Acer Spin 3 User manual

USER’S MANUAL

2 -

© 2016. All Rights Reserved. Spin 3

Covers: SP315-51

This revision: August 2016

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Important

This manual contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright laws. The information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice. Images provided herein are for reference only and may contain information or features that do not apply to your computer. Acer Group shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained in this manual.

Model number: _________________________________

Serial number: _________________________________

Date of purchase: ______________________________

Place of purchase: ______________________________

						Table of contents - 3
	TABLE OF CONTENTS
	First things first		5	Battery pack		39
	Your guides .............................................		5	Battery characteristics ...........................		39
	Basic care and tips for using your			Charging the battery .................................		39
	computer..................................................		6	Optimizing battery life ...............................		40
	Turning your computer off		6	Checking the battery level.........................		41
				Battery-low warning		41
	Taking care of your computer		6
				Traveling with your computer		42
	Taking care of your AC adapter ..................		7
	Cleaning and servicing................................		7	Disconnecting from the desktop		............ 42
	Your Acer notebook tour		8	Moving around .......................................		42
	Screen view .............................................		8	Preparing the computer ............................		42
	Keyboard view .........................................		9	What to bring to meetings .........................		43
	Left view		9	Taking the computer home ....................		43
				Preparing the computer		43
	Information on USB 3.0		10
				What to take with you		44
	Right view		10
				Special considerations		44
	Base view		11
				Setting up a home office ...........................		44
	Using the keyboard		12	Traveling with the computer...................		45

Lock keys...............................................	12
Hotkeys .....................................................	12
Windows keys........................................	13
Using the Precision Touchpad	15
Touchpad gestures................................	15
Changing touchpad settings ..................	16

Preparing the computer ............................	45
What to take with you................................	45
Special considerations ..............................	45
Traveling internationally.........................	45
Preparing the computer ............................	46
What to bring with you ..............................	46
Special considerations ..............................	46

	Recovery	19	Universal Serial Bus (USB)	48
	Creating a factory default backup..........	19	Memory card reader	49
	Backing up your wireless and LAN		Video and audio connectors	50
	drivers	22
			HDMI	51
	Restoring your computer	22
			Frequently asked questions	53
	Reset this PC and keep my files ...............	22
	Reset this PC and remove everything ......	23	Requesting service ................................	55
	Using a Bluetooth connection	26	Tips and hints for using Windows 10 .....	56
	Enabling and disabling Bluetooth ..........	26	How do I get to Start? ...............................	56
	Enable Bluetooth and add a device ..........	26	How do I turn off my computer?................	56
	Connecting to the Internet	28	How do I unlock my computer?.................	56
			How do I set the alarm?	58
	Connecting to a wireless network	28
			Where are my apps?.................................	58
	Connecting to a wireless LAN...................	28	What is a Microsoft ID (account)?.............	59
	Acer Bluelight Shield	32	How do I check for Windows updates?.....	60
	Securing your computer	34	Where can I get more information?...........	60
			Troubleshooting .....................................	61
	Using a computer security lock..............	34	Troubleshooting tips..................................	61
	Using passwords ...................................	34	Error messages.........................................	61
	Entering passwords ..................................	35	Internet and online security	63
	BIOS utility	36	First steps on the net .............................	63
	Boot sequence.......................................	36	Protecting your computer..........................	63
	Setting passwords .................................	36	Choose an Internet Service Provider ........	63
	Power management	37	Network connections.................................	65
			Surf the Net!	67
	Saving power	37
			Security .....................................................	67

Getting started...

In this section you will find:

•Useful information on caring for your computer and your health

•Where to find the power button, ports and connectors

•Tips and tricks for using the touchpad and keyboard

•How to create recovery backups

•Guidelines for connecting to a network and using Bluetooth

•Information on using Acer’s bundled software

First things first - 5

FIRST THINGS FIRST

We would like to thank you for making this Acer notebook your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs.

Your guides

To help you use your Acer notebook, we have designed a set of guides:

First off, the Setup Guide (or Setup Poster) helps you get started with setting up your computer.

The Quick 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 User’s Manual. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting.

There are two ways to download the User’s Manual. You must first be connected to the internet.

1.Open Acer Care Center from the desktop and select My System > Summary and click User’s Manual to download the User’s Manual.

2.Click on the link under Support.

1.The link will open the Acer Service & Support webpage.

2.From this page you can download and install the Acer identification tool that will automatically detect your computer’s serial number and SNID and allow you to copy it to the clipboard.

3.Scroll down to Drivers and Manuals and search for your model by pasting in or manually entering the serial number, SNID, or product model.

4.Once you have found your product model, select Documents and select your language to download the User’s Manual.

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer off

To turn the power off, do any of the following:

6 - First things first

•Use the Windows shutdown command: Press the Windows key or select the Windows Start button, select Power > Shut down.

•Right-click the Windows Start button > Shut down or sign out >

Shut down.

If you need to power down the computer for a short while, but don’t want to completely shut it down, you can put it to Sleep by doing any of the following:

•Press the power button.

•Press the sleep hotkey.

•Press the Windows key or select the Windows Start button, select

Power > Sleep.

•Right-click the Windows Start button > Shut down or sign out >

Sleep.

Note

If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button for up to ten 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 0º C (32º F) or above 35º C (95º F).

•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 or 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.

First things first - 7

Taking care of your AC adapter

Here are some ways to take care of your AC 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. Route the power cord and any cables away from where people walk.

•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.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

1.Turn off the computer.

2.Disconnect the AC adapter.

3.Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

If your computer is dropped or visibly damaged, or does not work normally, please contact your nearest authorized Acer service center.

8 - Your Acer notebook tour

YOUR ACER NOTEBOOK TOUR

After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Setup Guide, let us show you around your new Acer computer.

Screen view

1

2

3

4

# Icon Item Description

1

2

3

4

	Microphones	Internal stereo microphones for
		sound recording.
	Webcam	Web camera for video
		communication.
	Touchscreen	Displays computer output, supports
		multi-touch input.
		Indicates the computer’s battery
		status.

Battery indicator Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging.

Fully charged: The light shows blue when in AC mode.

Power indicator	Indicates the computer’s power
	status.

Your Acer notebook tour - 9

Keyboard view

1

2

3

#	Icon Item	Description
1	Speakers	Deliver stereo audio output.
		For entering data into your computer.
2	Keyboard	See "Using the keyboard" on page
		12.
		Touch-sensitive pointing device.
		The touchpad and selection buttons
		form a single surface.
3	Touchpad	Press down firmly on the touchpad
		surface to perform a left click.
		Press down firmly on the lower right
		corner to perform a right click.

Left view

	1		2		3		4
#	Icon Item						Description
1	Kensington lock						Connects to a Kensington-compatible
	slot						security lock.

	10 - Your Acer notebook tour
		#	Icon	Item	Description
	2			Power button	Turns the computer on and off.
		3		USB ports	Connect to USB devices.
	4		+ / -	Volume control	Adjusts the system volume.
				key

Information on USB 3.0

•USB 3.0 compatible ports are blue.

•Compatible with USB 3.0 and earlier devices.

•For optimal performance, use USB 3.0-certified devices.

•Defined by the USB 3.0 specification (SuperSpeed USB).

Right view

1 2 3 4 5

#

Icon Item

Description

1

2

	Headset/	Connects to audio devices (e.g.,
		speakers, headphones) or a headset
	speaker jack
		with microphone.
		Accepts one Secure Digital (SD or
	SD card reader SDXC) card.
		Only one card can operate at a time.

3						USB port	Connects to USB devices.
4						HDMI port	Supports high-definition digital video
							connections.
5						DC-in jack	Connects to an AC adapter.

Your Acer notebook tour - 11

Base view

1 2

#

Icon Item

Description

1

2

	Ventilation and	Allows the computer to stay cool.
		Do not cover or obstruct the
	cooling fan
		openings.
		Simulates removing and reinstalling
	Battery reset	the battery.
	pinhole	Insert a paperclip into the hole and
		press for four seconds.

12 - Using the keyboard

USING THE KEYBOARD

The keyboard has full-sized keys and a separate numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys.

Lock 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.
		When Num Lock is on, the keypad is in numeric
		mode. The keys function as a calculator (complete
	Num Lock	with the arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /). Use this
		mode when you need to do a lot of numeric data
		entry.
		When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up
	Scroll Lock	or down when you press the up or down arrow keys
	Fn + F12	respectively. Scroll Lock does not work with some
		applications.

Hotkeys

The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness and volume output.

To activate hotkeys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination.

	Hotkey	Icon Function	Description
	Fn + F3	Airplane mode	Turns on / off the computer's
			network devices.
	Fn + F4	Sleep	Puts the computer in Sleep
			mode.
			Switches display output
	Fn + F5	Display toggle	between the display screen,
			external monitor (if
			connected) and both.

							Using the keyboard - 13
Hotkey	Icon					Function	Description
Fn + F6							Turns the display screen
						Display off	backlight off to save power.
							Press any key to return.
Fn + F7						Touchpad	Turns the built-in touchpad on
						toggle	and off.
Fn + F8						Speaker toggle	Turns the speakers on and
							off.
							Turns the keyboard backlight
Fn + F9						Keyboard	on and off.
						backlight	Also adjusts the backlight
							brightness.
Fn + F12	Scr Lk					Scroll Lock	Turns scroll lock on or off.
Fn +						Brightness up	Increases the screen
							brightness.
Fn +						Brightness	Decreases the screen
						down	brightness.
Fn +						Volume up	Increases the sound volume.
Fn +						Volume down	Decreases the sound volume.
Fn + Home						Play/Pause	Play or pause a selected
							media file.
Fn + Pg Up						Stop	Stop playing the selected
							media file.
Fn + Pg Dn						Previous	Return to the previous media
							file.
Fn + End						Next	Jump to the next media file.

Windows keys

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

Key Description

Pressed alone it returns to the Start screen or to

Windows key return to the last open app.

It can also be used with other keys for special functions, please check Windows Help.

14 - Using the keyboard
	Key	Description
	Application	This key has the same effect as clicking the right
		mouse button; it opens the application's context
	key
		menu.

Using the Precision Touchpad - 15

USING THE PRECISION TOUCHPAD

The touchpad controls the arrow (or 'cursor') on the screen. As you slide your finger across the touchpad, the cursor will follow this movement. The Precision Touchpad (PTP) is designed to provide a more uniform, smooth, and accurate touchpad experience. Many applications support precision touchpad gestures that use one or more fingers, however, some gestures may not be supported by the specific application or program you are using.

Touchpad gestures

Single-finger slide

Slide a finger across the touchpad to move the cursor.

Single-finger press or tap

Press the touchpad down, or lightly tap the touchpad with your finger, to perform a 'click', which will select or start an item. Quickly repeat the tap to perform a double tap or 'double click'.

Two-finger press

Lightly tap the touchpad with two fingers to

perform a 'right click'. In the Start screen, this will toggle the app commands. In most apps this will open a context menu related to the selected item.

Two-finger slide

Swiftly scroll through web pages, documents and playlists by placing two fingers on the touchpad and moving both in any direction.

16 - Using the Precision Touchpad

Two-finger pinch

Zoom in and out of photos, maps and documents with a simple finger-and-thumb gesture.

Three-finger press

Lightly tap the touchpad with three fingers to open Cortana (if your computer supports Cortana) or open the Action Center (if your computer does not support Cortana).

Three-finger swipe

Swipe across the touchpad with three fingers.

-Swipe up to open Task View. Move the cursor over a window and tap the touchpad to select that window, or swipe downwards to exit Task View.

-Swipe down to minimize all open windows and show Desktop; swipe upwards to restore the minimized windows.

-Swipe left or right to switch between open windows.

The precision touchpad includes added technology features that help recognize and prevent unintentional gestures such as accidental taps, gestures, and pointer movement.

Note

The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; the lighter the touch, the better the response. Please keep the touchpad and your fingers dry and clean.

Changing touchpad settings

To change the touchpad settings to suit your personal requirements, please do the following.

1.In the icon tray in the lower right-hand corner of the screen, select the Notifications icon to open the Notifications pane.

Using the Precision Touchpad - 17

2. Select All settings.

3. Select Devices > Mouse & touchpad.

4.Now you can adjust the settings to suit your personal needs. You can change the primary button for leftor right-handed use, turn the touchpad off if you prefer to use a mouse, or set a delay to prevent

18 - Using the Precision Touchpad

the cursor from moving if you accidentally tap the touchpad with your palm while working. Scroll down to see more settings.

Recovery - 19

RECOVERY

If you are having trouble with your computer, and the frequently asked questions (see Got a question? on page 52) do not help, you can recover your computer.

This section describes the recovery tools available on your computer. Acer provides Acer Care Center, which allows you to reset your PC, refresh your PC, or create a factory default backup.

Note

Acer Care Center is only available with a pre-installed Windows operating system.

Important

We recommend that you create a Factory Default Backup as soon as possible. In certain situations a full recovery will require a USB recovery backup.

Creating a factory default backup

Backup allows you to quickly and easily back up your operating system, installed apps and data.

1.From Start, select All apps then Acer. Select Acer Recovery Management in the list of Acer apps.

Note

Since the recovery backup requires at least 8 GB of storage after formatting, it is recommended to use a USB drive with a capacity of 16 GB or larger.

20 - Recovery

2.Select the Backup tab and click Get Started for Create Factory Default Backup to open the Recovery Drive window.

3.Make sure Backup system files to the recovery drive is selected and click Next.

4.Plug in the USB drive and wait for the PC to detect the USB drive then click Next.

Recovery - 21

•Since the recovery backup requires at least 8 GB of storage after formatting, it is recommended to use a USB drive with a capacity of 16 GB or larger.

5.Everything on the drive will be deleted. Click Create to continue.

6.You will be shown the backup progress on the screen.

7.Follow the process until it completes.

8.After creating the recovery backup, you can choose to delete the recovery information on your computer. If you delete this information, you can only use the USB recovery backup to restore your computer, if you lose or erase the USB drive, you cannot restore your computer.

9.Unplug the USB drive and label it clearly.

Important

Write a unique, descriptive label on the backup, such as 'Windows Recovery Backup'. Make sure you keep the backup in a safe place that you will remember.

22 - Recovery

Backing up your wireless and LAN drivers

Back up your wireless and LAN drivers. You can use these backups to install the wireless and LAN drivers if you install another operating system.

1.From Start, select All apps then Acer. Select Acer Recovery Management in the list of Acer apps.

2.Select the Backup tab and click Get started for Backup wireless and LAN drivers. Choose a folder to save your drivers and select

OK.

Restoring your computer

Recovery Management allows you to quickly and easily restore your computer back to its default status. You can choose to keep your files or remove them before reinstalling Windows.

Reset this PC and keep my files

1.From Start, select All apps then Acer. Select Acer Recovery Management in the list of Acer apps.

2.Select the Restore tab and click Get started to Choose an option.