Acer 5050 - User Manual

ix ENERGY STAR is a government program (public/private partnership) that gives people the power to protect the environment in a cost effective way and without sacrificing quality or product features. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficie...

xii First things first We would like to thank you for making an Acer notebook your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Your guides To help you use your Acer notebook, we have designed a set of guides: Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off To turn on...

xiii To turn the power off, do any of the following: • Use the Windows shutdown commandClick on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off. • Use the power buttonYou can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4>. Note: If ...

xiv 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 accor...

Information for your safety and comfort iii Safety instructions iii Additional safety information vi Operating environment vi Medical devices vi Vehicles vii Potentially explosive environments vii Emergency calls vii Disposal instructions viii Tips and information for comfortable use ix First things...

1 Em powe ring Tech nology Acer Empowering Technology Acer's innovative Empowering Technology toolbar makes it easy for you to access frequently used functions and manage your new Acer computer. Displayed by default in the upper-right corner of your screen, it features the following handy utilities:...

2 Em po w eri ng Te ch no lo g y Acer ePower Management Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch it, select Acer ePower Management from the Empowering Technology interface. AC mode (Adapter mode) The default setting is "Maximum Performance." You can adjust ...

5 Em powe ring Tech nology Acer ePresentation Management Acer ePresentation Management lets you project your computer's display to an external device or projector using the hot key: Fn + F5. If auto-detection hardware is implemented in the system and the external display supports it, your system dis...

6 Em po w eri ng Te ch no lo g y Acer eDataSecurity Management (for selected models) Acer eDataSecurity Management is a handy file encryption utility that protects your files from being accessed by unauthorized persons. It is conveniently integrated with Windows Explorer as a shell extension for qui...

7 Em powe ring Tech nology Acer eLock Management Acer eLock Management is a security utility that allows you to lock your removable data, optical and floppy drives to ensure that data can't be stolen while your notebook is unattended. • Removable data devices — includes USB disk drives, USB pen driv...

9 Em powe ring Tech nology Acer eRecovery Management Acer eRecovery Management is a powerful utility that does away with the need for recovery disks provided by the manufacturer. The Acer eRecovery Management utility occupies space in a hidden partition on your system's hard drive. By default, user-...

11 Em powe ring Tech nology Acer eSettings Management Acer eSettings Management allows you to inspect hardware specifications, change BIOS passwords or other Windows settings, and to monitor the system health status. Acer eSettings Management also: • Provides a simple graphical user interface for na...

12 Em po w eri ng Te ch no lo g y Acer ePerformance Management Acer ePerformance Management is a system optimization tool that boosts the performance of your Acer computer. It provides an express optimization method to release unused memory and disk space quickly. The user can also enable advanced o...

13 Eng lis h Your Acer notebook tour After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new Acer notebook. Front view # Item Description 1 Built-in camera 310,000 pixel web camera for video communication. 2 Display screen Also called Liquid-...

14 English Closed front view 6 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the computer. 7 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a computer mouse. 8 Click buttons (left, center and right) The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse butt...

15 Eng lis h Left view 9 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman). # Icon Item Description 1 External display (VGA) port Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector). 2 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even after pr...

16 English Right view # Icon Item Description 1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs (slot-load or tray-load depending on model). 2 Optical disk access indicator Lights up when the optical drive is active (location depends on model). 3 Optical drive eject button Ejects the optic...

17 Eng lis h Rear view # Icon Item Description 1 Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock. 2 USB 2.0 ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). 3 Battery Powers the computer. 4 Ethernet (RJ-45) port Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-based...

18 English Base view # Item Description 1 Memory compartment Houses the computer's main memory. 2 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool.Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. 3 Battery release latch Releases the battery for removal. 4 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack...

19 Eng lis h Specifications Operating system • Windows Vista ™ Capable • Windows Vista ™ Premium Ready • Genuine Windows ® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2) • Genuine Windows ® XP Media Center Edition 2005 • Genuine Windows ® XP Professional x64 Edition Platform • AMD Turion ™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology...

23 Eng lis h Indicators The computer has serveral easy-to-read status indicators: The front panel indicators are visible even when the computer cover is closed up. Icon Function Description Caps Lock Lights up when Caps Lock is activated. Num Lock Lights up when Num Lock is activated. HDD Indicates ...

25 Eng lis h Touchpad The built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger across the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support. Touchpad basics The following it...

27 Eng lis h Using the keyboard The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys. Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off. The embedded numeric keypad functions li...

28 English Windows keys The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions. Hotkeys The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness, volume output and the BIOS utility.To activate hotkeys, press and hold the <Fn> ...

30 English Special keys You can locate the Euro symbol and the US dollar sign at the upper-center and/or bottom-right of your keyboard. The Euro symbol 1 Open a text editor or word processor. 2 Either press < > at the bottom-right of the keyboard, or hold <Alt Gr> and then press the <...

31 Eng lis h Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray Press the drive eject button to eject the optical drive tray when the computer is on. Insert a paper clip to the emergency eject hole to eject the optical drive tray when the computer is off. Using a computer security lock The notebook comes w...

32 English Audio The computer comes with 32-bit Intel High-Definition audio, and built-in stereo speakers. Adjusting the volume Use hotkeys to easily adjust the volume on your computer. See "Hotkeys" on page 28 for more information on adjusting the speaker volume.

33 Eng lis h Acer OrbiCam (for selected models) The Acer OrbiCam is a 310,000 pixel CMOS camera appropriately mounted on top of the LCD panel. The camera's 225-degree ergonomic rotation allows you to capture high-resolution photos or videos up front or at the back of the LCD panel. The Acer OrbiCam ...

34 English For your convenience, the camera snaps to 45 degrees to match the position of your face in front or at the back of the LCD panel. Launching the Acer OrbiCam To launch the Acer OrbiCam, double-click on the Acer OrbiCam logo in the desktop. OR Click Start > (All) Programs > Acer > ...

37 Eng lis h Advanced Settings allows you to activate gain control, implement image mirror, select image enhancements and anti-flicker settings, and turn on/off the camera indicator. Zoom/Face Track Settings allows you to adjust the zoom level and turn the face-tracking feature on or off. Capturing ...

38 English Using the system utilities Note: The system utilities work under Microsoft Windows XP only. Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) Note: This feature is only available on certain models. To enable the dual monitor feature of your notebook, first ensure that the second monitor is connect...

39 Eng lis h Acer GridVista is simple to set up:1 Run Acer GridVista and select your preferred screen configuration for each display from the taskbar. 2 Drag and drop each window into the appropriate grid. 3 Enjoy the convenience of a well-organized desktop. Note: Please ensure that the resolution s...

40 English You can access the Launch Manager by clicking on Start, (All) Programs, and then Launch Manager to start the application. Norton AntiVirus Norton AntiVirus is an anti-virus software that finds and repairs infected files, and protects against viruses to keep your computer data safe and sec...

41 Eng lis h Frequently asked questions The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy solutions are provided for each one. I turned on the power, but the computer does not start or boot up. Look at the power indicator: • If it is not lit, no powe...

44 English To start the recovery process:1 Restart the system. 2 While the Acer logo is showing, press <Alt> + <F10> at the same time to enter the recovery process. 3 Refer to the onscreen instructions to perform system recovery. Important! This feature occupies 6 GB in a hidden partitio...

45 Eng lis h Acer Arcade Acer Arcade is an integrated player for music, photos, TV, DVD movies and videos. It can be operated using your pointing device or remote control.To watch or listen, click or select a content button (e.g., Music, Video, etc.) on the Arcade home page. • Music — listen to musi...

46 English 48-button remote control If your Aspire is bundled with a TV-tuner card, a 48-button remote control is included for use with the Acer Arcade software. The table below explains the functions for this controller. Warning! The Arcade and Power buttons have different functions depending on th...

47 Eng lis h Remote functions *TeleText regions only. **Dependent on individual DVD content. # Item Description 1 Live TV Launch Live TV mode 2 Power Turn off; sleep (depending on mode) 3 Menu Launch DVD menu screen 4 Language Open DVD language menu** 5 Record Record TV 6 Rewind Rewind through media...

48 English Finding and playing content Clicking a button on the Arcade home page opens the corresponding feature's home page. The content pages have buttons on the left and a content browsing area on the right. If a button shows one of several choices, such as sort order, the current setting is show...

49 Eng lis h In Audio Settings:Use "Speaker Environment" to choose between "Headphones," "SPDIF," "2" or more speakers depending on your audio equipment."Output Mode" should be set to "Stereo" if you are listening to speakers, "Dolby Surround,"...

50 English Note: When playing DVDs and watching TV, there are additional controls added to the right of the volume controls. These are discussed in more detail in the Cinema and TV sections of this guide. Virtual keyboard Whenever you are required to enter search information, or name a file, DVD or ...

51 Eng lis h Cinema If your computer came with a DVD drive, you can play movies from DVDs and video CDs (VCDs) with the Cinema function of Acer Arcade. This player has the features and controls of a typical DVD player.When you insert a disk into the DVD drive, the movie begins playing automatically....

52 English Album Acer Arcade lets you view digital photos individually or as a slide show, from any available drive on your computer. Click the Album button on the Arcade Home page to show the Album main page. The content area on the right shows both individual pictures and folders. Click on a folde...

53 Eng lis h To add background music to a slide show, click on the "Slide Show Music" option. The Slide Show Music page will ask you to choose music from your personal music library.Click Load Default Settings to return your settings to their default values. Video To open the Video function,...

54 English Editing video Acer Arcade offers the capability to edit captured video clips, photos and footage from a camcorder into a movie. You can also select a movie style, and add special transition effects and music to create the perfect home movie.To edit a movie, click Advanced, and then select...

55 Eng lis h TV (for selected models) Arcade allows you to watch TV from your computer. Click the TV button on the home page to show the TV main page.The Live TV option plays TV on screen. Press Escape at any time to return to Arcade.When you watch TV, additional buttons appear on the playback contr...

56 English Note: Since the TV content you watch always lags slightly behind the live TV broadcast, going to the end of the instant replay recording is as close to watching live TV as Arcade permits. Recorded TV The "Recorded TV" page shows recorded TV files. A thumbnail image shows the first...

57 Eng lis h Signal settings Click on Capture Device to select between an analog or digital input for your TV signal.Select TV Source to choose the source of the signal.The Region option allows you to select the country or region where your cable provider is located.You can also enable and disable t...

58 English Note: The snapshot function is available when TeleText is running. Make DVDs Acer Arcade provides an easy and complete solution for recording data, audio, photos or videos. You can burn and share any combination of data, music, photos or videos onto a CD or DVD — direct from Make DVD mode...

59 Eng lis h Taking your notebook PC with you This section gives you tips and hints to consider when moving around or traveling with your computer. Disconnecting from the desktop Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessories: 1 Save any open files. 2 Remove any media, flop...

60 English Note: If the Sleep indicator is off, the computer has entered Hibernation mode and is turned off. If the power indicator is off but the Sleep indicator is on, the computer has entered Sleep mode. In both cases, press and release the power button to turn the computer back on. Note that the...

61 Eng lis h Special considerations Follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling to and from work: • Minimize the effects of temperature changes by keeping the computer with you. • If you need to stop for an extended period of time and cannot carry the computer with you, leave th...

62 English Special considerations In addition to the guidelines for taking the computer home, follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling: • Always take the computer as carry-on luggage. • If possible, have the computer inspected by hand. Airport security X-ray machines are safe...

63 Eng lis h Securing your computer Your computer is a valuable investment that you need to take care of. Learn how to protect and take care of your computer. Security features include hardware and software locks — a security notch and passwords. Using a computer security lock The notebook comes wit...

64 English Entering passwords When a password is set, a password prompt appears in the center of the display screen. • When the Supervisor Password is set, a prompt appears when you press <F2> to enter the BIOS utility at boot-up. • Type the Supervisor Password and press <Enter> to acces...

65 Eng lis h Expanding through options Your notebook PC offers you a complete mobile computing experience. Connectivity options Ports allow you to connect peripheral devices to your computer as you would with a desktop PC. For instructions on how to connect different external devices to the computer...

66 English Built-in network feature The built-in network feature allows you to connect your computer to an Ethernet-based network. To use the network feature, connect an Ethernet cable from the Ethernet (RJ-45) port on the chassis of the computer to a network jack or hub on your network. Universal S...

67 Eng lis h PC Card slot The Type II PC Card slot of the computer accepts PC Cards that enhance the usability and expandability of the computer. These cards should have a PC Card logo on them. PC Cards (formerly PCMCIA) are add-on cards for portable computers, giving you expansion possibilities lon...

68 English Installing memory Follow these steps to install memory: 1 Turn off the computer, unplug the AC adapter (if connected) and remove the battery pack. Then turn the computer over to access its base. 2 Remove the screws from the memory cover; then lift up and remove the memory cover. 3 (a) Ins...

69 Eng lis h Enable disk-to-disk recovery To enable disk-to-disk recovery (hard disk recovery), activate the BIOS utility, then select Main from the categories listed at the top of the screen. Find D2D Recovery at the bottom of the screen and use the <F5> and <F6> keys to set this value ...

70 English Using software Playing DVD movies When the DVD drive module is installed in the optical drive bay, you can play DVD movies on your computer. 1 Eject the DVD tray and insert a DVD movie disk; then close the DVD tray. Important! When you launch the DVD player for the first time, the program...

73 Eng lis h Create factory default image CD When the System CD and Recovery CD are not available, you can create them by using this feature.1 Boot to Windows XP. 2 Press <Alt> + <F10> to open the Acer eRecovery Management utility. 3 Enter the password to proceed. The default password is...

74 English Change password Acer eRecovery Management and Acer disk-to-disk recovery are protected by a password that can be changed by the user. Follow the steps below to change the password in Acer eRecovery Management.1 Boot to Windows XP. 2 Press <Alt> + <F10> to open the Acer eRecove...

75 Eng lish Eng lis h Troubleshooting This chapter shows you how to deal with common system problems. Read it before calling a technician if a problem occurs. Solutions to more serious problems require opening up the computer. Do not attempt to open the computer yourself; contact your dealer or auth...

77 Eng lish Eng lis h Regulations and safety notices FCC notice This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential ...

78 English and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Notice: Canadian users This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. Remarque à l'intention des utilisateurs canadiens Cet appareil numérique de la class...

79 Eng lish Eng lis h Your telephone company may make changes in its facilities, equipment, operations, or procedures that could affect the proper functioning of your equipment. If they do, you will be notified in advance to give you an opportunity to maintain uninterrupted telephone service.If this...

80 English Notice for New Zealand 1 The grant of a Telepermit for any item of terminal equipment indicates only that Telecom has accepted that the item complies with minimum conditions for connection to its network. It indicates no endorsement of the product by Telecom, nor does it provide any sort ...

81 Eng lish Eng lis h Laser compliance statement The CD or DVD drive used with this computer is a laser product. The CD or DVD drive's classification label (shown below) is located on the drive.CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCTCAUTION: INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM.APPAREIL A LASER...

82 English Radio device regulatory notice Note: Below regulatory information is for models with wireless LAN and/or Bluetooth only. General This product complies with the radio frequency and safety standards of any country or region in which it has been approved for wireless use. Depending on config...

84 English List of applicable countries EU member states as of May 2004 are: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic,...

86 English Federal Communications Comission Declaration of Conformity This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including int...

88 English Council Decision 98/482/EC (CTR21) for pan- European single terminal connection to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC on the Restriction of the Use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment LCD panel ergonomic specification...

89 Eng lis h Index A AC adapter caring for xiii audio troubleshooting 42 B battery pack caring for xiv BIOS utility 37, 68brightness hotkeys 29 C caps lock 27 on indicator 23 care AC adapter xiiibattery pack xivcomputer xiii CD-ROM ejecting manually 42troubleshooting 42 cleaning computer xiv compute...