Acer Veriton User Manual

Veriton Series

User's Guide

Copyright © 2006. Acer Incorporated.
All Rights Reserved.

Veriton Series User's Guide
Original Issue: 09 / 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.

Veriton Series Desktop Computer

Model number: __________________________________

Serial number: ___________________________________

Purchase date: ___________________________________

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.

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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.

CAUTION for plug as disconnecting device

Observe the following guidelines when connecting and disconnecting power to
the power supply unit:

Install the power supply unit before connecting the power cord to the AC
power outlet.

Unplug the power cord before removing the power supply unit from the
computer.

If the system has multiple sources of power, disconnect power from the system
by unplugging all power cords from the power supplies.

CAUTION for Accessibility

Be sure that the power outlet you plug the power cord into is easily accessible
and located as close to the equipment operator as possible. When you need to
disconnect power to the equipment, be sure to unplug the power cord from the
electrical outlet.

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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,

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do not place the product on a vibrating surface.

• Never use it under sporting, exercising, or any vibrating environment

which will probably cause unexpected short current or damage rotor
devices, HDD, Optical drive, and even exposure risk from lithium battery
pack.

• Keep the product at least 15 cm away from the wall for sufficient ventilation.

Safe Listening

Follow these instructions, suggested by hearing experts,to protect your hearing.

• Gradually increase the volume until you can hear it clearly and comfortably

and without distortion.

• After setting the volume level, do not increase it afteryour ears adjust.

• Limit the amount of time listening to music at high volume.

• Avoid turning up the volume to block out noisy surroundings.

• Turn the volume down if you can’t hear people speaking near you.

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.

• This product's power supply 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 power supply 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

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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.

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.

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Additional safety information

Your device and its enhancements may contain small parts. Keep them out of
the reach of small children.

Operating environment

Warning! For safety reasons, turn off all wireless or radio
transmitting devices when using your laptop under the following
conditions. These devices may include, but are not limited to:
wireless lan (WLAN), Bluetooth and/or 3G.

Remember to follow any special regulations in force in any area, and always
switch off your device when its use is prohibited or when it may cause
interference or danger. Use the device only in its normal operating positions.
This device meets RF exposure guidelines when used normally, and it and its
antenna are positioned at least 1.5 centimeters (5/8 inches) away from your
body (refer to the figure below). It should not contain metal and you should
position the device the above-stated distance from your body. To successfully
transmit data files or messages, this device requires a good quality connection
to the network. In some cases, transmission of data files or messages may be
delayed until such a connection is available. Ensure that the above separation
distance instructions are followed until the transmission is completed. Parts of
the device are magnetic. Metallic materials may be attracted to the device, and
persons with hearing aids should not hold the device to the ear with the
hearing aid. Do not place credit cards or other magnetic storage media near the
device, because information stored on them may be erased.

Medical devices

Operation of any radio transmitting equipment, including wireless phones, may
interfere with the functionality of inadequately protected medical devices.
Consult a physician or the manufacturer of the medical device to determine if
they are adequately shielded from external RF energy or if you have any
questions. Switch off your device in health care facilities when any regulations
posted in these areas instruct you to do so. Hospitals or health care facilities
may be using equipment that could be sensitive to external RF transmissions..

Pacemakers. Pacemaker manufacturers recommend that a minimum separation
of 15.3 centimeters (6 inches) be maintained between wireless devices and a
pacemaker to avoid potential interference with the pacemaker. These
recommendations are consistent with the independent research by and
recommendations of Wireless Technology Research. Persons with pacemakers
should do the following:

• Always keep the device more than 15.3 centimeters (6 inches) from the

pacemaker

• Not carry the device near your pacemaker when the device is switched o. If

you suspect interference, switch off your device, and move it

Hearing aids. Some digital wireless devices may interfere with some hearing
aids. If interference occurs, consult your service provider.

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Vehicles

RF signals may affect improperly installed or inadequately shielded electronic
systems in motor vehicles such as electronic fuel injection systems, electronic
antiskid (antilock) braking systems, electronic speed control systems, and air bag
systems. For more information, check with the manufacturer, or its
representative, of your vehicle or any equipment that has been added. Only
qualified personnel should service the device, or install the device in a vehicle.
Faulty installation or service may be dangerous and may invalidate any
warranty that may apply to the device. Check regularly that all wireless
equipment in your vehicle is mounted and operating properly. Do not store or
carry flammable liquids, gases, or explosive materials in the same compartment
as the device, its parts, or enhancements. For vehicles equipped with an air bag,
remember that air bags inflate with great force. Do not place objects, including
installed or portable wireless equipment in the area over the air bag or in the
air bag deployment area. If in-vehicle wireless equipment is improperly
installed, and the air bag inflates, serious injury could result. Using your device
while flying in aircraft is prohibited. Switch off your device before boarding an
aircraft. The use of wireless teledevices in an aircraft may be dangerous to the
operation of the aircraft, disrupt the wireless telephone network, and may be
illegal.

Potentially explosive environments

Switch off your device when in any area with a potentially explosive
atmosphere and obey all signs and instructions. Potentially explosive
atmospheres include areas where you would normally be advised to turn off
your vehicle engine. Sparks in such areas could cause an explosion or fire
resulting in bodily injury or even death. Switch off the device at refueling points
such as near gas pumps at service stations. Observe restrictions on the use of
radio equipment in fuel depots, storage, and distribution areas; chemical plants;
or where blasting operations are in progress. Areas with a potentially explosive
atmosphere are often, but not always, clearly marked. They include below deck
on boats, chemical transfer or storage facilities, vehicles using liquefied
petroleum gas (such as propane or butane), and areas where the air contains
chemicals or particles such as grain, dust or metal powders.

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Emergency calls

Warning: You cannot make emergency calls through this device. To make an
emergency call you shall dial out through your mobile phone or other
telephone call system.

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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/sustainability.htm

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

.

ENERGY STAR is a government program (public/private partnership) that gives
people the power to protect the environment in a cost effective way and
without sacrificing quality or product features. Products that earn the ENERGY
STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency
guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US
Department of Energy (DOE). In the average home, 75% of all electricity used
to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.
ENERGY STAR qualified home electronic products in the off position use up to
50% less energy than conventional equipment. More information refers to
http://www.energystar.gov

As an ENERGY STAR partner, Acer Inc. has determined that this product meets
the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.

This product has been shipped enabled for power management:

and http://www.energystar.gov/powermangement.

• Activate display’ Sleep mode within 15 minutes of user inactivity.

• Activate computer’s Sleep mode within 30 minutes of user inactivity.

• Wake the computer from Sleep mode by pushing power button.

• More power management settings can be done through Acer ePower

Management.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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 55 in the AcerSystem User's Guide.

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Information for your safety and comfort iii

Safety instructions iii
Additional safety information vi
Operating environment vi
Medical devices vi
Vehicles vii
Potentially explosive environments vii
Emergency calls vii
Disposal instructions viii
Tips and information for comfortable use ix

Empowering Technology 1

Acer Empowering Technology 3

Empowering Technology password 3
Acer eSettings Management 4
Acer eLock Management 5
Acer eDataSecurity Management 6
Acer ePerformance Management 8
Acer eAcoustics Management 9

Using Acer eAcoustics Management 9
Acer eAcoustics Management Main Page 10

Acer eRecovery Management 11

1 System tour 13

Package contents 15
Accessing the User's Guide 16
Front and rear panels 17
Keyboard 18
Optical drive (for selected models) 19

Taking care of your CDs and DVDs 19

Contents

2 Setting up your computer 21

Arranging a comfortable work area 23

Adjusting your chair 23
Positioning your PC 23
Positioning your monitor 25
Positioning your keyboard 25
Positioning your mouse 25

Connecting peripherals 26

Connecting your mouse and keyboard 26
Connecting a monitor 27
Connecting the power cable 28

Taking care of your AC adapter 28

Turning on your computer 29
Turning off your computer 30
Connecting options 31

Connecting to the network 31
Connecting multimedia devices 32

3 System utilities 35

Adobe Reader 37

Norton AntiVirus (for selected models) 38

NTI CD&DVD-Maker
(for models with CD or DVD Burner) 39
PowerDVD (for models with DVD) 41

How do I open and watch a DVD? 41

BIOS utility 42
Reinstalling programs 42
Recovering your system 43
Using backup (Windows XP only) 49

How do I back up files from my hard drive? 49

Disk defragmenter (Windows XP only) 50

How do I defragment my hard drive? 50

4 Frequently asked questions 51

Frequently asked questions 53
Regulations and safety notices 55

FCC notice 55
Modem notices 56
Laser compliance statement 59
LCD pixel statement 59
Macrovision copyright protection notice 59
Radio device regulatory notice 60
General 60
European Union (EU) 60
The FCC RF safety requirement 61

Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio
communication devices (RSS-210) 61
Federal Communications Comission
Declaration of Conformity 63

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Index 67

Empowering

Technology

Acer's innovative Empowering Technology
makes it easy for you to access frequently
used functions and manage your new Acer
desktop.

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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 eSettings Management accesses system information and adjusts

settings easily.

• Acer eLock Management limits access to external storage media and

interfaces.

• Acer eDataSecurity Management protects data with passwords and

advanced encryption algorithms.

• Acer ePerformance Management improves system performance by

optimizing disk space, memory and registry settings.

• Acer eAcoustics Management offers a useful tool to balance your

computing power needs with your desired level of quietness.

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

and completely.

• Acer eProtection Management provides exceptional protection against

viruses and other malware.

For more information, right click on the Empowering Technology toolbar, then
select the Help or Tutorial function.

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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 computer or taking your computer to an Acer
Customer Service Center. Be sure to remember or write down your
password.

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Empowering Technology

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.

5

Acer eLock Management

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 computer 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 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.

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

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Empowering Technology

Acer eDataSecurity Management

English

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
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!

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Empowering Technology

Acer ePerformance Management

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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

Windows XP system.

9

Acer eAcoustics Management

Acer eAcoustics Management offers you a useful tool to balance your
computing power needs with your desired level of quietness. By reducing the
processor speed for tasks that require less processing, the CPU and system fans
can run slower, thus reducing the amount of sound generated by these
components.

Using Acer eAcoustics Management

To launch Acer eAcoustics Management:

• Click on the Acer eAcoustics Management icon in the Empowering

Technology toolbar shown on your desktop.

• From the Start menu, go to (All) Programs > Acer Empowering Technology

> Acer eAcoustics Management.

This will open the Acer eAcoustics Management main page.

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Empowering Technology

Acer eAcoustics Management Main Page

Listed on the main page are two options for Acer eAcoustics Management,
labeled as Quiet and Professional. Select the mode that suits your working
requirements best, and exit the utility to apply the settings.

Quiet

Use this mode for tasks that require low processing power, like word
processing, Web browsing, and instant messaging. This mode creates the lowest
audio disturbance.

Professional Mode

Use this mode for processing-intensive tasks, when you require full-speed
operation.