Acer Aspire 3000 Series User manual

Aspire 3000/5000 Series
User's Guide

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation
to notify any person of such revisions 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, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
Model Number: __________________________________
Serial Number: ___________________________________
Purchase Date: ___________________________________
Place of Purchase: ________________________________
Copyright © 2005. Acer Incorporated.
All Rights Reserved.
Aspire 3000/5000 Series User's Guide
Original Issue: March 2005
Aspire 3000/5000 Series Notebook Computer
Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies'
product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to
their respective companies.

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.
Your guides
To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides:
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
First off, the Just for starters... poster helps you get started with
setting up your computer.
The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and
functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer
can help you to be more productive, please refer to the
AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed
information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery,
expansion options, and troubleshooting. In addition it contains
warranty information and the general regulations and safety
notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document
Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow
these steps to access it:
1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem.
2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide.
Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Adobe
Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on
AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Acrobat Reader setup
program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete
the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat
Reader, access the Help and Support menu.

iv
Note: You can also use the power button to perform power
management functions. See "Moving around" on page 43 of the
AcerSystem User's Guide.
•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" on page 43
of the AcerSystem User's Guide.
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 0 ºC (32 ºF) or above
50 ºC (122 ºF).
•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 or vibration.
•Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.
•Never place objects on top of the computer.
•Do not slam the computer display when you close it.
•Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.
Taking care of your AC adaptor
Here are some ways to take care of your AC adaptor:
•Do not connect the adaptor 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 foot 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.

v
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:
1 Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.
2 Disconnect the AC adaptor.
3 Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.
If either 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 23.
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 unauthorized 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.

First things first iii
Your guides iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer iii
Turning your computer on and off iii
Taking care of your computer iv
Taking care of your AC adaptor iv
Taking care of your battery pack v
Cleaning and servicing v
An Aspire tour 1
Front view 1
Closed front view 2
Left view 3
Right view 3
Rear view 4
Base view 5
Specifications 6
Indicators 9
Launch keys 10
Touchpad 11
Touchpad basics 11
Using the keyboard 13
Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad 13
Windows keys 14
Hot keys 14
Special keys 16
Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 17
Using a computer security lock 17
Audio 18
Adjusting the volume 18
Using the system utilities 19
Acer eManager 19
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 20
Launch Manager 22
Frequently asked questions 23
Requesting service 27
International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 27
Before you call 27
Arcade (for selected models) 29
Contents

1
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), displays computer
output.
2 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording.
3 Keyboard For entering data into your computer.
4 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the
computer.

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English
Closed front view
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 14 for more details.
9 Power button Turns the computer on and off.
#Item Description
1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio
output.
2 Power indicator Lights up when the computer is on.
3 Battery indicator Lights up when the battery is being charged.
4 Bluetooth communication
button/indicator (for
selected models)
Press to enable/disable the Bluetooth
function. Indicates the status of Bluetooth
communication (optional).
5 Wireless communication
button/indicator Press to enable/disable the wireless function. Indicates the status of wireless LAN
communication (optional).
6 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD
player, stereo walkman).
7 Mic-in jack Accepts inputs from external microphones.
#Item Description

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English
Left view
Right view
8 Speaker/Line-Out/
Headphone jack Connects to audio line-out devices
(e.g., speakers, headphones).
9 USB 2.0 port Connects to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
#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.
#Item Description
1 PC Card slot
eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
2 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II CardBus PC Card.
#Item Description

4
English
Rear view
3 Two USB 2.0
ports Connect to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
4 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100 based network.
5 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.
6 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even after
prolonged use.
#Item Description
1 Power jack Connects to an AC adaptor.
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.
#Item Description

5
English
Base view
#Item Description
1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by a screw).
2 Battery release
latch Releases the battery for removal.
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.

6
English
Specifications
Operating system Microsoft®Windows®XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2)
Microsoft®Windows®XP Professional (Service Pack 2)
Platform Mobile AMD Turion 64 processor ML-28/ML-30 or higher
Mobile AMD Sempron processor 2600+ to 3000+ or higher
System memory 256 or 512 MB of DDR333 memory, upgradeable to 2GB using
two soDIMM modules
Display and
graphics 15" XGA color TFT LCD with 1024 x 768 pixel resolution
15.4" WXGA color TFT LCD with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution
15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite color TFT LCD with 1280 x 800 pixel
resolution
16.7 million colors
SiS M760GX integrated 3D graphics, with up to 128 MB of video
memory
supporting Microsoft®DirectX® 8.0
Dual independent display support
MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability
Storage
subsystem 40/60/80 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive
Optical drive options:
•DVD-Dual
•DVD/CD-RW combo
Dimensions and
weight
364 (W) x 279 (D) x 33.9/38.9 (H) mm
(14.3 x 11 x 1.3/1.5 inches)
2.76 kg (6.08 lbs.) for 15" XGA LCD model
2.8 kg (6.17 lbs.) for 15.4" WXGA LCD model
Power subsystem ACPI 1.0b power management standard: supports standby and
hibernation power-saving modes
29 W Li-ion battery pack
2.5-hour rapid charge, 3.5-hour charge-in-use
3-pin 65 W AC adaptor
Input devices 88-/89-key keyboard
inverted "T" cursor layout; 2.5 mm (minimum) key travel
Touchpad with 4-way integrated scroll button
12 function keys; four cursor keys; two Windows®keys; hotkey
controls; embedded numeric keypad; international language sup-
port
Four easy-launch buttons: Internet browser, email with LED,
Empowering Key, and one user-programmable button
Two front-panel buttons: wireless LED-button and Bluetooth®
LED-button
Audio Audio system with two built-in speakers
Sound Blaster Pro™and MS-Sound compatible
Built-in microphone

7
English
Note: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The
exact configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased.
Communication Modem: 56K ITU V.92 modem with PTT approval; Wake-on-Ring
ready
LAN: 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready
Wireless LAN (optional): integrated miniPCI 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTI-
FIED™solution
Acer SignalUp wireless technology support
Wireless PAN (optional): integrated Bluetooth®
I/O interface Three USB 2.0 ports
Ethernet (RJ-45) port
Modem (RJ-11) port
External display (VGA) port
Microphone/line-in jack
Headphones/speaker/line-out port
Type II PC Card slot
DC-in jack for AC adaptor
Security Kensington lock slot
BIOS user and supervisor passwords
Software Acer Launch Manager
Acer eManager (eSetting/ePresentation/eRecovery)
Acer Arcade
Acer GridVista (for selected model only)
Acer System Recovery CD
Norton AntiVirus™
Adobe®Reader®
NTI CD-Maker™
Options and
accessories 256 or 512 MB and 1 GB soDIMM memory
Li-ion battery pack
65 W AC adaptor
System
compliance Mobile PC 2001
ACPI 1.0b
DMI 2.0
Wi-Fi®
Warranty One-year International Travelers Warranty (ITW)

8
English

9
English
Indicators
The computer has three easy-to-read status indicators on the upper-right above
the keyboard, and four on the front panel.
The power, battery, and wireless communication status indicators are visible
even when the LCD display is closed.
1. Charging: the light shows amber when the battery is charging.
2. Fully charged: light shows green when in AC mode.
Icon Function Description
Caps Lock Lights up when Caps Lock is activated.
Num Lock Lights up when Num Lock is activated.
Media activity Indicates when the hard disk or optical
drive is active.
Bluetooth Indicates the status of Bluetooth
communication.
Wireless LAN Indicates the status of wireless LAN
communication.
Power Lights up when the computer is on.
Battery Lights up when the battery is being
charged.

10
English
Launch keys
Located at the upper-right, above the keyboard are four buttons.
These buttons are called launch keys. They are: mail, Web browser, Acer
Empowering Key " ," and one user-programmable button.
Press " " to run the Acer eManager. Please see "Acer eManager" on page 19.
The mail and Web buttons are pre-set to email and Internet programs, but can
be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable keys, run the
Acer Launch Manager. See "Launch Manager" on page 22.
Launch key Default application
PUser-programmable
Acer eManager (user-programmable)
Web browser Internet browser (user-programmable)
Mail Email application (user-programmable)

11
English
Touchpad
The built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface.
This means the cursor responds as you move your finger across the surface of
the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort
and support.
Touchpad basics
The following items show you how to use the touchpad:
•Move your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor.
•Press the left (1) and right (4) buttons located beneath the touchpad to
perform selection and execution functions. These two buttons are similar
to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad is the
same as clicking the left button.
•Use the 4-way scroll (3) button to scroll up or down and move left
or right a page. This button mimics your cursor pressing on the
right scroll bar of Windows applications.

12
English
Note: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad.
Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to
finger movement, hence, the lighter the touch, the better the
response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad's
responsiveness.
Function Left button (1) Right
button (4) Main touchpad (2) Center
button (3)
Execute Quickly click
twice.
Tap twice (at the same
speed as double-clicking
a mouse button).
Select Click once. Tap once.
Drag Click and hold,
then use
finger on the
touchpad to
drag the
cursor.
Tap twice (at the same
speed as double-clicking
a mouse button); rest
your finger on the
touchpad on the second
tap and drag the cursor.
Access
context
menu
Click once.
Scroll Click and
hold to move
up/down/
left/right.

13
English
Using the keyboard
The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor
keys, two Windows keys and twelve function keys.
Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.
The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is
indicated by small characters located on the upper right corner of the keycaps.
Lock key Description
Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are
in uppercase.
Num Lock <Fn>
+ <F11>
When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric
mode. The keys function as a calculator (complete with the
arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /). Use this mode when you
need to do a lot of numeric data entry. A better solution
would be to connect an external keypad.
Scroll Lock
<Fn> + <F12>
When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down
when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively. Scroll
Lock does not work with some applications.

14
English
To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols are not printed on
the keys.
Windows keys
The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions.
Hot keys
The computer employs hot keys or key combinations to access most of the
computer's controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS utility.
Desired access Num Lock on Num Lock off
Number keys on
embedded keypad
Type numbers in a normal
manner.
Cursor-control keys on
embedded keypad
Hold <Shift> while using
cursor-control keys.
Hold <Fn> while using
cursor-control keys.
Main keyboard keys Hold <Fn> while typing
letters on embedded keypad.
Type the letters in a
normal manner.
Key Description
Windows
key
Pressed alone, this key has the same effect as clicking on
the Windows Start button; it launches the Start menu. It
can also be used with other keys to provide a variety of
functions:
< > + <Tab> Activates the next Taskbar button.
< > + <E> Opens the My Computer window.
< > + <F1> Opens Help and Support.
< > + <F> Opens the Find: All Files dialog box.
<>+ <R> Opens the Run dialog box.
< > + <M> Minimizes all windows.
<Shift> + < > + <M> Undoes the minimize all windows
(< > + <M>) action
Application
key
This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse
button; it opens the application's context menu.