Acer AcerSystem User Guide

AcerSystem

User Guide

VT001

AcerSystem User Guide Original Issue: 04 / 2009

AcerSystem Desktop Computer

Model number: __________________________________

Serial number: ___________________________________

Purchase date: ___________________________________

Place of purchase: ________________________________

Visit registration.acer.com and discover the benefits of being an Acer customer.

Information for your safety and comfort

Safety instructions

Read these instructions carefully. Keep this document for future reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

Turning the product off before cleaning

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

Warnings

• Do not use this product near water.

• Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand or table. If the product

falls, it could be seriously damaged.

• Slots and openings 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.

• 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 onto or into the product.

• To avoid damage of internal components and to prevent battery leakage,

do not place the product on a vibrating surface.

iii

Using electrical power

• 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.

• Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this

product where people will walk on the cord.

• 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.

• Do not overload a power outlet, strip or receptacle by plugging in too

many devices. The overall system load must not exceed 80% of the branch

circuit rating. If power strips are used, the load should not exceed 80% of the power strip's input rating.

• This product's AC adapter is equipped with a three-wire grounded plug.

The plug only fits in a grounded power outlet. Make sure the power outlet is properly grounded before inserting the AC adapter plug. Do not insert the plug into a non-grounded power outlet. Contact your electrician for details.

Warning! The grounding pin is a safety feature. Using a power outlet that is not properly grounded may result in electric shock and/or injury.

Note: The grounding pin also provides good protection from unexpected noise produced by other nearby electrical devices that may interfere with the performance of this product.

• Use the product only with the supplied power supply cord set. If you need

to replace the power cord set, make sure that the new power cord meets the following requirements: detachable type, UL listed/CSA certified, type SPT-2, rated 7 A 125 V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent, 4.6 meters (15 feet) maximum length.

Product servicing

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.

Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel when:

• the power cord or plug is damaged, cut or frayed

• liquid was spilled into the product

• the product was exposed to rain or water

• the product has been dropped or the case has been damaged

• the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need

for service

• the product does not operate normally after following the operating

instructions

Note: 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.

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

Telephone line safety

• Disconnect all telephone lines from the equipment when not in use and/or

before servicing.

• To avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning, do not connect

the telephone line to this equipment during lightning or thunderstorms.

Disposal instructions

Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment, please recycle. For more information on the Waste from Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) regulations, visit www.acer-group.com/public/Sustainability/sustainability01.htm.

Mercury advisory

For projectors or electronic products containing an LCD/CRT monitor or display: Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycled or disposed of according to local, state or federal laws. For more information, contact the Electronic Industries Alliance at www.eiae.org. For lamp-specific disposal information, check www.lamprecycle.org.

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR qualified products save you money by reducing energy cost and protecting the environment without sacrificing features or performance. Acer is proud to offer our customers products with the ENERGY STAR mark.

What is ENERGY STAR?

Products that are ENERGY STAR qualified use less energy and prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Acer is committed to offer products and services worldwide that help customers save money, conserve energy and improve the quality of our environment. The more energy we can save through higher energy efficiency, the more we reduce greenhouse gases and the risks of climate change. More information refers to www.energystar.gov or www.energystar.gov/powermangement.

Note: The statement above is applicable only to Acer system with an ENERGY STAR sticker.

Acer ENERGY STAR qualified products:

• Produce less heat and reduce cooling loads, and warmer climates.

• Automatically go into "display sleep" and "computer sleep" mode

after 15 and 30 minute of inactivity respectively.

• Wake the computer from sleep mode by pushing keyboard or moving

mouse.

• Computers will save more than 80% energy at "sleep" mode.

ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are registered U.S. marks

Tips and information for comfortable use

Computer users may complain of eyestrain and headaches after prolonged use. Users are also at risk of physical injury after long hours of working in front of a computer. Long work periods, bad posture, poor work habits, stress, inadequate working conditions, personal health and other factors greatly increase the risk of physical injury.

Incorrect computer usage may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tenosynovitis or other musculoskeletal disorders. The following symptoms may appear in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck or back:

• numbness, or a burning or tingling sensation

• aching, soreness or tenderness

• pain, swelling or throbbing

• stiffness or tightness

• coldness or weakness

If you have these symptoms, or any other recurring or persistent discomfort and/or pain related to computer use, consult a physician immediately and inform your company's health and safety department.

The following section provides tips for more comfortable computer use.

Finding your comfort zone

Find your comfort zone by adjusting the viewing angle of the monitor, using a footrest, or raising your sitting height to achieve maximum comfort. Observe the following tips:

• refrain from staying too long in one fixed posture

• avoid slouching forward and/or leaning backward

• stand up and walk around regularly to remove the strain on your leg

muscles

• take short rests to relax your neck and shoulders

• avoid tensing your muscles or shrugging your shoulders

• install the external display, keyboard and mouse properly and within

comfortable reach

• if you view your monitor more than your documents, place the display at

the center of your desk to minimize neck strain

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Taking care of your vision

Long viewing hours, wearing incorrect glasses or contact lenses, glare, excessive room lighting, poorly focused screens, very small typefaces and low-contrast displays could stress your eyes. The following sections provide suggestions on how to reduce eyestrain.

Eyes

• Rest your eyes frequently.

• Give your eyes regular breaks by looking away from the monitor and

focusing on a distant point.

• Blink frequently to keep your eyes from drying out.

Display

• Keep your display clean.

• Keep your head at a higher level than the top edge of the display so your

eyes point downward when looking at the middle of the display.

• Adjust the display brightness and/or contrast to a comfortable level for

enhanced text readability and graphics clarity.

• Eliminate glare and reflections by:

• placing your display in such a way that the side faces the window or

any light source

• minimizing room light by using drapes, shades or blinds

• using a task light

• changing the display's viewing angle

• using a glare-reduction filter

• using a display visor, such as a piece of cardboard extended from the

display's top front edge

• Avoid adjusting your display to an awkward viewing angle.

• Avoid looking at bright light sources, such as open windows, for extended

periods of time.

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Developing good work habits

Develop the following work habits to make your computer use more relaxing and productive:

• Take short breaks regularly and often.

• Perform some stretching exercises.

• Breathe fresh air as often as possible.

• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body.

Warning! We do not recommend using the computer on a couch or bed. If this is unavoidable, work for only short periods, take breaks regularly, and do some stretching exercises.

Information for your safety and comfort iii

Safety instructions iii Disposal instructions v Tips and information for comfortable use vi

1 System tour 1

Front panel 2 Rear panel 2 Optical drive 3

Taking care of your optical discs 4

2 Setting up your computer 5

Arranging a comfortable work area 6

Positioning your monitor 6 Positioning your keyboard 6 Positioning your mouse 6

Connecting peripherals 7

Connecting your mouse and keyboard 7

USB interface 7

PS/2 interface 7 Connecting a monitor 7 Connecting the power cable 8

Turning on your computer 8 Turning off your computer 8

3 Upgrading your computer 9

Installation precautions 10

ESD precautions 10 Preinstallation instructions 10 Post-installation instructions 10

Opening your computer 11

To remove the computer cover 11 To replace the computer cover 11

Upgrading your computer 11

To remove a memory DIMM 12

To install a memory DIMM 12

To reconfigure your computer 13 Replacing the hard disk 13

Installing an expansion card 14

4 Frequently asked questions 15

Frequently asked questions 16

5 Regulations and safety notices 19

FCC notice 20 Modem notices 21 Laser compliance statement 23 LCD pixel statement 23 Macrovision copyright protection notice 24 Radio device regulatory notice 24 General 24 European Union (EU) 24 The FCC RF safety requirement 25 Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio communication devices (RSS-210) 25

Remark: All images are for reference purposes only. Actual configuration may vary.

1 System tour

English

Front panel

The front panel of your computer has the following:

Icon Description

5.25-inch drive bay(s)

3.5-inch drive bay(s)

Microphone-in jack (front)

Speaker-/line-out jack (front)

USB ports

OBR (One Button Recovery) button (For selected models only)

Indicators

Power button

Rear panel

1 System tour 2

The rear panel of your computer has the following:

Icon Description

Power supply

Power cord socket

Voltage selector switch

PS/2 mouse port

PS/2 keyboard port

Serial port

Parallel/printer port

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