Wistron MS2140AB Users Manual

TravelMate C300 series
User’s guide
Copyright © 2003. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
TravelMate C300 series User’s guide Original Issue: October 2003
Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
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 C300 series Notebook computer
Model Number : __________________________________
Serial Number: ___________________________________
Purchase Date: ___________________________________
Place of Purchase: ________________________________
Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other company's product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.
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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.
You r g ui de s
To help you use your TravelMate, we have designed a set of guides:
First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer.
This User’s guide introduces you to the many ways your computer can help you be more productive. This guide provides clear and concise information about the computer, so read it thoroughly.
If you ever need to print out a copy, this User’s guide is also available in PDF (Portable Document Format). Follow these steps:
1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem. 2 Click on AcerSystem User’s guide.
Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on TravelMate User’s guide will run the Acrobat Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, access the Help menu.
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For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our Web site (www.acer.com).
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Basic care and tips for using your computer
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Turning your computer on and off
To turn on the computer, simply slide and release the power switch on the left side of your TravelMate. See “Left view” on page 4 for the location of the power switch.
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 switch
Note: You can also use the power switch to perform power
management functions. See “Power management” on page 29..
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 (32F) or above 50C (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.
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Taking care of your AC adapter
Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter:
Do not connect the adapter to any other device.
Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it.
Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from personal traffic.
When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the plug.
The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating.
Taking care of your battery pack
Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:
Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off before removing or replacing batteries.
Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children.
Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if
at all possible.
Cleaning and servicing
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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.
4 If the computer does not operate normally.Please refer to
"Troubleshooting my computer" on page 51.
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First things first iii
Your guides iii Basic care and tips for using your computer iv
1 Getting to know your TravelMate 1
A TravelMate tour 3
Front view 3 Left view 4 Right view 5 Rear view 6 Bottom view 8
Using your computer in tablet mode 9
Writing in the tablet mode 9 Features 12 Indicators 14
Understanding the icons 16 Using the keyboard 17
Special keys 17 Touchpad 24
Touchpad basics 24 Storage 26
Hard disk 26
Optical drive 26 Audio 28 Power management 29 Acer light sensor 30 Moving around with your TravelMate 31
Disconnecting from the desktop 31
Moving around 31
Taking the computer home 32
Traveling with the computer 34
Traveling internationally with the computer 35 Securing your computer 36
Using a computer security lock 36
Contents
2 Customizing my computer 39
Expanding through options 41
Connectivity options 41
Upgrade options 44 Using system utilities 47
Notebook Manager 47
Launch Manager 48
BIOS Utility 49
3 Troubleshooting my computer 51
Frequently-asked questions 53 Requesting service 57
International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 57 Before you call 57
Appendix A Acer soft button 59
Appendix B Specifications 65
Appendix C Notices 71
Index 81
1 Getting to know your
TravelMate
Your TravelMate computer combines high­performance, versatility, power management features and multimedia capabilities with a unique style and ergonomic design. Work with unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power computing partner.
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A TravelMate tour
After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new TravelMate
computer.
Front view
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# Item Description
1 EMR stylus Electromagnetic resonate (EMR) stylus is
used to input data in tablet mode. Use only an EMR-compatible stylus to input data on the screen.
1 Getting to know your TravelMate4
# Item Description
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2 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display),
3 Tablet Keys Add enhanced functionality when
4 Launch Keys Buttons for launching frequently used
5 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands
6 Click buttons (left,
center and right)
7 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which
8 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
9 Status indicators LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that turn on
displays computer output.
operating in Tablet mode.
programs. See“Launch Keys” on page 23 for more details.
when you use the computer.
The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-way scroll button.
functions like a computer mouse.
and off to show the status of the computer, its functions and components.
Left view
# Item Description
1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.
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# Item Description
2 Power switch Turns on the computer power.
3 Ventilation slot Allows air to circulate through the
computer chassis.
4 AcerMedia Bay For hot-swappable modules including
DVD-ROM, DVD/CD-RW combo or DVD dual drive.
5 LED indicator Lights up when the optical drive is
active.
6 Eject button Ejects the optical drive tray from the
drive.
7 Emergency eject slot Ejects the optical drive tray when the
computer is turned off. See page 54 for more details.
8 Pen slot Keeps the stylus handy when not in
use.
Right view
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# Item Description
1 Smart Card slot Slot for Smart Card interface with pre-boot
authentication system.
2 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g., infrared
printer, IR-aware computer).
# Item Description
1 Getting to know your TravelMate6
English
3 PC Card eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
4 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II 16-bit PC Card or 32-bit
CardBus PC Card.
Rear view
# Item Description
1 Line-in/Mic-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD
player, stereo walkman).
2 Speaker/Line-out
Headphone jack
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones).
3 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.
4 Expansion port Connects to an I/O port replicator or Acer
EasyPort port expansion device.
5 Network jack Connects to a 10/100/1000 t-based Gigabit
6 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.
Ethernet network.
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# Item Description
7 Convertible hinge Hinges the LCD screen in place when switching
8 External display
port
9 S-video Connect to a television or display device with
10 USB 2.0 ports (2) Connect to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
11 Power jack Connects to an AC adapter.
from PC mode to tablet mode and vice versa.
Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector) .
S-video input.
devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate8
Bottom view
# Item Description
1AcerMedia bay
release latch
2 AcerMedia bay Houses an AcerMedia drive module.
3 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool.
4Memory
compartment
5Hard disk
protector
6 Hard disk bay Houses the computers Hard disk drive.
7 Battery Lock &
release latch
8 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.
Unlatches the AcerMedia drive for removal or swapping.
Note: Don’t cover or obstruct the fan opening.
Houses the computer's main memory.
Protects the hard disk from accidental dumps and vibration.
Unlock and unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack.
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Using your computer in tablet mode
Your computer is designed for convenience, ergonomic use, and portability. Running the Windows XP Tablet PC edition operating system, your TravelMate utilizes an EMR stylus for pen-based input. Software developed specifically for the computer allows for both handwriting recognition converted to application text, or handwriting captured as rich digital ink for manipulation, editing, and formatting.
Writing in the tablet mode
To write in the table mode, follow the steps below: 1 Turn the latch to the right (a) and open the display screen in the
direction as shown in the illustration below (b).
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Caution: In the notebook mode, please turn the latch to left to prevent any dangerous action.
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate10
2 Open the display screen to an angle of about 90 degrees. Rotate
the display screen 180 degrees clockwise as shown in the illustration.
Note: Do not rotate the display screen in any other angle.
3 With the screen facing away from the keyboard, close the display
cover and slide the lock lever to properly secure the screen.
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4 Remove the EMR stylus from the pen slot to begin pen-based
input.
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Features
1 Getting to know your TravelMate12
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Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:
Performance
Intel® Pentium® M processor with 1MB L2 cache
Intel® 855GM chipset
CD ROM, DVD, DVD/CD-RW combo, DVD or DVD-dual drive
High-capacity Enhanced-IDE hard disk
High-capacity LI-ION battery
Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI) power
management system
Display
14.1” Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) supporting pen-based input, with 16M color at 1024x768 XGA (eXtended Graphics Array) resolution
3D capabilities
Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support
Dual display capability
Supports other output display devices such as LCD projection
panels for large-audience presentations
Light Sensing background luminance detection - panel automatically adjusts screen brightness
"Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and conserves power
Multimedia
16-bit high-fidelity AC’97 stereo audio with 3D sound and wavetable synthesizer
Built-in stereo speakers
High-speed CD, DVD, DVD/CD-RW combo or DVD or DVD dual
drive
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Connectivity
High-speed fax/data modem port
10/100/1000 t-based Gigabit Ethernet port
USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 ports
IEEE 1394 port
802.11b, 802.11 a+b wireless LAN options
Bluetooth option
Human-centric design and ergonomics
Sleek, smooth and stylish design
Full-sized keyboard
Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
Rotating/folding screen for Tablet PC functionality
Expansion
One Type II CardBus PC Card slot
Upgradeable memory
AcerMedia bay
Acer EasyPort II
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Indicators
1 Getting to know your TravelMate14
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The computer has eight easy-to-read status icons at the top of the display screen.
The Power and Sleep status icons are visible even when you close the display cover so you can see the status of the computer while the cover is closed.
Icon Function Description
Wireless communication
Bluetooth Lights when Bluetooth is enabled or a
Power Lights when the computer is on.
Sleep Lights when the computer enters Standby mode
Lights when the Wireless LAN capabilities are enabled.
Bluetooth enabled device is within range.
and blinks when it enters into or resumes from hibernation mode.
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Icon Function Description
Media Activity Lights when the floppy drive, hard disk or
optical drive is active.
Battery Charge Lights when the battery is being charged.
Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated.
Num Lock Lights when Num Lock is activated.
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate16
Understanding the icons
When the cover of your computer is closed, four easy-to-read icons are shown, indicating which state or feature is enabled or disabled.
Icon Description
Lights when Bluetooth is enabled or a Bluetooth enabled device is within range.
Lights when the Wireless LAN capabilities are enabled.
Lights up when the computer is on.
Lights when the computer enters Standby mode and blinks when it enters into or resumes from hibernation mode.
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Using the keyboard
The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and twelve function keys.
Special keys
Lock keys
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.
Lock key Description
Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in
uppercase.
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Num Lock (Fn-F11)
Scroll Lock (Fn-F12)
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.
When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively. Scroll Lock does not work with some applications.
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate18
Embedded numeric keypad
The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters located on the upper right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols are not printed on the keys.
Desired access Num lock on Num lock off
Number keys on embedded keypad
Cursor-control keys on embedded keypad
Main keyboard keys Hold Fn while typing letters
Note: If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the computer, the Num Lock feature automatically shifts from the internal keyboard to the external keyboard or keypad.
Type numbers in a normal manner.
Hold Shift while using cursor-control keys.
on embedded keypad.
Hold Fn while using cursor-control keys.
Type the letters in a normal manner.
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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
shortcut functions. Below are a few examples:
+ Tab (Activates next taskbar button)
+ E (Explores My Computer)
+ F (Finds Document)
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+ M (Minimizes All)
Shift + + M (Undoes Minimize All)
+ R (Displays the Run... dialog box)
Application key Opens a context menu (same as a right-click).
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate20
Hot keys
The computer employs hot keys or key combinations to access most of the computer’s controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS Utility.
To activate hot keys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hot key combination.
Hot key Icon Function Description
Fn-F1 Hot Key Help Displays help on hot keys.
Fn-F2 Setup Accesses the computer’s
configuration utility.
Fn-F3 Power
Management Scheme Toggle
Fn-F4 Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep
Switches the power management scheme used by the computer (function available if supported by operating system).
mode.
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Hot key Icon Function Description
Fn-F5 Display Toggle Switches display output
between the display screen, external monitor (if connected) and both the display screen and external monitor.
Fn-F6 Screen Blank Turns the display screen
backlight off to save power. Press any key to return.
Fn-F7 Touchpad Toggle Turns the internal touchpad
on and off.
Fn-F8 Speaker Toggle Turns the speakers on and off.
Fn- Volume up Increases the sound volume.
Fn- Volume down Decreases the sound volume.
Fn- Brightness up Increases the screen
brightness.
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Fn-
Fn-PgUp Home Functions as the “Home” key.
Fn-PgDn End Functions as the “End” key.
Alt Gr­Euro
Brightness down Decreases the screen
brightness.
Euro Types the Euro symbol.
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate22
The Euro symbol
If your keyboard layout is set to United States-International or United Kingdom or if you have a keyboard with a European layout, you can type the Euro symbol on your keyboard.
Note for US keyboard users: The keyboard layout is set when you first set up Windows. For the Euro symbol to work, the keyboard layout has to be set to United States-International.
To verify the keyboard type: 1 Click on Start, Control Panel. 2 Double-click on Regional and Language Options. 3 Click on the Language tab and click on Details. 4 Verify that the keyboard layout used for "En English (United
States)" is set to United States-International. If not, select and click on ADD; then select United States-
International and click on OK.
5 Click on OK. To type the Euro symbol:
1 Locate the Euro symbol on your keyboard. 2 Open a text editor or word processor. 3 Hold Alt Gr and press the Euro symbol.
Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to http://www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq12.htm for more information.
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Launch Keys
Located at the top of the keyboard are six buttons. These buttons are called launch keys. They are designated as Wireless, Bluetooth, P1 , P2, mail, and Web browser buttons. The Wireless and Bluetooth buttons cannot be set by the user. To set the other four launch keys, run the Acer Launch Manager.
No. Description Default application
1 Wireless LAN
(optional)
Activate wireless LAN for wireless communication.
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2
3 P1 User-programmable
4 P2 User-programmable
5 Mail Email application
6 Web browser Internet browser application
Bluetooth (optional)
Caution: It’s important that Wireless LAN and Bluetooth is turned off before boarding an airplane.
Activate Bluetooth for wireless communication.
Touchpad
1 Getting to know your TravelMate24
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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 palmrest provides optimum comfort and support.
Note: When using an external USB or serial mouse, you can press Fn-F7 to disable the touchpad.
Touchpad basics
The following items teach you how to use the touchpad:
Move your finger across the touchpad to move the cursor.
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Press the left (#1) and right (#3) 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.
Use the 4-way scroll (#2) button to scroll up or down and move left or right a page. This button mimics your cursor pressing on the right scroll bar of Windows applications.
Function Left button
Execute Click twice
quickly
Select Click once Tap once
Drag Click and
hold, then use finger to drag the cursor on the touchpad
Access context menu
Right button
Click once
Center buttons
Tap
Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button)
Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button) then hold finger to the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor
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Scroll Click
Note: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movements. Hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad’s responsiveness.
and hold the up/ down/ left/ right
Storage
1 Getting to know your TravelMate26
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This computer supplies you with the following media storage:
High-capacity Enhanced-IDE hard disk
Optical (2nd HDD, DVD, DVD/CD-RW combo, DVD or DVD dual)
drive
Hard disk
The high-capacity hard disk is the answer to your storage needs. This is where your data files and applications are stored.
Optical drive
Your computer comes equipped with an optical drive which may be one of the following:
DVD-ROM drive
DVD/CD-RW combo drive
DVD dual drive
Ejecting the CD or DVD tray
To eject the CD or DVD tray when the computer is turned on, press the drive eject button; then pull out the tray.
When the power is off, you can eject the drive tray using the emergency eject hole. See page 54.
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Playing DVD movies
When the DVD drive module is installed in the optical drive bay, you can play DVD movies on your computer.
1 Eject the DVD tray and insert a DVD movie disc; then close the DVD
tray.
Important! When you launch the DVD player for the first time, the program asks you to input the region code. DVD discs are divided into 6 regions. Once your DVD drive is set to a region code, it will play DVD discs of that region only. You can set the region code a maximum of five times (including the first time), after which the last region code set will remain permanent. Recovering your hard disk does not reset the number of times the region code has been set. Refer to the table later in this section for DVD movie region code information.
2 The DVD movie will automatically play after a few seconds.
Region Code Country or Region
1 U.S.A., Canada
2 Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Japan
3 Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Korea (South)
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4 Latin America, Australia, New Zealand
5 Former U.S.S.R., parts of Africa, India
6 People's Republic of China
Note: To change the region code, insert a DVD movie of a different region into the DVD drive.
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