Acer Aspire 1202 User manual

Aspire 1200 series
User’s guide
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Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of
such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary
documents and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied,
with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness
for a particular purpose.
Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in the space provided
below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label affixed to your computer. All
correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial number, model number, and purchase information.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer
Incorporated.
Model Number : __________________________________
Serial Number: ___________________________________
Purchase Date: ___________________________________
Place of Purchase: ________________________________
Copyright © 2001
All Rights Reserved
Aspire 1200 series Notebook computer User’s guide
Original Issue: December 2001
Aspire 1200 series Notebook computer
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.
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iii
First things first
We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook computers your
choice for your mobile computing needs. We hope you will be happy with your Aspire
as much as we enjoyed making it for you.
Your guides
To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides:
For more information about our products, services, and support information, please
visit our web site (www.acer.com).
First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting
up your computer.
This User’s guide introduces you to the many ways your computer can
help you be more productive. This guide provides clear and concise
information about the computer, so read it thoroughly.
Lastly, there may be a Read me first sheet included with your package
which contains important reminders and updates. So, please read
through it.
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iv
Basic care and tips for using your computer
Turning your computer on and off
To turn on the computer, open the display cover, and press the power switch above the
keyboard.
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
•Use the Windows shutdown command
Click on Start, and select the Windows shutdown or turn off command.
•Use the power switch
If you set the power switch to “Shut down”, you can use this button to turn off
the computer. See Windows help for details.
Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power
switch 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. Do not place it near sources of
heat, such as a radiator.
•Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0°C (32°F) or above 50°C
(122°F).
•Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.
•Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.
•Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.
•Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration.
•Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.
•Never place objects on top of the computer to avoid damaging the computer.
•Do not slam the computer display when you close it.
•Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.
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v
Taking care of your AC adapter
Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter:
•Do not connect the adapter to any other device.
•Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it. Carefully
route the power cord and any cables away from personal traffic.
•When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the
plug.
•The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed the
ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total
current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not
exceed the fuse rating.
Taking care of your battery pack
Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:
•Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off before
removing or replacing batteries.
•Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children.
•Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if at all possible.
Cleaning and servicing
When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:
1Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.
2Disconnect the AC adapter.
3Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.
If any of the following occurs:
•The computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged.
•Liquid has been spilled into the product.
•The computer does not operate normally.
Please refer to "Troubleshooting my computer" on page 73.
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vi
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Contents
First things first iii
Your guides iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer iv
Getting familiar with your computer 1
A tour of your computer 3
Front view 3
Left view 5
Right view 6
Rear view 7
Bottom view 8
Features 9
Display 11
Indicators 12
Keyboard 15
Special keys 15
Keyboard ergonomics 19
Touchpad 20
Touchpad basics 20
Launch keys 22
Storage 24
Connectivity options 25
Ethernet and LAN 25
Fax/data modem 25
Audio 26
Adjusting the volume 26
Using the Audio DJ feature 26
Securing your computer 27
Security notch 27
Passwords 27
Operating on battery power 29
Battery pack 31
Battery pack characteristics 31
Installing and removing the battery pack 32
Charging the battery 33
Checking the battery level 34
Optimizing battery life 34
Battery-low warning 35
Power management 36
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viii
Peripherals and options 37
External display devices 39
External monitor 39
External display with s-video input 39
Using simultaneous display 39
External input devices 40
External keyboard 40
External keypad 40
External pointing device 40
Printer 41
Audio devices 42
Expansion devices 43
PC Card slots 43
USB 44
IEEE 1394 45
Miscellaneous options 46
Battery pack 46
AC adapter 46
Key component upgrades 47
Memory upgrade 47
Hard disk upgrade 48
Moving with your computer 49
Disconnecting from the desktop 51
Moving around 52
Preparing the computer 52
What to bring to short meetings 52
What to bring to long meetings 52
Taking the computer home 53
Preparing the computer 53
What to bring with you 53
Special considerations 53
Setting up a home office 54
Traveling with the computer 55
Preparing the computer 55
What to bring with you 55
Special considerations 55
Traveling internationally with the computer 56
Preparing the computer 56
What to bring with you 56
Special considerations 56
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ix
Software 57
System software 59
Easy Button 60
E-Mail Detector 61
BIOS Setup Utility 62
Main 63
System Devices 65
Security 66
Others 69
Boot 70
Exit 71
Troubleshooting 73
Frequently-asked questions 75
Error messages 78
Appendix A Specifications 83
Appendix B Notices 89
Index 97
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x
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Getting familiar with
your computer
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This computer combines high-performance, versatility,
power management features and multimedia capabilities
with a unique style and ergonomic design. Work with
unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power
computing partner.
This chapter gives an in-depth "tour" of the computer’s many
features.
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3
A tour of your computer
After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us
show you around your new notebook computer.
Front view
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Getting familiar with your computer4
#Item Description
1 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display), displays computer
output.
2 Power button Turns on the computer power.
3 Status LCD LCD that display icons to show the status of the computer
and its functions and components.
4 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
5 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a
computer mouse.
6Clickbuttons(left
and right)
The left and right buttons function like the left and right
mouse buttons.
7 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently-used programs. See
“Launch keys”on page 22 for more details.
8 Status indicators Shows the power and email status.
9Speakers Outputssound.
10 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the
computer.
11 Floppy drive Accepts a 3.5-inch diskette.
12 Floppy drive eject
button
Press to eject the diskette from the floppy drive.
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5
Left view
#Item Description
1 Optical drive Depending on your model:
•CD-ROM drive reads CDs
•DVD-ROM drive reads CDs and DVDs
•DVD/CD-RW combo drive reads CDs and DVDs, and
writes to CD-Rs and CD-RWs.
2Opticaldrive
eject button
Ejects the disc from the optical drive.
3Opticaldrive
emergency eject
hole
Ejects the disc from the optical drive when the computer is
turned off. See “How do I eject the optical drive tray with the
computer turned off?”on page 76 for more details.
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Getting familiar with your computer6
Right view
#Item Description
1 Speaker/headphone-out
jack
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers,
headphones).
2 Microphone-in jack Connects an external microphone.
3 PC Card eject buttons Eject the selected PC Card from its slot.
4PC Card slots Accepts one Type III or two Type II/I PC Card(s).
5 DC-in jack Connects to the AC adapter.
6 PS/2 port Connects to a PS/2-compatible device (e.g., PS/2
keyboard/mouse/keypad).
7 USB ports (two) Connects to USB devices (e.g., USB mouse).
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7
Rear view
#Item Description
1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer
security lock.
2 IEEE 1394 port Connects to a IEEE 1394 compatible device (e.g.,
digital camcorder).
3 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network.
4 Modem jack Conncts a phone line (only for models with an
internal fax/data modem).
5 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel printer).
6 External display port Connects to a display monitor.
7 Video-out port Connects to a display device with S-video input.
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Getting familiar with your computer8
Bottom view
#Item Description
1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer’s hard disk.
2 Battery release button Press and hold to release the battery latch.
3 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack.
4 Battery bay Houses the computer’s battery pack.
5 Memory compartment Houses the computer’s main memory.
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9
Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its many
features:
Performance
•Intel®Celeron™processor with on-die level 2 cache
•128 MB memory onboard and one memory upgrade slot
•Large LCD display with adjustable video memory
•High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
•Lithium-Ion battery pack
•Power management system
•Simultaneous LCD and CRT display
Multimedia
•16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3-D sound
•Built-in dual stereo speakers
•Internal optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD/CD-RW combo)
•Audio DJ (CD playback) feature
•S-video (NTSC/PAL) output
Connectivity
•High-speed 56Kbps V.90 fax/data software modem
•Ethernet/Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)
•CardBus PC Card slots
•Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports
•IEEE 1394 port
Human-centric design and ergonomics
•All-in-one design (CD or DVD, floppy drive, and hard disk)
•Sleek, smooth and stylish design
•Full-sized keyboard
•Wide and curved palm rest
•Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
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Getting familiar with your computer10
•Launch keys (supports Audio DJ feature)
Expansion
•Upgradeable memory and hard disk
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