Page 2
Copyright Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks and Aspire is a trademark of Acer Inc. and Acer America Corporation. Microsoft Windows and the Windows Logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corp. All other brands/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Table Welcome Major Benefits Before You Start Safety Instructions Setting Up The System Placement Tips System Overview Computer Front View Computer Rear View System Components System Components The Mouse The Keyboard The Speakers The Monitor Audio DJ CD Storage Unit 3-in-1 Flash Card Readers TV Tuner (Optional) Upgrading Your System...
Welcome Congratulations on purchasing your new Aspire computer! You now have the convenience and flexibility of a full-featured multimedia PC, offering increased productivity combined with first class digital entertainment. Incorporating the latest Microsoft Aspire offers a host of functions designed to improve your computing experience.
Before You Start To ensure that you can use your computer safely and correctly, please read this user guide carefully before you start. For future reference, keep this user guide handy at all times. Safety Instructions • Follow all warnings and instructions marked on your computer. •...
that to which the radio or television is connected. Consult your dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for more help. Setting Up The System It only takes a few minutes to set up your new Aspire system. Start by preparing your workspace. Make sure that the surface is stable, level and clean.
System Overview Take a few moments to study your new Aspire computer system. Learn the locations of the buttons, ports and other hardware features. Computer Front View Description CD Storage Unit Audio DJ Drive Door CD-ROM/DVD/CD-RW Drive FDD Drive Front Port Bay Door Front Port Bay Memory Stick Reader SD/MMC Reader...
Computer Rear View Description Power Jack Voltage Selector Switch PS/2 Keyboard Port PS/2 Mouse Port USB Port Lan Port Serial Port Ventilation slot Parallel Port VGA Port Audio Ports 1394 Port Game Port PCI Card slots...
System Components Your Aspire computer system is made up of several components. These include the computer itself, the monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. This section provides a brief description of the main component features. The Mouse The pointing device included in your Aspire computer system is an optical mouse.
Page 15
Corded Mouse If your Aspire computer system includes a corded mouse, you should connect the cord to one of the computer’s USB ports. See the OOBE poster for guidance. Cordless Mouse A cordless mouse provides the freedom to change your work position without having to cope with an obstructed or tangled cord.
step 1: Press the connect button step 2: Press the connect button on the mouse. Note: When your cordless mouse is running out of batteries, a pop-up window will remind you to recharge it. The Keyboard Your Aspire computer system features a multimedia keyboard, providing one-touch control for the most important multimedia functions, as well as instant access to your favorite websites.
Page 17
The multimedia keys provide the following functions: Description Suspend Multimedia control Programmable Keys The programmable hot keys can be set to open any website or any application on your computer. When you purchase your Aspire, the hot keys will have the following default settings: Home - opens your Internet home page.
Page 18
If your Aspire computer system includes a corded keyboard, you should connect the cord to the PS/2 keyboard port at the back of the computer before starting Windows. See the OOBE poster for guidance... Cordless Keyboard A cordless keyboard allows greater freedom of movement. This means you can easily reposition your keyboard to suit your changing workspace arrangement.
step 1: Press the connect button step 2: Press the connect button on the keyboard. Note: When your cordless keyboard is running out of batteries, a pop-up window will remind you to recharge it. The Speakers Your Aspire computer system comes with a set of speakers designed to maximize your enjoyment of audio CDs and exciting new multimedia.
to the OOBE poster for more guidance with connecting the speakers. For more information on using your speakers, refer to the included manual. The Monitor Your Aspire computer system includes a monitor designed to provide high quality visual images. The size and type of monitor included in your system depends on the system model you purchased.
Page 21
guidance with connecting the monitor. For more information on using your monitor, refer to the included manual..
Audio DJ Audio DJ offers all the convenience of an audio CD player, enabling you to play your favorite music CDs even when your computer is in power-off mode. Operate Audio DJ as follows: • Press any of the six buttons to turn the unit on. If a CD is already loaded, the number of tracks will be displayed on the display panel.
CD Storage Unit Your Aspire computer provides a useful CD storage unit, allowing you to keep your most frequently used CDs handy for quick loading. • Open and close the unit by gently sliding the cover on its tracks. • Stack your CDs (without their jewel cases) on the spindle.
Page 24
SD Card SD (Secure Digital) Card provides secure storage for handheld devices such as cell phones and PDAs. It has the same form factor as the Multimedia Card, but is slightly thicker (2.1mm). Although its encryption capability supports security and content protection applications, its fast data transfer rate (10Mbytes/sec) has made it ideally suited for regular flash memory storage.
TV Tuner (Optional) Some models include a TV Tuner card, located in one of the PCI card slots at the back of the computer. The TV Tuner enables you to connect a standard television cable to your computer, allowing you to receive a television signal. The included PowerVCR software allows you to watch TV and record programs, with the added benefit of time-shifting playback.
Page 26
period after which recording will stop automatically. After recording, the playlist will appear, allowing you to save the file. To schedule recording for a time when you will be away from the computer, switch to the Recording Scheduler mode. The scheduling wizard will appear, guiding you through the selection of settings required to set up the scheduler.
Upgrading Your System You can quickly and easily expand your Aspire computer system by adding additional components. Alternatively, you can upgrade existing components to provide enhanced performance. Opening The Case Before you open the case, turn your computer off and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
Installing New Components Make sure you only use components that are compatible with your Aspire computer. Consult your dealer about the suitability of new components before you purchase them. To ensure correct installation, refer to the documentation that comes with your new components before you start to add or replace components.Possible upgrade options include the following: •...
Questions & Troubleshooting This section attempts to answer some frequently asked questions regarding your Aspire computer system, as well as offering tips for troubleshooting problems. General System Problems Refer to the online help file for additional information about your Aspire computer system.
Page 32
Q: My floppy drive (FDD) is unable to read my diskette? A: First, eject the disk, and then reinsert it before trying to read it again. If you are still unable to read the diskette, check that it is a disk drive problem by inserting and attempting to read other diskettes.
A: If you are unable to solve a problem after reading these troubleshooting tips, take your computer to qualified personnel for servicing. Do not attempt to service your computer yourself. Cordless Keyboard/Mouse Problems Q: What type of batteries should I use? A: Use only alkaline batteries, regardless of brand.
Page 34
A: First, establish radio communication by pressing the connect button on the front of the computer, and then pressing the connect button on your mouse. Next, check the quality of the batteries. With healthy batteries you should be able to use your cordless mouse and keyboard at least 1 meter/4 feet from the receiver.
Page 35
To avoid possible interference, try to keep systems at least 3 meters/10 feet apart. Also, try moving the mouse closer or further away from the computer to improve the radio communication. Finally, press and hold the connect button on the front of the computer for ten seconds to reset the connection information.