Acer TravelMate 290E Series, User Manual

Page 1: ...TravelMate 290E series User s guide ...

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Page 3: ...dence 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 __________...

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Page 5: ... acer com 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 ...

Page 6: ...anagement functions See Windows help for more information 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 Esc See the online guide for details Note If you cannot power off the computer normally press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to shut down the computer If you turn off th...

Page 7: ...s 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 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 e...

Page 8: ...ter Use a soft cloth moistened with water Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners To clean the display screen use an LCD cleaning kit 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 45 ...

Page 9: ...rage 22 Hard disk 22 AcerMedia bay 22 Using software 23 Audio 25 Adjusting the volume 25 Power management 26 Moving around with your TravelMate 27 Disconnecting from the desktop 27 Moving around 27 Taking the computer home 28 Traveling with the computer 30 Traveling internationally with the computer 30 Securing your computer 32 Using a computer security lock 32 Using passwords 32 2 Customizing my ...

Page 10: ...ing my computer 45 Frequently asked questions 47 Troubleshooting tips 50 Error messages 51 Requesting service 52 International Traveler s Warranty ITW 52 Before you call 52 Appendix A Specifications 55 Appendix B Notices 61 Index 73 ...

Page 11: ...1 Getting to know your TravelMate ...

Page 12: ...ter 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 ...

Page 13: ...puter as illustrated in the Just for Starters poster let us show you around your new TravelMate computer Front open view Item Description 1 Display screen Also called LCD liquid crystal display displays computer output 2 Power button Turns on the computer ...

Page 14: ...u use the computer 6 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer 7 Status indicators LEDs light emitting diode that turn on and off to show the status of the computer its functions and components 8 Launch keys Two special keys for frequently used programs See Launch Keys on page 19 for more details Item Description 1 Latch Latch for opening and closing the computer 2 AcerMedia Bay For hot swappable mo...

Page 15: ...ication switch Enables and disables Wireless communication devices 4 Stereo speaker Outputs sound 5 Headphone Speaker Line out jack Connects to headphones or other line out audio devices speakers 6 Microphone line in jack Accepts input from external microphones or other audio line in devices e g audio CD player stereo walkman and etc 7 One USB 2 0 port Connects to Universal Serial Bus devices e g ...

Page 16: ...elMate 6 English Right view Item Description 1 Stereo speaker Outputs sound 2 HDD Houses the computer s hard disk 3 Ventilation slot Enables the computer to stay cool even after prolonged use 4 DC in jack Connects the AC adapter ...

Page 17: ... Serial Bus devices e g USB mouse USB camera 4 External display port Connects to a display device e g external monitor LCD projector and displays up to 16 7 million colors and up to 1600x1200 at 85 Hz and 2048x1536 at 75 Hz resolution 5 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device e g parallel printer 6 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington compatible computer security lock ...

Page 18: ...ease latch Unlatches the AcerMedia drive for removing the optical drive 3 AcerMedia bay Houses an AcerMedia drive module 4 Battery bay Houses the computer s battery pack 5 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack 6 Hard disk bay Houses the computer s hard disk secured by a screw 7 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool ...

Page 19: ... bay High capacity Enhanced IDE hard disk Li ion main battery pack Power management system with ACPI Advanced Configuration Power Interface Display 14 1 or 15 0 Thin Film Transistor TFT displaying at 1024 x 768 XGA resolution or 15 0 Thin Film Transistor TFT displaying at 1400 x 1050 SXGA resolution 3D graphics engine Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support Dual indenpendent display Multimedia 16...

Page 20: ...ort Ethernet Fast Ethernet port Fast infrared wireless communication Three USB 2 0 ports Two in rear and one on left InviLink 802 11 b g or 802 11 a b wireless LAN manufacturing optional Bluetooth ready manufacturing optional Expansion One type II CardBus PC Card slot Upgradeable memory ...

Page 21: ...reen and three on the front of the computer The Power and Battery status indicators are visible even when the display is closed Icon Function Description HDD Lights when Hard Disk Drive is activated ODD Lights when Optical Disk Drive is activated Scroll Lock Lights when Scroll Lock is activated ...

Page 22: ...ps Lock is activated Pad Lock cursor Lights when Pad Lock is activated Num Lock Lights when Num Lock is activated Wireless Bluetooth indicator Orange indicates that wireless LAN is enabled blue indicates that Bluetooth optional is enabled dark purple indicates that both wireless LAN and Bluetooth are enabled Power Lights green when the power is on and flashing when the computer is in standby mode ...

Page 23: ...n F10 When Pad Lock is on the embedded keypad is enabled In this mode the keypad is cursor function Num Lock Fn F11 When Num Lock is on the embedded keypad is in numeric mode The keys function as a calculator complete with the arithmetic operators and Use this mode when you need to do a lot of numeric data entry A better solution would be to connect an external keypad Scroll Lock Fn F12 When Scrol...

Page 24: ... a desktop numeric keypad It is indicated by small characters located on the right hand side of the keycaps Desired access Num lock on Num lock off Number keys on embedded keypad Type numbers in a normal manner Main keyboard keys Hold Fn while typing letters on embedded keypad Type the letters in a normal manner ...

Page 25: ...ows logo key Start button Combinations with this key perform shortcut functions Below are a few examples Tab Activates next taskbar button E Explores My Computer F Finds Document M Minimizes All Shift M Undoes Minimize All R Displays the Run dialog box Application key Opens a context menu same as a right click ...

Page 26: ...pressing the other key in the hot key combination Hot key Icon Function Description Fn Esc Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep mode See Power management on page 26 Fn F5 Display toggle Switches display output between the display screen external monitor if connected and both the display screen and external monitor Fn End Speaker toggle Turns the speakers on and off Fn PgUp Volume up Increases the spea...

Page 27: ...nited States International To verify the keyboard type in Windows Millennium Edition and Windows 2000 follow the steps below 1 Click on Start Settings Control Panel 2 Double click on Keyboard 3 Click on the Language tab 4 Verify that the keyboard layout used for En English United States is set to United States International If not select and click on Properties then select United States Internatio...

Page 28: ...eyboard layout used for En English United States is set to United States International If not select and click on ADD then select United States International and click on OK 5 Click on OK To type the Euro symbol 1 Locate the Euro symbol on your keyboard 2 Open a text editor or word processor 3 Hold Alt Gr and press the Euro symbol Note Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol Please ...

Page 29: ...rd are three buttons The left most button is the power button To the right of the power button are the two launch keys They are designated as the programmable buttons P1 and P2 Launch key Default application P1 User programmable P2 User programmable ...

Page 30: ...central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support Touchpad basics The following items teach you how to use the touchpad Move your finger across the touchpad to move the cursor Press the left and right buttons located on the edge of the touchpad to do selection and execution functions These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse Tapping on the touchpad ...

Page 31: ...t increase the touchpad s responsiveness Function Left button Right button Tap Execute Click twice quickly Tap twice at the same speed as double clicking a mouse button Select Click once Tap once Drag Click and hold then use finger to drag the cursor on the touchpad Tap twice at the same speed as double clicking a mouse button then hold finger to the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor ...

Page 32: ...sk is the answer to your storage needs This is where your programs and data are stored AcerMedia bay The hot swappable AcerMedia bay accepts a wide variety of optional media drive modules for use with your computer These optional items include CD ROM drive DVD ROM drive DVD CD RW Combo drive DVD RW drive DVD Dual Super Multi drive Note To swap AcerMedia drive modules see Swapping AcerMedia drive m...

Page 33: ...t the DVD tray and insert a DVD movie disc then close the DVD tray Important When you launch the DVD player for the first time the program asks you to input the region code DVD discs are divided into 6 regions Once your DVD drive is set to a region code it will play DVD discs of that region only You can set the region code a maximum of five times including the first time after which the last regio...

Page 34: ...ert a DVD movie of a different region into the DVD ROM drive Please refer to the online help for more information Region code Country or region 1 U S A Canada 2 Europe Middle East South Africa Japan 3 Southeast Asia Taiwan Korea South 4 Latin America Australia New Zealand 5 Former U S S R parts of Africa India 6 People s Republic of China ...

Page 35: ...th 16 bit high fidelity AC 97 stereo audio and dual stereo speakers Adjusting the volume Adjusting the volume on the computer is as easy as pressing some buttons See Hot keys on page 16 for more informations on adjusting the speaker volume ...

Page 36: ...pherals connected to the serial and parallel ports and video memory If no activity is detected for a period of time called an inactivity timeout the computer stops some or all of these devices in order to conserve energy This computer employs a power management scheme that supports ACPI Advanced Configuration and Power Interface which allows for maximum power conservation and maximum performance a...

Page 37: ...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 your office desk to a meeting room Preparing the computer Before moving the computer close and latch the display cover to place it in Sleep mode You can now safely take the computer anywhere you go within the building To bring the compu...

Page 38: ...ack If your meeting is shorter than that you probably do not need to bring anything with you other than the computer What to bring to long meetings If your meeting will last longer than 2 hours with 4 cell battery pack or 4 hours with 8 cell battery pack or if your battery is not fully charged you may want to bring the AC adapter with you to plug in your computer in the meeting room If the meeting...

Page 39: ...nges by keeping the computer with you If you need to stop for an extended period of time and cannot bring the computer with you leave the computer in the trunk of the car to avoid exposing the computer to excessive heat Changes 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 I...

Page 40: ...at to bring with you Bring the following items with you AC adapter Spare fully charged battery pack s AcerMedia drive module s 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 computer while traveling Always take the computer as carry on luggage If possible ha...

Page 41: ...passport Special considerations Follow the same special considerations as when traveling with the computer In addition these tips are useful when traveling internationally When traveling in another country check that the local AC voltage and the AC adapter power cord specifications are compatible If not purchase a power cord that is compatible with the local AC voltage Do not use converter kits so...

Page 42: ...ity lock cable around an immovable object such as a table or locked drawer handle Insert the lock into the notch and turn the key to secure the lock Some keyless models are also available Using passwords Passwords protect your computer from unauthorized access Setting these passwords creates several different levels of protection for your computer and data Supervisor Password prevents unauthorized...

Page 43: ...o enter the BIOS Utility at boot up Type the Supervisor Password and press Enter to access the BIOS Utility If you enter the password incorrectly a warning message appears Try again and press Enter When the User Password is set and the Password on boot parameter is enabled a prompt appears at boot up Type the User Password and press Enter to use the computer If you enter the password incorrectly a...

Page 44: ...1 Getting to know your TravelMate 34 English ...

Page 45: ...2 Customizing my computer ...

Page 46: ... basics of your TravelMate computer let s get acquainted with the advanced features of your computer In this chapter you will learn how to add options upgrade components for better performance and customize your computer ...

Page 47: ...fferent external devices to the computer see your online guide for more details Fax data modem Your computer has a built in V 92 56Kbps AC 97 Link fax data modem Warning This modem port is not compatible with digital phone lines Plugging this modem into a digital phone line will damage the modem To use the fax data modem port connect a phone cable from the modem port to a telephone jack Warning Pl...

Page 48: ...from the network jack on the rear of the computer to a network jack or hub on your network Fast infrared The computer s fast infrared FIR port allows you to do wireless data transfer with other IR aware computers and peripherals such as PDAs personal digital assistants mobile phones and infrared printers The infrared port can transfer data at speeds of up to four megabits per second Mbps at a dist...

Page 49: ...he Universal Serial Bus USB 2 0 port is a high speed serial bus which allows you to connect and daisy chain USB peripherals without taking up precious system resources Your computer has three ports available one on left and two in rear ...

Page 50: ...ansion possibilities long afforded by desktop PCs Popular PC cards include flash fax data modem LAN wireless LAN and SCSI cards CardBus improves on the 16 bit PC card technology by expanding the bandwidth to 32 bits Note Refer to your card s manual for details on how to install and use the card and its functions Inserting a PC Card Insert the card into the slot and make the proper connections e g ...

Page 51: ...y components when you need increased performance Note Contact your authorized dealer if you decide to perform a key component upgrade Memory upgrade Memory is expandable to 2 GB employing 128 256 512 1024 MB industry standard soDIMMs Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules The computer supports DDR Double Data Rate SDRAM There are two memory slots on your computer one of which is occupied by stan...

Page 52: ...s its base 2 Remove the screws from the memory cover a then lift up and remove the memory cover b 3 Insert the memory module diagonally into the slot a then gently press it down b until it clicks into place 4 Replace the memory cover and secure it with the screw 5 Reinstall the battery pack and reconnect the AC adapter 6 Turn on the computer The computer automatically detects and reconfigures the ...

Page 53: ...mputer before you can swap the module You can swap the AcerMedia drive with any optional AcerMedia modules First slide the AcerMedia release latch as shown in the illustration a Then remove the optical drive from the AcerMedia bay b Then insert the optional AcerMedia module into the AcerMedia bay until the it click into place ...

Page 54: ...All Programs and then Launch Manager to start the application BIOS Utility The BIOS Utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer s BIOS basic input output system Your computer is already properly configured and optimized and you do not need to run this utility However if you encounter configuration problems you may need to run it To activate the BIOS Utility press F2 during...

Page 55: ...3 Troubleshooting my computer ...

Page 56: ...ms 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 by yourself Contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance Key link www acersupport com ...

Page 57: ...on system diskette in the external USB floppy drive Remove or replace it with a system diskette and press Ctrl Alt Del to restart the system Nothing appears on the screen The computer s power management system automatically blanks the screen to save power Press any key to turn the display back on If pressing a key does not turn the display back on two things might be the cause The brightness level...

Page 58: ... volume level may be too low In Windows look at the volume control icon on the taskbar You can also use the volume control buttons to adjust the volume See Hot keys on page 16 for more detail If headphones earphones or external speakers are connected to the line out port on the computer s left panel the internal speakers automatically turn off I want to eject the optical drive tray without turning...

Page 59: ...port is enabled Make sure both devices are IrDA compliant The printer does not work Check the following Make sure that the printer is connected to a power outlet and that it is turned on Make sure that the printer cable is connected securely to the computer s parallel port and the corresponding port on the printer During POST press F2 to access the BIOS Utility and verify that the parallel port is...

Page 60: ...incorporates an advanced design that delivers onscreen error message reports to help you solve problems If the system reports an error message or an error symptom occurs see Error messages on page 51 If the problem cannot be resolved contact your dealer See Requesting service on page 52 ...

Page 61: ... or an authorized service center Disk Boot Failure Insert a system bootable diskette into the floppy drive A then press Enter to reboot Equipment Configuration Error Press F2 during POST to enter the BIOS Utility then press Exit in the BIOS Utility to reboot Hard Disk 0 Error Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Hard Disk 0 Extended Type Error Contact your dealer or an authorized se...

Page 62: ...specially when you travel to receive the benefits from our support centers Place your proof of purchase in the flap located inside the front cover of 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 consult www acersupport com Before you call Please have the following information av...

Page 63: ...______________ Address ______________________________________ ______________________________________________ Telephone number ____________________________ Machine and model type _______________________ Serial number _________________________________ Date of purchase ______________________________ ...

Page 64: ...3 Troubleshooting my computer 54 English ...

Page 65: ...Appendix A Specifications ...

Page 66: ...This appendix lists the general specifications of your computer ...

Page 67: ...e 5 25 inch internal hot swappable optical drive AcerMedia bay Display and video 14 1 or 15 0 Thin Film Transistor TFT displaying at 1024 x 768 XGA resolution or 15 0 Thin Film Transistor TFT displaying at 1400 x 1050 SXGA resolution Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support Dual independent display Audio 16 bit AC 97 stereo audio Dual speakers Separate audio ports for headphone out and line in mic...

Page 68: ...rnal monitor One speaker headphone out jack 3 5mm mini jack One microphone in jack Three USB 2 0 ports Two in rear and one on left One FIR port IrDA Weight and dimensions 2 79 kg 6 15 lbs for 14 1 LCD model 2 84 kg 6 26 lbs for 15 LCD model 333 6 mm W x 276 3 mm D x 32 mm H Environment Temperature Operating 5 C 35 C Non operating 20 C 65 C Humidity non condensing Operating 20 80 RH Non operating 2...

Page 69: ... ion battery pack 2 5 hour rapid charge 3 5 hour charge in use AC adapter 65 Watt Auto sensing 90 264Vac 47 63Hz Options 128 MB 256 MB 512 MB 1GB memory upgrade modules Additional Li Ion battery pack Additional AC adapter USB Floppy drive CD ROM DVD ROM drive DVD CD RW Combo DVD RW DVD Dual or Super Multi drive ...

Page 70: ...Appendix A Specifications 60 English ...

Page 71: ...Appendix B Notices ...

Page 72: ...This appendix lists the general notices of your computer ...

Page 73: ...interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the device and receiver Connect the device into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced radio television technician for help Notice Shielded cables All connections to other computing devices must ...

Page 74: ...o 408 922 5097 Fax No 408 922 5017 Notice Canadian users This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference Causing Equipment Regulations Remarque à l intention des utilisateurs canadiens Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respected toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le materiel brouilleur du Canada Modem notices FCC This equipment complies with Part 68 of the...

Page 75: ...twork PSTN However due to differences between the individual PSTNs provided in different countries the approval does not of itself give an unconditional assurance of successful operation on every PSTN termination point In the event of problems you should contact your equipment supplier in the first instance Declaration of Conformity Hereby Acer declares that this TravelMate 290E series is in compl...

Page 76: ...or heat register or in a built in installation unless proper ventilation is provided 6 This product should be operated from the type of power indicated on the marking label If you are not sure of the type of power available consult your dealer or local power company 7 Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord Do not locate this product where persons will walk on the cord 8 If an extension co...

Page 77: ...and dispose of used batteries promptly 14 Use only the proper type of power supply cord set provided in your accessories box for this unit It should be a detachable type UL listed CSA certified type SPT 2 rated 7A 125V minimum VDE approved or its equivalent Maximum length is 15 feet 4 6 meters Laser compliance statement The CD or DVD drive used with this computer is a laser product The CD or DVD d...

Page 78: ...i Benytt samme batteritype eller en tilsvarende type anbefalt av apparatfabrikanten Brukte batterier kasseres i henhold til fabrikantens instruksjoner VARNING Explosionsfara vid felaktigt batteribyte Anvãnd samma batterityp eller en ekvivalent typ som rekommenderas av apparattillverkaren Kassera anvãnt batteri enligt fabrikantens instruktion VAROITUS Päristo voi räjähtää jos se on virheellisesti a...

Page 79: ...r intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited Apparatus Claims of U S Patent Nos 4 631 603 4 577 216 4 ...

Page 80: ...is for products with such devices European Union EU This device complies with the essential requirements of the European Council Directives listed below 73 23 EEC Low Voltage Directive EN 60950 89 336 EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC Directive EN 55022 EN 55024 EN 61000 3 2 3 99 5 EC Radio Telecommunications Terminal Equipment R TTE Directive Art 3 1a EN 60950 Art 3 1b EN 301 489 1 17 Art 3 2...

Page 81: ... 2 This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation Caution Exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation The radiated output power of the wireless module is far below the Federal Communications Commission FCC radio frequency exposure limits Nevertheless the wireless module shall be used in such a manner that the potential for human contact during...

Page 82: ...Appendix B Notices 72 English ...

Page 83: ...g around 27 performance 9 security 32 setting up a home office 29 taking home 28 traveling internationally 30 traveling on local trips 30 troubleshooting 46 turning off vi connections network 38 D display hotkeys 16 troubleshooting 47 DVD 23 DVD movies playing 23 E error messages 51 Euro 17 F FAQ See frequently asked questions frequently asked questions 47 front view 3 H hard disk 22 help online s...

Page 84: ... location for modem use 49 S safety CD or DVD 67 FCC notice 63 general instructions 66 lithium battery 68 modem notices 64 scroll lock 13 on indicator 11 security keylock 32 passwords 32 service when to call viii speakers hotkey 16 troubleshooting 48 specifications 56 status indicators 11 storage 22 AcerMedia drive 22 hard disk 22 support information 52 T touchpad 20 using 20 21 travel internation...