Acer Power 6000 User manual

AcerPower 6000
User’s Guide

AcerPower 6000 User’s Guideii
Document EDITION PART NUMBER DATE
History First Edition May 1998
Copyright
Notice Copyright ©1996, 1997, 1998 by Acer America Corporation. 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 Acer America Corporation.
Programs Copyright ©1996, 1997, 1998 Acer America Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Printed in U.S.A
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
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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 6000 User’s Guideiv
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.

v
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 6000 User’s Guidevi
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.

vii
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 6000 User’s Guideviii
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.

ix
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 the Fax/Modem (Optional)........................................1-10
1.4 Turning On Your Computer .......................................................................1-11
1.5 Turning Off Your Computer.......................................................................1-11
1.6 Troubleshooting............................................................................................1-12
1.7 Error Messages..............................................................................................1-14
1.7.1 Software Error Messages..................................................................1-14
1.7.2 System Error Messages.....................................................................1-14
1.7.3 Correcting Error Conditions............................................................1-17

AcerPower 6000 User’s Guidex
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 IDE Hard Disk Support .................................................................................2-8
2.5 Video Function................................................................................................2-9
2.6 Audio Function.............................................................................................2-11
2.7 USB.................................................................................................................2-12
2.8 Hardware Monitoring Function.................................................................2-12
2.9 Wake-on Ring-in Function ..........................................................................2-12
2.10 Wake-on LAN Function...............................................................................2-13
Chapter 3 BIOS Utility
3.1 Entering Setup.................................................................................................3-2
3.2 System Information........................................................................................3-3
3.2.1 Processor...............................................................................................3-4
3.2.2 Processor Speed...................................................................................3-4
3.2.3 Internal Cache (CPU Cache)..............................................................3-4
3.2.4 External Cache.....................................................................................3-4
3.2.5 Floppy Drive A....................................................................................3-4
3.2.6 IDE Primary Channel Master............................................................3-5
3.2.7 IDE Primary Channel Slave...............................................................3-5
3.2.8 IDE Secondary Channel Master........................................................3-5
3.2.9 IDE Secondary Channel Slave...........................................................3-5
3.2.10 Total Memory......................................................................................3-5
3.3 Product Information.......................................................................................3-6

xi
3.3.1 Product Name......................................................................................3-7
3.3.2 System S/N..........................................................................................3-7
3.3.3 Main Board ID.....................................................................................3-7
3.3.4 Main Board S/N..................................................................................3-7
3.3.5 System BIOS Version..........................................................................3-7
3.3.6 DMI BIOS Version...............................................................................3-7
3.4 Disk Drives......................................................................................................3-8
3.4.1 Floppy Drives......................................................................................3-8
3.4.2 LS-120 drive as.....................................................................................3-9
3.4.3 IDE Drives..........................................................................................3-10
3.5 Onboard Peripherals....................................................................................3-14
3.5.1 Serial Port...........................................................................................3-14
3.5.2 Parallel Port........................................................................................3-15
3.5.3 Onboard Device Settings..................................................................3-17
3.6 Power Management .....................................................................................3-19
3.6.1 Power Management Mode...............................................................3-19
3.6.2 Power Switch < 4 sec. .......................................................................3-20
3.6.3 System Wake-Up Event....................................................................3-20
3.7 Boot Options..................................................................................................3-21
3.7.1 Boot Sequence....................................................................................3-21
3.7.2 First Hard Disk Drive.......................................................................3-22
3.7.3 Primary Display Adapter.................................................................3-22
3.7.4 Fast Boot.............................................................................................3-22
3.7.5 Silent Boot ..........................................................................................3-22
3.7.6 Num Lock After Boot .......................................................................3-23
3.7.7 Memory Test......................................................................................3-23
3.8 Date and Time...............................................................................................3-23
3.8.1 Date.....................................................................................................3-24
3.8.2 Time ....................................................................................................3-24
3.9 System Security.............................................................................................3-25
3.9.1 Setup Password.................................................................................3-25

AcerPower 6000 User’s Guidexii
3.9.2 Power-on Password..........................................................................3-28
3.9.3 Disk Drive Control............................................................................3-29
3.10 Load Default Settings...................................................................................3-30
3.11 Abort Settings Change.................................................................................3-30
3.12 Exiting Setup.................................................................................................3-31
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.............................................................4-2
4.2 Removing and Replacing the Housing Cover ............................................4-3
4.2.1 Removing the Housing Cover...........................................................4-3
4.2.2 Replacing the Housing Cover............................................................4-5
4.3 Installing and Removing Expansion Boards...............................................4-6
4.3.1 Installing a PCI Card...........................................................................4-6
4.3.2 Installing ISA Cards............................................................................4-7
4.4 Installing Additional Memory......................................................................4-8
4.4.1 Installing a DIMM.............................................................................4-10
4.4.2 Removing a DIMM ...........................................................................4-11
4.4.3 Reconfiguring the System................................................................4-11
4. Upgrading the CPU.....................................................................................4-12
4.5.1 Removing the Processor Card.........................................................4-12
4.5.2 Installing a Processor Card..............................................................4-13
4.5.3 Installing the Celeron CPU..............................................................4-17
4.6 Connecting USB Devices .............................................................................4-20

xiii
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 the Telephone Line and Handset to the Fax/Modem........1-10
2-1 System Board Layout.....................................................................................2-4
2-2 Jumper and Connector Locations.................................................................2-5
4-1 Removing the ScrewsREMOVING THE SCREWS ....................................4-4
4-2 Removing the Housing Cover.......................................................................4-4
4-3 Replacing the Housing Cover.......................................................................4-5
4-4 Securing the Screws........................................................................................4-5
4-5 Installing a PCI Card......................................................................................4-6
4-6 Installing an ISA Card....................................................................................4-8
4-7 Installing a DIMM ........................................................................................4-10
4-8 Removing a DIMM.......................................................................................4-11
4-9 Pressing the Latches.....................................................................................4-12
4-10 Removing a Processor Card........................................................................4-13
4-11 Installing the Retention Mechanism...........................................................4-14
4-12 Removing the Taper Protector from the Fan Sink....................................4-14
4-13 Inserting the Clip Ends into the Processor Holes.....................................4-15
4-14 Locking the Metal Bracket...........................................................................4-15
4-15 Installing a Processor Card..........................................................................4-16
4-16 Locking the Processor..................................................................................4-16
4-17 Connecting the Fan/Heatsink Cables........................................................4-17

AcerPower 6000 User’s Guidexiv
4-18 Installing the Retention Mechanism...........................................................4-18
4-19 Attaching the Heatsink................................................................................4-18
4-20 Installing the Celeron Processor.................................................................4-19
4-21 Connecting USB Devices.............................................................................4-20
List of Tables
1-1 System Error Messages................................................................................1-15
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......................................................3-16
3-2 Drive Control Settings..................................................................................3-29
4-1 Memory Configurations................................................................................4-9

xv
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 6000 system supports Intel Pentium processors with MMX
(MultiMedia eXtensions) technology and the new Celeron processor. The Celeron
processor is Intel's Pentium II cost-down solution. It comes without a second-level
cache. It has two ISA and two PCI slots for future expansion. The system memory
is expandable to 256 MB via two onboard 168-pin DIMM (double in-line memory
module) sockets.
The system also features a 3-D video function with AGP (Accelerated Graphics
Port) support and a 3-D audio function.
Aside from the standard I/O (input/output) interfaces such as one serial port, one
parallel port, and PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, the system also offers two USB
(Universal Serial Bus) ports, one VGA (Video Graphics Accelerator) port, one
Feature connector, one mono Microphone-in port, one stereo Line-in port, one
Line-out port, and one Game/MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) port.

AcerPower 6000 User’s Guide
2
These additional ports are included to enable the system to accommodate
additional peripherals.
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 6000 User’s Guide1-2
1.2 Features
The basic configuration consists of a system unit, a keyboard, a CD-ROM drive, 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. Headphone/Earphone Port 8. System Activity LED
2. CD-ROM Tray 9. Power LED
3. Stop/Eject Button 10. Fixed Disk Drive LED
4. Skip/Forward Button 11. Power Button
5. CD-ROM LED 12. 3.5-inch Diskette Drive Eject Button
6. Increase Volume Button 13. 3.5-inch Diskette Drive
7. Decrease Volume Button 14. 3.5-inch Diskette Drive LED
Figure 1-1 Front Panel

Chapter 1 - Getting Started 1-3
1.2.2 Rear Panel
Figure 1-2 shows the system unit rear panel.
1. Fan 9. Parallel Port
2. System Main Power Switch 10. Monitor/VGA Port
3. Voltage Selector 11. Audio-out Port
4. System Power Socket 12. Audio-in Port
5. USB Ports 13. Game/MIDI Port
6. PS/2 Mouse Port 14. Microphone-in Port
7. PS/2 Keyboard Port 15. Add-on Card Brackets
8. Serial Port
Figure 1-2 Rear Panel