Acer Power 4100 User manual

AcerPower 4100
User’s Guide

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guideii
Document EDITION PART NUMBER DATE
History First Edition July 1998
Copyright
Notice Copyright ©1996, 1997, 1998 by Acer Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into
any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic,
optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written permission of .
Programs Copyright ©1996, 1997, 1998 Acer Incorporated.
All rights reserved.
Printed in Taiwan
Trademarks Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated.
Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
Windows, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, and DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Disclaimer Acer and its suppliers make no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the
contents hereof and specifically disclaim any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Further, Acer reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes from time to time in the contents hereof
without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Acer reserves the right to make
changes to the products described in this manual at any time and without notice.

iii
Warranty/Limitation of Liability
Any software described in this manual is licensed "as is" and Acer and its suppliers disclaim any and all warranties,
express or implied, including but not limited to any warranty of non-infringement of third party rights,
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Acer does not warrant that the operation of the software will be
uninterrupted or error free. Should the programs prove defective, the buyer (and not Acer, its distributor, or its
dealer) assumes the entire cost of all necessary service, repair, and any incidental or consequential damages resulting
from any defect in the software. Please see the Acer Limited Product Warranty for details of Acer’s limited warranty
on hardware products. IN NO EVENT SHALL ACER BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS OR DATA, EVEN IF ACER HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Software License
Acer grants you a personal, non-transferable, non-exclusive license to use the software that accompanies your
computer system only on a single computer. You may not (a) make copies of the software except for making one (1)
backup copy of the software which will also be subject to this license, (b) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble,
translate or create derivative works based upon the software, (c) export or re-export the software to any person or
destination which is not authorized to receive them under the export control laws and regulations of the United
States, (d) remove or alter in any way the copyright notices, or other proprietary legends that were on the software as
delivered to you or (e) sublicense or otherwise make the software available to third parties. The software is the
property of Acer or Acer’s supplier and you do not have and shall not gain any proprietary interest in the software
(including any modifications or copies made by or for you) or any related intellectual property rights. Additional
restrictions may apply to certain software titles. Please refer to any software licenses that accompany such software
for details.
Join Us to Fight Against Piracy
The Acer Group has been implementing a policy to respect and protect legitimate intellectual property rights. Acer
firmly believes that only when each and every one of us abides by such policy, can this industry provide quality service
to the general public.
Acer has become a member of the Technology Committee of the Pacific Basin Economic Council which is
encouraging the protection and enforcement of legitimate intellectual property rights worldwide. Moreover, in order
to ensure quality service to all of our customers, Acer includes an operating system in Acer computer systems which
is duly licensed by the legitimate proprietors and produced with quality.
Acer commits itself and urges all of its customers to join the fight against intellectual property piracy wherever it may
occur. Acer will pursue the enforcement of intellectual property rights and will strive to fight against piracy.

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guideiv
Acer Year 2000 Compliance Statement
This product, AcerPower 4100, is Year 2000-compliant and carries the "NSTL Hardware
Tested Year 2000 Compliant" logo. This product has been tested both by Acer's internal test
labs and NSTL using NSTL's YMARK2000 certification test. These tests certify that this
product will successfully make the year 2000 transition.
For more details, check the Acer Year 2000 Resource Center at
http://www.acer.com/year2000
DMI 2.0 Compliance Statement
This product, AcerPower 4100, has been fully tested and passed the DMI 2.0 conformance
requirements.

v
FCC Class B Radio Frequency
Interference Statement
Note:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment 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 equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by
one or more of the following measures:
1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
2. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
3. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
4. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.
Notice 1:
The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Notice 2:
Shielded interface cables, if any, must be used in order to comply with the emission limits.

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guidevi
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read these instructions carefully. Save them for future reference.
2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol
cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
4. Do not use this product near water.
5. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The product may fall,
causing serious damage to the product.
6. Slots and openings in the cabinet 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 covered. 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.
7. 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.
8. This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding-type plug, a plug having a third
(grounding) pin. This plug will only fit into a grounding-type power outlet. This is a
safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician
to replace the outlet. Do not defeat the purpose of the grounding-type plug.
9. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this product where
persons will walk on the cord.
10. 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 15 amperes.

vii
11. 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 on the product.
12. 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.
13. Unplug 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
c. If the product has been exposed to rain or water
d. If 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.
e. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged
f. If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guideviii
14. Use only the proper type of power supply cord (provided in your keyboard/manual
accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified,
type SVT/SJT, rated 6A 125V minimum. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).
15. Replace 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 technician.
The battery may explode if not handled properly.
Do not recharge, disassemble or dispose of in
fire. Keep away from children and dispose of
used battery promptly.

ix
CD-ROM Safety Warning
DANGER
INVISIBLE RADIATION WHEN OPEN.
AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM.
Caution on Lithium Batteries
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.

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guidex
Table of Contents
Introduction
Overview...........................................................................................................................................1
About This Manual..........................................................................................................................2
Chapter 1 Getting Started
1.1 Preinstallation......................................................................................................................1-1
1.1.1 Selecting a Site........................................................................................................1-1
1.1.2 Unpacking Components.......................................................................................1-1
1.2 Features ................................................................................................................................1-2
1.2.1 Front Panel.............................................................................................................1-2
1.2.2 Rear Panel...............................................................................................................1-3
1.3 Connecting System Components.....................................................................................1-4
1.3.1 Connecting the Keyboard....................................................................................1-4
1.3.2 Connecting the Monitor.......................................................................................1-5
1.3.3 Connecting the Mouse..........................................................................................1-6
1.3.4 Connecting the Printer (Optional)......................................................................1-7
1.3.5 Complete System Connections...........................................................................1-8
1.3.6 Connecting Multimedia Components (Optional)............................................1-9
1.3.7 Connecting to the Network.............................................................................. 1-10
1.3.8 Connecting the Fax/Modem (Optional)........................................................ 1-11
1.3.9 Connecting USB Devices (Optional).............................................................. 1-12
1.4 Turning On Your Computer ......................................................................................... 1-13
1.5 Turning Off Your Computer......................................................................................... 1-13
1.6 Troubleshooting............................................................................................................... 1-14
1.7 Error Messages................................................................................................................. 1-16
1.7.1 Software Error Messages .................................................................................. 1-16
1.7.2 System Error Messages...................................................................................... 1-16
1.7.3 Correcting Error Conditions............................................................................ 1-19

xi
Chapter 2 System Board
2.1 Major Components.............................................................................................................2-2
2.2 Layout...................................................................................................................................2-4
2.3 Jumpers and Connectors...................................................................................................2-5
2.3.1 Jumper and Connector Locations ......................................................................2-5
2.3.2 Jumper Settings......................................................................................................2-6
2.3.3 Onboard Connectors............................................................................................2-7
2.4 Floppy Disk\IDE Hard Disk Support...........................................................................2-8
2.5 Video Function ...................................................................................................................2-9
2.6 Audio Function (Optional) ............................................................................................ 2-12
2.7 USB.................................................................................................................................... 2-12
2.8 Hardware Monitoring Function.................................................................................... 2-12
2.9 Modem Ring-in Function............................................................................................... 2-13
2.10 LAN Function.................................................................................................................. 2-13
2.11 Wireless Communication Support (Optional)............................................................ 2-14
2.12 Alert on Lan (AOL) Function (Optional) ................................................................... 2-14
Chapter 3 BIOS Utility
3.1 Entering Setup.....................................................................................................................3-2
3.2 System Information............................................................................................................3-4
3.2.1 Processor.................................................................................................................3-5
3.2.2 Processor Speed.....................................................................................................3-5
3.2.3 Internal Cache........................................................................................................3-6
3.2.4 External Cache.......................................................................................................3-6
3.2.5 Floppy Drive A.....................................................................................................3-6
3.2.6 Floppy Drive B......................................................................................................3-6
3.2.7 IDE Primary Channel Master .............................................................................3-6
3.2.8 IDE Primary Channel Slave................................................................................3-7
3.2.9 IDE Secondary Channel Master.........................................................................3-7
3.2.10 IDE Secondary Channel Slave............................................................................3-7
3.2.11 Total Memory.........................................................................................................3-7
3.2.12 Serial Port................................................................................................................3-8

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guidexii
3.2.13 Parallel Port............................................................................................................3-8
3.2.14 PS/2 Mouse............................................................................................................3-8
3.3 Product Information..........................................................................................................3-9
3.3.1 Product Name........................................................................................................3-9
3.3.2 System S/N ............................................................................................................3-9
3.3.3 Main Board ID.................................................................................................... 3-10
3.3.4 Main Board S/N................................................................................................. 3-10
3.3.5 System BIOS Version........................................................................................ 3-10
3.3.6 DMI BIOS Version............................................................................................ 3-10
3.4 Disk Drives....................................................................................................................... 3-11
3.4.1 Floppy Drives...................................................................................................... 3-11
3.4.2 LS-120 drive as.................................................................................................... 3-12
3.4.3 IDE Drives.......................................................................................................... 3-13
3.5 Onboard Peripherals....................................................................................................... 3-17
3.5.1 Serial Port............................................................................................................. 3-17
3.5.2 Parallel Port......................................................................................................... 3-18
3.5.3 Onboard Device Settings.................................................................................. 3-20
3.6 Power Management......................................................................................................... 3-22
3.6.1 Power Management Mode................................................................................ 3-22
3.6.2 Power Switch < 4 sec. ....................................................................................... 3-23
3.6.3 System Wake-Up Event .................................................................................... 3-23
3.7 Boot Options.................................................................................................................... 3-24
3.7.1 Boot Sequence .................................................................................................... 3-24
3.7.2 First Hard Disk Drive........................................................................................ 3-24
3.7.3 Primary Display Adapter................................................................................... 3-25
3.7.4 Fast Boot.............................................................................................................. 3-25
3.7.5 Silent Boot........................................................................................................... 3-25
3.7.6 Num Lock After Boot....................................................................................... 3-25
3.7.7 Memory Test....................................................................................................... 3-26
3.7.8 Configuration Table........................................................................................... 3-26
3.7.9 Boot from LanDesk Service Agent................................................................. 3-26
3.8 Date and Time.................................................................................................................. 3-27
3.8.1 Date....................................................................................................................... 3-27

xiii
3.8.2 Time...................................................................................................................... 3-28
3.9 System Security................................................................................................................. 3-28
3.9.1 Setup Password................................................................................................... 3-29
3.9.2 Power-on Password ........................................................................................... 3-32
3.9.3 Disk Drive Control ............................................................................................ 3-33
3.10 Advanced Options...........................................................................................................3-34
3.10.1 Memory/Cache Options................................................................................... 3-35
3.10.2 PnP/PCI Options .............................................................................................. 3-37
3.11 Load Default Settings......................................................................................................3-40
3.12 Abort Settings Change.................................................................................................... 3-40
3.13 Exiting Setup .................................................................................................................... 3-41
Chapter 4 Installing Optional Components
4.1 Installation Precautions......................................................................................................4-1
4.1.1 ESD Precautions ...................................................................................................4-1
4.1.2 Pre-installation Instructions.................................................................................4-2
4.1.3 Post-installation Instructions...............................................................................4-3
4.2 Removing and Replacing the Housing Cover................................................................4-4
4.2.1 Removing the Housing Cover.............................................................................4-4
4.2.2 Replacing the Housing Cover..............................................................................4-6
4.3 Disassembling and Reassembling the System................................................................4-7
4.4 Replacing the Hard Disk Drive........................................................................................4-9
4.5 Installing and Removing Expansion Boards............................................................... 4-11
4.5.1 Installing a PCI Card.......................................................................................... 4-11
4.5.2 Installing ISA Cards........................................................................................... 4-12
4.6 Installing Additional Memory........................................................................................ 4-14
4.6.1 Installing a DIMM.............................................................................................. 4-16
4.6.2 Removing a DIMM............................................................................................ 4-17
4.6.3 Reconfiguring the System ................................................................................. 4-17
4.7 Upgrading the CPU......................................................................................................... 4-18
4.7.1 Removing the Pentium II CPU........................................................................ 4-18
4.7.2 Installing a Pentium II CPU............................................................................. 4-19

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guidexiv
List of Figures
1-1 Front Panel ..........................................................................................................................1-2
1-2 Rear Panel ............................................................................................................................1-3
1-3 Connecting the Keyboard .................................................................................................1-4
1-4 Connecting the Monitor....................................................................................................1-5
1-5 Connecting the Mouse.......................................................................................................1-6
1-6 Connecting the Parallel Printer ........................................................................................1-7
1-7 Complete System Connections.........................................................................................1-8
1-8 Connecting Multimedia Components............................................................................1-9
1-9 Connecting to the Network........................................................................................... 1-10
1-10 Connecting the Telephone Line and Handset to the Fax/Modem........................ 1-11
1-11 Connecting USB Devices............................................................................................... 1-12
2-1 System Board Layout.........................................................................................................2-4
2-2 Jumper and Connector Locations....................................................................................2-5
4-1 Jumper Setting Label Location.........................................................................................4-3
4-2 Removing the Screws.........................................................................................................4-4
4-3 Removing the Housing Cover..........................................................................................4-5
4-4 Replacing the Housing Cover...........................................................................................4-6
4-5 Securing the Screws............................................................................................................4-6
4-6 Detaching the Link Bar......................................................................................................4-7
4-7 Removing the Hard Disk ..................................................................................................4-8
4-8 Removing the Drive Frame with CD-ROM and 3.5-inch Diskette Drives.............4-8
4-9 Removing the Hard Disk Drive.......................................................................................4-9
4-10 Attaching a Hard Disk Drive to the Bracket.............................................................. 4-10
4-11 Installing the Hard Disk Drive...................................................................................... 4-10
4-12 Installing a PCI Card....................................................................................................... 4-12
4-13 Installing an ISA Card.....................................................................................................4-13
4-14 Installing a DIMM........................................................................................................... 4-16
4-15 Removing a DIMM......................................................................................................... 4-17
4-16 Pressing the Latches........................................................................................................ 4-18
4-17 Removing a Processor Card........................................................................................... 4-19
4-18 Installing the Retention Mechanism.......................................................................... 4-20
4-19 Removing the Tape Protector from the Fan Sink.................................................. 4-20

xv
4-20 Inserting the Clip Ends into the Processor Holes................................................... 4-21
4-21 Locking the Metal Bracket........................................................................................... 4-21
4-22 Installing a Processor Card......................................................................................... 4-22
4-23 Locking the Processor................................................................................................. 4-22
4-24 Connecting the Fan/Heatsink Cables....................................................................... 4-23
List of Tables
1-1 System Error Messages................................................................................................... 1-18
2-1 Jumper Settings...................................................................................................................2-6
2-2 Onboard Connectors.........................................................................................................2-7
2-3 IDE Hard Disk Configuration.........................................................................................2-8
2-4 Supported Video Resolutions...........................................................................................2-9
3-1 Parallel Port Operation Mode Settings........................................................................ 3-19
3-2 Drive Control Settings.................................................................................................... 3-33
4-1 Memory Configurations.................................................................................................. 4-14

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guidexvi
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this manual:
, , Represents the actual keys that you have
to press on the keyboard.
NOTE
Gives bits and pieces of additional
information related to the current topic.
WARNING
Alerts you to any danger that might result
from doing or not doing specific actions.
CAUTION
Suggests precautionary measures to avoid
potential hardware or software problems.
IMPORTANT
Reminds you to take specific action
relevant to the accomplishment of the
procedure at hand.
TIP
Tells how to accomplish a procedure with
fewer steps through little shortcuts.

Introduction 1
Introduction
Acer has been on the leading edge of microcomputer systems development for both corporate
and home computing needs for 20 years, as the OEM of choice for many of the world’s
leading computer companies. Acer is committed to meeting the world’s demand for state-of-
the-art computers at the best prices.
Your AcerPower desktop configuration provides high-speed performance in a small footprint
making it perfect for small offices or general business use.
The system board features the common functions offered by a high-performance board. It
has a power-management function that conforms to the power-saving standards of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star program. It also supports Plug-and-Play
features.
Overview
The AcerPower 4100 system is an Intel Pentium II-based desktop PC that is capable of
delivering optimum performance to serve versatile business PC users. It supports 66/100
dual-FSB (Front Side Bus) frequency and a wide range of CPU speeds. Its all-in-one system
board offers the following features: 3-D video. 3-D audio, a 10/100Base-TX Ethernet, Wake-
on LAN, Wake-on ring-in, PnP, and Power Management. In addition, the board has one riser
card slot and three 168-pin DIMM (double in-line memory module) sockets that allow you to
upgrade the system memory to a maximum of 384 MB.
Aside from the standard I/O (input/output) interfaces such as two serial ports, one parallel
port, and PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, the system also offers two USB (Universal Serial
Bus) interfaces, one VGA (Video Graphics Accelerator) port, one Ethernet port, and one
audio I/O daughterboard connector. These additional interfaces are included to enable the
system to accommodate additional peripherals.
The AcerPower 4100 system complies with the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) and the
WfM (Wire for Management) standards; thus, it has a lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).
Special features such as Wake-on LAN, Alert-on LAN, and Hardware Monitoring are added to
the design to further enhance the system manageability.

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guide
2
The system is fully compatible with MS-DOS V6.X, OS/2, SCO UNIX, Windows NT, and
Windows 95/98 operating systems.
About This Manual
This manual is divided into four chapters. A brief description of these chapters is provided
below.
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Describes the different parts of the system unit. It tells you how to select a site and set up the
basic system. It includes a simple troubleshooting section and a list of system error messages
with the corresponding corrective actions.
Chapter 2 System Board
Describes the system board and all its major components. It contains information about the
system board layout, jumper settings, jumper and connector locations and functions.
Chapter 3 BIOS Utility
Explains the BIOS and tells how to configure the system by setting BIOS parameters.
Chapter 4 Installing Optional Components
Describes how to remove and replace the system housing, and to install the optional
components into the housing. It gives brief instructions accompanied by mechanical
illustrations showing how to perform each described procedure.

Chapter 1 - Getting Started 1-1
Chapter 1 Getting Started
1.1 Preinstallation
The preinstallation process involves the following activities:
•Selecting a site
•Unpacking components
1.1.1 Selecting a Site
Consider the following when selecting a site for your computer:
•Determine the best site for your system. Cable paths should not run near equipment that
might cause electromagnetic or radio frequency interference such as radio transmitters,
television sets, copy machines, or heating and air conditioning equipment.
•Route cables away from personnel and equipment traffic.
•Avoid dusty areas and extremes of temperature and humidity.
1.1.2 Unpacking Components
Unpack the contents of each box carefully. Save all packing materials in case you need to
move or ship the system in the future.
Check that all items are present and in good condition. Contact your dealer immediately if
anything is missing or damaged.

AcerPower 4100 User’s Guide1-2
1.2 Features
The basic configuration consists of a system unit, a monitor, a keyboard, a CD-ROM drive
(optional), a diskette drive, a fixed disk drive and a mouse.
1.2.1 Front Panel
Figure 1-1 shows the system unit front panel.
1. HDD LED 6. Power button
2. Turbo/LAN activity LED 7. CD-ROM drive (optional)
3. Power LED
4. 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
5. Drive bay (for expansion)
Figure 1-1 Front Panel
7
6
5
1
2 3 4