Acer ASPIRE 3500 User Manual

Aspire 3500 Series

User's Guide

Aspire 3500 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 3500 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 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 41 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 hot key <Fn> + <F4>. See "Moving around" on page 41 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 and 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 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 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 23.

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 on 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 3 Rear view 4 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 15 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 Acer disk-to-disk recovery 21

Restore without a Recovery CD 21

Launch Manager 22

Frequently asked questions 23

Requesting service 26

International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 26 Before you call 26

Arcade (for selected models) 27

Arcade hotkeys 28 The Arcade remote control (for selected models)29 Finding and playing content 30

Advanced Settings 30

Arcade controls 30

Navigation controls 31 Player controls 31

Cinema 31

DVD settings 32

Album 33

Slideshow settings 34

Video 35

Playing a video file 35 Video Authoring 35

Music 36 Burner 36

Copy — backup your CD/DVD collection 36 Audio — create your own greatest hits CDs 36 Data — store files simply and easily 36 Video — your world in pictures 36

TV (for selected models) 37

Instant Replay 37 Recorded TV 38 Scheduling Recordings 38 TV Preview 38 Using TeleText Functions 38 TV Settings 39

Taking your notebook PC with you 41

Disconnecting from the desktop 41 Moving around 41

Preparing the computer 41 What to take to short meetings 42 What to take to long meetings 42

Taking the computer home 42

Preparing the computer 42 What to take with you 43 Special considerations 43 Setting up a home office 43

Traveling with the computer 43

Preparing the computer 43 What to take with you 44

Special considerations 44

Traveling internationally with the computer 44

Preparing the computer 44 What to bring with you 44 Special considerations 45

Securing your computer 46

Using a computer security lock 46 Using passwords 46

Entering passwords 47 Setting passwords 47

Expanding through options 49

Connectivity options 49

Fax/Data modem 49 Built-in network feature 50 Universal Serial Bus 51 IEEE 1394 port 51 PC Card slot 52

BIOS utility 53

Boot sequence 54 Enable Disk to disk recovery 54 Password 54

Using software 54

Playing DVD movies 54

Power management 55 Acer eRecovery 56

Create backup 56 Restore from backup 57 Create factory default image CD 57 Re-install bundled software without CD 58 Change password 58

Troubleshooting 59

Troubleshooting tips 59 Error messages 59

Regulations and safety notices 61

Energy Star Guidelines Compliance 61 FCC notice 61 Modem notices 63 Important safety instructions 65

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, center and right)

the computer.

The left and right buttons function like the left and

right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-

way scroll button.

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 14 for more details.

Closed front view

# Item Description 1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo

audio output.

2 Power indicator Lights up when the computer is on.

3 Battery indicator Lights up when the battery is being

charged.

4Bluetooth

communication button/indicator (for selected models)

5Wireless

communication button/indicator

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

7 Mic-in jack Accepts inputs from external

8 Speaker/Line-Out/

Headphone jack

Press to enable/disable the Bluetooth function. Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication (optional).

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

audio CD player, stereo walkman).

microphones.

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

# Item Description 9 USB 2.0 port Connects to Universal Serial Bus (USB)

2.0 devices (e.g., USB 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 computer

4 Optical drive eject

button

is turned off

Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive.

Right view

English

# Item Description 1 PC Card slot

eject button

2 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II CardBus PC Card.

3 Two USB 2.0

ports

Ejects the PC Card from the slot.

Connect to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).

English

# Item Description 4 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100 based

network.

5 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.

6 Ventilation

slots

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

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

Rear view

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

2 External display

port

3 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible

Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).

computer security lock.

Base view

# 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.

English

Specifications

English

Operating system

Platform

Microsoft Microsoft Intel

Windows® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2) or

Windows® XP Professional (Service Pack 2)

Celeron® M processor 350/360/370

(512 KB L2 cache, 1.3/1.4/1.5 GHz, 400 MHz FSB)

Intel

Pentium® M processor 715 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.5 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) Chipset: SiS M661MX/963L/302ELV (LVDS)

System memory 256 or 512 MB of DDR333 memory, upgradeable to 1 GB

using two soDIMM modules

Display and graphics

15" XGA color TFT LCD with 1024 x 768 resolution

15.4" WXGA color TFT LCD with 1280 x 800 resolution

15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite color TFT LCD with 1280 x 800 resolution

16.7 million colors SiSM661MX integrated 3D graphics with up to 64 MB of

VRAM, supporting Microsoft

DirectX® 7.0 Dual independent display support MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability

Storage subsystem

40/60/80 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive Optical drive options: DVD-Dual DVD/CD-RW combo

Dimensions and weight

364 (W) x 279 (D) x 33.9/38.9 (H) mm, (14.3 x 11 x 1.3/1.5 inches)

2.76 kg (6.08 lbs.) for 15" XGA LCD model

2.8 kg (6.17 lbs.) for 15.4" WXGA LCD model

Power subsystem ACPI 1.0b power management standard: supports Standby

and Hibernation power-saving modes 29 W Li-ion battery pack 1-hour 40-min battery life

2.5-hour rapid charge, 3.5-hour charge-in-use 3-pin 65 W AC adaptor

Input devices

88-/89-key Acer FineTouch

™

keyboard Touchpad with 4-way integrated scroll button Four easy-launch buttons Two front-panel buttons: wireless LED-button and

Bluetooth

LED-button

Audio Audio system with two built-in speakers

™

Sound Blaster Pro

and MS-Sound compatible

Built-in microphone

Communication Modem: 56K ITU V.92 modem with PTT approval; Wake-

on-Ring ready LAN: 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready Wireless LAN (optional): integrated miniPCI 802.11b/g Wi-

Fi CERTIFIED

™

solution

Acer SignalUp wireless technology support Wireless PAN (optional): integrated Bluetooth

I/O interface Three USB 2.0 ports

Ethernet (RJ-45) port Modem (RJ-11) port External display (VGA) port Microphone/line-in jack Headphones/speaker/line-out port Type II PC Card slot DC-in jack for AC adaptor

Security Kensington lock slot

BIOS user and supervisor passwords

Software Acer Launch Manager

Acer eManager (eSetting/ePresentation/eRecovery) Acer Arcade Acer GridVista Acer System Recovery CD

™

soDIMM memory

Options and accessories

Norton AntiVirus Adobe® Reader NTI CD-Maker 256 or 512 MB and 1 GB

Li-ion battery pack 65 W AC adaptor

Environment Temperature:

• Operating: 5° C to 35° C

• Non-operating: -20° C to 65° C

Humidity (non-condensing):

• Operating: 20% to 80%

• Non-operating: 20% to 80%

System compliance

Mobile PC 2001 ACPI 1.0b

DMI 2.0

Warranty One-year International Travelers Warranty (ITW)

English

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

English

Indicators

The computer has three 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.

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

Bluetooth Indicates the status of Bluetooth

Wireless LAN Indicates the status of wireless LAN

Power Lights up when the computer is on.

drive is active.

communication.

English

Battery Lights up when the battery is being

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

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

charged.

Launch keys

English

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 22.

Launch key Default application

User-programmable Acer eManager (user-programmable)

Web browser Internet browser (user-programmable) Mail Email application (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 twelve 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 (< > + <M>) 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 hot key combination.

Hot key Icon Function Description <Fn> +

<F1>

Hot key help Displays help on hotkeys.

Acer eSetting Launches Acer eSetting in Acer eManager.

See "Acer eManager" on page 19.

Acer Power Management

Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep mode.

Display toggle

Screen blank Turns the display screen backlight off to save

Touchpad toggle

Speaker toggle

Volume up Increases the sound volume.

Launches Power Management options.

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

power. Press any key to return. Turns the internal touchpad on and off.

Turns the speakers on and off.

English

Volume down Decreases the sound volume.

English

Hot key Icon Function Description <Fn> +

<→>

<Fn> + <

←>

Brightness up Increases the screen brightness.

Brightness down

Decreases the screen brightness.

Special keys

You can locate the Euro symbol at the upper-center and/or bottom-right of your keyboard. To type:

The Euro symbol

1 Open a text editor or word processor. 2 Either directly press the <Euro> key at the bottom-right of the keyboard,

or hold <Alt Gr> and then press the <5> key at the upper-center of the keyboard.

Note: Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq12.htm more information.

for

The US dollar sign

1 Open a text editor or word processor. 2 Either directly press the <Dollar> key at the bottom-right of the keyboard,

or hold <Shift> and then press the <4> key at the upper-center of the keyboard.

Note: This function varies according to the language settings.

Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray

To eject the optical drive tray when the computer is turned on, press the drive eject button.

When the power is off, you can eject the drive tray by using the emergency eject hole.

Using a computer security lock

A security keylock notch, located on the chassis of the computer, lets you connect a Kensington-compatible computer security lock.

English

Wrap the computer security lock cable around an immovable object such as a table or handle of a locked drawer. Insert the lock into the notch and turn the key to secure the lock. Some keyless models are also available.

Audio

English

The computer comes with 16-bit high-fidelity AC'97 stereo audio, and dual stereo speakers.

Adjusting the volume

Adjusting the volume on the computer is as easy as pressing some buttons. See "Hotkeys" on page 15 for more information on adjusting the speaker volume.

+ 58 hidden pages

Acer ASPIRE 3500 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

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

Special keys

Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray

Using a computer security lock

Audio

Adjusting the volume