Acer Extensa 355 User Guide

Extensa 355

User’s Manual

Copyright

Copyright © 1997 by Acer Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

Disclaimer

Acer Incorporated makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any warranties, merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Any Acer Incorporated software described in this manual is sold or licensed “as is”. Should the programs prove defective following their purchase, the buyer (and not Acer Incorporated, its distributor, or its dealer) assumes the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair, and any incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect in the software. Further, Acer Incorporated reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes from time to time in the contents hereof without obligation of Acer Incorporated to notify any person of such revision or changes.

Acer is a registered trademark of Acer Incorporated. Extensa is a registered trademark of Acer Incorporated. Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows and Windows 95 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1.Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference.

2.Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

3.Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

4.Do not use this product near water.

5.Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.

6.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.

7.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.

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

9.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 the fuse rating.

10.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. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

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11.Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

12.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 operating 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

13.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 a qualified serviceman.

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

15.Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided in your accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified, type SPT-2, rated 7A 125V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).

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Canadian Department of Communications

Regulatory Statement

This digital apparatus does not exceed Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n'émet pas de bruits radio-électriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe B prescrites dans le Réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le ministère des Communications du Canada.

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FCC Class B Radio Frequency Interference Statement

Note:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

1.Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

2.Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

3.Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

4.Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

Notice 1:

The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

Notice 2:

Shielded interface cables, if any, must be used in order to comply with the emission limits.

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About This Manual

Purpose

This manual discusses the features of the notebook and tells how to use and configure it. This manual, along with the online help, should familiarize you with all aspects of the notebook computer.

Manual Structure

This manual consists of eight chapters and one appendix:

Chapter 1, Getting Started, tells you how to get started with the notebook.

Chapter 2, System Tour, gives a guided and in-depth “tour” of the notebook and its features.

Chapter 3, Power, discusses issues on battery use and includes information on the unique power management system.

Chapter 4, Options, tells how to connect and install hardware options.

Chapter 5, Software, contain a list of system software applications.

Chapter 6, Setup, explains how to configure the system using the BIOS Setup utility.

Chapter 7, Traveling with the Notebook, includes informative and useful tips on travel.

Chapter 8, Troubleshooting, lists the steps you can take to resolve problems in an easy Q&A format.

Appendix A, Specifications, lists the specifications of the notebook.

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Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

C:\setup, [Enabled], etc.

message displayed

Represent text input by the user, default settings and recommended selections

Denotes actual messages that appear on screen

NOTE

Gives bits and pieces of additional information related to the current topic

WARNING

Alerts you if damage may result from doing or not doing specific actions

CAUTION

Gives precautionary measures to avoid possible hardware or software problems

IMPORTANT

Reminds you to take action relevant to the accomplishment of the procedure at hand

TIP

Tells how to complete a procedure with minimum steps through little shortcuts

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T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

1 Getting Started

1.1	Item Checklist .......................................................................................		1-1
1.2	Taking Care of Your Computer..............................................................		1-2
	1.2.1	Notebook ..................................................................................	1-2
	1.2.2	AC Adapter...............................................................................	1-2
	1.2.3	Battery Pack .............................................................................	1-3
	1.2.4	Cleaning and Servicing.............................................................	1-3
	1.2.5	Diskettes...................................................................................	1-4
1.3	Connecting the Notebook ......................................................................		1-5

2 System Tour

2.1	Features................................................................................................		2-1
2.2	Display..................................................................................................		2-3
2.3	Interior Features....................................................................................		2-5
	2.3.1	Control Buttons.........................................................................	2-5
	2.3.2	Status Indicator.........................................................................	2-6
2.4	Keyboard ..............................................................................................		2-7
	2.4.1	Special Keys.............................................................................	2-7
	2.4.2	Hot Keys...................................................................................	2-9
	2.4.3	Keyboard Ergonomics.............................................................	2-10
2.5	Touchpad............................................................................................		2-11
2.6	Storage	...............................................................................................	2-13

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2.7	Ports ...................................................................................................		2-14
	2.7.1	Rear Ports ..............................................................................	2-14
	2.7.2	PC Card Slots.........................................................................	2-15
2.8	Audio ..................................................................................................		2-17
2.9	Securing your Notebook ......................................................................		2-18
	2.9.1	Security Notch ........................................................................	2-18
	2.9.2	Passwords ..............................................................................	2-18

3 Power

3.1	Battery Pack .........................................................................................		3-1
	3.1.1	Battery Pack Characteristics .....................................................	3-1
	3.1.2 Removing and Installing the Battery Pack.................................		3-2
	3.1.3	Charging the Battery.................................................................	3-3
	3.1.4 Checking the Battery Level.......................................................		3-4
	3.1.5	Optimizing Battery Life .............................................................	3-5
	3.1.6	Battery-low Warning .................................................................	3-6
3.2	Power Management ..............................................................................		3-8
	3.2.1	Power Management Modes ......................................................	3-8
	3.2.2 Advanced Power Management (APM) ....................................		3-12

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4 Options
4.1	External Monitor....................................................................................		4-1
4.2	External Keyboard and Keypad .............................................................		4-2
4.3	External Pointing Device.......................................................................		4-3
4.4	Printer	..................................................................................................	4-4
4.5	Audio Devices.......................................................................................		4-5
4.6	PC Cards ..............................................................................................		4-6
4.7	Miscellaneous ..........................................................................Options		4-6
	4.7.1 ............................................................	Additional Power Packs	4-6
	4.7.2 ......................................................................................	Cables	4-6
	4.7.3 .............................................Optional External CD-ROM Drive		4-8
4.8	Key Component ....................................................................Upgrades		4-9
	4.8.1 ......................................................................	Memory Upgrade	4-9
	4.8.2 .................................................................	Hard Disk Upgrade	4-11

5 Software
5.1	System Software...................................................................................	5-1
5.2	SafeOff .................................................................................................	5-2
	5.2.1 Uninstalling SafeOFF ...............................................................	5-2

6 Setup

6.1 Entering the BIOS Utility .......................................................................		6-2
6.1.1	Basic System Settings ..............................................................	6-3
6.1.2	Startup Configuration................................................................	6-4
6.1.3	Onboard Devices Configuration ................................................	6-5

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6.1.4	System Security .......................................................................	6-6
6.1.5	Power Management Settings ....................................................	6-7
6.1.6	Load Default Settings ...............................................................	6-9

7 Traveling with the Notebook

7.1	Traveling Preparations ..........................................................................	7-1
7.2	International Traveler’s Warranty ..........................................................	7-3
7.3	Worldwide Support................................................................................	7-6

8 Troubleshooting

8.1	Q&A......................................................................................................	8-1
8.2	Error Messages .....................................................................................	8-5

A Specifications

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C h a p t e r 1

Getting Started

This notebook supports high-end Pentium™ processor, packing power of a desktop PC into a slim and lightweight notebook. Combining performance, versatility, and a host of advanced power-management features, it helps you work with unmatched productivity and ease.

1.1Item Checklist

Carefully unpack the carton and remove the contents. If any of the following items are missing or damaged, contact your dealer immediately.

∙

∙

Notebook computer

Accessory box

∙AC adapter

∙Battery pack

∙User’s manual

∙Other user documentation

∙Third-party software and/or documentation

∙Just for Starters Poster

Check for optional items, if any.

Getting Started

1-1

1.2Taking Care of Your Computer

Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. This section tells you how to care for the notebook. Also, re-read the important safety instructions at the beginning of this manual.

1.2.1Notebook

∙Do not expose the notebook to direct sunlight. Do not place near sources of heat, such as a radiator.

∙Do not expose to temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF) or above 60ºC (140ºF).

∙Do not subject the notebook to magnetic fields.

∙Do not expose the notebook to rain or moisture.

∙Do not spill water on the notebook.

∙Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration.

∙Do not expose the notebook to dust and dirt.

∙Never place objects on top of the notebook to avoid damaging the notebook.

∙Never place the notebook on uneven surfaces.

1.2.2AC Adapter

∙Do not connect the adapter 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 personal traffic.

∙When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the plug.

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∙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.

1.2.3Battery 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.

1.2.4Cleaning and Servicing

When cleaning the notebook, follow these steps:

1.Power off the notebook and remove the battery pack.

2.Disconnect the AC adapter.

3.Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

Contact your dealer or see your service technician if any of the following occurs:

∙Notebook has been dropped or the body has been damaged.

∙Liquid has been spilled into the product.

∙The notebook does not operate normally.

See sections 7.2 and 7.3 for contact information.

Getting Started

1-3

1.2.5Diskettes

Following are some tips on diskette management:

∙Always make backup copies of diskettes that contain important data or program files.

∙Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields and sources of heat.

∙Avoid removing a diskette from a drive when the floppy drive activity light is on.

∙Write-protect your diskettes to prevent accidental erasure. To do this, slide the write-protect tab to the write-protect position.

∙When you put a label on a 3.5-inch diskette, make sure that the label is properly attached (flat on the surface) and within the labelling area (area with slight surface depression) on the diskette. An improperly attached label may cause a diskette to get stuck in the drive when you are inserting or removing it.

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1.3Connecting the Notebook

After reading through the previous section, you are now ready to experience your new notebook. Connecting the notebook is as easy is 1-2-3.

Inserting the Battery Pack

Insert the battery pack into the battery compartment and slide the battery compartment cover in place.

Connecting the AC Adapter

Connect one end of the AC adapter to the DC-in port on the notebook’s rear panel and the other end to a properly grounded power outlet.

Turning on the Power

Press the power switch to turn on the power.

The POST (Power On Self-Test) routine executes and Windows 95 begins loading.

To turn off power, press the power switch for more than four seconds. If you are using Windows 95, we recommend you use the Shutdown command to turn off the computer.

Getting Started

1-5

1.4Creating Backup Disks

The system utility software is an integrated package of useful utilities for your notebook computer. You should create a backup whenever possible.

To create backup disks, follow these steps:

1.In Windows95, click on Start.

2.Select Programs, Accessories, System Tools.

3.Select Create System Disks.

The Create System Disks tool allows you to create backup diskettes of utilities and programs available in the window. Please prepare 3.5- inch, 1.44MB diskettes for the backup diskettes you are going to create.

4.Select the utility/program you want to backup to diskettes.

5.Follow the screen instructions.

6.Repeat step 4 to backup other utilities and programs in the list.

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C h a p t e r 2

System Tour

This chapter gives an in-depth “tour” of the notebook’s many features.

2.1Features

The notebook was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of the notebook’s many features:

Performance

∙High-end Pentium microprocessor

∙64-bit main memory

∙Large LCD display and PCI local bus video with graphics acceleration

∙3.5-inch floppy drive

∙High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk

∙Nickel Metal-Hydride battery pack

∙Power management system with standby and hibernation power saving modes

System Tour

2-1

Multimedia

∙

∙

∙

16-bit high quality audio

Built-in speaker

Line in, mic-in and line out ports

Human-centric Design and Ergonomics

∙

∙

∙

∙

Lightweight and slim

Full-sized keyboard

Wide and curved palm rest

Centrally-located touchpad pointing device

Expansion

∙PC Card slots (formerly called PCMCIA), two type II or one type III

∙Upgradeable memory and hard disk

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2.2Display

The large DualScan STN color graphics display offers excellent viewing, display quality and desktop performance graphics. With built-in PCI bus VGA display system to support both the internal LCD display and the external optional VGA monitor with 1MB RAM video memory.

The notebook’s large display and multimedia capabilities are great for giving presentations. If you prefer, you can also connect an external monitor when giving presentations. This notebook supports simultaneous LCD and CRT display. Simultaneous display allows you to control the presentation from your notebook and at the same time face your audience. You can even connect an LCD projection panel for large-audience presentations.

The power management system incorporates an “automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and at the same time conserve power. See section 3.2 for more information on power management.

Opening and Closing the Display

To open the display, gently pull the display lid latch using your fingers and lift up the lid. Then tilt it to a comfortable viewing position.

The notebook employs a microswitch that turns off the display to conserve power when you close the lid, and turns it back on when you open the lid.

System Tour

2-3

Microswitch

To close the lid, fold it down gently until the display lid latch clicks into place.

To avoid damaging the display, do not slam it when closing. Do not place any object on top of the notebook when the display is closed.

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2.3Interior Features

Standby/Hibernation button

No-reboot Setup button

Battery Charging

Power Indicator

Power Switch

Status indicator

2.3.1Control Buttons

Icon Function	Description
Power Switch	Toggle system power on and off.
No-reboot	Gains access to BIOS setup utility’s advanced power
Setup	management settings and system information reference
	screens. See section 6.1.5.
Standby/	Enters hibernation mode if the hibernation function
Hibernation	(Sleep Manager) is installed, valid and enabled;
	otherwise, the notebook enters standby mode.

System Tour

2-5

2.3.2Status Indicator

Icon	Function	Description
	Battery charging	It lights up when the battery is charging.
	indicator
	Power indicator	This lights up when power is applied to the
		notebook, and flashes when the notebook is in a
		battery-low condition.
	Standby mode	This flashes when the system is in standby mode
	indicator	(Standby/Hibernation mode).
	Hard disk drive	This lights up when the system accesses the hard
	activity indicator	disk drive.
	Num Lock indicator	This lights up when the Num Lock function is
		activated.
	Caps Lock indicator	This lights up when the Caps Lock function is
		activated.
	Scroll Lock indicator	This lights up when the Scroll Lock function is
		activated.

To find out more about batteries, see Chapter 3.

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2.4Keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys that include a separate cursor keys, two Windows 95 keys and twelve function keys.

2.4.1Special Keys

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 in
	uppercase.
Fn-NumLk	When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric mode.
	The keys function as a calculator (complete with 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.
Fn-ScrLk	When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down when
	you press − or ↓ respectively. Scroll lock does not work with some
	applications.

Embedded Keypad

System Tour

2-7

The embedded 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, the cursor-control key symbols are not printed on the keys.

Desired Access	Num Lock On	Num Lock Off
Number keys on	Type numbers in a normal	Hold Fn and Shift while
embedded keypad	manner.	using the number keys.
Cursor-control keys	Hold Shift while using	Hold Fn while using
on embedded keypad	cursor-control keys.	cursor-control keys.
Main keyboard keys	Hold Fn while typing letters	Type the letters in a
	on embedded keypad.	normal manner.

If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the notebook, the numlock function only works on the external keyboard or keypad.

Windows 95 Keys

The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows 95-specific functions.

	Key	Description
	Windows logo key	Start button. Combinations with this key performs special
		functions. Below are a few examples:
		∙	Windows + Tab Activate next Taskbar button
		∙	Windows + E Explore My Computer
		∙	Windows + F Find Document
		∙	Windows + M Minimize All
		∙	Shift + Windows + M Undo Minimize All
		∙	Windows + R Display Run dialog box
	Application key	Opens the application’s context menu (same as right-click).

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2.4.2Hot Keys

The notebook employs hot keys or key combinations to access most of the notebook’s controls like screen contrast and brightness, volume output and the BIOS setup utility.

Hot Key	Function	Description
Fn-Esc	Hotkey Escape	Exits the hotkey control.
Fn-F1	Hotkey Help	Displays the hotkey list and help.
Fn-F2	Brightness Control	Toggles between brightness control and contrast
		control.
		Press the scale hotkeys (Fn-→, Fn-←) to increase
	Contrast Control	and decrease the brightness or contrast level.
		Notebooks with TFT displays do not show the
		contrast control icon.
Fn-F3	Display Toggle	Switches display from LCD to CRT to both LCD
		and CRT.
Fn-F4	Battery Gauge	Displays the battery gauge.

System Tour

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