Acer B6 User manual

& K DSWHU
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System Housing
System Housing 1-1
This chapter describes the things to consider when setting up and
installing additional components to your system.
1.1 Front and Rear Panel Features
1.1.1 Front Panel Features
Most of the connectors on the computer are found at the rear of the
unit. A few connectors are found on the front for easy access. Let’s
take a look at the front and rear of the unit before we make the
connections.
Figure 1-1 Front Panel Features

1-2 User’s Guide
Table 1-1 Front Panel Features
#Item Description
1 Floppy disk drive activity
indicator Lights up when the floppy disk drive is being accessed
2 Floppy disk drive Accepts 3.5-inch, 1.44MB diskette
3 Floppy disk drive eject
button Ejects the diskette from the floppy disk drive
4 CD-ROM drive Accepts a CD-ROM disc
5 CD-ROM drive open/close
button Opens and closes the CD-ROM drive
6 On/sleep button Turns the computer on and off
7 Power/suspend indicator Lights green when on; lights orange
when in suspend mode1
8 Hard disk/message
indicator Flashes when your hard disk drive is in use
9 Network active indicator Flashes when your computer is
communicating with the network
10 Network link indicator Lights when the computer is connected
to a network
11 Infrared receiver Receives input from the wireless
keyboard or remote control
12 Game/MIDI port Connects a joystick, game device or
MIDI device
13 Microphone jack Connects a microphone
14 Earphone/headphone jack Connects an earphone or headphone
1Your computer enters suspend mode when the suspend timer times out. You can
also put the computer in suspend mode by selecting the Suspend command from
the Start menu.

System Housing 1-3
1.1.2 Rear Panel Features
Figure 1-2 Rear Panel Features
Table 1-2 Rear Panel Features
#Item Description
1 On/off switch Turns power on and off
2 Power cord socket Connects a power cord
3 External CRT port Connects an external monitor
4 Parallel port Connects a printer or other parallel device
5 Serial port Connect a serial mouse or other serial device
6 PS/2 keyboard port Connects a PS/2 keyboard
7 PS/2 mouse port Connects a PS/2 mouse
8 Speaker port Connects to speakers
9 Microphone port Connects a microphone
10 USB port 2 Connects a USB device
11 USB port 1 Connects a USB device

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1.2 Finding a Suitable Area to Install the
System
This system has the following dimensions.
Figure 1-3 System Dimensions
Locate a suitable area to place the system. Allow ample space on all
sides of the unit for cords and cable connections. The system should
also be placed near the devices you will connect to it.

System Housing 1-5
1.3 Basic Connections
These are the basic connections you need to get your system up and
going. You can also connect options like a printer or the phone line,
described in the following sections.
1.3.1 Connecting to a Monitor
First you need to connect an output device to the computer such as a
monitor.
Figure 1-4 Connecting to a TV or Monitor

1-6 User’s Guide
1.3.2 Connecting the Power Cord
Connect the power cord to the power cord socket at the rear of the
unit. Then connect the other end to a properly ground power outlet.
Figure 1-5 Connecting the Power Cord
These basic connections you’ve just made are all you need to get your
system up and running. If you need to make other connections such
as a phone line (for connecting to the Internet) or a printer (for printing
documents), read on.

System Housing 1-7
1.4 Connecting Options
Other connections you make to your computer include the following:
1.4.1 Network Line
You can connect the system to a network with the built-in 10BaseT
(Ethernet) jack found at the rear of the unit. Computers in most
companies are connected on networks to facilitate the transfer of
information.
Figure 1-6 Connecting the System to a Network
If you are using the system in a networked environment, contact your
system administrator for details.

1-8 User’s Guide
1.4.2 Printer
A printer allows you to print out documents and other data from your
computer to paper. Connect a printer to the parallel port found at the
rear of the unit.
Figure 1-7 Connecting the System to a Printer

System Housing 1-9
1.4.3 Audio and Game Devices
You can connect various audio and game devices to your computer.
Some of these ports are duplicated in the front of the unit for easy
connection.
At the rear of the unit:
Figure 1-8 Rear Connector
❍speakers connect to the speaker out jack
❍microphone connects to the microphone jack

1-10 User’s Guide
At the front of the unit:
Figure 1-9 Front Connectors
❍earphones or headphones connect to the earphone/ headphone
jack
❍microphone connects to the microphone jack
❍joystick, game or MIDI device connects to the game/MIDI port

System Housing 1-11
1.4.4 External Keyboard
There are two types of keyboards that you can use with the system:
❍USB keyboard connects to any of the two USB ports
❍PS/2 keyboard connects to the PS/2 keyboard port
These ports are found on the rear of the unit.
Figure 1-10 Connecting the Keyboard

1-12 User’s Guide
1.4.5 External Mouse
There are three types of mice that you can use with the system:
❍USB mouse connects to any of the two USB ports
❍PS/2 mouse connects to the PS/2 mouse port
❍Serial mouse connects to the serial port
These ports are found on the rear of the unit.
Figure 1-11 Connecting the Mouse

System Housing 1-13
1.5 Component Installation
Observe the ESD Precautions before installing a
system component.
1.5.1 ESD Precautions
Always observe the following electrostatic discharge (ESD)
precautions before installing a system component:
1. Do not remove a component from its anti-static packaging until
you are ready to install it.
2. Wear a wrist grounding strap before handling electronic
components. Wrist grounding straps are available at most
electronic component stores.

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1.5.2 Opening the Housing
1. Use the screw driver to unscrew the cover of the housing, as
shown below.
Figure 1-12 Removing the Housing Screws
2. Push open the cover then gently lift it up until it detaches from the
body frame.
Figure 1-13 Detaching the Top Cover

System Housing 1-15
1.5.3 Removing the Disk Drive Metal Frame
The metal frame gives additional support to the housing’s structure.
You can install one 3.5-inch drive, one CD-ROM drive and one hard
disk drive in the disk drive metal frame.
To remove the disk drive metal frame:
1. Insert two fingers into the hole. Gently draw it back as you lift it up.
Figure 1-14 Removing the Metal Frame
2. To remove the metal disk drive frame, first unscrew the frame
using a screw driver. The screw is located on the lower-left side of
the frame. Then gently detach the disk frame from the housing.

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Figure 1-15 Removing the Disk Frame
3. Unscrew the hard disk drive frame to detach as shown below.
Figure 1-16 Removing the Hard Disk Drive Frame

System Housing 1-17
Installing a Hard Disk Drive
1. Attach the hard disk drive to the hard disk drive frame with the
necessary screws as shown below.
Figure 1-17 Installing the Hard Disk into the Hard Disk Drive
Frame
2. Reattached the hard disk drive frame to the disk frame.
Figure 1-18 Reattaching the Hard Disk Drive Frame to the Disk
Frame

1-18 User’s Guide
Installing a 3.5-inch Diskette Drive
1. Attach the 3.5-inch diskette drive to the 3.5-inch diskette drive with
the necessary screws as shown below.
Figure 1-19 Installing a 3.5-inch Disk Drive into 3.5-inch Drive
Frame

System Housing 1-19
Installing a CD-ROM Drive
1. Attach the CD-ROM drive to the CD-ROM drive with the necessary
screws as shown below.
Figure 1-20 Installing a CD-ROM Drive

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1.5.4 Installing a System Board
Installation Procedures
1. Align the board with the pegs on the housing frame.
Figure 1-21 Installing the System Board
2. Gently press the board until it is properly seated.
3. Secure the board with the required screws.