AcerBasic User’s Guide
Copyright Copyright © 1997 by Acer Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference. 2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. 3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. 4. Do not use this product near water. 5. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product. 6.
10. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product. 11. Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. 12.
Caution on Lithium Batteries 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. Léver det brugte batteri tilbage til leverandøren. ADVARSEL Eksplosjonsfare ved feilaktig skifte av batteri.
FCC Class B Radio Frequency Interference Statement Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Canadian Department of Communications Regulatory Statement This digital apparatus does not exceed Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. Le présent appareil numérique n'émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe B prescrites dans le Réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le ministère des Communications du Canada.
Congratulations on your purchase of the AcerBasic personal computer. Compact in size, not in features, the AcerBasic personal computer opens a window of information to your home or office. We hope you enjoy your AcerBasic personal computer as much as we enjoyed designing and making it for you. This user’s guide quickly guides you in setting up and using your AcerBasic personal computer. Contents IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS............................... iii Caution on Lithium Batteries ..................
Audio and Game Devices.................................................. 14 External Keyboard............................................................ 16 External Mouse................................................................. 17 Video Cassette Recorder or Camcorder........................... 18 Computer Video Camera .................................................. 18 Using the AcerBasic .....................................................................19 Turning on the Computer .............
Configuration Table..................................................................45 Advanced System Configuration .............................................46 Internal Cache (CPU Cache) ............................................46 External Cache..................................................................47 ECC/Parity Mode Selection ..............................................47 Memory at 15-16 MB Reserved for ..................................47 USB Host Controller..........................
Unpacking The AcerBasic personal computer package contains the following items. Carefully unpack each item and set aside.
Unpacking Optional Items ❍ Remote control ❍ Computer video camera kit The items in your package may differ slightly.
Getting to Know your AcerBasic The AcerBasic series personal computer has common features listed below: Basic Features ❍ High-performance central processing unit (CPU) A fast core (consisting of the CPU and chipsets*) allows your computer to process information and data fast. ❍ High-speed memory Standard memory configuration is 16 megabytes (MB) of fast EDO (Extended Data Out) or fast page RAM (Random Access Memory). These memory types give you true value, balancing price and performance.
Getting to Know your AcerBasic ❍ High-speed connectivity Whether you need to get connected via modem or network, this computer has it. Its built-in 33.6 kilobits per second (Kbps) modem connects to a phone line; its built-in Ethernet (10BaseT) jack connects to a network. See page 12. ❍ Peripheral connectivity Located at the front and rear of the computer are a host of connectors for a large variety of peripherals — printer, mouse, keyboard, microphone, speakers, joystick just to name a few.
Getting to Know your AcerBasic Optional Features Options include: ❍ Hardware upgrades • Additional memory • Higher-capacity hard disk • Higher-speed CD-ROM drive • DVD-ROM drive • MPEG-II capability ❍ Hardware options • Remote control • Computer video camera kit • External monitor • External keyboard • External mouse • Network hubs • USB devices ❍ Software options Please contact your dealer or reseller for the options available in your region.
Setting Up the AcerBasic This section describes the things to consider when setting up your AcerBasic. Locating the Connectors Most of the connectors on the computer are found at the rear of the unit. A few connectors are found on the front for easy access. Let’s take a look at the front and rear of the unit before we make the connections. Front 6 # Item Description 1 Floppy disk drive activity indicator Lights up when the floppy disk drive is being accessed 2 Floppy disk drive Accepts 3.
Setting Up the AcerBasic # Item Description 5 CD-ROM drive open/close button Opens and closes the CD-ROM drive 6 On/sleep button Turns the computer on and puts the computer to sleep 7 Power/suspend indicator Lights green when on; lights orange when in suspend mode* 8 Hard disk/message indicator Flashes when your hard disk drive is in use 9 Network active indicator Flashes when your computer is communicating with the network 10 Network link indicator Lights when the computer is connected
Setting Up the AcerBasic Rear 8 # Item Description 1 On/off switch Turns power on and off 2 Power cord socket Connects a power cord 3 Phone set jack Connects a telephone set 4 Phone line jack Connects a phone line 5 External CRT port Connects an external monitor 6 Video output jack Connects to the video input of a television 7 S-video output jack Connects to the S-video input of a television 8 Parallel port Connects a printer or other parallel device 9 Serial port Connect a se
Setting Up the AcerBasic Finding a Suitable Area to Place the AcerBasic The AcerBasic has the following dimensions. Locate a suitable area to place the AcerBasic. Allow ample space on all sides of the unit for cords and cable connections. The AcerBasic should also be placed near the devices you will connect to it.
Setting Up the AcerBasic Basic Connections These are the basic connections you need to get your AcerBasic up and going. You can also connect options like a printer or the phone line, described in pages 12 to 17. Connecting to a Television or a Monitor First you need to connect an output device to the computer which can either be a television unit or a computer monitor.
Setting Up the AcerBasic Connecting the Power Cord Connect the power cord to the power cord socket at the rear of the unit. Then connect the other end to a properly ground power outlet. These basic connections you’ve just made are all you need to get your AcerBasic up and running. If you need to make other connections such as a phone line (for connecting to the Internet) or a printer (for printing documents), read on. Otherwise, you can jump to page 19.
Setting Up the AcerBasic Connecting Options Other connections you make to your computer include the following: Phone Line Connecting to the Internet usually requires a modem, which is built into the AcerBasic. A phone line jack, found at the rear of the unit, connects to your phone line. You can also connect a telephone set to the phone set jack. Your modem has been designed to work with an analog telephone line like the ones commonly found in your home.
Setting Up the AcerBasic Network Line You can connect the AcerBasic to a network with the builtin 10BaseT (Ethernet) jack found at the rear of the unit. Computers in most companies are connected on networks to facilitate the transfer of information. If you are using the AcerBasic in a networked environment, contact your system administrator for details. Printer A printer allows you to print out documents and other data from your computer to paper.
Setting Up the AcerBasic Audio and Game Devices You can connect various audio and game devices to your computer. Some of these ports are duplicated in the front of the unit for easy connection.
Setting Up the AcerBasic At the front of the unit: ❍ earphones or headphones connect to the earphone/ headphone jack ❍ microphone connects to the microphone jack ❍ joystick, game or game/MIDI port User’s Guide MIDI device connects to the 15
Setting Up the AcerBasic External Keyboard You may prefer to use an external keyboard instead of the wireless keyboard that comes with the AcerBasic. There are two types of keyboards besides the wireless keyboard that you can use with the AcerBasic: ❍ USB keyboard connects to any of the two USB ports ❍ PS/2 keyboard connects to the PS/2 keyboard port These ports are found on the rear of the unit.
Setting Up the AcerBasic External Mouse The wireless keyboard has a built-in pointing device. However, you may prefer to use an external mouse instead. There are three types of mice besides the one built into the wireless keyboard that you can use with the AcerBasic: ❍ USB mouse connects to any of the two USB ports ❍ PS/2 mouse connects to the PS/2 mouse port ❍ Serial mouse connects to the serial port These ports are found on the rear of the unit.
Setting Up the AcerBasic Video Cassette Recorder or Camcorder You can also connect a video cassette recorder (VCR) or camcorder to the unit. Computer Video Camera You can also connect a computer video camera to the unit. * 18 Some computer video cameras support an S-video connection.
Using the AcerBasic Turning on the Computer Follow these steps to turn on your computer: 1. A power switch is located at the rear of the computer, to the left of the power cord socket. Press the power switch to the ON (❙) position. 2. Turn on your television or your monitor (the one you connected to the computer). 3. Press the On/Sleep button at the front of the computer. The computer starts up and Windows 95 begins loading.
Using the AcerBasic Using the Wireless Keyboard The wireless keyboard with infrared technology has a builtin pointing device, similar to the ones found in gamepads. This direction pad functions like a mouse or trackball as it moves the cursor on the screen. Move the direction pad in any direction to move the mouse pointer on the screen. The left and right buttons function like those on a mouse or trackball. Installing the Battery The wireless keyboard uses two (2) size AA batteries.
Using the AcerBasic Using the Floppy Disk Drive The floppy disk drive accepts a 3.5-inch, 1.44MB diskette. Found in almost all computer systems today, this diskette type standard allows you to easily transfer files between your AcerBasic and other computer systems. Guidelines on Floppy Disk Drive Use Read through the following guidelines when using the floppy disk drive: ❍ Always make backup copies of diskettes that contain important data or program files.
Using the AcerBasic ❍ Write-protect your diskettes to prevent accidental erasure. To do this, slide the write-protect tab to the write-protect position. Write-protected Not write-protected Inserting and Ejecting a Floppy Disk To insert a floppy disk for use with the AcerBasic, insert the floppy disk into the floppy disk drive as shown in the figure below.
Using the AcerBasic To eject a floppy disk, press the floppy disk drive eject button. Then carefully remove the floppy disk from the floppy disk drive.
Using the AcerBasic Using the CD-ROM Drive The CD-ROM drive is capable of high speed data access and transfer, and can read a variety of CD formats as well as play your audio compact discs. The compact disc stores as much as 650MB of information, making it a useful medium for presenting multimedia-based applications. Guidelines on CD-ROM Drive Use Read through the following guidelines before using the CDROM drive: ❍ Do not open the disc tray except when inserting or removing a disc.
Using the AcerBasic • Always store a disc in its case to prevent dust contamination, scratches, bending, and other damages. • To remove dust or fingerprints, use a clean, soft and dry cloth. Never use fluids like benzene or antistatic fluids. Using fluids of these types may damage the disc. Inserting and Removing a CD-ROM Disc To insert a CD-ROM disc into the CD-ROM drive, the computer must be ON. Follow these steps: 1. Press the CD-ROM drive open/close button. The CD-ROM disc tray slides out.
Using the AcerBasic 2. Place a CD-ROM disc onto the CD-ROM disc tray. 3. Press the CD-ROM drive open/close button. The CDROM drive tray slides back in.
Using the AcerBasic Setting Passwords Passwords are a security feature of your computer, protecting your computer from unauthorized access. There are two types of passwords you can set: ❍ Setup ❍ Power-on Do not forget your password! If you forget your password, you need to contact your dealer. Setup Password The Setup Password prevents unauthorized access to the BIOS Utility. The BIOS Utility is a setup utility for your hardware settings. For more information on this utility, see page 35.
Using the AcerBasic 4. Type a password. The password may consist of up to seven characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9). Be very careful when typing your password because the characters do not appear on the screen. 5. Press Enter. A prompt asks you to retype the password to verify your first entry. 6. Retype the password then press Enter. After setting the password, the computer automatically sets the Setup Password parameter to Present. 7. Press Esc to exit the System Security screen and return to the main menu.
Using the AcerBasic Changing or Removing the Setup Password Should you want to change your setup password, do the following: 1. During POST (while the startup logo is being displayed), press Ctrl-Alt-Esc to enter the BIOS Utility. 2. Select System Security and press Enter. 3. Highlight the Setup Password parameter. 4. Press → or ← to display the password prompt and keyin a new password. or Press → or ← and select None to remove the existing password. 5.
Using the AcerBasic Power On Password The Power On Password secures your computer against unauthorized use. Once you set this password, you have to type it whenever you boot the computer. To set this password, enter the BIOS Utility, select System Security, then highlight the Power On Password parameter. Follow the same procedure as in setting the Setup password.
Using the AcerBasic Communicating Between AcerBasics You can transfer files between two AcerBasic computers using the built-in infrared feature and bundled infrared software. The two AcerBasic units should be facing each other with a maximum angle of 15 degrees. When set-up, the two computers will automatically detect and establish a connection.
Using the AcerBasic Transferring Files With a proper connection, you can now transfer files between the two computers. Follow these steps: 1. Double-click on the Network Neighborhood icon on your desktop. Two new items pertaining to the two computers appear in the list. 2. Double-click on each item to open their contents. 3. Drag and drop files from one computer to the other, and vice-versa. You can also access these functions via the IRConnect software.
Care and Maintenance This section includes items on care and maintenance of your computer. Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it. This section tells you how to care for the notebook. Also, reread the important safety instructions at the beginning of this manual. ❍ Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place near sources of heat, such as a radiator or heater. ❍ Do not expose to temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF) or above 50ºC (122ºF).
Getting Help This user’s guide provides clear and concise information about your AcerBasic, so read it thoroughly. Online help is also especially helpful when using specific applications. Accessing Online Help To get help with Windows 95: 1. Click on Start. 2. Click on Help. To get help with specific applications, refer to the documentation that came with the application. Most applications have a Help item on their menu bar that you can gain access to.
Setup Utility Your computer has a built-in BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) setup utility. With this utility, you can configure certain hardware settings for your computer. Basically, your computer is already correctly configured for you and you do not need to run this utility unless you get a Run Setup message.
Setup Utility The following screen is the main menu of the setup utility. BIOS Utility Basic System Configuration Advanced System Configuration Power Saving Configuration System Security PnP/PCI System Configuration Load Setup Default Settings ↑↓←→ = Move Highlight Bar, ↵ = Select, Esc = Exit and Reboot To enter a menu item, use the cursor up/down (↑, ↓) keys to select the item, then press Enter. The following sections describe the different sections of this utility.
Setup Utility Basic System Configuration Select Basic System Configuration to input configuration values such as date, time, and disk types. The following screen shows the Basic System Configuration menu. Basic System Configuration Page 1/2 Date ............................................... [05/16/97] Time ............................................... [03:48:00] Diskette Drive A ............................. [1.44-MB 3.5-inch] Diskette Drive B .............................
Setup Utility Press the page down key (PgDn) to move to the next page or the page up key (PgUp) to return to the previous page. Press the escape key (Esc) to exit the configuration menu. The following screen shows page 2 of the Basic System Configuration menu. Basic System Configuration Enhanced IDE Features Hard Disk Block Mode ............................... Advanced PIO Mode ................................. Hard Disk Size > 504MB ........................... Hard Disk 32-Bit Access .....................
Setup Utility DATE Highlight the items on the date parameter and press → or ← to set the date following the month-day-year format. Valid values for month, day, and year are: ❍ Month 1 to 12 ❍ Day 1 to 31 ❍ Year 00 to 99 TIME Highlight the items on the time parameter and press → or ← to set the time following the hour-minute-second format.
Setup Utility Possible settings for the Diskette Drive parameters: ❍ None ❍ 360 KB, 5.25-inch ❍ 1.2 MB, 5.25-inch ❍ 720 KB, 3.5-inch ❍ 1.44 MB, 3.5-inch ❍ 2.88 MB, 3.5-inch If you do not have a second diskette drive, set Diskette Drive B to None. IDE Drives Move the highlight bar to the IDE Drive 0 parameter to configure the first IDE drive (drive C). Press → or ← to display the IDE drive types with their respective values. Select the type that corresponds to your IDE hard disk drive.
Setup Utility IDE Drive 0 (xx MB)………………… [Auto] Cylinder xx Head xx Sector xx If desired, you can save the values under the option User. IDE Drive 0 (xx MB)………………… [User] Cylinder xx Head xx Sector xx The next time you boot the computer, the BIOS Utility does not have to auto-configure your IDE drive as it detects the saved disk information during POST. We recommend that you copy the IDE disk drive values and keep them in a safe place in case you have to reconfigure the disk in the future.
Setup Utility Follow these steps to configure an IDE hard disk with the User option: 1. Highlight an IDE drive parameter. 2. Select the option User and press Enter. 3. Type in the number of cylinders, heads, and sectors of the drive under the appropriate columns. Be sure to have the correct IDE hard disk drive information beforehand. 4. Choose Yes when asked if you want to save CMOS data.
Setup Utility ADVANCED PIO MODE Enabling this parameter allows for faster data recovery and read/write timing that reduces hard disk activity time. This results to better hard disk performance. To utilize this feature, your hard disk must support the advanced PIO mode. If not, set this parameter to Disabled. Refer to your hard disk documentation for information about the advanced PIO mode. HARD DISK SIZE > 504 MB This enhanced IDE feature works only under DOS and Windows 3.x environments.
Setup Utility Large Memory Support Mode This option allows your computer to support an extended memory higher than 64 MB. Set the parameter to Advanced if you are working under the Windows NT v.3.1 environment. Otherwise, set this to its default which is Normal. Num Lock After Boot This parameter allows you to activate the Num Lock function upon booting. The default setting is Enabled. Memory Test When set to Enabled, this parameter allows the computer to perform a RAM test during the POST routine.
Setup Utility Even if your setting is Enabled, you may also switch to the text mode while booting by pressing F9 after you hear a beep that indicates the activation of the keyboard. When set to Disabled, BIOS is in the conventional text mode where you see the system initialization details on the screen. Configuration Table This parameter allows you to display the configuration table after POST but before booting.
Setup Utility Advanced System Configuration The Advanced System Configuration option allows you to configure the advanced system memory functions. Do not change any settings in the Advanced Configuration if you are not a qualified technician to avoid damaging the computer. The following screen shows Configuration parameters. the Advanced Advanced System Configuration System Page 1/1 Internal Cache(CPU Cache)................................. [Enabled ] External Cache ..................................
Setup Utility External Cache This parameter enables or disables the second-level cache memory. The default value is Enabled. ECC/Parity Mode Selection This parameter allows you to enable or disable the ECC and parity check features. Select Parity to enable the parity check feature. Select ECC to enable the ECC feature. The ECC feature enables BIOS to detect and correct data errors. Select Disabled if you installed SIMMs without parity or if you want to disregard the function.
Setup Utility Power Saving Configuration The Power Saving Configuration parameters are configurable only if your computer supports the power management feature. The following screen shows the Power Saving Configuration parameters and their default settings: Power Saving Configuration Page 1/1 Power Management Mode ..................................... [Enabled ] Power Saving Operation Mode .......................... [QuickStart] IDE Hard Disk Standby Timer ......................
Setup Utility POWER SAVING OPERATION MODE This parameter specifies which type of power saving the computer enters into, either Traditional or QuickStart. In Traditional power saving mode, power saving timers are set and these allow the computer to begin power saving during inactivity timeouts; QuickStart power saving mode allows you to put the computer to sleep and wake it up using the On/Off button on the front panel.
Setup Utility SYSTEM SUSPEND TIMER This parameter sets the computer to the lowest power saving mode. It automatically enters into the suspend mode after a specified period of inactivity. In suspend mode, the CPU clock stops. Any keyboard or mouse action, or any enabled monitored activities occurring through the IRQ channels resume computer operation.
Setup Utility System Security The Setup program has a number of security features to prevent unauthorized access to the computer and its data. The following screen appears if you enter the Setup program and select System Security. System Security Page 1/1 Disk Drive Control Diskette Drive................................... [ Normal ] Hard Disk Drive ................................ [ Normal ] System Boot Drive ........................... [Drive A then C] Boot from CD-ROM ..........................
Setup Utility DISKETTE DRIVE Setting Description Normal Diskette drive functions normally Write Protect All Sectors Disables the write function on all sectors Write Protect Boot Sector Disables the write function only on the boot sector Disabled Disables all diskette functions HARD DISK DRIVE Setting Description Normal Hard disk drive functions normally Write Protect All Sectors Disables the write function on all sectors Write Protect Boot Sector Disables the write function only on the boot
Setup Utility BOOT FROM CD-ROM Setting Description Enabled The computer checks for a bootable CD in the CD-ROM. If a CD is present, the computer boots from the CD-ROM. Otherwise, it boots from the drive specified in the System Boot Drive parameter. Disabled The computer boots from the drive specified in the System Boot Drive parameter. Onboard Communication Ports SERIAL PORT 1 BASE ADDRESS This parameter allows you to set the serial port 1 logical base address.
Setup Utility SERIAL PORT 2 BASE ADDRESS This parameter allows you to set the serial port 2 logical base address. Serial port 2 refers to the internal infrared transceiver.
Setup Utility PARALLEL PORT BASE ADDRESS This parameter allows you to set the parallel port base address. Setting Function 3BCh(IRQ 7) Corresponds to the parallel port with address 3BCh 378h(IRQ 7) Corresponds to the parallel port with address 378h 278h(IRQ 5) Corresponds to the parallel port with address 278h Disabled Disables the parallel port To deactivate the parallel port, select the Disabled option.
Setup Utility OPERATION MODE This item allows you to set the operation mode of the parallel port.
Setup Utility Setup Password The Setup Password prevents unauthorized access to the BIOS utility. Once the Setup Password is set, you must key-in this password the next time you want to enter the BIOS utility. To set the Setup Password, see page 27. Power On Password The Power On Password secures your computer against unauthorized use. Once the Power On Password is set, you have to type it whenever you boot the computer. To set the Power On Password, see page 27.
Setup Utility PCI/PnP System Configuration The PnP/PCI System Configuration allows you to specify the settings for your PCI devices. PnP/PCI System Configuration Page 1/1 PCI IRQ Setting ................................[ Auto ] INTA PCI Slot 1 .......................................... [--] PCI Slot 2 .......................................... [--] On-Board VGA................................... [--] INTB [--] [--] INTC [--] [--] INTD [--] [--] PCI IRQ Sharing ................................
Setup Utility PCI Slots (1 and 2) These parameters allow you to specify the appropriate interrupt for each of the PCI devices. You can assign IRQ5, IRQ9, IRQ10, IRQ11 or IRQ15 to the slots. Press ↑ or ↓ to move between fields. Press → or ← to select options. Onboard VGA This option allows you to specify an interrupt for the onboard VGA. You can assign IRQ5, IRQ9, IRQ10, IRQ11, or IRQ15 to the slots. Make sure that you assign a different interrupt for each device to avoid conflict.
Setup Utility VGA Palette Snoop This parameter permits you to use the palette snooping feature if you installed more than one VGA card in the computer. The VGA palette snoop function allows the control palette register (CPR) to manage and update the VGA RAM DAC (Digital Analog Converter, a color data storage) of each VGA card installed in the computer. The snooping process lets the CPR send a signal to all the VGA cards so that they can update their individual RAM DACs.
Setup Utility Reset Resources Assignment Set this parameter to Yes to avoid IRQ conflict when installing non-PnP or PnP ISA cards. This clears all resource assignments and allows BIOS to reassign resources to all installed PnP devices the next time the computer boots. After clearing the resource data, the parameter resets to No. Onboard LAN Chip If you are connecting the computer to a network using the onboard network chip, this parameter should be set to Enabled.
Setup Utility Load Setup Default Settings This option loads the default settings for optimized computer operation. When you load the default settings, some parameters are grayed-out and fixed. The following dialog box appears when you select Load Setup Default Settings from the main menu. Load Setup Default Settings Are you sure? [Yes] [No] Select Yes to load the default settings.
