Acer TravelMate 4020 Series User manual

TravelMate 4020 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.
TravelMate 4020 Series User's Guide
Original Issue: July 2005
TravelMate 4020 Series Notebook PC
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 TravelMate series of notebook PC
your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs.
Your guides
To help you use your TravelMate, 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 easy-launch buttons. See "Front view" on page 1 for the
location of 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
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
You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by
pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4>.
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 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 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 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 adapter.
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 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 adapter iv
Taking care of your battery pack v
Cleaning and servicing v
A TravelMate tour 1
Front view 1
Closed front view 2
Left view 3
Right view 4
Rear view 4
Base view 5
Features 6
Indicators 9
Easy-launch buttons 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 17
Audio 18
Adjusting the volume 18
Using the system utilities 19
Acer eManager 19
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 20
Launch Manager 21
Norton AntiVirus 22
Frequently asked questions 23
Requesting service 26
International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 26
Before you call 26
Contents

Taking your notebook PC with you 27
Disconnecting from the desktop 27
Moving around 27
Preparing the computer 27
What to bring to meetings 28
Taking the computer home 28
Preparing the computer 28
What to take with you 28
Special considerations 29
Setting up a home office 29
Traveling with the computer 29
Preparing the computer 29
What to take with you 29
Special considerations 30
Traveling internationally with the computer 30
Preparing the computer 30
What to bring with you 30
Special considerations 30
Securing your computer 31
Using a computer security lock 31
Using passwords 31
Entering passwords 32
Setting passwords 32
Expanding through options 33
Connectivity options 33
Fax/data modem 33
Built-in network feature 34
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 34
PC Card slot 35
BIOS utility 36
Boot sequence 36
Enable disk-to-disk recovery 37
Password 37
Using software 37
Playing DVD movies 37
Power management 38
Acer eRecovery 39
Create backup 39

Restore from backup 40
Create factory default image CD 40
Re-install bundled software without CD 40
Change password 41
Troubleshooting 42
Troubleshooting tips 42
Error messages 42
Regulations and safety notices 43
ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 43
FCC notice 43
Modem notices 45
Important safety instructions 48
Laser compliance statement 49
LCD pixel statement 50
Macrovision copyright protection notice 50
Radio device regulatory notice 50
General 50
European Union (EU) 51
The FCC RF safety requirement 52
Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio
communication devices (RSS-210) 53
Environmental Policy Declaration 54
Federal Communications Comission
Declaration of Conformity 55
Declaration of Conformity for CE Marking 56
Index 57

1
English
A TravelMate tour
After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let
us show you around your new TravelMate 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.

2
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 light up to show the
status of the computer's functions and components.
8 Easy-launch
buttons
Buttons for launching frequently used programs.
See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 10 for more details.
9 Power button Turns the computer on and off.
#Icon Item Description
1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo
audio output.
2 Power indicator Lights when the computer is on.
3 Battery indicator Lights when the battery is being
charged.
4Bluetooth
communication
button/indicator
Press to enable/disable Bluetooth
function. Lights to indicate the status of
Bluetooth communications.
(for selected models)
5 Wireless
communication
button/indicator
Press to enable/disable the wireless
function. Indicates the status of wireless
LAN communication.
6 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio
CD player, stereo walkman).
#Item Description

3
English
Left view
7 Microphone jack Accepts input from external
microphones.
8 Headphone/speaker/
line-out jack
Connects to audio line-out devices
(e.g., speakers, headphones).
9 USB 2.0 port Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB
mouse, USB camera).
10 Latch Locks and releases the lid.
#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 Optical drive eject
button
Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive.
4 Emergency eject hole Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is
turned off.
#Icon Item Description

4
English
Right view
Rear view
#Icon Item Description
1 PC Card slot
eject button
Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
2 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II PC Card.
3 Two USB 2.0
ports
Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse,
USB camera).
4Ethernet
(RJ-45) port
Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based
network.
5 Modem
(RJ-11) port
Connects to a phone line.
6 Ventilation
slots
Enable the computer to stay cool, even after
prolonged use.
#Icon Item Description
1 DC-in jack Connects to an AC adapter.
2 External display
(VGA) port
Connects to a display device
(e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).
3 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.

5
English
Base view
#Item Description
1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured
with screws).
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 and
mini PCI Card.

6
English
Features
Microprocessor
Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology, featuring:
•Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725/730/740/750/760/770 or higher
•Intel® 915GM Express chipset
Memory
•256/512 MB of DDR2 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
Display and video
•Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) displaying at:
- 15.0” XGA (1024x768) resolution
- 15.4” WXGA (1280x800) resolution
•Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support
•Dual independent display
•"Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically deciding the best
settings for your display and conserves power
Connectivity
•Integrated 10/100 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)
•Bluetooth® (for selected models)

7
English
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
•Acer FineTouch™ keyboard with a 5-degree curve
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 (3.5mm mini jack)
•One audio line-in jack (3.5mm mini jack)
•One microphone-in jack (3.5mm mini jack)
•Three USB 2.0 ports
Weight (with battery)
• 3.0 kg (6.6 lbs.)
Dimensions
- 364.0 (W) x 279.0 (D) x 33.9/38.9 (H) mm

8
English
Environment
• Temperature:
- Operating: 5°C ~ 35°C
- Non-operating: -20°C ~ 65°C
• Humidity (non-condensing):
- Operating: 20% ~ 80% RH
- Non-operating: 20% ~ 80% RH
System
•Microsoft® Windows® XP Home/Pro
•ACPI 1.0b support
•DMI 2.0-compliant
•Wi-Fi®-compliant
Power
•8-cell (65W) or 4-cell (32W) Li-ion battery pack
•65W AC adapter 19V 3.42A
Options
•256MB/512MB/1GB memory upgrade module
•Additional 65W AC adapter
•Addition Li-ion battery pack
•Additional hard disk
•USB floppy drive
Note: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The
exact configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased.

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: 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.

10
English
Easy-launch buttons
Located at the upper-right, above the keyboard are four buttons. These buttons
are called easy-launch buttons. 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 browser buttons are pre-set to email and Internet
programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and
programmable buttons, run the Acer Launch Manager. See "Launch Manager"
on page 21.
Easy-launch button 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: When using the touchpad, keep it — and your fingers — 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.