Acer TRAVELMATE-ALPHA550 User Manual

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TravelMate α-550 series
User’s guide
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Copyright © 2001 All Rights Reserved
TravelMate α-550 series Notebook computer User’s guide Original Issue: October 2001
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 α-550 series Notebook computer
Model Number : __________________________________
Serial Number: ___________________________________
Purchase Date: ___________________________________
Place of Purchase: ________________________________
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.
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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.
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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.
Lastly, there may be a Read me first sheet included with your package which contains important reminders and updates. So, please read through it.
For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our web site (www.acer.com
).
Basic care and tips for using your computer
Turning your computer on and off
To turn on the computer, open the display cover, and press the power switch above the keyboard.
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
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Use the Windows shutdown command
Click on Start, and select the Windows shutdown or turn off command.
Use the power switch
If you set the power switch to Shut down”, you can use this button to turn off the computer. See Windows help for details.
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 0°C (32°F) or
above 50°C (122°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 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
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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:
1 Power off the computer 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.
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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 75.
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First things first iii
Your guides iii Basic care and tips for using your computer iii
1 Getting familiar with your computer 1
A tour of your computer 3
Front view 3 Left view 5 Right view 6 Rear view 7
Bottom view 8 Features 9 Display 11 Indicators 12 Keyboard 15
Special keys 15
Keyboard ergonomics 19 Touchpad 20
Touchpad basics 20 Launch keys 22 Storage 24 Connectivity options 25
Ethernet and LAN 25
Fax/data modem 25 Audio 26
Adjusting the volume 26
Using the Audio DJ feature 26 Securing your computer 27
Security notch 27
Passwords 27
Contents
2 Operating on battery power 29
Battery pack 31
Battery pack characteristics 31
Installing and removing the battery pack 31
Charging the battery 33
Checking the battery level 33
Optimizing battery life 33
Battery-low warning 34 Power management 36
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3 Peripherals and options 37
External display devices 39
External monitor 39 External display with s-video input 39 Using simultaneous display 39
External input devices 40
External keyboard 40 External keypad 40
External pointing device 40 Printer 41 Audio devices 42 Expansion devices 43
PC Card slots 43
USB 44
IEEE 1394 45 Miscellaneous options 46
Battery pack 46
AC adapter 46 Key component upgrades 47
Memory upgrade 47
Hard disk upgrade 49
4 Moving with your computer 51
Disconnecting from the desktop 53 Moving around 54
Preparing the computer 54
What to bring to short meetings 54
What to bring to long meetings 54 Taking the computer home 55
Preparing the computer 55
What to bring with you 55
Special considerations 55
Setting up a home office 56 Traveling with the computer 57
Preparing the computer 57
What to bring with you 57
Special considerations 57 Traveling internationally with the computer 58
Preparing the computer 58
What to bring with you 58
Special considerations 58
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5 Software 59
System software 61 Easy Button 62 E-Mail Detector 63 BIOS Setup Utility 64
Main 65 System Devices 67 Security 68 Others 71 Boot 72 Exit 73
6 Troubleshooting 75
Frequently-asked questions 77 Error messages 81
Appendix A Specifications 85
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Appendix B Notices 91
Index 99
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1 Getting familiar with
your computer
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This computer combines high-performance, 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.
This chapter gives an in-depth "tour" of the computer’s many features.
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A tour of your computer
After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new notebook computer.
Front view
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# Item Description
1 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display), displays
computer output.
2 Power button Turns on the computer power.
3 Status LCD LCD that display icons to show the status of the
computer and its functions and components.
4 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
5 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions
like a computer mouse.
1 Getting familiar with your computer4
6 Click buttons
(left and right)
The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons.
7 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently-used programs.
See Launch keys on page 22 for more details.
8 Status
Shows the power and email status.
indicators
9 Speakers Outputs sound.
10 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when
you use the computer.
11 Floppy drive Accepts a 3.5-inch diskette.
12 Floppy drive
Press to eject the diskette from the floppy drive.
eject button
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Left view
# Item Description
1 Optical drive Depending on your model:
CD-ROM drive reads CDs
DVD-ROM drive reads CDs and DVDs
DVD/CD-RW combo drive reads CDs and DVDs,
and writes to CD-Rs and CD-RWs.
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2 Optical drive
eject button
3 Optical drive
emergency eject hole
Ejects the disc from the optical drive.
Ejects the disc from the optical drive when the computer is turned off. See How do I eject the optical drive tray with the computer turned off? on page 78 for more details.
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Right view
# Item Description
1 Getting familiar with your computer6
1 Speaker/headphone-
out jack
2 Microphone-in jack Connects an external microphone.
3 PC Card eject buttons Eject the selected PC Card from its slot.
4 PC Card slots
5 DC-in jack Connects to the AC adapter.
6 PS/2 port Connects to a PS/2-compatible device (e.g.,
7 USB ports (two) Connects to USB devices (e.g., USB mouse).
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones).
Accepts one Type III or two Type II/I PC Card(s).
PS/2 keyboard/mouse/keypad).
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Rear view
# Item Description
1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.
2 IEEE 1394 port Connects to a IEEE 1394 compatible device
(e.g., digital camcorder).
3 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based
network.
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4 Modem jack Conncts a phone line (only for models with
an internal fax/data modem).
5 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel
printer).
6 External display port Connects to a display monitor.
7 Video-out port Connects to a display device with S-video
input.
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Bottom view
1 Getting familiar with your computer8
# Item Description
1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer’s hard disk.
2 Battery release button Press and hold to release the battery latch.
3 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the battery
pack.
4 Battery bay Houses the computers battery pack.
5 Memory compartment Houses the computer’s main memory.
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Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance
Intel® Pentium III or Intel® Celeron processor with on-die level 2 cache
128 MB memory onboard and one memory upgrade slot
Large LCD display with adjustable video memory
High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
Lithium-Ion battery pack
Power management system
DualView capability
Simultaneous LCD and CRT display
Multimedia
16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3-D sound
Built-in dual stereo speakers
Internal optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD/CD-RW combo)
Audio DJ (CD playback) feature
S-video (NTSC/PAL) output
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Connectivity
High-speed 56Kbps V.90 fax/data software modem
Ethernet/Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)
CardBus PC Card slots
Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports
IEEE 1394 port
Human-centric design and ergonomics
All-in-one design (CD or DVD, floppy drive, and hard disk)
Sleek, smooth and stylish design
Full-sized keyboard
Wide and curved palm rest
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1 Getting familiar with your computer10
Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
Launch keys (supports Audio DJ feature)
Expansion
Upgradeable memory and hard disk
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Display
The large graphics display offers excellent viewing, display quality and desktop-performance graphics. The computer supports a Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) displaying up to 16.7 million colors at 1400x1050 Super eXtended Graphics Array Plus (SXGA+) resolution (for models with a 15.0-inch display) or 1024x768 eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) resolution (for models with a 14.1-inch display).
Video performance
Video memory is adjustable via the BIOS Setup Utility. The system sets aside a portion of main memory for video. For more details on how to configure this setting, see System Devices on page 67.
Simultaneous display
The computers large display and multimedia capabilities are great for giving presentations. If you prefer, you can also connect an external monitor when giving presentations. This computer supports simultaneous LCD and CRT display. Simultaneous display allows you to control the presentation from your computer and at the same time face your audience. You can also connect other output display devices such as an LCD projector or a television for large-audience presentations.
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1 Getting familiar with your computer12
Indicators
The computer has an easy-to-read status LCD (1) located above the keyboard. Two status indicators, power (2), and email (3) are located near the front of the computer.
The status LCD displays icons that show the status of the computer and its components.
Function Icon Description
Caps lock Caps Lock is activated.
Num lock Numeric Lock (for embedded keypad) is
activated.
Pad lock Pad Lock (for embedded keypad) is
activated.
Scroll lock Scroll Lock is activated.
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Function Icon Description
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Optical drive/ Hard disk
CD or DVD drive or hard disk is being accessed.
activity
Floppy drive
Floppy drive is being accessed.
activity
PC Card
PC Card is being accessed.
activity
AC power Computer is running on AC power.
Battery
Battery is being charged.
charge
Battery full Battery is fully charged.
Battery
Battery is 75 to 100 percent full.
gauge
Battery is 31 to 74 percent full.
Battery is 6 to 30 percent full, and battery is running low.
Note: Charge the battery as soon as possible.
Battery is critically-low. Note: Battery gauge icon is blinking.
Battery temperature is too high. Note: Save your work and shut down
your computer to let the battery cool down.
Battery is not installed.
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1 Getting familiar with your computer14
In addition to the status LCD, the computer includes power and email status indicators.
Function Icon Description
Power Lights when the computer is on.
Email Lights when incoming email is received.
To launch your email program and read the incoming email, press the email button beside this indicator. See Launch keys on page 22.
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Keyboard
The keyboard has full-sized keys with an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and twelve function keys.
Special keys
Lock keys
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The keyboard has four 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.
Pad lock (Fn-F10)
Num lock (Fn-F11)
Scroll lock (Fn-F12)
When Pad Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in cursor mode. The keys function as a directional keypad including Insert and Delete keys.
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. See “External keyboard on page 40.
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.
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1 Getting familiar with your computer16
Embedded keypad
The embedded keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters located on the lower edge of the keycaps. The embedded keypad can function in numeric mode or cursor-control mode.
Desired Access Num lock On Pad lock On
Number keys on embedded keypad
Cursor-control keys on embedded keypad
Main keyboard keys Hold Fn while typing
Type numbers in a normal manner.
Hold Shift while using cursor-control keys.
letters on embedded keypad. Also hold down Shift for capital letters.
Hold Shift while typing numbers.
Use cursor-control keys in a normal manner.
Hold Fn while typing letters on embedded keypad. Also hold down Shift for capital letters.
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Windows keys
The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions.
Key Description
Windows logo key Start button. Combinations with this key perform
special 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 Run dialog box)
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Application key Opens the applications context menu (same as right-
click).
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1 Getting familiar with your computer18
Hotkeys
The computer uses hotkeys or key combinations to perform functions such as controlling the screen brightness and specifying where to display output.
HotKey Function Description
Fn-F5 Display toggle Switches display output between the
Fn-
Fn- Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness.
Brightness up Increases the screen brightness.
display screen, external monitor (if connected) and both the display screen and external monitor.
When activating hotkeys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination.
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Keyboard ergonomics
Located below the keyboard, the wide and curved palm rest is ergonomically designed to provide you with a very comfortable place to rest your hands while you type.
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1 Getting familiar with your computer20
Touchpad
The built-in touchpad is a PS/2-compatible pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger on the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palm rest provides optimum comfort and support.
Touchpad basics
The following teaches you how to use the touchpad:
Move your finger across the touchpad to move the cursor.
Press the left (1) and right (2) buttons located on the edge of the
touchpad to do selection and execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad produces similar results.
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