Acer TravelMate 4230 Installation guide

Notebook Training Manual for
Acer TravelMate 4230
Department of Education and Training
Western Australia

Table of Contents
Conventions used in this manual............................................................................... 4
Program objectives .................................................................................................. 5
Occupational health and safety ................................................................................ 6
What you will receive................................................................................................ 7
Software ................................................................................................................ 7
Hardware................................................................................................................ 7
Accessories ............................................................................................................ 7
Notebook tour........................................................................................................... 8
Front...................................................................................................................... 8
Left side................................................................................................................. 9
Underneath............................................................................................................. 9
Back..................................................................................................................... 10
Right side.............................................................................................................. 10
Using your notebook .............................................................................................. 12
Open it................................................................................................................. 12
Turn it on ............................................................................................................. 12
Touchpad.............................................................................................................. 12
Where do I start? ................................................................................................... 13
Log in .................................................................................................................. 13
About user names .............................................................................................. 13
About passwords ............................................................................................... 13
The desktop.......................................................................................................... 14
The Start menu ..................................................................................................... 14
Quick Launch bar .................................................................................................. 15
Quick Launch buttons ......................................................................................... 16
Managing your documents...................................................................................... 17
Power management................................................................................................ 18

Other settings......................................................................................................... 19
Displays/Monitors .................................................................................................. 19
System Tray.......................................................................................................... 19
Help..................................................................................................................... 19
Other software....................................................................................................... 19
Turning off your notebook ...................................................................................... 19
Connecting your notebook to the school network................................................... 20
Backing up your files............................................................................................... 21
What are some backup options?............................................................................... 21
Virus Protection ..................................................................................................... 22
Ways to avoid virus contamination........................................................................... 22
Looking after your notebook .................................................................................. 23
Safety issues ........................................................................................................ 23
Care and cleaning of your notebook ......................................................................... 23
Batteries .............................................................................................................. 23
AC power supply care............................................................................................. 23
Using the AC power supply................................................................................... 23
Storing the AC Power Supply ............................................................................... 23
LCD screen care .................................................................................................... 24
Service, support and warranty information ............................................................ 25
Warranty Period - 36 month Limited Warranty for DOET ................................................ 25
Warranty conditions for Acer hardware ........................................................................ 25
Metropolitan – On-Site Warranty ................................................................................ 25
Country - Return to Base service................................................................................. 25
School holidays......................................................................................................... 26
Interstate and international warranties ........................................................................ 26
Direct to Acer ........................................................................................................... 26
Service ................................................................................................................ 26
Notebook Recovery Process ................................................................................... 27
Customer Service Centre ........................................................................................ 27

Appendix A: Changing the Mouse settings.............................................................. 28
Changing the Mouse speed. .................................................................................... 28
Changing the type of pointer .................................................................................. 28
Appendix B: Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................... 30
Appendix C: Keyboard shortcuts in Windows XP .................................................... 31
Appendix D: Occupational Health and Safety...........................................................31
Potential hazards with notebook use......................................................................... 31
Minimising the risk of strain or injury ....................................................................... 31
Preventing eye strain.............................................................................................. 32
Preventing manual handling injuries ........................................................................ 32
Preventing tripping hazards..................................................................................... 33
Ongoing discomfort or pain ..................................................................................... 33
Ergonomic and posture principles for general computer use......................................... 33
References ........................................................................................................... 34
Useful links........................................................................................................... 34
Appendix E: Repair Shipping Form.......................................................................... 35
Conventions used in this manual
The following conventions are used in this manual: Menu path: Example: Tap Start
> All Programs > Games > Solitaire. This means
tap the Start menu button, then the All Programs button, then select Games from
the menu that is displayed, and Solitaire from the Games menu. Keyboard:
Example: Hold down the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys simultaneously. This
means press these keyboard keys, all at the same time.
Symbols are used to represent important things you need to know:
Warning about cost. Doing this action could cost you
money!
Severe warning! Be extra careful! You could seriously
damage the machine.
Note, hint or tip. Information that will help you

Program objectives
The Notebook for Teachers Program is an integral component of the Education
to Community (e2c) initiative, supporting learning technologies in the K-12
government education community in WA.
It is designed to support schools and teachers in achieving their mutual
professional goals. The portability of notebook computers allows for a wide
range of educational opportunities and strategies to be explored, with the
ultimate aim of improving outcomes for students.
Participation in the program is voluntary and should only be undertaken after
careful consideration of how the introduction of this technology can be
integrated into the individual school's plan.
The objectives of this training are to:
•Provide an introduction to the notebook, the operating system, and the
applications.
•Help you to become familiar with basic operations of the notebook.
•Assist you with setting up the notebook for internet access from home and
your school.
More details about e2c can be found on the internet at:
http://www.e2c.wa.edu.au,where you will also find a link to the
Notebooks for Teachers web site.
A number of DET (Department of Education and Training) policies directly relate
to the safe-keeping of work-related information and appropriate use of corporate
applications such as e-mail and internet access. More details on these and other
DET policies are available on the Regulatory Framework CD. An updated copy of
this CD is sent to all schools each term.
Occupational health and safety
The following is a summary of Occupational Health and Safety issues, detailed
in Appendix D on page 31.
The Department’s Safety Consultant has provided the following advice:
•Discomfort as a result of strain to the shoulders, neck, arms and eyes is
common among users of notebooks. This can, in some instances, lead to
occupation overuse injuries, also known as repetitive strain injuries (RSI).
The likelihood of prolonged pain and possible injury is increased when the
notebook is used for more than 2 hours in any one session.
•Strain often occurs due to the inability to set up the notebook in the
correct ergonomic position (as the keyboard and screen cannot be
separated), and through use in environments that result in poor posture
(for example, on the couch) or cause glare.
•Where possible, personal computers should be used in preference to
notebooks as they can be set up ergonomically to minimise the risk

of strain or injury.
•Consideration should also be given to any staff member who has an
existing strain or injury to the neck or shoulders, as carrying a notebook
can further aggravate the condition.
•The risk of strain or injury through notebook use can be reduced by
implementing some simple strategies such as:
•Taking regular rest breaks (at least every 20 minutes; more often if the
setup is not ideal) to allow muscles and vision to recuperate.
•Not using the notebook for more than 2 hours in any session.
•Working in an environment free from glare.
•Using the notebook on a desk (rather than the lap).
•Angling the screen to minimise the need to bend the neck.
•Using an external mouse, keyboard, and monitor where possible.
•Using a chair that maintains good posture.
•Reducing the need to carry the notebook (where practicable).
What you will receive
The Department of Education and Training will provide all nominated teachers
with:
•An Acer TravelMate 4230LCi Notebook computer.
•A familiarisation training course on delivery of your notebook (where
requested).
•Warranty support and a Customer Service Centre for dealing with product
faults and difficulties, including on-site warranty or transport of the
notebook to and from the repairer.
Software
The following software applications will be pre-loaded onto your notebook:
•Windows XP Build 2600 with Service Pack 2 and security updates
•Office XP with Service Pack 3
•Adobe Acrobat Reader v 6.0.1
•Macromedia Shockwave player v8.5
•McAfee Virus Scan v7.1
•Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 with Service Pack 1
•Java Virtual machine v 12
•Microsoft Movie Maker 2
•Microsoft .NET framework v1.1 Service Pack 1
•Microsoft Visio Viewer 2002
•Microsoft Media Player 10
•Microsoft Media Player Bonus pack
•Microsoft Windows XP Interactive Trainer

•Cyberlink Power DVD player
•NTI CD Maker 6.7 & File CD
Hardware
Your notebook will have the following hardware configuration:
•Intel Pentium M mobile, 1.6 GHz Processor
•15” TFT (thin film transistor) screen (measured diagonally)
•512 Megabytes of RAM (16MB allocated to shared video memory)
•40 Gigabyte hard disk drive
•Internal 10/100BaseT Ethernet for network connections at school
•Internal 56K modem for remote connection via telephone line
•DVD player/CD burner Combo Drive
•Internal stereo speakers
•Touchpad, with left and right mouse buttons and scrolling button
Accessories
In addition to your Acer TravelMate Notebook, the following accessories are
supplied. Please check that they are all there.
•Acer carry case (black)
•AC power supply, with cable
•Phone (RJ11) cable (grey)
•Modem User’s Guide
•TravelMate 4002LCi User’s Guide
It is a good idea to keep your box should you need to transport your
notebook back to Acer for repair. It is particularly important that you
have access to a box if you are in a country area and your notebook
needs to be safely packed for return to Acer.

Notebook tour
Front Left side
From the left:
1.Internal stereo speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio
output
2.Bluetooth communication
button/indicator Enables/disables the Bluetooth function.
Indicates the status of Bluetooth
communication.
3.3G switch/indicator Enables/disables the 3G function. Indicates
the status of Bluetooth communication.
4.Wireless communication
button/indicator Enables/disables the wireless function.
Indicates the status of wireless LAN
communication
5.Power Indicator Indicates the computer’s power status
6.Battery indicator Indicates the computer’s battery status
7.Microphone-in jack Accepts input from external microphones
8.Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio
CD player, stereo walkman).
9.Headphones/speaker/line-
out jack with S/PDIF
support
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g.,
speakers, headphones)
10.Latch Locks and releases the lid.
Version 1.0 2005 Page 8 of 35

11.CDRW/DVD Combo drive warning
When inserting a CD/DVD into the drive, make sure it is firmly
seated on the central black spindle in the tray. If it is just balanced
on the top of the spindle, it will jam.
The CD/DVD player in this notebook is controlled by software, so it cannot be used
when the notebook is turned off. Likewise, the drive will not open when it is turned
off.
Underneath
On the bottom of your notebook are a number of identification stickers. The 8-
digit Australian Serial Number (AUST Serial No.) is the one that is most important
to you.
This serial number is linked to YOU – you cannot swap notebooks
with other teachers.
You will need to quote the Australian Serial Number if you require
service or assistance from the Customer Service Centre.

Back
From the left:
12.Modem (RJ-11) port Connects to a phone line
13.Two USB 2.0 ports Connects to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse,
USB camera).
14.DC-in jack Connects to an AC adapter
15.S-video/TV-out
(NTSC/PAL) port Connects to a television or display device with S- video input.
16.External display (VGA)
port Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).
17.Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even after
prolonged use.
Left side
From the left:
18.Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer
security lock.
19.Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even after
prolonged use.
20.USB ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB
camera).
21.Ethernet (RJ-45)
port Connects to an Ethernet 10/100- pr 10/100/1000 based network
22.5-in-1 card reader Accepts Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO
(MS PRO), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital
(SD, xD-Picture Card (xD)
4-pin IEEE 1394 Connects to IEEE 1394 devices (for selected
models not pictured).

23.PC Card slot Accepts one Type II PC Card.
23.ExpressCard/34 slot Accepts one ExpressCard module
24.PC Card slot eject
button Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
Version 1.0 2005 Page 10 of 35
Using your notebook
Open it
Find the slider button at the centre front of the lid, gently slide it to the right,
then lift the lid (screen) until it is open.
Turn it on
The power button is above the top right hand side of the keyboard. Gently press
and hold the button for a second or two until the notebook starts.
The power button is usually used only as an On switch –
your notebook automatically turns itself off as part of the
shutdown procedure.
If your notebook stops responding to keyboard or mouse input, you may be
forced to turn it off. To do this, hold the power button down for at least 5
seconds to turn it off.
Touchpad
Before you do anything, you need to know about your notebook's 'touchpad'
area.

The touchpad is your 'mouse'. Moving your finger around it will move the pointer
(or cursor) on the screen. When using the touchpad to move the pointer around
the screen, try to keep your finger on the touchpad. Lifting your finger will stop
the pointer moving.
The buttons below the touchpad are your left and right mouse buttons. As you
get more experienced, you can operate these buttons with your thumb as you
use your finger to move the pointer around the screen. The right mouse button
has the usual function of opening a menu relevant to the place where the pointer
is pointing.
You can 'tap' the touchpad instead of clicking the mouse buttons:
A single tap = a single left mouse click
A double tap = a double left mouse click
A double tap + drag = a normal drag holding the left mouse button down.
This may take some practice. Double tap but hold your finger down on the
second tap and move it across the screen for the 'drag'.
This notebook model also has a scrolling 'button' which scrolls when you press
down on either end, similar to the scrolling wheel on a mouse. The lower button
scrolls down; the upper button scrolls up.
You can change the speed of the cursor movement and the size of the cursor
(see Appendix A on page 28 for details). To practice using the touchpad, play
some games of Solitaire – now you’ve got an excuse to do this!

Where do I start?
Your notebook is installed with Windows XP – a very different
version of Windows. Please take your time to explore the new
operating system.
Log in
1. After turning on your notebook, the
Welcome to Windows screen is displayed,
where you are prompted to log in.
2. Press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> to log in. The
Log On to Windows screen is displayed,
where you are prompted for your user
name and password.
3. Check that your User name is correct (see
About user names, below).
4. Type your password.
5. Tap OK.
6. The desktop screen is displayed.
About user names
The first time you turn on your notebook, you will be prompted for your user
name and password. Your user name is supplied by the Department. If you
use a computer at school and have been granted access to the school’s admin
network then you will already have a user name and password. You can use
these as soon as the notebook is linked in to the school network. If you do not
have a user name and password, either contact your school's system

administrator or phone the Customer Service Centre on
9264 5555 (metropolitan) or 1800 012 828 (country).
About passwords
If you are using your user name and password for the first time, you
will be prompted to change your password to something that only you
know. Type the password in twice as requested. The next time you log
in, you will only type your password once.
Your password should be something you will remember, yet be
obscure enough that no one will guess it.
You should not give this password to anyone but it is very important that
you remember it as you cannot log in without it. If you forget your password,
you should contact the Customer Service Centre on 9264 5555 (metropolitan)
or 1800 012 828 (country).
The desktop
1. When you have successfully supplied, both, your user name and password,
the desktop window (above) is displayed. At the bottom left of the screen
is the Start button.
2. Using the touchpad, move the pointer over the Start button, and tap once.
The Start menu is displayed.
The Start menu
This is your starting point for everything, so let’s take a closer look at this menu.
Your user name is displayed at the top of this window. Below this there are two
columns.
At the top of the left column is Internet Explorer, followed by a list of your most
recently used applications (software programs) – this list will change according to
which applications you have used recently or most frequently.

The right column lists common storage locations for your files and utilities and
features that will help you.
Under the left hand list is the All Programs button. Tap on it to open a menu list
of all the applications on your notebook.
My Documents Where you can store your documents.
My Recent Documents The files and documents you have been working
on most recently.
My Pictures Where you can store your pictures.
My Music Where you can store your music.
My Computer Displays the full contents of your hard drive,
CDs, floppy disks or other removable media.
My Network Places Displays servers and other shared workspaces
when you are
Control Panel Where you can adjust your notebook's settings.
Connect To Displays places you can connect to, including the
Notebooks for Teacher Dialer.
Printers and Faxes Where you can add printers. To add a network
printer, contact your school's system administrator
or the Customer Service Centre.
Help and Support If you get stuck, always try the online Help and Support
first.
Don’t be scared to use this. Windows XP has
comprehensive help functions, including small 'walkthrough'
procedures that help you complete an unfamiliar task.
Search If you can't find a file or have forgotten where you
stored it, use Search to find it.
Run This is an alternative method for starting programs, but
requires quite a bit of technical knowledge. It is much easier
to use the All Programs button.

Quick Launch bar
At the bottom left of the screen, you will see your Start menu button
. Immediately to the right of Start is the Quick Launch bar, and
at the far right of the screen is the System Tray. We have already
discussed the Start menu button, so let's look at the Quick Launch bar.
There are six icons in the Quick Launch Bar. These are: Internet Explorer, Show
Desktop, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Publisher. A single tap on any of these will
open the application.
As you open other applications, they will be displayed between the Quick Launch
bar and the System Tray. To minimise an application's window, tap the
application’s button to the right of the Quick Launch bar at the bottom of the
screen; tap it again to maximise it.
In the example below the following are all open: Explorer, a Word document, an
Excel workbook, a Publisher document and a web page. Practice opening multiple
applications and maximising and minimising them.
In Windows XP, if you have more than one file open in an application it will put
the number of files open in that application next to the application’s title. In the
example below there are four windows open in Word, four in Excel, two in
Publisher, and two web pages (internet Explorer). To access any of these files,
tap on the application and it will open a small menu with the names of all the
open files. Tap on the file’s name to display it.
Quick Launch buttons
There are four buttons just below the screen on the notebook that can be
programmed to launch your favourite applications when you press them.
To set the functions of these buttons, either press one of these buttons (if no
application is currently assigned to it), or tap Start > All Programs > Launch
Manager > Launch Manager and follow the instructions.
This very basic introduction has got you up and running with your new notebook.
We'll soon be getting you connected to the internet and checking your e-mails! In
the meantime, here are some more useful things to know about your notebook
and the operating system…

Managing your documents
When you are working in a new document you will be asked to save the file
before you close it. It is important to keep all your files in the same place so
they are easy to back up. We recommend that they be stored in My
Documents and so we have set up your system to automatically save your
files to My Documents.
1. In the Quick Launch bar at the bottom of the screen, tap (Microsoft
Word) once.
2. Type some text in this new document. After you have done some work
on your document, you should save it.
3. Tap File > Save. The Save As window is displayed.
4. Check that the Save in location at the top of this window is My
Documents. If it isn't, tap the large My Documents icon on the left
of the window.
5. Type a name for this new file in the File name field at the bottom of
this window.
6. Tap the Save button located in the bottom right of the window.
All documents you create should be saved to your My Documents folder. This
saves you time as you don’t have to look for your work – it will all be in My
Documents.
You can organise your My Documents folder however you like – you can have
sub-folders within folders and as many as you want. This makes it easy to back
up your work
– you just drag the whole My Documents folder to a server location, a disk, or
any other type of backup device.
You can also display your My Documents folder however you like (examples
below). Just make sure it is easy for you to follow and navigate. It doesn't matter
what the teacher who keeps looking over your shoulder in the staff room thinks –
this is your preference, it is your work, and it is you who needs to retrieve it – so
work in a way that suits you.

Power management
Your notebook can be set up to run off batteries or mains power. When you
are near a power point, you can plug it in to run off mains but when you are
away, you will run the notebook from the battery. Here are some ways to get
the most life out of your battery when you are away from power.
1. Tap Start > Control Panel.
2. Double-tap on Power Options.
3. Check the settings under the Power
Schemes tab. These should generally
be set (as shown in the screenshot) to
obtain maximum life from your fully
charged battery. You may increase any
of these settings, but if you do, your fully
charged battery may not last as long as it
might otherwise do.
4. Tap on the Advanced tab and check
these settings.
5. Tap on the Alarms tab and check these
settings. You can have a visual signal of
a low and critically low battery or you can
set a sound, or you can set both.
6. Tap on the Power Meter tab and check
the settings. These give an indication of
the battery power remaining if you are
working without the mains power
plugged in to your notebook. (You can
also see this information by double
clicking on the battery icon in the System
Tray).
7. When you have finished, tap OK.

Other settings
Displays/Monitors
1. Tap Start > Control Panel.
2. Double-tap on Display. The Display Properties window is displayed.
3. Tap the Settings tab. If you are using an external device (for
example, a computer projection unit or an external monitor) you can
adjust the screen resolution and colour quality to suit that device.
4. Take a look at the other tabs for further settings you can adjust to suit
how you work.
5. When you have finished, tap OK.

System Tray
In the bottom right corner of the desktop is the System Tray.
This contains icons for a number of functions.
Double-tap on the time – the clock in your notebook has
already been set but if it's not correct you can change it.
Check the other icons to see what they do.
Help
To get help with Windows XP at any time, tap Start > Help and Support.
Other software
Look through the Start > All Programs menus to see what software
applications have been pre-loaded onto your notebook for which there is no
Quick Launch button.
Turning off your notebook
1. Tap Start.
2. Tap Shut Down. The Shut Down Windows screen is displayed.
3. Select the Shut Down option if it is not already selected.
4. Tap OK. Your notebook will go through a short shut down process and
turn off automatically.