Acer Predator HELIOS 300 User Manual Download

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User’s Manual

Summary of Contents for Predator HELIOS 300

Page 2: ...visit the Acer BYOC website www acer com byoc start 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...

Page 3: ...rk 35 PredatorSense 36 The PredatorSense main screen 36 Overclocking 37 Fan Control 37 PredatorSense settings 38 Bluelight Shield 39 Securing your computer 41 Using a computer security lock 41 Using passwords 41 Entering passwords 42 BIOS utility 43 Boot sequence 43 Setting passwords 43 Power management 44 Saving power 44 Battery pack 46 Battery characteristics 46 Charging the battery 46 Optimizin...

Page 4: ...soft ID account 70 How do I check for Windows updates 70 Where can I get more information 71 Troubleshooting 72 Troubleshooting tips 72 Error messages 72 Internet and online security 74 First steps on the net 74 Protecting your computer 74 Choose an Internet Service Provider 74 Network connections 76 Surf the Net 78 Internet security software 78 ...

Page 5: ...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 Predator s bundled software ...

Page 6: ...de contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities data recovery expansion options and troubleshooting Once you have connected to the internet you can download updates for your computer from http go acer com id 17883 1 The link will open the Predator Service Support webpage 2 Scroll down to Drivers and Manuals and search for your model by pasting in or manually entering the seri...

Page 7: ...e Windows Start button select Power Sleep Right click the Windows Start button Shut down or sign out Sleep Taking care of your computer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it Only use the adapter provided with your device or an Acer approved adapter to power your device Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight Do not place it near sources of heat such as a radiator Do not ex...

Page 8: ...cts on top of it Route the power cord and any cables away from where people walk 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 t...

Page 9: ...Setup Guide let us show you around your new Predator computer Screen view 1 3 2 Icon Item Description 1 Webcam Web camera for video communication A light next to the webcam indicates that the webcam is active 2 Microphones Internal stereo digital microphones for sound recording 3 Screen Displays computer output ...

Page 10: ...uter See Using the keyboard on page 14 2 Touchpad Touch sensitive pointing device The touchpad and selection buttons form 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 3 Power button Turns the computer on and off ...

Page 11: ...DMI port Supports high definition digital video connections 5 USB port with power off charging Connects to USB devices 6 SD card reader Accepts one Secure Digital SD or SDHC card Only one card can operate at a time USB Type C information USB 3 1 Gen 1 with transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps Delivers up to 3 A at 5 V DC for USB charging USB 3 0 information USB 3 0 compatible ports are blue Compatible wit...

Page 12: ...vices 3 Power indicator Indicates the computer s power status Battery indicator Indicates the computer s battery status Charging The light shows amber when the battery is charging Fully charged The light shows blue when in AC mode 4 DC in jack Connects to an AC adapter Rear view 1 Icon Item Description 1 Ventilation and cooling fan Allows the computer to stay cool Do not cover or obstruct the open...

Page 13: ...e You may upgrade your computer s main storage Predator recommends asking an approved service center to do this 3 Speakers Deliver stereo audio output 4 Battery reset pinhole Simulates removing and reinstalling the battery Insert a paperclip into the hole and press for four seconds 5 Memory compartment Houses the computer s memory You may upgrade your computer s memory Predator recommends asking a...

Page 14: ... 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 Fn F12 When Scroll Lock is on the screen moves one l...

Page 15: ...light toggle Turns the keyboard backlight on and off Fn F12 Scr Lk Scroll Lock Turns Scroll Lock on or off Fn Del Ins Insert Turns Insert on or off Fn Brightness up Increases the screen brightness Fn 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 S...

Page 16: ...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 ...

Page 17: ...u are using Touchpad 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 Two finger press Lightly tap the touchpad with two fingers to perform a right click...

Page 18: ... touchpad with three fingers to open Cortana if your computer supports Cortana or open the Action Center if your computer does not support Cortana Three finger swipe Swipe across the touchpad with three fingers Swipe up to open Task View Move the cursor over a window and tap the touchpad to select that window or swipe downwards to exit Task View Swipe down to minimize all open windows and show Des...

Page 19: ...All settings 3 Select Devices Mouse touchpad 4 Now you can adjust the settings to suit your personal needs You can change the primary button for left or right handed use turn the touchpad off if you prefer to use a mouse or set a delay to prevent the cursor from moving if you accidentally tap the touchpad with your palm while working Scroll down to see more settings ...

Page 20: ...20 Using the Precision Touchpad ...

Page 21: ...Backup allows you to quickly and easily back up your operating system installed apps and data 1 From Start select All apps then Predator Select Predator Recovery Management in the list of Predator apps Note Acer Care Center is only available with a pre installed Windows operating system Important We recommend that you create a Factory Default Backup as soon as possible In certain situations a full...

Page 22: ...k Get Started for Create Factory Default Backup to open the Recovery Drive window 3 Make sure Backup system files to the recovery drive is selected and click Next 4 Plug in the USB drive and wait for the PC to detect the USB drive then click Next ...

Page 23: ...process until it completes 8 After creating the recovery backup you can choose to delete the recovery information on your computer If you delete this information you can only use the USB recovery backup to restore your computer if you lose or erase the USB drive you cannot restore your computer 9 Unplug the USB drive and label it clearly Important Write a unique descriptive label on the backup suc...

Page 24: ...p tab and click Get started for Backup wireless and LAN drivers Choose a folder to save your drivers and select OK Restoring your computer Recovery Management allows you to quickly and easily restore your computer back to its default status You can choose to keep your files or remove them before reinstalling Windows Reset this PC and keep my files 1 From Start select All apps then Predator Select ...

Page 25: ...al files Click Reset to continue 5 You will be shown the reset progress on the screen The screen will turn off during the reset process 6 The screen will turn back on when it is installing Windows Your PC will restart several times during the reset process 7 Follow the process until it completes 8 When your PC has completed the reset process Windows will have been reset back to its factory default...

Page 26: ...Choose an option 3 Select Remove everything to reset your PC back to its factory default This process will reinstall your operating system and remove all of your personal files apps and settings 4 Select Just remove my files if you are keeping your computer This will be quicker but less secure Files may still be recovered with a file recovery program Select Remove files and clean the drive if you ...

Page 27: ...e screen will turn back on when it is installing Windows Your PC will restart several times during the reset process 8 Follow the process until it completes 9 When your PC has completed the reset process Windows will use factory default settings Warning Selecting Remove files and clean the drive will remove all of your personal files and accounts along with pre existing drivers that may affect you...

Page 28: ...ng Bluetooth The Bluetooth adapter must be enabled on both devices For your computer this may be an external switch a software setting or a separate Bluetooth dongle plugged into the computer s USB port if no internal Bluetooth adapter is available Enable Bluetooth and add a device Every new device must first be paired with your computer s Bluetooth adapter This means it must first be authenticate...

Page 29: ... 1 Press the Windows key or select the Windows Start button Settings Devices Bluetooth and click the toggle under Bluetooth to enable disable it 2 Your computer will automatically start searching for devices as well as make itself visible to other devices 3 Select the device you wish to pair from the list of discovered devices and select Pair ...

Page 30: ...hand corner of the screen to open the Notifications pane From here you can enable or disable Bluetooth or right click on Bluetooth Go to settings to enter the Bluetooth settings Note Some devices using older versions of the Bluetooth technology require both devices to enter a PIN In the case of one of the devices not having any inputs as in a headset the passcode is hardcoded into the device usual...

Page 31: ...net Connecting to a wireless network Connecting to a wireless LAN A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area network which can link two or more computers without using wires Once connected to WLAN you can access the internet You can also share files other devices and even your internet connection itself Your computer s wireless connection is turned on by default and Windows will detect and di...

Page 32: ...u have a wireless router access point and current internet connection through the ISP of your choice Make a note of the wireless network s name and password if necessary If you are trying to connect to a public network such as at a coffeeshop make sure you have the wireless network s name 2 In the icon tray in the lower right hand corner of the screen select the Notifications icon to open the Noti...

Page 33: ...Connecting to the Internet 33 4 Select Network internet 5 Make sure Wi Fi is On and select Show available networks 6 You will see a list of available wireless networks Select the one you wish to use ...

Page 34: ...34 Connecting to the Internet 7 Once you select a wireless network select Connect 8 If required enter the network s password ...

Page 35: ...a port on your router refer to the image below Then you ll be ready to get online Connecting to a cellular network If your computer has a SIM slot you can connect to the internet using a cellular phone network To do this you must have a compatible SIM card and a data contract with your cellular provider Contact your cellular provider for more information on connecting to the internet using a cellu...

Page 36: ... keys The PredatorSense main screen The main screen gives you a one glance overview of your computer s current status including the GPU frequency temperatures and fan speeds The screen provides fan control and overclocking options to increase performance Note Overclocking is not available on all models and configurations Note The speeds and frequencies listed may vary depending on your computer s ...

Page 37: ...ng your computer s CPU and GPU Three levels are available Auto default Max and Custom Note Overclocking is not available on all models and configurations Note The AC adapter must be connected and battery charge must be over 30 in order to overclock your computer Note Acer is not responsible for any damage incurred from overclocking if any third party tools are used to overclock the CPU or graphics...

Page 38: ...n to increase the maximum fan speed enabling even faster fan speeds and increased cooling during heavy use PredatorSense settings Click the Settings icon to change settings for your Predator computer You can disable the Windows and Menu keys and also the sticky keys feature An additional setting allows you to change reported temperature units C or F ...

Page 39: ...different modes to fit your needs No Item Description 1 Low Reduction Reduces blue light emission from the LED backlit screen by 10 to 25 for basic protection 2 Medium Reduction Reduces blue light emission from the LED backlit screen by 26 to 45 to protect your eyes 3 High Reduction Reduces blue light emission from the LED backlit screen by 46 to 65 for maximum protection 4 Long Hour Mode Professi...

Page 40: ...Keeping your computer and data safe In this section you will find How to secure your computer Setting passwords What you need to prepare when you re traveling How to get the most out of your battery ...

Page 41: ...he key to secure the lock Some keyless models are also available Using passwords Passwords protect your computer from unauthorized access Setting these passwords creates several different levels of protection for your computer and data Supervisor Password prevents unauthorized entry into the BIOS utility Once set you must enter this password to gain access to the BIOS utility See Setting passwords...

Page 42: ...ress Enter When the User Password is set and the password on boot parameter is enabled a prompt appears at boot up Type the User Password and press Enter to use the computer If you enter the password incorrectly a warning message appears Try again and press Enter Important Do not forget your Supervisor Password If you forget your password please get in touch with your dealer or an authorized servi...

Page 43: ...ayed Boot sequence To set the boot sequence in the BIOS utility activate the BIOS utility then select Boot from the categories listed on the left of the screen Setting passwords To set a password on boot activate the BIOS utility then select Security from the categories listed on the left of the screen Find Set Supervisor Password and enter a password to enable this feature Once you have entered a...

Page 44: ...ower Disable Fast startup Your computer uses Fast startup to start quickly but also uses a small amount of power to check for signals to start These checks will slowly drain your computer s battery If you prefer to reduce your computer s power requirements and environmental impact turn off Fast startup 1 Open the desktop 2 Click Power Options in the Notification area 3 Select More Power Options 4 ...

Page 45: ...Power management 45 5 Select Change settings that are currently unavailable 6 Scroll down and disable Turn on fast startup 7 Select Save changes ...

Page 46: ...er failure Charging the battery Plug the AC adapter into the computer and connect to a mains power outlet Conditioning a new battery pack Before you use a battery pack for the first time there is a conditioning process that you should follow 1 Connect the AC adapter and fully charge the battery 2 Turn on the computer and complete setting up the operating system 3 Disconnect the AC adapter 4 Operat...

Page 47: ...ve Frequent use the more you use the battery the faster it will reach the end of its effective life An embedded battery has a life span of more than 1 000 charge discharge cycles Optimizing battery life Optimizing battery life helps you get the most out of battery operation prolonging the charge recharge cycle and improving recharging efficiency You are advised to follow the suggestions set out be...

Page 48: ...urse of action depends on your situation Important Connect the AC adapter as soon as possible after the battery low warning appears Data may be lost if the battery is allowed to become fully depleted and the computer shuts down Situation Recommended Action The AC adapter and a power outlet are available 1 Plug the AC adapter into the computer and then connect to the main power supply 2 Save all ne...

Page 49: ...keyboard pointing device printer external monitor and other external devices 7 Disconnect the Kensington lock if you are using one to secure the computer Moving around When you are just moving within short distances for example from your office desk to a meeting room Preparing the computer Before moving the computer close and latch the display cover to place it in Sleep mode You can now safely tak...

Page 50: ... AC adapter with you to plug in your computer in the meeting room If the meeting room does not have an electrical outlet reduce the drain on the battery by putting the computer in Sleep mode Press the Sleep hotkey or close the display cover whenever you are not actively using the computer Taking the computer home When you are moving from your office to your home or vice versa Preparing the compute...

Page 51: ...th you leave the computer in the trunk of the car to avoid exposing the computer to excessive heat Changes in temperature and humidity can cause condensation Allow the computer to return to room temperature and inspect the screen for condensation before turning on the computer If the temperature change is greater than 10 C 18 F allow the computer to come to room temperature slowly If possible leav...

Page 52: ... Prepare the computer as if you were taking it home Make sure that the battery in the computer is charged Airport security may require you to turn on your computer when carrying it into the gate area What to take with you Take the following items with you AC adapter Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printer Special considerations In addition to the guidelines for taking th...

Page 53: ...priate for your destination s Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printer Proof of purchase in case you need to show it to customs officials International Travelers Warranty passport Special considerations Follow the same special considerations as when traveling with the computer In addition these tips are useful when traveling internationally When traveling in another count...

Page 54: ...le with the local AC voltage Do not use converter kits sold for appliances to power the computer If you are using the modem check if the modem and connector are compatible with the telecommunications system of the country you are traveling in ...

Page 55: ...In this section you will find Information on the ports and connectors fitted to your computer Ports and connectors ...

Page 56: ...vices to a single USB port Note Two USB standards are currently available on Predator computers USB 2 0 High speed USB and USB 3 0 SuperSpeed USB USB 2 0 ports on Predator computers have a black tongue in the port while USB 3 0 ports have a blue tongue For best performance USB 3 0 devices should always be plugged into USB 3 0 ports Consult your device s documentation to see which standard it suppo...

Page 57: ...pe C ports support up to USB 3 1 SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps Other USB or Thunderbolt devices with a USB Type C connector are supported but transfer speed may be reduced and certain functions will be disabled such as Thunderbolt video support Important When removing a USB storage device you should right click on the USB icon in the Windows task bar and select Eject device to tell the operating system to...

Page 58: ...s depends on the contents of the card and ask you if you wish to use a program to access the contents of the card SD SDHC and SDXC cards Different types of SD cards cover different capacities while using the same overall design SD cards contain up to 4 GB SDHC cards contain up to 32 GB and SDXC cards can contain up to 2048 GB 2 TB Your computer provides an SDHC or SDXC compatible card reader Impor...

Page 59: ...esolution and refresh rate should be detected automatically If necessary change the display settings used by the computer Headphones and microphone One or more 3 5 mm jacks on your computer allow you to connect audio devices Use the headphone port to plug in stereo headphones or powered speakers connecting an audio device to the headphone port disables the built in speakers Use the microphone port...

Page 60: ...y compatible digital audio video source such as your computer a set top box DVD player and audio video receiver to any compatible digital audio and or video monitor such as a digital television DTV with a single cable The single cable keeps everything neat and tidy while ensuring easy connection and the best audio and visual quality ...

Page 61: ...stion In this section you will find Frequently asked questions Tips for using Windows 10 Troubleshooting information How to protect yourself while online Where to find Predator service center contact information ...

Page 62: ...ur computer on again Make sure that the AC adapter is properly plugged into the computer and to the power outlet If power is being supplied to the computer check the following Do you have a USB storage device USB drive CD drive or smartphone plugged into your computer Unplug it and press Ctrl Alt Del to restart the system Nothing appears on the screen The computer s power management system automat...

Page 63: ...ernal speakers automatically turn off The keyboard does not respond Try attaching an external keyboard to a USB port on the computer If it works contact your dealer or an authorized service center as the internal keyboard cable may be loose The printer does not work Make sure that the printer is connected to a power outlet and that it is turned on Make sure that the printer cable is connected secu...

Page 64: ...assport came with your computer and contains all you need to know about the ITW program A list of available authorized service centers is in this handy booklet Read this passport thoroughly Always have your ITW passport on hand especially when you travel to receive the benefits from our support centers Attach your proof of purchase to the ITW passport If the country you are traveling in does not h...

Page 65: ...r support we can reduce the amount of time a call takes and help solve your problems efficiently If there are error messages or beeps reported by your computer write them down as they appear on the screen or the number and sequence in the case of beeps You are required to provide the following information Name Address Telephone number Machine and model type Serial number Date of purchase ...

Page 66: ...r select the Windows Start button and select All apps to show a list of installed apps on the computer How do I turn off my computer Press the Windows key or select the Windows Start button and select the power icon Shut down You can also turn off the computer by right clicking the Windows Start button Shut down or sign out Shut down Can I turn off notifications You can turn off notifications so t...

Page 67: ...w do I set up the lock screen slideshow 1 Press the Windows key or select the Windows Start button and select Settings Personalization 2 Under Background select Slideshow 3 Select Add a folder and open the folder you wish to use your Pictures folder will open by default Select Choose this folder to add the folder to the lock screen slideshow 4 Select a folder and select Remove to remove the folder...

Page 68: ... text box to display the results select Control Panel Adjust screen resolution Alternatively you can also right click anywhere on the desktop and select Screen resolution How do I set the alarm Your computer can act as an alarm clock Type Alarms to search for the Alarms Clock app 1 Select an alarm from the list or select the in the lower right corner to create a new alarm 2 Enter the Alarm name 3 ...

Page 69: ...in All apps and you want to make an app appear on Start right click an app and select Pin to Start How do I remove a tile from Start Right click a tile to select it and select Unpin from Start to remove the tile from Start How do I make an app appear on my taskbar If you re in All apps and you want to make an app appear on the taskbar right click an app or tile and select Pin to taskbar Hour Minut...

Page 70: ...y use to communicate with friends and sign in to your favorite websites When you sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account you ll connect your PC to the people files and devices you care about Do I need one You do not need a Microsoft ID to use Windows 10 but it makes life easier because you can sync data across different machines you sign in to using a Microsoft ID How do I get one If you ve al...

Page 71: ...Frequently asked questions 71 Where can I get more information For more information please visit the following pages Windows 10 information go acer com windows tutorial Support FAQs support acer com ...

Page 72: ...Error messages below If the problem cannot be resolved contact your dealer Error messages If you receive an error message note the message and take the corrective action The following table lists the error messages in alphabetical order together with the recommended course of action Error messages Corrective action CMOS battery bad Contact your dealer or an authorized service center CMOS checksum ...

Page 73: ...r dealer or an authorized service center I O parity error Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Keyboard error or no keyboard connected Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Keyboard interface error Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Memory size mismatch Press F2 during POST to enter the BIOS utility then press Exit in the BIOS utility to reboot Error m...

Page 74: ...g Just a few simple steps can connect you to a vast collection of knowledge and communication tools To accomplish these steps you should first select an Internet Service Provider ISP which supplies the connection between your computer and the internet You should research the ISPs available in your region not forgetting to talk to friends and family about their experiences or to check reviews and c...

Page 75: ...e socket to avoid interference To be eligible for DSL you must be located near an DSL equipped phone exchange service is sometimes unavailable in rural areas Connection speeds vary depending on your location but DSL generally provides very fast and reliable internet connection As the connection is always on it is generally charged at fixed monthly rates Cable A cable connection provides fast and a...

Page 76: ...etwork which may link two or more computers without using wires Setting up a wireless network is easy and allows you to share files peripheral devices and an internet connection What are benefits of a wireless network Mobility Wireless LAN systems allow you and other users of your home network to share access to files and devices connected to the network for example a printer or scanner Also you c...

Page 77: ...detailed setup instructions Network cable RJ45 A network cable also called RJ45 cable is used to connect the host computer to the access point see illustration below this type of cable may also be used to connect peripheral devices to the access point Wireless adapter Most computers feature a wireless module and Wi Fi button that turns the network connection on or off You may also turn your wirele...

Page 78: ...et help tailored to your needs www acer com is your portal to a world of online activities and services visit us regularly for the latest information and downloads Internet security software To help you stay ahead of cybercriminals Acer has partnered with Norton to offer you security for all your devices Select Acer computers include protection by Norton Security Norton Security is pre installed o...

Page 79: ...nto sending them your credit card number social security number or logging into a fake bank website that looks like yours but really isn t How to stay safe Use a strong antispam filter If an email looks strange don t click on anything and delete it immediately Instead manually launch a browser and type in your bank s website address and log in yourself Don t be fooled if someone calls your phone A...

Page 80: ...ou re infected Avoid getting infected in the first place by staying protected with internet security software like Norton Security Also perform regular backups of all your data either online or to a separate external hard drive that is only attached to your computer while performing the backup Ransomware has been known to lock access to external hard drives attached to the computer If you are infe...

Page 81: ...tware like Norton Security If you subscribed to Norton Security and think you may have a virus contact Norton s on call technicians to help eliminate the virus Take special precautions when using public Wi Fi Public Wi Fi is available just about everywhere from the local coffee shop to the hotels and airports you visit while traveling While public Wi Fi has made our lives a little easier it also p...

Page 82: ...ols and numbers Don t click on random links or open unsolicited messages and attachments particularly from people you don t know Don t access any personal information or social media accounts over unprotected Wi Fi networks Use security software on your devices to help protect yourself from the latest threats Protect your computer with Windows security tools Windows provides a variety of protectio...

Page 83: ...ected by malicious software However do not blame every computer problem on a virus If you suspect your computer is infected the first thing to do is update if you have not already done so and run your antivirus and anti spyware software ...

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