Acer TravelMate P Series User Manual
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Acer TravelMate P Series User Manual

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TravelMate P Series
User's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Acer TravelMate P Series

  • Page 1 TravelMate P Series User’s Manual...

  • Page 2: Register Your Acer Product

    2. Open www.acer.com and select your country. 3. Click REGISTER A PRODUCT. 4. Sign up for an Acer ID or sign in if you already have an Acer ID. Register your Acer product After we receive your product registration, you will be sent a confirmation email with important data.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of contents - 3 A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Register your Acer product ......2 Connecting to a wireless LAN....38 Manage your registered products ....2 Connecting to a 3G network ..... 38...
  • Page 4 4 - Table of contents Video and audio connectors What is a Microsoft ID (account)?..... 75 How do I add a favorite to Internet HDMI Explorer?........... 76 How do I check for Windows updates?..76 Universal Serial Bus (USB) Where can I get more information?... 76 Troubleshooting ........
  • Page 5 • 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 a network and using Bluetooth • Information on using Acer’s bundled software...

  • Page 6: First Things First

    6 - First things first I R S T T H I N G S F I R S T We would like to thank you for making this Acer notebook your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs. Your guides...

  • Page 7: Taking Care Of Your Computer

    First things first - 7 You can also put the computer in sleep mode by pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4>. 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 the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before powering up.

  • Page 8: Cleaning And Servicing

    8 - First things first cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating. Cleaning and servicing When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1. Turn off the computer. 2.

  • Page 9: Your Acer Notebook Tour

    O U R C E R N O T E B O O K T O U R After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Setup Guide, let us show you around your new Acer computer. Screen view Icon...

  • Page 10: Keyboard View

    10 - Your Acer notebook tour Keyboard view Icon Item Description Indicates the computer’s power Power indicator status. Indicates battery status. Charging: The light is amber when Battery indicator the battery is charging. Fully charged: The light is blue. For entering data into your computer.

  • Page 11: Left View

    Your Acer notebook tour - 11 Icon Item Description Fingerprint reader for Acer ProShield fingerprint reader Security Suite. Configuration may vary by model. Left view 1 2 3 Icon Item Description DC-in jack Connects to an AC adapter. USB port Connects to USB devices.

  • Page 12: Rear View

    12 - Your Acer notebook tour # Icon Item Description Accepts one Secure Digital card (SD or SDHC). SD card reader Push to remove/install the card. Only one card can operate at any given time. USB ports Connect to USB devices.

  • Page 13: Base View

    Your Acer notebook tour - 13 Base view # Icon Item Description Allows the computer to stay cool. Ventilation and Do not cover or obstruct the cooling fan openings. Simulates removing and reinstalling Battery reset the battery. pinhole Insert a paperclip into the hole and press for four seconds.

  • Page 14: 14 - Using The Keyboard

    14 - Using the keyboard S I N G T H E K E Y B O A R D The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys. Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.

  • Page 15: Hotkeys

    Using the keyboard - 15 Hotkeys The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer's controls like screen brightness and volume output. To activate hotkeys, press and hold the <Fn> key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination. Hotkey Icon Function Description...

  • Page 16: Windows Keys

    16 - Using the keyboard Hotkey Icon Function Description <Fn> + Play or pause a selected Play/Pause <Home> media file. <Fn> + Stop playing the selected Stop <Pg Up> media file. <Fn> + Return to the previous media Previous <Pg Dn> file.

  • Page 17: Touchpad

    Touchpad - 17 O U C H P A D Touchpad basics The touchpad controls the arrow (or 'cursor') on the screen. As you slide your finger across the touchpad, the cursor will follow this movement. Press the left or right side of the button located beneath the touchpad to perform selection and execution functions, or tap the surface of the touchpad.
  • Page 18 18 - Touchpad • Swipe in from edge: Access Windows tools by swiping into the center of the touchpad from the right or left edge. • Swipe in from right: Toggle the charms. • Swipe in from left: Switch to the previous app. •...

  • Page 19: Recovery

    Windows tools, or the recovery backup. Note Acer Recovery Management is only available with a pre-installed Windows operating system. Important We recommend that you create a Recovery Backup and Drivers and Applications Backup and as soon as possible.
  • Page 20 20 - Recovery 1. From Start, type 'Recovery' and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of apps. 2. Click Create Factory Default Backup. The Recovery Drive window opens. Make sure Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive is selected.

  • Page 21: Creating A Drivers And Applications Backup

    Recovery - 21 • Since the recovery backup requires at least 16 GB of storage after formatting, it is recommended to use a USB drive with a capacity of 32 GB or larger. 4. You will be shown the backup progress on the screen. 5.
  • Page 22 USB storage drive or, if your computer features a DVD recorder, one or more blank recordable DVDs. 1. From Start, type 'Recovery' and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of apps. 2. Click Create Drivers and Applications Backup.

  • Page 23: Recovering Your System

    Recovery - 23 with a permanent marker. If multiple discs are required, insert a new disc when prompted, then click OK. Continue until the process is complete. • If you are using a USB drive, unplug the drive and label it clearly. Important Write a unique, descriptive label on each backup, such as 'Drivers and Applications Backup'.

  • Page 24: Reinstalling Drivers And Applications

    If you are reinstalling using Windows and the recovery information stored on your computer: 1. From Start, type 'Recovery' and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of apps. 2. Click Reinstall Drivers or Applications.
  • Page 25 1. Insert the Drivers and Applications Backup into the disc drive or connect it to a free USB port. • If you inserted a DVD wait for Acer Resource Center to start. • If Acer Resource Center does not start automatically, press the Windows key + <E>, then double-click on the optical drive...

  • Page 26: Returning To An Earlier System Snapshot

    26 - Recovery 2. You should see the Contents section of the Acer Resource Center. Images for reference only. 3. Click the install icon for the item you want to install, then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation. Repeat this step for each item you want to reinstall.

  • Page 27: Returning Your System To Its Factory Condition

    Recovering from a recovery backup on page Recovering from Windows Start Acer Recovery Management: • From Start, type ’Recovery’ and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of apps. Two options are available, Restore Factory Settings (Reset my PC) or Customized Restore (Refresh my PC).
  • Page 28 28 - Recovery the Windows Store). See Customized Restore with Acer Recovery Management on page Restore Factory Settings with Acer Recovery Management 1. Click Restore Factory Settings. Important ’Restore Factory Settings’ will erase all files on your hard drive. 2. The Reset your PC window opens.
  • Page 29 "Reset your PC" completely removes all your files and resets your computer to factory settings. 4. Click Next. The process will take several minutes. Customized Restore with Acer Recovery Management 1. Click Customized Restore (Retain User Data).

  • Page 30: Recovering From A Recovery Backup

    30 - Recovery 2. The Refresh your PC window opens. Images for reference only. 3. Click Next, then Refresh. 4. The recovery process begins by restarting your computer, then continues by copying files to your hard drive. This process takes about 30 minutes.
  • Page 31 Recovery - 31 b. Windows starts from the recovery backup instead of the normal startup process. 6. Select your keyboard type. 7. Select Troubleshoot and then choose the type of recovery to use: a. Click Advanced then System Restore to start Microsoft System Restore: Microsoft System Restore periodically takes a ’snapshot’...
  • Page 32 32 - Recovery 2. Click Next. 3. Select the operating system to recover (normally only one option is available). 4. Choose to keep any changes to the hard drive: a. If you have deleted the recovery partition or otherwise changed the partitions on the hard drive and want to keep these changes, select No.

  • Page 33: Changing Your Windows Version

    Changing the OS will erase all data on your computer. Create a backup before changing. Changing to Windows 8.1 To change to Windows 8.1, open Acer eRecovery Management (Start > All programs > Acer). 1. Select Restore, then Restore Operating System to Factory Defaults.

  • Page 34: Changing To Windows 7

    To change back to Windows 7, you must change Boot Mode back to Legacy BIOS. Windows 7 will not start if the BIOS Mode is set to UEFI. See Changing BIOS settings on page 35 Start Windows 8.1; from Start, type ‘recovery’ to open Acer Recovery Management. 1. Select Restore Factory Settings.

  • Page 35: Changing Bios Settings

    Windows will restart, replace Windows 8.1 with Windows 7, and then start the Windows 7 setup process. Changing BIOS settings To change your BIOS settings, press <F2> when you see the Acer logo during boot up. Use the arrow keys to select Boot > Boot Mode.

  • Page 36: Changing Between Windows 7 And 8.1 During Startup

    1. Turn on your computer and press <Alt> + <F10> when you see the Acer logo during boot up to launch Acer Recovery Management. 2. Select Restore Operating System to Factory Defaults. 3. Select which operating system to restore: Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

  • Page 37: Connecting To The Internet

    Connecting to the Internet - 37 O N N E C T I N G T O TH E N T E R N E T Note Information in this section may not apply to your computer. This chapter includes basic information on types of connections, and getting connected to the Internet.

  • Page 38: Connecting To A Wireless Lan

    Windows will detect and display a list of available networks during setup. Select your network and enter the password if required. Acer notebook computers feature an Airplane mode hotkey that turns the network connection on or off. You can use the network management options to turn your wireless network on/off or control what is shared over the network.

  • Page 39: Using A Bluetooth Connection

    Using a Bluetooth connection - 39 S I N G A L U E T O O T H C O N N E C T I O N Bluetooth is a technology enabling you to transfer data wirelessly over short distances between many different types of devices.
  • Page 40 40 - Using a Bluetooth connection 4. Tap the device you wish to add from the list of discovered devices, and tap Pair. A code displays on your computer, which should match the code displayed on your device. Select Yes. Then, accept the pairing from your device.
  • Page 41 - 41 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 battery...

  • Page 42: Acer Proshield

    • Data Removal - File shredder • Information - About this software Setting up Acer ProShield The first time you run Acer ProShield, you will be led through a setup wizard that allows you to set up the parameters for Acer ProShield.
  • Page 43 Acer ProShield - 43 Click Start to begin. You will be required to set a password, and can choose to create a Personal Secure Drive. Note Select a password that you will remember, but is difficult to guess. Do not use words that can be found in a dictionary.

  • Page 44: Personal Secure Drive

    44 - Acer ProShield Personal Secure Drive The Personal Secure Disk (PSD) is a secure section of your hard disk where you can save files. You can only get access to the PSD via password or fingerprint authentication. Once setup is finished, you can go to the ProShield Console to manage your computer or make changes to the settings.

  • Page 45: Credential Manager

    Acer ProShield - 45 Credential Manager Here you can set and manage your credentials, including Pre-boot authentication. You can change your ProShield and Windows passwords, register fingerprints, manage online account information, and back up or restore credential information. Fingerprint Registration*...

  • Page 46: Data Protection

    46 - Acer ProShield Data Protection Here you can select files for encryption or decryption, and manage your Personal Secure Drive. Data Removal Here you can select files to be completely removed from the hard disk. The File Shredder overwrites the data to make recovering the data impossible.

  • Page 47: Bios Utility

    BIOS utility - 47 B I O S U T I L I T Y The BIOS utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer's BIOS. Your computer is already properly configured and optimized, and you do not normally need to run this utility. However, if you encounter configuration problems, you may need to run it.

  • Page 48: Securing Your Computer

    48 - Securing your computer E C U R I N G Y O U R C O MP U TE R Your computer is a valuable investment that you need to take care of. Learn how to protect and take care of your computer. Security features include hardware and software locks —...

  • Page 49: Entering Passwords

    Securing your computer - 49 Entering passwords When a password is set, a password prompt appears in the center of the display screen. • When the Supervisor Password is set, a prompt appears when you enter the BIOS utility. • Type the Supervisor Password and press <Enter> to access the BIOS utility.

  • Page 50: Power Management

    50 - Power management O W E R M A N A G E M E N T This computer has a built-in power management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any activity involving one or more of the following devices: keyboard, mouse, hard disk, peripherals connected to the computer, and video memory.
  • Page 51 Power management - 51 5. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable. 6. Scroll down and disable Turn on fast startup. 7. Select Save changes.

  • Page 52: Battery Pack

    52 - Battery pack A T T E R Y P A C K The computer uses an embedded Lithium battery that gives you long use between charges. Battery characteristics The battery is recharged whenever you connect the computer to the AC adapter.

  • Page 53: Optimizing Battery Life

    Battery pack - 53 Use this conditioning process for all new batteries, or if a battery hasn't been used for a long time. Warning Do not expose battery packs to temperatures below 0° C (32° F) or above 45° C (113° F). Extreme temperatures may adversely affect the battery pack.

  • Page 54: Checking The Battery Level

    54 - Battery pack Checking the battery level The power meter indicates the current battery level. Rest the cursor over the battery/power icon on the taskbar to see the battery's present charge level. Battery-low warning When using battery power pay attention to the power meter. Important Connect the AC adapter as soon as possible after the battery-low warning appears.

  • Page 55: Traveling With Your Computer

    Traveling with your computer - 55 R A V E L I N G W I T H Y O U R C O M P U T E R This section gives you tips and hints to consider when moving around or traveling with your computer.

  • Page 56: What To Bring To Meetings

    56 - Traveling with your computer You can put the computer in Sleep mode by pressing <Fn> + <F4> or by closing the display. When you are ready to use the computer again, open the display and, if necessary, press and release the power button. Note The computer may enter Hibernation or Deep Sleep mode after being in Sleep mode for a period of time.

  • Page 57: What To Take With You

    Traveling with your computer - 57 What to take with you Unless you have some items at home, take the following items with you: • AC adapter and power cord. • The printed Setup Guide. Special considerations Follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling to and from work: •...

  • Page 58: Preparing The Computer

    58 - Traveling with your computer When you are moving within a larger distance, for instance, from your office building to a client's office building or traveling locally. Preparing the computer Prepare the computer as if you were taking it home. Make sure that the battery in the computer is charged.

  • Page 59: What To Bring With You

    Traveling with your computer - 59 What to bring with you Bring the following items with you: • AC adapter. • Power cords that are appropriate for your destination(s). • Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printer. •...
  • Page 60 60 - Ports and connectors... In this section you will find: • Information on the ports and connectors fitted to your computer...

  • Page 61: Memory Card Reader

    Memory card reader - 61 E M O R Y C A R D R E A D E R Connectivity options Your computer has a card reader and other ports/jacks that allow you to connect peripheral devices to your computer. For instructions on how to connect different external devices to the computer, read the following section.
  • Page 62 62 - Memory card reader (2 TB). Your computer provides an SDHC or SDXC compatible card reader. Note SDXC memory cards can only be used in an SDXC-compatible reader; SD and SDHC cards can be used in either type. Removing a card from a memory card reader 1.

  • Page 63: Video And Audio Connectors

    Video and audio connectors - 63 I D E O A N D A U D I O C O N N E C T O R S Connect to a monitor with a VGA or DVI port (the type of connection supported depends your...

  • Page 64: Hdmi

    64 - HDMI H D M I HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a high-quality, digital audio/video interface. HDMI allows you to connect any compatible digital audio/video source, such as your computer, a set-top box, DVD player, and audio/video receiver to any compatible digital audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV) with a single cable.

  • Page 65: Universal Serial Bus (Usb)

    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 the port, while USB 3.0 ports have a blue tongue. For best performance, USB 3.0 devices should always be plugged into USB 3.0 ports.
  • Page 66 66 - Got a question? In this section you will find: • Frequently asked questions • Tips for using Windows 8.1 • Troubleshooting information • How to protect yourself while online • Where to find Acer service center contact information...

  • Page 67: Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions - 67 R E Q U E N TL Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer.
  • Page 68 Your C: drive will be reformatted and all data will be erased. It is important to back up all data files before using this option. Before performing a restore operation, please check the BIOS settings. 1. Check to see if Acer disk-to-disk recovery is enabled or not.

  • Page 69: Requesting Service

    2. Make sure the D2D Recovery setting in Main is Enabled. 3. Exit the BIOS utility and save changes. The system will reboot. Note To activate the BIOS utility, press <F2> when you see the Acer logo during boot up. For more information,...

  • Page 70: Tips And Hints For Using Windows 8.1

    F r e qu e nt ly a sk 70 - Frequently asked questions Tips and hints for using Windows 8.1 We know this is a new operating system that will take some getting used to, so we've created a few pointers to help you get started. How do I get to Start? Press the Windows key;...

  • Page 71: Can I Boot Directly To The Desktop

    Frequently asked questions - 71 Can I boot directly to the desktop? Yes, you can, just follow these steps: 1. Go to the desktop. 2. Right-click the taskbar and select Properties from the menu that opens. 3. From the Navigation tab, check Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in.
  • Page 72 72 - Frequently asked questions Can I personalize the Lock screen? You can personalize the lock screen with a different image, to run a slideshow of images, or to show you quick status and notifications to suit your personal needs. To change the background, move your cursor to the upper right-hand corner of the screen and click Settings >...

  • Page 73: How Do I Set The Alarm

    Frequently asked questions - 73 Can I make tiles bigger or smaller? Right-click anywhere on Start to open the Customize menu, click the tile(s) you wish to resize and click Resize. Select a size from the menu that appears. How do I close an app? Move your cursor to the top of the screen.

  • Page 74: Where Are My Apps

    74 - Frequently asked questions 5. Save the alarm by clicking the Save icon in the upper right-hand corner. Delete Save Hour Minutes Note The alarm will only sound if your computer is awake at the set time. Where are my apps? Move your cursor to the upper right-hand corner of the screen and click Search, start typing the name of the app you would like to open.

  • Page 75: What Is A Microsoft Id (Account)

    Frequently asked questions - 75 How do I make an app appear on my taskbar? If you're in All apps and you want to make an app appear on the taskbar, right-click a tile to select it and open the Customize menu. Select Pin to taskbar.

  • Page 76: How Do I Add A Favorite To Internet Explorer

    Settings > Change PC settings > Update & recovery > Windows Update. Click Check now. Where can I get more information? For more information please visit the following pages: • Windows 8 and 8.1 tutorials: www.acer.com/windows8-tutorial • Support FAQs: support.acer.com...

  • Page 77: Troubleshooting

    R E Q U E N T LY Frequently asked questions - 77 Troubleshooting This chapter shows you 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 yourself;...
  • Page 78 78 - Frequently asked questions Error messages Corrective action Keyboard error or no Contact your dealer or an authorized service keyboard connected center. Keyboard interface Contact your dealer or an authorized service error center. Press <F2> (during POST) to enter the BIOS Memory size utility, then press Exit in the BIOS utility to mismatch...

  • Page 79: Internet And Online Security

    Internet and online security - 79 N T E R N E T A N D O N L I N E S E C U R I T Y First steps on the net Protecting your computer It is vital to protect your computer from viruses and attacks over the Internet (see Security on page 83).
  • Page 80 80 - Internet and online security Internet as the connection speed is low and connection time is typically charged per hour. DSL (e.g. ADSL) DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is an ‘always-on’ connection that runs over the phone line. As DSL and phone do not use the same frequencies, you can use your telephone at the same time you are connected to the Internet (this requires a ‘micro-filter’...

  • Page 81: Network Connections

    Internet and online security - 81 Network connections A LAN (Local Area Network) is a group of computers (for example, within an office building or home) that share a common communications line and resources. When you set up a network, you can share files, peripheral devices (such as a printer) and an Internet connection.
  • Page 82 82 - Internet and online security services. Read carefully the documentation supplied with your Access point/router for detailed setup instructions. Network cable (RJ45) A network cable (also called RJ45 cable) is used to connect the host computer to the access point (see illustration below); this type of cable may also be used to connect peripheral devices to the access point.

  • Page 83: Surf The Net

    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 Suite on your computer. McAfee Internet Security Suite runs quietly in the background to block today’s complex threats and protect your identity when you shop,...
  • Page 84 Note Acer guarantees that your computer was 100% virus free at the time of purchase and does not cover damages due to viruses. What is spyware? Spyware refers to generally unwanted programs that are downloaded onto your computer while connected to the Internet, often without you knowing it.
  • Page 85 Internet and online security - 85 would allow it (i.e. a game connecting to a multi-player server or an encyclopaedia making a content update). How to protect your computer Cybercrime prevention can be straight-forward - when armed with a little technical advice and common sense, many attacks can be avoided.
  • Page 86 A complete version of McAfee Internet Security Suite is pre-installed on your Acer system. It includes a free trial subscription to protection updates. Make sure you Activate it! Choose strong passwords and keep them safe Passwords are a fact of life on the Internet today;...
  • Page 87 Internet and online security - 87 of your online accounts, one of the first steps you can take is to change your password. Protect your personal information Exercise caution when sharing personal information such as your name, home address, phone number, and email address online. To take advantage of many online services, you will inevitably have to provide personal information in order to handle billing and shipping of purchased goods.
  • Page 88 88 - Internet and online security • Pay attention to privacy policies on Web sites and in software. It is important to understand how an organization might collect and use your personal information before you share it with them. • Guard your email address. Spammers and "phishers" sometimes send millions of messages to email addresses that may or may not exist in hopes of finding a potential victim.
  • Page 89 Internet and online security - 89 that something bad may have happened and you should take necessary action. Protect your computer with Windows security tools Windows provides a variety of protection applications. Windows Updates If you have an active Internet connection, Windows can check for important updates for your computer and install them automatically.

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