Acer ASPIRE 1400 User Manual

Acer Aspire 1400 series

User’s guide

Acer Aspire 1400 series Notebook computer User’s guide Original Issue: March 2002

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.

Acer Aspire 1400 series Notebook computer

Model Number : __________________________________

Serial Number: ___________________________________

Purchase Date: ___________________________________

Place of Purchase: ________________________________

All trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.

First things first vii

Your guides vii Basic care and tips for using your computer viii

Getting familiar with your computer 1

A tour of your computer 3

Front view 3 Left view 5 Right view 6 Rear view 7

Bottom view 8 Features 9 Display 11 Indicators 12 Keyboard 14

Special keys 14

Keyboard ergonomics 18 Touchpad 19

Touchpad basics 19 Launch keys 21 Storage 22

Inserting and ejecting a diskette 22

Ejecting the optical drive tray 23 Connectivity options 24

Ethernet and LAN 24

Fax/data modem 24 Audio 26

Adjusting the volume 26

Using the Audio DJ feature 27 Securing your computer 29

Security notch 29

Passwords 29

Contents

Operating on battery power 31

Battery pack 33

Battery pack characteristics 33

Installing and removing the battery pack 34

Charging the battery 35

Checking the battery level 36

Optimizing battery life 36

Battery-low warning 37 Power management 38

Peripherals and options 39

External display devices 41

External monitor 41 External display with s-video input 42 Using simultaneous display 42

External input devices 43

External keyboard 43 External keypad 43

External pointing device 43 Printer 44 Audio devices 45 Expansion devices 46

PC Card slots 46

USB 47 Miscellaneous options 48

Battery pack 48

AC adapter 48 Key component upgrades 49

Memory upgrade 49

Hard disk upgrade 50

Moving with your computer 51

Disconnecting from the desktop 53 Moving around 54

Preparing the computer 54

What to bring to short meetings 54

What to bring to long meetings 54 Taking the computer home 55

Preparing the computer 55

What to bring with you 55

Special considerations 55

Setting up a home office 56 Traveling with the computer 57

Preparing the computer 57

What to bring with you 57

Special considerations 57 Traveling internationally with the computer 58

Preparing the computer 58

What to bring with you 58

Special considerations 58

Software 59

System software 61

Easy Button 62 BIOS Setup Utility 63

Main 64 Advanced 65 Security 66 Others 69 Boot 70 Exit 71

Troubleshooting 73

Frequently-asked questions 75 Error messages 79

Appendix A Specifications 83

Appendix B Notices 89

Index 97

First things first

We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook computers your choice for your mobile computing needs. We hope you will be happy with your Aspire as much as we enjoyed making it for you.

Your gui des

To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides:

First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer.

This User’s guide introduces you to the many ways your computer can help you be more productive. This guide provides clear and concise information about the computer, so read it thoroughly.

vii

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

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

viii

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on the computer, open the display cover, and press the power switch above the keyboard.

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

• Use the Windows shutdown command

Click on Start, and select the Windows Turn Off command.

• Use the power switch

If you set the power switch to “Shut down” in the Power Options control panel, you can use this button to turn off the computer. See Windows Help and Support for details.

Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power switch for more than four seconds to shut down the computer. If you turn off the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before powering up.

Taking care of your computer

Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.

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

heat, such as a radiator.

• Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0°C (32°F) or above 50°C

(122°F).

• Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.

• Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.

• Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.

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

• Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.

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

• Do not slam the computer display when you close it.

• Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.

Taking care of your AC adapter

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

• Do not connect the adapter to any other device.

• Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it. Carefully

route the power cord and any cables away from personal traffic.

• When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the

plug.

• The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed the

ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating.

Taking care of your battery pack

Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:

• Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off before

removing or replacing batteries.

• Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children.

• Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if at all possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

1 Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.

2 Disconnect the AC adapter.

3 Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

If any of the following occurs:

• The computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged.

• Liquid has been spilled into the product.

• The computer does not operate normally.

Please refer to "Troubleshooting my computer" on page 73.

Getting familiar with

your computer

This computer combines high-performance, versatility, power management features and multimedia capabilities with a unique style and ergonomic design. Work with unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power computing partner.

This chapter gives an in-depth "tour" of the computer’s many features.

A tour of your computer

After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new notebook computer.

Front view

Getting familiar with your computer4

# Item Description

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

output.

2 Power button Turns on the computer power.

3 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently-used programs. See

“Launch keys” on page 21 for more details.

4 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.

5 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a

computer mouse.

6Click buttons (left

and right)

7 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the

8 Lock indicators LEDs (light emitting diodes) that show the status of the lock

9Speakers Outputs sound.

10 Status indicators LEDs (light emitting diodes) that show the status of the

11 Audio DJ controls

and indicators

The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons.

computer.

keys.

computer and its functions and components.

Button and indicators for the Audio DJ function. For more information, see “Using the Audio DJ feature” on page 27.

Left view

# Item Description

1 Speaker/headphone-out jack Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g.,

speakers, headphones).

2 Microphone-in jack Connects an external microphone.

3 Volume control slider Adjusts the volume level.

4 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer

security lock.

5 PC Card eject buttons Eject the selected PC Card from its slot.

6 PC Card slots Accepts one Type III or two Type II/I PC Card(s).

Getting familiar with your computer6

Right view

# Item Description

1 Floppy drive Accepts a 3.5-inch diskette.

2 Floppy drive eject button Press to eject the diskette from the floppy drive.

3 Wireless networking button Enables or disables the wireless networking feature.

4 Optical drive Depending on your model:

• CD-ROM drive reads CDs

• DVD-ROM drive reads CDs and DVDs

• DVD/CD-RW combo drive reads CDs and

DVDs, and writes to CD-Rs and CD-RWs.

5 Optical drive eject button Ejects the disc from the optical drive.

6 Optical drive emergency

eject hole

Ejects the disc from the optical drive when the computer is turned off. See “How do I eject the optical drive tray with the computer turned off?” on page 76 for more details.

Rear view

# Item Description

1 USB ports Connects to USB devices (e.g., USB digital camera).

2 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network.

3 Modem jack Conncts a phone line (only for models with an internal

fax/data modem).

4 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel printer).

5 External display port Connects to a display monitor.

6 Video-out port Connects to a display device with S-video input.

7 DC-in jack Connects to the AC adapter.

Bottom view

Getting familiar with your computer8

# Item Description

1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer’s hard disk.

2 Battery bay Houses the computer’s battery pack.

3 Battery release latch Slide and hold to unlatch the battery pack.

4 Memory compartment Houses the computer’s memory upgrade slot.

Features

This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its many features:

Performance

• Intel® Pentium® 4 processor with on-die level 2 cache

• 256 MB memory expandable to 1 GB

• High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk

• Lithium-Ion battery pack

• Power management system

Multimedia

• 16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3-D sound

• Built-in dual stereo speakers

• Internal optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD/CD-RW combo)

• Audio DJ feature

• Large LCD display with simultaneous LCD and CRT display support

• S-video (NTSC/PAL) output

Connectivity

• High-speed 56Kbps V.90 fax/data software modem

• Ethernet/Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)

• Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports

• Wireless networking (802.11b) option

Human-centric design and ergonomics

• All-in-one design (CD or DVD, floppy drive, and hard disk)

• Sleek, smooth and stylish design

• Full-sized keyboard

• Wide and curved palm rest

• Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device

• Launch keys

• Audio DJ feature

Expansion

• CardBus PC Card slots

• Upgradeable memory and hard disk

Getting familiar with your computer10

Display

The large graphics display offers excellent viewing, display quality and desktopperformance graphics. The computer supports a Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) displaying up to 16.7 million colors at 1024x768 eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) resolution.

Video performance

Video peformance is boosted with 16 MB of Double Data Rate (DDR) Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) for graphics-intensive games and applications.

Simultaneous display

The computer’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 computer supports simultaneous LCD and CRT display. Simultaneous display allows you to control the presentation from your computer and at the same time face your audience. You can also connect other output display devices such as an LCD projector or a television for large-audience presentations.

Dualview

The computer ’s video chip takes advantage of the multi-display capability of Windows. This feature allows you to extend your desktop to an external display device, such as an external monitor or projector. With this feature enabled, you can move program windows to and from the computer LCD and external display device. For more information, see Windows help.

Getting familiar with your computer12

Indicators

The computer has easy-to-read lock indicators (A) found above the keyboard, and status indicators (B) and Audio DJ mode indicators (C) on the front panel of the computer.

These indicators show the status of the computer and its components.

# Function Description

A. Lock indicators

1 Caps lock Caps Lock is activated.

2 Num lock Numeric Lock (for embedded keypad) is activated.

3 Scroll lock Scroll Lock is activated.

# Function Description

B. Status indicators

4 Power Lights when the computer is on.

5 AC power Computer is running on AC power.

6 Battery charge Battery is being charged.

7 Hard disk activity Hard disk is being accessed.

8 Wireless networking Wireless networking feature is enabled. Use the wireless

networking switch to enable or disable this feature. See “Right view” on page 6 for the location of this switch.

9 Optical drive activity Optical drive (CD or DVD) is being accessed.

C. Audio DJ mode indicators

10 MP Audio DJ is set to launch the Windows Media Player for

audio playback.

11 CD Audio DJ is set to CD playback.

Getting familiar with your computer14

Keyboard

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

Special keys

Lock keys

The keyboard has four lock keys which you can toggle on and off.

Lock Key Description

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

Num Lock When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric mode. The keys

function as a calculator (complete with the arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /). Use this mode when you need to do a lot of numeric data entry. A better solution would be to connect an external keypad. See “External keyboard” on page 43.

Scroll Lock (Fn-Scroll Lk)

When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down when you press ↑ or ↓ respectively. Scroll Lock does not work with some applications.

Embedded keypad

The embedded keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters located on the lower edge of the keycaps. The embedded keypad can function in numeric mode or cursor-control mode.

Desired Access Num lock On Num lock Off

Number keys on embedded keypad

Cursor-control keys on embedded keypad

Main keyboard keys Hold Fn while typing letters

Type numbers in a normal manner.

Hold Shift while using cursor-control keys.

on embedded keypad. Also hold down Shift for capital letters.

Hold Shift while typing numbers.

Use cursor-control keys in a normal manner.

Hold Fn while typing letters on embedded keypad. Also hold down Shift for capital letters.

Getting familiar with your computer16

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.

Below are a few examples:

+ Ta b (Activate s next Taskbar button)



+ E (Explores My Computer)



+ F (Finds Document)



+ M (Minimizes All)



Shift +  + M (Undoes Minimize All)

+ R (Displays Run dialog box)



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

Hotkeys

The computer uses hotkeys or key combinations to perform functions such as controlling the screen brightness and specifying where to display output.

HotKey Function Description

Fn-Esc Speaker toggle Turns the speakers on and off.

Fn-F3 Standby Puts the computer in standby mode.

Fn-F4 Hibernation Puts the computer in hibernation mode.

Fn-F5 Display toggle Switches display output between the display

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

Fn-F6 Brightness up Increases the screen brightness.

Fn-F7 Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness.

Fn-F8 Wireless networking toggle Toggles wireless networking on and off.

When activating hotkeys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination.

Getting familiar with your computer18

Keyboard ergonomics

Located below the keyboard, the wide and curved palm rest is ergonomically designed to provide you with a very comfortable place to rest your hands while you type.

Touchpad

The built-in touchpad is a 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 optimum comfort and support.

Touchpad basics

The following teaches you how to use the touchpad:

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

• Press the left (1) and right (2) 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.

Getting familiar with your computer20

Function Left Button

Execute Click twice quickly. Tap twice (at the same speed as

Select Click once. Tap once.

Drag Click and hold,

then use finger to drag the cursor on the touchpad.

Access context menu

Note: 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.

Right Button

Click once.

Tap

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.

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