Acer ExtensaTM 670 - Manual

Contents viii PrefaceChapter 1 Before You Begin Creating Backup Disks ................................. 1-2Features of the Computer ............................. 1-3Environmental Specifications ........................ 1-5Using the Computer ..................................... 1-7Power Saving Modes...

Contents ix Chapter 4 Options AC Adapter................................................... 4-2PC Cards ...................................................... 4-3PS/2 Devices ................................................ 4-4External Monitor .......................................... 4-5External M...

Preface x This manual describes features of the Texas Instruments Extensa™ 670 Series notebook computers. The Extensa series computers are similar in appearance and incorporate such features as CardBus, 16-bit stereo audio, module bay, Fast Infrared and internal pointing device. This manual should a...

1 Before You Begin 1-1 After completing the instructions in Just forStarters… , read this chapter to learn about the important functions of your computer. Some functions, such as Creating Backup Disks, should be performed as soon as possible after the purchase of your computer. Contents Creating Bac...

Creating Backup Disks 1-2 You should create your backup system disks as soon as possible after purchasing your computer. The process you follow depends on the operating system you selected when you installed the computer for the first time. Windows ® 95 Backing up Windows 95 requires approximately 4...

Features of the Computer 1-3 Standard Features The following list displays the standard features of your Extensa computer: q PCI Bus architecture q 16 MB EDO (Extended Data Out) memory q 2 MB EDO video memory q Fast video graphics accelerator q 0-Volt Suspend, 5-Volt Suspend and Standby power saving...

Features of the Computer 1-4 Customizing Features The following features allow you to customize your computer to fit your requirements. q Modular bay that accepts a 3½ inch floppy disk drive module or CD-ROM drive module q PS/2 port for connecting an external keyboard, numeric keypad, or mouse q 9-p...

Environmental Specifications 1-5 This section provides information on the optimum operating environment for your Extensa notebook computer. Temperature Operating: 50° to 95°F (10° to 35°C) Storage: -4° to 140°F (-20° to +60°C) Relative Humidity (Noncondensing) Operating: 20% to 85% Storage: 20% to 8...

Environment 1-6 Note: Your computer is equipped with a fan to keep the computer cool under extreme high temperature conditions. The fan will not normally operate, but may turn on when the computer’s internal components become warm. You will hear the fan when it turns on, this is nothing to be concer...

Using the Computer 1-7 q Never pick up or carry the computer by the display. q Never use the computer in harsh environments where it could be subjected to rapid temperature changes or excessive dust. q Never expose the computer to excessive vibration. q Never expose the hard disk drive or floppy dis...

Power Saving Modes 1-9 Power Savings Options Your Extensa system offers several options for you to extend your battery life while you are not actively using your computer. These options power off different sections of the computer that are not currently being used. These options are listed in the PO...

Power Saving Modes 1-11 0V Suspend Mode 0V Suspend mode saves the exact spot you are at on your computer, then removes all power without losing any data. In 0V Suspend mode, the computer saves the current computer state onto your hard disk drive then shuts off. When you turn the computer on again, i...

Power Saving Modes 1-13 Standby Mode Standby mode saves some computer power by turning off a few of the unused devices and still allows you to resume your work instantly. The standby indicator lights up in Standby mode. Press the Standby hot key (Fn+F4) to enter Standby mode. The computer also enter...

Using the AC Adapter 1-15 AC Adapter ACAdapter Charges the internal battery pack andoperates the computer on AC powerwhether or not a battery pack is installed.The AC adapter can be operated anywherewhere the outlet supplies between 100-240 volts AC at 50 - 60 Hz. The ACadapter has a detachable AC p...

2 Using Your Computer 2-1 Before beginning this chapter, ensure you have read and understood Chapter 1. Chapter 2 describes how to start and use your Extensa notebook computer. Contents Starting the Computer ................................. 2-3Using the Brightness and Contrast Controls . 2-4Turning...

Starting the Computer 2-3 Power Switch PowerSwitch Turns the computer on and off for bothAC and battery operation; also resumesfrom 0V Suspend and 5V Suspendmodes. The power switch is software controlledto allow for a proper shutdown from theWindows 95 operating system. If theoperating system locks ...

Turning the Speakers On and Off 2-5 Your computer comes with 16-bit stereo audio. Two built-in speakers are located near the LCD hinges. Built-in Speakers You can turn the built-in speakers on and off using a hot key. SpeakerOn/Off Press Fn+End to toggle the speakeroutput on and off. You can also en...

Using the Microphone 2-6 Your computer has a built in microphone located in front of the touchpad (inside the LCD latch) Built-in Microphone To use the microphone, face your computer from a normal distance and speak in a normal voice. You do not need to bend down to speak directly into the microphon...

Using PC Cards 2-7 Inserting PC Cards You can insert up to two Type I or Type II PC cards, or one Type III PC card, into the slots on the side of the computer. You can install PC Cards while the computer is running. Inserting a PC Card In Windows 95 Windows 95 beeps to indicate it has detected a PC ...

Using PC Cards 2-8 In Windows for Workgroups Windows for Workgroups beeps to indicate it has detected the card. If a driver for the PC card has already been loaded, you can use the card immediately. If a driver has not been loaded, you must manually load the driver. Windows for Workgroups does not a...

Using Indicator Lights 2-10 The computer uses the following indicator lights. LCD Panel Indicator Lights Power/Battery-lowIndicator Lights when the computer is on and there is power to the computer. Flashes when the battery power is low. Connect a powered AC adapter to the computer as soon as possib...

Using the Touchpad 2-13 Moving the Cursor The embedded touchpad offers a unique and efficient way of pointing and selecting in a Windows environment. The following figure shows the touchpad. Touchpad The touchpad responds to finger movements on its surface. To move the cursor, move your finger on th...

Using the Touchpad 2-14 Configuring the Touchpad You can personalize the control of the touchpad by configuring various setting using the Synaptics Touchpad utility. Configure the touchpad using the Mouse utility located in the Control Panel Window. Follow these steps to configure the touchpad: In W...

Using Disk Drives 2-15 Hard DiskDrive The Extensa computer comes with a1.43 GB or higher capacity hard diskdrive. The hard disk drive is formattedand loaded with software duringmanufacture. Do not format the harddisk drive. CD-ROMDrive The high-speed CD-ROM drive bringsyou portable multimedia. The C...

Using Disk Drives 2-16 Hard Disk Drive Guidelines If you format the hard disk drive, all data on the hard disk drive will be erased. Do not move the computer when the Disk Media indicator is on. Press the 0V Suspend hot key (Fn+F2) to suspend the computer or turn off the computer before moving it. I...

Using Disk Drives 2-18 Removing a Hard Disk Drive Inserting the Hard Disk Drive Use the following instructions to insert a hard disk drive. Follow the instructions that came with your hard disk drive upgrade kit for inserting a new hard disk drive. 1. Insert the hard disk drive into the bay with the...

Using Disk Drives 2-20 CD-ROM Drive Guidelines Failure to observe the following precautions can damage both the CD-ROM drive and the data on the CD-ROM: q Do not open the disc tray except when inserting or removing a disc. q Never push down on an open disc tray. q When handling discs: q Always handl...

Using Disk Drives 2-21 Ejecting the Disc Tray Swapping Modules To swap modules, follow these steps: 1. Unlatch the module by pushing the module lock toward the unlock icon . 2. Grab the recessed grip area on the module then pull the module out. Removing a Module CD-ROM Eject Button Module Lock Grip ...

Using Disk Drives 2-23 1. Plug the 25-pin end of the floppy disk drive cable into the parallel port on the rear panel of the computer. 2. Attach the other end of cable to the floppy disk drive. Connecting the Floppy Disk Drive Externally Floppy Disk Drive Guidelines Failure to observe the following ...

Adding Memory 2-25 Your computer has 16 MB of EDO dynamic random access memory (DRAM) for computer system memory. You can increase the amount of your computer system memory (up to 80MB) by adding industry standard, small outline Dual Inline Memory Modules (soDIMM) into the memory upgrade slots. ! Ca...

Adding Memory 2-26 Remove the screw from the memory door. Lift up the memory door from the recess in the screw area, then remove. Follow the instructions that came with your Memory upgrade option to install the additional memory. Whenever you change your memory size, you should run the PHDISK utilit...

Using the Keyboard 2-28 The computer has many special keys, most of which depend on an application for their functionality. Special Keys The following keys have special functions at the command level of MS-DOS and within many programs. Ctrl+Pause Stops a command or application; primarily used to sto...

Using the Keyboard 2-31 Windows 95 Keys The keyboard also has two Windows 95-specific keys that allow you to perform special functions under Windows 95. Windows logo key Start button Combinations with this key performs special functions. The following are a few examples: Windows logo key + Tab Activ...

Using the Internal Numeric Keypad 2-33 Pressing Shift with a key generates the characters shown in the following figure. Num Lock On (with Shift) If you press and hold Fn in this mode, the keypad generates their normal characters. Num Lock Off When the Num Lock indicator is OFF , the keyboard acts a...

Using Connectors and Ports 2-34 This section provides a description of connectors and ports on the rear and left side panel of the Extensa notebook computer. DC-in VGA Parallel PS/2 Serial PCMCIA Line-in Mic-in Line-out Expansion FIR Ports DC In Connects the AC adapter outputconnector to this jack t...

3 Using Battery Power 3-1 The primary difference between using battery power and AC power is the limited time you can operate before you must recharge the battery. This chapter covers charging the battery and maximizing the time between charges and assumes that you installed and charged the battery ...

Guidelines for Battery Use 3-2 ! Caution: Never dispose of exhausted batteriesin a fire. Recycle if possible. The battery should be handled carefully to ensure maximum life. In particular: q Do not drop the battery or subject it to shocks. q Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight, moisture, ch...

Switching to Battery Power 3-4 To use battery power, install batteries as described in Installing the Battery Pack later in this section. As long as the battery has a charge remaining, you can switch to battery power by removing the connection to the AC adapter, even if the computer is already on. Y...

Recharging the Battery 3-7 ! Caution: Never recharge the battery differentlyfrom the procedure described in this manual. The following procedure is acceptable under most circumstances: 1. Install the battery pack into your computer (if not already installed). 2. Connect the AC adapter. To maintain a...

Calibrating the Battery 3-8 This Extensa system uses either a Duracell Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) DR35 or Lithium- Ion (Li-Ion) DR201 rechargeable battery. Your new Duracell smart batteries keep extremely accurate track of the battery capacity. However, all rechargeable batteries lose capacity over...

Removing and Installing theBattery Pack 3-10 Removing the Battery Pack Follow these steps to remove the battery: ! Caution: You will lose all power to thecomputer when the battery is removed unlessan external AC source is attached. 1. Unlatch the battery compartment door. 2. Slide the battery compar...

Removing and Installing the Battery Pack 3-11 Installing the Battery Pack Follow these steps to install the battery: 1. Unlatch the battery compartment door. 2. Slide the battery compartment cover forward slightly then swing the door open. 3. Insert the battery pack (connector side up) into the comp...

Conserving Battery Power 3-13 The following tips can help you prolong the life of a battery charge: q Keep the display at the lowest comfortable brightness and contrast level. Reducing brightness and contrast even a small amount can significantly reduce power consumption and increase operating time....

4 Options 4-1 This chapter provides some basic information on options available for your Extensa computer. For more detailed information and instructions please refer to the installation instructions that come with your option. To get the most up to date list of options available with your Extensa c...

PC Cards 4-3 Your Extensa computer supports all PCMCIA and Cardbus PC Cards. These PC cards are used to add functionality to your computer, such as communicating over a telephone or connecting to a network. The computer has built-in slots that support one Type III or two Type II/I PC Cards. Type III...

External Monitor 4-5 Your Extensa computer supports standard analog external monitors with resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 modes. The computer also supports DDC compatible monitors allowing you to use the “Green” monitors (those monitors that meet the Energy Star standards). When the computer is conne...

External Mouse 4-6 Your Extensa computer comes with a pointing device already installed, but you can use an external PS/2 or serial mouse. q To connect a PS/2 mouse, insert the connector into the PS/2 port in the rear of the Extensa. q To connect a serial mouse, attach the connector to the 9-pin ser...

Audio Options 4-8 Your computer comes with a set of built-in stereo speakers and a monaural microphone, but if you wish to use other stereo equipment, the computer comes with three audio jacks — Line-out, Line-in and Microphone-in. Connecting Audio Devices Line-out allows you to use a headset or amp...

Docking Option 4-9 The docking option is a full-featured port replicator that duplicates all of the ports on your computer plus some additional ports. The port replicator allows you to have an easy one step connect/disconnect to the various cables in the back of your computer. See the instructions t...

Miscellaneous Options 4-10 Your Extensa computer can accept many additional options, and Texas Instruments is the best source for these options. Some of the additional options include: Batteries You can purchase spare batteries —Duracell NiMH or Li-Ion — from yourlocal computer store or directly fro...

5 Using Software 5-1 This chapter describes the software supplied with the computer and how to configure application software to run on the computer. Contents Using Supplied Software .............................. 5-2Getting Online Help ..................................... 5-3Guidelines for Install...

Using Supplied Software 5-2 Your computer is shipped with the following software installed on the hard disk drive: q Operating system software, either Windows 95 or MS-DOS and Windows for Workgroups or Windows NT q Power-saving utilities q Various third-party application software

Getting Online Help 5-3 The supplied software has online help files, which reduce the need to refer to printed manuals and provide you with help any time it’s needed. To obtain Windows 95 help, select the Start button and then select Help.

Using System Passwords 5-6 The computer has a two-password security system — Supervisor and User. The Supervisor password is used by system administrators who manage multiple notebooks and gives an extra level of security while still allowing users to set their individual Setup preferences in the sy...

Using System Passwords 5-7 Setting a System Password ! Caution: If you forget the system password,you will not be able to use your computer. Toregain access, you will need to send yourcomputer to your authorized Extensa servicerepresenative. This service is not covered by warranty. To set a password...

6 Mobility 6-1 This chapter describes all the considerations to help you take advantage of your computer’s mobility. Contents Disconnecting from the Desktop................... 6-2Moving Around ............................................ 6-3 Preparing the Computer ........................ 6-3What to...

Disconnecting from the Desktop 6-2 Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessories. 1. Save your work in progress. 2. Shut down the operating system. 3. Turn off the computer. 4. Disconnect the cord from the AC adapter. 5. Disconnect the keyboard, pointing device, printer, e...

Moving Around 6-3 Preparing the Computer Before moving the computer, press Fn+F3 to place it in 5V Suspend mode. After placing the computer in 5V Suspend mode, close and latch the cover. You can now safely take the computer anywhere you go within the building. To bring the computer out of 5V Suspend...

Taking the Computer Home 6-4 Preparing the Computer After disconnecting the computer from your desktop, follow these steps to prepare the computer for the trip home. 1. Remove all media from the drives. Failure to remove the media can damage the drive head. 2. Pack the computer in a protective case ...

Taking the Computer Home 6-5 Special Considerations Follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling to and from work. q Minimize the effect of temperature changes by keeping the computer with you. q If you need to stop for an extended period of time and cannot bring the computer wit...

Taking the Computer Home 6-6 Setting Up a Home Office If you frequently work on your computer at home, it may be worthwhile purchasing a second AC adapter for use at home. With a second AC adapter, you can avoid transporting the extra weight to and from home. If you use your computer at home for sig...

Traveling with the Computer 6-7 Preparing the Computer Prepare the computer as if you were taking it home. Be sure the battery in the computer is charged. Airport security often requires you to turn on your computer when bringing it to the gate area. What To Bring with You Bring the following items ...

7 Care and Troubleshooting 7-1 This chapter tells you how to clean your computer safely and solve operational problems. Contents Cleaning the Computer ................................ 7-2Troubleshooting Tips ................................... 7-3Startup Error Messages .................................

Cleaning the Computer 7-2 To ensure trouble-free computing, regularly take the time to check your computer and clean the screen, keyboard, and case. ! Caution: Never use alcohol, benzene, thinner,or strong chemical agents that could damagethe computer’s case, and never apply liquiddirectly to the co...

Troubleshooting Tips 7-3 Computer does notturn off o The Operating System is locked up;press and hold the power switch for 2seconds to force the computer to turnoff. Computer does notcome on when powerswitch is pressed o Low battery; use AC adapter andrecharge battery. o Ensure AC adapter cable and ...

Startup Error Messages 7-4 Disk drive A error q Drive A: is present but fails theBIOS POST disk tests. Enter Setupand check that the drive is definedwith the proper disk type. Extended RAM Failed atoffset: nnnn q Extended memory is not working orconfigured properly at offset nnnn.Contact your dealer...