Acer TravelMate 610 series User manual

TravelMate 610 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 correspondense 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 © 2001. Acer Incorporated.
All Rights Reserved.
TravelMate 610 series User’s guide
Original Issue: March 2001
TravelMate 610 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
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:
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 PDF (Portable Document Format). Follow these
steps:
1 Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate.
2 Click on TravelMate User’s guide.
Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your
computer, clicking on TravelMate 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 menu.
A handy Hot key pocket reference card is useful for quick
glances at functional key combinations.

iv
For more information about our products, services, and support
information, please visit our web site (www.acer.com).
Startup reminders
Email checking function
When you first start up your computer, a Mail Checking dialog box will
be displayed.
In this dialog box, you have the option of:
An Online guide is your helping hand on-the-go, with easy
to access, detailed and linked information about your
computer.
To access the online guide:
1 Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate.
2 Click on TravelMate Online guide.
Lastly, there may be a Read me first sheet included with
your package which contains important reminders and
updates. So, please read through it.

v
•launching this program at startup or not
•setting time intervals for email checking
If you already have an email account, please fill in the Mail Properties
section of the dialog box.
Aside from the email checking function, there is a mail button that is
used to launch the email application. It is located above the keyboard.
The mail button flashes when the user has received an incoming email.
You can also access the Mail Checking dialog box by clicking on Start,
Programs, Launch Manager, then E-Mail checking setting. For
more information on the Launch Manager, see “Launch Manager”on
page 54 or see its online help.
Installing the SmartCard software
The installation is fast, easy and user-friendly. Follow these steps to
install:
1 Run the setup.exe installer provided by the software and the
program installation screen appears.
2 Fill in the user information and password to register the
SmartCard.
3SelectYes (the default) to register as the Primary user, so ONLY
you can add/remove other users. If you select No, your information
will be saved as a regular user's information and other registered
users could add/remove you.
4 The installer will prompt you to create an Emergency Card, a
temporary replacement of your SmartCard, in case your SmartCard
is unavailable (lost/stolen).

vi
Note: To use the Emergency Card to regain access to Windows,
press Alt+Ctrl+E while the PlatinumSecure screensaver is running
and then insert the Emergency Card. If you lose both your
SmartCard and the Emergency Card, bring your computer to the
nearest service center and ask them to reissue you another
SmartCard.
5 After making the Emergency Card, you must restart the system
before using the program.
You should be able to see the software program group in the
Windows Start -> Programs menu.
If you would like to uninstall the software, you can locate the
software's program group, and run the Uninstall program. Only the
Primary user can uninstall the software after providing the password.
Basic care and tips for using your computer
Turning your computer on and off
To turn on the computer, simply slide and then release the power
switch on the left side of your TravelMate.
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
•Use the Windows Shut Down... command
Click on Start, Shut Down..., and select Shut down; then click on
OK.
•Use the power switch
Note: You can also use the power switch to perform power
management functions. See “Power management”on page 26.
•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 “Power
management”on page 26.

vii
Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and
hold the power switch 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°C (32°F) or
above 50°C (122°F).
•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 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.

viii
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 adapter.
3 Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or
aerosol cleaners.
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 57.

Contents
First things first iii
Your guides iii
Startup reminders iv
Basic care and tips for using your computer vi
1 Getting to know your TravelMate 1
A TravelMate tour 3
Front view 3
Left view 4
Right view 5
Rear view 6
Bottom view 7
Features 9
Indicators 11
Using the keyboard 13
Special keys 13
Touchpad 20
Touchpad basics 20
Storage 22
Hard disk 22
Floppy drive 22
AcerMedia bay drive 22
Audio 25
Adjusting the volume 25
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 30
Securing your computer 32
Using a computer security lock 32
Using the SmartCard 32
Using passwords 39
2 Customizing your computer 41
Expanding through options 43
Connectivity options 43
Upgrade options 48
Using system utilities 53
PhDISK 53

Notebook Manager 53
Launch Manager 54
BIOS Utility 55
3 Troubleshooting your computer 57
Frequently-asked questions 59
Troubleshooting tips 62
Using PC-Doctor 62
Error messages 63
Requesting service 65
International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW) 65
Before you call 65
Appendix A Specifications 67
Appendix B Notices 73
FCC notice 75
Modem notices 76
Wireless notice 77
Important safety instructions 77
Laser compliance statement 78
Lithium battery statement 79
LCD pixel statement 80
Year 2000 compliance statement 80
Macrovision copyright protection notice 80
Index 81

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.

3
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 LCD (liquid-crystal display),
displays computer output.
2 Status indicators LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that turn on and
off to show the status of the computer and
its functions and components.
3 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently used
programs. See “Launch Keys”on page 18 for
more details.
4 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which
functions like a computer mouse.

1 Getting to know your TravelMate
4
Left 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 scroll up/down button.
6 Power switch Turns on the computer power.
7 Infrared port Interfaces with Infrared devices (e.g.,
infrared printer, IR-aware computers).
8 Microphone Inputs sounds and voices into your computer.
9 Speaker Outputs sound.
10 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands
when you use the computer.
11 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
#Item Description
1 PC Card slot Connects to one Type II 16-bit PC Card or 32-
bit CardBus PC Card.
2 PC Card eject button Ejects PC Card from the card slot.
# Item Description

5
Right view
3 Hard disk bay Houses the computer’s removable hard disk
(secured by a screw).
4 SmartCard slot Slot for SmartCard interface with pre-boot
authentication systems.
5 Video capture kit slot Accepts the video capture kit option on the
left side of the computer.
# Item Description
1 Video capture kit
slot
Accepts the video capture kit option on the right
side of the computer.
2 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.
3 AcerMedia drive
bay
Houses the computer’s removable media drive
(CD-RW, DVD-ROM, 2nd hard disk, or 2nd battery)
4 AcerMedia drive
activity light
Lights up when media drive is being accessed.
5 AcerMedia drive
eject button
Press to eject the media drive tray.
6 AcerMedia drive
emergency eject
hole
When the media drive tray cannot be ejected (i.e.,
using the AcerMedia drive eject button), insert a
paperclip to manually eject the tray.
7 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible key-based
computer security lock.
# Item Description

1 Getting to know your TravelMate
6
Rear view
# Item Description
1 Power jack Connects to an AC adapter.
2 PS/2 port Connects to any PS/2-compatible device (e.g.,
PS/2 keyboard/mouse/keypad).
3 USB ports (two) Connect to any Universal Serial Bus devices
(e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
4 Line-in/mic-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD
player, stereo walkman). Selection is through
the OS Windows mixer.
5 Speaker/
Headphone-out jack
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g.,
speakers, headphones).
6 Expansion port I/O replicator or EasyPort expansion devices.
7 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.

7
Bottom view
8 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet (10BaseT)- or Fast
Ethernet (100BaseT)-based network
9 External display port Connects to a display device (e.g., external
monitor, LCD projector) and displays up to
64K colors at 1280x1024 resolution.
#Item Description
1 Serial number label Your computer’s unique serial number.
2 AcerMedia drive bay
release latch
Unlatches to release the AcerMedia drive
from its bay.
3 AcerMedia drive Your computer’s removable media storage.
#Item Description

1 Getting to know your TravelMate
8
4 Personal
identification slot
Insert a business card or similar-sized
identification card to personalize your
computer.
5 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.
6 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the battery
pack.
7 Hard disk bay Houses the computer’s hard disk. A screw
secures your hard disk in this bay.
8 Hard disk anti-shock
protection
Protects your hard disk against shocks.
9Memory
compartment
Houses the computer's main memory.
# Item Description

9
Features
Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:
Performance
•Intel Mobile Pentium®III processor featuring Intel®SpeedStep™
technology
•Integrated 256 KB level 2 cache
•64-bit memory bus
•Removable high-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
•Removable optical drive (CD-RW or DVD-ROM is standard)
•External USB floppy drive
•Li-ion main battery pack
•Power management system with ACPI (Advanced Configuration
Power Interface)
•SmartCard interface with pre-boot authentication systems as
security feature.
Display
•14.1"Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid-crystal display (LCD)
displaying 24-bit true-color at 1024x768 eXtended Graphics Array
(XGA) resolution
•12 MB video memory
•Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support
•Supports other output display devices such as LCD projection
panels for large-audience presentations
•"Automatic LCD dim" feature that automatically decides the best
settings for your display and conserves power
Multimedia
•16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with wavetable synthesizer
•Built-in speakers and microphone
•Optical drive
•USB video capture kit option

1 Getting to know your TravelMate
10
Connectivity
•High-speed V.90 56Kbps fax/data modem port
•Fast infrared wireless communication
•USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports
•Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port
•Optional 802.11b wireless LAN feature
Human-centric design and ergonomics
•Sleek, smooth and stylish design
•Full-sized keyboard
•Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
•Internet scroll key
Expansion
•Type II CardBus PC card (formerly PCMCIA) slot
•Upgradeable memory
•Removable drives (hard disk and optical drive)
•EasyPort port replicator