Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product Aspire EL Acer
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Aspir e EL User’ s guide extensa2 - EN.book Page i Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications.
iii Notices FCC notice This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
iv Use conditions This part complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
v 9 Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock.
vi the YMark2000 test, and has been found to meet NSTL's standards for Y ear 2000 hardware compliance. For more details, check the Acer Y ear 2000 Resource Center at http:// global.acer .com/service/pcy2000.html Laser compliance statement The CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive in this computer is a laser product.
Contents Notices iii FCC notice iii Important safety instructions iv Year 2000 compliance statement v Laser compliance statement vi TCO 95 compliant vi 1 First things first 1 Welcome! 3 Package contents 4 Before you start.
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 31 Connecting options 33 Printer 33 Network 34 Modem (optional) 35 Multimedia devices 36 USB devices 38 Turning on your computer 39 Turning off your computer 41 Configuring your Acer GoTo drive 42 Upgrading your computer 45 Mainboard 46 System utilities 49 5 Need help? 51 Index 57 extensa2 - EN.
1 First things first extensa2 - EN.book Page 1 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
This chapter describes the contents of your computer package and also provides important tips on how to take care of your computer . extensa2 - EN.book Page 2 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
3 We l c o m e ! W elcome and thank you for purchasing the Aspire EL computer . Y ou are now the proud owner of a top of the line multimedia computer system.
1 First things first 4 Package contents Before you unpack your computer , make sure that you have enough space to set it up. Carefully unpack the carton and remove the contents. If any of the following items are missing or damaged, contact your dealer immediately: •A s p i r e E L • Just for Starters.
5 Befor e you start... Please read the safety instructions listed in this section. Following these instructions on the care and use of your new computer will help you maximize its durability . Important tips • Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight.
1 First things first 6 T o clean your mouse 1 Open the circular cover underneath the mouse. 2 T ake out the rubber ball and wipe it with a soft, damp cloth.
2 Getting to know your Aspir e EL extensa2 - EN.book Page 7 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
This chapter discusses the features and components of your computer . extensa2 - EN.book Page 8 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
9 Featur es Here are just a few of your computer’ s many features: Performance • Intel Pentium® 4 micro Pin Grid Array (mPGA) processor with integrated 256 KB on-die L2 cache • Expandable system memory to a maximum of 3 GB • High-capacity Enhanced-IDE hard disk • 3.
2 Getting to know your Aspire EL 10 Expansion • 3 PCI slots + 3 DIMM slots + 1 AGP slot • Upgradeable memory and hard disk • Acer GoT o swappable drive (optional) Human-centric design and ergonomics • Smooth and stylish design • Low emission and low radiation extensa2 - EN.
11 The fr ont panel Y our computer’ s front panel consists of the following: No. Description No. Description 1 Speaker/Headphone-out port 11 Power button 2 CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive activity indicator 12 3.5-inch floppy drive eject button 3 CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive emergency eject hole 13 3.
2 Getting to know your Aspire EL 12 The r ear panel Y our computer offers several ports that allow you to connect peripheral devices. These ports are located on the rear panel of your computer . For information on how to connect the peripherals, refer to “Connecting peripherals” on page 27 and “Adding options to your Aspire EL” on page 31.
13 No. Icon Color Description 6 Green PS/2 mouse port 7 System fan 2 8 Black Network port 9 Black Rear USB ports 10 Burgundy Parallel/printer port 11 T eal or turquoise Serial ports 12 Keyhole 13 Lime.
2 Getting to know your Aspire EL 14 The keyboar d Y our computer comes with a USB keyboard. The keyboard has full- sized keys that include separate cursor keys, two Windows keys, and twelve function keys. For information on how to connect your USB keyboard, please see “Connecting peripherals” on page 27 .
15 3 Windows logo key Start button. Combinations with this key perform special functions, such as: • Windows + Ta b : Activate the next T askbar button • Windows + E : Explore My Computer • Wind.
2 Getting to know your Aspire EL 16 10 Multimedia keys Allow you to do the following: • Play/Pause button - press to start playing the audio or video file. Press again to pause. • Stop button - press to stop playing the audio or video file. • Forward button - press to skip forward to the next file and start playing.
17 The mouse Y our computer comes with a USB mouse. The mouse has one ratchet wheel and two buttons: a right button and a left button. Quickly pressing and releasing the buttons is called clicking. Sometimes, you will need to do a double-click (clicking the same button twice quickly) or a right-click (clicking the right button quickly).
2 Getting to know your Aspire EL 18 Disk drives Y our Aspire EL computer comes with the following disk drives: Har d disk Y our computer is preinstalled with a high-capacity Enhanced-IDE (E-IDE) hard disk. 3.5-inch floppy drive Y our computer’ s 3.5-inch floppy drive supports 720-KB, 1.
19 Sliding the write-protect tab to the not-write-protect position (2) will allow you to store and modify data in your diskettes. • When you put a label on a 3.5-inch diskette, make sure that the label is properly attached (flat on the surface) and within the labeling area (area with a slight surface depression) on the diskette.
2 Getting to know your Aspire EL 20 • Keep your discs in a disk case when not in use to avoid scratches or other damage. Y our Aspire EL computer has a built-in CD/DVD compartment located on the lower front panel.
21 T o insert a CD/DVD into your computer’ s CD-ROM/DVD- ROM/CD-RW drive: 1 Gently press the drive Stop/Eject button located on the front panel. 2 When the disc tray slides open, insert the CD/DVD with the label or title side of the disc facing upward.
2 Getting to know your Aspire EL 22 T o eject the CD or DVD tray: • T o eject the CD or DVD tray when the computer is turned on, press the drive Stop/Eject button. • T o eject the CD or DVD tray when the computer is turned off, insert the tip of a pen or a paperclip into the emergency eject hole to pop out the tray .
3 Setting up your Aspir e EL extensa2 - EN.book Page 23 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
This chapter contains step-by-step instructions on how to set up your computer . extensa2 - EN.book Page 24 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
25 Arranging a comfortable work ar ea W orking safely begins with the appropriate arrangement of your work space and the proper use of equipment. For this reason, it is very important to take time and think about how you are going to arrange your work area.
3 Setting up your Aspire EL 26 Positioning your keyboar d The location of the keyboard is a very important factor to your posture. Placing it too far will make your body lean forward forcing you to sit in an unnatural position. Placing it too high will add tension to your shoulder muscles.
27 Connecting peripherals Setting up your computer is easy . For the most part, you only have four things to connect: the mouse, the keyboard, the monitor and the power cable. USB mouse Plug the USB mouse cable into any of the USB ports located on the front and rear panel of your computer .
3 Setting up your Aspire EL 28 USB keyboar d Plug the USB keyboard cable into any of the USB ports located on the front and rear panel of your computer . Note: If you are using a PS/2 keyboard, plug the keyboard cable into the PS/2 keyboard port located on the rear panel of your computer .
29 Monitor T o connect a monitor , simply plug the monitor cable into the monitor/ VGA port located on the rear panel of your computer . Note: Refer to the monitor manual for additonal instructions and information.
3 Setting up your Aspire EL 30 Power cable Caution! Before you proceed, check the voltage range in your area. Make sure that it matches your computer’ s voltage setting (see the voltage setting switch located on the rear panel of your computer).
4 Adding options to your Aspir e EL extensa2 - EN.book Page 31 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
This chapter will tell you how to connect additional peripherals and what to do if you want to upgrade your computer key link: accessories.acer .com extensa2 - EN.
33 Connecting options Printer Y our Aspire EL computer supports serial, parallel and USB printers. T o connect a parallel printer , plug the printer cable into the parallel/ printer port located on the rear panel of your computer .
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 34 Network Y ou can connect your computer to a Local Area Network (LAN) using a network cable. T o do so, simply plug the network cable into the network port located on the rear panel of your computer . Note: Consult your operating system manual for information on how to configure your network setup.
35 Modem (optional) Note: A modem connection is only available when you have a modem card installed in your system. Contact your dealer for more information. Set up your modem connection by plugging the telephone line and handset into their corresponding ports on the rear panel of your computer .
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 36 Multimedia devices Y our Aspire EL computer comes with multimedia features (making work more fun!) which allows you to connect such devices as speakers, a microphone, speakers, headphones or earphones, an external CD player and a joystick (for games).
37 Refer to the figure below for the connections. Note: For information on how to configure the multimedia devices, consult the documentation that came with each device.
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 38 USB devices Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a new serial bus design that is capable of cascading low-/medium-speed peripherals (less than 12 Mbps) such as a keyboard, mouse, joystick, scanner , printer and modem. With USB, complex cable connections can be eliminated.
39 T ur ning on your computer After connecting the necessary peripherals and plugging in the power cable, you are now ready to turn your computer on and get to work. T o turn on your computer: 1 T urn on all peripherals connected to your computer such as the monitor , printer , fax, speakers, etc.
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 40 3 On the front panel of your computer , press the power button. When the computer finishes booting, it is now ready for use. Important: Make sure that the power cable is properly plugged in into an electrical outlet.
41 T ur ning of f your computer T o turn off your computer , on the Windows taskbar click on the Start button, point to Shut Down... , select Shut down from the dropdown window then click on OK . Y ou can then turn off all peripherals connected to your computer .
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 42 Configuring your Acer GoT o drive Follow the steps below in configuring your Acer GoT o drive: 1 T urn of f your computer . 2 Remove the Acer GoT o drive frame from the bay as in the f o l l o w i n g f i g u r e : a Unlock the Acer GoT o drive bay using the key shipped in with your computer .
43 3 Remove the four screws that hold the hard disk to the drive frame (a), remove the frame cover (b) then the hard disk (c). 4 Install a new 3.5-inch hard disk (a), replace the frame cover (b) then secure it with the fours screws that you have previously removed (c).
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 44 5 Reinstall the drive frame into the Acer GoT o drive bay (a) then lock the drive bay (b). 6 T urn on your computer .
45 Upgrading your computer Certain components of your computer are upgradeable such as the memory , the disk drives and the expansion cards. However , for safety purposes, we do not recommend that you perform these upgrades yourself.
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 46 Mainboar d The layout below shows all the connectors and jumpers on the mainboard. Refer to the table for a brief description of each connectors and jumpers.
47 Label Component AGP AGP slot BT1 Battery CNM1 SmartCard connector (shared connection with serial port 2) CNSW1 IDE cold-swap pin CNX 1 Audio FPIO connector CN2 PS/2 mouse (upper) and keyboard (lowe.
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 48 CN21 Power/Suspend LED connector CN23 EXT PCI slot DIMM 1 DIMM 2 DIMM 3 Memory slot 1-3 FN1 3-pin CPU fan connector FN2 3-pin system fan connector FN3 3-pin syste.
49 System utilities Depending on the hardware and optional features installed in your Aspire EL computer , your system came bundled with several program utilities designed to streamline your computer's operations. Refer to your online guide for more information on these utilities.
4 Adding options to your Aspire EL 50 extensa2 - EN.book Page 50 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
5 Need help? extensa2 - EN.book Page 51 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
This chapter instructs you on how to deal with common system problems. Read it before calling a technician if a problem occurs. Solutions to more serious problems require opening up the computer . Do not attempt to open the computer by yourself. Contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance.
53 Acer is dedicated in bringing you a reliable and easy to maintain computer . However , we realize that some problems may arise unexpectedly . Below are possible questions that may arise during the use of your computer with corresponding easy troubleshooting solutions to the situation.
5 Need help? 54 Q: Nothing appears on the screen. A: Y our computer’ s power management function automatically blanks the screen to save power . Press any key to turn the display back on. If pressing a key does not work, you can restart your computer .
55 • Check your drive by using a good (i.e., undamaged) diskette or a good CD/DVD. If your floppy drive, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive cannot read the information on the good diskette or CD/ DVD, there may be a problem with the drive. Contact your dealer or technical support center for assistance.
5 Need help? 56 extensa2 - EN.book Page 56 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
57 Index C computer troubleshooting 52 computer maintenance 5 CDs/DVDs 19 cleaning 5 diskettes 18 servicing 5 connecting options modem 35 multimedia devices 36 joystick 36 microphone 36 speakers 36 ne.
58 extensa2 - EN.book Page 58 Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:34 PM.
An important point after buying a device Acer Aspire EL (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Acer Aspire EL yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Acer Aspire EL - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Acer Aspire EL you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Acer Aspire EL will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Acer Aspire EL, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Acer Aspire EL.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Acer Aspire EL. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Acer Aspire EL along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
