Setup Utility

The Setup Utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer's BIOS (Basic Input/Ouput 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 Troubleshooting when a problem arises.

To activate the Setup Utility, press F2 during POST (while the TravelMate logo is being displayed).

Navigating the Setup Utility

There are five menu options: Main, Advanced, Security, Power Saving and Exit. To navigate through the Setup Utility:

Note: Parameter explanations are displayed in the Item-Specific Help section of the Setup Utility (right panel). Navigation keys are shown at the bottom of the screen.

Main

The Main screen contains parameters involving basic computer settings and hardware information.

BIOS Main Screen

The following table describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

Parameter Description Format/Options
System Time Sets the system time. HH:MM:SS (hour:minute:second)
System Date Sets the system date. MM/DD/YYYY (month/day/year)
Floppy Disk A Selects the floppy disk drive type.
  • 1.44MB, 3.5"
  • Disabled
Hard Disk 0 Shows the hard disk size. Press Enter to access the Hard Disk 0 submenu.  
CD-ROM Shows the AcerMedia Bay module type installed. Press Enter to access the CD-ROM submenu.  
Boot sequence Press Enter to access the Boot sequence submenu.  
System Memory Shows the size of main memory. (in MB or megabytes)
Video Memory Shows the size of video memory. (in MB or megabytes)
CPU Type Shows the type of the CPU.  
CPU Speed Shows the speed of the CPU. (in MHz or megahertz)
Serial Number Shows the serial number of the computer.  
Asset Number Shows the asset number of the computer.  
VGA BIOS Version Shows the version number of the VGA BIOS. Vx Rx (version and release numbers)
BIOS Version Shows the version number of the computer BIOS Vx Rx (version and release numbers)

Note: The BIOS versions are important information about your computer. If you experience computer problems and you need to call technical support, this data helps our service personnel know more about your computer.

Hard Disk 0 Submenu

The hard disk 0 submenu allows you to set parameters related to your hard disk. Press Enter to access this submenu.

BIOS Main screen: Hard Disk 0 submenu

The following table describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

Parameter Description Format/Options
Type Sets the hard disk type.
  • Auto
  • User
  • CD-ROM
  • ATAPI Removable
  • IDE Removable
  • None
Cylinders Shows the number of cylinders of the hard disk.  
Heads Shows the number of heads of the hard disk.  
Sectors/Track Shows the number of sectors per track of the hard disk.  
Maximum Capacity Shows the maximum capacity of the hard disk. (in MB or megabytes)

Note: The values for Cylinder, Heads, Sectors/Track and Maximum Capacity are automatically set if the hard disk type is set to Auto. We suggest you set this value to Auto for hassle-free and correct hard disk detection.

CD-ROM Submenu

The CD-ROM submenu allows you to set parameters related to the module installed in the AcerMedia Bay. Press Enter to access this submenu.

BIOS Main screen: ATAPI Devices submenu

This screen resembles the Hard Disk submenu screen. You can refer to the Item Specific help to the right of the screen or the previous section for descriptions of these parameters.

Note: We suggest you set this value to Auto for hassle-free and correct detection of the module installed in the AcerMedia Bay.

Boot Sequence Submenu

The Boot Sequence submenu allows you to set the boot sequence of the bootable devices in your computer. Press Enter to access this submenu.

BIOS Main screen: Boot Device Priority submenu

The computer boots-up using the sequence specified in this submenu. To set the boot device priority, use the plus/minus +- keys.

Parameter Description Default Order
Removable Devices Computer boots from the removable device (i.e., bootable floppy disk in the floppy drive). 1
Hard Drive Computer boots from the hard disk. 2
ATAPI CD-ROM Drive Computer boots from the CD-ROM drive (i.e., bootable CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive). 3

Advanced

The Advanced screen contains parameters that are related to computer hardware.

Caution: The parameters in this screen are for advanced users only. You do not need to change the values in this screen because these values are already optimized.

BIOS Advanced screen

The following table describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

Parameter Description Options
Serial Port Enables or disables the serial port.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
IrDA Port Enables or disables the infrared port.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
Parallel Port Enables or disables the parallel port.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
   Mode Sets the operation mode of the parallel port.
  • ECP
  • Bi-directional
  • Output only
Speaker Default Enables or disables the internal speakers on boot-up. You can override this by toggling Fn-F8 during computer operation.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
Microphone/Line-In Sets the function of the line-in/microphone-in jack.
  • Microphone
  • Line-In
Boot Display Sets the display device on boot-up. When set to Auto, the computer automatically determines the display device. If an exernal display device (e.g., monitor) is connected, it becomes the boot display; otherwise, the computer's display screen is the boot display. When set to Both, the computer outputs to both the computer display screen and and external display device if one is connnected.
  • Auto
  • Both

Security

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

BIOS Security screen

The following table describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

Parameter Description Options
Supervisor Password is

When set, the Supervisor Password protects the computer and the Setup Utility from unauthorized use. It also protects certain parameters in the Setup Utility.

When Password on boot and/or Password Check During Resume is enabled, you need to enter the Supervisor Password to continue operation.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
User Password is

When set, the User Password protects the computer and the Setup Utility from unauthorized use.

When Password on boot and/or Password Check During Resume is enabled , you need to enter the User Password to continue operation.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
Set Supervisor Password Press Enter to set the Supervisor Password.  
Set User Password Press Enter to set the User Password.  
Password on boot When enabled, the computer prompts for a password when the computer boots up.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
Password Check During Resume When enabled, the computer prompts for a password when the computer resumes from standby or hibernation mode.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled

Setting a Password

Follow these steps:

  1. Use the cursor up/down keys to highlight a Set Password parameter (Supervisor or User) and press the Enter key. The password box appears:

  2. Type a password. The password may consist of up to seven characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9).
  3. Press Enter. Retype the password to verify your first entry and press Enter.
  4. After setting the password, the computer automatically sets the chosen password parameter to Enabled.
  5. Press Esc to go to the Exit menu.
  6. Select Save Change & Exit to save the password and exit the Setup Utility.

To change a password, follow the same steps used to set a password.

Removing a Password

Should you want to remove a password, do the following:

  1. Use the cursor up/down keys to highlight a Set Password parameter (Supervisor or User) and press the Enter key. The password box appears:

  2. Enter the current password and press Enter.
  3. Press Enter twice without entering anything in the password box to remove the existing password.
  4. Press Esc to go to the Exit menu.
  5. Select Save Change & Exit to save the password and exit the Setup Utility.

Power

The Power screen contains parameters that are related to power-saving and power management.

BIOS Power Saving screen

The following table describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

Parameter Description Format/Options
LCD backlight Timeout Sets the timeout value before the display enters power saving mode.
  • Disabled
  • time values
Hard Disk Timeout Sets the timeout value before the hard disk enters power saving mode.
  • Disabled
  • time values
Standby Timeout Sets the timeout value before the computer enters Standby mode.
  • Disabled
  • time values
S2D Timeout Sets the timeout value before the computer enters Hibernation mode.
  • Disabled
  • time values
Resume on LAN access When enabled, the computer resumes operation when accessed via LAN using a remote computer.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
Resume on Time When enabled and the resume time and date are set and valid, the computer resumes (wakes up) at the set time and date.

When enabled, the Resume Time and Resume Date parameters appear. Set the time and date the computer resumes at.
  • Disabled
  • Enabled
Battery Low Warning Enables or disables warning beeps during a battery-low condition.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled
Battery Low Suspend Enables or disables the suspend function during a battery-low condition. When the computer is running very low on battery power, the compute rwill enter hibernation mode if PhDISK is installed and the hibernation file is valid. Otherwise, the computer will enter standby mode.
  • Enabled
  • Disabled

Exit

When you select the Exit menu or press Esc from any screen, the Exit options screen displays.

BIOS Exit screen

The following table describes the parameters in this screen.

Exit Option Description
Exit Discarding Changes Discards any changes made, exits the Setup Utility and reboots.
Exit Saving Changes Saves any changs made, exits the Setup Utility and reboots.
Load Setup Defaults Resets all parameters to their factory-default values.
Discard Changes Disregards any changes made in the current session and reloads their previous values.
Save Changes Saves any changes made.

Note: If you wish to keep any changes you make to parameters, select Exit Saving Changes or Save Changes.