Acer TRAVELMATE-53X, TRAVELMATE 530 User Manual

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TravelMate 530 series

User’s guide

Copyright © 2003 Acer Incorporated.

All Rights Reserved.

TravelMate 530 series User’s guide

Original Issue: February 2003

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 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, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

TravelMate 530 series Notebook computer

Model number : _________________________________

Serial number: ___________________________________

Purchase date: ___________________________________

Place of purchase: ________________________________

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

iii

First things first

We would like to thank you for making the TravelMate series of notebook computers your choice for your mobile computing needs. We hope you will be happy with your TravelMate as much as we enjoyed making it for you.

Your guides

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

First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer.

This User’s Guide introduces you to the many ways your computer can help you be more productive. This guide provides clear and concise information about the computer, so read it thoroughly.

If you ever need to print out a copy, this User’s guide is also available in PDF (Portable Document Format). Follow these steps:

1Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate.

2Click on TravelMate User’s Guide.

Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, access the Help menu.

For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our Web site (global.acer.com).

English

English

iv

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 on the top left of your TravelMate. See page 3 for the location of the power switch.

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

Use the Windows shutdown command

For Windows 2000: Click on Start, Shut Down..., and select Shut down; then click on OK.

- or -

For Windows XP: Click on Start, Turn off Computer; then click Turn Off.

Use the power switch

Note: You can also use the power switch to perform power management functions. See Windows help for more information.

Use the customized functions for power management

You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hot key (Fn-F4).

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

Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.

Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.

 

 

v

Do not spill water or any other liquid on the computer.

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Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration.

 

Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.

Never place objects on top of the computer to avoid damaging 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 personal 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.

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 at all possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

1Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.

2Disconnect the AC adapter.

 

vi

 

 

3

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

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4

To clean the display screen, use an LCD cleaning kit.

 

 

cleaners.

 

If any of the following occurs:

 

 

The computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged.

 

Liquid has been spilled into the product.

 

The computer does not operate normally.

 

Please refer to "Troubleshooting my computer" on page 47.

First things first

iii

Your guides

iii

Basic care and tips for using your computer

iv

1 Getting to know your TravelMate

1

A TravelMate tour

3

Front view

3

Left view

4

Right view

5

Rear view

6

Bottom view

8

Features

9

Indicators

11

Using the keyboard

13

Special keys

13

Touchpad

21

Touchpad basics

21

Storage

23

Hard disk

23

Optical drive

23

Using software

24

Audio

25

Adjusting the volume

25

Power management

26

Moving around with your TravelMate

27

Disconnecting from the desktop

27

Moving around

27

Taking the computer home

28

Traveling with the computer

30

Traveling internationally with the computer

30

Securing your computer

32

Using a computer security lock

32

Using passwords

32

2 Customizing my computer

35

Expanding through options

37

Connectivity options

37

Connecting to Acer EasyPort replicator

41

Using system utilities

44

Notebook Manager

44

Launch Manager

44

BIOS Utility

45

Contents

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viii

3 Troubleshooting my computer

47

Frequently-asked questions

49

Requesting service

52

International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW)

52

Before you call

52

Appendix A Specifications

55

Appendix B Notices

61

Index

69

1 Getting to know your

TravelMate

Your TravelMate computer combines highperformance, versatility, power management features and multimedia capabilities with a unique style and ergonomic design. Work with unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power computing partner.

3

A TravelMate tour

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

Front view

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#

Item

Description

 

 

 

1

Display screen

Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display),

 

 

displays computer output.

 

 

 

2

Launch keys

Special keys for launching internet browser,

 

 

email program and frequently used

 

 

programs. See “Launch Keys” on page 19 for

 

 

more details.

 

 

 

3

Power Switch

Turns on the computer power.

 

 

 

4

Touchpad

Touch-sensitive pointing device which

 

 

functions like a computer mouse.

 

 

 

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4

 

1 Getting to know your TravelMate

 

 

 

#

Item

Description

 

 

 

5

Click buttons (left,

The left and right buttons function like the

 

center and right)

left and right mouse buttons; the center

 

 

button serves as a 4-way scroll button.

 

 

 

6

Floppy disk drive (or

Reads/writes data from/to the media.

 

card reader, if

 

 

installed)

 

 

 

 

7

Floppy eject button

Ejects floppy disk. (N/A when card reader

 

 

installed.)

 

 

 

8

Speakers

Outputs sound.

 

 

 

9

Palmrest

Comfortable support area for your hands

 

 

when you use the computer.

 

 

 

10

Keyboard

Inputs data into your computer.

 

 

 

11

Status indicators

LEDs (light-emitting diode) that turn on and

 

 

off to show the status of the computer, its

 

 

functions and components.

 

 

 

12

Locking Latch

Slide locking mechanism secures the lid when

 

 

the computer is not in use.

 

 

 

Left view

#

Item

Description

 

 

 

1

Optical drive

Houses an optical drive module (CD-ROM ,

 

 

DVD-ROM or DVD/CD-RW combo drive).

 

 

 

5

#

Item

Description

 

 

 

2

Optical drive

Lights up when the optical drive is active.

 

indicator

 

 

 

 

3

Eject button

Ejects the drive tray.

 

 

 

4

Emergency eject slot

Ejects the drive tray when the computer is

 

 

turned off. See page 50 for more details.

 

 

 

Note: The positions of the Optical drive indicator, eject button and emergency eject hole may differ depending on the optical drive module installed.

Right view

English

#

Item

Description

 

 

 

1

Microphone/Line-in

Accepts audio line-in devices(e.g.,

 

jack

microphone, audio CD player, stereo

 

 

walkman).

 

 

 

2

Headphone/

Connects to audio line-out devices(e.g.,

 

Speaker/Line-out

headphones, speakers).

 

jack

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Getting to know your TravelMate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

English

 

#

Item

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

PC card eject button

Ejects the PC card from the slot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

PC card slots

Accepts two type II or one type III PC cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Modem jack

Connects to a phone line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

IEEE 1394 port

Connects to an IEEE 1394 device.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

Infrared port

Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

infrared printer, IR-aware computer).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rear view

#

Item

Description

 

 

 

1

Security keylock

Connects to a Kensington-compatible

 

 

computer security lock.

2

Power jack

Connects to an AC adapter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

#

Item

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

External display

Connects to a display device (e.g., external

 

port

monitor, LCD projector).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

Expansion port

Connects to I/O port replicator or expansion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

devices (e.g., Acer EasyPort).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Parallel port

Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

printer).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

Network jack

Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

network.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

S-video

Connects to a television or display device

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

with S-video input.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

USB ports

Connects to Universal Serial Bus devices (e.g.,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USB mouse, USB camera).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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English

8

1 Getting to know your TravelMate

Bottom view

#

Item

Description

 

 

 

1

Cooling fan

Helps keep the computer cool.

 

 

Note: Don’t cover or obstruct the opening

 

 

of the fan.

 

 

 

2

Battery bay

Houses the computer's battery pack.

 

 

 

3

Battery release

Unlatches the battery to remove the

 

latches

battery pack.

 

 

 

4

Hard disk bay

Houses the computer's hard disk.

 

 

 

5

Memory

Houses the computer's main memory.

 

compartment

 

 

 

 

9

Features

Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:

Performance

Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor-M with 512 KB level 2 cache featuring the new Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep™ technology; or Mobile Intel® Celeron® Processor with 256 KB level 2 cache

Standard 256MB DDR-266 SDRAM, upgradeable to 1 GB on dual soDIMM sockets

Integrated 24x CD-ROM, 8x DVD-ROM or 24/10/8/24x DVD/CD-RW combo drive

20/30/40 GB or higher-capacity Ultra DMA-100 HDD

Li-lon battery pack

Power management system with ACPI (Advanced Configuration Power Interface) 2.0 supporting Standby and Hibernation power saving modes

Display

Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) displaying 32bit high true color up to 1024 x 786 eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) resolution for 14.1”/15”

3D capabilities

Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support

S-video for output to a television or display device that supports S- video input

"Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and conserves power

Dual display capability

Multimedia

16-bit high-fidelity AC’97 stereo audio

Built-in dual speakers

Built-in microphone

High-speed optical drive

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English

10

1 Getting to know your TravelMate

Connectivity

High-speed fax/data modem port

Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port

USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports

IEEE 1394 port

Fast Infrared (FIR) port

Docking port for port replicator

Optional Invilink wireless LAN module

Optional Integrated Bluetooth module

Human-centric design and ergonomics

5 Launch keys, including Internet Browser and email and 3 userprogrammable keys

4-way scroll button

Sleek, smooth and stylish design

Full-sized keyboard

Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device

Expansion

Two type II or one type III CardBus PC Card slots

Upgradeable memory

11

Indicators

The computer has seven easy-to-read status icons below the display screen.

English

Icon

Function

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power

Lights green when the computer is on and

 

 

 

 

 

lights orange when the computer is in

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standby mode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media activity

Lights when the hard disk is active.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battery charge

Lights green when the battery is being

 

 

 

 

 

charged.

 

 

 

Lights orange when the battery power is low

 

 

 

and is being charged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wireless

Lights orange when the Wireless LAN

 

 

Communication

capabilities are enabled.

 

 

(applicable only

Lignts blue when Bluetooth capabilities are

 

 

when Wireless

enabled.

 

 

LAN or Bluetooth

 

 

 

installed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caps lock

Lights when Caps Lock is activated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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12

 

 

 

1 Getting to know your TravelMate

 

 

 

 

 

Icon

Function

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Num lock

Lights when Num Lock is activated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scroll lock

Lights when Scroll lock is activated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

Using the keyboard

The full-sized keyboard includes an embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and twelve function keys.

Special keys

Lock keys

The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.

English

Lock key

Description

 

 

Caps Lock

When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in

 

uppercase.

 

 

Num Lock

When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric

(Fn-F11)

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.

 

 

Scroll Lock

When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down

(Fn-F12)

when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively.

 

Scroll Lock does not work with some applications.

 

 

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14

1 Getting to know your TravelMate

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

Type numbers in a normal

 

 

embedded keypad

manner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cursor-control keys

Hold Shift while using

Hold Fn while using

on embedded

cursor-control keys.

cursor-control keys.

keypad

 

 

 

Main keyboard keys

Hold Fn while typing letters

 

on embedded keypad.

Type the letters in a normal manner.

Acer TRAVELMATE-53X, TRAVELMATE 530 User Manual

15

Windows keys

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

English

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key

 

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windows logo

 

Start button. Combinations with this key perform

key

 

shortcut functions. Below are a few examples:

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ Tab (Activates next taskbar button)

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ E (Explores My Computer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ F (Finds Document)

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ M (Minimizes All)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shift +

+ M (Undoes Minimize All)

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ R (Displays the Run... dialog box)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Application key

 

Opens a context menu (same as a right-click).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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16

1 Getting to know your TravelMate

Hot keys

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

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

 

Setup

Launch Notebook Manager

 

 

 

 

 

Fn-F3

 

Power

Switches the power

 

 

management

management scheme used by

 

 

scheme toggle

the computer (function

 

 

 

available if supported by

 

 

 

operating system).

 

 

 

See “Power management” on

 

 

 

page 26.

 

 

 

 

 

Fn-F4

 

Sleep

Puts the computer in Sleep

 

 

 

mode.

 

 

 

See “Power management” on

 

 

 

page 26.

 

 

 

 

 

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