Acer Extensa 2500 Service Guide

							Chapter 232
BIOS Setup Utility
The BIOS Setup Utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer’s BIOS (Basic Input/
Output System).
Your computer is already properly configured and optimized, and you do not need to run this utility. However, if 
you encounter configuration problems, you may need to run Setup.  Please also refer to Chapter 4 
Troubleshooting when problem arises.
To activate the BIOS Utility, press 
m during POST (when “Press  to enter Setup” message is prompted 
on the bottom of screen).
Press m to enter setup. The default parameter of F12 Boot Menu is set to “disabled”. If you want to change 
boot device without entering BIOS Setup Utility, please set the parameter to “enabled”. 
Press  during POST to enter multi-boot menu. In this menu, user can change boot device without 
entering BIOS SETUP Utility.
NOTE: The system information is subject to different models.
System Utilities
Chapter  2 
						

							33Chapter 2
Navigating the BIOS Utility
There are six menu options: Info., Main, System Devices, Security, Boot, and Exit.
Follow these instructions:
TTo choose a menu, use the cursor left/right keys (zx).
TTo choose a parameter, use the cursor up/down keys ( wy).
TTo change the value of a parameter, press por q.
TA plus sign (+) indicates the item has sub-items. Press e to expand this item.
TPress ^ while you are in any of the menu options to go to the Exit menu.
TIn any menu, you can load default settings by pressing t. You can also press u to save any 
changes made and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
NOTE: You can change the value of a parameter if it is enclosed in square brackets. Navigation keys for a 
particular menu are shown on the bottom of the screen. Help for parameters are found in the Item 
Specific Help part of the screen. Read this carefully when making changes to parameter values.
This menu provides you the information of the system. 
						

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Information
NOTE: The system information is subject to different models.
ParameterDescription
Floppy Disk Drive Shows floppy drive type informaiton.
Note: Aspre 1620, Extensa 2700, TravelMate 2500 and Extnesa 2500 series products do 
not have floppy disk drive; Extensa 2000 and TravelMate 2000 series have floppy disk 
drive.
HDD Model Name This field shows the model name of HDD installed on primary IDE master.
HDD Serial Number This field displays the serial number of HDD installed on primary IDE master.
ATAPI Model Name This field displays the mofel name of devices installed on secondary IDE master. The hard 
disk drive or optical drive model name is automatically detected by the system.
ATAPI Serial Number This field shows the serial number of devices installed on secondary IDE master.
Serial Number This field displays the serial number of this unit.
UUID Number This will be visible only when an internal LAN device is presenting.
UUID=32bytes 
						

							35Chapter 2
Main
The Main screen displays a summary of your computer hardware information, and also includes basic setup 
parameters. It allows the user to specify standard IBM PC AT system parameters.
NOTE: The screen above is for reference only. Actual values may differ. 
						

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The table below describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested 
parameter settings.
NOTE: The sub-items under each device will not be shown if the device control is set to disable or auto. This is 
because the user is not allowed to control the settings in these cases.
NOTE: If user disables “PXE Boot from LAN” option in BIOS Setup Utility, this item will be disappeared.
ParameterDescriptionFormat/Option
System Time Sets the system time. The hours are displayed 
with 24-hour format.Format: HH:MM:SS 
(hour:minute:second) System Time
System Date Sets the system date. Format MM/DD/YYYY (month/day/
year)
System Date
System Memory This field reports the memory size of the system. 
Memory size is fixed to 640MB
Extended Memory This field reports the memory size of the 
extended memory in the system. 
Extended Memory size=Total memory size-1MB
VGA Memory Shows the VGA memory size. VGA Memory 
size=64/128MB
Fast Boot Determines if Customer Logo will be displayed or 
not; shows Summary Screen is disabled or 
enabled. 
Enabled: Customer Logo is displayed, and 
Summary Screen is disabled.
Disabled: Customer Logo is not displayed, and 
Summary Screen is enabled. Option: 
Enabled or Disabled
Power on display Auto: During power process, the system will 
detect if any display device is connected on 
external video port. If any external display device 
is connected, the power on display will be in CRT 
(or projector) only mode. Otherwise it will be in 
LCD only mode.
Both: Simultaneously enable both the integrated 
LCD screen and the system’s external video port 
(for an external CRT or projector).Option: 
Auto or Both
LCD Auto Dim Determines if the system will automatically dim 
the LCD brightness in order to save power when 
AC is not present.
The system will support an automatic dimming of 
the LCD backlight when the AC power is NOT 
available (running on battery power).Option: 
Enabled or Disabled
PXE Boot from LAN Enables, disables the system boot from LAN 
(remote server). PXE is the protocal.Option: 
Enabled or Disabled
F12 Boot Menu Enables, disables Boot Menu during POST.
Option: 
Disabled or Enabled 
						

							37Chapter 2
Advanced
The Advanced menu screen contains parameters involving your hardware devices. It also provides advanced 
settings of the system.
The table below describes the parameters in the screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested 
parameter settings.
ParameterDescriptionOptions
Hyper-Threading 
TechnologyThe function is supported only when the CPU 
installed is 3.06G or above. The system will 
automatically hide this selection when detecting the 
CPU frequency is below 3.06G or the CPU does not 
support Hyper-Threading Technoloty.
Enabled/Disabled
Infrared Port Enables, disables or auto detects the infrared port.
Disabled/Disabled/Auto
Parallel Port Enables, disables or auto detects the parallel port.
Enabled/Disabled/Auto
Mode Sets the operation mode of the parallel port.
ECP, EPP, Output only or Bi-
directional
Base I/O address Sets the I/O address of the parallel port.
378/278
Interrupt Sets the interrupt request of the parallel port.
IRQ7/IRQ5
DMA channel Sets a DMA channel for the printer to operate in 
ECP mode. This parameter is enabled only if Mode 
is set to ECP.
DMA3/DMA1 
						

							Chapter 238
Legacy USB Support Enables, disables USB interface devices support 
under DOS mode.Option: Disabled or Enabled
ParameterDescriptionOptions 
						

							39Chapter 2
Security
The Security screen contains parameters that help safeguard and protect your computer from unauthorized 
use. 
						

							Chapter 240
The table below describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested 
parameter settings.
NOTE: When you are prompted to enter a password, you have three tries before the system halts. Don’t forget 
your password. If you forget your password, you may have to return your notebook computer to your 
dealer to reset it.
Setting a Password
Follow these steps as you set the user or the supervisor password:
1.Use the w andy keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The 
Set Supervisor Password box appears:
2.Type a password in the “Enter New Password” field. The password length can not exceeds 8 
alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, not case sensitive). Retype the password in the “Confirm New 
Password” field.
IMPORTANT:Be very careful when typing your password because the characters do not appear on the screen.
3.Press e.
                After setting the password, the computer sets the User Password parameter to “Set”.
4.If desired, you can opt to enable the Password on boot parameter.
5.When you are done, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
ParameterDescriptionOption
User Password is Shows the setting of the user password.
Clear or Set
Supervisor Password is Shows the setting of the Supervisor password
Clear or Set
Set User Password Press Enter to set the user password. When 
set, this password protects the BIOS Setup 
Utility from unauthorized access.
Set Supervisor Password Press Enter to set the supervisor password. 
When set, this password protects the BIOS 
Setup Utility from unauthorized access. 
Primary Harddisk Security This feature is available to user when 
Supervisor password is set. Password can be 
written on HDD only when Supervisor 
password or user password is set and 
password on HDD is set to enabled. 
Supervisor Password is written to HDD only 
when Supervisor password is being set. User 
password is written to HDD when both 
passwords are set. When both Supervisor and 
user password are present, both passwords 
can unlock the HDD.
Disabled or Enabled
Password on Boot Defines whether a password is required or not 
while the events defined in this group 
happened. The following sub-options are all 
requires the Supervisor password for changes 
and should be grayed out if the user password 
was used to enter setup.
Disabled or Enabled 
						

							41Chapter 2
Removing a Password
Follow these steps:
1.Use the w and y keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The 
Set Password box appears:
2.Type the current password in the Enter Current Password field and press e.
3.Press e twice without typing anything in the Enter New Password and Confirm New Password fields. 
The computer then sets the Supervisor Password parameter to “Clear”.
4.When you have changed the settings, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
Changing a Password
1.Use the w and y keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The 
Set Password box appears:
2.Type the current password in the Enter Current Password field and press e.
3.Type a password in the Enter New Password field. Retype the password in the Confirm New Password 
field.
4.Press e. After setting the password, the computer sets the User Password parameter to “Set”.
5.If desired, you can enable the Password on boot parameter.
6.When you are done, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
If the verification is OK, the screen will display as following. 
The password setting is complete after the user presses u.