Acer Aspire 5050 Service Guide

							Chapter 113
Touchpad Basics
The following teaches you how to use the touchpad:
TMove your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor. 
TPress the left (1) and right (4) buttons located beneath the touchpad to perform selection and execution 
functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the 
Launch keyDefault application
Acer Empowering Technology (user-
programmable)
Email application (user-programmable)
Internet browser (user-programmable)
P User-programmable
1. Charging:
2. Fully charged:
Acer 
Empowering Technology on page 1
Launch Manager on page 51
Easy-launch button Default application 
						

							14Chapter 1
touchpad is the same as clicking the left button.
TUse the 4-way scroll (3) button to scroll up or down and move left or right a page. This button mimics 
your cursor pressing on the right scroll bar of Windows applications.
NOTE: When using the touchpad, keep it - and your fingers - dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger 
movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping too hard will not increase the 
touchpad’s responsiveness.
NOTE: By default, vertical and horizontal scrolling is enabled on your touchpad. It can be disabled under 
Mouse settings in Windows Control Panel.
FunctionLeft Button (1)Right Button 
(4)Main touchpad 
(2)Center button (3)
Execute Click twice 
quicklyTap twice (at 
the same 
speed as 
double-
clicking the 
mouse 
button)
Select Click once Tap once
Drag Click and 
hold, then use 
finger to drag 
the cursor on 
the touchpadTap twice (at 
the same 
speed as 
double-
clicking a 
mouse 
button) then 
hold finger to 
the touchpad 
on the second 
tap to drag 
the cursor.
Access 
context menuClick once
Scroll Click and hold to move 
up/down/left/right. 
						

							Chapter 115
Using the Keyboard
The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and 
twelve function keys.
Lock Keys and embedded numeric keypad
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.
The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters 
located on the upper right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols 
are not printed on the keys.
Windows Keys
The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions.
Lock KeyDescription
Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters 
typed are in uppercase.
Num lock   
+When Num Lock is on, the embedded 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. A 
better solution would be to connect an external 
keypad. 
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.
Desired AccessNum Lock OnNum Lock Off
Number keys on 
embedded keypadType numbers in a 
normal manner.
Cursor-control keys on 
embedded keypadHold  while using 
cursor-control keys.Hold  while using 
cursor-control keys.
Main keyboard keys Hold  while typing 
letters on embedded 
keypad.Type the letters in a 
normal manner. 
						

							16Chapter 1
Hot Keys
The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer’s controls like sreen 
brightness, volume output and the BIOS utility.
To activate hot keys, press and hold the  key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination.
KeyIconDescription
Windows 
keyPressed alone, this key has the same effect as 
clicking on the Windows Start button; it 
launches the Start menu. It can also be used 
with other keys to provide a variety of function:
   +  Activates next taskbar button.
  +   Opens the My Computer window
  +   Opens Help and Support.
  +   Opens the Find: All Files dialog box.
  +  Opens the Run dialog box.
+  M Minimizes all windows.
+  +  Undoes the minimize all 
windows action.
Applicat
ion keyThis key has the same effect as clicking the 
right mouse button; it opens the application’s 
context menu.
Hot KeyIconFunctionDescription
Fn-F1 Hot key help Displays help on hot keys.
Fn-F2 Acer eSettings Launches the Acer eSettings in Acer eManager.
Fn-F3 Acer ePower 
ManagementLaunches the Acer ePowerManagement in Acer 
eManager. 
						

							Chapter 117
Special Key
You can locate the Euro symbol and US dollar sign at the upper-center and/or bottom-right of your keyboard. 
To  t y p e : Fn-F4 Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep mode.
Fn-F5 Display toggle Switches display output between the display 
screen, external monitor (if connected) and 
both.
Fn-F6 Screen blank Turns the display screen backlight off to save 
power. Press any key to return.
Fn-F7 Touchpad toggle Turns the internal touchpad on and off.
Fn-F8 Speaker toggle Turns the speakers on and off.
Fn-wVolume up Increases the speaker volume.
Fn-yVolume down Decreases the speaker volume.
Fn-xBrightness up Increases the screen brightness.
Fn-zBrightness down Decreases the screen brightness
Hot KeyIconFunctionDescription 
						

							18Chapter 1
The Euro symbol
1.Open a text editor or word processor.
2.Either directly press the  symbol at the bottom-right of the keyboard, or hold  and then 
press the symbol at the upper-center of the keyboard.
The US dollar sign
1.Open a text editor or word processor.
2.Either directly press the  key at the bottom-right of the keyboard, or hold  and then press 
the  key at the upper-center of the keyboard.
NOTE:  This function varies by the operating system version.
NOTE: Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/
typography/faq/faq12.htm for more information. 
						

							Chapter 119
Acer Empowering Technology
Acer’s innovative Empowering Technology makes it easy for you to access frequently used functions and 
manage your new Acer notebook. It features the following handy utilities: 
TAcer ePower Management extends battery power via versatile usage profiles.
TAcer ePresentation Management connects to a projector and adjusts display settings conveniently.
TAcer eDataSecurity Management (for selected models) protects data with passwords and advanced 
encryption algorithms.
TAcer eLock Management (for slected models)  limits access to external storage media.
TAcer eRecovery Management backs up and recovers data flexibly, reliably and completely.
TAcer eSettings Management accesses system information and adjusts settings easily.
TAcer ePerformance Management improves system performance by optimizing disk space, memory and 
registry settings.
For more information, press the < > key to launch the Empowering Technology menu, then click on the 
appropriate utility and select the Help or Tutorial function.
Empowering Technology password
Before using Acer eLock Management and Acer eRecovery Management, you must initalize the Empowering 
Technology password. Right-click on the Empowering Technology toolbard and select “Password Setup” to do 
so. If you do not initialize the Empowering Technology password, you will be prompted to do so when running 
Acer eLock Management or Acer eRecovery Management for the first time.
Acer ePower Management   
Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch it, select Acer ePower 
Management from the Empowering Technology interface.
AC Mode (Adapter mode)
The default setting is “Maximum Performance.” You can adjust CPU speed, LCD brightness and other 
settings, or click on buttons to turn the following functions on/off: Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, CardBus, FireWire 
(1394), Wired LAN and Optical Device if supported.
DC Mode (Battery mode)
There are four pre-defined profiles - Entertainment, Presentation, Word Processing, and Battery Life. You can 
also define up to three of your own.
To create new power profile
1.   Change power settings as desired.
2.Click “Save as...” to save to a new power profile.
3.Name the newly created profile.
4.Select whether this profile is for Adapter or Battery mode, then click OK.
5.The new profile will appear in the profile list. 
						

							20Chapter 1
Battery status
For real-time battery life estimates based on current usage, referto the panel on the lower left-hand side of the 
window.
For additional options, click “Settings” to:
TSet alarms.
TRe-load factory defaults.
TSelect what actions will be taken when the cover is closed or the power button is pressed.
TView information about Acer ePower Management. 
						

							Chapter 121
Acer ePresentation Management
Acer ePresentation Management lets you project your computer’s display to an external device or project 
using the hot key: Fn + F5. If auto-detection hardware is implemented in the system, your system display will 
be automatically switched out when an external display is connected to the system. 
						

							22Chapter 1
Acer eDataSecurity Management   (for selected models)
Acer eDataSecurity Management is handy file encryption utility that protexts your files from being accessed by 
unauthorized persons. It is conveniently integrated with Windows explorer as a shell extension for quick and 
easy data encryption/decryption and also supports on-the-fly file encryption for MSN Messager and Microsoft 
Outlook. 
The Acer eDataSecurity Management setup wizard will prompt you for a suvervisor password and default 
encryption. This encryption will be used to encrypt files by default, or you can choose to enter your won file-
specific password when encrypting a file.
NOTE: The password used encrypt a file is the unique key that the system needs to decrypt it. If you lose the 
password, the supervisor password is the only other key capable of decrypting the file. If you lose both 
passwords, there will be no way to decrypt your encryped file! Be sure to safeguard all related 
passwords!