Acer TravelMate C300 Series, User Manual

Page 1: ...TravelMate C300 series User s guide ...

Page 2: ...nce 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 ___________...

Page 3: ...is 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 1 Click on Start All Programs AcerSystem 2 Click on AcerSystem User s guide Note Viewing th...

Page 4: ...nagement on page 29 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 0 C 32 F or above 50 C 122 F Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture Do not spill water o...

Page 5: ...ipment 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 ...

Page 6: ...vi English ...

Page 7: ...ouchpad 24 Touchpad basics 24 Storage 26 Hard disk 26 Optical drive 26 Audio 28 Power management 29 Acer light sensor 30 Moving around with your TravelMate 31 Disconnecting from the desktop 31 Moving around 31 Taking the computer home 32 Traveling with the computer 34 Traveling internationally with the computer 35 Securing your computer 36 Using a computer security lock 36 2 Customizing my compute...

Page 8: ...g my computer 51 Frequently asked questions 53 Requesting service 57 International Travelers Warranty ITW 57 Before you call 57 Appendix A Acer soft button 59 Appendix B Specifications 65 Appendix C Notices 71 Index 81 ...

Page 9: ...1 Getting to know your TravelMate ...

Page 10: ...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 11: ...strated in the Just for Starters poster let us show you around your new TravelMate computer Front view Item Description 1 EMR stylus Electromagnetic resonate EMR stylus is used to input data in tablet mode Use only an EMR compatible stylus to input data on the screen ...

Page 12: ...ands when you use the computer 6 Click buttons left center and right The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons the center button serves as a 4 way scroll button 7 Touchpad Touch sensitive pointing device which functions like a computer mouse 8 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer 9 Status indicators LEDs light emitting diodes that turn on and off to show the stat...

Page 13: ...en the optical drive is active 6 Eject button Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive 7 Emergency eject slot Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is turned off See page 54 for more details 8 Pen slot Keeps the stylus handy when not in use Item Description 1 Smart Card slot Slot for Smart Card interface with pre boot authentication system 2 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared dev...

Page 14: ... Accepts audio line in devices e g audio CD player stereo walkman 2 Speaker Line out Headphone jack Connects to audio line out devices e g speakers headphones 3 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices 4 Expansion port Connects to an I O port replicator or Acer EasyPort port expansion device 5 Network jack Connects to a 10 100 1000 t based Gigabit Ethernet network 6 Modem jack Connects to a ph...

Page 15: ... versa 8 External display port Connects to a display device e g external monitor LCD projector 9 S video Connect to a television or display device with S video input 10 USB 2 0 ports 2 Connect to Universal Serial Bus USB 2 0 devices e g USB mouse USB camera 11 Power jack Connects to an AC adapter Item Description ...

Page 16: ...ooling fan Helps keep the computer cool Note Don t cover or obstruct the fan opening 4 Memory compartment Houses the computer s main memory 5 Hard disk protector Protects the hard disk from accidental dumps and vibration 6 Hard disk bay Houses the computers Hard disk drive 7 Battery Lock release latch Unlock and unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack 8 Battery bay Houses the computer s b...

Page 17: ...fically for the computer allows for both handwriting recognition converted to application text or handwriting captured as rich digital ink for manipulation editing and formatting Writing in the tablet mode To write in the table mode follow the steps below 1 Turn the latch to the right a and open the display screen in the direction as shown in the illustration below b Caution In the notebook mode p...

Page 18: ...e of about 90 degrees Rotate the display screen 180 degrees clockwise as shown in the illustration Note Do not rotate the display screen in any other angle 3 With the screen facing away from the keyboard close the display cover and slide the lock lever to properly secure the screen ...

Page 19: ...11 English 4 Remove the EMR stylus from the pen slot to begin pen based input ...

Page 20: ...ting pen based input with 16M color at 1024x768 XGA eXtended Graphics Array resolution 3D capabilities Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support Dual display capability Supports other output display devices such as LCD projection panels for large audience presentations Light Sensing background luminance detection panel automatically adjusts screen brightness Automatic LCD dim feature that automatic...

Page 21: ... port 802 11b 802 11 a b wireless LAN options Bluetooth option Human centric design and ergonomics Sleek smooth and stylish design Full sized keyboard Ergonomically centered touchpad pointing device Rotating folding screen for Tablet PC functionality Expansion One Type II CardBus PC Card slot Upgradeable memory AcerMedia bay Acer EasyPort II ...

Page 22: ...cover so you can see the status of the computer while the cover is closed Icon Function Description Wireless communication Lights when the Wireless LAN capabilities are enabled Bluetooth Lights when Bluetooth is enabled or a Bluetooth enabled device is within range Power Lights when the computer is on Sleep Lights when the computer enters Standby mode and blinks when it enters into or resumes from...

Page 23: ...ts when the floppy drive hard disk or optical drive is active Battery Charge Lights when the battery is being charged Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated Num Lock Lights when Num Lock is activated Icon Function Description ...

Page 24: ...ndicating which state or feature is enabled or disabled Icon Description Lights when Bluetooth is enabled or a Bluetooth enabled device is within range Lights when the Wireless LAN capabilities are enabled Lights up when the computer is on Lights when the computer enters Standby mode and blinks when it enters into or resumes from hibernation mode ...

Page 25: ...lphabetic characters typed are in uppercase 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 Scroll Lock is on the screen moves one line up or down when y...

Page 26: ... keys Note If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the computer the Num Lock feature automatically shifts from the internal keyboard to the external keyboard or keypad Desired access Num lock on Num lock off Number keys on embedded keypad Type numbers in a normal manner Cursor control keys on embedded keypad Hold Shift while using cursor control keys Hold Fn while using cursor control ke...

Page 27: ...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 28: ...ot keys press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hot key combination Hot key Icon Function Description Fn F1 Hot Key Help Displays help on hot keys Fn F2 Setup Accesses the computer s configuration utility Fn F3 Power Management Scheme Toggle Switches the power management scheme used by the computer function available if supported by operating system Fn F4 Sleep Puts the comp...

Page 29: ...o return Fn F7 Touchpad Toggle Turns the internal touchpad on and off Fn F8 Speaker Toggle Turns the speakers on and off Fn Volume up Increases the sound volume Fn Volume down Decreases the sound volume Fn Brightness up Increases the screen brightness Fn Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness Fn PgUp Home Functions as the Home key Fn PgDn End Functions as the End key Alt Gr Euro Euro Type...

Page 30: ...yboard type 1 Click on Start Control Panel 2 Double click on Regional and Language Options 3 Click on the Language tab and click on Details 4 Verify that the keyboard 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 y...

Page 31: ...r To set the other four launch keys run the Acer Launch Manager Caution It s important that Wireless LAN and Bluetooth is turned off before boarding an airplane No Description Default application 1 Wireless LAN optional Activate wireless LAN for wireless communication 2 Bluetooth optional Activate Bluetooth for wireless communication 3 P1 User programmable 4 P2 User programmable 5 Mail Email appli...

Page 32: ...e cursor responds as you move your finger on the surface of the touchpad The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and support Note When using an external USB or serial mouse you can press Fn F7 to disable the touchpad Touchpad basics The following items teach you how to use the touchpad Move your finger across the touchpad to move the cursor ...

Page 33: ... the touchpad Also keep the touchpad dry and clean The touchpad is sensitive to finger movements Hence the lighter the touch the better the response Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad s responsiveness Function Left button Right button Center buttons 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 hol...

Page 34: ...to your storage needs This is where your data files and applications are stored Optical drive Your computer comes equipped with an optical drive which may be one of the following DVD ROM drive DVD CD RW combo drive DVD dual drive Ejecting the CD or DVD tray To eject the CD or DVD tray when the computer is turned on press the drive eject button then pull out the tray When the power is off you can e...

Page 35: ...n code a maximum of five times including the first time after which the last region code set will remain permanent Recovering your hard disk does not reset the number of times the region code has been set Refer to the table later in this section for DVD movie region code information 2 The DVD movie will automatically play after a few seconds Note To change the region code insert a DVD movie of a d...

Page 36: ...udio The computer comes with 16 bit high fidelity AC 97 stereo audio The built in dual stereo speakers are easy to access There are audio ports on the rear panel of the computer See Rear view on page 6 for more information on external audio devices ...

Page 37: ...connected to the serial 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 at the same time Windows han...

Page 38: ...hile still providing the same relative brightness and contrast Conversely if the computer is taken into a very bright atrium from the office the screen will increase in brightness so that you won t have to squint to see what you re working on Light sensing has 4 preset modes Mode 1 the lowest brightness setting for darkened conference rooms Mode 2 for use in softly lit areas Mode 3 standard office...

Page 39: ...t the keyboard pointing device printer external monitor and other external devices 8 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 safe...

Page 40: ...r than the computer What to bring to long meetings If your meeting will last longer than 6 5 hours 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 room does not have an electrical outlet reduce the drain on the battery by putting the computer in Sleep mode Press Fn F4 or close the display cover whenev...

Page 41: ... 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 If the temperature change is greater than 18 F 10 C allow the computer to come to room temperature slowly If possible leave the computer for 30 minutes in an environment with...

Page 42: ...hen bringing it into the gate area What to bring with you Bring the following items with you AC adapter Spare fully charged battery pack 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...

Page 43: ...e you need to show it to customs officials International Traveler s 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 travelling in another country check that the local AC voltage and the AC adapter power cord specifications are compatible If not purchase a power ...

Page 44: ...ty lock A security keylock notch located on the right panel of the computer lets you connect a Kensington compatible computer security lock Wrap a computer security 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 Setting a password Follow these steps 1 Use the cur...

Page 45: ...ghlight a password parameter and press the Enter key The password box appears 2 Enter the current password and press Enter 3 Press Enter twice without entering anything in the new and confirm password fields to remove the existing password Note When you want to remove the Hard Disk or 2nd Hard Disk password you are prompted for the current Hard Disk password before it is removed Changing a passwor...

Page 46: ...1 Getting to know your TravelMate 38 English ...

Page 47: ...2 Customizing my computer ...

Page 48: ... 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 49: ...ould with a desktop PC Modem Your computer has a built in V 90 V 92 56Kbps AC 97 Link 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 modem connect a phone cable from the modem jack to a phone line jack Start your communications software program See your communications manual for instructions ...

Page 50: ...ature connect an Ethernet cable from the network jack to an network jack or hub Consult your network administrator for details Universal Serial Bus The 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 two ports available ...

Page 51: ...d by desktop PCs 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 lower slot and make the proper connections e g network cable if necessary See your card manual for details Ejecting a PC Card Before ejecting a PC Card ...

Page 52: ... you to upgrade key 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 256MB 512MB 1GB DDR SDRAM modules on two DDR DIMM slots There are two memory slots on your computer one of which is occupied by standard memory You can upgrade memory by installing a memory modu...

Page 53: ...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 screw from the memory cover a then lift up and remove the memory cover b ...

Page 54: ...3 Insert the memory module diagonally into the slot 1 then gently press it down until it clicks into place 2 4 Replace the memory cover and secure it with the screw The computer automatically detects and reconfigures the total memory size ...

Page 55: ...ager allows you to set passwords the startup sequence of the drives and power management settings It also shows current hardware configurations To start the Notebook Manager press Fn F2 or follow these steps 1 Click on Start All Programs then Notebook Manager 2 Select the Notebook Manager application to run the program Click on Help for more information ...

Page 56: ...above the keyboard The Wireless button is not programmable Launch Manager only allows you to set the other five Launch Keys See Launch Keys on page 23 for more information You can access the Launch Manager by clicking on Start All Programs and then Launch Manager to start the application ...

Page 57: ...asic 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 the POST power on self test while the TravelMate logo is being displayed ...

Page 58: ...2 Customizing my computer 50 English ...

Page 59: ...3 Troubleshooting my computer ...

Page 60: ... 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 by yourself Contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance ...

Page 61: ...n Sleep mode Press any key or tap on the touchpad to resume Is a non bootable non system diskette in the floppy drive Remove or replace it with a system diskette and press Ctrl Alt Del to restart the system The operating system files may be damaged or missing Insert the startup disk you created during Windows setup into the floppy drive and press Ctrl Alt Del to restart the system This will diagno...

Page 62: ...the following The volume may be muted In Windows look at the volume control speaker icon on the taskbar If it is crossed out click on the icon and deselect the Mute option The speakers may be turned off Press Fn F8 to turn the speakers on this hot key also turns the speakers off The volume level may be too low In Windows look at the volume control icon on the taskbar If headphones earphones or ext...

Page 63: ... the drive tray Make sure the CD or DVD is free from scratches or smudges If the CD or DVD is dirty clean it using a disc cleaning kit Remember to follow the instructions included with the kit If the problem does not lie with the disc your CD or DVD drive may be dirty Clean it using a drive cleaning kit Follow the instructions included with the kit The keyboard does not respond Try attaching an ex...

Page 64: ...use the internal modem To properly use your communications software you need to set up your location 1 Click on Start Control Panel 2 Double click on Phone and Modem Options 3 Click on the Dialing Rules tab and begin setting up your location Refer to Windows Help and Support ...

Page 65: ...ou 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 available when you...

Page 66: ..._____________________________ Address ______________________________________ ______________________________________________ Telephone number ____________________________ Machine and model type _______________________ Serial number _________________________________ Date of purchase ______________________________ ...

Page 67: ...Appendix A Acer soft button ...

Page 68: ...This appendix introduces the Acer soft button a unique new tool to increase the ease of use of your Tablet PC ...

Page 69: ...nd name logo are three levels of functionality level 1 level 2 and level 3 numbered from inner to outer You will notice when the EMR stylus is moved near the Acer soft button that the Acer brand name fades and is replaced by a number of arrows You may drag the Acer soft button wherever you want it on the screen Simply press and hold the EMR stylus to the Acer soft button and drag it ...

Page 70: ...utput 180 degrees This means what was at the top of the screen will now be at the bottom Simply press the icon as shown The left arrow 9 o clock position rotates the display output 90 degrees counter clockwise This changes the output from landscape to portrait or vice versa Simply press the icon as shown ...

Page 71: ...63 English The right arrow 3 o clock position rotates the display output 90 degrees clockwise This changes the output from landscape to portrait or vice versa Simply press the icon as shown ...

Page 72: ...Appendix A Acer soft button 64 English ...

Page 73: ...Appendix B Specifications ...

Page 74: ...This appendix lists the general specifications of your computer ...

Page 75: ...al display LCD supporting pen based input with 16M color at 1024x768 XGA eXtended Graphics Array resolution Integrated VGA controller with Dynamic Video Memory Allocation technology up to 64 MB Simultaneous LCD and external display support Dual display support Audio 16 bit AC 97 stereo audio Dual stereo speakers Windows Sound System compatible Separate audio ports for line out line in devices Buil...

Page 76: ... connector One line out headphone jack 3 5mm minijack One line in microphone jack 3 5mm minijack Two USB 2 0 ports One 4 pin IEEE 1394 port One infrared FIR port Weight and dimensions 2 83 kg 6 23 lbs for 14 1 TFT model 326 W x 272 D x 33 4 35 9 H mm Environment Temperature Operating 5 C 35 C Non operating 10 C 60 C Humidity non condensing Operating 20 85 RH Non operating 20 85 RH System Microsoft...

Page 77: ...100 240V AC 50 60Hz Wireless Communications Optional Intel PRO Wireless 2100 or 2100A module Optional MDC Bluetooth module includes built in antenna Options 256MB 512MB 1GB memory upgrade module Additional AC adapter Battery or Weight saver Hot swapable optical drive 8x DVD module DVD CD RW combo module Additional HDD module 2nd battery ...

Page 78: ...Appendix B Specifications 70 English ...

Page 79: ...Appendix C Notices ...

Page 80: ...This appendix lists the general notices of your computer ...

Page 81: ...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 be made using shielded cables to maintain compliance with FCC regulations Notice Peripheral devices Only peripherals input output devices te...

Page 82: ...u will be notified as soon as possible You will also be informed of your right to file a complaint with the FCC 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 equipment shou...

Page 83: ... 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 cord is used with this product make sure that the total ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere...

Page 84: ...se 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 drive s classification label shown below is ...

Page 85: ... 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 asennettu Vaihda paristo ainoastaan laitevalmistajan ...

Page 86: ...dsets with a telecommunications compliance label This includes customer equipment previously labelled permitted or certified The unit shall be connected to Telecommunication Network through a line cord which meets the requirements of ACA Technical Standard TS008 Australian approved mains cord set shall be used with the equipment Note Below regulatory information is for models with wireless LAN and...

Page 87: ... 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 installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications However t...

Page 88: ...ies 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 interference that may cause undesired operation ...

Page 89: ...d 31 on indicator 14 performance 12 security 36 setting up a home office 33 taking home 32 traveling internationally 35 traveling on local trips 34 troubleshooting 52 turning off iv D display hotkeys 21 troubleshooting 53 54 DVD 27 troubleshooting 55 DVD movies playing 27 DVD RW drive 12 E Ethernet 42 Euro 21 22 F FAQ See frequently asked questions floppy drive troubleshooting 55 frequently asked ...

Page 90: ...y drive 55 keyboard 55 printer 55 startup 53 troubleshooting 52 Q questions setting location for modem use 56 S safety CD ROM 76 FCC notice 73 general instructions 75 modem notices 74 scroll lock 17 security keylock 36 service when to call v speakers hotkey 21 troubleshooting 54 specifications 60 66 Standby mode hotkey 20 status indicator 14 status indicators 14 storage 26 CD DVD or DVD CD RW comb...

Page 91: ...83 English rear 6 right 5 W warranty International Traveler s Warranty 57 Windows keys 19 ...

Page 92: ...84 English ...