Acer P256-M-56GA User manual

- 1

TravelMate P2 Series (15")

User’s Manual

2 -

TravelMate P2 Series (15")

Covers: P256-M

This revision: April 2014

Sign up for an Acer ID and enable Acer Remote Files

1. Ensure you are connected to the Internet.

2. Open www.acer.com and select your country.

3. Click REGISTER A PRODUCT.

4. Sign up for an Acer ID or sign in if you already have an Acer ID.

Register your Acer product

After we receive your product registration, you will be sent a confirmation email with

important data. Keep this email in a safe place.

Manage your registered products

Once you have completed the registration process, you can log onto account.acer.com

using your Acer ID and password to see and manage all your registered products.

Note: It may take a few days for your information to be updated to the database.

Model number: _________________________________

Serial number: _________________________________

Date of purchase: ______________________________

Place of purchase: ______________________________

Important

This manual contains proprietary information that is protected by

copyright laws. The information contained in this manual is subject to

change without notice. Images provided herein are for reference only

and may contain information or features that do not apply to your

computer. Acer Group shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors

or omissions contained in this manual.

Table of contents - 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Register your Acer product ......................... 2

Manage your registered products ............... 2

First things first 6

Your guides ............................................. 6

Basic care and tips for using your

computer.................................................. 6

Turning your computer off........................... 6

Taking care of your computer ..................... 7

Taking care of your AC adapter .................. 7

Taking care of your battery pack................. 8

Cleaning and servicing................................ 8

Your Acer notebook tour 9

Screen view ........................................... 10

Keyboard view ....................................... 11

Left view ............................................... 12

Information on USB 3.0............................. 12

Right view ............................................. 13

Base view .............................................. 14

Using the keyboard 15

Lock keys............................................... 15

Hotkeys ..................................................... 15

Windows keys........................................ 17

Touchpad 18

Touchpad basics ................................... 18

Touchpad gestures................................ 18

Recovery 20

Creating a recovery backup................... 20

Creating a drivers and applications

backup................................................... 22

Recovering your system ........................ 24

Reinstalling drivers and applications......... 25

Returning to an earlier system snapshot .. 27

Returning your system to its factory

condition.................................................... 28

Recovering from Windows ........................ 28

Recovering from a recovery backup ......... 31

Connecting to the Internet 34

Connecting with a cable ........................ 34

Built-in network feature ............................. 34

Connecting wirelessly............................ 35

Connecting to a wireless LAN................... 35

Connecting to a 3G network ..................... 36

Using a Bluetooth connection 37

Enabling and disabling Bluetooth .......... 37

Enable Bluetooth and add a device .......... 37

Acer ProShield 40

Overview................................................ 40

Setting up Acer ProShield...................... 40

Personal Secure Drive .............................. 42

Credential Manager ............................... 43

Fingerprint Registration* ........................... 43

Data Protection ...................................... 44

Data Removal ........................................ 44

BIOS utility 45

Boot sequence....................................... 45

Setting passwords ................................. 45

Securing your computer 46

Using a computer security lock.............. 46

Using passwords ................................... 46

Entering passwords .................................. 47

Power management 48

Saving power ......................................... 48

Battery pack 50

Battery characteristics ........................... 50

Charging the battery ................................. 50

Optimizing battery life ............................... 51

Checking the battery level......................... 52

Battery-low warning .................................. 52

Installing and removing the battery pack .. 53

Traveling with your computer 54

Disconnecting from the desktop ............ 54

Moving around ....................................... 54

Preparing the computer ............................ 54

What to bring to meetings ......................... 55

Taking the computer home .................... 55

Preparing the computer ............................ 55

What to take with you................................ 56

Special considerations .............................. 56

Setting up a home office ........................... 56

Traveling with the computer................... 57

Preparing the computer ............................ 57

What to take with you................................ 57

Special considerations .............................. 57

Traveling internationally......................... 58

Preparing the computer ............................ 58

What to bring with you .............................. 58

Special considerations .............................. 58

Memory card reader 60

Connectivity options............................... 60

Video and audio connectors 62

HDMI 63

Universal Serial Bus (USB) 64

Frequently asked questions 66

Requesting service ................................ 68

4 - Table of contents

Tips and hints for using Windows 8.1.... 70

How do I get to Start? ............................... 70

What are "Charms?" ................................. 70

Can I boot directly to the desktop? ........... 71

How do I jump between apps?.................. 71

How do I turn off my computer?................ 71

How do I unlock my computer?................. 71

How do I set the alarm? ............................ 73

Where are my apps?................................. 74

What is a Microsoft ID (account)?............. 75

How do I add a favorite to Internet

Explorer?................................................... 76

How do I check for Windows updates?..... 76

Where can I get more information?........... 76

Troubleshooting ..................................... 77

Troubleshooting tips.................................. 77

Error messages......................................... 77

Internet and online security 79

First steps on the net ............................. 79

Protecting your computer.......................... 79

Choose an Internet Service Provider........ 79

Network connections................................. 81

Surf the Net!.............................................. 83

Security ..................................................... 83

Playing Blu-Ray or DVD movies 90

- 5

Getting started...

In this section you will find:

• Useful information on caring for your computer and your health

• Where to find the power button, ports and connectors

• Tips and tricks for using the touchpad and keyboard

• How to create recovery backups

• Guidelines for connecting to a network and using Bluetooth

• Information on using Acer’s bundled software

6 - First things first

FIRST THINGS FIRST

We would like to thank you for making this 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 Setup Guide helps you get started with setting up your

computer.

The Quick 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 User’s Manual. This guide

contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data

recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting. In addition it

contains general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is

available from the desktop; double-click the Help icon and click

User’s Manual in the menu that opens.

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer off

To turn the power off, do any of the following:

• Use the Windows shutdown command: Press the Windows key +

<C>, click Settings > Power then click Shut Down.

If you need to power down the computer for a short while, but don’t

want to completely shut it down, you can put it into Hibernate by

pressing the power button.

First things first - 7

You can also put the computer in sleep mode by pressing the sleep

hotkey <Fn> + <F4>.

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 0º C (32º F) or

above 50º C (122º F).

• 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

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.

8 - First things first

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

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

See Frequently asked questions on page 115.

Your Acer notebook tour - 9

YOUR ACER NOTEBOOK TOUR

After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Setup Guide, let us

show you around your new Acer computer.

10 - Your Acer notebook tour

Screen view

# Icon Item Description

1 Webcam

Web camera for video

communicat

ion.

A light next to the webcam indicates

that the

webcam is active.

2 Screen Displays computer output.

3

SD card reader

Accepts one Secure Digital card (SD

or SD

HC).

Push to install and pull to remove a

card.

Only one card can operate at any

given time.

4

Power indicator

Indicates the computer’s power

st

atus.

Battery indicator

Indicates battery status.

Charging: The

light is amber when

the battery is charging.

Fully charged: The

light is blue.

5 Microphone

Internal microphone for sound

recording.

1

2

34 5

Your Acer notebook tour - 11

Keyboard view

# Icon Item Description

1

Power button Turns the computer on and off.

2 Keyboard

For entering data into your computer.

See "Using the keyboard" on page

15.

Do not use a keyboard protector or

similar cover as the keyboard

includes ve

ntilation intakes for

cooling.

3 Touchpad

Touch-sensitive pointing device.

The touchpad and selection buttons

f

orm a single surface.

Press down firmly on the touchpad

surface to perform a left click.

Press down firmly on the lower right

corner to perform a right click.

1

2

3

12 - Your Acer notebook tour

Left view

1234675

# Icon Item Description

1

Kensington lock

slot

Connects to a Kensington-

compatible computer security

lock.

Wrap the computer security lock

cab

le around an immovable

object such as a table or handle

of a locked drawer.

Insert the lock into the notch and

turn the key to secure the lock.

Keyless models are also

available.

2 Ventilation

Allows the computer to stay cool.

Do not cover or obstruct the

openings.

3

External display

(VGA) port

Connects to a display device

(e.g.,

external monitor, LCD

projector).

4

Ethernet (RJ-45)

port

Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/

1000-based network.

5

HDMI port

Supports high-definition digital

video connection

s.

6

USB port Connects to USB devices.

7

Headset/speaker

jack

Connects to audio devices (e.g.,

spe

akers, headphones) or a

headset with microphone.

Information on USB 3.0

• USB 3.0 compatible ports are blue.

• Compatible with USB 3.0 and earlier devices.

Your Acer notebook tour - 13

• For optimal performance, use USB 3.0-certified devices.

• Defined by the USB 3.0 specification (SuperSpeed USB).

Right view

123465

# Icon Item Description

1

USB ports Connect to USB devices.

2 Optical drive

Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or

DVDs.

3

Optical disk access

indicator

Lights up when the optical drive is

active.

4

Optical drive eject

b

utton

Ejects the optical disk from the drive.

5

Emergency eject

ho

le

Ejects the optical drive tray when the

comp

uter is turned off.

Carefully insert a straightened paper

clip

to eject the optical drive tray.

6

DC-in jack Connects to an AC adapter.

14 - Your Acer notebook tour

Base view

2

1

3

4

# Icon Item Description

1 Battery bay Houses the computer's battery pack.

2

Battery release

latch

Releases the battery for removal.

Insert a suit

able tool and slide to

release.

3 Speakers Deliver stereo audio output.

4

Ventilation and

cooling fan

Allows the computer to stay cool.

Do not cover or obstruct the

ope

nings.

Using the keyboard - 15

USING THE KEYBOARD

The keyboard has full-sized keys and a separate numeric keypad,

separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys.

Lock keys

The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.

Hotkeys

The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most

of the computer's controls like screen brightness and volume output.

To activate hotkeys, press and hold the <Fn> key before pressing the

other key in the hotkey combination.

Lock key Description

Caps Lock

When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters

typed are in uppercase.

Num Lock

When Num Lock is on, the keypad is in numeric

mode. The keys function as a calculator (complete

with the arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /). Use this

mode when you need to do a lot of numeric data

entry.

Scroll Lock

When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up

or down when you press the up or down arrow keys

respectively. Scroll Lock does not work with some

applications.

Hotkey Icon Function Description

<Fn> + <F3> Airplane mode

Turns on / off the computer's

network devices.

(Network devices vary by

configuration.)

<Fn> + <F4> Sleep

Puts the computer in Sleep

mode.

16 - Using the keyboard

<Fn> + <F5> Display toggle

Switches display output

between the display screen,

external monitor (if

connected) and both.

<Fn> + <F6> Display off

Turns the display screen

backlight off to save power.

Press any key to return.

Touchpad

toggle

Turns the built-in touchpad on

and off.

<Fn> + <F8> Speaker toggle

Turns the speakers on and

off.

<Fn> + <F12>Scr Lk

Turns the scroll lock feature

on or off.

<Fn> + < > Brightness up

Increases the screen

brightness.

Brightness

down

Decreases the screen

brightness.

<Fn> + < > Volume up Increases the sound volume.

<Fn> + < > Volume down Decreases the sound volume.

<Fn> +

<Home>

Play/Pause

Play or pause a selected

media file.

<Fn> +

<Pg Up>

Stop

Stop playing the selected

media file.

<Fn> +

<Pg Dn>

file.

<Fn> +

<End>

Next Jump to the next media file.

Hotkey Icon Function Description

Using the keyboard - 17

Windows keys

The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions.

Key Description

Windows key

Pressed alone it returns to the Start screen or to

return to the last open app.

It can also be used with other keys for special

functions, please check Windows Help.

Application

key

This key has the same effect as clicking the right

mouse button; it opens the application's context

menu.

18 - Touchpad

TOUCHPAD

Touchpad basics

The touchpad controls the arrow (or 'cursor') on the screen. As you

slide your finger across the touchpad, the cursor will follow this

movement.

The cursor is controlled by some basic gestures:

• Single-finger slide: Slide a finger across the touchpad to

move the cursor.

• Single-finger press or tap: Press the touchpad down, or

lightly tap the touchpad with your finger, to perform a 'click',

which will select or start an item. Quickly repeat the tap to perform a

double tap or 'double click'.

• Single-finger press in the bottom-right

corner: Press the bottom right corner of the

touchpad to perform a 'right click'. In the

Start screen, this will toggle the app

commands, in most apps this will open a

context menu related to the selected item.

• Drag: Press and hold the bottom left corner of the touchpad, or tap

twice anywhere on the touchtap, then slide a second finger across

the touchpad to select all items in an area.

Touchpad gestures

Windows 8.1 and many applications support touchpad gestures that

use one or more fingers.

Note

The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; the lighter the touch, the better

the response. Please keep the touchpad and your fingers dry and clean.

Note

Support for touchpad gestures depends on the active application.

Touchpad - 19

This allows you to control applications with a few simple gestures,

such as:

• Swipe in from edge: Access Windows tools

by swiping into the center of the touchpad

from the right, top or left.

• Swipe in from right edge: Toggle the charms.

• Swipe in from top edge: Toggle the app commands.

• Swipe in from left edge: Switch to the previous app.

• Two-finger slide: Swiftly scroll through web pages,

documents and playlists by placing two fingers on the

touchpad and moving both in any direction.

• Two-finger pinch: Zoom in and out of photos, maps and

documents with a simple finger-and-thumb gesture.

20 - Recovery

RECOVERY

If you are having trouble with your computer, and the frequently asked

questions (see Frequently asked questions on page 66) do not

help, you can 'recover' your computer - i.e. return it to an earlier state.

This section describes the recovery tools available on your computer.

Acer provides Acer Recovery Management, which allows you to

create a recovery backup, a drivers and applications backup, and to

start recovery options, either using Windows tools, or the recovery

backup.

Creating a recovery backup

To reinstall from a USB storage drive, you must first create a recovery

backup. The recovery backup includes the entire original contents of

your computer’s hard drive, including Windows and all factory-loaded

software and drivers. Using this backup will restore your computer to

the same state as when you purchased it, while giving you an option

to retain all settings and personal data.

Note

Acer Recovery Management is only available with a pre-installed Windows

operating system.

Important

We recommend that you create a Recovery Backup and Drivers and

Applications Backup and as soon as possible.

In certain situations a full recovery will require a USB recovery backup.

Note

Since the recovery backup requires at least 16

GB of storage after formatting,

it is recommended to use a USB drive with a capacity of 32

GB or larger.

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