Acer TravelMate a-550 Series User manual

TravelMate α-550 series
User’s guide
TMa550.book Page i Wednesday, October 3, 2001 10:57 AM

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 © 2001
All Rights Reserved
TravelMate α-550 series Notebook computer User’s guide
Original Issue: October 2001
TravelMate α-550 series Notebook computer
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective
companies.
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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 (www.acer.com).
Basic care and tips for using your computer
Turning your computer on and off
To turn on the computer, open the display cover, and press the power
switch above the keyboard.
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
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.
Lastly, there may be a Read me first sheet included with
your package which contains important reminders and
updates. So, please read through it.
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•Use the Windows shutdown command
Click on Start, and select the Windows shutdown or turn off
command.
•Use the power switch
If you set the power switch to “Shut down”, you can use this
button to turn off the computer. See Windows help for details.
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
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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.
Cleaning and servicing
When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:
1Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.
2Disconnect the AC adapter.
3Use 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 75.
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Contents
First things first iii
Your guides iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer iii
1 Getting familiar with your computer 1
A tour of your computer 3
Front view 3
Left view 5
Right view 6
Rear view 7
Bottom view 8
Features 9
Display 11
Indicators 12
Keyboard 15
Special keys 15
Keyboard ergonomics 19
Touchpad 20
Touchpad basics 20
Launch keys 22
Storage 24
Connectivity options 25
Ethernet and LAN 25
Fax/data modem 25
Audio 26
Adjusting the volume 26
Using the Audio DJ feature 26
Securing your computer 27
Security notch 27
Passwords 27
2 Operating on battery power 29
Battery pack 31
Battery pack characteristics 31
Installing and removing the battery pack 31
Charging the battery 33
Checking the battery level 33
Optimizing battery life 33
Battery-low warning 34
Power management 36
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3 Peripherals and options 37
External display devices 39
External monitor 39
External display with s-video input 39
Using simultaneous display 39
External input devices 40
External keyboard 40
External keypad 40
External pointing device 40
Printer 41
Audio devices 42
Expansion devices 43
PC Card slots 43
USB 44
IEEE 1394 45
Miscellaneous options 46
Battery pack 46
AC adapter 46
Key component upgrades 47
Memory upgrade 47
Hard disk upgrade 49
4 Moving with your computer 51
Disconnecting from the desktop 53
Moving around 54
Preparing the computer 54
What to bring to short meetings 54
What to bring to long meetings 54
Taking the computer home 55
Preparing the computer 55
What to bring with you 55
Special considerations 55
Setting up a home office 56
Traveling with the computer 57
Preparing the computer 57
What to bring with you 57
Special considerations 57
Traveling internationally with the computer 58
Preparing the computer 58
What to bring with you 58
Special considerations 58
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5 Software 59
System software 61
Easy Button 62
E-Mail Detector 63
BIOS Setup Utility 64
Main 65
System Devices 67
Security 68
Others 71
Boot 72
Exit 73
6 Troubleshooting 75
Frequently-asked questions 77
Error messages 81
Appendix A Specifications 85
Appendix B Notices 91
Index 99
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1 Getting familiar with
your computer
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This 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.
This chapter gives an in-depth "tour" of the
computer’s many features.
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A tour of your computer
After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters...
poster, let us show you around your new notebook computer.
Front view
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1 Getting familiar with your computer4
# Item Description
1 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display), displays
computer output.
2 Power button Turns on the computer power.
3 Status LCD LCD that display icons to show the status of the
computer and its functions and components.
4 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
5 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions
like a computer mouse.
6 Click buttons
(left and right)
The left and right buttons function like the left
and right mouse buttons.
7 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently-used programs.
See “Launch keys”on page 22 for more details.
8 Status
indicators
Shows the power and email status.
9 Speakers Outputs sound.
10 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when
you use the computer.
11 Floppy drive Accepts a 3.5-inch diskette.
12 Floppy drive
eject button
Press to eject the diskette from the floppy drive.
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Left view
#Item Description
1 Optical drive Depending on your model:
•CD-ROM drive reads CDs
•DVD-ROM drive reads CDs and DVDs
•DVD/CD-RW combo drive reads CDs and DVDs,
and writes to CD-Rs and CD-RWs.
2 Optical drive
eject button
Ejects the disc from the optical drive.
3 Optical drive
emergency
eject hole
Ejects the disc from the optical drive when the
computer is turned off. See “How do I eject the
optical drive tray with the computer turned off?”on
page 78 for more details.
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1 Getting familiar with your computer6
Right view
# Item Description
1 Speaker/headphone-
out jack
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g.,
speakers, headphones).
2 Microphone-in jack Connects an external microphone.
3 PC Card eject buttons Eject the selected PC Card from its slot.
4PC Card slots Accepts one Type III or two Type II/I PC
Card(s).
5 DC-in jack Connects to the AC adapter.
6 PS/2 port Connects to a PS/2-compatible device (e.g.,
PS/2 keyboard/mouse/keypad).
7 USB ports (two) Connects to USB devices (e.g., USB mouse).
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Rear view
#Item Description
1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.
2 IEEE 1394 port Connects to a IEEE 1394 compatible device
(e.g., digital camcorder).
3 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based
network.
4 Modem jack Conncts a phone line (only for models with
an internal fax/data modem).
5 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel
printer).
6 External display port Connects to a display monitor.
7 Video-out port Connects to a display device with S-video
input.
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1 Getting familiar with your computer8
Bottom view
# Item Description
1 Hard disk bay Houses the computer’s hard disk.
2 Battery release button Press and hold to release the battery latch.
3 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the battery
pack.
4 Battery bay Houses the computer’s battery pack.
5 Memory compartment Houses the computer’s main memory.
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Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few
of its many features:
Performance
•Intel®Pentium™III or Intel®Celeron™processor with on-die
level 2 cache
•128 MB memory onboard and one memory upgrade slot
•Large LCD display with adjustable video memory
•High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
•Lithium-Ion battery pack
•Power management system
•DualView capability
•Simultaneous LCD and CRT display
Multimedia
•16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3-D sound
•Built-in dual stereo speakers
•Internal optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD/CD-RW combo)
•Audio DJ (CD playback) feature
•S-video (NTSC/PAL) output
Connectivity
•High-speed 56Kbps V.90 fax/data software modem
•Ethernet/Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)
•CardBus PC Card slots
•Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports
•IEEE 1394 port
Human-centric design and ergonomics
•All-in-one design (CD or DVD, floppy drive, and hard disk)
•Sleek, smooth and stylish design
•Full-sized keyboard
•Wide and curved palm rest
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1 Getting familiar with your computer10
•Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
•Launch keys (supports Audio DJ feature)
Expansion
•Upgradeable memory and hard disk
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