Acer TravelMate C100 series User manual

TravelMate C100 series
User’s guide
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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 © 2002. Acer Incorporated.
All Rights Reserved.
TravelMate C100 series User’s guide
Original Issue: August 2002
TravelMate C100 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.
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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:
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:
1Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate.
2Click 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 Pocket guide is useful for quick glances at
functional key combinations.
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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For more information about our products, services, and support
information, please visit our web site (http://global.acer.com).
Basic care and tips for using your computer
Connecting your computer
Connecting the computer is as easy as 1-2-3.
1Insert the battery pack into the battery compartment, and press
down until it clicks into place.
2Connect one end of the AC adapter to the power jack on the
computer’s rear panel and the other end to a properly-grounded
power outlet.
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3Push the display cover two-way latch to open the display.
4Slide the power switch towards the rear of the computer (a) then
release it (b) to turn on the power. The POST (power-on self-test)
routine executes and Windows begins loading.
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
• Click on Start, Turn off Computer; then click Turn Off.
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• Use the power switch
Note: You can also use the power switch to perform power
management functions. See “Power management” on page 32.
• 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).
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 0ºC (32ºF) or
above 50ºC (122ºF).
• 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
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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.
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 59.
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Contents
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 view 3
Left view 6
Right view 7
Rear view 8
Bottom view 9
Using your computer in tablet mode 11
Switching to tablet mode 11
Switching to computer mode 15
Features 16
Indicators 18
Using the keyboard 20
Special keys 20
Touchpad 28
Touchpad basics 28
Storage 30
Hard disk 30
Optical drive 30
Audio 31
Adjusting the volume 31
Power management 32
Moving around with your TravelMate 33
Disconnecting from the desktop 33
Moving around 33
Taking the computer home 34
Traveling with the computer 36
Traveling internationally with the computer 36
Securing your computer 38
Using a computer security lock 38
Using the Smart Card 38
Using passwords 44
2 Customizing your computer 47
Expanding through options 49
Connectivity options 49
Upgrade options 54
Notebook Manager 56
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Launch Manager 56
BIOS Utility 57
3 Troubleshooting your computer 59
Frequently-asked questions 61
Troubleshooting tips 64
Error messages 65
Requesting service 67
International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW) 67
Before you call 67
Appendix A Specifications 69
Appendix B Notices 75
Index 89
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1 Getting to know your
TravelMate
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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 view
#Item Description
1 Two-way latch Use to latch the LCD screen in both normal
mode and tablet mode.
2 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display),
displays computer output. Input-capable
with the aid of the EMR stylus.
3 Convertible hinge Hinges the LCD screen in place when
switching from PC mode to tablet mode and
vice versa.
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate4
4 Screen support Supports the LCD screen, press and release
before switching from PC mode to tablet
mode and vice versa.
5 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently used
programs. See “Launch Keys” on page 25 for
more details.
6 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which
functions like a computer mouse.
7 Click buttons (left,
center and right)
The left and right buttons function like the
left and right mouse buttons; the center
button is a 4-way scroll key.
8 Microphone Captures sounds and voices into your
computer.
9 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.,
infrared printer, IR-aware computers).
10 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands
when you use the computer.
11 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
12 Enter button Use to confirm selection in tablet mode. This
button can also be used to emulate the ESC
button by first pressing the Fn button and
then this button. This button can be
configured by the user. See note on page 5.
13 Page down buttons Use to scroll one page down in tablet mode.
This button can also be used to emulate the
Tab button by first pressing the Fn button
and then this button. This button can be
configured by the user. See note on page 5.
14 Page up button Use to scroll one page up in tablet mode.
This button is used to rotate the display by
first pressing the Fn button and then this
button. This button can be configured by
the user. See note on page 5.
# Item Description
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Note: To configure the Enter, Page up and Page down buttons,
double-click on the Change tablet and pen settings icon on
the Windows taskbar.
- or -
Click on Start on the Windows taskbar and click on Control Panel
to open the Control Panel dialog box. Click on Change to classic
view, then double-click on the Change tablet and pen settings.
15 Function key button This button is used together with other
buttons to invoke the tablet applications.
This button is set and cannot be configured
by the user.
16 Windows Security
button
This button is used to emulate the
CTRL+ALT+DEL key combination which
launches the Windows Security dialog box.
This button is set and cannot be configured
by the user.
17 Status indicators LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that turn on and
off to show the status of the computer and
its functions and components.
18 EMR stylus Electromagnetic resonate (EMR) stylus that is
used to input data in tablet mode. Use only
an EMR-compatible stylus to input data on
the screen.
#Item Description
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate6
Click on the Tablet Buttons tab on the Tablet and Pen Settings
dialog box and change the buttons accordingly.
Left view
# Item Description
1 Screen support Supports the LCD screen, press and release
before switching from PC mode to tablet
mode and vice versa.
2 Power switch Turns on the computer power.
3 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by
a screw).
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Right view
#Item Description
1 EMR stylus Electromagnetic resonate (EMR) stylus that is
used to input data in tablet mode. Use only
an EMR-compatible stylus to input data on
the screen.
2 PC Card eject button Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
3 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II 16-bit PC Card or 32-bit
CardBus PC Card.
4 Smart Card eject
button
Ejects the Smart Card from the slot.
5 Speaker/
Headphone-out jack
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g.,
speakers, headphones).
6 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD
player, stereo walkman).
7 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate8
Rear view
8 USB port 1 Connects to any Universal Serial Bus device
(e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
9 USB port 2 Connects to any Universal Serial Bus device
(e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
10 Screen support Supports the LCD screen, press and release
before switching from PC mode to tablet
mode and vice versa.
11 Smart Card slot Slot for Smart Card interface with pre-boot
authentication system.
#Item Description
1 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.
2 External display
port
Connects to a display device (e.g., external
monitor, LCD projector) and displays up to
16M colors at 1024 x 768 resolution.
3 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.
# Item Description
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Bottom view
4 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based
network.
5 Power jack Connects to an AC adapter.
# Item Description
1Memory
compartment
Houses the computer's main memory.
2 Battery lock/unlock
latch
Locks and unlocks the battery bay.
3 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the
battery pack.
# Item Description
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1 Getting to know your TravelMate10
4 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.
5 Hard disk bay Houses the computer's hard disk (secured
by a screw).
6 Hard disk anti-shock
protection
Protects your hard disk against accidental
shock and vibration.
7 Personal
identification slot
Insert an identification card to personalize
your computer.
#Item Description
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