Acer ASPIRE 6100 User Manual

My

Guide

…the printed companion
to the way more fun and
handy onscreen experience of
My Asp i re Gu i d e

Introducing

the not nearly as exciting

ink on paper version of…

Did you know your Acer Aspire comes with incredible
multimedia software that was desigend to show you all
the cool stuff your computer can do? This book can be a
handy desktop reference, but you’ll receive much more in­depth information and instruction by firing up My Aspire
Guide software. (It’s located on your Windows 98 desktop
and in the Tools ‘N Stuff folder in Ace.) We’re pretty sure
you’ll have more fun with the software, too.

(P.S. - If you’re reading this because you’re having trouble with your computer,
check the Troubleshooting section in My Aspire Guide software or the “Need
Help?” section in this book.)

Hey !

Wait

a minute!

Table of Contents

v

iv

Copyright

Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks and Aspire is a trademark of
Acer Inc. and Acer America Corporation.

Microsoft Windows and the Windows Logo are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel
Corp. All other brands/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective companies.

© 1998 by Acer Incroporated. All rights reserved.
Printed in Taiwan
First printing December 1998

Table of

Contents

Welcome 1
Before You Start 2
Safety Instructions 2
Proper Setup and Placement Tips 4

An Introduction to Your Aspire 5
The System: Aspire Microtower 5
Setting Up Your Aspire 6
Turning Your Aspire On and Off 6
The Mouse 9
The Keyboard 10
The Monitor 12
The Speakers 12
Drives on Your Computer 13
Using Your Floppy Drive 15
Formatting a Floppy Diskette 16
Using Your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive 17
Your Data/Fax Modem 18
Accessing the Internet 18
Connecting an Optional Printer 19
Printer Driver Installation 19
Connecting an Optional Serial Device 20
Connecting an Optional Joystick or MIDIDevice 21

Getting the Most from Your Aspire Audio System 22
Playing an Audio CD 22
Adjusting the Volume 22
The Electronic Mixing Board 23

Adding Options to Your Aspire 24
Opening/Closing Your Aspire Microtower 24

Need Help? 27
My Aspire Guide - Software 27
Troubleshooting–General 34

Welcome

1

vi

Welcome

and

thank you

for

purchasing an Aspire computer. You are now the owner of a
multimedia computer system! Already installed on your sys­tem and ready to go are software programs designed to
enable you to:

Create personal documents
Access the Internet and send and receive e-mail

Use your computer as a fax machine
Play audio CDs while you’re working

and tons more!

Whether you’ve owned a computer before or not, your Aspire
was designed to improve the way you work and to serve your
needs now and into the future.

Troubleshooting–Error Messages 37
Additional Acer Services 39
Disclaimer of Warranties 41
Standard End User License Agreement 41
System Warranty I nfor mati on 43
Limited Product Warranty 44
Garantie Limitée Sur Les Produits 48
FCC Statement 53
Acer Year 2000 Compliance Statement 54
CD-ROMSafety Warning 54
Caution on Lithium Batteries 55

3

2

Before You Start...

• Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

• Do not attempt to service this product yourself; opening or

removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points
or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Service by persons other than Acer authorized service providers
may void your warranty.

• Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing
to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

a • When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.
b • If liquid has been spilled into the product.
c • If the product has been exposed to rain or water.
d • If the product does not operate normally when the oper-

ating instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that
are covered by the operating instructions since improper
adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will
often require extensive work by a qualified technician to
restore the product to normal condition.

e • If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been

damaged.

f • If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance,

indicating a need for service.

• Replace battery with the same type as the product’s battery
we recommend. Use of another battery may present a risk of
fire or explosion. Refer battery replacement to qualified service
personnel.

• Warning! Battery may explode if not handled properly. Do
not recharge, disassemble or dispose of in fire. Keep away from
children and dispose of used battery promptly.

• Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided
in your keyboard/manual accessories box) for this unit. It
should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified, type
SVT/SJT, rated 6A 125V minimum, VDE approved or its equiva­lent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).

• Always unplug the computer and monitor before opening
the housing or adjusting connections or cables.

• Use power strips with surge protection to protect your com­puter in the event of a power surge, due to severe weather
such as a thunderstorm.

Before You Star t . . .

Make sure you read this section carefully for proper placement
and important Safety Instructions on the use and care of your
new computer. Please save these instructions for future reference.

Safety Instructions

• Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

• Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do

not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a cloth mildly
dampened with water for cleaning.

• Do not use this product in or near water.

• Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table.

The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.

• Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are
provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating, these openings
must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never
be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug , or other
similar surface. This product should never be placed near or
over a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation unless
proper ventilation is provided.

• This product should be operated from the type of power indi­cated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of
power available, consult your dealer or local power company.

• This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding-type plug,
a plug having a third (grounding) pin. This plug will only fit into
a grounding-type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you
are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your elec­trician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the pur­pose of the grounding-type plug.

• Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not
locate this product where persons will walk on the cord.

• If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that
the total ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the
extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere rat­ing. Also, make sure that the total rating of all products
plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.

• Never push objects of any kind into this product through
cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or
short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock.

An Introduction to Your Aspire

5

4

Power/Quickstart

Button

CD-ROM/

DVD-ROM Drive

Aspire

An introduction to Your

The System: Aspire Microtower

CD-ROM

Eject Button

Expansion

Bay Door

Proper Setup and Placement Tips

It’s important that your computer be set up correctly and
according to your own comfort and ergonomic needs. The
following tips should make your workstation a comfortable
and healthy place:

Monitor Level. Position your computer so that it is at arm’s
length away and the top third of the monitor viewing area is
at eye level. This helps prevent eye and neck strain. To fur ther
reduce eye strain, close your eyes and refocus on something
other than your computer screen at least twice an hour. Most
monitors come standard with a detachable tilt-and-swivel base
and adjustable, rear-mounted foot, which allow you to position
the monitor exactly where you want it.

Your S eat. If you plan to use your Acer computer for extended
periods (for example, in a home office environment.), select a
highly adjustable office chair with a five-pronged base. The seat
and chair back should be adjustable, while you’re sitting in the
chair, for height and tilt, and forward/backward positioning, and
the lumbar area of the back should be supported by the chair
adjustments or a cushion. Arm rests should conform to your
elbow height and shoulder width and should be used for sup­port. For maximum comfort, vary positions f requently through­out the day. Use good posture when seated, keep your head
centered over your shoulders and, just like your mother always
told you, don’t slump over your work.

Anti-Glare Coating. Some monitor screens are constructed
with a special anti-glare coating, which minimizes reflections that
cause eye strain and discomfort. To fur ther reduce eye strain,
close your eyes and refocus on something other than your com­puter screen at least twice an hour .

Ta sk Lighting . When room lighting is dimmed, there may
be insufficient light on documents or reference materials for
comfortable reading. A well-lit room or a few dire ctional,
adjustable task lights will allow you to see your monitor screen
and other materials clearly, and with the least amount of strain.

Hand and Wrist. Keep your wrists straight and your forearms
parallel to the floor while you are typing. If you use a wrist rest,
use it only briefly for resting. Do not rest your hands on the
table or on the wrist rest while you are typing. During long
periods of typing, frequent breaks are recommended.

Power Indicator

Light

Activity

Indicator Light

An Introduction to Your Aspire

7

6

1 • Press and release the monitor power button if it not on or

blinking already.
2 • Press and release the computer power button (Quickstart

or traditional start).

The monitor will begin displaying images after 5-10 seconds.
The power indicator lights on the computer and monitor will
be on.

Note: If you previously used Quickstart OFF when you were done
using your Aspire, your computer will return to exactly where it was in
just a couple seconds. If you previously shut down Windows 98, your
computer will take 2-3 minutes to start.

Setting Up your Aspire

Refer to the Aspire Easy Setup Poster included in your system
box for details on how to set up your computer.

Turning your A spire on and of f

You have two options for turning your Aspire on and off. Your
Aspire was designed for you with convenience in mind. The
Quickstart option allows your computer to instantly turn on
and off, without waiting for a long start-up time. If you like the
traditional approach better, you can use it instead.

Tur ning on your Aspire

Note: Make sure that the AC ma ster power switch located on the

back of your system is in the ONposition. Leave it ONat all times
unless the system is being serviced.

An Introduction to Your Aspire

9

8

The Mouse

The mouse uses a cursor called a pointer. Pointers come in
many different shapes but are most commonly shaped like an
arrow.

Your mou se has t wo buttons: a left button and a right button.
Quickly pressing and releasing one of these buttons is called
clicking. Sometimes you will need to double-click–or click the
same button twice quickly.

In this manual, click means to position your mouse point on an
icon and to single click the left button. When a right click is
required, this is stated clearly. D ouble-click also refers to the left
button.

Note: If you are left-handed, please refer to your Windows 98 manual
for instructions on how to set up your mouse for left-handed use.

Right button

Left button

Pointer movement on the
screen is controlle d by the
movement of a small ball
on the bottom of the
mouse.
Using a mouse pad under
your mouse will help to
keep the internal parts of
the mouse clean. A dirty
mouse results in jerky
pointer movement and dif­ficulty getting the pointer
where you want it on
screen.

To clean your mouse:

1 • Turn the mouse upside

down.

2 • Remove the ring holding

the ball in place by turning
it counter-clockwise.

3 • Using a lint-free cloth or a

cotton swab dipped in rub­bing alcohol, clean all mov­ing parts.

4 • Insert the ball back into

the mouse, making sure to
turn the ring clockwise.

Caring for
your Mouse

Turning off your Aspire
Option 1: Quickstart OFF • Your Aspire will continue to run

in the Quickstart OFF condition. It will appear that it is OFF.
When you press the power button to switch your Aspire into
the fully ON condition, it will do it in only a few seconds.

Option 2: Traditional OFF • If you want your Aspire to com­pletely power OFF (if you need to unplug it):

1 • Click on the Windows Start button on the taskbar.
2 • Click on Shutdown.
3 • Click on Shutdown the Computer and click Yes. Your com-

puter will guide you through saving any open files and then will
shutdown Windows 98. Your computer will then turn off all
computer power automatically. You will have to manually turn
off your monitor after you see the computer power go off.

Refer to My Aspire Guide software for more in-depth options
and recommendations for Quickstart and traditional on/off
modes.

An Introduction to Your Aspire

11

10

Home key • takes you to the beginning of a line.
End key • takes you to the end of a line.
Page Up / Page Down keys • move you up or down a screen

at a time.
Backspace key • is similar to the delete key above, but it will

delete one character at a time to the left of the cursor.
Alt and Ctrl keys • These keys have varying functions on their

own or when used with other keys, depending on the software
being used.

Num Lock key and numeric key pad • When the Num
Lock/Num Pad key is on, the keys on the numeric key pad can
be used for entering numbers. When it’s off, these keys become
arrow keys, page up and page down keys–as indicated on the
bottom half of the key.

Sleep • puts your computer into sleep mode.
Volume Control /Mute • controls the speaker volume. Press

to mute.

Web Connection • start s up the Internet browser.

• brings up the Windows 98 START menu.

.• displays drop-down menus from icons (same as right click)

and currently active applications.

Home

End

Page Up

Page Down

Backspace

Alt

Alt

Ctrl

Ctrl

Num Lock/

Num Pad

Sleep

Web

Connection

Volume

Control/

Mute

The Keyboard

The way keys are used varies from program to prog ram. Here
are some of the most common uses:

Esc key • exits the current action, screen, or program.
Tab key • moves the cursor over a set number of spaces in

word processing software. In other types of programs, it moves
the cursor from one field (an area on the screen where data
can be entered) to the next.

Enter key • starts a new paragraph in word processing. In other
programs, it accepts data entered or shows that an action is
complete.

Shift key • Pressing this key while typing a letter or symbol key
will give you the capital letter or symbol on the top of the key.

Caps Lock key • locks the capital letters in place. Pressing it
again will take the Caps Lock off. (A Caps Lock indicator light
will turn on when the Caps Lock is on.)

Function keys • numbered F1 through F12, each will perform a
specific and well-defined function, should an application use
them.

Cursor Arrow keys • move the cursor in the directions that
the arrows point.

Insert key • when activated will insert data vs. typing
over/replacing it.

Delete key • will delete data that is highlighted or to the right
of the cursor.

Esc

Enter

Tab

Caps
Lock

Shift

Function

Cursor Arrows

Insert

Delete

An Introduction to Your Aspire

13

12

The Monitor

Refer to the manual that came with your Aspire monitor for
more information on the monitor features.

The Sp e a ke r s

Your system comes with uniquely-designed speakers that can
be attached to the monitor.

To connect the speakers to the monitor:
1 • Locate the left and right speaker brackets that came with

your speaker package.

2 • Locate the brackets on the sides of your Aspire monitor.
3 • Align and insert the holdfasts on the speakers into the key

holes. Then slide the speakers down to secure them to the
brackets. See the following figure:

Connect the speakers to your system as shown in the following
figure:

Unlike ordinary speakers, the speakers that came with your
Aspire system do not use a power adapter. Instead, they share
power with your system via the USB interf ace.

Drives on Your Computer

Whether it’s the software program that you bought from your
local computer store or the shopping list you just typed up
using your word processor, all information in a computer is
stored electronically.

To s ave (write) data or retrieve (read) data, the computer uses
a drive. There are different ways to store data, and every differ­ent type of data storage has a specific drive.

Three different types of drives come with your Acer computer:

The Hard Drive

Your f ixed or hard drive is located inside your computer. This
drive is typically called the C: drive in Windows 98.

The Floppy Drive

This drive uses removable 3.5-inch floppy disks and is called the
A: drive.