Acer 8100 Series User manual

TravelMate 8100 Series

User’s Guide

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation

to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new

editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes

no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents

hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a

particular purpose.

Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in

the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label

affixed to your computer. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial

number, model number, and purchase information.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in

any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise,

without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

Model Number : __________________________________

Serial Number: ___________________________________

Purchase Date: ___________________________________

Place of Purchase: ________________________________

TravelMate 8100 Series User’s Guide

Original Issue: December 2004

TravelMate 8100 Series Notebook Computer

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.

iii

English

First things first

We would like to thank you for making the TravelMate series of

notebook computers your choice for your mobile computing needs.

Your guides

To help you use your TravelMate, we have designed a set of guides:

First off, the Just for starters... poster helps you get started

with setting up your computer.

The User's guide introduces you to the many ways your

computer can help you be more productive. This guide

provides clear and concise information about the computer,

so read it thoroughly.

If you ever need to print out a copy, this User’s guide is also

available in Portable Document Format (PDF). To open it,

follow these steps:

1Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem.

2Click on AcerSystem User's guide.

Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader be

installed. For instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat

Reader, access the Help and Support menu.

English

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off

To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button

below the LCD screen beside the launch keys. See “Front view” on

page 1 for the location of the power button.

To turn the power off, do any of the following:

•Use the Windows shutdown command

Click on Start, Turn Off Computer; then click on Turn Off.

•Use the power button

Note: You can also use the power button to perform power

management functions. See “Moving around” on page 27.

•Use the customized functions for power management

You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover,

or by pressing the sleep hot key (Fn-F4). See “Moving around” on

page 27.

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.

Taking care of your computer

Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.

•Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it

near sources of heat, such as a radiator.

•Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF) or

above 50ºC (122ºF).

•Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.

•Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.

•Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.

•Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and vibration.

•Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.

English

•Never place objects on top of the computer to avoid damaging the

computer.

•Do not slam the computer display when you close it.

•Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.

Taking care of your AC adapter

Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter:

•Do not connect the adapter to any other device.

•Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it.

Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from personal

traffic.

•When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself

but pull on the plug.

•The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not

exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension

cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a

single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating.

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.

•Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations.

Recycle if at all possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

1Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.

2Disconnect the AC adapter.

3Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid or

aerosol cleaners.

English

If any of the following occurs:

•The computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged.

•The computer does not operate normally.

Please refer to “Frequently-asked questions” on page 55.

Caution

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer

could void the user's authority, which is granted by the Federal

Communications Commission, to operate this computer.

Operation conditions

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject

to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful

interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,

including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions on wireless

option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option

device.

An improper installation or unauthorised use may cause harmful

interference to radio communications. Also any tampering of the

internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty.

To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is

intended to be operated indoors and installation outdoors is subject to

licensing.For more information about our products, services, and

support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com/.

First things first iii

Your guides iii

Basic care and tips for using your computer iv

Turning your computer on and off iv

Taking care of your computer iv

Taking care of your AC adapter v

Taking care of your battery pack v

Cleaning and servicing v

A TravelMate tour 1

Front view 1

Closed front view 2

Left view 4

Right view 5

Rear view 6

Bottom view 7

Specifications 8

Indicators 11

Using the keyboard 12

Lock keys 12

Embedded numeric keypad 13

Windows keys 14

Hot keys 15

The Euro symbol 17

Launch keys 19

Touchpad 20

Touchpad basics 20

Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 22

Using a computer security lock 22

Audio 23

Adjusting the volume 23

Using system utilities 24

Acer GridVista 24

Acer eManager 25

Launch Manager 26

Moving around with your Notebook PC 27

Disconnecting from the desktop 27

Moving around 27

Preparing the computer 27

What to take to short meetings 28

What to bring to long meetings 28

Taking the computer home 28

Preparing the computer 28

What to take with you 29

Special considerations 29

Contents

Setting up a home office 30

Traveling with the computer 30

Preparing the computer 30

What to take with you 30

Special considerations 30

Traveling internationally with the computer 31

Preparing the computer 31

What to bring with you 31

Special considerations 31

Securing your computer 32

Using a computer security lock 32

Using the Smart Card 32

Registering your Smart Card 33

Running PlatinumSecure 33

Running PlatinumKey 36

Using passwords 37

Entering passwords 38

Setting passwords 38

Expanding through options 39

Connectivity options 39

Fax/Data modem 39

Built-in network feature 40

Fast Infrared 40

Universal Serial Bus 41

IEEE 1394 port 41

PC Card slot 42

BIOS Utility 44

Boot sequence 44

Disc to Disc Recovery enable 44

Password 44

Using software 45

Playing DVD movies 45

Power management 46

Acer eRecovery 47

Create backup 47

Restore from backup 48

Create factory default image CD 48

Re-install bundled software without CD 49

Change password 49

Acer disc-to-disc recovery 50

Multilingual operating system installation 50

Restore without a Recovery CD 50

Troubleshooting my computer 53

Frequently-asked questions 55

Troubleshooting tips 58

Error messages 58

Requesting service 59

International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW) 59

Before you call 60

Appendix A

Regulation & safety notices 61

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