Acer TravelMate MS2180 User Manual
TravelMate 3250/2470 Series
User's Guide
Copyright © 2006. Acer Incorporated.
All Rights Reserved.
TravelMate 3250/2470 Series User's Guide
Original Issue: 3 2006
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 3250/2470 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.
Information for your safety and comfort
Safety instructions
Read these instructions carefully. Keep this document for future reference.
Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
Turning the product off before cleaning
Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid
cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
Warnings
• Do not use this product near water.
• Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand or table. If the product
falls, it could be seriously damaged.
• Slots and openings are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable
operation of the product and to protect it from overheating. These
openings must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be
blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug or other similar surface.
This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat
register, or in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
• Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as
they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could
result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind onto or into
the product.
• To avoid damage of internal components and to prevent battery leakage,
do not place the product on a vibrating surface.
iii
Using electrical power
• This product should be operated from the type of power indicated on the
marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult
your dealer or local power company.
• Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this
product where people will walk on the cord.
• If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total
ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not
exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total
rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the fuse
rating.
• Do not overload a power outlet, strip or receptacle by plugging in too
many devices. The overall system load must not exceed 80% of the branch
circuit rating. If power strips are used, the load should not exceed 80% of
the power strip's input rating.
iv
This product's AC adapter is equipped with a three-wire grounded plug.
•
The plug only fits in a grounded power outlet. Make sure the power outlet
is properly grounded before inserting the AC adapter plug. Do not insert
the plug into a non-grounded power outlet. Contact your electrician for
details.
Warning! The grounding pin is a safety feature. Using a power
outlet that is not properly grounded may result in electric shock
and/or injury.
Note: The grounding pin also provides good protection from
unexpected noise produced by other nearby electrical devices that
may interfere with the performance of this product.
• Use the product only with the supplied power supply cord set. If you need
to replace the power cord set, make sure that the new power cord meets
the following requirements: detachable type, UL listed/CSA certified, type
SPT-2, rated 7 A 125 V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent, 4.6
meters (15 feet) maximum length.
Product servicing
Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers
may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to
qualified service personnel.
Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service
personnel when:
• the power cord or plug is damaged, cut or frayed
• liquid was spilled into the product
• the product was exposed to rain or water
• the product has been dropped or the case has been damaged
• the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need
for service
• the product does not operate normally after following the operating
instructions
Note: Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating
instructions, since improper adjustment of other controls may
result in damage and will often require extensive work by a
qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition.
Replacing the battery pack
The notebook uses lithium batteries. Replace the battery with the same type as
that which came bundled with your product. Use of another battery may
present a risk of fire or explosion.
Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly. Do not
disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep them away from
children. Follow local regulations when disposing of used
batteries.
Telephone line safety
• Disconnect all telephone lines from the equipment when not in use and/or
before servicing.
• To avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning, do not connect
the telephone line to this equipment during lightning or thunderstorms.
Warning! For safety reasons, do not use non-compliant parts
when adding or changing components. Consult your reseller for
purchase options.
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. For more information on the Waste from Electrical and
Electronics Equipment (WEEE) regulations, visit
http://global.acer.com/about/environmental.htm
.
v
Mercury advisory
For projectors or 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
information, check www.lamprecycle.org
. For lamp-specific disposal
.
vi
Tips and information for comfortable use
Computer users may complain of eyestrain and headaches after prolonged use.
Users are also at risk of physical injury after long hours of working in front of a
computer. Long work periods, bad posture, poor work habits, stress,
inadequate working conditions, personal health and other factors greatly
increase the risk of physical injury.
Incorrect computer usage may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis,
tenosynovitis or other musculoskeletal disorders. The following symptoms may
appear in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck or back:
• numbness, or a burning or tingling sensation
• aching, soreness or tenderness
• pain, swelling or throbbing
• stiffness or tightness
• coldness or weakness
If you have these symptoms, or any other recurring or persistent discomfort
and/or pain related to computer use, consult a physician immediately and
inform your company's health and safety department.
The following section provides tips for more comfortable computer use.
Finding your comfort zone
Find your comfort zone by adjusting the viewing angle of the monitor, using a
footrest, or raising your sitting height to achieve maximum comfort. Observe
the following tips:
• refrain from staying too long in one fixed posture
• avoid slouching forward and/or leaning backward
• stand up and walk around regularly to remove the strain on your leg
muscles
• take short rests to relax your neck and shoulders
• avoid tensing your muscles or shrugging your shoulders
• install the external display, keyboard and mouse properly and within
comfortable reach
• if you view your monitor more than your documents, place the display at
the center of your desk to minimize neck strain
Taking care of your vision
Long viewing hours, wearing incorrect glasses or contact lenses, glare, excessive
room lighting, poorly focused screens, very small typefaces and low-contrast
displays could stress your eyes. The following sections provide suggestions on
how to reduce eyestrain.
vii
Eyes
• Rest your eyes frequently.
• Give your eyes regular breaks by looking away from the monitor and
focusing on a distant point.
• Blink frequently to keep your eyes from drying out.
Display
• Keep your display clean.
• Keep your head at a higher level than the top edge of the display so your
eyes point downward when looking at the middle of the display.
• Adjust the display brightness and/or contrast to a comfortable level for
enhanced text readability and graphics clarity.
• Eliminate glare and reflections by:
• placing your display in such a way that the side faces the window or
any light source
• minimizing room light by using drapes, shades or blinds
• using a task light
• changing the display's viewing angle
• using a glare-reduction filter
• using a display visor, such as a piece of cardboard extended from the
display's top front edge
• Avoid adjusting your display to an awkward viewing angle.
• Avoid looking at bright light sources, such as open windows, for extended
periods of time.
Developing good work habits
Develop the following work habits to make your computer use more relaxing
and productive:
• Take short breaks regularly and often.
• Perform some stretching exercises.
• Breathe fresh air as often as possible.
• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body.
Warning! We do not recommend using the computer on a couch
or bed. If this is unavoidable, work for only short periods, take
breaks regularly, and do some stretching exercises.
Note: For more information, please refer to "Regulations and
safety notices" on page 71 in the AcerSystem User's Guide.
viii
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:
1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem.
2 Click 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 15 for the
location of the power button.
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.
ix
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.
x
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:
1 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack.
2 Disconnect the AC adapter.
3 Use 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 49.
Information for your safety and comfort iii
Safety instructions iii
Disposal instructions v
Tips and information for comfortable use vi
First things first viii
Your guides viii
Basic care and tips for using your computer viii
Turning your computer on and off viii
Taking care of your computer ix
Taking care of your AC adapter ix
Taking care of your battery pack x
Cleaning and servicing x
Acer Empowering Technology 1
Empowering Technology password 1
Acer eNet Management (for selected models) 2
Acer ePower Management 4
Acer ePresentation Management 7
Acer eDataSecurity Management (for selected models) 8
Acer eLock Management 9
Acer eRecovery Management 11
Acer eSettings Management 13
Acer ePerformance Management 14
Your Acer notebook tour 15
Front view 15
Closed front view 16
Left view 18
Right view 19
Rear view 20
Base view 21
Specifications 22
Indicators 28
Easy-launch buttons 29
Touchpad 30
Touchpad basics 30
Using the keyboard 32
Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad 32
Windows keys 33
Hotkeys 34
Special key 36
Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 37
Using a computer security lock 37
Audio 38
Adjusting the volume 38
Acer OrbiCam 39
Launching the Acer OrbiCam 40
Changing the Acer OrbiCam settings 40
Capturing photos/videos 42
Contents
Using the Acer OrbiCam as webcam 42
Enabling the Acer VisageON (for 1.3 megapixel camera
models only) 43
Using the system utilities 46
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 46
Launch Manager 47
Norton AntiVirus 48
Frequently asked questions 49
Requesting service 52
International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 52
Before you call 52
Taking your notebook PC with you 53
Disconnecting from the desktop 53
Moving around 53
Preparing the computer 53
What to bring to meetings 54
Taking the computer home 54
Preparing the computer 54
What to take with you 54
Special considerations 55
Setting up a home office 55
Traveling with the computer 55
Preparing the computer 55
What to take with you 55
Special considerations 56
Traveling internationally with the computer 56
Preparing the computer 56
What to bring with you 56
Special considerations 56
Securing your computer 57
Using a computer security lock 57
Using passwords 57
Entering passwords 58
Setting passwords 58
Expanding through options 59
Connectivity options 59
Fax/data modem 59
Built-in network feature 60
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 60
PC Card slot 61
Installing memory 62
BIOS utility 63
Boot sequence 63
Enable disk-to-disk recovery 63
Password 63
Using software 64
Playing DVD movies 64
Power management 65
Acer eRecovery Management 65
Create backup 66
Restore from backup 66
Create factory default image CD 67
Re-install bundled software without CD 67
Change password 68
Troubleshooting 69
Troubleshooting tips 69
Error messages 69
Regulations and safety notices 71
ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 71
FCC notice 71
Modem notices 72
Laser compliance statement 75
LCD pixel statement 75
Macrovision copyright protection notice 75
Radio device regulatory notice 76
General 76
European Union (EU) 76
The FCC RF safety requirement 77
Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio
communication devices (RSS-210) 78
Federal Communications Comission
Declaration of Conformity 79
Declaration of Conformity for CE Marking 80
LCD panel ergonomic specifications 81
Index 83
1
Acer Empowering Technology
Acer's innovative Empowering Technology toolbar makes it easy for you to
access frequently used functions and manage your new Acer computer.
Displayed by default in the upper-right corner of your screen, it features the
following handy utilities:
• Acer eNet Management hooks up to location-based networks intelligently
(for selected models).
• Acer ePower Management extends battery power via versatile usage
profiles.
• Acer ePresentation Management connects to a projector and adjusts
display settings conveniently.
• Acer eDataSecurity Management protects data with passwords and
advanced encryption algorithms (for selected models).
• Acer eLock Management limits access to external storage media and
interfaces.
• Acer eRecovery Management backs up and recovers data flexibly, reliably
and completely.
• Acer eSettings Management accesses system information and adjusts
settings easily
• Acer ePerformance Management improves system performance by
optimizing disk space, memory and registry settings..
Empowering Technology
For more information, right click on the Empowering Technology toolbar, then
select the Help or Tutorial function.
Empowering Technology password
Before using Acer eLock Management and Acer eRecovery Management, you
must initialize the Empowering Technology password. Right-click on the
Empowering Technology toolbar and select "Password Setup" to do so. If you
do not initialize the Empowering Technology password, you will be prompted
to do so when running Acer eLock Management or Acer eRecovery
Management for the first time.
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.
2
Acer eNet Management (for selected models)
Acer eNet Management helps you to quickly and easily connect to both wired
and wireless networks in a variety of locations. To access this utility, either click
on the "Acer eNet Management" icon on your notebook, or start the program
from the Start menu. You also have the option to set Acer eNet Management to
start automatically when you boot up your PC.
Acer eNet Management automatically detects the best settings for a new
location, while offering you the freedom to manually adjust the settings to
Empowering Technology
match your needs.
Acer eNet Management can save network settings for a location to a profile,
and automatically switch to the appropriate profile when you move from one
location to another. Settings stored include network connection settings (IP and
3
DNS settings, wireless AP details, etc.), as well as default printer settings.
Security and safety concerns mean that Acer eNet Management does not store
username and password information.
Empowering Technology
4
Acer ePower Management
Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch
it, select Acer ePower Management from the Empowering Technology
interface.
AC mode (Adapter 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, FireWire(1394), Wired LAN
Empowering Technology
and Optical Device if supported.
DC mode (Battery mode)
There are four pre-defined profiles — Entertainment, Presentation, Word
Processing, and Battery Life. You can also define up to three of your own.
To create a new power profile:
1 Change power settings as desired.
2 Click "Save as ..." to save to a new power profile.
3 Name the newly created profile.
4 Select whether this profile is for Adapter or Battery mode, then click OK.
5 The new profile will appear in the profile list.
5
Battery status
For real-time battery life estimates based on current usage, refer to the panel in
the upper half of the window.
Empowering Technology
For additional options, click "Settings" to:
• Set alarms.
• Re-load factory defaults.
• Select what actions to be taken when the cover is closed or the power
button is pressed.
• Set passwords for accessing the system after Hibernation or Standby.
• View information about Acer ePower Management.
6
Empowering Technology
7
Acer ePresentation Management
Acer ePresentation Management lets you project your computer's display to an
external device or projector using the hot key: Fn + F5. If auto-detection
hardware is implemented in the system and the external display supports it,
your system display will be automatically switched out when an external display
is connected to the system. For projectors and external devices that are not
auto-detected, launch Acer ePresentation Management to choose an
appropriate display setting.
Empowering Technology
Note: If the restored resolution is not correct after disconnecting a
projector, or you need to use an external resolution that is not
supported by Acer ePresentation Management, adjust your
display settings using Display Properties or the utility provided by
the graphics vendor.
8
Acer eDataSecurity Management (for selected models)
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.
The Acer eDataSecurity Management setup wizard will prompt you for a
Empowering Technology
supervisor password and default encryption. This encryption 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 to 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!
Acer eLock Management
9
Empowering Technology
Acer eLock Management is a security utility that allows you to lock 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.
• Interfaces — includes serial port, parallel port, infrared (IR), and Bluetooth.
To activate Acer eLock Management, a password must be set first. Once set, you
can apply locks to any of the devices types. Lock(s) will immediately
be set without any reboot necessary, and will remain locked after rebooting,
until unlocked.
10
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.
Empowering Technology
11
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 hard
drive. By default, user-created backups are stored on the 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.
Empowering Technology
12
Empowering Technology
For more information, please refer to "Acer eRecovery Management" on page
65 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.
13
Acer eSettings Management
Acer eSettings Management allows you to inspect hardware specifications,
change BIOS passwords or other Windows settings, and to monitor the system
health status.
Acer eSettings Management also:
• Provides a simple graphical user interface for navigation.
• Displays general system status and advanced monitoring for power users
on Acer computer.
Empowering Technology
14
Acer ePerformance Management
Acer ePerformance Management is a system optimization tool that boosts the
performance of your Acer computer. It provides an express optimization
method to release unused memory and disk space quickly. The user can also
enable advanced options for full control over the following options:
• Memory optimization — releases unused memory and check usage.
• Disk optimization — removes unneeded items and files.
• Speed optimization — improves the usability and performance of your
Empowering Technology
Windows XP system.
15
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
# Icon Item Description
1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD),
2 Status indicators Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light
displays computer output.
up to show the status of the computer's
functions and components.
English
16
# Icon Item Description
3 Keyboard For entering data into your computer.
4 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which
functions like a computer mouse.
5 Click buttons (left,
center and right)
6 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands
7 Microphone Internal microphone for sound
8 Power button Turns the computer on and off.
9 Easy-launch buttons Buttons for launching frequently used
10 Built-in camera 1.3 megapixel or 310,000 pixel web
The left and right buttons function like
the left and right mouse buttons; the
center button serves as a 4-way scroll
button.
when you use the computer.
recording.
programs.
See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 29
for more details.
camera for video communication (for
selected models).
Closed front view
# Icon Item Description
1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo
2 USB 2.0 ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices
audio output.
(e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
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