Frequently Asked Questions - Alphasmart AS 2000 User Manual

When I start up the AlphaSmart, I see something other than
the file that I expected.
• Make sure you are in the correct file. AlphaSmart supports
eight different files. To change files, press F1 to go to file 1,
F2 to go to file 2, and so on.
I try to type into a file, but no characters show up.
• If the file looks empty, press the Clear File key to make sure
the file is erased. Then try typing again. (Sometimes the file
recovery command Option-
up the file so that you can't type any more into it. See the
Data Recovery section for more details.)
• If you can't see the cursor on the screen, then your batter-
ies may be too low. Check your batteries or plug in your
AC adapter.
My file is full of garbage/The end of my file is full of garbage.
• If you have no useful text in the file, just press the Clear
File key to erase the entire file.
• If you have some data you would like to save, go to where
the garbage characters start and press
from the cursor to the end of the file.
• Send the file, abort when garbage shows up.
When I transfer text to my PC, the case of the characters is
reversed; all the lowercase characters show up as uppercase,
and the uppercase characters show up as lowercase.
The caps lock key was probably pressed when the PC key-
board was disconnected. The computer remembers that the
caps lock is on and does the case reversal. To fix it, simply
press the caps lock key once either on the normal PC key-
board or on the AlphaSmart when it is attached to the PC
(when the AlphaSmart is attached to the PC, it functions as a
normal keyboard). Before sending from the AlphaSmart, it is
often a good idea to try typing a few characters from the
AlphaSmart keyboard to see if it transfers correctly to the PC
screen. If not, press the AlphaSmart caps lock key once to fix
it, and then type a few keys to verify that it is now correct.
58
-R gets hit by mistake, filling
x
-Delete to delete
x
AlphaSmart 2000
It doesn't save when I turn it off or I see a "Signature not
found" and "Testing RAM" message when I turn it on.
The internal Lithium battery has probably become dislodged.
If the AlphaSmart rattles when you shake it, then this is defi-
nitely the problem. To fix it:
1. Turn the AlphaSmart off.
2. Take the 8 screws off the back with a Phillips screwdriver.
3. Flip the unit over and carefully open the case by lifting
the front of the top case, taking care not to disconnect the
LCD cable.
4. With the unit open, the top case laying back, prevent
static discharge damage by touching one of the metal con-
nector cubes on the upper right side of the keyboard with
your bare finger.
5. Locate the Lithium battery, it's a silver-colored coin cell
battery about the size of a nickel. The socket for the bat-
tery is in the upper-right corner of the printed circuit
board when the keyboard is in front of you.
6. Replace the Lithium battery, making sure the flat, plus (+)
side is up, slipping the battery under the metal clip.
7. Flip the lid closed and test to see if it saves data now by
turning the AlphaSmart on (you should see a Testing RAM
message the first time you turn it back on). Type some-
thing in the file, then turn the AlphaSmart off for more
than 60 seconds. Turn the AlphaSmart on and it's fixed,
your data should still be there and you shouldn't see the
Testing RAM message.
8. Replace the screws. (Check and make sure the two key-
board cables are not pinched between the case and the
keyboard when you replace the lid.)
F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S
How can I change the transfer speed?
When disconnected from the computer, press Option-
and change the speed as desired. For details, please see the
section "Changing the Transfer Speed". For Macs, there is
another option, TurboTransfer Software, that speeds up the
AlphaSmart 2000
-S
x
59