Acer TravelMate 740 Series User Manual

Acer TravelMate 740 Series User Manual

Acer laptop pc user's guide
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Summary of Contents for Acer TravelMate 740 Series

  • Page 1 TravelMate 740 series User’s guide...
  • Page 2 Serial number: ___________________________________ Purchase date: ___________________________________ Place of purchase: ________________________________ Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other company's product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.
  • Page 3: First Things First

    First things first We would like to thank you for making the TravelMate series of notebook computers your choice for your mobile computing needs. We hope you will be happy with your TravelMate as much as we enjoyed making it for you. Your guides To help you use your TravelMate, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Just for Starters...
  • Page 4: Basic Care And Tips For Using Your Computer

    So, please read through it. For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our Web site (global.acer.com). Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off To turn on the computer, simply slide and then release the power switch on the left side of your TravelMate.
  • Page 5: Taking Care Of Your Computer

    Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power switch 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. Taking care of your computer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.
  • Page 6: Taking Care Of Your Battery Pack

    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. •...
  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    First things first Your guides Basic care and tips for using your computer 1 Getting to know your TravelMate A TravelMate tour Front view Left view Right view Rear view Bottom view Features Indicators Using the keyboard Special keys Touchpad Touchpad basics Storage Hard disk...
  • Page 8 viii 3 Troubleshooting my computer Frequently-asked questions Troubleshooting tips Error messages Requesting service International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW) Before you call Appendix A Specifications Appendix B Notices Index...
  • Page 9: Getting To Know Your Travelmate

    1 Getting to know your TravelMate...
  • Page 10 Your TravelMate computer 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: A Travelmate Tour

    A TravelMate tour After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new TravelMate computer. Front view Item Display screen Touchpad Click buttons (left, center and right) Palmrest Description Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display), displays computer output.
  • Page 12: Left View

    Item Fingerprint recognition sensor Keyboard Status indicators Left view Item Infrared port PC Card slots Eject buttons Power switch Floppy activity indicator 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Description Identifies the authorized fingerprint, in order for the user to gain access to the computer.
  • Page 13: Right View

    Item Speaker/ Headphone-out jack Line-in jack Microphone-in jack Volume control Floppy drive Floppy disk eject button Video capture kit slot Right view Item Video capture kit slot Description Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones). Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman).
  • Page 14: Rear View

    Item Battery bay AcerMedia drive AcerMedia indicator Eject button Emergency eject slot Security keylock Rear view Item Power jack PS/2 port Modem jack 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Description Houses the computer's battery pack. Houses a removable media drive module. Lights up when the AcerMedia drive is active.
  • Page 15 Item Serial port Parallel port Network jack External display port USB ports (two) Description Connects to a serial device (e.g., serial mouse). Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel printer). Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector) and displays up to 64K colors at 1280x1024 resolution.
  • Page 16: Bottom View

    Bottom view Item AcerMedia bay Battery bay Hard disk bay Battery release latch Memory compartment Mini docking connector AcerMedia bay release latch 1 Getting to know your TravelMate Description Houses an AcerMedia drive module. Houses the computer's battery pack. Houses the computer's hard disk (secured by a screw).
  • Page 17: Features

    Features Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features: Performance • Intel® Pentium® III processor-M with 512 KB level 2 cache and Intel® SpeedStep™ technology support • 64-bit memory bus • AcerMedia bay (removable DVD drive or DVD/CD-RW combo drive) •...
  • Page 18 Connectivity • High-speed fax/data modem port • Fast infrared wireless communication • USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports • Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port • Optional Bluetooth wireless communication feature • Optional InviLink 802.11b wireless LAN Human-centric design and ergonomics • Internet scroll key •...
  • Page 19: Indicators

    Indicators The computer has six easy-to-read status icons below the display screen. The Power and Sleep status icons are visible even when you close the display cover so you can see the status of the computer while the cover is closed. Icon Function Power...
  • Page 20: Using The Keyboard

    Using the keyboard The full-sized keyboard includes an embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and twelve function keys. Special keys Lock keys The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off. Lock key Description Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in...
  • Page 21: Embedded Numeric Keypad

    Embedded numeric keypad The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters located on the upper right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols are not printed on the keys. Desired access Num lock on Number keys on...
  • Page 22: Windows Keys

    Windows keys The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions. Description Windows logo Start button. Combinations with this key perform shortcut functions. Below are a few examples: á á + Tab (Activates next taskbar button) á + E (Explores My Computer) á...
  • Page 23 To activate hot keys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hot key combination. Hot key Icon Function Fn-F1 Hot key help Fn-F2 Setup Fn-F3 Power management scheme toggle Fn-F4 Sleep Fn-F5 Display toggle Fn-F6 Screen blank Description...
  • Page 24 Hot key Icon Function Fn-F7 Touchpad Toggle Fn-F8 Speaker Toggle Fn-→ Brightness up Fn- ← Brightness down Alt Gr-Euro Euro The Euro symbol If your keyboard layout is set to United States-International or United Kingdom or if you have a keyboard with a European layout, you can type the Euro symbol on your keyboard.
  • Page 25 Open a text editor or word processor. Hold Alt Gr and press the Euro symbol. Note: Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to (www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq12.htm) for more information.
  • Page 26: Touchpad

    Touchpad The built-in touchpad is a PS/2-compatible pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the 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.
  • Page 27 Function Left button Execute Click twice quickly Select Click once Drag Click and hold, then use finger to drag the cursor on the touchpad Access context menu Scroll Note: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movements.
  • Page 28: Storage

    Storage This computer supplies you with the following media storage: • High-capacity Enhanced-IDE hard disk • AcerMedia drive • Floppy drive Hard disk The high-capacity hard disk is the answer to your storage needs. This is where your programs and data are stored. AcerMedia drive The AcerMedia bay accepts a wide variety of media drive modules for use with your computer.
  • Page 29: Using Software

    Using software Playing DVD movies When the DVD-ROM drive module is installed in the AcerMedia bay, you can play DVD movies on your computer. Eject the DVD tray and insert a DVD movie disc; then close the DVD tray. Important! When you launch the DVD player for the first time, the program asks you to input the region code.
  • Page 30: Audio

    1 Getting to know your TravelMate Audio The computer comes with 16-bit high-fidelity AC’97 stereo audio. The built-in sensitive microphone and dual stereo speakers are easy to access. There are audio ports on the left side of the computer. See “Left view” on page 4 for more information on external audio devices.
  • Page 31: Power Management

    Power management 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, floppy drive, hard disk, peripherals connected to the serial and parallel ports, and video memory.
  • Page 32: Moving Around With Your Travelmate

    Moving around with your TravelMate This section gives you tips and hints to consider when moving around or traveling with your computer. Disconnecting from the desktop Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from external accessories: Save your work in progress. Remove any media, diskette or compact disc, from the drive(s).
  • Page 33: Taking The Computer Home

    you can put the computer in Sleep mode by pressing Fn-F4. Then close and latch the display. When you are ready to use the computer again, unlatch and open the display, and press any key. If the power indicator is off, the computer has entered Hibernation mode and turned off.
  • Page 34: What To Bring With You

    Caution: Avoid packing items next to the top cover of the computer. Pressure against the top cover can damage the screen What to bring with you Unless you already have some items at home, bring the following items with you: •...
  • Page 35: Traveling With The Computer

    Traveling with the 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 36 • AC adapter • Power cords that are appropriate for the country to which you are traveling • Spare, fully-charged battery packs • Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printer • Proof of purchase, in case you need to show it to customs officials •...
  • Page 37: Securing Your Computer

    Securing your computer 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 fingerprint recognition, a security notch and passwords. Using the fingerprint recognition sensor A fingerprint recognition sensor is located at the bottom of your keyboard to the right of your touchpad.
  • Page 38: Using A Computer Security Lock

    Using a computer security lock A security keylock notch located on the left 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.
  • Page 39: Entering Passwords

    • Other passwords include Windows and screensaver passwords. Entering passwords When a password is set, a password prompt appears in the left-hand corner of the display screen. • When the Setup Password is set, the following prompt appears when you press F2 to enter the BIOS Utility at boot-up. Type the Setup Password and press Enter to access the BIOS Utility.
  • Page 40: Setting Passwords

    following message or symbol appears. Slide and hold the power switch for four seconds to shut down the computer. Then turn on the computer again, and try again. If you fail to enter the Hard Disk Password, please contact your dealer or an authorized service center.
  • Page 41: Customizing My Computer

    2 Customizing my computer...
  • Page 42 After learning the 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. key link: accessories.acer.com...
  • Page 43: Expanding Through Options

    Expanding through options Your TravelMate offers you a complete mobile computing experience. Connectivity options Ports allow you to connect peripheral devices to your computer as you would with a desktop PC. For instructions on how to connect different external devices to the computer, see your online guide for more details.
  • Page 44: Fast Infrared

    2 Customizing my computer Built-in network feature The built-in network feature allows you to connect your computer to an Ethernet-based (10/100 Mbps) network. To use the network feature, connect an Ethernet cable from the network jack on the rear of the computer to a network jack or hub on your network.
  • Page 45: Universal Serial Bus

    Universal Serial Bus The Universal Serial Bus (USB) 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. PC Card slot There are two type II or one type III CardBus PC Card slot(s) found on the left side of the computer.
  • Page 46 Inserting a PC Card Insert the card into the 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: Exit the application using the card. Left-click on the PC Card icon on the taskbar and stop the card operation.
  • Page 47: Upgrade Options

    Upgrade options Your computer delivers superior power and performance. However, some users and the applications they use may demand more. This computer allows you to upgrade key components when you need increased performance. Note: Contact your authorized dealer if you decide to perform a key component upgrade.
  • Page 48 Remove the screw from the memory cover (a); then lift up and remove the memory cover (b). Insert the memory module diagonally into the slot (a), then gently press it down (b) until it clicks into place. Replace the memory cover and secure it with the screw. Reinstall the battery pack, and reconnect the AC adapter.
  • Page 49: Using System Utilities

    Using system utilities Notebook Manager The computer has a built-in system setup program called Notebook Manager. The Windows-based Notebook Manager 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: Click on Start, Programs, then Notebook Manager.
  • Page 50 2 Customizing my computer To activate the BIOS Utility, press F2 during the POST (power-on self- test) while the TravelMate logo is being displayed. See your online guide for more information.
  • Page 51: Troubleshooting My Computer

    3 Troubleshooting my computer...
  • Page 52 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.
  • Page 53: Frequently-Asked Questions

    Frequently-asked questions The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy answers and solutions are provided for each one. I pressed the power switch and opened the display, but the computer does not start or boot-up.
  • Page 54 Image is not full-screen. The computer display has a native resolution of 1400 x 1050 (SXGA+). If you set the resolution lower than this, the screen expands to fill the computer display. Right-click on your Windows desktop and select Properties to bring up the Display Properties dialog box. Then click on the Settings tab to make sure that the resolution is set to the appropriate resolution.
  • Page 55 The keyboard does not respond. Try attaching an external keyboard to the PS/2 connector on the rear of the computer. If it works, contact your dealer or an authorized service center as the internal keyboard cable may be loose. The serial mouse does not work. Check the following: •...
  • Page 56 computer’s parallel port and the corresponding port on the printer. • During POST, press F2 to access the BIOS Utility and verify that the parallel port is enabled. I want to set up my location to use the internal modem. To properly use your communications software (e.g., HyperTerminal), you need to set up your location: Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel.
  • Page 57: Troubleshooting Tips

    Troubleshooting tips This notebook computer incorporates an advanced design that delivers onscreen error message reports to help you solve problems. • If the system reports an error message or an error symptom occurs, see “Error messages” on page 50. If the problem cannot be resolved, contact your dealer.
  • Page 58: Error Messages

    Error messages If you receive an error message, note the message and take the corrective action. The following table lists the error messages in alphabetical order together with the recommended course of action. Error Messages CMOS Battery Bad CMOS Checksum Error Floppy Disk Controller Error Equipment...
  • Page 59 Error Messages RAM Parity Error Real-Time Clock Error If you still encounter problems after going through the corrective measures, please contact your dealer or an authorized service center for assistance. Some problems may be solved using the BIOS Utility. Corrective Action Contact your dealer or an authorized service center.
  • Page 60: Requesting Service

    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.
  • Page 61 You are required to provide the following information: Name:________________________________________ Address:______________________________________ ______________________________________________ Telephone number:____________________________ Machine and model type:_______________________ Serial number:_________________________________ Date of purchase:______________________________...
  • Page 62 3 Troubleshooting my computer...
  • Page 63: Appendix A Specifications

    Appendix A Specifications...
  • Page 64 This appendix lists the general specifications of your computer.
  • Page 65 Microprocessor • Intel® Pentium® III processor-M with 512 KB level 2 cache and Intel® SpeedStep™ technology support Memory • Main memory expandable to 1 GB • Dual 144-pin PC-133 soDIMM socket SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) • 512 KB Flash ROM BIOS Data storage •...
  • Page 66 • One RJ-45 jack for Ethernet • One RJ-11 phone jack • One DC-in jack (AC adapter) • One parallel port (ECP/EPP compliant) • One external monitor port • One PS/2 keyboard/mouse port • One speaker/headphone-out jack • One audio line-in jack •...
  • Page 67 AC adapter • 60-Watt • Auto sensing 100~240Vac, 50~60Hz Options • 64/128/256/512-MB memory upgrade modules • PS/2 Y-bridge cable • Additional Li-Ion battery pack • DVD/CD-RW module (includes PowerDVD software CD) • DockMate V • External numeric keypad • External battery charger •...
  • Page 68 Appendix A Specifications...
  • Page 69: Appendix B Notices

    Appendix B Notices...
  • Page 70 This appendix lists the general notices of your computer.
  • Page 71: Fcc Notice

    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.
  • Page 72: Modem Notices

    Appendix B Notices Notice: Canadian users This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations. Remarque à l’intention des utilisateurs canadiens Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respected toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada. Modem notices This equipment complies with Part 68 of the FCC rules.
  • Page 73: Important Safety Instructions

    Important safety instructions Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. Do not use this product near water.
  • Page 74: Laser Compliance Statement

    controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service.
  • Page 75: Lithium Battery Statement

    Lithium battery statement CAUTION Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions. ADVARSEL! Lithiumbatteri - Eksplosionsfare ved fejlagtig håndtering. Udskiftning må kun ske med batteri af samme fabrikat og type.
  • Page 76: Year 2000 Compliance Statement

    Tested Year 2000 Compliant" logo, which certifies that this model has been tested by NSTL using the YMark2000 test, and has been found to meet NSTL's standards for Year 2000 hardware compliance. For more details, check the Acer Year 2000 Resource Center Web site (global.acer.com/service/pcy2000.html)
  • Page 77: Index

    Index % % % % & & & & ' ' ' ' ( ( ( ( ) ) ) ) * * * * , , , , - - - - / / / / 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1...
  • Page 78 – 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 – 9 9 9 9 : : : :...
  • Page 79 ; ; ; ;...

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