Acer TravelMate 6500 Owner's Manual

TravelMate 6500 SeriesUser's Guide

xTaking care of your battery packHere are some ways to take care of your battery pack:• Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the

86EnglishIndexAAC adaptercaring for ixaudio 34adjusting the volume 34troubleshooting 50Bbattery packcaring for xBIOS utility 42,

87Englishnum lock 29on indicator 25numeric keypadembedded 29Ppassword 57types 57PC Card 63ejecting 63inserting 63ports 59pr

Information for your safety and comfort iiiSafety instructions iiiDisposal instructions vTips and information for comfortable use viFirst things first

Hotkeys 30Special keys 32Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 33Using a computer security lock 33Audio 34Adjusting the volume 34Using RAID 35Wh

Taking the computer home 54Preparing the computer 54What to take with you 54Special considerations 55Setting up a home office 55Traveling with the com

Create backup 69Restore from backup 69Create factory default image CD 70Re-install bundled software without CD 70Change password 71Troubleshooting 72T

1Empowering TechnologyAcer Empowering TechnologyAcer's innovative Empowering Technology toolbar makes it easy for you to access frequently used f

2Empowering TechnologyAcer eNet Management Acer eNet Management helps you to quickly and easily connect to both wired and wireless networks in a varie

3Empowering TechnologySecurity and safety concerns mean that Acer eNet Management does not store username and password information.

4Empowering TechnologyAcer ePower Management Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch it, select Acer ePower Manage

5Empowering TechnologyBattery statusFor real-time battery life estimates based on current usage, refer to the panel in the upper half of the window..F

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Such cha

6Empowering Technology

7Empowering TechnologyAcer ePresentation Management Acer ePresentation Management lets you project your computer's display to an external device

8Empowering TechnologyAcer eDataSecurity Management Acer eDataSecurity Management is a handy file encryption utility that protects your files from bei

9Empowering TechnologyAcer eLock Management Acer eLock Management is a security utility that allows you to lock your removable data, optical and flopp

10Empowering TechnologyNote: If you lose your password, there is no method to reset it except by reformatting your notebook or taking your notebook to

11Empowering TechnologyAcer eRecovery Management Acer eRecovery Management is a powerful utility that does away with the need for recovery disks provi

12Empowering TechnologyFor more information, please refer to "Acer eRecovery Management" on page 68 in the AcerSystem User's Guide.Note

13Empowering TechnologyAcer eSettings Management Acer eSettings Management allows you to inspect hardware specifications, change BIOS passwords or oth

14Empowering TechnologyAcer ePerformance Management Acer ePerformance Management is a system optimization tool that boosts the performance of your A

15EnglishYour Acer notebook tourAfter setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new Acer

iiiInformation for your safety and comfortSafety instructionsRead these instructions carefully. Keep this document for future reference. Follow all wa

16EnglishClosed front view3 Status indicatorsLight-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up to show the status of the computer's functions and compon

17English2 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output.3 Power indicator Indicates the computer's power status.4 Battery indicat

18EnglishLeft viewRight view# Icon Item Description1Kensington lock slotConnects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock.2Modem (RJ-11) port

19EnglishRear view3 ExpressCard/34 slot Accepts one ExpressCard/34 module .4 USB 2.0 port Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).5 S

20EnglishBase view# Item Description1 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.2 Battery release latch Releases the battery for removal.3 C

21EnglishSpecificationsOperating system• Windows® Vista™ Capable• Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2)• Genuine Windows® XP Professional

22EnglishDimensions and weight• 400 (W) x 297 (D) x 33.5/47.2 (H) mm (15.76 x 11.70 x 1.32/1.86 inches)• 3.85 kg (8.49 lbs.) Power subsystem• ACPI 2.0

23EnglishI/O interface• 124-pin Acer ezDock port • ExpressCard™/34 slot • PC Card slot (one Type II)• 5-in-1 card reader (MS/MS PRO/MMC/SD/xD) • Four

24EnglishNote: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The exact configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased.System compli

25EnglishIndicatorsThe computer has seven easy-to-read status indicators, including four on the front panel.The power, battery and wireless communicat

iv•This product's AC adapter is equipped with a three-wire grounded plug. The plug only fits in a grounded power outlet. Make sure the power outl

26English1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The light shows green when in AC mode.Easy-launch buttonsL

27EnglishTouchpadThe built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finge

28English• Move your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor.• Press the left (1) and right (4) buttons located beneath the touchpad to perf

29EnglishUsing the keyboardThe keyboard has full-sized keys and a numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys.Lock keys

30EnglishWindows keysThe keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions.HotkeysThe computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to acce

31EnglishHotkey Icon Function Description<Fn> + <F1> Hotkey help Displays help on hotkeys.<Fn> + <F2> Acer eSettings Launches

32EnglishSpecial keysYou can locate the Euro symbol and the US dollar sign at the upper-center and/or bottom-right of your keyboard.The Euro symbol1 O

33EnglishEjecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive trayPress the drive eject button to eject the optical drive tray when the computer is on.Insert a clip

34EnglishWrap the computer security lock cable around an immovable object such as a table or handle of a locked drawer. Insert the lock into the notch

35EnglishUsing RAIDWhat is RAID?RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, a system in which multiple hard disk drives share or replicate d

vReplacing the battery packThe notebook uses lithium batteries. Replace the battery with the same type as that which came bundled with your product. U

36EnglishWhich version of RAID do you need?When to use RAID 0• You want increased performance of your applications• You primarily use your computer fo

37English5 If your system supports Acer GraviSense, disable it before enabling RAID.6 Before enabling RAID on your system, back up important data and

38English8 Follow the onscreen instructions to create a RAID 0, RAID 1 or Matrix RAID array.9 After the process is complete, you will need to reboot y

39EnglishAcer OrbiCamThe Acer OrbiCam is a 1.3 megapixel CMOS camera appropriately mounted on top of the LCD panel. The camera's 225-degree ergon

40EnglishLaunching the Acer OrbiCamTo launch the Acer OrbiCam, double-click on the Acer OrbiCam logo in the desktop.ORClick Start > All Programs &g

41EnglishOptionsClick Options to display the Window, Preview, and Folder tabs. Use the options to change the capture window size, preview settings, an

42EnglishCapture settingsFrom the Camera Settings window, click the Driver Settings button. The Properties window appears.Device Settings allows you t

43EnglishEnabling the Acer VisageONThe Acer VisageON technology comes with two features: Face tracking and Video effects. The face tracking feature tr

44EnglishUsing the face tracking featureTo use the face tracking feature:1 Click the left icon down arrow button, then select Single User or Multiple

45EnglishUsing video effects (selected models only)The Video Settings section allows you to select an avatar or accessory video effect from the list.

viTips and information for comfortable useComputer users may complain of eyestrain and headaches after prolonged use. Users are also at risk of physic

46EnglishUsing the system utilitiesNote: The system utilities work under Microsoft Windows XP only.Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible)Note: This

47EnglishAcer GridVista is simple to set up:1 Run Acer GridVista and select your preferred screen configuration for each display from the taskbar.2 Dr

48EnglishYou can access the Launch Manager by clicking on Start, All Programs, and then Launch Manager to start the application.Norton AntiVirusNorton

49EnglishFrequently asked questionsThe following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy solutions are p

50EnglishNo audio is heard from the computer.Check the following:• The volume may be muted. In Windows, look at the volume control (speaker) icon on t

51English• Make sure that the printer is connected to a power outlet and that it is turned on.• Make sure that the printer cable is connected securely

52EnglishTo start the recovery process:1 Restart the system.2 While the Acer logo is showing, press <Alt> + <F10> at the same time to ente

53EnglishTaking your notebook PC with youThis section gives you tips and hints to consider when moving around or traveling with your computer.Disconne

54EnglishNote: If the Sleep indicator is off, the computer has entered Hibernation mode and is turned off. If the power indicator is off but the Sleep

55EnglishSpecial considerationsFollow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling to and from work:• Minimize the effects of temperature

viiEyes• Rest your eyes frequently.• Give your eyes regular breaks by looking away from the monitor and focusing on a distant point.• Blink frequently

56EnglishSpecial considerationsIn addition to the guidelines for taking the computer home, follow these guidelines to protect your computer while trav

57EnglishSecuring your computerYour computer is a valuable investment that you need to take care of. Learn how to protect and take care of your comput

58EnglishEntering passwordsWhen a password is set, a password prompt appears in the center of the display screen.• When the Supervisor Password is set

59EnglishExpanding through optionsYour notebook PC offers you a complete mobile computing experience.Connectivity optionsPorts allow you to connect pe

60EnglishBuilt-in network featureThe built-in network feature allows you to connect your computer to an Ethernet-based network.To use the network feat

61EnglishUniversal Serial Bus (USB)The USB 2.0 port is a high-speed serial bus which allows you to connect USB peripherals without taking up precious

62EnglishThe computer's IEEE 1394 port allows you to connect to an IEEE 1394 supported devices like a DVD/CD-RW combo or DVD-Dual drive.Digital V

63EnglishPC Card slotThe Type II PC Card slot of the computer accepts PC Cards that enhance the usability and expandability of the computer. These car

64EnglishExpressCardThe ExpressCard is the newest version of the PC Card. It is a smaller and faster interface that further enhances the usability and

65EnglishEjecting an ExpressCardBefore ejecting an ExpressCard:1 Exit the application using the card.2 Left-click on the remove hardware icon on the t

viiiFirst things firstWe would like to thank you for making an Acer notebook your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs.Your guidesTo help yo

66EnglishYour computer is already properly configured and optimized, and you do not need to run this utility. However, if you encounter configuration

67EnglishUsing softwarePlaying DVD moviesWhen the DVD drive module is installed in the optical drive bay, you can play DVD movies on your computer.1 E

68EnglishPower managementThis computer has a built-in power management unit that monitors system activity. System activity refers to any activity invo

69EnglishCreate backupYou can create and save backup images to hard disk, CD or DVD.1 Boot to Windows XP2 Press <Alt> + <F10> to open the

70EnglishCreate factory default image CDWhen the System CD and Recovery CD are not available, you can create them by using this feature.1 Boot to Wind

71EnglishChange passwordAcer eRecovery Management and Acer disk-to-disk recovery are protected by a password that can be changed by the user. Follow t

72EnglishTroubleshootingThis chapter shows you how to deal with common system problems. Read it before calling a technician if a problem occurs. Solut

73EnglishEnglishIf you still encounter problems after going through the corrective measures, please contact your dealer or an authorized service cente

74EnglishRegulations and safety noticesENERGY STAR guidelines complianceAs an ENERGY STAR partner, Acer Inc. has determined that this product meets th

75EnglishEnglishOperation conditionsThis device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this

ixTo turn the power off, do any of the following:• Use the Windows shutdown commandClick on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off.• Use the

76EnglishYour telephone company may make changes in its facilities, equipment, operations, or procedures that could affect the proper functioning of y

77EnglishEnglishNotice for New ZealandFor modem with approval number PTC 211/03/0081 The grant of a Telepermit for any item of terminal equipment indi

78English3 This device is equipped with pulse dialing while the Telecom standard is DTMF tone dialing. There is no guarantee that Telecom lines will a

79EnglishEnglish8 If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension c

80EnglishLaser compliance statementThe CD or DVD drive used with this computer is a laser product. The CD or DVD drive's classification label (sh

81EnglishEnglishRadio device regulatory noticeNote: Below regulatory information is for models with wireless LAN and/or Bluetooth only.GeneralThis pro

82EnglishList of applicable countriesEU member states as of May 2004 are: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg

83EnglishEnglish2 This device is restricted to indoor use due to its operation in the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz frequency range. FCC requires this product to b

84EnglishFederal Communications ComissionDeclaration of ConformityThis device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the foll

85EnglishEnglishDeclaration of Conformity for CE MarkingIs in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of the followin