Acer TravelMate 4050 User manual

TravelMate 4050 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.
TravelMate 4050 Series Notebook Computer User’s Guide
Second Issue: October 2004
TravelMate 4050 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.

iii
English
First things first
We would like to thank you for making the TravelMate series of
notebook computers your choice for your mobile computing needs.
We hope you will be happy with your TravelMate as much as we
enjoyed making it for you.
Your guides
To help you use your TravelMate, we have designed a set of guides:
For more information about our products, services, and support
information, please visit our Web site: http://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.
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
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 the power button on the left of
the launch keys found above your TravelMate’s standard keyboard. See
“Front open view” on page 3 for the location of the power button.
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
•Use the Windows shutdown command.
For Windows 2000: Click on Start, Shut Down..., and select Shut
down; then click on OK.
- or -
For Windows XP: Click on Start, Turn off Computer; then click Turn
Off.
•Use the power button.
Note: You can also use the power button to perform power
management functions. See Windows help for more information.
•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-Esc). See the online guide for
details.
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.

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•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.
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:
•Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.
•Disconnect the AC adapter.
•Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol
cleaners.
•To clean the display screen, use an LCD cleaning kit.
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 51.

First things first iii
Your guides iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer iv
1 Getting to know your TravelMate 1
A TravelMate tour 3
Front open view 3
Front view 4
Left view 6
Right view 7
Rear view 8
Bottom view 10
Features 11
Indicators 13
Using the keyboard 15
Special keys 15
Launch Keys 21
Touchpad 22
Touchpad basics 22
Storage 24
Hard disk 24
Optical drive 24
Using software 25
Audio 26
Adjusting the volume 26
Power management 26
Moving around with your TravelMate 27
Disconnecting from the desktop 27
Moving around 27
Taking the computer home 28
Traveling with the computer 30
Traveling internationally with the computer 31
Securing your computer 32
Using a computer security lock 32
Using passwords 32
2 Customizing my computer 35
Expanding through options 37
Connectivity options 37
Upgrade options 42
Using system utilities 44
Acer eManager 44
Launch Manager 44
Contents

BIOS Utility 45
Acer eRecovery 46
Create backup 46
Restore from backup 47
Create factory default image CD 47
Re-install bundled software without CD 48
Change password 48
Acer Disc to Disc Recovery 49
Multilingual operating system installation 49
Restore without a Recovery CD 49
Setup password and exit 50
3 Troubleshooting my computer 51
Frequently-asked questions 53
Troubleshooting tips 56
Error messages 57
Requesting service 58
International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW) 58
Before you call 59
Appendix A Specifications 61
Appendix B Notices 67
Index 83

1 Getting to know your
TravelMate

Your TravelMate 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.

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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 open view
#Item Description
1 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD),
displays computer output.
2 Power button Turns on the computer.

1 Getting to know your TravelMate4
English
Front view
3 Launch keys Two special keys for frequently used
programs. See “Launch Keys” on page 21 for
more details.
4 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
5 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands
when you use the computer.
6 Click buttons
(left and right)
The left and right buttons function like the
left and right mouse buttons.
7 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which
functions like a computer mouse.
8 Status indicators Llight-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on
and off to show the status of the computer,
its functions and components.
#Item Description
1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs
depending on the optical drive type.
2 Optical drive
eject button
Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive.
#Item Description

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The Wireless / Bluetooth®buttons and indicators only work on
models with Wireless / Bluetooth®features, respectively.
3 Emergency eject
hole
Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer
is turned off. See page 56 for more details.
4 Latch Latch for opening and closing the computer.
5 Power indicator Lights when the computer is on.
6 Battery indicator Lights when the battery is being charged.
7 Wireless /
Bluetooth®
communications
Lights to indicate the status of Wireless LAN
(optional) / Bluetooth®(optional)
communications.
•Orange indicates that wireless LAN is
enabled.
•Blue indicates that Bluetooth® is
enabled.
•Purple indicates that wireless LAN &
Bluetooth® are enabled.
#Item Description

1 Getting to know your TravelMate6
English
Left view
#Item Description
1 One USB 2.0 port Connects to Universal Serial Bus
devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB
camera).
2 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.,
infrared printer, IR-aware computer).
3 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II 16-bit PC Card or
32-bit CardBus PC Card.
4 PC Card eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
5 Microphone/line-in jack Accepts input from external
microphones, or other audio line-in
devices (e.g. audio CD player, stereo
walkman and etc.)
6 Headphone/ Speaker/ Line-
out jack
Connects to headphones or other
line-out audio devices (speakers).
7Wireless / Bluetooth®
Communication switch
Enables and disables Wireless /
Bluetooth®communication devices.
(optional)

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English
Right view
8 Stereo speaker Outputs sound.
#Item Description
1 Stereo speaker Outputs sound.
2 HDD Houses the computer's hard disk.
3 DC-in jack Connects the AC adapter.
4 Ventilation Slot Enables the computer to stay cool, even after
prolonged use.
#Item Description

1 Getting to know your TravelMate8
English
Rear view
#Item Description
1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.
2 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel
printer).
3 External display
port
Connects to a display device (e.g., external
monitor, LCD projector) and displays up to
16.7 million colors and up to 1600x1200 at
85 Hz and 2048x1536 at 75 Hz resolution.
4 Two USB 2.0 ports Connects to Universal Serial Bus devices (e.g.,
USB mouse, USB camera).
5 Modem port Connects to a phone line.
6 Ethernet port Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based
network.

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7S-video
(manufacturing
option)
Connects to a television or display device
with S-video input.
8 IEEE 1394 port
(manufacturing
option)
Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.
#Item Description

1 Getting to know your TravelMate10
English
Bottom view
#Item Description
1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs
depending on the optical drive type.
2Memory
compartment
Houses the computer's main memory.
3 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured
by a screw).
4 Battery compartment
release latch
Unlatches the battery to remove the
battery compartment.
5 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.

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Features
Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:
Performance
•Intel® Pentium® M Processor at 1.5 ~2.1 GHz or higher
•Intel® Celeron® M Processor at 1.2 ~1.5 GHz or higher
(manufacturing option)
•Intel 855GME chipset
•Memory upgradeable up to 2 GB with 2 slots
•Internal optical drive
•High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
•Li-ion main battery pack
•Power management system with Advanced Configuration Power
Interface (ACPI)
Display
•14.1” or 15.0” Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) displaying at 1024 x 768
XGA resolution, or 15.0” TFT displaying at 1400 x 1050 SXGA+
resolution
•3D graphics engine
•Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support
•S-video for output to a television or display device that supports
S-video input
•Dual independent display
Multimedia
•16-bit high-fidelity AC’97 stereo audio
•Built-in dual speakers
•High-speed optical drive

1 Getting to know your TravelMate12
English
Connectivity
•High-speed fax/data modem port
•Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port
•Fast infrared wireless communication
•Three USB 2.0 ports (two in rear and one on left)
•IEEE 1394 port
•802.11b/g Wireless LAN (manufacturing optional)
Expansion
•One type II CardBus PC Card slot
•Upgradeable memory