Acer Veriton 5500 series User's Guide

Veriton 5500 series

(Veriton 5500/Veriton 5500G)

User’s guide

Veriton 5500 series

(Veriton 5500/Veriton 5500G) User’s guide

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.

Model Number : _________________________________

Serial Number: ___________________________________

Purchase Date: ___________________________________

Place of Purchase: ________________________________

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

iii

Notices

FCC notice

This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This device generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this device does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the device off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

•Increase the separation between the device and receiver

•Connect the device into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected

•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help

Notice: Shield cables

All connections to other computing devices must be made using shielded cables to maintain compliance with FCC regulations.

Notice: Peripheral devices

Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) certified to comply with the Class B limits may be attached to this equipment. Operation with noncertified peripherals is likely to result in interference to radio and TV reception.

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

Use conditions

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

Notice: Canadian users

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Important safety instructions

Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference.

1Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

2Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

3Do not use this product near water.

4Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.

5Slots and openings in the housing and the back or bottom are provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect it from overheating, these openings must not be blocked or covere. 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.

6This 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.

7Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this product where persons will walk on the cord.

8If 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.

9Never 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 on the product.

10Do 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.

11Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

a When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed b If liquid has been spilled into the product

cIf the product has been exposed to rain or water

dIf the product does not operate normally when the operating instructions are followed. 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.

eIf the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged

fIf the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service.

12Replace the battery with the same type as the product's battery we recommend. Use of another battery may present a risk of fire or explosion. Refer battery replacement to a qualified serviceman.

13Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly. Do not disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep them away from children and dispose of used batteries promptly.

14Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided in your accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified, type SVT, rated 7A 125V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).

Laser compliance statement

The CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive in this computer is a laser product. The CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive’s classification label (shown below) is located on the drive.

CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT

CAUTION: INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM.

Lithium battery statement

CAUTION

Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Macrovision® statement

This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

Year 2000 compliance statement

The Veriton 5500 series computer carries the "Hardware NSTL Tested Year 2000 Compliant" logo, which certifies that this model has been tested by NSTL using the YMark2000 test, and has been found to meet NSTL's standards for Year 2000 hardware compliance.

For more details, check the Acer Year 2000 Resource Center at http:// global.acer.com/service/pcy2000.html

Notices	iii
FCC notice	iii
Important safety instructions	iv
Laser compliance statement	v
Lithium battery statement	v
Macrovision® statement	vi
Year 2000 compliance statement	vi

1 First things first	1
Package contents	3
Taking care of your computer	4
Important tips	4
Cleaning and servicing	4
Asking for technical assistance	5
Accessing the user’s guide	6

2	System tour	7
Features		9
	Performance	9
	Multimedia	9
	Connectivity	9
Front panel		11
Rear panel		13
Keyboard		15
	Function keys	16
	Lock keys	16
	Windows keys	17
	Cursor keys	17
	Palm rest	17
	Volume control/Mute knob	18
	Multimedia keys	18
	Internet/Suspend keys	19
	Programmable keys	19
Mouse		20
Disk drives		21
	3.5-inch floppy drive	21
	CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive	22
	Hard disk	24
3	Setting up your computer	25

Contents

Arranging a comfortable work area

viii
Adjusting your chair	27
Positioning your computer	27
Positioning your monitor	28
Positioning your keyboard	28
Positioning your mouse	28
Connecting peripherals	29
Connecting your mouse	29
Connecting your keyboard	32
Connecting a monitor	34
Connecting the power cable	35
Turning on your computer	36
Turning off your computer	37
Connecting options	38
Connecting your printer	38
Connecting the modem	39
Connecting to the network	40
Connecting multimedia devices	41
Connecting USB devices	44
4 Upgrading your computer	47
Installation precautions	49
ESD precautions	49
Preinstallation instructions	49
Post-installation instructions	50
Opening your computer	51
To remove the computer cover	51
To replace the computer cover	52
Internal components	53
System boards	54
Mainboard layout	54
Audio board	59
Upgrading your computer	60
Installing additional memory	60
Replacing the hard disk	62
Installing an expansion card	65
5 System utilities	69
Acrobat Reader	72
LDCM	73
Norton AntiVirus	74
NTI CD-Maker	75
PowerDVD	76
BIOS utility	77

Reinstalling programs	78
Recovering your system	78

6 Frequently asked questions	79
FAQs	81
Index	85

1 First things first

This chapter describes the contents of your computer package and also provides important tips on how to take care of your computer.

Package contents

Before you unpack your computer, make sure that you have enough space to set up your computer.

Carefully unpack the carton and remove the contents. If any of the following items are missing or damaged, contact your dealer immediately:

•Veriton 5500 series computer

•Items contained in the accessory box

•PS/2 or USB keyboard

•PS/2 or USB mouse

•User’s guide and installation poster

•Other user documentation and third-party software

4	1 First things first

Taking care of your computer

Please read the safety instructions listed in this section. Following these instructions on the care and use of your new computer will help you maximize its durability.

Important tips

•Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator.

•Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.

•Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.

•Do not spill water on the computer.

•Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration.

•Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.

•Never place the system on uneven surfaces.

•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 rating 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.

•Check the documentation that came with your software programs to see if you can select other combinations of resolution and color. These adjustments could make viewing the screen more comfortable.

Cleaning and servicing

To clean your computer and keyboard

1Turn off the computer and unplug the power cable.

2Use a soft cloth moistened with water and gently wipe the exterior of the computer and the keyboard. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

To clean your pointing device

To clean a regular mouse (with rubber ball):

1.Open the circular cover underneath the mouse.

2.Take out the rubber ball and wipe it with a soft, damp cloth.

3.Put the ball back and close the cover.

To clean your optical mouse:

For optical mouse users, refer to the documentation that came with your mouse for maintenance instructions.

To clean your monitor

Make sure that you keep your screen clean. For cleaning instructions, refer to the documentation that came with your monitor.

When to contact a service technician

•If you dropped and damaged the computer

•If liquid has been spilled into the computer

•If the computer is not operating normally

•If a computer problem persists even after you have checked and done the troubleshooting tips discussed in the “Frequently-asked questions” section on page 81

•If your problem is not listed in the “Frequently-asked questions” section on page 81

•If you want to replace or upgrade any of your computer's internal components

Asking for technical assistance

For technical assistance, contact your local dealer or distributor. You may also access the Acer Web site at (www.acer.com) for information on how and where to contact the service centers available in your area.

6	1 First things first

Accessing the user’s guide

This user’s guide is also available on your computer as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file.

To access the user’s guide (for Windows XP)

1On the Windows XP taskbar, click on the Start button then select Help and Support Center.

2On the Help and Support Center home page, double-click the Veriton 5500 series Online icon.

To access the user’s guide (for Windows 2000)

1Double-click on the Veriton 5500 series Online icon on your Windows desktop.

2 System tour

This chapter discusses the features and components of your computer.

Features

Here are just a few of your computer’s many features:

Performance

•Intel Pentium® 4 processor

•System memory expandable to a maximum of 2GB using DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM DIMM modules

Note: To capitalize on the system memory capacity mentioned above, you must use 1-GB memory modules which are not yet available in the market. The biggest capacity currently available is 512-MB which allows a maximum of 1GB.

•Power management function

•3.5-inch floppy drive

•CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or CD-RW drive

•High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk

•Supports USB 2.0 high-performance peripherals

Multimedia

•128-bit graphics accelerator installed in the AGP Pro card slot

•3-D quality audio system via onboard audio controller

•Audio-in/Line-in, Audio-out/Line-out, Headphone-out, and Microphone-in interfaces

Note: The system has two microphone-in jacks (front and rear). However, you can not use both of them at the same time. By default, your system enables the microphone-in jack in front and disables the one at the back.

Connectivity

•Two PS/2 interfaces for mouse and keyboard

•One serial port

10	2 System tour

•One parallel port

•One VGA port

•Six Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports (two on the front and four on the rear panel)

•High-speed fax/data PCI modem (optional)

•10Base-T/100Base-TX network support with remote wake-up function

Front panel

Your computer’s front panel consists of the following:

Label Icon	Description
1	Hard disk activity light-emitting diode (LED)
2	System activity indicator
3	Power indicator
4	Power button
5	CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW Headphone/Earphone port
6	Floppy drive LED
7	3.5-inch floppy drive
8	Floppy drive eject button
9	CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW tray

10	Stop/Eject button

12	2 System tour

Label Icon	Description

11	CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW emergency eject hole

12	CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW LED

13Volume control

145.25-inch drive bay

15	Headphone/Earphone port
16	Front microphone-in port (see Note)
17	USB ports

Rear panel

Your computer’s rear panel consists of the following:

Label

Icon

Color

Description

Voltage selector switch

Green

PS/2 mouse port

Power jack (for external speakers)

Teal or

Serial port

Turquoise

Burgundy

Parallel/Printer port

Blue

Monitor port

White

Network port

8	Keyhole

14			2 System tour
Label	Icon	Color	Description
9			Modem line port
10			Expansion slots
11			Telephone port
12		Light blue	Audio-in/Line-in jack
13		Lime	Audio-out/Line-out jack
14		Pink	Microphone-in jack
15		Black	USB ports
16		Purple	PS/2 keyboard port
17			Power cable socket
18			Power supply

For information on how to connect the peripherals, see “Connecting peripherals” on page 29 and “Connecting options” on page 38.

Keyboard

Your computer comes with a USB keyboard. The keyboard has fullsized keys that include separate cursor keys, two Windows keys, and twelve function keys.

For information on how to connect your USB keyboard, please see “Connecting peripherals” on page 29.

No.	Description

1	Function keys

2	Caps lock

3	Windows logo key

4	Application key

5	Cursor keys

6	Palm rest

7	Num lock key

8	Scroll lock key

16			2 System tour

	No.	Description

9		Volume control/Mute knob

10		Multimedia keys

11		Internet/Suspend keys

12		Programmable keys

Function keys

The function keys, F1 - F12, let you perform specific functions, depending on the application that uses them.

Lock keys

The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off to switch between two functions.

Lock key	Description

Caps Lock	When activated, all alphabetic characters typed
	appear in uppercase (same function as pressing
	Shift + <letter>).

Num Lock	When activated, the keypad is set to numeric
	mode; i.e., the keys function as a calculator
	(complete with arithmetic operators such as +, -,
	* and /).

Scroll Lock	When activated, the screen moves one line up
	or down when you press the up arrow or down
	arrow respectively. Take note that Scroll Lock
	may not work with some applications.

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, such as:
		• Windows + Tab: Activate the next
		• Windows + Tab: Activate the next
		Taskbar button
		• Windows + E: Explore My Computer
		• Windows + F: Find Document
		• Windows + M: Minimize All
		• Shift + Windows + M: Undo Minimize
		All
		• Windows + R: Display the Run dialog box

Application key		Opens the applications context menu (same
		function as clicking the right button of the
		mouse).

Cursor keys

The cursor keys, also called the arrow keys, let you move the cursor around the screen. They serve the same function as the arrow keys on the numeric keypad when the Num Lock is toggled off.

Palm rest

The detachable palm rest provides you a comfortable place to rest your hands while typing.

18	2 System tour

Volume control/Mute knob

The volume control/mute knob controls the speaker volume. Turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the volume. Press it to toggle between mute and sound.

Multimedia keys

Allow you to conveniently play, pause, stop, step forward, or step back a song or movie using your keyboard.

Icon	Key	Description

	Play/Pause	Press to start playing the audio track or
		video file. Press again to pause.

	Stop	Press to stop playing the audio track or
		video file.
		video file.

	Forward	Press to skip forward to the next track or
		video file and start playing.

Icon	Key	Description

	Backward	Press to skip backward to the previous
		track or video file and start playing.

Internet/Suspend keys

The Internet/Suspend keys consist of three buttons:

Icon	Key	Description

	Email	Launches your email application.

	Web	Launches your current default browser.
	browser

	Suspend	Press this button to put system to sleep.

Programmable keys

The programmable keys help you directly access a URL (Web site) or launch any program, files, or application in your system. The fifth key is set to launch the Windows Media Player. If you want to configure the settings of each key, right click on the Magic Keyboard icon located on the desktop.

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