Aspire Series Generic User Guide
© 2012 All Rights Reserved. Aspire Series Generic User Guide This revision: 04/2012 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.
iii 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.
English iv • 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 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.
v General • 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.
English vi 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. Guidelines for safe battery usage This notebook uses a Lithium-ion battery. Do not use it in a humid, wet or corrosive environment.
vii 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. Caution for Optical Drive Device Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer.
viii English • 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. Radio frequency interference Warning! For safety reasons, turn off all wireless or radio transmitting devices when using your laptop under the following conditions.
ix Not carry the device near your pacemaker when the device is switched on. 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.
x English 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. 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 www.acer-group.
xi Computers will save more than 80% energy at "sleep" mode. ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are registered U.S. marks 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.
English xii displays could stress your eyes. The following sections provide suggestions on how to reduce eyestrain. Eyes • • Rest your eyes frequently. • Blink frequently to keep your eyes from drying out. Give your eyes regular breaks by looking away from the monitor and focusing on a distant point. Display • • Keep your display clean. • Adjust the display brightness and/or contrast to a comfortable level for enhanced text readability and graphics clarity.
xiii 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 setup poster helps you get started with setting up your computer. The Aspire Generic User Guide contains useful information applying to all models in the Aspire product series. It covers basic topics such as using the keyboard and audio, etc.
xiv English You can also put the computer in sleep mode by pressing the sleep hotkey + . 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.
xv 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.
English xvi
Safety instructions Warnings Caution for Optical Drive Device Radio frequency interference Medical devices Vehicles Potentially explosive environments Emergency calls Disposal instructions Mercury advisory ENERGY STAR Tips and information for comfortable use First things first Your guides Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off Taking care of your computer Taking care of your AC adapter Taking care of your battery pack Cleaning and servicing Touchpad iii iii iii vii v
Returning to a previous system condition Returning your system to its factory condition Acer clear.
High-Definition Multimedia Interface ExpressCard Installing memory Enjoying TV with Windows Media Center Choose your input type Watching TV using the optional DVB-T (digital TV) antenna (for selected models) To connect the digital antenna Watching TV with an external antenna or cable socket BIOS utility Boot sequence Enable disk-to-disk recovery Password Using software Playing DVD movies Frequently asked questions Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Before you call Troubleshooting T
1 The built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger across the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support. Touchpad basics (for models with separate buttons) The following items show you how to use the touchpad with two buttons. • Move your finger across the touchpad to move the cursor.
English 2 Note: When using the touchpad, keep it — and your fingers — dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad's responsiveness. Note: By default, vertical and horizontal scrolling is enabled on your touchpad. It can be disabled under Mouse settings in Windows Control Panel. Touchpad basics (for models with integrated buttons) The following items show you how to use the touchpad.
3 Bottom left corner Drag Press and hold, then use finger on the touchpad to drag the cursor Access context menu Bottom right corner Main touchpad Press or tap twice (at the same speed as doubleclicking a mouse button); rest your finger on the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor Press once Note: When using the touchpad, keep it — and your fingers — dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response.
English 4 Using the keyboard The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded numeric keypad*, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys. Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad\ Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer. 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.
5 Num Lock on Num Lock off Main keyboard keys Hold while typing letters on embedded keypad. Type the letters in a normal manner. Hotkeys The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness and volume output. To activate hotkeys, press and hold the key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination. Hotkey Icon Function Description + Communication key Enables / disables the computer's communication devices.
English 6 Hotkey Icon Function Description + < > Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness. + < > Volume up Increases the sound volume. + < > Volume down Decreases the sound volume. + Play/Pause Play or pause a selected media file. + Stop Stop playing the selected media file. + Previous Return to the previous media file. + Next Jump to the next media file.
7 The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions. Key Description Windows key Pressed alone it launches the Start menu.
English 8 Using the system utilities Acer Bio-Protection Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer. Acer Bio-Protection Fingerprint Solution is a multi-purpose fingerprint software package integrated with the Microsoft Windows operating system.
9 Note: This feature is only available on certain models. Acer Backup Manager is a simple three-step process that allows you to create backup copies of your entire system or selected files and folders according to a schedule or as you need to. To start Acer Backup Manager, press the Acer Backup Manager key above the keyboard. Alternatively, you can go to Start > All Programs > Acer Backup Manager > Acer Backup Manager.
English 10 If you wish to change your settings at any time, run Acer Backup Manager from the Start menu and go through the steps outlined above.
11 If your computer experiences problems that are not recoverable by other methods, you may need to reinstall the Windows operating system and factory-loaded software and drivers. To ensure you can recover your computer when needed, you should create a recovery backup as soon as possible. Note: All of the following content is for general reference only. Actual product specifications may vary.
English 12 Creating a recovery backup (Optical drive) To reinstall using a backup on optical discs, you must create the recovery disc beforehand. Throughout the process, you will be guided by onscreen instructions. Please read them carefully! 1 Click Start > All Programs > Acer, then click Acer eRecovery Management. 2 To create recovery discs for the hard drive’s entire original contents, including Windows and all factory-loaded software and drivers, click Create Factory Default Disc.
13 3 Insert a blank disc into the drive indicated in the Backup to list, then click Next. You will be shown the backup progress on the screen. The drive ejects each disc as it completes burning it. 4 Remove the disc from the drive and mark it with a permanent marker. Important: Write a unique, descriptive label on each disc, such as ‘Windows Recovery Disc 1 of 2’ or ‘Apps/Drivers Recovery disc’. Make sure you keep the discs in a safe place that you will remember.
English 14 Creating a recovery backup (USB flash drive) To reinstall using a backup on a USB flash drive, you must create the recovery backup beforehand. Throughout the process, you will be guided by onscreen instructions. Please read them carefully! Important: If you are using a USB flash drive, ensure it is at least 12 GB and does not contain any previous data. Important: This section only applies to computers without an optical drive.
15 3 Plug in the USB disk, then click Next. You will be shown the backup progress on the screen. 4 Unplug the USB flash drive and mark it with a permanent marker. Important: Write a unique, descriptive label on each backup, such as ‘Windows Recovery Backup’ or ‘Apps/Drivers Recovery Backup’. Make sure you keep the USB flash drive in a safe place that you will remember. English The Create Factory Default Backup dialog box opens.
English 16 Recovering your system (Optical drive) If calling Acer support did not help fix your problem, you can use the Acer eRecovery Management program. This will restore your computer to the same state as when you purchased it, while giving you an option to retain all settings and personal data for later retrieval. To recover your system 1 Perform minor fixes.
17 2 Click the Restore tab, then click Reinstall Drivers or Applications to display the Acer Application Recovery main menu. 3 Click Contents to show a list of software and device drivers. 4 Click the install icon for the item you want to install, then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation. Repeat this step for each item you want to reinstall.
English 18 4 Click Yes. Your system is restored using the restore point you specified. This process may take several minutes, and may restart your computer. Returning your system to its factory condition If your computer experiences problems that are not recoverable by other methods, you may need to reinstall everything to return your system to its factory condition. You can reinstall using either your hard drive or the recovery discs you have created.
19 To reinstall Windows and all pre-installed software and drivers: 1 Turn on your computer, then press + during startup to open Acer eRecovery Management. 2 Click Restore Operating System to Factory Defaults. Warning: Continuing the process will erase all files on your hard drive. 3 Click Next. Your hard drive’s original, factory-loaded contents will be recovered. This process will take several minutes.
English 20 Recovering your system (USB flash drive) If calling Acer support did not help fix your problem, you can use the Acer eRecovery Management program. This will restore your computer to the same state as when you purchased it, while giving you an option to retain all settings and personal data for later retrieval. To recover your system 1 Perform minor fixes.
21 2 Click Reinstall Drivers or Application from a USB device. 3 Click Contents to show a list of software and device drivers. 4 Click the install icon for the item you want to install, then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation. Repeat this step for each item you want to reinstall. Returning to a previous system condition Microsoft System Restore periodically takes ’snapshots’ of your system settings and saves them as restore points.
English 22 4 Click Yes. Your system is restored using the restore point you specified. This process may take several minutes, and may restart your computer. Returning your system to its factory condition If your computer experiences problems that are not recoverable by other methods, you may need to reinstall everything to return your system to its factory condition. You can reinstall using either your hard drive or the recovery backup you have created.
23 To reinstall Windows and all pre-installed software and drivers: 1 Turn on your computer, then press + during startup to open Acer eRecovery Management. 2 Click Restore Operating System to Factory Defaults. Warning: Continuing the process will erase all files on your hard drive. 3 Click Next. Your hard drive’s original, factory-loaded contents will be recovered. This process will take several minutes.
English 24 Acer clear.fi (only for certain models) Note: Only for certain models. With Acer clear.fi, you can enjoy videos, photos and music. Stream media from, or to, other devices with Acer clear.fi installed. Note: All devices must be connected to the same network. To watch videos or listen to music open clear.fi Media, to browse photos open clear.fi Photo. Important: When you first open a clear.fi application, Windows Firewall will ask for permission to allow clear.fi to access the network.
25 Note: You must activate sharing on the device that stores the files. Open clear.fi on the device that stores the files, select Edit then make sure Share my library on local network is active. Which devices are compatible? Certified Acer devices with clear.fi or DLNA software can be used with the clear.fi software. These include DLNA-compliant PCs, smartphones, and NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices.
English 26 Power management This computer has a built-in power management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any activity involving one or more of the following devices: keyboard, mouse, hard disk, peripherals connected to the computer, and video memory. If no activity is detected for a period of time (called an inactivity timeout), the computer stops some or all of these devices in order to conserve energy.
27 The computer uses a battery pack that gives you long use between charges. Battery pack characteristics The battery pack has the following characteristics: • Employs current battery technology standards. • Delivers a battery-low warning. The battery is recharged whenever you connect the computer to the AC adapter. Your computer supports charge-in-use, enabling you to recharge the battery while you continue to operate the computer.
English 28 By following the battery conditioning process you condition your battery to accept the maximum possible charge. Failure to follow this procedure will prevent you from obtaining the maximum battery charge, and will also shorten the effective lifespan of the battery. In addition, the useful lifespan of the battery is adversely affected by the following usage patterns: • Using the computer on constant AC power with the battery inserted.
29 The Windows power meter indicates the current battery level. Rest the cursor over the battery/power icon on the taskbar to see the battery's present charge level. Battery-low warning When using battery power pay attention to the Windows power meter. Warning: Connect the AC adapter as soon as possible after the battery-low warning appears. Data will be lost if the battery to become fully depleted and the computer shuts down.
English 30 Important! Before removing the battery from the unit, connect the AC adapter if you want to continue using your computer. Otherwise, turn off the computer first. To install a battery pack: 1 Align the battery with the open battery bay; make sure that the end with the contacts will enter first, and that the top surface of the battery is facing up. 2 Slide the battery into the battery bay and gently push until the battery locks in place.
31 This section gives you tips and hints to consider when moving around or traveling with your computer. Disconnecting from the desktop Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessories: 1 Save any open files. 2 Remove any media, floppy disks or compact disks from the drive(s). 3 Shut down the computer. 4 Close the display cover. 5 Disconnect the cord from the AC adapter. 6 Disconnect the keyboard, pointing device, printer, external monitor and other external devices.
32 English both cases, press and release the power button to turn the computer back on. Note that the computer may enter Hibernation mode after being in Sleep mode for a period of time. What to bring to meetings If your meeting is relatively short, you probably do not need to bring anything with you other than your computer. If your meeting will be longer, or if your battery is not fully charged, you may want to bring the AC adapter with you to plug in your computer in the meeting room.
33 • Changes in temperature and humidity can cause condensation. Allow the computer to return to room temperature, and inspect the screen for condensation before turning on the computer. If the temperature change is greater than 10° C (18° F), allow the computer to come to room temperature slowly. If possible, leave the computer for 30 minutes in an environment with a temperature between outside and room temperature.
English 34 Traveling internationally with the computer When you are moving from country to country. Preparing the computer Prepare the computer as you would normally prepare it for traveling.
35 Your computer is a valuable investment that you need to take care of. Learn how to protect and take care of your computer. Security features include hardware and software locks — a security notch and passwords. Using a computer security lock The notebook comes with a Kensington-compatible security slot for a security lock. Wrap a computer security lock cable around an immovable object such as a table or handle of a locked drawer. Insert the lock into the notch and turn the key to secure the lock.
English 36 Entering passwords When a password is set, a password prompt appears in the center of the display screen. • When the Supervisor Password is set, a prompt appears when you press to enter the BIOS utility at boot-up. • Type the Supervisor Password and press to access the BIOS utility. If you enter the password incorrectly, a warning message appears. Try again and press .
37 Your notebook PC offers you a complete mobile computing experience. Connectivity options Ports allow you to connect peripheral devices to your computer as you would with a desktop PC. For instructions on how to connect different external devices to the computer, read the following section. Fax/data modem Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer. Your computer has a built-in V.92 56 Kbps fax/data modem. Warning! This modem port is not compatible with digital phone lines.
English 38 Built-in network feature The built-in network feature allows you to connect your computer to an Ethernetbased network. To use the network feature, connect an Ethernet cable from the Ethernet (RJ-45) port on the chassis of the computer to a network jack or hub on your network. Consumer Infrared (CIR) Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer.
39 The USB 2.0 port is a high-speed serial bus which allows you to connect USB peripherals without taking up precious system resources.
English 40 IEEE 1394 port Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer. The computer's IEEE 1394 port allows you to connect to an IEEE 1394-compatible device like a video camera or digital camera. See your video or digital camera's documentation for details. High-Definition Multimedia Interface Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is an industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface.
41 ExpressCard Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer. The ExpressCard is the newest version of the PC Card. It is a smaller and faster interface that further enhances the usability and expandability of your computer. ExpressCards support a vast number of expansion options, including flash memory card adapters, TV-tuners, Bluetooth connectivity and IEEE 1394b adapters. ExpressCards support USB 2.0 and PCI Express applications.
English 42 Inserting an ExpressCard Insert the card into the slot and push gently until it clicks into position. EXPRESS CARD Ejecting an ExpressCard Before ejecting an ExpressCard: 1 Exit the application using the card. 2 Left-click the remove hardware icon on the taskbar and stop the card operation. 3 Push the card gently into the slot and release to pop out the card. Then pull the card free from the slot. Installing memory Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer.
43 (a) Insert the memory module diagonally into the slot, then (b) gently press it down until it clicks into place. 4 Replace the memory cover and secure it with the screw. 5 Reinstall the battery pack, and reconnect the AC adapter. 6 Turn on the computer. The computer automatically detects and reconfigures the total memory size. Please consult a qualified technician or contact your local Acer dealer.
English 44 Enjoying TV with Windows Media Center Note: This feature is only available on certain models. Computers that include Windows Media Center Edition or InstantOn Arcade may be used to watch TV and to access video content (via an audio/video connection to an external device, such as a video camera). Choose your input type The audio/video connection may be either a DVB-T digital antenna (for selected models) or a PAL/SECAM or NTSC connector.
45 1 Plug the antenna cable into the RF jack of your computer. Notebook RF Note: Do not twist or loop the antenna cable. Extend the antenna cable up to 20 cm to improve signal quality. Watching TV with an external antenna or cable socket You may use conventional TV cables (connected to an external antenna or cable socket) to watch TV on your computer. Connecting antenna cables To connect your cables: 1 Plug the antenna connector into the RF jack of your computer.
English 46 2 Connect the other end to your TV cable, using the cable converter if necessary. Important! Please ensure you use the correct cable system for your region before attempting to connect the antenna cable. BIOS utility The BIOS utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer's BIOS. Your computer is already properly configured and optimized, and you do not need to run this utility. However, if you encounter configuration problems, you may need to run it.
47 To set a password on boot, activate the BIOS utility, then select Security from the categories listed at the top of the screen. Find Password on boot: and use the and keys to enable this feature. Using software Playing DVD movies Note: This feature is only available on certain models. When the DVD drive module is installed in the optical drive bay, you can play DVD movies on your computer. 1 Eject the DVD.
English 48 Note: To change the region code, insert a DVD movie of a different region into the DVD drive. Please refer to the online help for more information.
49 The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy solutions are provided for each one. I turned on the power, but the computer does not start or boot up. Look at the power indicator: • • If it is not lit, no power is being supplied to the computer. Check the following: • If you are using on the battery, it may be low and unable to power the computer. Connect the AC adapter to recharge the battery pack.
English 50 I want to eject the optical drive tray without turning on the power. There is a mechanical eject hole on the optical drive. Simply insert the tip of a pen or paperclip into the hole and push to eject the tray. The keyboard does not respond. Try attaching an external keyboard to a USB port on the computer. If it works, contact your dealer or an authorized service center as the internal keyboard cable may be loose. The printer does not work.
51 Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Your computer is backed by an International Travelers Warranty (ITW) that gives you security and peace of mind when traveling. Our worldwide network of service centers are there to give you a helping hand. An ITW passport comes with your computer. This passport contains all you need to know about the ITW program. A list of available, authorized service centers is in this handy booklet. Read this passport thoroughly.
English 52 Troubleshooting This chapter shows you how to deal with common system problems. Read it before calling a technician if a problem occurs. Solutions to more serious problems require opening up the computer. Do not attempt to open the computer yourself; contact your dealer or authorized service center for assistance. Troubleshooting tips This notebook PC incorporates an advanced design that delivers onscreen error message reports to help you solve problems.
53 Corrective action Keyboard interface error Contact your dealer or an authorized service center. Memory size mismatch Press (during POST) to enter the BIOS utility, then press Exit in the BIOS utility to reboot. If you still encounter problems after going through the corrective measures, please contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance.
English 54 Regulations and safety notices FCC statement 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.
55 Modem notices Note: Information in this section may not apply to your computer. Notice for USA This equipment complies with Part 68 of the FCC rules. Located on the modem is a label that contains, among other information, the FCC Registration Number and Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) for this equipment. Upon request, you must provide this information to your telephone company.
English 56 Notice for New Zealand 1 The grant of a Telepermit for any item of terminal equipment indicates only that Telecom has accepted that the item complies with minimum conditions for connection to its network. It indicates no endorsement of the product by Telecom, nor does it provide any sort of warranty.
57 To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors. This product complies with the radio frequency and safety standards of any country or region in which it has been approved for wireless use. Depending on configurations, this product may or may not contain wireless radio devices (such as wireless LAN and/or Bluetooth modules). Below information is for products with such devices.
English 58 Departments in which the use of the 2400 - 2483.
59 Note: The wireless Mini PCI adapter implements a transmission diversity function. The function does not emit radio frequencies simultaneously from both antennas. One of the antennas is selected automatically or manually (by users) to ensure good quality radiocommunication. 2 This device is restricted to indoor use due to its operation in the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz frequency range. FCC requires this product to be used indoors for the frequency range 5.15 to 5.
English 60 Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003, No. 4, et CNR-210, No 4 (Dec 2000) et No 5 (Nov 2001). "To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors and away from windows to provide maximum shielding. Equipment (or its transmit antenna) that is installed outdoors is subject to licensing.
