Acer AcerPower SD User Guide

AcerPower Sd

User’s guide

AcerPower Sd User’s guide

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.

Model Number : _________________________________

Serial Number: ___________________________________

Purchase Date: ___________________________________

Place of Purchase: ________________________________

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

Notices

FCC notice

This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This device 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 device does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the device off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

• Increase the separation between the device and receiver

• Connect the device into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected

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

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Notice: Shielded cables

All connections to other computing devices must be made using shielded cables to maintain compliance with FCC regulations.

Notice: Peripheral devices

Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) certified to comply with the Class B limits may be attached to this equipment. Operation with noncertified peripherals is likely to result in interference to radio and TV reception.

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

Use conditions

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

Notice: Canadian users

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Remarque à l’intention des utilisateurs canadiens

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respected toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.

Important safety instructions

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

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

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

3. Do not use this product near water.

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Replace the 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.

13. Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly. Do not disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep them away from children and dispose of used batteries promptly.

14. 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, rated 7A 125V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).

Laser compliance statement

The CD or DVD drive in this computer is a laser product. The CD or DVD drive’s classification label (shown below) is located on the drive.

CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT CAUTION: INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM.

Lithium battery statement

CAUTION

Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Year 2000 compliance statement

The AcerPower Sd computer carries the "Hardware NSTL Tested Year 2000 Compliant" logo, which certifies that this model has been tested by NSTL using the YMark2000 test, and has been found to meet NSTL's standards for Year 2000 hardware compliance.

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For more details, check the Acer Year 2000 Resource Center at http://global.acer.com/service/pcy2000.html

viii

Notices iii

FCC notice iii Important safety instructions v Laser compliance statement vii Lithium battery statement vii Year 2000 compliance statement vii

1 First things first 1

Package contents 3 Taking care of your computer 4

Important tips 4 Cleaning and servicing 4 Asking for technical assistance 5

Accessing the online guide 6

2 System tour 7

Features 9

Performance 9 Multimedia 9

Connectivity 9 Front panel 11 Rear panel 13 Keyboard 15

Function keys 16

Lock keys 16

Windows keys 17

Cursor keys 17

Palm rest 17

Volume control/Mute knob 18

Multimedia keys 18

Internet/Suspend keys 19

Programmable keys 19 Mouse 20 Disk drives 21

Floppy drive 21

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive 22

Hard disk 24

Contents

3 Setting up your computer 25

Arranging a comfortable work area 27

Adjusting your chair 27

Positioning your PC 27 Positioning your monitor 28 Positioning your keyboard 28 Positioning your mouse 28

Connecting peripherals 29

Mouse 29 Keyboard 31 Monitor 33

Power cable 34 Turning on your computer 35 Turning off your computer 37 Connecting options 38

Printer 38

Serial mouse 40

LCD Monitor 41

Network 42

Multimedia devices 43

USB devices 47

4 Upgrading your computer 49

Installation precautions 51

ESD precautions 51

Preinstallation instructions 51

Post-installation instructions 52 Opening your computer 53

To remove the side panel 53

To replace the side panel 55 Internal components 57 System boards 58

Mainboard 58

Audio board 61 Upgrading your computer 62

Installing additional memory 62

Replacing the hard disk 64

Replacing the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive 68

Installing an expansion card 71

5 Software 73

Acrobat Reader 76 Norton AntiVirus 77 NTI CD-Maker (for models with CD-RW) 78 PowerDVD (for models with DVD) 79 Reinstalling programs 80

Recovering your system 80

6 Q & A 81

Index 87

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1 First things first

This chapter describes the contents of your computer package and also provides important tips on how to take care of your computer.

Package contents

Before you unpack your computer, make sure that you have enough space to set up your computer.

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

•AcerPower Sd

• Items contained in the accessory box

• USB or PS/2 keyboard

• USB or PS/2 mouse

• User’s guide

• Other user documentation and third-party software

1 First things first

Taking care of your computer

Please read the important instructions listed in this section. Following these instructions will help you maximize the durability of your computer.

Important tips

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

near sources of heat, such as a radiator.

• Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.

• Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.

• Do not spill water on the computer.

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

• Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.

• Never place the system on uneven surfaces.

• 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 rating 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.

• Check the documentation that came with your software programs

to see if you can select other combinations of resolution and color. These adjustments could make viewing the screen more comfortable.

Cleaning and servicing

To clean your computer and keyboard

1. Turn off the computer and unplug the power cord.

2. Use a soft cloth moistened with water and gently wipe the exterior

of the computer and the keyboard. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

To clean your pointing device

To clean your regular mouse (with rubber ball)

1. Open the circular cover underneath the mouse.

2. Take out the rubber ball and wipe it with a soft, damp cloth.

3. Put the ball back and close the cover.

To clean your optical mouse

For users of an optical mouse, refer to the documentation that came

with your mouse for maintainance instructions.

To clean your monitor

Make sure that you keep your screen clean. For cleaning instructions, refer to the documentation that came with your monitor.

When to contact a service technician

• If you dropped and damaged the computer.

• If liquid has been spilled into the computer.

• If the computer is not operating normally.

Asking for technical assistance

For technical assistance, contact your local dealer or distributor. You may also access the Acer Web site (www.acer.com how and where to contact the service centers available in your area.

) for information on

1 First things first

Accessing the online guide

You may also refer to the AcerPower Sd online guide for information about your computer.

To access the online guide (for Windows XP)

1. On the Windows XP taskbar, click on the Start button, higlight and

select Help and Support Center.

2. On the Help and Support Center home page, double-click the

AcerPower Sd Online icon.

To access the online guide (for Windows 2000)

1. Double-click on the AcerPower Sd Online icon on your Windows

desktop.

2 System tour

This chapter discusses the features and components of your computer.

Features

Here are just a few of your computer’s many features:

Performance

• Intel Pentium® 4 processor

• System memory expandable to a maximum of 2GB using DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) DIMM modules

Note: To capitalize on the system memory capacity mentioned above, you must use 1-GB capacity memory modules which are not yet available in the market. The biggest capacity memory module type currently available is 512-MB which allows a maximum of 1GB.

• Power management function

• 3.5-inch floppy drive

• DVD-ROM, CD-ROM or CD-RW drive

• High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk

Multimedia

• Integrated 256-bit graphics accelerator

• 3-D quality audio system via onboard audio controller

• Audio-in/Line-in, Audio-out/Line-out, Headphone-out, Mic-in, and Game/MIDI interfaces

Note: The system has two microphone-in jacks (front and rear). However, you can not use both of them at the same time. By default, your system enables the microphone-in jack in front and disables the one at the back.

Connectivity

• Two PS/2 interfaces for mouse and keyboard

• One serial and one parallel interfaces

2 System tour

• One VGA port

• Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports (two on the front and two on the rear panel)

• High-speed fax/data PCI modem (optional)

• 10Base-T/100Base-TX network support with remote wake-up function

Front panel

Your computer’s front panel consists of the following:

Label Icon Component

1 CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW tray

2 Stop/Eject button

3 Play/Forward button

4 3.5-inch floppy drive

5 Floppy drive eject button

6 Hard disk activity light-emitting diode (LED)

Label Icon Component

7 LAN activity LED

8Power LED

9Power switch

10 Speaker-out/Line-out port

2 System tour

Microphone-in jack (front)

see note

12 USB ports

13 Floppy drive LED

14 5.25-inch drive bays

15 Volume control button

16 CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW Headphone/Earphone

port

17 CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW emergency eject hole

18 CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW LED

Note: The system has two microphone-in jacks (front and rear). However, you can not use both of them at the same time. By default your system enables the microphone-in jack in front and disables the one at the back.

Rear panel

Your computer’s rear panel consists of the following:

Label Icon Color Component

1Power supply

2 Network port

3 Burgundy Parallel/Printer port

4 Gold Game/MIDI port

5 Expansion slots

6 Pink Microphone-in jack (rear)

Label Icon Color Component

7 Light blue Audio-in/Line-in jack

8 Lime Audio-out/Line-out jack

9 Blue VGA port

2 System tour

10 Teal or

Tur quoi se

11 Black USB ports

12 Purple PS/2 keyboard port

13 Green PS/2 mouse port

14 Voltage selector switch

15 Power cord socket

Serial port

For information on how to connect the peripherals, see “Connecting peripherals” on page 29 and “Connecting options” on page 38.

Keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys that include separate cursor keys, two Windows keys, and twelve function keys.

No. Description

1 Function keys

2Caps lock

3 Windows logo key

4 Application key

5 Cursor keys

6 Palm rest

7 Num lock key

8 Scroll lock key

9 Volume control/Mute knob

10 Multimedia keys

No. Description

11 Internet/Suspend keys

12 Programmable keys

2 System tour

Function keys

The function keys, F1 - F12, lets you perform specific functions, depending on the application that uses them.

Lock keys

The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off to switch between two functions.

Lock key Description

Caps Lock When activated, all alphabetic characters typed

appear in uppercase (same function as pressing Shift + <letter>).

Num Lock When activated, the keypad is set to numeric

mode; i.e., the keys function as a calculator (complete with arithmetic operators such as +, -, * and /).

Scroll Lock When activated, the screen moves one line up

or down when you press the up arrow or down arrow respectively. Take note that Scroll Lock may not work with some applications.

Windows keys

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

Key Description

Windows logo key Start button. Combinations with this key

perform special functions, such as:

• Windows + Tab: Activate the 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 applications context menu (same

function as clicking the right button of the mouse).

Cursor keys

The cursor keys, also called the arrow keys, let you move the cursor around the screen. They serve the same function as the arrow keys on the numeric keypad when the Num Lock is toggled off.

Palm rest

The detachable palm rest provides you a comfortable place to rest your hands while typing.

Volume control/Mute knob

The volume control/mute knob controls the speaker volume. Turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the volume. Press it to toggle between mute and sound.

2 System tour

Multimedia keys

Allow you to conveniently play, pause, stop, step forward, or step back a song or movie using your keyboard.

Icon Key Description

Play/Pause Press to start playing the audio track or

video file. Press again to pause.

Stop Press to stop playing the audio track or

video file.

Forward Press to skip forward to the next track or

video file and start playing.

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