Acer TravelMate 5600: First things first

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First things first

We would like to thank you for making an Acer notebook your choice for

meeting your mobile computing needs.

Your guides

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

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

setting up your computer.

The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and

functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer

can help you to be more productive, please refer to the

AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed

information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery,

expansion options and troubleshooting. In addition it contains

warranty information and the general regulations and safety

notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document

Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow

these steps to access it:

1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem.

2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide.

Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Reader. If Adobe Reader is

not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's

Guide will run the Adobe Reader setup program first. Follow the

instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For

instructions on how to use Adobe Reader, access the Help and

Support menu.

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 easy-launch buttons. See "Front view" on page 11 for the

location of the power button.

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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

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

pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4>.

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 0 ºC (32 ºF) or above

50 ºC (122 ºF).

• 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 or vibration.

• Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.

• Never place objects on top of 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 foot 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.

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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 possible.

Cleaning and servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

1 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack.

2 Disconnect the AC adapter.

3 Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

If either 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 34.

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 for wireless option

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

An improper installation or unauthorized 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

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Disposal instructions iii

First things first iv

Your guides iv

Basic care and tips for using your computer iv

Turning your computer on and off iv

Taking care of your computer v

Taking care of your AC adapter v

Taking care of your battery pack vi

Cleaning and servicing vi

Acer Empowering Technology 1

Acer eDataSecurity Management 2

Contents

Acer eLock Management 3

Acer ePerformance Management 4

Acer eRecovery Management 5

Acer eSettings Management 6

Acer eNet Management (for selected models) 6

Acer ePower Management 8

Acer ePresentation Management 9

Your Acer notebook tour 11

Front view 11

Closed front view 13

Left view 14

Right view 14

Rear view 15

Base view 16

Specifications 17

Indicators 21

Easy-launch buttons 22

Touchpad 23

Touchpad basics 23

Using the keyboard 25

Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad 25

Windows keys 26

Hotkeys 26

Special keys 28

Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 29

Using a computer security lock 29

Audio 30

Adjusting the volume 30

Using the system utilities 31

Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 31

Launch Manager 32

Norton AntiVirus 33

Frequently asked questions 34

Requesting service 37

International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 37

Before you call 37

Taking your notebook PC with you 38

Disconnecting from the desktop 38

Moving around 38

Preparing the computer 38

What to bring to meetings 39

Taking the computer home 39

Preparing the computer 39

What to take with you 39

Special considerations 40

Setting up a home office 40

Traveling with the computer 40

Preparing the computer 40

What to take with you 40

Special considerations 41

Traveling internationally with the computer 41

Preparing the computer 41

What to bring with you 41

Special considerations 41

Securing your computer 42

Using a computer security lock 42

Using passwords 42

Entering passwords 43

Setting passwords 43

Expanding through options 44

Connectivity options 44

Fax/data modem 44

Built-in network feature 45

Universal Serial Bus (USB) 45

PC Card slot 46

Installing memory 47

BIOS utility 47

Boot sequence 47

Enable disk-to-disk recovery 48

Password 48

Using software 48

Playing DVD movies 48

Power management 49

Acer eRecovery Management 49

Create backup 50

Restore from backup 50

Create factory default image CD 51

Re-install bundled software without CD 51

Change password 52

Troubleshooting 53

Troubleshooting tips 53

Error messages 53

Regulations and safety notices 55

ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 55

FCC notice 55

Modem notices 56

Important safety instructions 59

Laser compliance statement 61

LCD pixel statement 61

Macrovision copyright protection notice 61

Radio device regulatory notice 62

General 62

European Union (EU) 62

The FCC RF safety requirement 63

Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio

communication devices (RSS-210) 64

Federal Communications Comission

Declaration of Conformity 65

Declaration of Conformity for CE Marking 66

Index 67