TM230-280-e.book  Page i  Thursday, April 17, 2003  9:32 AM
TravelMate 230/280 series
User’s guide
TM230-280-e.book  Page ii  Thursday, April 17, 2003  9:32 AM
Copyright © 2002.  Acer Incorporated.
All Rights Reserved.
TravelMate 230/280 series User’s guide
Original Issue: November 2002
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.
TravelMate 230/280 series Notebook computer
Model Number : __________________________________
Serial Number: ___________________________________
Purchase Date: ___________________________________
Place of Purchase: ________________________________
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.
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First things first
We would like to thank you for making the TravelMate series of 
notebook computers your choice for your mobile computing needs.  
We hope you will be happy with your TravelMate as much as we 
enjoyed making it for you.
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.
This 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 PDF (Portable Document Format).  Follow these 
steps:
1 Click on Start, Programs, TravelMate.
2 Click on TravelMate User’s guide.
Note:   Viewing the file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader 
installed.  If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your 
computer, clicking on TravelMate User’s guide will run the 
Acrobat Reader setup program first.  Follow the 
instructions on the screen to complete the installation.  For 
instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, access 
the Help menu.
Lastly, there may be a Read me first sheet included with 
your package which contains important reminders and 
updates.  So, please read through it.
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For more information about our products, services, and support 
information, please visit our Web site (global.acer.com).
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 switch 
below the LCD screen beside the Launch keys.  See “Front view” on 
page 3 for the location of the power switch.
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 switch
Note:  You can also use the power switch to perform power 
management functions.  See “Power management” on page 26.
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 “Power 
management” on page 26.
Note:  If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and 
hold the power switch 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⁄C (32⁄F) or 
above 50⁄C (122⁄F).
Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.
Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.
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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.
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:
1
2 Disconnect the AC adapter.
3 Use a soft cloth moistened with water.  Do not use liquid or 
Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.
aerosol cleaners.
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If any of the following occurs:
Please refer to "Troubleshooting my computer" on page 59.
The computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged.
Liquid has been spilled into the product.
The computer does not operate normally.
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First things first
Your guides
Basic care and tips for using your computer
1 Getting to know your TravelMate
A TravelMate tour
Front view
Left view
Right view
Rear view
Bottom view
Features
Indicators
Understanding the icons
Using the keyboard
Special keys
Touchpad
Touchpad basics
Storage
Hard disk
Optical drive
Floppy drive
Audio
Adjusting the volume
Power management
Moving around with your TravelMate
Disconnecting from the desktop
Moving around
Taking the computer home
Traveling with the computer
Traveling internationally with the computer
Securing your computer
Using a computer security lock
2 Customizing my computer
Expanding through options
Connectivity options
Upgrade options
Using system utilities
Notebook Manager
Launch Manager
BIOS Utility
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9
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12
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25
26
27
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45
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Contents
3 Troubleshooting my computer
Frequently-asked questions
Error messages
Requesting service
International Traveler’s Warranty (ITW)
Before you call
Appendix A Specifications
Appendix B Notices
Index
59
61
65
69
69
69
71
77
85