Acer Aspire 3020 Series User manual

Aspire 3020/5020 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 3020/5020 Series User's Guide
Original Issue: March 2005
Aspire 3020/5020 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.

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First things first
We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook
computers your choice for meeting 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.
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.

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•Use the power button
Note: You can also use the power button to perform power
management functions. See "Moving around" on page 39 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 hotkey <Fn> + <F4>. See "Moving around" on page 39
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 or 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.

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•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 possible.
Cleaning and servicing
When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:
1 Turn 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 22.
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 for 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 4
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
Hotkeys 14
Special keys 16
Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 17
Using a computer security lock 18
Audio 18
Adjusting the volume 18
Using the system utilities 19
Acer eManager 19
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 20
Launch Manager 21
Frequently asked questions 22
Requesting service 25
International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 25
Before you call 25
Contents

Acer Arcade (for selected models) 27
Arcade hotkeys 28
Finding and playing content 29
Settings 29
Arcade controls 29
Navigation controls 30
Player controls 30
Cinema 30
DVD settings 31
Album 32
Slideshow settings 33
Video 33
Playing a video file 33
Video authoring 34
Music 34
Burner 35
Copy — Back up your CD/DVD collection 35
Audio — Create your own greatest hits CDs 35
Data — Store files simply and easily 35
Video — Your world in pictures 35
TV 35
Instant replay 36
Recorded TV 36
Scheduling recordings 37
TV preview 37
Using TeleText functions 37
TV settings 37
Taking your notebook PC with you 39
Disconnecting from the desktop 39
Moving around 39
Preparing the computer 39
What to take to short meetings 40
What to take to long meetings 40
Taking the computer home 40
Preparing the computer 40
What to take with you 41
Special considerations 41
Setting up a home office 41
Traveling with the computer 41

Preparing the computer 41
What to take with you 42
Special considerations 42
Traveling internationally with the computer42
Preparing the computer 42
What to bring with you 42
Special considerations 43
Securing your computer 43
Using a computer security lock 43
Using passwords 43
Entering passwords 44
Setting passwords 44
Expanding through options 45
Connectivity options 45
Fax/data modem 45
Built-in network feature 46
Fast Infrared 46
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 47
IEEE 1394 port 47
PC Card slot 48
BIOS utility 49
Boot sequence 49
Enable disk-to-disk recovery 50
Password 50
Using software 50
Playing DVD movies 50
Power management 51
Acer eRecovery 52
Create backup 52
Restore from backup 53
Create factory default image CD 53
Re-install bundled software without CD 53
Change password 54
Troubleshooting 55
Troubleshooting tips 55
Error messages 55
Regulations and safety notices 57
ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 57

FCC notice 57
Modem notices 59
Important safety instructions 62

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 Power button Turns the computer on and off.
3 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording.
4 Keyboard For entering data into your computer.
5 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions
like a computer mouse.

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English
Closed front view
6 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.
7 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently used programs.
See "Launch keys" on page 10 for more details.
8 Status indicators Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on and off
to show the status of the computer's functions
and components.
9 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when
you use the computer.
#Icon Item Description
1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo
audio output.
2Bluetooth
communication
button/indicator
Press to enable/disable Bluetooth
function. Lights to indicate the status of
Bluetooth communications
(manufacturing option).
3 Wireless
communication
button/indicator
Press to enable/disable Wireless function.
Lights to indicate the status of wireless
LAN communications
(manufacturing option).
4 Line-in/mic-in jack Accepts input from external microphones.
5 Speaker-out/line-out/
headphone jack
Connects to audio line-out devices
(e.g., speakers, headphones).
6 Battery indicator Lights when the battery is being charged.
#Item Description

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English
Left view
7 Power indicator Lights when the computer is on.
8 Latch Locks and releases the lid.
#Icon Item Description
1 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool,
even after prolonged use.
2 S-video/TV-out
port
Connects to a television or display
device with S-video input
(manufacturing option).
3 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices
(manufacturing option).
4 3 USB 2.0 ports Connects to USB 2.0 devices
(e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
5 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices like
infrared printer and IR-aware
computer (manufacturing option).
6 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II PC Card.
7 6-in-1 card reader Accepts an MS, MS PRO, MMC, SD,
SM, or xD-Picture card
(manufacturing option).
Note: Only one card can operate at
any given time.
8 PC Card slot eject
button
Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
#Icon Item Description

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English
Right view
Note: The slot-load optical drive is only available on selected
models.
Rear view
#Item Description
1 Optical drive eject button Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive.
2 Optical disk access
indicator
LED that indicates when an optical disk is
being read or written.
3 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs
depending on the optical drive type.
#Icon Item Description
1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.
2 Power jack Connects to an AC adaptor.
3 Modem jack (RJ-11) Connects to a phone line.
4 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-
based network.
5 USB 2.0 port Connects to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB
mouse, USB camera).

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English
Base view
6 External display port Connects to a display device
(e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).
7 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even
after prolonged use.
#Item Description
1 Wireless LAN bay Houses the computer's wireless LAN.
2 Battery lock Locks the battery in place.
3 Battery release
latch
Releases the battery for removal.
4 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.
5 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool.
Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan.
6 Memory and
hard disk bay
Houses the computer's main memory and hard disk
(secured by a screw).
#Icon Item Description

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English
Specifications
Operating
system Microsoft®Windows®XP Home Edition
Microsoft®Windows®XP Professional
Microsoft®Windows®XP Media Center Edition 2005
Microsoft®Windows®XP Professional x64 Edition
Microsoft®Windows®XP Home Edition N
Microsoft®Windows®XP Professional Edition N
Platform Aspire 3020 Series
• Mobile AMD Sempron™processor 2600+/3000+
or higher with 128 KB L2 cache, or
• Mobile AMD Sempron™processor 2800+/3100+
or higher with 256 KB L2 cache
Aspire 5020 Series
•AMDTurion
™64 ML-28/ML-32 processor at
1.6/1.8 GHz or higher with 128 KB L1 cache and
512 KB L2 cache, or
•AMDTurion
™64 ML-30/ML-34/ML-37/ML-40
processor at 1.6/1.8/2.0/2.2 GHz or higher with
128 KB L1 cache and 1 MB L2 cache
ATI RS480M and SB400 chipset
System memory 256/512 MB of DDR333 memory, upgradeable to 2 GB
using two soDIMM modules
Display and
graphics
Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) displaying at:
• 15" XGA (1024 x 768)
• 15" SXGA+ (1400 x1050)
• 15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800)
• 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050)
16.7 million colors
ATI MOBILITY™RADEON®X600 (for selected models), or
ATI MOBILITY™RADEON®X700 (for selected models)
Simultaneous LCD and CRT display
DualView™support
MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability

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English
Storage
subsystem
One 40 GB or larger hard disk drive
Optical drive options:
• DVD-Super Multi double layer drive
• DVD-Dual double layer drive
• DVD/CD-RW combo drive
6-in-1 card reader
(MS/MS PRO/MMC/SD/SM/xD-Picture Card)
Dimension and
weight
363 (W) x 278 (D) x 24.0/32.9 (H) mm
(14.3 x 10.9 x 0.9/1.3 inches)
3.07 Kg (6.77 lbs.) for 15.4" LCD model
Power
subsystem
ACPI 1.0b power management standard: supports Standby
and Hibernation power-saving modes
60 W Li-ion battery pack
3.5-hour battery life
2.5-hour quick-charge; 3.5-hour charge-in-use
90 W AC adaptor
Input devices 88-/89-key keyboard
Touchpad with 4-way integrated scroll button
Six easy-launch buttons
Audio Audio system with two built-in speakers
MS-Sound compatible
Communication Modem: 56K ITU V.90/V.92 with PTT approval;
Wake-on-Ring ready
LAN: gigabit Ethernet (for selected models);
Wake-on-LAN ready
WLAN (manufacturing option): integrated 802.11b/g
dual-mode (for selected models), or 802.11a/b/g dual-band
tri-mode Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™WLAN solution (for selected
models); Acer SignalUp wireless technology support
WPAN (manufacturing option): integrated Bluetooth®
Software Acer Launch Manager
Acer eManager (ePresentation/eRecovery/eSettings)
Acer GridVista
Acer System Recovery CD
Norton AntiVirus™
Adobe®Reader®
CyberLink®PowerDVD™
NTI CD-Maker™

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English
Note: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The
exact configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased.
I/O interface Four USB 2.0 ports
IEEE 1394 port
Ethernet (RJ-45) port
Modem (RJ-11) port
External display (VGA) port
S-video/TV-out port
Microphone/line-in jack
Headphones/speaker/line-out port
Infrared (FIR) port
Type II PC Card slot
6-in-1 card reader
DC-in jack for AC adaptor
Security Kensington lock slot
BIOS user and supervisor passwords
Options and
accessories 256/512 MB and 1 GB soDIMM memory
Li-ion battery pack
90 W AC adaptor
Environment Temperature:
• Operating: 5° C to 35° C
• Non-operating: -20° C to 65° C
Humidity (non-condensing):
• Operating: 20% to 80%
• Non-operating: 20% to 80%
System
compliance
Mobile PC 2001
ACPI 1.0b
DMI 2.0
Wi-Fi®
Warranty One-year International Travelers Warranty (ITW)

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English
Indicators
The computer has four 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: The 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.

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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 21.
Launch key Default application
Mail Email application (user-programmable)
Web browser Internet browser (user-programmable)
Acer eManager (user-programmable)
PUser-programmable