Acer ASPIRE 6600 User Manual
Introducing
the not nearly as exciting
ink on paper versionof…
My
Gu ide
…the printed companion
to the way more fun and
hands-on experience of your
Acer Aspire.
Hey!
Wa i t
a minute!
Did you know your Acer Aspire comes with incredible
multimedia software that was designed to show you all
the cool stuff your computer can do? This book is your
handy desktop reference for your Acer Aspire..
(P.S. - If you’re reading this because you’re having trouble with your computer,
check the “Need Help?” section in this book.)
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.
© 2000 by Acer Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Printed in Taiwan
First printing September 2000
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 Acer 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? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Troubleshooting–General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Troubleshooting–Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Additional Acer Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Disclaimer of Warranties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
ii
Table of Contents
iii
Standard End User License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
System Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Limited Product Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
FCC Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Acer Year 2000 Compliance Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
CD-ROM Safety Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Caution on Lithium Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
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-mai l
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.
iv
Welcome
1
Before You Start . . .
Make su re you read th is section carefu lly for proper placement
and important Safety Instructions on the use and care of you r
new com puter. Please save these instructions for futu re 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.
• Th is prod uct shou ld be operated from the type of power ind icated on the marki ng label. If you are not su re of the type of
power avai lable, consu lt your dealer or local power com pany.
• 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.
2
• 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 prod uct does not operate normally when the oper-
ati ng instructions are followed. Adj ust on ly those controls that
are covered by the operati ng instructions si nce improper
adj ustment of other controls may resu lt in damage and wi ll
often requ i re extensive work by a qual ified tech n ician to
restore the prod uct to normal cond ition .
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 Start...
3
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 further
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 Seat.If you plan to use your Acer com puter for extended
periods (for exam ple, in a home office envi ron ment), select a
h igh ly adj ustable office chair with a five - pronged base. The seat
and chair back shou ld be adj ustable, wh i le you ’re sitti ng in the
chai r, for height and ti lt, and forward / backward position i ng, and
the lumbar area of the back shou ld be su pported by the chai r
adj ustments or a cush ion. Arm rests shou ld conform to you r
el bow height and shou lder width and shou ld be used for su pport. For maximum comfort, vary positions frequently th roughout the day. Use good postu re when seated, keep your head
centered over your shou lders and, just like your mother always
told you, don’t slump over your work.
Anti - Glare Coati ng. Some mon itor screens are constructed
with a special anti - glare coati ng, wh ich minimizes reflections that
cause eye strain and discomfort. To fu rther red uce eye strai n ,
close your eyes and refocus on someth i ng other than your computer screen at least twice an hour .
Task 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 directional,
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.
An Introduction to Your
Aspire
The System: Aspire Microtower
CD-ROM/
DVD-ROMDrive
CD-ROM/
DVD-ROM
Eject Button
Expansion Bay
Door
Activity Indicator
Light Front USBand Audio
Connectors
Power/
Quickstart
Button
Power Indicator Light
4
An Introduction to Your Aspire
5
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 Aspire On and Off
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.
Turning on your Aspire
Note: Make sure that the AC master power switch located on the
back of your system is in the ON position. Leave it ON at all times
unless the system is being serviced.
1 • Press and release the monitor power button if it is 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 button lights on the computer and monitor will
be on.
Note: If you previously used Quickstart OFFwhen you were done
using your Aspire, your computer will return exactly where it was in
just a couple of seconds. If you previously shut down Windows
Millenium Edition (Me), your computer will take 2-3 minutes to start.
6
An Introduction to Your Aspire
7
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 to
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 Shut Down.
3 • Click on Shut Down the Computer and click Yes. Your
computer will guide you through saving any open files and
then will shut down Windows Me. 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.
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 mouse has two 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. Double-click also refers to the
left button.
The ratchet wheel in between the two buttons is added to
provide easier scrolling capability. By simply moving the wheel
with your index finger, you can quicky move through multiple
pages, line, or windows. The wheel may also function as a
third button allowing you to quickly click or double-click an
icon or a selected item
Note: If you are left-handed, please refer to your Windows Me manual for instructions on how to set up your mouse for left-handed use.
Right Button
Ratchet Wheel
Left Button
Caring for
your Mouse
Pointer movement on the
screen is controlled 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 counterclockwise.
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.
8
An Introduction to Your Aspire
9
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