Acer Switch Alpha 12, User Manual

Page 1: ...1 User s Manual...

Page 2: ...ore information please visit the Acer BYOC website www acer com byoc start Model number _________________________________ Serial number _________________________________ Date of purchase _____________...

Page 3: ...BIOS utility 40 Boot sequence 40 Setting passwords 40 Power management 41 Saving power 41 Battery pack 43 Battery characteristics 43 Charging the battery 43 Optimizing battery life 44 Checking the ba...

Page 4: ...4 Table of contents Network connections 69 Surf the Net 71 Security 71...

Page 5: ...ng for your computer and your health Where to find the power button ports and connectors Tips and tricks for using the touchpad and keyboard How to create recovery backups Guidelines for connecting to...

Page 6: ...two ways to download the User s Manual You must first be connected to the internet 1 Open Acer Care Center from the desktop and select My System Summary and click User s Manual to download the User s...

Page 7: ...ake 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 no...

Page 8: ...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 exc...

Page 9: ...K TOUR After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Setup Guide let us show you around your new Acer computer Front view Icon Item Description 1 Speakers Deliver stereo audio output 2 Front we...

Page 10: ...ear view Icon Item Description 1 Webcam Web camera for video communication 2 Kickstand Allows the computer to function as a display 1 2 Top view Icon Item Description 1 Microphone Internal stereo micr...

Page 11: ...oard Left right views 4 5 6 7 8 1 3 2 Icon Item Description 1 Power button Press to turn the computer on press again to place the computer in Sleep mode Press and hold to turn the computer off 2 Volum...

Page 12: ...USB 4 Headset speaker jack Connects to audio devices e g speakers headphones or a headset with microphone 5 USB port Connects to USB devices 6 USB Type C port Connects to USB devices that adopt the U...

Page 13: ...entering data into your computer See Using the keyboard on page 16 3 Stylus holder Holds the stylus pen 4 Touchpad Touch sensitive pointing device The touchpad and selection buttons form a single surf...

Page 14: ...ching and detaching the keyboard The Acer Snap Hinge Gold makes attaching and detaching the keyboard fast and easy Detach the computer from the keyboard by lifting one corner to release it from the ke...

Page 15: ...yboard to function as a laptop Prop the keyboard up using the magnetic strip at the top of the keyboard for a better typing experience The adjustable kickstand allows the computer to also function as...

Page 16: ...ck When Caps Lock is on all alphabetic characters typed are in uppercase Num Lock When Num Lock is on the keypad is in numeric mode The keys function as a calculator complete with the arithmetic opera...

Page 17: ...Scr Lk Turns the scroll lock feature on or off Fn Brightness up Increases the screen brightness Fn Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness Fn Volume up Increases the sound volume Fn Volume dow...

Page 18: ...are using Touchpad gestures Single finger slide Slide a finger across the touchpad to move the cursor Single finger press or tap Press the touchpad down or lightly tap the touchpad with your finger t...

Page 19: ...e finger and thumb gesture Three finger press Lightly tap the touchpad with three fingers to open Cortana if your computer supports Cortana or open the Action Center if your computer does not support...

Page 20: ...settings 3 Select Devices Mouse touchpad 4 Now you can adjust the settings to suit your personal needs You can change the primary button for left or right handed use turn the touchpad off if you pref...

Page 21: ...Using the Precision Touchpad 21 the cursor from moving if you accidentally tap the touchpad with your palm while working Scroll down to see more settings...

Page 22: ...t backup Backup allows you to quickly and easily back up your operating system installed apps and data 1 From Start select All apps then Acer Select Acer Recovery Management in the list of Acer apps N...

Page 23: ...Get Started for Create Factory Default Backup to open the Recovery Drive window 3 Make sure Backup system files to the recovery drive is selected and click Next 4 Plug in the USB drive and wait for t...

Page 24: ...rocess until it completes 8 After creating the recovery backup you can choose to delete the recovery information on your computer If you delete this information you can only use the USB recovery backu...

Page 25: ...tab and click Get started for Backup wireless and LAN drivers Choose a folder to save your drivers and select OK Restoring your computer Recovery Management allows you to quickly and easily restore y...

Page 26: ...ress on the screen The screen will turn off during the reset process 6 The screen will turn back on when it is installing Windows Your PC will restart several times during the reset process 7 Follow t...

Page 27: ...ory default This process will reinstall your operating system and remove all of your personal files apps and settings 4 Select Just remove my files if you are keeping your computer This will be quicke...

Page 28: ...een will turn back on when it is installing Windows Your PC will restart several times during the reset process 8 Follow the process until it completes 9 When your PC has completed the reset process W...

Page 29: ...omputer s USB port if no internal Bluetooth adapter is available Enable Bluetooth and add a device Every new device must first be paired with your computer s Bluetooth adapter This means it must first...

Page 30: ...g the Notifications icon in the lower right hand corner of the screen to open the Notifications pane From here you can enable or disable Bluetooth or right click on Bluetooth Go to settings to enter t...

Page 31: ...wireless network Connecting to a wireless LAN A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area network which can link two or more computers without using wires Once connected to WLAN you can access the...

Page 32: ...tion through the ISP of your choice Make a note of the wireless network s name and password if necessary If you are trying to connect to a public network such as at a coffeeshop make sure you have the...

Page 33: ...Connecting to the Internet 33 4 Select Network internet 5 You will see a list of available wireless networks Select the one you wish to use...

Page 34: ...34 Connecting to the Internet 6 Once you select a wireless network select Connect 7 If required enter the network s password...

Page 35: ...er Refer to the image below Then you ll be ready to get online Connecting to a cellular network If your computer has a SIM slot you can connect to the internet using a cellular phone network To do thi...

Page 36: ...fferent modes to fit your needs No Item Description 1 Low Reduction Reduces blue light emission from the LED backlit screen by 10 to 25 for basic protection 2 Medium Reduction Reduces blue light emiss...

Page 37: ...37 Keeping your computer and data safe In this section you will find How to secure your computer Setting passwords What you need to prepare when you re traveling How to get the most out of your batter...

Page 38: ...esume from Hibernation if available for maximum security Password on Boot secures your computer against unauthorized use Combine the use of this password with password checkpoints on boot up and resum...

Page 39: ...orrectly a warning message appears Try again and press Enter Important You have three chances to enter a password If you fail to enter the password correctly after three tries the system halts Press a...

Page 40: ...yed Boot sequence To set the boot sequence in the BIOS utility activate the BIOS utility then select Boot from the categories listed on the left of the screen Setting passwords To set a password on bo...

Page 41: ...wer Disable Fast startup Your computer uses Fast startup to start quickly but also uses a small amount of power to check for signals to start These checks will slowly drain your computer s battery If...

Page 42: ...42 Power management 5 Select Change settings that are currently unavailable 6 Scroll down and disable Turn on fast startup 7 Select Save changes...

Page 43: ...adapter into the computer and connect to a mains power outlet Conditioning a new battery pack Before you use a battery pack for the first time there is a conditioning process that you should follow 1...

Page 44: ...ective life An embedded battery has a life span of more than 1 000 charge discharge cycles Optimizing battery life Optimizing battery life helps you get the most out of battery operation prolonging th...

Page 45: ...ortant Connect the AC adapter as soon as possible after the battery low warning appears Data may be lost if the battery is allowed to become fully depleted and the computer shuts down Situation Recomm...

Page 46: ...ernal monitor and other external devices 7 Disconnect the Kensington lock if you are using one to secure the computer Moving around When you are just moving within short distances for example from you...

Page 47: ...putting the computer in Sleep mode Press the Sleep hotkey or close the display cover whenever you are not actively using the computer Taking the computer home When you are moving from your office to y...

Page 48: ...in temperature and humidity can cause condensation Allow the computer to return to room temperature and inspect the screen for condensation before turning on the computer If the temperature change is...

Page 49: ...apter Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printer Special considerations In addition to the guidelines for taking the computer home follow these guidelines to protect your compu...

Page 50: ...elers Warranty passport Special considerations Follow the same special considerations as when traveling with the computer In addition these tips are useful when traveling internationally When travelin...

Page 51: ...51 Ports and connectors In this section you will find Information on the ports and connectors fitted to your computer...

Page 52: ...devices to a single USB port Note Two USB standards are currently available on Acer computers USB 2 0 High speed USB and USB 3 0 SuperSpeed USB USB 2 0 ports on Acer computers have a black tongue in...

Page 53: ...u find you need to use any force to insert the card try reorientating the card slightly 3 Push the card until it clicks into place A few millimetres of the card will extend from beyond the slot If the...

Page 54: ...den icons arrow in the Notification Area next to the clock 2 Click on the Safely Remove Hardware icon 3 Click on Eject SD Card or the name of the device 4 Wait until a Safe to Remove Hardware message...

Page 55: ...power to the monitor then the computer 6 Make sure that the current resolution and refresh rate do not exceed the specifications of the monitor If necessary change the display settings used by the co...

Page 56: ...uestion In this section you will find Frequently asked questions Tips for using Windows 10 Troubleshooting information How to protect yourself while online Where to find Acer service center contact in...

Page 57: ...have a USB storage device USB drive CD drive or smartphone plugged into your computer Unplug it and press Ctrl Alt Del to restart the system Nothing appears on the screen The computer s power manageme...

Page 58: ...sure that the printer cable is connected securely to a USB port and the corresponding port on the printer I want to restore my computer to its original settings This recovery process helps you restor...

Page 59: ...the ITW passport If the country you are traveling in does not have an Acer authorized ITW service site you can still get in contact with our offices worldwide Please visit www acer com Before you cal...

Page 60: ...dows Start button and tap the power icon Shut down Can I turn off notifications You can turn off notifications so that you can leave your computer running but not be disturbed by notifications Tap the...

Page 61: ...om the lock screen slideshow 5 Change the other settings to suit your needs How do I move tiles Tap on a tile and drag it to the place on Start that you want it to appear Other tiles will be moved to...

Page 62: ...ich days the alarm should go off 5 Select the sound notification 6 Select the snooze time 7 Save the alarm by tapping the Save icon in the bottom right hand corner Where are my apps Tap Search and typ...

Page 63: ...ps from Store You will need to have a Microsoft ID to purchase and download apps from Store I can t find apps like Notepad and Paint Where are they Tap Search and type the name of the app you would li...

Page 64: ...tton Settings Accounts Sign in with a Microsoft account and follow the onscreen instructions How do I check for Windows updates Tap the Windows Start button Settings Update recovery Windows Update Tap...

Page 65: ...or messages If you receive an error message note the message and take the corrective action The following table lists the error messages in alphabetical order together with the recommended course of a...

Page 66: ...d service center for assistance Keyboard error or no keyboard connected Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Keyboard interface error Contact your dealer or an authorized service center...

Page 67: ...Provider ISP which supplies the connection between your computer and the internet You should research the ISPs available in your region not forgetting to talk to friends and family about their experi...

Page 68: ...s fast and always on internet service via a cable television line This service is generally available in large cities You can use your telephone and watch cable TV at the same time you are connected t...

Page 69: ...Mobility Wireless LAN systems allow you and other users of your home network to share access to files and devices connected to the network for example a printer or scanner Also you can share an inter...

Page 70: ...Access point router 2 Desktop computer 3 Modem 4 Printer 5 Portable computer 6 PDA Smartphone 7 Network cables RJ45 Turning on off a wireless network connection Most computers feature a Wi Fi button t...

Page 71: ...latest information and downloads Security You are probably eager to explore everything the internet has to offer In order for you to be safe online Acer has pre installed McAfee Internet Security Sui...

Page 72: ...posing a serious security risk What is malware Malicious software also known as malware is software designed to deliberately harm your computer For example viruses worms and Trojan horses are malicio...

Page 73: ...to date will not protect you from all attacks it makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your system blocks many basic and automated attacks completely and might be enough to disco...

Page 74: ...otection updates Make sure you Activate it Choose strong passwords and keep them safe Passwords are a fact of life on the internet today we use them for everything from ordering flowers and online ban...

Page 75: ...t open update your security or urge you to provide information immediately or else something bad will happen Don t take the bait Do not click on a link in an email unless you specifically asked for th...

Page 76: ...ere s no such thing as a free lunch still rings true today Supposedly free software such as screen savers or smileys secret investment tricks sure to make you untold fortunes and contests that you ve...

Page 77: ...dows Updates If you have an active internet connection Windows can check for important updates for your computer and install them automatically These updates include security patches and program updat...