Acer ASPIRE 1690-DDR2 User Manual

Aspire 1690 Series

User's Guide

Aspire 1690 Series User's Guide Original Issue: March 2005

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions 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, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

Aspire 1690 Series Notebook Computer

Model number: __________________________________

Serial number: ___________________________________

Purchase date: ___________________________________

Place of purchase: ________________________________

Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies' product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.

First things first

We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook computers your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs.

Your guides

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.

The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you to be more productive, please refer to the AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options, and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it: 1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem.

2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on

AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Acrobat Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, access the Help and Support menu.

iii

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button below the LCD screen beside the launch keys. See "Front view" on page 1 for the location of the power button.

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

• Use the Windows shutdown command

Click on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off.

• Use the power button

Note: You can also use the power button to perform power management functions. See "Moving around" on page 39 of the AcerSystem User's Guide.

• Use the customized functions for power management

You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4>. See "Moving around" on page 39 of the AcerSystem User's Guide.

Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button 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 ºC (32 ºF) or above

50 ºC (122 ºF).

• 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 or vibration.

• Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.

• Never place objects on top of the computer.

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

• Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.

Taking care of your AC adaptor

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

• Do not connect the adaptor 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 foot 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 possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack. 2 Disconnect the AC adaptor.

3 Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. If either of the following occurs:

• the computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged;

• the computer does not operate normally

please refer to "Frequently asked questions" on page 22.

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.

Operation conditions

This device 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.

Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions for wireless option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option device.

An improper installation or unauthorized use may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Also, any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty.

To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors, and installation outdoors is subject to licensing.

For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com

First things first iii

Your guides iii Basic care and tips for using your computer iii

Turning your computer on and off iii Taking care of your computer iv Taking care of your AC adaptor iv Taking care of your battery pack v Cleaning and servicing v

An Aspire tour 1

Front view 1 Closed front view 2 Left view 3 Right view 4 Rear view 5 Base view 5

Specifications 6 Indicators 9 Launch keys 10 Touchpad 11

Touchpad basics 11

Using the keyboard 13

Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad 13 Windows keys 14 Hotkeys 14 Special keys 16

Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 17 Using a computer security lock 17 Audio 18

Adjusting the volume 18

Using the system utilities 19

Acer eManager 19 Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 20 Launch Manager 21

Frequently asked questions 22

Requesting service 25

International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 25 Before you call 25

Acer Arcade (for selected models) 27

Arcade hotkeys 28 Finding and playing content 29

Settings 29

Arcade controls 29

Navigation controls 30 Player controls 30

Cinema 30

DVD settings 31

Album 32

Slideshow settings 33

Video 33

Playing a video file 33 Video authoring 34

Music 34 Burner 35

Copy — Back up your CD/DVD collection 35 Audio — Create your own greatest hits CDs 35 Data — Store files simply and easily 35 Video — Your world in pictures 35

TV 35

Instant replay 36 Recorded TV 36 Scheduling recordings 37 TV preview 37 Using TeleText functions 37 TV settings 37

Taking your notebook PC with you 39

Disconnecting from the desktop 39 Moving around 39

Preparing the computer 39 What to take to short meetings 40 What to take to long meetings 40

Taking the computer home 40

Preparing the computer 40 What to take with you 41 Special considerations 41 Setting up a home office 41

Traveling with the computer 41

Preparing the computer 41 What to take with you 42 Special considerations 42

Traveling internationally with the computer42

Preparing the computer 42 What to bring with you 42 Special considerations 43

Securing your computer 43

Using a computer security lock 43 Using passwords 43

Entering passwords 44 Setting passwords 44

Expanding through options 45

Connectivity options 45

Fax/data modem 45 Built-in network feature 46 Fast Infrared 46 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 47 IEEE 1394 port 47 PC Card slot 48

BIOS utility 49

Boot sequence 49 Enable disk-to-disk recovery 50 Password 50

Using software 50

Playing DVD movies 50

Power management 51 Acer eRecovery 52

Create backup 52 Restore from backup 53 Create factory default image CD 53 Re-install bundled software without CD 53 Change password 54

Troubleshooting 55

Troubleshooting tips 55 Error messages 55

Regulations and safety notices 57

ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 57

FCC notice 57 Modem notices 59 Important safety instructions 62

An Aspire tour

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

Front view

English

# Item Description 1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays

computer output. 2 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording. 3 Keyboard For entering data into your computer. 4 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use

5 Click buttons

(Left and right)

the computer.

The left and right buttons function like the left and

right mouse buttons.

English

# Item Description

6 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a

computer mouse.

7 Status

indicators

8 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See

9 Power button Turns the computer on and off.

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on and off to show the status of the computer's functions and components.

"Launch keys" on page 10 for more details.

Closed front view

# Icon Item Description

1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo

audio output.

2 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.,

infrared printer and IR-aware computer).

3 Power indicator Lights when the computer is on.

4 Battery indicator Lights when the battery is being charged.

5Bluetooth

communication button/indicator (for selected models)

6 Wireless

communication button/indicator

7 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio

8 Mic-in jack Accepts inputs from external microphone.

Press to enable/disable Bluetooth function. Lights to indicate the status of Bluetooth communications.

Press to enable/disable the wireless function. Indicates the status of wireless LAN communication.

CD player, stereo walkman).

# Icon Item Description

9 Speaker-out/line-

out/Headphone jack

10 USB 2.0 ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB

11 Latch Locks and releases the lid.

Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones).

mouse, USB camera).

Left view

# Item Description

1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs

depending on the optical drive type.

2 LED indicator Lights up when the optical drive is active.

3 Emergency eject hole Ejects the optical drive tray when the

4 Optical drive eject button Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive.

computer is turned off.

English

Note: The positions of the AcerMedia indicator, eject button and emergency eject hole may differ depending on the optical drive module installed.

English

Right view

# Icon Item Description 1 IEEE 1394

port

2 PC Card slot

eject button

3 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II PC Card.

Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.

Ejects the PC Card from the slot.

44-in-1 card

reader

5Two USB 2.0

port

6 S-video out

port

7 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-

8 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.

9 Ventilation

slots

Accepts an MS, MS PRO, MMC or SD card (manufacturing option). Note: Only one card can operate at any given time.

Connects to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).

Connects to a television or display device with S-video input.

based network (depends on model).

Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use.

Rear view

# Icon Item Description 1 Power jack Connects to an AC adaptor.

2 External display port Connects to a display device

(e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).

3 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible

computer security lock.

Base view

English

# Item Description 1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by a screw). 2 Battery release

latch 3 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack. 4 Battery lock Locks the battery in place. 5 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool.

6Memory

compartment

Releases the battery for removal.

Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. Houses the computer's main memory and mini PCI Card.

Specifications

English

Microprocessor

• Intel® Pentium® M Processor at 1.5 ~ 2.13 GHz or higher

• Intel® Celeron® M Processor at 1.3 ~ 1.6 GHz or higher

Memory

• 256/512 MB of DDR2 SDRAM standard, upgradeable to 2048 MB with dual soDIMM modules

• 512 KB flash ROM BIOS

Data storage

• One 40 GB and above E-IDE hard disk (2.5”, 9.5mm, UltraDMA-100)

• One internal optical drive

• 4-in-1 Card Reader (for selected models)

Display and video

• Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) displaying at:

- 15.0” XGA (1024x768)

- 15.4” WXGA (1280x800)

- 15.0” SXGA+ (1400x1050)

• Acer CrystalBrite (for selected models)

• ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ X600 with 64/128 MB of video memory

(for selected models)

• ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ X700 with 64/128 MB of video memory (for selected models)

• Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support

• Dual independent display

• "Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically decides the best

settings for your display and conserves power

Connectivity

• Integrated 10/100/1000 Mbps Fast Ethernet connection

• Built-in 56Kbps fax/data modem

• Three Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports

• InviLink™ 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g dual-band tri-mode Wireless LAN (for selected models)

Audio

• 16-bit AC’97 stereo audio

• Dual speakers and one internal microphone

• Separate audio ports for headphone-out, line-in and microphone-

in devices

Keyboard and pointing device

• 88/89-key Windows keyboard

• Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device with scroll

function

I/O ports

• One Type II PC Card slot

• One RJ-11 phone jack (V.92, 56Kbps modem)

• One RJ-45 network jack

• One DC-in jack (AC adapter)

• One external monitor port

• One speaker/headphone-out jack

• One audio line-in jack

• One microphone-in jack

• One Infrared (FIR) port

• One IEEE 1394 port

• One S-video TV-out port

• Three USB 2.0 ports

• 4-in-1 MS/MS Pro/MMC/SD card reader (for selected models)

English

Weight (with battery)

• 6.6 lbs (3 kg)

Dimensions

- 360 (W) x 279 (D) x 33.9/38.9 (H) mm

English

Environment

• Temperature:

- Operating: 5°C ~ 35°C

- Non-operating: -20°C ~ 65°C

• Humidity (non-condensing):

- Operating: 20% ~ 80% RH

- Non-operating: 20% ~ 80% RH

System

• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home/Pro/MCE (MCE for selected models)

• ACPI 1.0b support

• DMI 2.0-compliant

• Wi-Fi®-compliant

Power

• 8-cell (65W) or 4-cell (32W) Li-ion battery pack

• 65W AC adapter 19V 3.42A

Options

• 256MB/512MB/1GB memory upgrade module

• Additional 65W AC adapter

• Addition Li-ion battery pack

• Additional hard disk

• USB floppy drive

Note: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The exact configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased.

Indicators

The computer has four easy-to-read status indicators on the upper-right above the keyboard, and four on the front panel.

The power, battery, and wireless communication status indicators are visible even when the LCD display is closed.

English

Icon Function Description

Caps Lock Lights up when Caps Lock is activated.

Num Lock Lights up when Num Lock is activated.

Media activity Indicates when the hard disk or optical drive is active.

Bluetooth Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication.

Wireless LAN Indicates the status of wireless LAN communication.

Power Lights up when the computer is on.

Battery Lights up when the battery is being charged.

English

1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging.

2. Fully charged: The light shows green when in AC mode.

Launch keys

Located at the upper-right, above the keyboard are four buttons. These buttons are called launch keys. They are: mail, Web browser, Acer Empowering Key

" " and one user-programmable button.

Press " " to run the Acer eManager. Please see "Acer eManager" on page 19. The mail and Web buttons are pre-set to email and Internet programs, but can

be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable keys, run the Acer Launch Manager. See "Launch Manager" on page 21.

Launch key Default application

Web browser Internet browser (user-programmable) Mail Email application (user-programmable)

User-programmable

Acer eManager (user-programmable)

Touchpad

The built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger across the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support.

Touchpad basics

The following items show you how to use the touchpad:

English

• Move your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor.

• Press the left (1) and right (4) buttons located beneath the touchpad to

perform selection and execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad is the same as clicking the left button.

• Use the 4-way scroll (3) button to scroll up or down and move left or right

a page. This button mimics your cursor pressing on the right scroll bar of Windows applications.

English

Function Left button (1)

Execute Quickly click

twice.

Select Click once. Tap once. Drag Click and hold,

then use finger on the touchpad to drag the cursor.

Access context menu

Scroll Click and

Note: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad's responsiveness.

Right button (4)

Click once.

Main touchpad (2)

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

Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button); rest your finger on the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor.

Center button (3)

hold to move up/down/ left/right.

Using the keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and 12 function keys.

Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad

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

Lock key Description Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are

Num Lock <Fn> + <F11>

Scroll Lock <Fn> + <F12>

in uppercase. 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.

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

English

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

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

Type numbers in a normal manner.

Hold <Shift> while using cursor-control keys.

letters on embedded keypad.

Hold <Fn> while using cursor-control keys.

Type the letters in a normal manner.

English

Windows keys

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

Key Description

Windows key

Application key

Pressed alone, this key has the same effect 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.

<> + <R> Opens the Run dialog box.

< > + <M> Minimizes all windows.

<Shift> + < > + <M> Undoes the minimize all windows action. This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse

button; it opens the application's context menu.

Hotkeys

The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS utility.

To activate hotkeys, press and hold the <Fn> key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination.

hotkey Icon Function Description <Fn> + <F1> hotkey help Displays help on hotkeys.

English

<Fn> + <F2> Acer

eSettings

<Fn> + <F3> Acer

ePowerManagement

<Fn> + <F4> Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep mode.

<Fn> + <F5> Display

toggle

<Fn> + <F6> Screen blank Turns the display screen backlight off to

<Fn> + <F7> Touchpad

toggle

<Fn> + <F8> Speaker

toggle

<Fn> + <↑> Volume up Increases the sound volume.

<Fn> + <↓> Volume down Decreases the sound volume.

<Fn> + <→> Brightness up Increases the screen brightness.

<Fn> + <←> Brightness

down

Launches Acer eSettings in Acer eManager. See "Acer eManager" on page 19.

Launches Acer ePowerManagement in Acer eManager. See "Acer eManager" on page 19.

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

save power. Press any key to return.

Turns the internal touchpad on and off.

Turns the speakers on and off.

Decreases the screen brightness.

+ 56 hidden pages

Acer ASPIRE 1690-DDR2 User Manual

Aspire 1690 Series

First things first

Your guides

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Contents

An Aspire tour

Front view

Closed front view

Left view

Right view

Rear view

Base view

Specifications

Indicators

Launch keys

Touchpad

Touchpad basics

Using the keyboard

Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad

Windows keys

Hotkeys