Acer ASPIRE 1710 User Manual

Acer Aspire 1710 Series

User’s Guide

Acer Aspire 1710 Series Notebook Computer User's Guide Original Issue: February 2004

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 1710 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 vii

Getting familiar with your computer 1

A tour of your computer 3

Opened front view 3 Closed front view 5 Left view 6 Right view 7 Rear view 8

Bottom view 9 Features 10 Display 12 Indicators 13 Keyboard 15

Special keys 15

Keyboard ergonomics 19 Touchpad 20

Touchpad basics 20 Launch keys 22 Storage 23

Ejecting the optical drive tray 23

Emergency ejection of the optical drive tray 24 Connectivity options 25

Ethernet and LAN 25

Fax/data modem 25 Audio 27

Audio DJ 28 Securing your computer 30

Security slot 30

Passwords 31

Contents

Operating on battery power 33

Battery pack (optional) 35

Battery pack characteristics 35

Installing and removing the battery pack 36

Charging the battery 38

Checking the battery level 38

Optimizing battery life 38

Battery-low warning 39 Power management 40

English

Peripherals and options 41

External display devices 43

External keyboard 44 External keypad 44

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

PC Card 46

USB devices 47

Miscellaneous options 48 Installing new components 49

Opening the case 49

CPU upgrade 50

Hard disk upgrade 51

Memory upgrade 52

Moving with your computer 55

Disconnecting from the desktop 57 Moving around 58

Preparing the computer 58

What to bring to short meetings 58

What to bring to long meetings 58 Taking the computer home 59

Preparing the computer 59

What to bring with you 59

Special considerations 59

Setting up a home office 60 Traveling with the computer 61

Preparing the computer 61

What to take with you 61

Special considerations 61 Traveling internationally with your computer 62

Preparing the computer 62

What to take with you 62

Special considerations 62

Software 63

System software 65

Launch Manager 65 BIOS setup utility 66

Troubleshooting 67

Frequently asked questions 69

Appendix A Specifications 73

Appendix B Regulation & safety notices 79

Index 93

English

vii

First things first

Yo u r 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

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on your computer, open the lid and press the power button 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.

viii

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.

• 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 (optional)

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 “Frequently asked questions” on page 69 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.

English

Getting familiar with

your computer

English

Getting familiar with your computer2

Your Aspire 1710 series 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 computer, as illustrated in the

starters…

Opened front view

poster, take a few minutes to explore the unit.

Just for

English

# Item Description

1 Display Large liquid crystal display (LCD) provides visual

2 Power button Turns the computer on and off.

3 Keyboard Full-size keyboard for inputting typed data.

4 Touchpad Touch sensitive pad that functions like a

output.

computer mouse.

# Item Description

Getting familiar with your computer4

English

5 Click buttons &

scroll key

6 Audio DJ

controls and indicator

7 Palm rest Provides a comfortable platform for your hands

8 Launch keys 1 switch button for wired/wireless LAN, or

9 Status

indicators

Note: This wireless communication button works for models with

802.11g & 802.11a/g wireless LAN only.

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.

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

when typing on the keyboard.

Bluetooth (optional) 1 e-mail launch button 1 launch button for Internet browser 2 programmable buttons

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) that show the status of the computer and its components.

Closed front view

# Item Description

1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio

output.

2 Wireless

communication indicator

3 Power indicator Lights when the computer is on.

Lights when the Wireless LAN, or Bluetooth, capability is enabled.

English

Getting familiar with your computer6

Left view

# Item Description

1 Optical drive Depending on your model, the optical

drive is one of the following:

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

• DVD Dual

2 Optical disc read

indicator

3 Optical drive eject button Press the eject button to remove a disc

4 Optical drive emergency

eject hole

5 Left latch Locks and releases the lid (one on the

6 Floppy drive/Card reader Accepts a 3.5 inch floppy disk, or a 6-in-

7 PC card eject button Press the eject button to remove a PC

8 PC card slot The slot supports a standard Type II PC

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

from the optical drive.

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

right and one on the left).

1 card reader (optional).

card from the PC card slot.

card (PCMCIA and CardBus).

Right view

# Item Description

1 Right latch Locks and releases the lid (one on the right

2 Speaker/Headphone-

out jack

3 Line-in/Mic-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio

4 IEEE 1394 port

and one on the left).

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

CD player, stereo walkman). Selection is through the OS Windows mixer.

Connects to an IEEE 1394 device.

English

5 IEEE 1394 port

6Two USB ports

7 DC-in jack Connects the AC adapter.

Connects to an IEEE 1394 device.

Connects USB 2.0 devices.

English

Getting familiar with your computer8

Rear view

# Item Description

1 Two USB ports Connects USB 2.0 devices.

2 Modem jack Connects the built-in fax/data modem to a

phone line.

3S-video

4 External display port Connects an external (VGA) display devices

5 COM port Connects to other serial interface devices.

6 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-based

7 Parallel port Connects a parallel device, such as a printer.

8 PS2 port Connects to a PS2 mouse.

9 Kensington lock slot Attaches a security connector.

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

monitor.

network.

Bottom view

# Item Description

English

1 Battery cover Protects the battery bay.

2 Sub-woofer Enhances the audio quality.

3 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even

after prolonged use.

Features

Getting familiar with your computer10

English

Performance

• Intel® Pentium® 4 FSB 800 processor

• L2 cache 1MB

• Intel 865G with ICH-5, support 800MHz Front Side Bus , dual

channel and HTT support

• 80 GB or higher-capacity Desktop 5400rpm, 7200rpm HDD

• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home/Pro operating system

• Optional 6-in-1 Multimedia memory card reader module

Multimedia

• DVD/CD-RW combo

• DVD Dual drive

• Audio input and output jacks

• Optional 6-in-1 Multimedia memory card reader module

• Hardware 3D graphic engine

• Two stereo speakers + one sub-woofer

• 17" Desktop SXGA LCD, 1280x1024, 16M colors

Connectivity

• Modem: Software Modem V.92 56Kbps (MDC)

• 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet LAN

• Optional Mini-PCI 802.11g or 802.11 a/g

• One switch to enable or disable wireless function

• Keyboard and pointing device

• Four universal serial bus (USB) ports 2.0

• Two IEEE 1394 ports

• Bluetooth ready (manufacturing option)

Human-centric design and ergonomics

• All-in-one design (incorporating hard drive, optical drive and

floppy disk drive)

• Rugged and space saving

• Full-size desktop keyboard

• No need to turn on the system for playing CD or MP3

• Large & comfortable palm rest area with well-positioned touchpad

Expansion

• PC card slot enableing a range of add-on options

• Upgradeable CPU, hard disk and memory modules

English

Display

Getting familiar with your computer12

English

The 17” display panel provides a large viewing area for maximum efficiency and ease-of-use. The liquid crystal display (LCD) supports SXGA resolution with16 million colors at 1280 x 1024 .

Video performance

Your Aspire 1710 series computer features an accelerated graphics port (AGP) video system with Intel 865G embedded VGA engine and 64MB UMA RAM, and nVIDIA NV-34M/NV-36M series (64MB/128MB AGP card) as an option. 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.

Indicators

Your computer provides an array of five indicators located above the keyboard, in addition to two indicators positioned at the top right hand corner of the LCD panel. These indicators show the status of the computer and its components.

The five indicators located above the keyboard provide the following status information:

English

# Description

Hard disk drive activity

Battery charge: Green--the AC adapter is connected and the battery is fully

charged. Amber--the AC adapter is connected and the battery is

charging. Off--the AC adapter is not connected, or the battery is not

installed.

# Description

Getting familiar with your computer14

English

Caps Lock activity

Num Lock activity Note: The keypad lock must be turned on to use the

embedded numeric keypad.

Scroll Lock activity

The two indicators located at the front of the unit provide the following status information:

# Description

Power mode: Steady green--the computer is on (even if the display is turned

off). Steady orange--the computer is in standby mode. Off--the computer is turned off, or in the hibernation mode.

InviLink indicator: Indicates status of wireless or Bluetooth (optional)

communications. Orange--WLAN Blue--Bluetooth

Key bo ar d

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

English

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

Scroll Lock When Scroll Lock is on, the screen toggles up or down one

used. Toggle on and off by pressing the Num Lock Key.

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 Scroll Lock Key.

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 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 Task bar 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.

Application 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:

HotKey Function

Fn + F1 Hot key

help

Fn + F2 Device

Manager

Displays the help file.

Accesses Windows Device Manager.

English

Fn + F3 Power

scheme toggle

Fn + F4 Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep Mode, which can

Fn + F5 Display

toggle

Selects suitable power scheme to the system.

be defined via the advanced section of the Power Management Properties in the Windows Control Panel.

Switches display output between the system LCD, an external monitor and both the system LCD and external monitor.

Note: UMA sku should use Ctrl+Alt+F1 Intel international hot key, when LCD monitor is hot plugged.

HotKey Function

Getting familiar with your computer18

English

Fn + F6 Screen

blank

Fn + F7 Touchpad

on/off

Fn + F8 Speaker

on/off

Fn + F9 Audio DJ

on/off

Fn + → Brightness upIncreases the screen brightness.

Fn +

←

Fn + ↑ Volume up Increases the volume.

Fn + ↓ Volume

Fn + Pg Up Home Moves the cursor to the beginning of a

Fn + Pg Dn End Moves the cursor to the end of a sentence.

Brightness down

down

Turns the LCD backlight off to save power; press any key to resume.

Turns the internal touchpad on and off.

Turns the speakers on and off.

Turns the Audio DJ function on and off within Windows.

Decreases the screen brightness.

Decreases the volume.

sentence.

Euro key

Your computer supports the new Euro currency character. First, hold down the Alt Gr key, and then press the Euro key.

Keyboard ergonomics

The wide palm rest area provides a comfortable platform for your hands when typing on the keyboard. The ergonomic design enables you to adopt a relaxed, yet very efficient, typing style.

English

To u c h p a d

Getting familiar with your computer20

English

The built-in touchpad is a PS/2- compatible pointing device that senses movement on its surface. The cursor responds to your finger movements on the touchpad. In addition, the two click buttons provide the same functionality as a computer mouse, while the scroll key enables easy up and down scrolling in documents and web pages.

The touchpad is located in the middle of the palm rest area, providing maximum comfort and efficiency.

Touc hp a d ba si c s

Use the touchpad as follows:

• Slide your finger over the surface of the touchpad to control the

movement of the cursor. Tap the touchpad to perform selection and execution functions.

• Press the left (1) and right (3) click buttons to perform selection

and execution functions, just as you would use the buttons on a computer mouse.

+ 76 hidden pages