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Acer Power User Manual

Acer Power User Manual

(m11e/idcatx-2) system
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ower (M11E/IDCATX-2)
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Summary of Contents for Acer Power

  • Page 1 AcerPower User’s Guide Minit ower (M11E/IDCATX-2) System Manual...

  • Page 2: Acerpower Minitower (M11E/Idcatx-2) User's Guide

    Acer reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this manual at any time and without notice.

  • Page 3: Important Safety Instructions

    (e) sublicense or otherwise make the software available to third parties. The software is the property of Acer or Acer’s supplier and you do not have and shall not gain any proprietary interest in the software (including any modifications or copies made by or for you) or any related intellectual property rights.
  • Page 4 7. 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. 8. This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding-type plug, a plug having a third (grounding) pin.
  • Page 5 Keep away from children and dispose of used battery promptly. 16. Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided in your keyboard/manual accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified, type SVT/SJT, rated 6A 125V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent.
  • Page 6 FCC Class B Radio Frequency Interference Statement Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Introduction About This Manual....................2 Conventions......................4 Chapter 1 System Board 1.1 Features......................1-1 1.2 Major Components ..................1-2 1.2.1 System Board Layout................. 1-3 1.3 Jumpers and Connectors ................1-4 1.3.1 Jumper and Connector Locations ............1-4 1.3.2 Jumper Settings .................
  • Page 8 Chapter 2 BIOS Utility 2.1 Entering Setup....................2-1 2.2 System Information ..................2-3 2.2.1 Processor ................... 2-4 2.2.2 Processor Speed................. 2-4 2.2.3 Internal Cache Size ................2-4 2.2.4 External Cache .................. 2-4 2.2.5 Floppy Drive A.................. 2-4 2.2.6 Floppy Drive B .................. 2-5 2.2.7 IDE Primary Channel Master ............
  • Page 9 2.5.3 Onboard Device Settings ..............2-18 2.6 Power Management ..................2-20 2.6.1 Power Management Mode ............... 2-20 2.6.2 Power Switch < 4 sec............... 2-22 2.6.3 System Wake-up Event..............2-22 2.7 Boot Options ....................2-23 2.7.1 Boot Sequence ................. 2-24 2.7.2 First Hard Disk Drive ..............2-24 2.7.3 Fast Boot ..................
  • Page 10 3.5 Component Installation................. 3-7 3.5.1 Opening the Housing................. 3-7 3.5.2 Removing the Power Supply .............. 3-8 3.5.3 Installing a System Board ..............3-10 3.5.4 Installation Procedures ..............3-11 3.5.5 Reattaching the Power Supply ............3-12 3.5.6 Installing Expansion Boards ............3-14 3.5.7 Installing Drives................
  • Page 11 A.3.1 Front View ..................A-4 A.3.2 Rear View ..................A-5 A.4 Operating the CD-ROM Drive..............A-6 A.4.1 Starting the Drive ................A-6 A.4.2 Emergency Eject................A-7 INDEX Index...

  • Page 12: Chapter 1 Introduction

    Acer is committed to meeting the world’s demand for state-of-the-art computers  at the best prices. The AcerPower™ family of personal computers provides the sheer power and speed to run demanding business, graphics and multimedia applications, and the reliability that makes your life easier.

  • Page 13: About This Manual

    About This Manual This manual is divided into four chapters and an Appendix. Chapter 1 System Board Describes the system board and all its major components. It contains information about the system board layout, jumper and connector locations and functions, jumper settings, and memory configuration.
  • Page 14 The Acer Resource CD contains the bundled software that came with your system, along with the Acer CPR utility and the Acer Software Installer. Use Acer CPR to restore your computer to its original factory settings. Use the Acer Software Installer to install the bundled software that resides on the Acer Resource CD.

  • Page 15: List Of Figures

    Conventions The following conventions are used in this manual: a, e, s, etc. Represents the actual keys that you have to press on the keyboard. NOTE Gives bits and pieces of additional information related to the current topic. WARNING Alerts you to any damage that might result from doing or not doing specific actions.
  • Page 16 1-8 Removing a DIMM ..................1-16 3-1 Front Panel....................3-2 3-2 Rear Panel....................3-3 3-3 Internal Components ..................3-4 4-1 Acer Resource CD ..................4-2 4-2 Acer Software Installer ................. 4-4 A-1 Front Panel....................A-4 A-2 Rear Panel....................A-5 List of Tables 1-1 Jumper Settings ....................

  • Page 17: Chapter 1 System Board

    450 MHz. Integrated with the Intel 440BX system controller, which consists of the PCI controller and the PCI/ISA IDE accelerator (PIIX4), the system combines the new generation of Pentium II power with unmatched graphics performance. The system controller host bus interface supports a Pentium II processor with 66 or 100 MHz external front side bus frequency.

  • Page 18: Major Components

    Major Components The system board has the following major components: • A single edge contact (SEC) CPU connector that supports Pentium II processors running from 233 up to 450 MHz • Three DIMM sockets that accept 16-, 32-, 64-, and 128-MB SDRAM DIMMs •...

  • Page 19: System Board Layout

    Primary IDE connector Serial port 2 Secondary IDE connector Parallel port FDD connector Serial port 1 Intel 440BX BIOS DIMM sockets ISA slots Voltage regulators PCI slots CPU slot 10 AGP slot Power connector Figure 1-1 System Board Layout Index...

  • Page 20: Jumpers And Connectors

    Jumpers and Connectors 1.3.1 Jumper and Connector Locations Figure 1-2 shows the jumper and connector locations on the system board. Figure 1-2 Jumper and Connector Locations In this figure, the blackened pin of a jumper or connector represents pin 1. AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 21: Jumper Settings

    Table 1-2 lists the different connectors on the system board and their respective functions. Table 1-2 Connector Functions Connector Function SPS S/W Control CPU thermal sensor connector CPU fan connector Power connector Floppy disk connector USB connectors COM2 (lower left), COM1 (lower right), and Parallel port (above) Index...
  • Page 22 SCSI disk LED connector (for Combo Card) CN15 Wake-on LAN connector CN16 Power switch CN19 Housing fan connector CN20 Audio line-in connector CN21 Modem Ring-in connector CN22 Turbo LED connector Power LED connector System reset connector Housing intrusion switch connector AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 23: Front Panel Connectors

    Front Panel Connectors The following figure shows the pin orientation of the front-panel connectors. Figure 1-3 Front-Panel Connectors Index xxiii...

  • Page 24: Installing Components

    1.5.2 Pre-installation Instructions Always observe the following before you install a system component: 1. Turn off the system power and all the peripherals connected to the unit before opening it. Unplug the power cord from the unit. 2. Open the system according to the instructions in Chapter 3, System Housing.

  • Page 25: Post-Installation Instructions

    Do not attempt the procedures described in the following sections unless you are a qualified service technician. 1.5.3 Post-installation Instructions Observe the following procedures after installing a system component: 1. Check that the components are installed according to the instructions in their respective sections.

  • Page 26: Removing A Pentium Ii Processor

    Removing a Pentium II Processor Observe the ESD precautions (section 1.5.1) when installing or removing a system component. Follow these steps to remove the Pentium II CPU module from the slot. 1. Remove the fan connections. See Table 1-2. 2. Unlock the latches that secure the processor module. Figure 1-4 Unlocking the Module Latches 2.
  • Page 27 Figure 1-5 Removing the Pentium II Processor Index xxvii...

  • Page 28: Installing A Pentium Ii Processor

    Installing a Pentium II Processor Observe the ESD precautions (section 1.5.1) when installing or removing a system component. Follow these steps to install a Pentium II processor. 1. Remove the Pentium II processor from its protective packaging. Make sure that the latches on the sides of the module are not pressed.
  • Page 29 3. Lower the processor into to the CPU connector on the system board until the card edge touches the connector. 4. Press down on the processor until the card edge completely fits into the connector and the latches on the sides lock the processor into place. 5.

  • Page 30: Memory Upgrade

    Memory Upgrade The three 168-pin sockets onboard support synchronous DRAM DIMMs. You may install 16, 32, 64, or 128-MB DIMMs for a maximum of 384-MB system memory. Each of the sockets represents one independent bank. This allows you to install DIMMs with different capacities in each bank.

  • Page 31: Installing A Dimm

    1.8.2 Installing a DIMM Follow these steps to install a DIMM: 1. Align pin 1 of the DIMM with pin 1 of the socket. Pin 1 is labeled 1 on both the DIMM and the socket. 2. Gently push the DIMM until the holding clips lock the DIMM into a vertical position. Figure 1-7 Installing a DIMM Be careful when inserting DIMMs.

  • Page 32: Removing A Dimm

    1.8.3 Removing a DIMM To remove a DIMM: 1. Press the holding clips on both sides of the socket outward to release the DIMM. 2. Gently pull the DIMM out of the socket. Figure 1-8 Removing a DIMM AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 33: Reconfiguring The System

    Follow these steps to reconfigure the system: 1. Reboot the system. 2. Press during the power-on self-test (POST) routine to run Setup. During POST, a memory error message may appear, indicating that the total memory does not match the value stored in CMOS.

  • Page 34: Error Messages

    1.9.2 System Error Messages A system error message indicates a problem with the computer itself. A message of this type normally appears during the power-on self-test, before the operating system prompt appears. Table 1-4 lists the system error messages.

  • Page 35: System Error Messages

    Table 1-4 System Error Messages Message Action CMOS Battery Error Replace the CMOS battery. CMOS Checksum Error Run Setup (see section 2.1). CPU BIOS Update Code Contact your dealer. Mismatch Diskette Drive Controller Error Check and connect the control cable or Not Installed to the diskette controller.
  • Page 36 Table 1-4 System Error Messages (continued) Message Action Memory Error at: Check DIMMs on the system board. MMMM:SSSS:OOO (W:XXXX, Contact your dealer. R:YYYY) where: M: MB, S: Segment, O: Offset, X/Y: write/read pattern Memory Size Mismatch Check the memory size and CPU clock speed installed in the system.

  • Page 37: Correcting Error Conditions

    Setup, which is why you should write them down when the system is correctly configured. An incorrect configuration is a major cause of power-on error messages, especially for a new system. 2. Remove the system unit cover (See Chapter 3, System Housing). Check that the jumpers on the system board and any expansion boards are set correctly (see section 1.3 for system board jumper information).

  • Page 38: Chapter 2 Bios Utility

    Chapter 2 BIOS Utility Most systems are already configured by the manufacturer or the dealer. There is no need to run Setup when starting the computer unless you get a Run Setup message. The Setup program loads configuration values into the battery-backed nonvolatile memory called CMOS RAM.

  • Page 39: Product Information

    Setup Utility • System Information • Product Information • Disk Drives • Onboard Peripherals • Power Management • Boot Options • Date and Time • System Security • Advanced Option* Load Default Settings Abort Settings Change * This option appears when you press the [F8] key.

  • Page 40: System Information

    System Information The following screen appears if you select System Information from the Main menu: System Information Processor ......Pentium II Processor Speed ....300 MHz Internal Cache Size ....32 KB, Enabled External Cache Size ....512 KB, Enabled Floppy Drive A .....

  • Page 41: Processor Speed

    2.2.2 Processor Speed The Processor Speed parameter specifies the speed of the processor currently installed in your system. The system can support Pentium II processors running at 233, 266, 300, 333, 350, 400, and 450 MHz. 2.2.3 Internal Cache Size This parameter specifies the first-level or the internal cache memory size (i.e., the memory integrated into the CPU)), and whether it is enabled or disabled.

  • Page 42: Ide Primary Channel Slave

    2.2.8 IDE Primary Channel Slave This parameter specifies the current configuration of the IDE device connected to the slave port of the primary IDE channel. For information on how to configure the IDE drives, see section 2.4.2. 2.2.9 IDE Secondary Channel Master This parameter specifies the current configuration of the IDE device connected to the master port of the secondary IDE channel.

  • Page 43: Serial Port 1

    2.2.13 Serial Port 2 This parameter shows the serial port 2 address and IRQ setting. 2.2.14 Parallel Port This parameter shows the parallel port address and IRQ setting. 2.2.15 PS/2 Mouse The BIOS utility automatically detects if there is a pointing device connected to your system.

  • Page 44: Product Information

    Product Information The Product Information contains the general data about the system, such as the product name, serial number, BIOS version, etc. This information is necessary for troubleshooting (may be required when asking for technical support). The following figure shows how the Product Information screen appears: Product Information Product Name ......

  • Page 45: Main Board S/N

    2.3.4 Main Board S/N This parameter specifies the system board’s serial number. 2.3.5 System BIOS Version This parameter specifies the version of the BIOS utility. 2.3.6 DMI BIOS Version This parameter specifies the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) BIOS version. DMI enables software to collect information about a computer environment.

  • Page 46: Floppy Drive B

    Disk Drives Select Disk Drives to input configuration values for disk drives. The following screen shows the Disk Drives menu screen: Disk Drives Diskette Drive A ...... [1.44-MB, 3.5-inch] Diskette Drive B ...... [ None LS-120 Drive as ....... [ Normal ] IDE Primary Channel Master IDE Primary Channel Slave IDE Secondary Channel Master...

  • Page 47: Drive Compatible As

    2.4.2 LS-120 Drive Compatible As This parameter allows you not only to enable the LS-120 device installed in your system, but also to specify the function of the device. The setting affects how BIOS will detect the device. The default setting is Normal. Possible settings are: •...

  • Page 48: Ide Drives

    2.4.3 IDE Drives To configure the IDE drives connected to your system, select the parameter that represents the channel and port where the desired hard disk to configure is connected. The options are: IDE Primary Channel Master This parameter lets you configure the hard disk drive connected to the master port of IDE channel 1.
  • Page 49 The following screen appears if you select any of the IDE Drive parameters: IDE Primary/Secondary Channel Master/Slave Page 1/1 Type ......[ Auto ] Cylinder ....... [ XXXX ] Head ......[ XXXX ] Sector ......[ XXXX ] Size ......[ XXXX ] MB Hard Disk Size >...

  • Page 50: Enhanced Ide Features

    Head This parameter specifies the number of heads of your hard disk, and is automatically set depending on your Type parameter setting. Sector This parameter specifies the number of sectors of your hard disk, and is automatically set depending on your Type parameter setting. Size This parameter specifies the size of your hard disk, in MB.

  • Page 51: Advanced Pio Mode

    Advanced PIO Mode When set to Auto, the BIOS utility automatically detects if the installed hard disk supports the function. If supported, it allows for faster data recovery and read/write timing that reduces hard disk activity time. This results in better hard disk performance. disregard the feature, change the setting to Disabled.

  • Page 52: Onboard Peripherals

    Onboard Peripherals The Onboard Peripheral Configuration allows you to configure the onboard communication ports and the onboard devices. Selecting this option displays the following screen: Onboard Peripherals Serial Port 1 .......[Enabled ] Base Address .....[3F8h] IRQ ......[4] Serial Port 2 .......[Enabled ] Base Address .....[2F8h] IRQ ......[3] Parallel Port .......[Enabled ]...

  • Page 53: Parallel Port

    The Base Address and IRQ parameters for each port are configurable only if the port is enabled. 2.5.2 Parallel Port This parameter allows you to enable or disable the parallel port. Base Address This function lets you set a logical base address for the parallel port. The options are: •...

  • Page 54: Ecp Dma Channel

    Table 2-1 Parallel Port Operation Mode Settings Setting Function Standard Parallel Port Allows normal speed one-way operation (SPP) Standard and Bi- Allows normal speed operation in a two-way directional mode Enhanced Parallel Port Allows bi-directional parallel port operation (EPP) at maximum speed Extended Capabilities Allows parallel port to operate in bi- Port (ECP)

  • Page 55: Onboard Device Settings

    2.5.3 Onboard Device Settings The Onboard Device Settings menu allows you to configure the onboard communication ports and the onboard devices. Selecting this option from the Onboard Peripherals menu displays the following screen: Onboard Device Settings Floppy Disk Controller ....[Enabled ] IDE Controller ......[Both PS/2 Mouse Controller ....[Enabled ] USB Host Controller ....[Enabled]...

  • Page 56: Usb Host Controller

    USB Host Controller This parameter lets you enable or disable the USB controller on board. When enabled, it activates the USB function of the system. When disabled, it deactivates the function. The default setting is Enabled. USB Legacy Mode This function, when enabled, lets you use a USB keyboard in DOS. Set this to Disabled to deactivate the USB keyboard function in DOS.

  • Page 57: Power Management

    2.6.1 Power Management Mode This parameter allows you to reduce power consumption. When this parameter is set to Enabled, you can configure the IDE hard disk and system timers. Setting it to Disabled deactivates the power-management feature and its timers. The default setting is Enabled.

  • Page 58: Ide Hard Disk Standby Timer

    OFF. System Sleep Timer This parameter sets the system to the lowest power-saving mode after a specified period of inactivity. Any keyboard or mouse action or any activity detected from the IRQ channels resumes system operation. The default setting is OFF.

  • Page 59: Power Switch < 4 Sec

    2.6.2 Power Switch < 4 sec. When set to Power Off, the system automatically turns off when the power switch is pressed for less than 4 seconds. When set to Suspend, the system enters the suspend mode when pressed for less than 4 seconds. The default setting is Power Off.

  • Page 60: Boot Options

    Boot Options This option allows you to specify your preferred setting for bootup. The following screen appears if you select Boot Options from the Basic Configuration menu: Boot Options Boot Sequence [Floppy Disk] [Hard Disk [IDE CD-ROM ] First Hard Disk Drive ....[ IDE ] Fast Boot ......[Disabled] Silent Boot ......[Disabled] Num Lock After Boot ....[Enabled]...

  • Page 61: Boot Sequence

    2.7.1 Boot Sequence This parameter allows you to specify the boot search sequence during POST. • . The system checks this drive first. • . The system then checks this drive if it can not boot from the specified drive. •...

  • Page 62: Silent Boot

    2.7.4 Silent Boot This parameter enables or disables the Silent Boot function. When set to Enabled, BIOS is in graphical mode and displays only an identification logo during POST and while booting. After booting the screen displays the operating system prompt (such as DOS) or logo (such as Windows 98).

  • Page 63: Configuration Table

    2.7.7 Configuration Table This parameter allows you to enable or disable the appearance of the configuration table after POST but before booting. The configuration table gives a summary of the hardware devices and settings that BIOS detected during POST. The default setting is Enabled. Index lxiii...

  • Page 64: Date And Time

    As long as the internal battery remains good (approximately seven years) and connected, the clock continues to keep the date and time accurately even when the power is off. Boot Options Date ........[DDD, MMM xx, xxxx]...

  • Page 65: Time

    2.8.2 Time Highlight the items on the Time parameter and press to set the time following the hour-minute-second format. Valid values for hour, minute, and second are: • Hour 00 to 23 • Minute 00 to 59 • Second 00 to 59 Index...

  • Page 66: System Security

    The following screen appears if you select System Security from the Main menu: System Security Setup Password ....[None] Power-on Password ....[None] Operation Mode ....[Normal] Disk Drive Control Floppy Drive ....[Normal] Hard Disk Drive ....[Normal] 2.9.1...
  • Page 67 Setup Password Enter your new Setup Password twice. Setup Password may be up to 7 characters long. Enter Password ....[xxxxxxx] Enter Password again ... [xxxxxxx] Set or Change Password 3. Type a password in the Enter Password field. The password may consist of up to seven characters.

  • Page 68: To Remove Your Setup Password

    For the password to take effect you must set jumper JP3 to 1-2 (Check password): 1. Turn off and unplug the computer. 2. Open the computer housing and set JP3 to 2-3 (Bypass password) to bypass the password function. See figure 1-2 for the location of JP3. 3.

  • Page 69: To Bypass Setup Password

    To set JP3 to 2-3 (Bypass password): 1. Turn off and unplug the computer. 2. Open the computer housing and set JP3 to 2-3 (Bypass password) to bypass the password function. See figure 1-2 for the location of JP3. 3. Close your computer’s housing and reboot your system. To bypass Setup Password: If you forget your setup password, you can bypass the password security feature by hardware.

  • Page 70: Power-On Password

    2.9.2 Power-on Password The Power-on Password secures your system against unauthorized use. Once you set this password, you have to type it whenever you boot the system. To set this password, enter Setup Utility, select System Security, then highlight the Power-on Password parameter.

  • Page 71: Disk Drive Control

    2.9.3Disk Drive Control The disk drive control features allow you to control the floppy drive or the hard disk drive boot function to prevent loading operating systems or other programs from a certain drive while the other drives are operational (under DOS mode only). Table 2-2 lists the drive control settings and their corresponding functions.

  • Page 72: Advanced Options

    2.10 Advanced Options Advanced Option configuration is available only in the Advanced Level. The Advanced Options configuration menu allows you to configure the system memory, PCI device settings, and CPU frequency. Press F8 to access the Advanced Options parameters. To avoid damaging the system, do not change any settings in the Advanced Configuration unless you are a qualified technician.

  • Page 73: Memory/Cache Options

    2.10.1 Memory/Cache Options The Memory/Cache Options allows you to configure the advanced system memory functions. Memory/Cache Options Internal Cache(CPU Cache) ...[Enabled ] External Cache ......[Enabled ] Cache Scheme ......[ Write Back ] Memory at 15MB-16MB Reserved for ...[System] Memory Parity Mode ....[Disabled] Internal Cache (CPU Cache) This parameter enables or disables the first-level or internal memory, that is, the memory integrated into the CPU.

  • Page 74: Memory At 15Mb-16Mb Reserved For

    Memory at 15MB-16MB Reserved for To prevent memory address conflicts between the system and expansion boards, reserve this memory range for the use of either the system or an expansion board. The default setting is System. Memory Parity Mode This parameter allows you to enable or disable the ECC (Error Checking and Correction) feature.

  • Page 75: Pnp/Pci Options

    2.10.2 PnP/PCI Options The PnP/PCI Options allows you to specify the settings for your PCI devices. Selecting this option displays the following screen: PnP/PCI Options PCI IRQ Setting ... [ Auto INTA INTB INTC INTD PCI Slot 1 ....[--] [--] [--] [--]...

  • Page 76: Pci Slots

    PCI Slots When you set the PCI IRQ Setting parameter to Auto, these parameters specify the auto- assigned interrupt for each of the PCI devices. If you set the PCI IRQ Setting parameter to Manual, you need to specify the interrupt that you want to assign for each PCI device installed in your system.

  • Page 77: Graphics Aperture Size

    Graphics Aperture Size This parameter determines the effective size of the graphics aperture. Graphics aperture is the address range that the AGP video and the CPU use to manage graphical objects. The lowest setting is 8 MB and the highest is 256 MB. The default setting is 64 MB. Plug and Play OS When this parameter is set to Yes, BIOS initializes only PnP boot devices such as SCSI cards.

  • Page 78: Cpu Frequency

    2.10.3 CPU Frequency This parameter displays your CPU’s speed and bus frequency. It also allows you to specify the CPU frequency multiplier. Selecting this option displays the following screen: CPU Frequency Bus Frequency ....[xx] MHz CPU Multiple ....[x] Processor Speed .....

  • Page 79: Load Default Settings

    2.11 Load Default Settings Use this option to load the default settings for the optimized system configuration. When you load the default settings, some of the parameters are grayed-out with their fixed settings. These grayed parameters are not user-configurable. The following dialog box appears when you select Load Default Settings from the main menu: Load Default Settings Do you want to load default settings?

  • Page 80: Exit Setup

    Examine the system configuration values. When you are satisfied that all the values are correct, write them down. Store the recorded values in a safe place. In the future, if the battery loses power or the CMOS chip is damaged, you will know what values to enter when you rerun Setup.

  • Page 81: Chapter 3 System Housing

    In this case, you just have to add other items that you wish to install following the procedures in this chapter. Turn off system power and unplug the power cord and all peripherals before opening the system or connecting or removing any peripheral device.

  • Page 82: Front Panel

    Front Panel 3.5-inch diskette drive CD-ROM drive Power button Reset button Power LED Speed indicator LED HDD LED 3.5- Externally accessible inch bay Figure 3-1 Front Panel AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 83: Rear Panel

    Rear Panel Safety latch USB port 2 Monitor power socket Universal Serial Bus (USB) port 1 Voltage selector COM2 port Index lxxxiii...

  • Page 84: Rear Panel

    Power socket Parallel port Mouse connector COM1 port Keyboard connector Figure 3-2 Rear Panel AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 85: Internal Components

    Internal Components Power supply Expansion board brackets Drive bays for 5.25-inch diskette drive or CD-ROM drive Hard disk drive bay Extra hard disk frame Figure 3-3 Internal Components Index lxxxv...

  • Page 86: Positioning The Housing

    Positioning the Housing Arrange the legs so that the housing is secure in the standing position. AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...
  • Page 87 2 inches The housing has vents on both sides, with the left vent being the more important of the two. When standing the system with the vents facing a wall, leave a 2-inch space from the wall to allow air circulation. See Figure A. To stand the housing with the vents facing out, place the system close to the wall and position the legs as in Figure B.

  • Page 88: Component Installation

    Component Installation Make sure to turn off the power and unplug the power cord before installing or removing a system component. 3.5.1 Opening the Housing Front Panel Rear security latch 1. Release the rear security latch to unlock the system housing.

  • Page 89: Removing The Power Supply

    2. Locate the power supply. Remove any attached power cables, remembering where they were located (refer to Figure 1-1). Remove the screw from the top rear of the chassis, then press the tab located on top of the housing frame just above the power supply.
  • Page 90 3. Gently pull the power supply outward to detach it from the frame. AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 91: Installing A System Board

    3.5.3 Installing a System Board ESD Precautions Always observe the following electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions before installing a system component: 1. Do not remove a component from its anti-static packaging until you are ready to install it. 2. Wear a wrist grounding strap before handling electronic components. Wrist grounding straps are available at most electronic component stores.

  • Page 92: Installation Procedures

    The housing accepts ATX form-factor system boards. Follow these steps to install a system board: Before you proceed, make sure that you have removed the power supply and that the housing is lying flat. 1. Align the board with the pegs on the housing frame.

  • Page 93: Reattaching The Power Supply

    3.5.5 Reattaching the Power Supply Before you reattach the power supply, make sure that you have installed the system board. 1. Connect the power supply cables into the onboard power connector. The connectors are keyed; improper installation will damage the main board.
  • Page 94 3. Gently push the power supply towards the housing until the tab located on top of the power supply frame click into place. Then secure it with the screw. This secures the power supply into the housing frame.

  • Page 95: Installing Expansion Boards

    3.5.6 Installing Expansion Boards Observe the ESD Precautions before installing a system component. 1. Study the expansion board installation guide and configure any jumpers as directed. 2. Remove a bracket from any empty expansion slot. Save the screw to secure the new board.
  • Page 96 3. Gently insert the board into the expansion slot. Make sure that the board is properly inserted. 4. Secure the board with the screw. Do not neglect this step. The board may use the screw for grounding. AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 97: Installing Drives

    3.5.7 Installing Drives Observe the ESD Precautions before installing a system component. Installing a 3.5-inch Diskette Drive The system housing comes with a 3.5-inch diskette drive installed in the upper 3.5-inch diskette drive bay. However, you can install an additional 3.5-inch drive in the Hard disk drive\external device bay.
  • Page 98 To install a 3.5-inch diskette drive in the hard disk drive/external device bay: 1. Detach the 3.5-inch diskette drive frames from the housing. AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...
  • Page 99 2. Detach the upper drive frame from the lower drive frame. 3. Attach the lower drive frame to the 3.5-inch diskette drive with the necessary screws. Index xcix...
  • Page 100 4. Reattach the lower drive frame to the upper drive with 3.5-inch diskette drive. 5. Reinstall the drive frames with drive(s) to the housing. AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 101: Installing A Cd-Rom Drive

    6. Attach the power supply and drive cables. Make sure that the hard disk drive cable is connected to the IDE1 connector on the board. Installing a CD-ROM Drive 1. Push in the middle upper drive bay cover on the front panel and fold it inside the frame.
  • Page 102 3. Attach the power supply and the drive cables to the CD-ROM drive. Make sure that the other end of the CD-ROM drive cable is connected to the secondary IDE connector on the system board. AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...

  • Page 103: Installing A Hard Disk

    Installing a Hard Disk 1. Detach the 3.5-inch diskette drive frames from the housing. 2. Detach the upper drive frame from the lower drive frame. Index ciii...
  • Page 104 3. Attach the lower drive frame to a hard disk with the necessary screws. 4. Reattach the lower drive frame to the upper drive with hard disk drive. AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...
  • Page 105 5. Reinstall the drive frames with drive(s) to the housing. 6. Attach the power supply and drive cables. Make sure that the hard disk drive cable is connected to the primary IDE connector on the system board if it is the primary system drive.

  • Page 106: Installing Extra Hard Disks

    3.5.8 Installing Extra Hard Disks The housing accommodates two extra hard disks. Follow these steps to install the extra hard disks. 1. Your housing comes with an extra hard disk frame. Attach the hard disks to the extra hard disk frame with the necessary screws. Before you proceed with the installation of extra hard disks, make sure that you have installed the system board and the necessary expansion board(s).
  • Page 107 2. Locate the slots on the rear and bottom side of the housing. 3. Insert the frame tabs into these slots, with the hard disk facing the system board inside the housing. 4. Secure the hard disk frame with a screw. Index cvii...

  • Page 108: Reinstalling The Cover

    3.5.9 Reinstalling the Cover After you install the necessary system components into the housing, you must reinstall the cover. To install the cover: 1. Align the rear-end corners of the cover with the front corners of the housing frame. 2. Push the cover back until it clicks into place. 3.
  • Page 109 Index...

  • Page 110: Acer Resource Cd

    Chapter 4 Acer Manageability Software Your AcerPower system is bundled with Acer desktop manageability software. It is designed to make an AcerPower system more manageable based on support for the following industry standards and specifications: • Desktop Management Interface (DMI) 2.0 •...

  • Page 111: The Acer Resource Cd

    4.1 The Acer Resource CD The Acer Resource CD contains a collection of powerful utility programs and information, to effectively manage your AcerPower system. The Acer Resource CD provides the following useful features and services: Figure 4-1 Acer Resource CD...
  • Page 112 System Diagnostics. This program allows you to verify components and system integrity. To use your Acer Resource CD, insert it into the CD-ROM drive. The Windows auto-run mechanism automatically launches Microsoft Internet Explorer, and brings up the Acer Resource CD interface (in HTML-based format).

  • Page 113: Acer Software Installer

    The Acer Software Installer also provides a single and easy launching point for you to selectively install some or all of the bundled software; you do not need to know any of the path names or other details.

  • Page 114: Use The Acer Software Installer

    Use the Acer Software Installer To activate the Acer Software Installer, please do the following: 1. From the Acer Resource CD interface, click on the Acer Software Installer button. 2. When Microsoft Internet Explorer File Download screen is displayed to prompt “what would you like to do”, select Open it, and then click the OK button.

  • Page 115: Acer Software Library

    Intel LDCM, Administrator Version • Acer motherboard specific drivers • Monitor To access the Acer Software Library components, click the Acer Software Library button from the Acer Resource CD interface, and then search for the drivers or applications you are looking for. Index...

  • Page 116: Acer Online Documentation

    Intel LANDesk Client Manager User’s Guide. To access the Acer Online Documentation, click on the Acer Online Documentation button from the Acer Resource CD interface, then click on the document you are looking for. The Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed first from the Acer Software Installer, before viewing the .PDF documents.

  • Page 117: Acer Cpr

    In case of emergency such as a hard disk drive failure, you may find that the only way to recover is to rebuild the hard disk drive to its original factory state. Acer CPR gives you a simple way to completely reinstall the Acer pre-load that originally came preinstalled on your hard disk drive.
  • Page 118 6. Press ESC twice. When prompted, ‘Do you want to save CMOS data?’, select [Yes], then press ENTER. The system will reboot from the CD-ROM. 7. After booting from the CD-ROM, you will see the Acer CPR options displayed. Select Rebuild Drive and follow the onscreen instructions.

  • Page 119: System Diagnostics

    To invoke the system diagnostics program: • Follow the Acer CPR procedure to start Acer CPR. • From the Acer CPR screen, click on the Diagnostics button. The diagnostics software will start to automatically test the system components. ® ®...

  • Page 120: Installing Virusscan

    4.7.1 Installing VirusScan To install the McAfee VirusScan utility: 1. Invoke the Acer Software Installer from the Acer Resource CD (refer to previous section for instructions). 2. Click McAfee VirusScan. 3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation. 4.7.2 Updating VirusScan Data Files New viruses (and variants of old ones) are constantly appearing and circulating within the computer community.

  • Page 121: Download New Versions Manually

    Download New Versions Manually To update your data files manually, take the following steps: 1. Download the data file (for example, DAT-3103.ZIP) from one of McAfee’s electronic services. On most services, it is located in the anti-virus section. Please note that your ability to access these updates is legally restricted by the maintenance terms outlined in the README.1 file accompanying the software and detailed in the software license agreement.
  • Page 122 5. Copy the new NAMES.DAT, CLEAN.DAT, and SCAN.DAT files to the appropriate directory, overwriting the old data files. There might be VirusScan files in more than one directory. If so, place the updated files in each appropriate directory. Occasionally, the product’s scan engine is also upgraded and you will require a new version of VirusScan in order to use the newest data files.

  • Page 123: Intel Landesk Client Manager

    Transfer files to and from client workstations. • Remotely reboot client workstations. • Remotely power up client systems. For more information about MIF files, instrumentation, and DMI standards, please visit the following site on the World Wide Web: http://www.dmtf.org. Index...

  • Page 124: Setting Up Landesk Client Manager

    4.8.1 Setting Up LANDesk Client Manager Installing LANDesk Client Manager, Client Version To install LANDesk Client Manager, Client Version, do the following: • Invoke the Acer Software Installer from Acer Resource CD (refer to previous section for instructions). • Click Intel LANDesk Client Manager.

  • Page 125: Using Landesk Client Manager

    4.8.2 Using LANDesk Client Manager To invoke LANDesk Client Manager: click Start | Programs | Intel LANDesk Management | Client Manager. The Client Manager user interface has three main parts: • The PC health indicator, which consists of the PC Health meter, PC health description, and suggestions for improving unhealthy workstations.

  • Page 126: Landesk Client Manager, Administrator Version

    4.8.3 LANDesk Client Manager, Administrator Version A copy of the LANDesk Client Manager, Administrator Version, is bundled on your Acer Resource CD. It is recommended that you install this software only if it is to be used by a system administrator as the management station.

  • Page 127: A.1 Introduction

    Appendix A: CD-ROM Drive Introduction Your system includes a CD-ROM drive in a 5.25-inch half-height form factor. This drive is ideal for multimedia applications that incorporate graphics, animation, full-motion video, electronic publishing, and information distribution. This CD-ROM drive is designed to be compatible with an industry standard – the Enhanced IDE/ATAPI interface.

  • Page 128: Front Panel

    The laser beam in this CD-ROM drive can be harmful to the eyes. The wavelength of the laser diode is 780nm typical and the optical power of 0.2 ~ 0.3 mw continuous wave. Do not attempt to service this drive by yourself (e.g., opening or removing the drive casing).

  • Page 129: A.2.2 When Handling A Disc

    A.2.2 When Handling a Disc • Always handle a disc by its edges. Do not touch the surface of the disc (especially the underside). • Never write on a disc or place a label on the surface of the disc. •...

  • Page 130: A.3.2 Rear View

    Your CD-ROM front panel may be slightly different from the one shown above. 1. Disc tray opens and closes for disc loading and removal 2. Headphone jack is used for attaching headphones or self-amplified speakers 3. Busy indicator lights up while data is being read from the disc; flashes during seek operation 4.

  • Page 131: A.4 Operating The Cd-Rom Drive

    Your CD-ROM rear panel may be slightly different from the one shown above. 1. Power supply connector connects the CD-ROM drive to the computer’s power supply 2. Interface connector connects the CD-ROM drive to the 40-pin interface cable 3. Device configuration jumper. The CD-ROM drive is configured as a master drive, so a jumper is installed on “MA”.
  • Page 132 • Do not force the tray to open manually. • When not using the drive, keep the tray closed to prevent dust and dirt contamination. • Do not press down hard on the tray when loading a disc, as it could damage the tray and may cause the drive to malfunction.

  • Page 133: A.4.2 Emergency Eject

    If for any reason the tray does not eject automatically, insert and press an eject-bar inside the emergency eject hole to manually eject the tray. A large straightened paper clip can be used as an eject-bar. Be sure to turn off the power before a manual disc eject operation. Index...
  • Page 134 AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User's Guide...
  • Page 135 Load default settings, 2-42 Acer online documentation, 4-7 Onboard peripherals, 2-15 Acer resource CD, 4-2 Product information, 2-7 Acer software installer, 4-4, 4-6, 4-7 System information, 2-3 Installable applications software, 4-5 System security, 2-29 Use the Acer software installer, 4-5...
  • Page 136 External cache, 2-4, 2-36 Installing expansion boards, 3-14 Extra hard disks, installing, 3-25 Installing extra hard disks, 3-25 Opening the housing, 3-7 Reattaching the power supply, 3-12 Reinstalling the cover, 3-27 Removing the power supply, 3-8 Fast boot, 2-24 Configuration table, 2-26...
  • Page 137 IDE secondary channel master, 2-5, 2-11 IDE secondary channel slave, 2-5, 2-11 Installable applications software, 4-5 Main board ID, 2-7 Installation procedures, 3-11 Main board S/N, 2-8 Installing a 3.5-inch diskette drive, 3-16 Major components, 1-2 Installing a CD-ROM drive, 3-20 System board layout, 1-3 Installing a DIMM, 1-15 McAfee VirusScan, 4-10...
  • Page 138 2-31 Modem ring indicator, 2-22 Silent boot, 2-25 Power management mode, 2-20 Sleep mode, 2-21 Power switch < 4 sec, 2-22 SMBus interrupt (IRQ9), 2-19 Sleep mode, 2-21 Software error messages, 1-18 System sleep timer, 2-21 Software installer, 4-4, 4-6, 4-7...
  • Page 139 To remove your setup password, 2-31 System sleep timer, 2-21 System wake-up event, 2-22 Time, 2-28 To bypass setup password, 2-32 To remove your setup password, 2-31 Total memory, 2-6 USB host controller, 2-19 USB legacy mode, 2-19 Use the Acer software installer, 4-5 Index...
  • Page 142 cxlii AcerPower Minitower (M11E/IDCATX-2) User’s Guide...
  • Page 143 cxliii...

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