Acer ASPIRE 2020 User Manual

Acer Aspire 2020 Series

User’s Guide

Acer Aspire 2020 Series Notebook Computer User's Guide Original Issue: March 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 herein 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 2020 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

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.acer.com.

Basic care and tips for using your computer

English

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on your computer, open the lid and press the power button above the keyboard. See “A tour of your computer” on page 3 for the location of the power button.

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 change the Power Management settings in Control Panel. See Windows Help for more information.

English

Note: If the operating system freezes, or locks up, press and hold the power button for more than four seconds.

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 a power strip or wall outlet. Grasp and pull the plug instead.

• The total ampere rating for all equipment plugged into a power strip should not exceed the ampere rating of the 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:

• Turn off the computer and remove the battery.

• Disconnect the AC adapter.

• 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 75 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

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 adapter iv Taking care of your battery pack v Cleaning and servicing v

English

Getting familiar with your computer 1

A tour of your computer 3

Open view 4 Front view 6 Top view 7 Left view 8 Right view 9 Rear view 10

Bottom view 11 Features 12 Display 13 Indicators 14 Keyboard 16

Lock keys 16

Embedded numeric keypad 17

Windows keys 18

Function keys 19

Euro key 20 Touchpad 21

Touchpad basics 21 Launch keys 23 Storage 24

Ejecting an optical disc 24 Connectivity options 26

Ethernet and LAN 26

Fax/data modem 26 Audio 28 Aspire Media Console 29 Securing your computer 30

Security slot 30

Passwords 30

Contents

Operating on battery power 31

Battery pack 33

Battery pack characteristics 33

Maximizing battery life 33 Installing and removing the battery pack 34 Charging the battery 35 Checking the battery level 35 Optimizing battery life 35 Battery-low warning 36

Power management 37

Peripherals and options 39

External display devices 41 External input devices 41

External keyboard 41 External keypad 41 External pointing device 41 USB devices 42 IEEE 1394 Port 43

Printer 44 Audio devices 44 Expansion devices 45

PC Card 45

Key component upgrades 47

Memory upgrade 47

Installing memory 47 Hard disk upgrade 48

Moving with your computer 49

Disconnecting from the desktop 51

Moving around 51 Taking the computer home 52

Setting up a home office 52 Traveling with with computer 53 Traveling internationally with your computer 54

Software 55

System software 57

Launch Manager 57

Aspire Arcade 58

Instant-on Arcade 58 Features and Benefits 58

Cinema 58 Album 59 Music 59

Windows Arcade 61

Arcade Hot keys 62 Finding and playing content 63

Advanced Settings 63

Arcade controls 64

Navigation controls 64 Player controls 64

Cinema 65

DVD settings 65 Album 67 Video 69

Playing a video file 69

Editing a video file 69 Music 70 Burner 70

Copy - backup your CD/DVD collection 70

Audio - create your own greatest hits CDs 70

Data - store files simply and easily 71

Video - your world in pictures 71

BIOS Setup Utility 72

Troubleshooting 73

Frequently asked questions 75

English

Appendix A Specifications 79

Appendix B Notices 85

Index 99

Getting familiar with

your computer

Your Aspire notebook computer combines solid performance, versatility, multimedia capabilities and portability with 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 your sytem.

English

Open view

Getting familiar with your computer

# Item Description

1 Screen Wide screen display provides visual

output.

2 Power Button Turns the computer on or off.

3 Launch keys Buttons that can be programmed to

start frequently used applications.

4 Stereo Speakers Produce stereo sound

# Item Description

5 Touchpad Touch sensitive pad that functions like a

computer mouse.

6 Click buttons and 4-way

scroll key

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, as well as right and left.

English

Getting familiar with your computer

Front view

# Item Description

1 Headphone-in jack Connects headphones for audio output

2 Microphone-in jack Connects an external microphone for

audio input

3 4 in 1 Card Reader Supports:

•MemoryStick

• MultiMediaCard

• SecureDigital

• SmartMedia

4 Latch Locks and releases the lid

5 Bluetooth Button Enables Bluetooth functionality

(manufacturing option)

6 Wireless Button Enables Wireless connectivity

(manufacturing option)

Top v ie w

# Item Description

1 Built-in Microphone For recording audio on the computer

English

2 Status Indicator LEDs that turn on and off to show system

statuss.

3 Arcade button Multimedia button

4 Console display Media status display

5 Stop Stop the Arcade application

6 Media Controls Multimedia Button

English

Getting familiar with your computer

Left view

# Item Description

1 PC card slot Type II PC card supports PCMCIA or

CardBus.

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

card from the PC card slot.

3 Eject button Ejects optical disc

4 Slot-loading Optical Support an optical disc.

Right view

# Item Description

1 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.

infrared printer, IR-aware computer, etc...)

2 DC-in jack Connect the AC power adapter

3 Kensington lock slot For attaching a security device.

4 Ventilation slot Enables the computer to stay cool, even

after prolonged use.

English

Rear view

# Item Description

Getting familiar with your computer

1 S-video out port Connects to a television or display device

2 External display

port

3 4 8

5 Network jack Connects the computer to an Ethernet

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

7 Parallel port Connects a parallel device, such as a

9 IEEE 1394 port Connects IEEE 1394 devices.

USB ports USB 2.0 ports

supporting S-video input.

Connects an external (VGA) monitor.

network.

a phone line.

printer.

Bottom view

# Item Description

1 Mini-PCI Slot Slot for adding mini-PCI cards

2 Hard disk bay Removable cover provides access to the

computer's hard drive.

English

3 Memory compartment Removable cover provides access to the

memory slots for upgrading the computer's memory.

Battery release latch

5 Battery pack The computer's removable battery.

6 Sub-Woofer Outputs low/mid range audio

Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack.

Features

Getting familiar with your computer

English

Performance

•Intel® Pentium® M Processor at 1.4 GHz or higher

• 2 memory slots supporting 333 MHz DDR, upgradeable to 2GB

• 30GB and up Enhanced-IDE hard disk drive

Multimedia

• Built-in optical drive (Slot-loading DVD Super-Multi Drive)

• 15.4” TFT Color LCD,1280x800 (WXGA) panel

• 2.1 channel stereo speaker system

• Audio input and S/PDIF (for digital audio enjoyment) output jacks

Connectivity

• Integrated 100/1000 Mbps Ethernet connection

• Built-in 56Kbps fax/data modem

• Three universal serial bus (USB 2.0) ports

• One IEEE 1394 port

• 802.11b/g Wireless LAN and Bluetooth (manufacturing options)

Human-centric design

• Rugged, portable construction

• Stylish appearance

• Standard 85 key keyboard with four 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 15.4” display panel provides a large viewing area for maximum efficiency and ease-of-use.

• ATI Radeon 9700 with 128MB DDR VGA Memory

• Supports simultaneous display on external LCD or CRT

• S-video for output to a television or display device that supports S-video input

• One LED console display for multimedia status

• DualView

support

English

Indicators

Getting familiar with your computer

English

Your computer provides three indicators located above the keyboard, in addition to five indicators positioned at the front of the palm rest area. These indicators show the status of the computer and its components.

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

Icon Description

Caps Lock Caps Lock active

NumLk Num Lock active

Note: The keypad lock must be turned on to use the embedded numeric keypad.

ScrLk Scroll Lock active

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

Icon Function Description

Power mode • Steady green -- power on

Hard Disc activity indicator

Battery state • Blue -- fully charged

Bluetooth mode Lights to indicate that Bluetooth is

Wireless LAN mode Lights to Indicate status of wireless

• Orange -- standby mode

• Flashing orange -- hibernation mode

• Lights to Indicate when the hard disc drive is reading or writing data.

• Orange -- being charged

• Flashing orange -- low on power

enabled (manufacturing option).

LAN is enabled (manufacturing option).

English

Key bo ar d

Getting familiar with your computer

English

The keyboard features full-size keys with an embedded keypad, separate cursor control keys, two Windows keys, and 13 function 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/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/off by pressing the Fn + F11 key combination.

Scroll Lock When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves 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 combination.

Embedded numeric keypad

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

To use the embedded numeric keys, toggle the NumLk 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

Type numbers using embedded keypad in the normal way.

English

Cursor control keys on embedded keypad

Main keyboard keys Hold down the Fn key

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

while 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.

English

Getting familiar with your computer

Windows keys

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 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 minimize

+ R opens the Run dialog box

Application key This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse

button to open an application's context menu.

Function keys

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 Description

Fn + F1 Hot key help Displays help on hot keys.

Fn + F2 Setup Accesses the computer’s

configuration utility.

English

Fn + F3 Power

management scheme toggle

Fn + F4 Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep mode.

Fn + F5 Display toggle Switches display output between

Switches the power management scheme used by the computer (function available if supported by operating system).

See “Power management” on page 37.

“Power management” on page 37.

See

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

HotKey Function Description

Getting familiar with your computer

English

Fn + F6 Screen blank Turns the display 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 + Subwoofer key

Fn + ↑ Volume up Increases the speaker volume.

Fn + ↓ Volume down Decreases the speaker volume.

Fn + → Brightness up Increases the screen brightness.

Fn +

←

Sub-woofer

Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness.

Turns the sub woofer on and off

Euro key

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

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