Acer ASPIRE 1600 User Manual

Acer Aspire 1600 series

User’s guide

Acer Aspire 1600 Series Notebook Computer User's Guide Original Issue: February 2003

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 correspondense 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 1600 series Notebook computer

Model Number : _________________________________

Serial Number: ___________________________________

Purchase Date: ___________________________________

Place of Purchase: ________________________________

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

iii

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

Top view 3 Front view 5 Left view 6 Right view 7 Rear view 8

Bottom view 9 Features 10 Display 11 Indicators 12 Keyboard 14

Special keys 14

Keyboard ergonomics 19 Touchpad 20

Touchpad basics 21 Launch keys 23 Storage 25

Inserting and ejecting a diskette 25

Ejecting the optical drive tray 26

Emergency ejection of the optical drive tray 28 Connectivity options 29

Ethernet and LAN 29

Fax/data modem 29

Optional wireless communication 31 Audio 32

Adjusting the volume 32 Securing your computer 33

Security slot 33

Passwords 33

English

Operating on battery power 35

Battery pack 37

Battery pack characteristics 37

Installing and removing the battery pack 38

Charging the battery 40

Checking the battery level 41

Optimizing battery life 41

Battery-low warning 41

Power management 43

English

Peripherals and options 45

External display devices 47 S-video 48 External input devices 49

External keyboard 49 External keypad 50

External pointing device 52 Printer 53 Audio devices 54 Expansion devices 55

PC Card 55

USB devices 57

IEEE 1394 devices 58 Miscellaneous options 59

Battery pack 59

AC adapter 59 Key component upgrades 60

Memory upgrade 60

Hard disk upgrade 62

Moving with your computer 63

Disconnecting from the desktop 65 Moving around 66

Preparing the computer 66

What to bring to short meetings 66

What to bring to long meetings 66 Taking the computer home 67

Preparing the computer 67

What to bring with you 67

Special considerations 67

Setting up a home office 68 Traveling with the computer 69

Preparing the computer 69

What to take with you 69

Special considerations 69 Traveling internationally with your computer 70

Preparing the computer 70

What to take with you 70

Special considerations 70

Software 71

System software 73

Launch Manager 73

BIOS Utility 74

A note on HT Technology 76 To exit the BIOS Utility 76

Troubleshooting 77

Frequently asked questions 79 Error messages 82

Appendix A Specifications 87

Appendix B Notices 91

Index 101

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vii

First things first

Yo ur g u i d e s

A set of guides is provided to help you set up and use your Aspire computer.:

The Just for starters… poster shows you how to set up your computer.

This User's Guide provides clear and concise information on using your computer productively. You are advised to read it thoroughly and keep it handy for future reference.

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

English

viii

Basic care and tips for using your computer

English

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on your computer, open the lid (1, 2) and press the power button (3) above the keyboard.

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

• Click on the Start button in Windows, and then select Shut Down on the popup

menu.

• Push the power button.

To use this method, you must first click on the Power Management icon in Windows Control Panel, and then check that the power button is set to shut down the computer when pressed. See Windows Help for more information.

English

Note: If you are unable to shut down the computer in the usual way, press and hold the power switch for more than four seconds. You should then wait at least two seconds before turning the computer on again.

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 expose the computer to magnetic fields.

• Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.

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

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

• Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.

• Do not place objects on top of the computer.

• Do not slam the lid shut. Close the computer gently.

• Do not place the computer on unstable or uneven surfaces.

Taking care of your AC adapter

It is important that you look after your AC adapter.

• Do not connect the adapter to any other device.

• Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on it. Route the power cord

away from areas where people might walk on it or trip over it.

• Do not pull on the power cord when disconnecting from the mains power socket.

Grasp and pull the plug instead.

• The total ampere ratings of equipment plugged into a power strip should not

exceed the ampere rating for that power strip.

Taking care of your battery pack

It is also important that you look after your computer's battery pack.

• Use the correct battery model for your computer. Do not use other kinds of

batteries.

• Turn the power off before removing or replacing the battery.

• Do not tamper with the battery. Keep the battery away from children.

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

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning your computer, it is important that you follow these steps:

1 Turn off the computer and remove the battery.

2 Disconnect the AC adapter.

3 Clean with a soft cloth moistened with a little water. Do not use liquid or aerosol

cleaners.

Refer to the chapter entitled “Troubleshooting” on page 77 if any of the following occurs:

• You drop the computer or damage the case.

• You spill liquid on the computer.

• The computer does not operate normally.

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xii

Getting familiar with

your computer

Your Aspire 1600 series notebook computer combines solid performance, versatility, multimedia capabilities and portability with a stylish design. Increase your productivity by working wherever you are.

This chapter provides an in-depth "tour" of your computer's features.

A tour of your computer

After setting up your new Aspire notebook computer, as illustrated in the Just for starters… poster, take a few minutes to explore the unit.

Top v iew

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# Item Description

1 Display Large liquid crystal display (LCD) provides visual output.

2 Status indicators Light emitting diodes (LED) that show the status of the

computer and its components.

# Item Description

Getting familiar with your computer4

English

3 Power button Turns the computer on and off.

4 Wireless

communication button

5 Keyboard Full-size keyboard for inputting typed data.

6 Touchpad Touch sensitive pad that functions like a computer mouse.

7Click buttons &

scroll key

8 Palm rest Provides a comfortable platform for your hands when typing

9 Launch keys Buttons that can be programmed to start frequently used

Note: The wireless communication button works for models with 802.11b wireless LAN only

Lights when the Wireless LAN capability is enabled.

Right and left buttons that provide the same functions as the buttons on a computer mouse. The scroll key scrolls the contents of a window up and down, left and right.

on the keyboard.

applications. See “Launch keys” on page 23 for more details.

Front view

# Item Description

1Optical drive

emergency eject hole

2Optical disc read

indicator

3 Optical drive Depending on your model, the optical drive is one of the

Used to eject an optical disc when the computer is turned off.

Light emitting diode (LED) that indicates when an optical disc is being read.

following:

• CD-ROM drive for reading CDs.

• DVD-ROM drive for reading CDs and DVDs.

• DVD/CD-RW combo drive for reading CDs and DVDs, and writing to CD-Rs and CD-RWs.

English

4 Eject button Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive

5 Latch Locks and releases the lid.

English

Getting familiar with your computer6

Left view

# Item Description

1 Floppy disk read indicator Light emitting diode (LED) that indicates when

floppy diskette is being read.

2 Floppy disk drive Supports a standard 3.5” diskette.

3 Floppy disk eject button Press the eject button to remove a diskette from

4 Kensington lock slot For attaching a security connector.

5 IEEE 1394 port Port for connecting IEEE 1394 devices.

6 Line-out jack Connects headphones or external speakers for

7 Line-in jack Connects an external microphone for audio

8 Volume control Controls the volume of the speakers.

9 Speaker Delivers stereo audio output.

the floppy disk drive.

audio output.

input.

Right view

# Item Description

1Speaker Delivers stereo audio output.

2 PC card eject button Press the eject button to remove a PC card from the

PC card slot.

3 PC card slots The slots supports two standard Type II or one Type

III PC card (PCMCIA or CardBus).

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Getting familiar with your computer8

Rear view

# Item Description

1 DC-in jack Connects the AC adapter.

2 S-video port Connects to a television or dislay device with S-video

input.

3 External display port Connects an external (VGA) display monitor.

4 Modem jack Connects the built-in fax/data modem to a phone line.

5 Network jack Connects the computer to an Ethernet 10/100-based

6 USB ports 4 ports for connecting USB devices.

network.

Bottom view

# Item Description

1 Battery release latches Slide and hold the latches, and then pull the battery

to remove it from the unit.

English

2 Battery The computer's removable battery.

3 Battery lock/unlock latch Use to lock and unlock the battery bay.

4 Optical media bay Houses the removable optical media drive module

(e.g. CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD/CD-RW combo drive).

5 Optical media bay release

latch

6 Memory compartment Removable cover provides access to the memory

Unlatches the optical media drive for removal or swapping.

slots for upgrading the computer's memory.

Features

Getting familiar with your computer10

English

Performance

• Intel® Pentium® 4 with 512K cache.

• 2 memory slots supporting PC2100/PC2700 (266/333MHz DDR) soDIMM,

upgradeable to 1GB.

• 20 GB or higher Enhanced-IDE hard disk.

• Microsoft Windows XP operating system.

Multimedia

• Built-in optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD/CD-RW combo drive).

• 15.0” XGA TFT LCD panel.

• Built-in stereo speakers.

• Audio input and output jacks.

Connectivity

• Integrated 10/100Mbps Ethernet connection.

• Built-in 56Kbps fax/data modem.

• Four universal serial bus (USB 2.0) ports.

• One IEEE 1394 (4-pin) port.

Human-centric design and ergonomics

• All-in-one design (incorporating hard drive, optical drive and floppy disk drive).

• Rugged, yet extremely portable, construction.

• Stylish appearance.

• Full-size keyboard with 4 programmable launch keys.

• Comfortable palm rest area with well-positioned touchpad.

Expansion

• PC card slot enables a range of add-on options.

• Upgradeable hard disk and memory modules.

Display

The 15.0” display panel provides a large viewing area for maximum efficiency and easeof-use. The thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) supports extended graphics array (XGA) with resolution up to 16.7 million colors at 1024 x 768.

Video performance

Your Aspire 1600 series notebook computer features an ATI accelerated graphics port (AGP). This provides a robust solution, while enabling high quality video output.

Simultaneous display

Your computer's large display, combined with its multimedia capabilities, makes it ideally suited to delivering presentations.

You can also connect an external monitor or projector, and then choose to use the computer's LCD panel only, the external device only, or the LCD panel and external device simultaneously.

Simultaneous display allows you to manage a presentation on your computer, while your audience watches the monitor or projector screen.

English

Indicators

Getting familiar with your computer12

English

Your computer provides an array of seven indicators located above the keyboard, in addition to two indicators positioned at the back of the display screen. These indicators show the status of the computer and its components.

The indicators located above the keyboard provide the following status information

Icon Function Description

Wireless Communication

Power Lights when the computer is on.

Sleep Lights when the computer enters Sleep mode.

Media Activity Lights when the floppy drive, hard disk or optical drive is

Lights when the Wireless LAN capabilities are enabled.

active.

Icon Function Description

Battery Charge Lights when the battery is being charged.

Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated.

Num Lock Lights when Num Lock is activated.

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Keyb oa rd

Getting familiar with your computer14

English

The keyboard features full-size keys with an embedded keypad, separate cursor control keys, two Windows keys, and twelve function keys (hot keys).

Special keys

Lock keys

The computer features three lock keys, each with its own status indicator light.

Lock Key Description

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

Toggle on and off by pressing the Caps Lock key on the left side of the keyboard.

Num Lock When Num Lock is on, the embedded numeric keypad can be used. Toggle

on and off by pressing the Fn + F11 keys simultaneously.

Scroll Lock When Scroll Lock is on, the screen toggles up or down one line at a time

when the up and down cursor control keys are pressed. Note: Scroll Lock doesn't work in all applications. Toggle on and off by pressing the Fn + F12 keys simultaneously.

Embedded keypad

The embedded keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small blue numbers and characters on the applicable keys.

To use the embedded numeric keys, toggle the Num Lk on by pressing the Fn + F11 keys simultaneously.

With the embedded keypad turned on, the following actions are possible:

Desired Access Num lock On Num lock Off

Number keys on embedded keypad.

Typ e numbe rs usi ng embedded keypad in the normal way.

English

Cursor control keys on embedded keypad.

Main keyboard keys. Hold down the Fn key while

Hold down the Shift key while using the cursor keys on the embedded keypad.

typing letters using the embedded keypad keys. Simultaneously press the Shift key for capital letters.

Hold Fn key while using cursor-control keys.

Type letters in the normal way.

Windows keys

Getting familiar with your computer16

English

The keyboard features two keys that provide Windows-specific functions.

Key Description

Windows key Pressed alone, this key has the same effec t as clicking on the Windows

Start button; it launches the Start menu. It can also be used with other keys to provide a variety of functions:

+ Tab activates the next Taskbar button.

+ E opens the My Computer window.

+ F1 opens Help and Support.

+ F opens the Find: All Files dialog box.

+ M minimizes all windows.

Shift + + M undoes the minimize all windows ( + M) action.

+ R opens the Run dialog box.

Applications key This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse button; it

opens the application's context menu.

Hotkeys

Using the Fn key with another key creates a hot key, providing a quick and convenient method for controlling various functions.

To use a hot key, first hold down the Fn key. Next, press the second key in the combination. Finally, release both keys.

Your computer provides the following hot keys:

Hot key Function Description

Fn-F1 Hot Key Help Displays help on hot keys.

English

Fn-F2 System Properties Accesses the computer’s system properties.

Fn-F3 Power Scheme Toggle Switches the power management scheme

used by the computer (function available if supported by operating system).

Fn-F4 Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep mode.

Fn-F5 Display Toggle Switches display output between the display

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

Hot key Function Description

Getting familiar with your computer18

English

Fn-F6 Screen Blank Turns the display screen backlight off to save

power. Press any key to return.

Fn-F7 Touchpad Toggle Turns the internal touchpad on and off.

Fn-F8 Speaker Toggle Turns the speakers on and off.

Fn-→ Brightness up Increases the screen brightness.

Fn-

←

Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness.

Euro key

For keyboard with Euro key support, first hold down the Alt Gr key, and then press the Euro key.

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