedia.

Getting Started 1-11

1.5 Getting Help Online

This user’s manual provides clear and concise information about the notebook, so read it thoroughly. To provide you with help when traveling, the notebook has a comprehensive online help.

Accessing Online Help

Follow these steps to access the online documentation:

1. Press the Windows logo button or Click on the Start button.

2. Select Programs.

3. Click on AcerNote Light Multimedia.

4. Select Online Help. The online help is easy to navigate with hypertext and hypergraphics. Clear

illustrations help describe notebook operation as well.

Getting Online

If you are connected to the Internet and have World Wide Web access, visit our home page (http://www.acer.com/) and get the latest information about our products.

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System Tour

This notebook combines high-performance, versatility, power management features and multimedia capabilities in a unique and stylish design case. Work with unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power computing partner.

This chapter gives an in-depth “tour” of the notebook’s many features.

Chapter 2

System Tour 2-1

2.1 Features

The notebook was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of the notebook’s many features:

Performance

• High-end Pentium microprocessor

• 64-bit main memory

• Large LCD display and PCI local bus video with graphics acceleration

• Internal 3.5-inch floppy drive or CD-ROM drive

• High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk

• Lithium-Ion or Nickel Metal-Hydride smart battery pack

• Power management system with zero-volt suspend-to-disk functionality

Multimedia

• 16-bit stereo audio

• Built-in dual speakers

• Ultra-slim, high-speed CD-ROM drive

Some areas or regions may not offer the AcerNote Light Multimedia with a built-in CD-ROM drive.

2-2 User’s Manual

Human-centric Design and Ergonomics

• Lightweight and slim

• Sleek, smooth and stylish design

• Full-sized keyboard

• Wide and curved palm rest

• Centrally-located touchpad pointing device

Expansion

• PC card (formerly PCMCIA) slots (two type II/I or one type III) with ZV

(Zoomed Video) port support

• Upgradeable memory, hard disk and CPU

System Tour 2-3

2.2 Display

The large graphics display offers excellent viewing, display quality and desktop performance graphics. The notebook supports two different display configurations — DualScan STN and TFT active matrix.

Video Performance

PCI local bus video with graphics accelerator and 1MB video RAM boost video performance.

Simultaneous Display

The notebook’s large display and multimedia capabilities are great for giving presentations. If you prefer, you can also connect an external monitor when giving presentations. This notebook supports simultaneous LCD and CRT display. Simultaneous display allows you to control the presentation from your notebook and at the same time face your audience. You can even connect an LCD projection panel for large-audience presentations.

Power Management

The power management system incorporates an “automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and at the same time conserve power. See section 3.2 for more information on power management.

Opening and Closing the Display

To open the display, slide the display lid latch to the left and lift up the lid. Then tilt it to a comfortable viewing position.

The notebook employs a microswitch that turns off the display to conserve power when you close the lid, and turns it back on when you open the lid.

2-4 User’s Manual

Microswitch

Figure 2-1 Display

To close the lid, fold it down gently until the display lid latch clicks into place.

To avoid damaging the display, do not slam it when closing. Do not place any object on top of the notebook when the display is closed.

System Tour 2-5

2.3 Indicator Light

A two-way indicator light is found on the inside and outside of the display. See figure below.

Figure 2-2 Indicator Light

This two-way indicator light allows you to see the notebook status when the display is open or closed. The indicator serves both as a power and batterycharging indicator. See Table 2-1.

Table 2-1 Indicator Status Descriptions

Indicator Light

Indicator Status Power Condition

Green On Charged battery is installed or a power AC adapter

is connected to the notebook.

Red Off Battery is installed and a powered AC adapter is

connected to the notebook and charging the battery (rapid charge mode).

Orange On Battery is installed and a powered AC adapter is

connected to the notebook and charging the battery (charge-in-use mode).

Flashing On Battery is running low on power and no AC adapter

is connected to the notebook.

To find out more about batteries, see Chapter 3.

2-6 User’s Manual

2.4 Keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys that includes an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows 95 keys and twelve function keys.

2.4.1 Keyboard Layout and Special Keys

Keyboard Layout

Figure 2-3 Keyboard Layout

System Tour 2-7

Lock Keys

The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off. See Table 2-2 for the lock key descriptions.

Table 2-2 Lock Key Descriptions

Lock Key Description

@ When the Caps Lock indicator is on, all alphabetic characters

typed are in uppercase.

- [ When the Scroll Lock indicator is on, the screen moves one line up

- ] When the Num Lock indicator is on, the embedded keypad is in

or down when you press w or y respectively. Scroll lock does not work with some applications.

numeric mode. The keys function as a calculator (complete with 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.

2-8 User’s Manual

Embedded Keypad

The embedded keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small, encircled characters located on the upper right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, the cursor-control key symbols are not printed on the keys. Table 2-3 tells how to use the embedded keypad.

Table 2-3 Using the Embedded Keypad

Desired Access Num Lock On Num Lock Off

Number keys on embedded keypad

Cursor-control keys on embedded keypad

Main keyboard keys Hold while typing letters

Type numbers in a normal manner.

Hold j while using cursorcontrol keys.

on embedded keypad.

Hold while using the number keys.

Hold and j while using cursor-control keys.

Type the letters in a normal manner.

If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the notebook, the numlock function only works on the external keyboard or keypad.

System Tour 2-9

Windows 95 Keys

The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows 95-specific functions. See Table 2-4.

Table 2-4 Windows 95 Key Descriptions

Key Description

Windows logo key Start button. Combinations with this key performs special

functions. Below are a few examples:

• Windows + Tab Activate next Taskbar button

• Windows + E Explore My Computer

• Windows + F Find Document

• Windows + M Minimize All

• Shift + Windows + M Undo Minimize All

• Windows + R Display Run dialog box

Application key Opens the application’s context menu (same as right-click).

2-10 User’s Manual

Hot Keys

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

Table 2-5 Hot Key List

Hot Key Function Description

-| Hotkey Escape Exits the hotkey control.

-l Hotkey Help Displays the hotkey list and help.

-m Brightness

Control

Contrast Control

Toggles between brightness control and contrast control.

Press the scale hotkeys ( -x and -z) to increase and decrease the brightness or contrast level.

Notebooks with TFT displays do not show the brightness control icon.

-n Display Toggle Switches display from LCD to CRT to both LCD

-o Battery Gauge Toggles the battery gauge display.

and CRT.

System Tour 2-11

Table 2-5 Hot Key List (continued)

Hot Key Function Description

-p Volume Control Press the scale hotkeys ( -x and -z) to

-q Setup Gains access to BIOS Setup’s Advanced System

-r Suspend/Standby Enters suspend mode if the 0-volt suspend

-x Scale Increase Increases the setting of the current icon.

-z Scale Decrease Decreases the setting of the current icon.

increase and decrease the output level.

Configuration parameters. See section 6.4.

function is installed and enabled; otherwise, the notebook enters standby mode.

Activating and Using Hot Keys

When activating hot keys, press and hold the first key before pressing the other keys in the hot key combination.

Some hot keys pop-up an onscreen icon as shown in Table 2-5. For hot keys with pop-up icons, press the scale hot keys ( -x and -z) to increase and decrease the setting of the current icon.

Exiting Pop-up Icons and Screens

Press hot key escape ( -|) to exit a pop-up icon resulting from a hot key. Press | to exit a screen resulting from a hot key.

2-12 User’s Manual

2.4.2 Keyboard Ergonomics

Located below the keyboard, the wide and curved palm rest gives you a place to rest your hands while you type.

Figure 2-4 Palm Rest

System Tour 2-13

2.5 Touchpad

The built-in touchpad is an PS/2-compatible pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger on the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palm rest provides ample comfort and support.

Figure 2-5 Touchpad

The touchpad works with most mouse drivers, but the bundled touchpad driver supports special functions that work uniquely with the touchpad. See section 5.3 for details.

2-14 User’s Manual

Touchpad Basics

The following items teach you how to use the touchpad:

• Move your finger across the touchpad to move the cursor.

• Press the left and right buttons located on the edge of the touchpad to

do selection and execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad produces similar results. See Table 2-6.

Table 2-6 Touchpad Functions

Function Left Button Right Button Tap

Execution Click twice

quickly Selection Click once Tap once Drag Click and

hold to drag

the cursor

Access Context Menu

Click once - none -

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

Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking the mouse button) and hold finger to the touchpad on the second tap to drag the cursor

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

The touchpad is sensitive to finger movements. Hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping too hard will not increase the touchpad’s responsiveness.

System Tour 2-15

2.6 Storage

High-capacity storage comes in the form of a 2.5-inch Enhanced-IDE hard disk. The notebook also has either an internal 3.5-inch, 1.44MB floppy drive or an internal high-speed CD-ROM drive. PC Card slots are found on the left panel of the notebook.

2.6.1 Hard Disk

The hard disk module can be upgraded when you need more storage space. See section 4.9.2 for details.

2.6.2 Internal Media

The notebook comes with either a floppy drive or CD-ROM drive installed.

Internal Floppy Drive Model

Figure 2-6 Internal Drive

The CD-ROM drive gives you portable multimedia access. An external floppy drive is available for models with built-in CD-ROM drives.

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Internal CD-ROM Drive Model

External Floppy Drive

Follow these steps to use the external floppy drive:

1. Press the power switch to turn off the power.

2. Connect one end of the FDD cable to the floppy drive port and the other end to the external floppy drive connector.

After turning on the power, the notebook automatically senses the external floppy drive.

System Tour 2-17

2.6.3 PC Card Slots

There are two type II/I or one type III PC Card slots found on the left panel of the notebook. These slots accept credit-card-sized cards that enhances the usability and expandability of the notebook.

PC Cards (formerly PCMCIA) are add-on cards for portable computers, giving you expansion possibilities long afforded by desktop PCs. Popular type II cards include flash memory, SRAM, fax/data modem, LAN and SCSI cards. Common type III cards are 1.8-inch ATA drives and cellular modems.

ZV (Zoomed Video) port support allows your system to support hardware MPEG in the form of a ZV PC card.

Refer to your card’s user’s manual for details on how to install and use the card and its functions.

Inserting a Card

Insert the card into the desired slot and make the proper connections (e.g., network cable), if necessary. See your card manual for details.

For type III and ZV cards, insert card into the lower slot.

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Ejecting a Card

Exit the application using the card, then follow these steps:

Pull out the slot eject button of the slot where the card is inserted.

Press the slot eject button to eject the card.

System Tour 2-19

2.7 Ports

Ports allow you to connect peripheral devices to your notebook computer as you would with a desktop PC. The ports are found on the rear panel.

See Chapter 4 on how to connect external devices to the notebook.

1 DC-in Port 6 Serial Port 2 Microphone-in Port 7 Parallel Port 3 Line-in Port 8 External CRT Port 4 Line-out Port 9 PS/2 Port 5 External Floppy Drive Connector

Figure 2-7 Ports and Connectors

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Table 2-7 describes these ports.

Table 2-7 Port Descriptions

# Icon Port Connects to...

1 DC-in Port AC adapter and power outlet

2 Microphone-in Port External 3.5mm minijack

condenser microphone

3 Line-in Port Line-in device (e.g., audio CD

player, stereo walkman)

4 Line-out Port Line-out device

(e.g., speakers, headphones)

5 External Floppy Drive

Connector

6 Serial Port

(UART16650-compatible)

7 Parallel Port

(EPP/ECP-compliant)

8 External CRT port Monitor

PS/2 Port PS/2-compatible device

External floppy drive

Serial device (e.g., serial mouse)

Parallel device (e.g., parallel printer)

(up to 1024x768, 256-colors )

(e.g., PS/2 keyboard, keypad, mouse)

System Tour 2-21

2.8 Audio

Standard notebook configuration includes 16-bit stereo audio and built-in dual speakers. The dual speakers found on both sides of the display hinge direct sound towards you which allows for excellent sound output.

Speakers

Figure 2-8 Built-in Speakers

Besides the built-in speakers, there are audio ports on the rear panel of the notebook. See section 4.6 for more information.

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2.9 Securing your Notebook

Security features include hardware and software locks — a security notch and a two-level password scheme.

2.9.1 Security Notch

A security notch located on the rear panel of the notebook lets you connect a standard key-based computer security lock.

2.9.2 Passwords

Circle or wrap a computer security lock cable around an immovable object such as a table or locked drawer handle. Insert the lock into the notch and turn the key to secure the lock.

A two-level password scheme protects your notebook from unauthorized access. When set, no one can access the notebook without entering the correct password. For information on how to set passwords, see section

6.5.8.

System Tour 2-23

Power

The notebook operates on AC or battery power. This chapter contains the information you need to know to operate the notebook on battery power. It also includes information about the power management system.

Chapter 3

Power 3-1

3.1 Battery Pack

The notebook uses a smart battery pack that gives you longer use between charges.

3.1.1 Battery Pack Characteristics

The battery pack has the following characteristics:

• Employs Current Battery Technology Standards The notebook uses

either a Lithium-Ion or Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH) battery pack. These battery types do not have the memory effect problem of Nickel Cadmium (NiCd). NiMH and especially Li-Ion batteries consistently provide the longest battery life, best-suited for road warriors.

• Onscreen Battery Gauge An onscreen battery gauge allows you to

check the battery charge level.

• Battery-low Warning When the battery charge level becomes low, the

notebook gives off warning beeps and the status indicator flashes at regular intervals. This tells the user that the battery power is critically low. You can correct this situation by recharging the battery pack.

Whenever possible, use the AC adapter. The battery will come in handy when you travel or during a power failure. It is advisable to have an extra fully-charged battery pack available for backup.

Currently, there is no defined standard for measuring battery life. Several factors have made it almost impossible to compare the battery life of different notebooks based on specifications alone. These factors include different implementations of power saving/management systems, applications in use, the user’s “usage pattern”, hard disk capacity and access frequency, LCD size and brightness, system form factor and weight.

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If the system is to be stored for more than two weeks, we suggest that you remove the battery pack. Battery power (from a fully charged battery pack) depletes in roughly ten days with the notebook in standby mode. When power is off, battery power depletes in one month.

Do not expose battery packs to temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF) or above 60ºC (140ºF). This may adversely affect the battery pack.

3.1.2 Removing and Installing the Battery Pack

Removing the Battery Pack

Before removing the battery pack, make sure that you have an AC adapter connected to the notebook; otherwise turn off the notebook.

The following figure illustrates how to remove the battery pack.

Press the battery compartment cover release button and slide out the cover.

Then pull out the battery pack.

Power 3-3

Installing the Battery Pack

The following figure shows how to install the battery pack.

3.1.3 Charging the Battery

To charge the battery, place the battery pack inside the battery compartment and plug the AC adapter into the notebook and an electrical outlet. You can also purchase an optional external battery charger to charge the battery pack (see section 4.8.3 for details).

Charging Modes

Insert the battery pack into the battery compartment and slide in the battery compartment cover.

The adapter has three charging modes:

• Rapid mode

The notebook uses rapid charging when power is turned off and a powered AC adapter is connected to it. In rapid mode, a fully depleted battery gets fully charged in approximately two hours.

• Charge-in-use mode

When the notebook is in use with the AC adapter plugged in, the notebook also charges the battery pack if installed. This mode will take longer to fully charge a battery than rapid mode. In charge-in-use mode, a fully depleted battery gets fully charged in approximately six to eight hours.

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• Trickle mode

When the battery is fully charged, the adapter changes to trickle mode to maintain the battery charge level. This prevents the battery from draining while the notebook is in use.

We suggest that you charge the battery pack before retiring, letting it charge overnight before traveling. This ensures a fully charged battery for use the next day.

3.1.4 Checking the Battery Level

The notebook features battery-low warning signals that are both audible and visible. When the battery pack is low, the notebook emits warning beeps and the battery indicator flashes at regular intervals. Also, you can check the battery charge level using the onscreen battery gauge.

Using the Onscreen Battery Gauge

To access the onscreen battery gauge, press -o. The battery level icon displays onscreen.

The onscreen battery gauge indicates the present battery level.

Power 3-5

3.1.5 Optimizing Battery Life

This section helps you get the most out of battery operation. Optimizing battery life prolongs the charge/recharge cycle and improves recharge efficiency. Follow these suggestions to optimize and maximize battery power:

• Purchase an extra battery pack.

• Use the Sleep Manager utility to reserve hard disk space for the

suspend function. See section 5.2.

• Use the AC adapter whenever possible so that the battery is reserved

for on-the-go computing.

• Keep the battery pack in the notebook powered by the AC adapter.

The constant trickle charge maintains the battery level to eliminate the battery self-discharge effect. The charge-in-use function also charges the battery pack.

• Disable the parallel and serial ports if no devices are connected to

these ports. You can do this through Setup. See sections 6.5.5. and

6.5.6.

• Eject the PCMCIA card from the card slot when not in use, since the

PCMCIA card draws extra power.

• Store the battery pack in a cool, dry place. The recommended storage

temperature for battery packs ranges from 10 to 30 degrees C. The higher the storage temperature, the faster the battery pack selfdischarges.

• The batteries can be recharged about 500 times when used as

directed. Excess recharging decreases battery life.

• Take care of your battery pack and AC adapter. See sections 1.2.2

and 1.2.3 for details.

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3.1.6 Battery-low Warning

You never have to worry about battery power as long as you are using the AC adapter. However, when you operate the notebook on battery power, pay extra attention to the warning beeps and the indicator light on the display panel. The indicator flashes when the battery power is low.

The following signals indicate a battery-low condition:

• The buzzer generates four short beeps every minute, if you enabled

the Battery-low Warning Beep parameter in Setup

• The status indicator flashes at regular intervals until battery power is

depleted

When you receive a battery-low warning, you have around three minutes to save your work. If you do not connect the AC adapter within this period, the notebook enters suspend mode if the Suspend upon Battery-low parameter in Setup is enabled and the following conditions exist:

• There is enough battery power left to save system information onto the

hard disk.

• The reserved disk space for saving these data is larger than the

combined system and video memory size.

Otherwise, the notebook enters standby mode.

Connect the AC adapter or insert a charged battery pack into the notebook as soon as possible. Data is lost when notebook power is cut off during standby mode.

Power 3-7

Table 3-2 lists the recommended course of action when you encounter a battery-low condition.

Table 3-2 Course of Action for Battery-low Condition

Situation Recommended Action

AC adapter and power outlet available

An extra fully-charged battery pack available

AC adapter or power outlet not available

1. Connect the AC adapter to the system.

2. Save all necessary files.

3. Resume work.

4. Power off the notebook if you wish to recharge the battery rapidly.

1. Save all necessary files.

2. Exit the application.

3. Power off the notebook.

4. Replace the battery pack.

5. Power on the notebook and resume work.

1. Save all necessary files.

2. Enter suspend mode.

3. Install the extra battery pack.

4. Resume from suspend mode.

1. Save all necessary files.

2. Exit the application.

3. Power off the notebook.

1. Save all necessary files.

2. Enter suspend mode.

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3.2 Power Management

This notebook has a built-in power management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any activity involving one or more of the following devices: keyboard, mouse, floppy drive, hard disk, peripherals connected to the serial and parallel ports, and video memory. If no activity is detected for a specified period of time (called an inactivity time-out), the system switches to one of the power-saving modes to conserve energy. These power-saving modes are display standby mode, fixed disk standby, and standby/suspend mode.

The Setup utility allows you to specify the inactivity time-out. The power management function may not work when the

cursor is emulated by software such as Chinese system (ETv3.1), Japanese system (DOS/V), Word for Windows, etc.

3.2.1 Power Management Modes

Display Standby Mode

Screen activity is determined by the keyboard, the built-in touchpad, and an external PS/2 pointing device. If these devices are idle for the period specified by the Display Standby Timer, the display shuts off until you press a key or move the touchpad or external mouse.

We strongly recommend you to enable the Display Standby Timer with a shorter time interval to prolong your battery life.

“Automatic Dim” Feature

The notebook has a unique “automatic dim” power saving feature. When the notebook is using AC power and you disconnect the AC adapter from the notebook, the system “decides” whether or not to automatically dim the LCD backlight to save power.

Power 3-9

If the LCD backlight is too bright, the system automatically adjusts it to a manageable level; otherwise, the level stays the same. If you want a brighter picture, you can then adjust the brightness and contrast level using hotkeys ( -m1).

If you reconnect AC power to the system, the system automatically adjusts the LCD backlight to its original level — the brightness and contrast level before disconnecting the AC adapter. If you adjusted the brightness and contrast level after disconnecting AC power, the level stays the same after you reconnect the AC adapter.

Fixed Disk Standby Mode

The hard disk enters standby mode when there are no disk read/write operations within the period of time specified by the Fixed Disk Standby Timer. In the standby state, the power supplied to the hard disk is reduced to a minimum. The hard disk returns to normal once the system accesses it.

Suspend Mode

In suspend mode (also known as zero-volt suspend-to-disk mode), power shuts off. The notebook saves all system information onto the hard disk before it enters suspend mode. Once you turn on the power, the notebook restores this information and resumes where you left off upon leaving suspend mode.

A necessary condition for the notebook to enter suspend mode is that the reserved space for saving system information on the hard disk must be larger than the combined system and video memory size. Under such conditions, the standby/suspend hot key acts as the suspend hot key. See section 5.2 for information on the Sleep Manager utility.

After pressing this key combination, press -x and -z to increase and decrease the current setting. Press - | to close the pop-up.

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In this situation, there are four ways to enter suspend mode:

• Press the standby/suspend hot key

If the notebook beeps but does not enter suspend mode after pressing the standby/suspend hot key, it means the operating system does not allow the notebook to enter the power saving mode.

-r ( )

• Set a value for the System Standby/Suspend Timer in Setup. If the

waiting time specified by this time elapses without any system activity, the system goes into suspend mode

• Enable the Suspend upon Battery-low parameter in Setup. If a battery-

low condition takes place, the notebook enters suspend mode in about five minutes. See section 3.1.6.

• Invoked by the operating system power saving modes

When the notebook enters suspend mode, the whole system does not consume any power. This is why suspend mode is also called zero-volt suspend.

To exit suspend mode, press the power switch ( ).

Do not change any system devices when the notebook is in suspend mode.

If the notebook is connected to a LAN environment or has a current PCMCIA modem connection, it does not resume connection even after the notebook returns to normal operating mode.

Power 3-11

Standby Mode

The notebook consumes very low power in standby mode. Data remain intact in the system memory.

The necessary condition for the notebook to enter standby mode is that the reserved disk space size for saving system and video memory is insufficient so the notebook is unable to enter suspend mode.

In this situation, there are three ways to enter standby mode:

• Press the standby/suspend hot key

If the notebook beeps but does not enter standby mode after pressing the standby/suspend hot key, it means the operating system does not allow the notebook to enter the power saving mode.

-r ( )

• Set a value for the System Standby/Suspend Timer in Setup. If the

waiting time specified by this timer elapses without any system activity, the notebook goes into standby mode.

• Invoked by the operating system power saving modes

The following signals indicate that the notebook is in standby mode:

• The buzzer beeps (when you press the standby/suspend hot key)

• The status indicator ( ) flashes

Unstored data is lost when you turn off the notebook power in standby mode.

3-12 User’s Manual

To leave standby mode and return to normal mode, press the any key. If an incoming PCMCIA modem event occurs and the Modem Ring Wake Up From Standby is enabled, the system returns to normal mode.

If the notebook is connected to a LAN environment or has a current PCMCIA modem connection, it does not resume connection even after the notebook returns to normal operating mode.

3.2.2 Advanced Power Management (APM)

This notebook supports the APM standard designed to further reduce system power consumption. APM is a power-management approach defined jointly by Microsoft and Intel. An increasing number of software supports APM to take advantage of power saving features and allows greater system availability without degrading performance.

DOS

You can use the APM feature under the DOS environment by including the POWER.EXE command in the CONFIG.SYS file. See the MS-DOS manual for instructions on how to edit the CONFIG.SYS file. For more information about APM, type the following at the DOS prompt:

HELP POWER.EXE e

Refer to the DOS user’s guide for details.

Windows 3.x

To enable APM under the Windows environment, run Windows Setup and select MS-DOS System with APM as your computer type in the System Information menu. Refer to the Windows user’s guide for details.

Power 3-13

Windows 95

To enable APM under Windows 95, follow these steps:

1. Select the Start button and click on Settings....

2. Select the Control Panel item.

3. Double-click on the System icon in the Control Panel window.

4. Select the Device Manager tab and double-click on System devices.

5. Double-click on Advanced Power Management support. If the device is not working properly, select the Settings tab and verify

if the check box for enabling power management support is selected.

Refer to the Windows 95 user’s guide for details.

1. If you enable the Power Management Mode parameter in Setup without installing the APM under DOS, Windows or Windows 95, the system time and date do not display the correct settings after the notebook returns to normal operation from standby or suspend mode. To update the time and date, reboot the notebook. Enable APM to avoid this problem.

2. You can not change any power management parameter in the Setup screen after APM is enabled because it is controlled by APM.

Advanced Power Management greatly prolongs battery life. Use APM whenever possible.

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Options

Your notebook offers excellent expansion capabilities with its built-in ports and connectors. This chapter describes how to connect peripherals and hardware options that help you use your notebook computer with ease. When connecting peripherals, read the manual included with the peripheral for operating instructions.

This chapter also includes sections on how to upgrade key components. Key component upgradeability guards your notebook from becoming obsolete.

Chapter 4

Options 4-1

4.1 External Monitor

To show graphical effects on a larger display, open the port cover and connect an external monitor to the CRT port ( ). Read the monitor manual for additional instructions.

Figure 4-1 Connecting an External Monitor

4-2 User’s Manual

4.2 External Keyboard

This notebook has a keyboard with full-sized keys and an embedded keypad. If you feel more comfortable using a desktop keyboard, you can install a PS/2-compatible external keyboard.

To connect an external keyboard, plug the external keyboard into the PS/2 connector (

Figure 4-2 Connecting an External Keyboard

Options 4-3

4.3 External Keypad

You can also use a 17-key numeric keypad for number-sensitive data entry applications. To connect the keypad, plug in the keypad connector to the PS/2 port (

Figure 4-3 Connecting an External Keypad

) at the rear of the notebook.

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4.4 External Pointing Device

This notebook accepts either a serial mouse or PS/2-compatible mouse or similar pointing device. The built-in touchpad works simultaneously with an external PS/2 mouse.

If you use a serial mouse, open the port cover and plug it into the serial port ( ). If you use a PS/2-compatible mouse, plug it into the PS/2 port (

(a) Serial Mouse

(b) PS/2 Mouse

Figure 4-4 Connecting an External Pointing Device

Options 4-5

4.5 Printer

This notebook supports both serial and parallel printers. For a serial printer, plug the printer cable into a serial port ( ). For a parallel printer, open the port cover and plug the printer cable into the parallel port ( ). See your printer manual for operating instructions.

If the printer does not function, enter Setup and see to it that the parallel port is enabled. Refer to section 6.5.5 for assistance.

Figure 4-5 Connecting a Parallel Printer

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4.6 Audio Devices

To connect audio devices, open the mini port cover and plug in an external microphone, a line-in device and amplified speakers or headphones to the microphone-in, line-in and line-out ports, respectively.

Figure 4-6 Connecting Audio Devices

Options 4-7

4.7 File Transfer Cable

You can use the file transfer cable to transfer data between the notebook and other computers. Connect the file transfer cable between the two computers and use your file transfer utility to perform the transfer. See Chapter 5 for details on how to use the software.

Figure 4-7 Using the File Transfer Cable

4-8 User’s Manual

4.8 Additional Power Packs

You can order spare batteries, AC adapter, and an external battery charger.

4.8.1 Battery Pack

Attaching the Battery Compartment Cover

It is good practice to have a spare battery around, especially when you travel. The NiMH and Li-Ion smart batteries, coupled with power management features, supply you with more power on-the-go.

1. Position the battery compartment cover over the battery pack.

2. Using a little force, slide the battery compartment cover over the battery until both the cover and the battery are firmly attached. See figure on the left.

Options 4-9

Detaching the Battery Compartment Cover

4.8.2 AC Adapter

Slightly pull up the battery compartment cover release latch and slide out the cover.

The compact AC adapter charges your battery pack and supplies power to your notebook.

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4.8.3 External Battery Charger

AC Adapter Connector

The external battery charger allows you to fully recharge your NiMH and/or Li-Ion battery packs in a shorter period of time. It also automatically discharges the battery pack before charging for optimum recharge efficiency.

Charge/Discharge Button

Battery Charger

Connector

Discharging LED

Charging LED

Figure 4-8 External Battery Charger

Options 4-11

Using the External Battery Charger

Follow these steps:

1. Plug the AC adapter into a power outlet.

2. Connect the AC adapter to the external battery charger.

3. Attach the battery pack to the battery charge connector.

The charging LED lights up. The external battery charger automatically turns off after fully recharging the battery pack.

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4.9 Key Component Upgrades

The notebook delivers superior power and performance. However, some users and the applications they use may demand more. This notebook allows you to upgrade your key components when you need increased performance.

Contact your authorized dealer if you decide to perform a key component upgrade.

4.9.1 Memory Upgrade

Memory is upgradeable from 8 to 64 MB, employing 8-/16-/32-MB1 64-bit SO DIMMs (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules). The following table lists all possible memory configurations.

Table 4-1 Memory Configurations

Slot 1 Slot 2 Total Memory

8 MB 0 MB 8 MB 0 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 16 MB

16 MB 0 MB 16 MB

0 MB 16 MB 16 MB

16 MB 8 MB 24 MB

8 MB 16 MB 24 MB 16 MB 16 MB 32 MB 32 MB 0 MB 32 MB

0 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 8 MB 40 MB

You can upgrade memory using 32-MB DIMMs when these become available. Consult your dealer.

Options 4-13

Table 4-1 Memory Configurations (continued)

Slot 1 Slot 2 Total Memory

8 MB 32 MB 40 MB 32 MB 16 MB 48 MB 16 MB 32 MB 48 MB 32 MB 32 MB 64 MB

After installing the memory modules, the system automatically detects and reconfigures the total memory size during the POST routines.

4.9.2 Hard Disk Upgrade

You can upgrade your hard disk with a higher capacity drive when you need more storage space. The notebook uses a 12.5mm, 2.5-inch Enhanced-IDE hard disk that is auto-detected or user-defined. The following table shows the available, supported hard disks.

Table 4-2 Hard Disk List

Vendor Model Capacity

Hitachi DK223A-81 810 MB Seagate ST9810AG 810 MB Toshiba MK1301MAV 1.3 GB

Use the blank spaces to record additional hard disks that will be available in the future.

4.9.3 CPU Upgrade

The CPU (central processing unit) of the notebook is upgradeable, allowing you to take advantage of supported, higher-performance CPUs.

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Options 4-15

Software

The notebook comes pre-loaded with software and system utilities. This chapter discusses these system utilities1, their features and functions.

Chapter 5

System utilities may differ according to system configuration.

Software 5-1

5.1 System Software

The notebook comes preloaded with the following software:

• Windows 95

• System utilities

• Suspend-to-disk utility

• Touchpad driver

• Display drivers

• Audio drivers and applications

• Enhanced-IDE driver

• CD-ROM drivers

• Application software

• PC Card slot drivers and applications

• Other third-party application software

The following sections discusses the software and how they work. You can also make use of the online help provided by the software.

Accessing the Applications

To access most of the software applications, click on the Start button and select the application folder. Then click on the application icon to run the selected application.

In some areas, a different operating system may be pre-loaded instead of Windows 95.

The third-party application software list may vary.

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5.2 Sleep Manager

Notebooks usually feature built-in power-saving functions. In addition to the normal standby mode for power-saving, Acer notebooks are also capable of a power management feature called 0-volt suspend to hard disk. When a suspend event occurs, this built-in function saves all the system’s current status onto your hard disk in the form of a file. The system then shuts off the power. When the user resumes (pressing the power switch), the system will restore the data from the hard disk and resume from where you left off upon leaving suspend mode.

Sleep Manager is a utility that reserves hard disk space needed to successfully perform the suspend-to-disk feature. The user can use this utility to create a contiguous area that resides on the hard disk. Once the reserved space is created, the notebook will be capable of the “0-Volt Suspend to Hard Disk” feature. User can also use this utility to remove the reserved space from the disk. In this case, the machine will not be able to enter 0-volt suspend mode.

Sleep Manager is functionally-connected with the Advanced Power Management (APM) system of Microsoft Windows. Sleep Manager uses many advanced APM functions. Sleep Manager is capable of auto-create and auto-recover features. If the system memory size was changed or the reserved space on the hard disk was corrupted, Sleep Manager will reallocate the hard disk space for you automatically.

5.2.1 Accessing the Sleep Manager

There are two ways to bring up the Sleep Manager:

• Taskbar. Double-click on the Sleep Manager status icon if enabled.

• Start menu

1. Click on the Start button.

2. Select Programs.

3. Select 0V Suspend Utilities.

4. Select Sleep Manager.

Software 5-3

The Sleep Manager displays below:

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Table 5-1 Sleep Manager Window Items

Item Description

Buttons Click to access the Sleep Manager functions Current Setting Displays the drive and size of the current reserved space

created by Sleep Manager.

On Board Information Displays the different areas of system memory and their

respective sizes. These system resources need to be stored before the system can enter 0-volt suspend mode, so the system can resume to the previous state successfully.

These system resources are the contents of:

• Onboard memory (DRAM or dynamic memory)

• Video RAM (VRAM or video memory)

• SMRAM (static memory)

• Others

The total size of these system resources shows as the recommended size in the dialog box.

Recommended Size Displays the minimum size of the contiguous space you

need for the 0-volt suspend-to-disk feature. The actual size may be a little bit more due to file system alignment.

Enable Indicator on the Taskbar

When this checkbox is checked, the Sleep Manager status appears on the taskbar.

Double-click on the Sleep Manager status icon on the taskbar to bring up the main program, or simply rest your mouse pointer on the icon to display the current status.

Software 5-5

5.2.2 Sleep Manager Functions

Create

The main purpose of Sleep Manager is to find and reserve a contiguous area on the hard disk. The user can allocate the space themselves by using the ‘Create’ function on the Sleep Manager utility. Once a suspend event occurs, the system will enter the suspend mode. If the user did not create the space or the system DRAM size been changed, Sleep Manager is invoked and begins the process of creating a space for the system.

When you click on the Create button, a dialog box pops up:

You can select OK to automatically create space for the 0-volt suspend feature. Sleep Manager displays the recommend size based on onboard system information. You can also choose Advance>>> to manually set the space settings and size. The advanced screen shows below.

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Sleep Manager automatically checks the system configuration and displays the recommended size. The drive where the space will be created is defined by the system and will be the first available logical drive which has the requested contiguous free disk space on it. The recommended size is the minimum size needed to save the current system status.

If the program cannot find the required space on the hard disk during the space creation process, it shows a message box to inform the user.

Not Enough Space for Allocation

This is a common error message that appears when Sleep Manager is creating the space on the hard disk. There are several different reasons that may cause this error. One of the reasons is that the size of the free disk space on the specific drive is less than the required size. For example, if the onboard memory is 4MB and the VGA memory is 512KB, the total free disk space required will be 4608KB. If the total free disk space is less than 4608KB, the user has to delete some unnecessary files from his hard disk.

Software 5-7

Another possible reason is that the hard disk has enough free space, but this free space exists as small fragments. The free disk space that Sleep Manager requires needs to be contiguous. To solve this problem, the user can use tools such as SpeedDisk (Norton Utilities) or Disk Defragmenter (Windows 95) to compact these free disk spaces. The user can then run Sleep Manager utility again to reserve the space.

Another factor that causes the error is when the user employs disk compression utilities. Sleep Manager can work with most compression software. However, Sleep Manager can only create the space on a host drive. A host drive stores original file information and will not be compressed. The free space on the host drive is usually very small, so the user should use the command provide by these compression software to enlarge the size of the host (uncompressed) drive for Sleep Manager.

Remove

If the user wants to use or take back the reserved space, he or she can use the delete function of Sleep Manager by clicking on the Remove button. The deletion will result in the system not being able to enter 0-volt suspend mode. Instead, the system will only be able to enter standby mode.

Minimize

The user can minimize Sleep Manager by selecting the Minimize button. If the Enable indicator on taskbar box is checked, Sleep Manager will then switch to background by locating itself on the taskbar. You can pop-up the main program of Sleep Manager again by double-clicking whenever needed. If the Enable indicator on taskbar bon is not checked, you have to select the Sleep Manager item from 0-Volt Suspend Utilities menu of Start button.

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Exit

The user can exit Sleep Manager by selecting the Exit button. Sleep Manager will then quit and disable the for capability of auto-adjusting the reserved space size. Disconnecting this feature is NOT recommended.

5.2.3 Running Sleep Manager

Once Sleep Manager is installed on the disk, the system automatically loads this utility every time you start Windows 95. Sleep Manager resides in the background by appearing on the taskbar.

To change the settings of Sleep Manager, simply double-click on the Sleep Manager icon ( )on the taskbar, or run the Sleep Manager program from the 0-Volt Suspend to Disk Utilities in the Programs menu.

The Sleep Manager icon , by default, appears on the taskbar. A checkbox in the Sleep Manager main screen determines whether to enable or disable the icon on the taskbar. When Sleep Manager has not created the space to be used for 0-volt suspend or if APM is not enabled, the exclamation icon will appear. If both Sleep Manager has not created the space to be used for 0-volt suspend and APM is not enabled, the icon appears with a red crossed circle .

Software 5-9

5.2.4 Sleep Manager Troubleshooting Tips

The following are the error messages with their corresponding solutions:

1. This machine is not a model with Acer BIOS. Sleep Manager can only run on a machine with an Acer-compatible BIOS.

Your notebook needs to have a BIOS compatible with the Acer BIOS.

2. This machine does not have a power management unit. You cannot run Sleep Manager without PMU.

Sleep Manager can only work on notebooks installed with a PMU.

3. The APM driver for Windows is not installed. Use Windows Setup to install the APM driver before you run Sleep Manager.

Run Windows Setup and redefine your system as MS-DOS System with APM model. Windows will then install the APM driver for you.

4. Requested disk space is not enough. If the free space is actually greater than the requested free space but

not contiguous, use the Windows 95 defragment utility Disk Defragmenter to compact the hard disk drive space. Then run Sleep Manager again. If you run Sleep Manager under a DoubleSpace environment, make sure the free space on the host drive is larger than the required size for Sleep Manager.

5. The [file name] file cannot be found. Please check the distribution diskette.

The distribution diskette did not contain the file required for the installation.

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6. The [directory name] directory cannot be created. Enter another directory or try another drive.

The directory name that the user specified is not valid. Note that the user can create only one subdirectory at a time.

7. The software has not been successfully installed. You must run Setup again.

Sleep Manager is not completely installed. Try to install again.

5.2.5 Uninstalling Sleep Manager

Uninstalling Sleep Manager will delete all files and all system information for Sleep Manager, it loses the capability of auto-adjusting the reserved space size for the system configuration changes or modifications, though the 0-volt suspend feature still functions

To uninstall Sleep Manager from the Windows, follow these steps:

1. Quit the Sleep Manager if it is still running.

2. Click on the Start button and select the Control Panels folder from Settings.

3. Open the Add/Remove Programs Icon.

4. Select the Sleep Manager for Windows 95 and click the Add/Remove... button.

5. Follow the screen instructions to complete the uninstallation program.

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With Sleep Manager installed and the When Lid is Closed parameter set to [Suspend to Disk], the notebook enters suspend-to-disk mode when you close the display. The notebook also enters this mode when battery is critically low, regardless of the When Lid is Closed parameter setting.

Opening the display returns the notebook to its previous state prior to entering suspend-to-disk mode.

Do not deactivate or uninstall Sleep Manager and do not remove or delete the zero-volt suspend/resume file. Otherwise, the function will not work — the notebook will only enter suspend-to-memory mode and not suspend-to-disk mode.

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5.3 Touchpad Driver

The touchpad works with most mouse drivers, but the touchpad driver supports special functions that work uniquely with the touchpad. The touchpad driver enhances the Mouse dialog box to include these special features.

5.3.1 Configuring the Touchpad

Follow these steps to configure the touchpad:

1. Click on the Start button, then select Settings...

2. Select Control Panel to display the Control Panel Window.

3. Double-click on the Mouse icon and select TouchPad.

You can configure different aspects of the touchpad. Refer to the online help for details.

5.3.2 Swapping Buttons for Left and Right Handed Users

Left-handed users may choose to swap left and right buttons. Swapping the two buttons reverses their functions.

Swapping, however, also causes the touchpad to behave differently for tapping. Tapping now (once or twice) brings up the context menu instead of selecting or executing the desired icon or button. In this case, enable the Corner Taps function. When enabled, tapping on the top right corner of the touchpad selects or executes the desired icon or button.

If Corner Taps is not enabled, tapping anywhere on the touchpad brings up the context menu. See Table 5-2.

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Table 5-2 Swapped Touchpad Functions

Function Left

Button

Execution Click twice

Selection Click once Tap once on the top right corner of the

Drag Click and

Access Context Menu

Click once or twice

Right Button

quickly

hold to drag the cursor

Tap (Corner Taps Enabled)

Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking the mouse button) on the top right corner of the touchpad

touchpad Tap twice (at the same speed as

double-clicking the mouse button) on the top right corner of the touchpad and hold finger to the touchpad on the second tap to drag the cursor

Tap once or twice on the touchpad except on the top right corner

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Setup

Chapter 6

The notebook has a BIOS setup utility that allows you to configure the notebook and its hardware settings. This chapter tells how to use the Setup utility and describes each parameter item in the setup screens.

Setup 6-1

6.1 When to Use Setup

The notebook is already correctly configured for you and you do not need to run Setup. If you make any changes to the notebook or you receive an Equipment Configuration Error message after you turn on the notebook, you need to run Setup. Run Setup also if you want to do any of the following:

• Change the system date, time or speed

• Add or remove serial and parallel devices

• Change the system boot drive or display device

• Set the video display features

• Set the power-saving modes

• Set, change, or remove a system password

The system configuration values reside in the battery-powered CMOS RAM.

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6.2 Entering Setup

Press m during POST to enter Setup. The BIOS Utility main screen displays.

↓↑→←=Move Highlight Bar, ↵=Select, Esc=Exit and Reboot

There are four main menu items:

Setup Utility

Basic System Configuration

Advanced System Configuration

System Security

Load Setup Default Settings

• Basic System Configuration

• Advanced System Configuration

• System Security

• Load Setup Default Settings

Read through the Setup Screen Notes before navigating the Setup screens.

Setup 6-3

Setup Screen Notes

• From the main menu, press w, y, z or x to move from one menu item

to another and press e to enter the selected menu.

• When accessing multi-page sections, press } and { to go through the

pages.

• Parameters displayed in low brightness (grayed-out) are not user-

configurable. The system detects and sets the values for these parameters.

• Press w or y to move from one parameter to another. Press z or x to

change parameter settings. You have to change some settings when you add a component to the notebook.

• Most of the Setup parameters are self-explanatory. Press l for help on

individual parameters.

• When you press | to exit a Setup screen, the following prompt appears:

Do you want to save CMOS data?

[Yes] [No]

Select [Yes] to save the changes you made to the configuration values or [No] to abandon the changes and retain the current values.

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6.3 Basic System Configuration

Basic System Configuration has a one-page screen display illustrated below.

Basic System Configuration Page 1/1

Date ----------------------- [MM/DD/YY] Time ----------------------- [HH:MM:SS] Floppy Disk A -------------- [1.44 MB 3.5-inch] Floppy Disk B -------------- [None] Cylinder Head Sector Hard Disk 0 (516 MB) ------- [Auto] 1050 16 63

Num Lock After Boot -------- [Disabled] Memory Test ---------------- [Enabled]

↓↑=Move Highlight Bar, →←=Change Setting, F1=Help, Esc=Exit

6.3.1 Date and Time

The notebook displays the current date in MM/DD/YY format and the current time in HH:MM:SS format. It uses a 24-hour clock; for example, 6:25 PM displays as 18:25:00.

6.3.2 Floppy Disk Drives

The default setting for Floppy Disk A is [1.44 MB 3.5-inch] and this setting applies to both an internal and an external floppy drive configuration. Floppy Disk B, by default, is set to [None]. Enable this parameter if two floppy drives are connected to the notebook.

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6.3.3 Hard Disk Drive

The default setting for Hard Disk 0 is [Auto]. With this setting, the BIOS automatically detects your drive parameters. You can also opt to key in your drive parameters by setting this parameter to [User]. To determine your drive parameters, look at the data on the label pasted on your hard disk drive (or supplied in vendor documentation) and type in the parameters. Be sure to set the correct drive parameters; otherwise an error message appears when you boot up the notebook. We suggest you set this parameter to [Auto].

6.3.4 Num Lock After Boot

When the Num Lock After Boot parameter is set to [Enabled], the embedded keypad acts as a numeric keypad upon initial power-on or reboot. The default setting is [Disabled].

6.3.5 Memory Test

The notebook always tests main memory for errors each time you turn it on. Select [Disabled] to bypass the memory test and speed up the self-test procedure. The default setting is [Enabled].

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6.4 Advanced System Configuration

The Advanced System Configuration section has a two-page screen display. Besides accessing this screen from POST using m, you can also press -q to access this section of Setup.

Advanced System Configuration Page 1/2

Power Management Mode ------------- [Enabled] Display Standby Timer ---------- [ 1 ] Minute(s) Fixed Disk Standby Timer ------- [ 1 ] Minute(s) System Standby/Suspend Timer --- [ 3 ] Minute(s)

Display Device -------------------- [Auto]

Battery-low Warning Beep ---------- [Enabled] Suspend Upon Battery-low ---------- [Enabled]

Modem Ring Wake Up From Standby --- [Enabled]

Password Check during Resume ------ [Disabled]

↓↑=Move Highlight Bar, →←=Change Setting PgDn/PgUp=Move Screen, F1=Help, Esc=Exit

6.4.1 Power Management Mode

With enabled, all the timers in Setup take effect unless specifically disabled by the user. Select [Disabled] to turn off all the timers. The default setting is [Enabled].

You cannot disable this parameter in Setup if APM is installed under DOS, Windows or Windows 95. To disable APM, type Power Off under DOS, or disable the Power icon in the Windows Control Panel.

Setup 6-7

Acer AcerNote 370C, AcerNote Light Multimedia User Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual