Acer TRAVELMATE-2420 User Manual

TravelMate 2420 Series

User's Guide

Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated.

All Rights Reserved.

TravelMate 2420 Series User's Guide

Original Issue: November 2005

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions 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 correspondence 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, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

TravelMate 2420 Series Notebook PC

Model number: __________________________________

Serial number: ___________________________________

Date of purchase: ________________________________

Place of purchase: ________________________________

Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies' product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.

iii

Disposal instructions

Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment, please recycle.

USA

For electronic products containing an LCD/CRT monitor or display:

Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycled or disposed of according to local, state or federal laws. For more information, contact the Electronic Industries Alliance at www.eiae.org. For lamp-specific disposal information, check www.lamprecycle.org.

iv

First things first

We would like to thank you for making an 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 Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer.

The printed User's 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 AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it:

1Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem.

2Click on AcerSystem User's Guide.

Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Reader. If Adobe Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Adobe Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Reader, access the Help and Support menu.

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button below the LCD screen beside the easy-launch buttons. See "Front view" on page 9 for the location of the power button.

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

•Use the Windows shutdown command

Click on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off.

•Use the power button

You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4>.

Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button for more than four 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 0 ºC (32 ºF) or above 50 ºC (122 ºF).

•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.

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. Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from foot traffic.

•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.

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Taking care of your battery pack

Here are some ways to take care of your battery 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 possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

1Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack.

2Disconnect the AC adapter.

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

If either of the following occurs:

•the computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged;

•the computer does not operate normally

please refer to "Frequently asked questions" on page 30.

Caution

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority, which is granted by the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this computer.

Operation conditions

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions for wireless option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option device.

An improper installation or unauthorized use may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Also, any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty.

To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors, and installation outdoors is subject to licensing.

For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com.

Disposal instructions	iii
First things first	iv
Your guides	iv
Basic care and tips for using your computer	iv
Turning your computer on and off	iv
Taking care of your computer	v
Taking care of your AC adapter	v
Taking care of your battery pack	vi
Cleaning and servicing	vi
Acer Empowering Technology	1
Acer eDataSecurity Management	2
Acer eLock Management	3
Acer ePerformance Management	4
Acer eRecovery Management	5
Acer eSettings Management	6
Acer ePower Management	7
Acer ePresentation Management	8
Your Acer notebook tour	9
Front view	9
Closed front view	10
Left view	11
Right view	12
Rear view	12
Base view	13
Specifications	14
Indicators	17
Easy-launch buttons	18
Touchpad	19
Touchpad basics	19
Using the keyboard	21
Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad	21
Windows keys	22
Hotkeys	22
Special keys	24
Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray
(for selected models)	25
Using a computer security lock	25

Contents

Audio	26
Adjusting the volume	26
Using the system utilities	27
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible)	27
Launch Manager	28
Norton AntiVirus	29
Frequently asked questions	30
Requesting service	33
International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 33
Before you call	33
Taking your notebook PC with you	34
Disconnecting from the desktop	34
Moving around	34
Preparing the computer	34
What to bring to meetings	35
Taking the computer home	35
Preparing the computer	35
What to take with you	35
Special considerations	36
Setting up a home office	36
Traveling with the computer	36
Preparing the computer	36
What to take with you	36
Special considerations	37
Traveling internationally with the computer37
Preparing the computer	37
What to bring with you	37
Special considerations	37
Securing your computer	38
Using a computer security lock	38
Using passwords	38
Entering passwords	39
Setting passwords	39
Expanding through options	40
Connectivity options	40
Fax/data modem	40
Built-in network feature	41

Universal Serial Bus (USB)	41
PC Card slot	42
Installing memory	43
BIOS utility	43
Boot sequence	43
Enable disk-to-disk recovery	44
Password	44
Using software	44
Playing DVD movies	44
Power management	45
Acer eRecovery Management	45
Create backup	46
Restore from backup	46
Create factory default image CD	47
Re-install bundled software without CD	47
Change password	48
Troubleshooting	49
Troubleshooting tips	49
Error messages	49
Regulations and safety notices	51
ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance	51
FCC notice	51
Modem notices	52
Important safety instructions	55
Laser compliance statement	57
LCD pixel statement	57
Macrovision copyright protection notice	57
Radio device regulatory notice	58
General	58
European Union (EU)	58
The FCC RF safety requirement	59
Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio
communication devices (RSS-210)	60
Federal Communications Comission
Declaration of Conformity	61
Declaration of Conformity for CE Marking	62
Index	63

1

Acer Empowering Technology

Acer's innovative Empowering Technology makes it easy for you to access frequently used functions and manage your new Acer notebook. It features the following handy utilities:

•Acer eDataSecurity Management protects data with passwords and advanced encryption algorithms.

•Acer eLock Management limits access to external storage media.

•Acer ePerformance Management improves system performance by optimizing disk space, memory and registry settings.

•Acer eRecovery Management backs up/recovers data flexibly, reliably and completely.

•Acer eSettings Management accesses system information and adjusts settings easily.

•Acer ePower Management extends battery power via versatile usage profiles.

•Acer ePresentation Management connects to a projector and adjusts display settings conveniently.

Technology Empowering

Empowering Technology

2

For more information, press the < > key to launch the Empowering

Technology menu, then click on the appropriate utility and select the Help function.

Acer eDataSecurity Management

Acer eDataSecurity Management is a handy file encryption utility that protects your files from being accessed by unauthorized persons. It is conveniently integrated with Windows Explorer as a shell extension for quick and easy data encryption/decryption and also supports on-the-fly file encryption for MSN Messenger and Microsoft Outlook.

There are two passwords that can be used to encrypt/decrypt a file: the supervisor password and the file-specific password. The supervisor password is a "master" password that can decrypt any file on your system; the file-specific password is assigned when you encrypt each individual file.

The Acer eDataSecurity Management setup wizard will prompt you for a supervisor password and default file-specific password. This file-specific password will be used to encrypt files by default, or you can choose to enter your own file-specific password when encrypting a file.

Note: The password used encrypt a file is the unique key that the system needs to decrypt it. If you lose the password, the supervisor password is the only other key capable of decrypting the file. If you lose both passwords, there will be no way to decrypt your encrypted file! Be sure to safeguard all related passwords!

3

Technology Empowering

Acer eLock Management

Acer eLock Management is a security utility that allows you to lock up your removable data, optical and floppy drives to ensure that data can't be stolen while your notebook is unattended.

•Removable data devices — includes USB disk drives, USB pen drives, USB flash drives, USB MP3 drives, USB memory card readers, IEEE 1394 disk drives and any other removable disk drives that can be mounted as a file system when plugged into the system.

•Optical drive devices — includes any kind of CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives.

•Floppy disk drives — 3.5-inch disks only.

To activate Acer eLock Management, a password must be set first. Once set, you may apply locks to any of the three kinds of devices. Lock(s) will immediately be set without any reboot necessary, and will remain locked after rebooting, until unlocked.

If you do not set a password, Acer eLock Management will reset back to the initial status with all locks removed.

Note: If you lose your password, there is no method to reset it except by reformatting your notebook or taking your notebook to an Acer Customer Service Center. Be sure to remember or write down your password.

4

Empowering Technology

Acer ePerformance Management

Acer ePerformance Management is a system optimization tool that boosts the performance of your Acer notebook. It provides you with the following options to enhance overall system performance:

•Memory optimization — releases unused memory and check usage.

•Disk optimization — removes unneeded items and files.

•Speed optimization — improves the usability and performance of your Windows XP system.

5

Acer eRecovery Management

Acer eRecovery Management is a powerful utility that does away with the need for recovery disks provided by the manufacturer. The Acer eRecovery Management utility occupies space in a hidden partition on your system's HDD. User-created backups are stored on D:\ drive. Acer eRecovery Management provides you with:

•Password protection.

•Recovery of applications and drivers.

•Image/data backup:

•Back up to HDD (set recovery point).

•Back up to CD/DVD.

•Image/data recovery tools:

•Recover from a hidden partition (factory defaults).

•Recover from the HDD (most recent user-defined recovery point).

•Recover from CD/DVD.

For more information, please refer to "Acer eRecovery Management" on page 45 in the AcerSystem User's Guide.

Note: If your computer did not come with a Recovery CD or System CD, please use Acer eRecovery Management's "System backup to optical disk" feature to burn a backup image to CD or DVD. To ensure the best results when recovering your system using a CD or Acer eRecovery Management, detach all peripherals (except the external Acer ODD, if your computer has one), including your Acer ezDock.

Technology Empowering

Empowering Technology

6

Acer eSettings Management

Acer eSettings Management allows you to inspect hardware specifications and to monitor the system health status. Furthermore, Acer eSettings Management enables you to optimize your Windows operating system, so your computer runs faster, smoother and better.

Acer eSettings Management also:

•Provides a simple graphical user interface for navigating through the program effortlessly.

•Displays general system status and advanced monitoring for power users.

•Logs when a hardware component has been removed or replaced.

•Permits you to migrate personal settings.

•Keeps a history log of all alerts that were previously issued.

7

Acer ePower Management

Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch it, select Acer ePower Management from the Empowering Technology interface, or double-click the Acer ePower Management icon in the task tray.

AC mode

The default setting is "Maximum Performance." You can adjust CPU speed, LCD brightness and other settings, or click on buttons to turn the following functions on/off: Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, CardBus, Memory Card, Audio, and Wired LAN.

DC mode

To suit your usage, there are four pre-defined profiles — Entertainment, Presentation, Word Processing, and Maximum Battery. Or, you can define up to three of your own profiles.

Create new power scheme

1Assign a name for the new scheme.

2Choose existing scheme to use as a template.

3Select whether used for mains (AC) or battery mode.

4Choose which power options best fit your needs, then click OK.

5The new profile will appear on the main screen.

Battery status

For real-time battery life estimates based on current usage, refer to the panel on the lower left-hand side of the window.

Technology Empowering

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		You can also click "Advanced Settings" to:
	Technology
		•	Set alarms.
		•	Re-load factory defaults.
		•	Select what actions will be taken when the cover is closed, and set
	Empowering		passwords for accessing the system after Hibernation or Standby.
		•	View information about Acer ePower Management.

Acer ePresentation Management

Acer ePresentation Management lets you select from two of the most common projector resolutions: XGA and SVGA.

9

Your Acer notebook tour

After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new Acer notebook.

Front view

English

#	Item	Description
1	Display screen	Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays
		computer output.
2	Status	Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up to show the
	indicators	status of the computer's functions and components.
3	Keyboard	For entering data into your computer.

English

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#	Item	Description
4	Touchpad	Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a
		computer mouse.
5	Click buttons	The left and right buttons function like the left and
	(left, center	right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-way
	and right)	scroll button.
6	Palmrest	Comfortable support area for your hands when you use
		the computer.
7	Microphone	Internal microphone for sound recording.
8	Power button	Turns the computer on and off.
9	Easy-launch	Buttons for launching frequently used programs.
	buttons	See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 18 for more details.

Closed front view

#	Icon	Item	Description
1		Bluetooth	Press to enable/disable the Bluetooth
		communication	function. Indicates the status of
		button/indicator	Bluetooth communication.
2		Wireless	Press to enable/disable the wireless
		communication	function. Indicates the status of wireless
		button/indicator	LAN communication.
3		Speakers	Left and right speakers deliver stereo
			audio output.
4		Line-in jack	Accepts audio line-in devices
			(e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman).
5		Microphone-in jack	Accepts input from external microphones.
6		Headphones/speaker/	Connects to audio line-out devices
		line-out jack	(e.g., speakers, headphones).

			11
#	Icon	Item	Description
7		Battery indicator	Indicates the computer's batttery status.
8		Power indicator	Indicates the computer's power status.
9		Latch	Locks and releases the lid.

Left view

English

#	Icon Item									Description
1									Kensington lock	Connects to a Kensington-compatible
									slot	computer security lock.
2									Optical drive	Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs
										(for selected models).
3									Optical disk	Lights up when the optical drive is active
									access indicator	(for selected models).
4									Optical drive	Ejects the optical disk from the drive
									eject button	(for selected models).
5									Emergency eject	Ejects the optical drive tray when the
									hole	computer is turned off (for selected models).
6									PC Card slot eject	Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
									button
7									PC Card slot	Accepts one Type II PC Card.

English

12

Right view

#	Icon Item	Description
1	Three USB 2.0 ports	Connect to USB 2.0 devices
		(e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
2	Ventilation slots	Enable the computer to stay cool, even after
		prolonged use.

3Modem (RJ-11) port Connects to a phone line.

4Ethernet (RJ-45) Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-based

port	network.

Rear view

#	Icon Item							Description
1							DC-in jack	Connects to an AC adapter.
2							External display	Connects to a display device
							(VGA) port	(e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).
3							Battery	Powers the computer.

Base view

13

English

#	Item	Description
1	Battery lock	Locks the battery in position.
2	Cooling fan	Helps keep the computer cool.
		Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening
		of the fan.
3	Hard disk bay	Houses the computer's hard disk (secured
		with screws).
4	Memory compartment	Houses the computer's main memory.
5	Battery release latch	Releases the battery for removal.
6	Battery bay	Houses the computer's battery pack.