Acer Aspire 1690 Series User manual

Aspire 1690 Series
User’s Guide

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 © 2004. Acer Incorporated.
All Rights Reserved.
Aspire 1690 Series User’s Guide
Original Issue: December 2004
Aspire 1690 Series Notebook Computer
Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other company's
product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to
their respective companies.

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English
First things first
We would like to thank you for making the Aspsire series of notebook
computers your choice for your mobile computing needs.
Your guides
To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides:
First off, the Just for starters... poster helps you get started
with setting up your computer.
The 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.
If you ever need to print out a copy, this User’s guide is also
available in Portable Document Format (PDF). Follow these
steps:
1Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem.
2Click on AcerSystem User's guide.
Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader be
installed. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat
Reader, access the Help and Support menu.

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English
Basic care and tips for using your computer
Turning your computer on and off
To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button
below the LCD screen beside the launch keys. See “Front view” on
page 1 for the location of the power button.
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
•Use the Windows shutdown command
Click on Start, Turn Off Computer; then click on Turn Off.
•Use the power button
Note: You can also use the power button to perform power
management functions. See “Moving around with your Notebook
PC” on page 29.
•Use the customized functions for power management
You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover,
or by pressing the sleep hot key (Fn-F4). See “Moving around with
your Notebook PC” on page 29.
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. Do not place it
near sources of heat, such as a radiator.
•Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF) or
above 50ºC (122ºF).
•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.

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English
•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.
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.

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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.
•The computer does not operate normally.
Please refer to “Frequently-asked questions” on page 63.
Caution
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer
could void the user's authority, which is granted by the Federal
Communications Commission, to operate this computer.
Operation conditions
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions on wireless
option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option
device.
An improper installation or unauthorised use may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Also any tampering of the
internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty.
To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is
intended to be operated indoors and installation outdoors is subject to
licensing.For more information about our products, services, and
support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com/.

vii
First things first iii
Your guides iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer iv
Turning your computer on and off iv
Taking care of your computer iv
Taking care of your AC adapter v
Taking care of your battery pack v
Cleaning and servicing vi
An Aspire tour 1
Front view 1
Closed front view 3
Left view 5
Right view 6
Rear view 7
Bottom view 8
Specifications 9
Indicators 12
Using the keyboard 14
Lock keys 14
Embedded numeric keypad 15
Windows keys 16
Hot keys 17
The Euro Symbol 19
The US dollar sign 19
Launch keys 20
Touchpad 21
Touchpad basics 21
Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 23
Using a computer security lock 24
Audio 25
Adjusting the volume 25
Using system utilities 26
Acer eManager 26
Launch Manager 27
Acer GridVista 28
Moving around with your Notebook PC 29
Disconnecting from the desktop 29
Moving around 29
Preparing the computer 29
What to take to short meetings 30
What to bring to long meetings 30
Taking the computer home 30
Preparing the computer 30
What to take with you 31

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Special considerations 31
Setting up a home office 32
Traveling with the computer 32
Preparing the computer 32
What to take with you 32
Special considerations 32
Traveling internationally with the computer 33
Preparing the computer 33
What to bring with you 33
Special considerations 33
Securing your computer 34
Using a computer security lock 34
Using passwords 34
Entering passwords 35
Setting passwords 35
Expanding through options 37
Connectivity options 37
Fax/Data modem 37
Built-in network feature 38
Fast Infrared 38
Universal Serial Bus 39
IEEE 1394 port 39
PC Card slot 40
BIOS Utility 42
Boot sequence 42
Disc to Disc Recovery enable 42
Password 42
Using software 43
Playing DVD movies 43
Power management 44
Windows Arcade 45
Arcade Hot keys 46
Finding and playing content 47
Advanced Settings 47
Arcade controls 48
Navigation controls 48
Player controls 48
Cinema 49
DVD settings 49
Album 51
Video 53
Playing a video file 53
Editing a video file 53
Music 54

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Burner 54
Copy - backup your CD/DVD collection 54
Audio - create your own greatest hits CDs 55
Data - store files simply and easily 55
Video - your world in pictures 55
Acer eRecovery 56
Create backup 56
Restore from backup 57
Create factory default image CD 57
Re-install bundled software without CD 58
Change password 58
Acer disc-to-disc recovery 59
Multilingual operating system installation 59
Restore without a Recovery CD 59
Troubleshooting my computer 61
Frequently-asked questions 63
Troubleshooting tips 66
Error messages 66
Requesting service 67
International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW) 67
Before you call 68
Appendix A
Regulation & safety notices 69

x

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English
An Aspire tour
After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters...
poster, let us show you around your new Aspire computer.
Front view
#Item Description
1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD),
displaying computer output.
2 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording.

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English
3 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
4 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands
when you use the computer.
5 Click buttons
(Left, center and right)
The left and right buttons function like the
left and right mouse buttons; the center
button serves as a 4-way scroll button.
6 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which
functions like a computer mouse.
7 Status indicators Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on
and off to show the status of the
computer’s functions and components.
8 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently used
programs. See “Launch keys” on page 20
for more details
9 Power button Turns the computer on and off.
#Item Description

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Closed front view
#Item Description
1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio
output.
2 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices
(e.g., infrared printer and IR-aware computer).
3 Power indicator Lights when the computer is on.
4 Battery indicator Lights when the battery is being charged.
5 Bluetooth
communication
button/indicator
(for selected
models)
Press to enable/disable Bluetooth function.
Lights to indicate the status of Bluetooth
communications.

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English
6 Wireless
communication
button/indicator
Press to enable/disable Wireless function. Lights
to indicate the status of wireless LAN
communications. (manufacturing option)
7 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD
player, stereo walkman).
8 Mic-in jack Accepts inputs from external microphone.
9 Speaker/Line-Out/
Headphone jack
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g.,
speakers, headphones).
10 USB 2.0 port Connects to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
11 Latch Locks and releases the lid.
#Item Description

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English
Left view
Note: The positions of the AcerMedia indicator, eject button and
emergency eject hole may differ depending on the optical drive
module installed.
#Item Description
1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or
DVDs depending on the optical drive
type.
2 LED indicator Lights up when the optical drive is
active.
3 Emergency eject hole Ejects the optical drive tray when the
computer is turned off
4 Optical drive eject button Ejects the optical drive tray from the
drive.
5

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Right view
#Item Description
1 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.
2 PC Card slot eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
3 PC Card slot Connects to one Type II CardBus PC Card.
4 4-in-1 card reader
(for selected models)
Accepts MS, MS PRO, MMC and SD card.
Note: The 4-in-1 card reader is a
manufacturing option, subject to
configuration. Only one card can operate
at any given time.
5 Two USB 2.0 ports Connect to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
6 S-video port Connects to a television or display device
with S-video input.
7 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-
based network (for selected models).
8 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.
9 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even
after prolonged use.

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English
Rear view
#Item Description
1 Power jack Connects to an AC adapter.
2 External display port Connects to a display device (e.g., external
monitor, LCD projector).
3 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.

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English
Bottom view
#Item Description
1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk
(secured by a screw).
2 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the
battery pack.
3 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.
4 Battery lock Locks the battery in place.
5 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool.
Note: Do not cover or obstruct the
opening of the fan.
6 Memory compartment Houses the computer's main memory and
Mini PCI Card.

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English
Specifications
Microprocessor
•Intel® Pentium® M Processor at 1.5 ~ 2.13 GHz or higher
•Intel® Celeron® M Processor at 1.3 ~ 1.6 GHz or higher
Memory
•256/512 MB of DDR333 SDRAM standard, upgradeable to 2048 MB
with dual soDIMM modules
•512 KB flash ROM BIOS
Data storage
•One 40 GB and above E-IDE hard disk (2.5”, 9.5mm, UltraDMA-100)
•One internal optical drive
•4-in-1 Card Reader (for selected models)
Display and video
•Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) displaying at:
- 15.0” XGA (1024x768)
- 15.4” WXGA (1280x800)
- 15.0” SXGA+ (1400x1050)
•Acer CrystalBrite (for selected models)
•ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ X600 with 64/128 MB of video memory
(for selected models)
•Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support
•Dual independent display
•"Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically decides the best
settings for your display and conserves power
Connectivity
•Integrated 10/100/1000 Mbps Fast Ethernet connection
•Built-in 56Kbps fax/data modem
•Three Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports
•InviLink™ 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g dual-band tri-mode Wireless
LAN (for selected models)

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Audio
•16-bit AC’97 stereo audio
•Dual speakers and one internal microphone
•Separate audio ports for headphone-out, line-in and microphone-
in devices
Keyboard and pointing device
•88/89-key Windows keyboard
•Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device with scroll
function
I/O ports
•One Type II PC Card slot
•One RJ-11 phone jack (V.92, 56Kbps modem)
•One RJ-45 network jack
•One DC-in jack (AC adapter)
•One external monitor port
•One speaker/headphone-out jack
•One audio line-in jack
•One microphone-in jack
•One Infrared (FIR) port
•One IEEE 1394 port
•One S-video TV-out port
•Three USB 2.0 ports
•4-in-1 MS/MS Pro/MMC/SD card reader (for selected models)
Weight (with battery)
• 6.6 lbs (3 kg)
Dimensions
- 360 (W) x 273 (D) x27/32 (H) mm