Acer TRAVELMATE-2200, TRAVELMATE-2700 User Manual

TravelMate 2200/2700 Series

User’s Guide

Copyright © 2004
All Rights Reserved

TravelMate 2200/2700 Series Notebook Computer User's Guide
Original Issue: August 2004

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation
to notify any person of such revision 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 correspondense 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, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

TravelMate 2200/2700 Series Notebook Computer

Model Number : _________________________________

Serial Number: ___________________________________

Purchase Date: ___________________________________

Place of Purchase: ________________________________

All trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.

iii

First things first

Your guides

A set of guides is provided to help you set up and use your TravelMate,
Aspire computer:

The

Just for starters

computer.

This

User's Guide

using your computer productively. You are advised to read
it thoroughly and keep it handy for future reference.

For more information on Acer’s products, services, and support,
please visit the web site: http://

… poster shows you how to set up your

provides clear and concise information on

www.acer.com.

English

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on your computer, open the lid and press the power button
above the keyboard.

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

• Click on the Start button in Windows, and then select Shut Down
on the popup menu.

• Push the power button.
To use this method, you must first click on the Power Management

icon in Windows Control Panel, and then check that the power
button is set to shut down the computer when pressed. See

iv

Windows Help and Support for more information.

English

Note: If you are unable to shut down the computer in the usual
way, press and hold the power button for more than four seconds.
You should then wait at least two seconds before turning the
computer on again.

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°C (32°F), or
above 50°C (122°F).

• Do not expose 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.

• Do not place objects on top of the computer.

• Do not slam the lid shut. Close the computer gently.

• Do not place the computer on unstable or uneven surfaces.

Taking care of your AC adapter

It is important that you look after your AC adapter.

• Do not connect the adapter to any other device.

• Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on it. Route

the power cord away from areas where people might walk on it or
trip over it.

• Do not pull on the power cord when disconnecting from the mains
power socket. Grasp and pull the plug instead.

• The total ampere ratings of equipment plugged into a power strip
should not exceed the ampere rating for that power strip.

v

Taking care of your battery pack

It is also important that you look after your computer's battery pack.

• Use the correct battery model for your computer. Do not use other
kinds of batteries.

• Turn the power off before removing or replacing the battery.

• Do not tamper with the battery. Keep the battery away from

children.

• Dispose of batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if
possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning your computer, it is important that you follow these
steps:

• Turn off the computer and remove the battery.

• Disconnect the AC adapter.

• Clean with a soft cloth moistened with a little water. Do not use

liquid or aerosol cleaners.

Refer to the chapter entitled “Frequently asked questions” on page 67
if any of the following occurs:

• You drop the computer or damage the case.

• You spill liquid on the computer.

• The computer does not operate normally.

English

English

vi

First things first iii

Your guides iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer iii

Getting familiar with your computer 1

A tour of your computer 3

Front view 3
Front view 5
Left view 6
Right view 7
Rear view 8

Bottom view 9
Features 10
Indicators 12
Using the keyboard 13

Lock keys 13

Embedded numeric keypad 14

Windows keys 15

Hot keys 16

Special Key 18
Touchpad 19

Touchpad basics 19
Launch keys 21
Storage 23

Ejecting the optical drive tray 23

Emergency ejection of the optical drive tray 24
Connectivity options 25

Ethernet and LAN 25

Fax/Data modem 26

Fast infrared 27
Audio 28
Securing your computer 29

Security slot 29

Content

Operating on battery power 31

Battery pack 33

Battery pack characteristics 33

Installing and removing the battery pack 34

Charging the battery 35

Checking the battery level 35

Optimizing battery life 35

Battery-low warning 36
Power management 37

Peripherals and options 39

External display devices 41
External input devices 41

External keyboard 41
External keypad 41
External pointing device 41

USB devices 42
Printer 43
Audio devices 43
Expansion devices 44

PC Card 44

45

Miscellaneous options 45

Battery pack 45

AC adapter 45
Key component upgrades 46

Memory upgrade 46

Hard disk upgrade 47

Moving with your computer 49

Disconnecting from the desktop 51
Moving around 52

Preparing the computer 52

What to bring to short meetings 52

What to bring to long meetings 52
Taking the computer home 53

Preparing the computer 53

What to bring with you 53

Special considerations 53

Setting up a home office 54
Traveling with the computer 54

Preparing the computer 54

What to take with you 54

Special considerations 54
Traveling internationally with your computer 55

Preparing the computer 55

What to take with you 55

Special considerations 55

Software 57

System software 59
Using system utilities 60

Acer eManager 60

Launch Manager 61
BIOS Utility 61

Acer Disc to Disc Recovery 62

Multilingual operating system installation 62
Restore without a Recovery CD 62
Setup password and exit 63

Troubleshooting 65

Frequently asked questions 67
Requesting service 70

International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW) 70
Before you call 70

Appendix A Specifications 71

Appendix B

Regulation & safety notices 77

Index 93

Getting familiar with

your
computer

Your TravelMate computer combines solid
performance, versatility, multimedia
capabilities and portability with a stylish
design. Increase your productivity by
working wherever you are.

This chapter provides an in-depth "tour" of
your computer's features.

3

A tour of your computer

After setting up your new TravelMate, Aspire notebook computer, as
illustrated in the
explore the unit.

Front view

Just for starters…

poster, take a few minutes to

English

# Item Description

1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD),

displays computer output.

2 Launch Keys Buttons for launching frequently used

programs. See“Launch keys” on page 21
for more details.

Getting familiar with your computer4

# Item Description

English

3 Status indicators Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn

on and off to show the status of the
computer, its functions and
components.

4 Power button Turns on the computer power.

5 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.

6 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which

functions like a computer mouse.

7 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your

hands when you use the computer.

8 Click buttons

(left, center and right)

The left and right buttons function like
the left and right mouse buttons; the
center button serves as a 4-way scroll
button.

5

Front view

# Item Description

1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo

audio output.

2 Power indicator Lights green when the computer is on

3 Battery indicator Lights orange when the battery is being

4 Bluetooth

communications

and lights orange when the computer is
in suspend mode.

charged and lights green when the
battery is full charged.

Lights to indicate the status of
Bluetooth (optional) communications.

English

5 Wireless

communications

6 Latch Locks and releases the lid.

Lights to indicate the status of wireless
LAN (optional) communications.

English

Getting familiar with your computer6

Left view

# Item Description

1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible

computer security lock.

2 Two USB 2.0 ports Connect to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0

devices (e.g., USB mouse and USB
camera).

3 PC Card slots Support one Type II CardBus PC Card.

4 Eject button Ejects the PC Card(s) from the slot.

5 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or

6 LED indicator Lights up when the optical drive is

7 Eject button Ejects the optical drive tray from the

8 Emergency eject slot Ejects the optical drive tray when the

DVDs depending on the optical drive
type.

active.

drive.

computer is turned off.
See page 24 for more details.

7

Right view

# Item Description

1 Line-in/Mic-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices

2 Speaker/Line-Out/

Headphone jack

3 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices

4 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even

(e.g., audio CD player and stereo
walkman).

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

(e.g., infrared printer and IR-aware
computer).

after prolonged use.

English

5 Two USB 2.0 ports Connect to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0

devices (e.g., USB mouse and USB
camera).

English

Getting familiar with your computer8

Rear view

# Item Description

1 Power jack Connects to an AC adapter.

2 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even after

prolonged use.

3 External display port Connects to a display device (e.g., external

VGA monitor and LCD projector).

4 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.

5 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet LAN network.

9

Bottom view

# Item Description

1 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.

English

2 Battery release latch Unlatches to remove the battery pack.

3 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk.

4 Cooling fans Help keep the computer cool.

Note: Don’t cover or obstruct the opening
of the fans.

5 Memory compartment Houses the computer's main memory.

Features

Getting familiar with your computer10

English

Performance

• Intel® Pentium® 4 processors 2.8/3.0/3.2/3.4/3.6 GHz or Intel®

Celeron® processors 2.6 GHz and above

• ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9000 IGP chipset

• 256/512 MB of DDR333 SDRAM, upgradeable to 2048 MB with

dual soDIMM modules

• 30 GB and above high-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk

• Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI) power

management system

Display

• The TFT LCD panel providing a large viewing area for maximum

efficiency and ease-of-use:

- 15.0” XGA (1024x768) resolution

- 15.4” WXGA (1280x800) resolution

• 3D graphics support

• Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support

• “Automatic LCD dim” feature, automatically selecting the best

setting for the display in order to conserve power

• DualView™ support

Multimedia

• High-speed built-in optical drive:

DVD/CD-RW Combo, DVD-Dual, or DVD-Super Multi

• MS DirectSound compatible

• Built-in dual speakers

11

Connectivity

• Integrated 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet connection

• Built-in 56Kbps fax/data modem

• Four Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports

• Fast infrared wireless communication (manufacturing option)

• IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless LAN (manufacturing option)

• Bluetooth® (manufacturing option)

Human-centric design

• Rugged, yet extremely portable design

• Stylish appearance

• Full-size keyboard with four programmable launch keys

• Comfortable palm rest area with well-positioned touchpad

Expansion

• One Type II CardBus PC Card slot

• Upgradeable memory modules

English

Indicators

Getting familiar with your computer12

English

The computer has three easy-to-read status icons below the display

screen.

# Icon Function Description

1 Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated.

2 Num Lock Lights when Num Lock is activated.

3 Media activity Lights when the hard disk or optical drive

is active.

In addition, there are two indicators at the front panel. Even when the

cover is closed, the state or features can still be seen.

# Icon Function Description

4 Power Lights green when the computer is on

and lights orange when in suspend mode.

5 Battery

indicator

Lights orange when the battery is being
charged and green when the battery is
fully charged.

13

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

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

Num Lock
(Fn-F11)

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.

English

Scroll Lock
(Fn-F12)

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

Getting familiar with your computer14

Embedded numeric keypad

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 letters

Type numbers in a normal
manner.

Hold Shift while using
cursor-control keys.

on embedded keypad.

Hold Fn while using
cursor-control keys.

Type the letters in a
normal manner.

15

Windows keys

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

Key Description

Windows 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.

+ M Minimizes all windows.
Shift + + M Undoes the minimize all windows
( + M) action.

+ R Opens the Run dialog box.

English

Application key This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse

button; it opens the application's context menu.

English

Getting familiar with your computer16

Hot keys

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

To activate hot keys, 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 hot keys.

Fn-F2 Acer eSetting Launches Launches the Acer

eSetting in the Acer
eManager set by the Acer
Empowering Key. See

See
“Acer eManager” on
page 60

Fn-F3 Power Management Launches power options.

Fn-F4 Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep

mode.

.

17

Hot Key Icon Function Description

Fn-F5 Display toggle Switches display output

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

Fn-F6 Screen blank Turns the display screen

backlight off to save power.
Press any key to return.

Fn-F7 Touchpad toggle Turns the internal touchpad

on and off.

Fn-F8 Speaker toggle Turns the speakers on and

off.

Fn-↑ Volume up Increases the sound volume.

Fn-↓ Volume down Decreases the sound volume.

Fn-→ Brightness up Increases the screen

brightness.

English

Fn-

←

Alt Gr-$ US dollar Types the US dollar sign.

Alt Gr­Euro

Brightness down Decreases the screen

brightness.

Euro Types the Euro symbol.

English

Getting familiar with your computer18

Special Key

You can locate the Euro symbol and US dollar sign 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 symbol at the bottom-right of the

keyboard, or hold Alt Gr and then press the Euro symbol at the
upper-center of the keyboard.

The US dollar sign

1 Open a text editor or word processor.
2 Either directly press the dollar sign at the bottom-right of the

keyboard, or hold Alt Gr and then press the dollar sign at the
upper-center of the keyboard.

Note: This function varies by the operating system version.

19

Touchpad

The built-in touchpad is a PS/2- compatible pointing device that senses
movement on its surface. The cursor responds to your finger
movements on the touchpad. In addition, the two click buttons
provide the same functionality as a computer mouse, while the scroll
key enables easy 4-way scrolling in documents and web pages.

The touchpad is located in the middle of the palm rest area, providing
maximum comfort and efficiency.

Touchpad basics

Use the touchpad as follows:

English

• Slide your finger over the surface of the touchpad to control the
movement of the cursor. Tap the touchpad to perform selection
and execution functions.

• Press the left (1) and right (3) click buttons to perform selection
and execution functions, just as you would use the buttons on a
computer mouse.

• Use the scroll key (2) to scroll through long documents and web
pages. Press the top of the key to scroll up, bottom to scroll down;
left to scroll left, and right to scroll right.

Getting familiar with your computer20

English

Function Left Button

Execute Click twice

quickly.

Select Click once. Tap once.

Drag Click and hold.

Then, slide your
finger across
the touchpad to
drag the cursor
over the
selection.

Access
content
menu

Scroll Click and

Right
Button

Click
once.

4-Way
Scroll Key

hold the up/
down/left/
right button.

Tap

Tap twice
quickly.

Tap twice
quickly. On the
second tap,
slide your
finger across
the touchpad
to drag the
cursor over the
selection.

Note: Keep your fingers, as well as the surface of the touchpad,
clean and dry. The touchpad is sensitive to your finger
movements: the lighter your touch, the better the response.
Tapping hard will not increase the touchpad's responsiveness.