Acer XC-214 User Manual Download Page 1

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User’s Manual

Summary of Contents for XC-214

Page 1: ... 1 Aspire Desktop Computer User s Manual ...

Page 2: ...reat reason for you to get an Acer ID Remotely access your PC from your other devices with our free Acer Remote Files app Get the latest offers and product information Register your device for warranty service For more information please visit the AcerCloud website www acer com acercloud Model number _________________________________ Serial number _________________________________ Date of purchase...

Page 3: ...ement 28 Saving power 28 Ports and connectors 31 Information on USB 3 0 32 Rear panel audio ports 32 Memory card reader 33 Connectivity options 33 Video and audio connectors 35 HDMI 36 Universal Serial Bus USB 37 Frequently asked questions 39 Requesting service 41 Tips and hints for using Windows 8 1 43 How do I get to Start 43 What are Charms 43 Can I boot directly to the desktop 44 How do I jump...

Page 4: ...arted In this section you will find Useful information on caring for your computer and your health How to create recovery backups Guidelines for connecting to a network Information on using Acer s bundled software ...

Page 5: ...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 desktop computer 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 on and o...

Page 6: ...m the computer display when you close it Never place the computer on uneven surfaces Power cord information Here are some ways to take care of your power cord 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 rating...

Page 7: ...low these steps 1 Turn off the computer 2 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 78 ...

Page 8: ...reate 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 W...

Page 9: ...nt in the list of apps 2 Click Create Factory Default Backup The Recovery Drive window opens Make sure Copy contents from the recovery partition to the recovery drive is selected This provides the most complete and safest recovery backup 3 Plug in the USB drive then click Next ...

Page 10: ...our 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 7 Unplug the USB drive and label it clearly Creating a drivers and applications backup To create a Drivers and Applications Backup that contains the factory loaded software and drivers needed by your computer you Important...

Page 11: ...click Next If you are using a USB drive make sure your USB drive has enough capacity before continuing If using DVDs it will also show the number of blank recordable discs you will need to complete the recovery discs Make sure that you have the required number of identical blank discs 3 Click Start to copy files You will be shown the backup progress on the screen 4 Follow the process until it comp...

Page 12: ...documentation or support Web site 2 Revert to a previous system condition If reinstalling software or drivers does not help then the problem may be solved by returning your system to a previous state when everything was working correctly For instructions see Returning to an earlier system snapshot on page 15 3 Reset your operating system If nothing else has solved the problem and you want to reset...

Page 13: ...o reinstall software that did not come pre installed on your computer you need to follow that software s installation instructions New device drivers If you need to reinstall device drivers that did not come pre installed on your computer follow the instructions provided with the device If you are reinstalling using Windows and the recovery information stored on your computer 1 From Start type Rec...

Page 14: ... reinstalling from a Drivers and Applications Backup on a DVD or USB drive 1 Insert the Drivers and Applications Backup into the disc drive or connect it to a free USB port If you inserted a DVD wait for Acer Resource Center to start If Acer Resource Center does not start automatically press the Windows key E then double click on the optical drive icon If you are using a USB drive press the Window...

Page 15: ...software problems you can return to one of these restore points to get your system running again Windows automatically creates an additional restore point each day and also each time you install software or device drivers Returning to a restore point 1 From Start type Control Panel and then click Control Panel in the list of apps 2 Click System and Security Action Center then click Recovery at the...

Page 16: ...ot run Windows your original hard drive has been completely re formatted or you have installed a replacement hard drive see Recovering from a recovery backup on page 19 Recovering from Windows Start Acer Recovery Management From Start type Recovery and then click Acer Recovery Management in the list of apps Two options are available Restore Factory Settings Reset my PC or Customized Restore Refres...

Page 17: ... choose how to erase your files a Just remove my files quickly erases all files before restoring your computer and takes about 30 minutes b Fully clean the drive completely cleans the drive after each file is erased so no files can be viewed after the recovery Cleaning the drive takes much longer up to 5 hours but is much more secure as old files are completely removed 4 Click Reset Important Rest...

Page 18: ...p 1 Turn on your computer and press Alt F10 during startup A screen appears asking you to choose the keyboard layout 2 Several options are now presented Click Troubleshoot 3 Click either Refresh your PC or Reset your PC 4 Click Next The process will take several minutes Note Refresh your PC enables you to restore your computer to the default factory condition with files intact Reset your PC comple...

Page 19: ...hen continues by copying files to your hard drive This process takes about 30 minutes Recovering from a recovery backup To recover from a recovery backup on a USB drive 1 Find your recovery backup 2 If your computer does not have a built in keyboard make sure a keyboard is attached to your computer 3 Plug in the USB drive and turn on your computer 4 If it is not already enabled you must enable the...

Page 20: ... to use a Click Advanced then System Restore to start Microsoft System Restore Microsoft System Restore periodically takes a snapshot of your system settings and saves them as restore points In most cases of hard to resolve software problems you can return to one of these restore points to get your system running again b Click Reset your PC to start the reset process Reset your PC deletes everythi...

Page 21: ...estore your computer to Factory Settings select Yes 5 Choose how to erase your files a Just remove my files quickly erases all files before restoring your computer and takes about 30 minutes b Fully clean the drive completely cleans the drive after each file is erased so no files can be viewed after the recovery Cleaning the drive takes much longer up to 5 hours but is much more secure as old file...

Page 22: ...ur PC window opens 2 Click Next 3 Select the operating system to recover normally only one option is available 4 Click Refresh 5 The recovery process begins by restarting your computer then continues by copying files to your hard drive This process takes about 30 minutes ...

Page 23: ... to the Internet using a cable But first an Internet Service Provider ISP usually a phone or cable company will have to go to your home or office to set up Internet service The ISP will install a small box called a router that will allow you to connect to the Internet Once your router is set up all you have to do is plug one end of a network cable into the network port on your computer and the oth...

Page 24: ...24 Keeping your computer and data safe In this section you will find How to secure your computer Setting passwords ...

Page 25: ...e computer logo is being displayed Boot sequence To set the boot sequence in the BIOS utility activate the BIOS utility then select Boot from the categories listed at the top of the screen Setting passwords To set a password on boot activate the BIOS utility then select Security from the categories listed at the top of the screen Find Password on boot and use the F5 and F6 keys to enable this feat...

Page 26: ...resume from Hibernation if available for maximum security Password on Boot secures your computer against unauthorized use Combine the use of this password with password checkpoints on boot up and resume from Hibernation if available for maximum security Entering passwords When a password is set a password prompt appears in the center of the display screen When the Supervisor Password is set a prom...

Page 27: ...correctly a warning message appears Try again and press Enter Important You have three chances to enter a password If you fail to enter the password correctly after three tries the system halts Press and hold the power button for four seconds to shut down the computer Then turn on the computer again and try again ...

Page 28: ...ast 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 consume extra power If you prefer to reduce your computer s power requirements and environmental impact turn off Fast startup 1 Open the Charms and search for Control Panel 2 Open System and Security Power Options 3 Select Choose what the power buttons do 4 ...

Page 29: ...Power management 29 5 Scroll down and disable Turn on fast startup 6 Select Save changes ...

Page 30: ...30 Ports and connectors In this section you will find Information on the ports and connectors fitted to your computer ...

Page 31: ...ve Microphone jack Card reader Speaker or headphone jack Backup button USB port Removeable hard drive carrier s RCA jack S PDIF port PS 2 keyboard connector PS 2 mouse connector External display VGA connector Serial port RJ 45 Ethernet connector Line in jack Line out speaker out jack HDMI port Recovery button Network hard disk drive indicators Kensington lock slot DP DisplayPort The DisplayPort ad...

Page 32: ...ertified devices Defined by the USB 3 0 specification SuperSpeed USB Rear panel audio ports The table below indicates the functions of the audio jacks on the rear panel if available DC in jack DVI DVI port Icon Item Icon Item Icon color Headset Stereo Quadrophonic 5 1 channel Blue Rear Rear Green Headset Front Front Front Blue Mic in Mic in Mic in Center woofer ...

Page 33: ...ou find you need to use any force to insert the card try reorientating the card slightly 3 Push the card until it clicks into place A few millimetres of the card will extend from beyond the slot If the card contains some files the Windows Auto Play window may appear this depends on the contents of the card and ask you if you wish to use a program to access the contents of the card Select an option...

Page 34: ...dden icons arrow in the Notification Area next to the clock 2 Click on the Safely Remove Hardware icon 3 Click on Eject SD Card or the name of the device 4 Wait until a Safe to Remove Hardware message is displayed 5 Remove the card Note SDXC memory cards can only be used in an SDXC compatible reader SD and SDHC cards can be used in either type 3 2 1 ...

Page 35: ...n power to the monitor then the computer 6 Make sure that the current resolution and refresh rate do not exceed the specifications of the monitor If necessary change the display settings used by the computer Headphones and microphone These ports allow you to connect audio devices Use the headphone port to plug in stereo headphones or powered speakers Plugging an audio device to the headphone port ...

Page 36: ...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 37: ...e devices to a single USB port Note Two USB standards are currently available on Acer computers USB 2 0 High speed USB and USB 3 0 SuperSpeed USB USB 2 0 ports on Acer 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 supports ...

Page 38: ...question In this section you will find Frequently asked questions Tips for using Windows 8 1 Troubleshooting information How to protect yourself while online Where to find Acer service center contact information ...

Page 39: ...cal drive Remove it and press Ctrl Alt Del to restart the system Do you have a USB storage device USB disk 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 automatically blanks the screen to save power Press any key to turn the display back on If pressing a key does not turn the disp...

Page 40: ...y turn off I want to eject the optical drive tray without turning on the power There is a mechanical eject hole on the optical drive Simply insert the tip of a pen or straightened out paperclip into the hole and push to eject the tray 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...

Page 41: ...onal Travelers Warranty ITW that gives you security and peace of mind when traveling An ITW passport came with your computer This passport 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 c...

Page 42: ...educe 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 __...

Page 43: ...Clicking it will open Start where you can launch apps How do I see all of my apps Click the arrow icon that appears at the bottom of Start when you move your cursor Can I make the All apps view the default for Start Yes you can just follow these steps 1 Go to the desktop 2 Right click the taskbar and select Properties from the menu that opens 3 From the Navigation tab check Show the Apps view auto...

Page 44: ...ettings Power and select the action you d like to take Can I just turn off notifications You can turn off notifications during certain hours so that you can leave your computer running but not be disturbed by notifications 1 Move your cursor to the upper right hand corner of the screen and click Settings Change PC settings Search apps Notifications 2 Move the Quiet hours slider to On and select ti...

Page 45: ...ge PC settings PC devices Lock screen 2 Move the slider to On and select if the slideshow should be played while the computer is running on battery power 3 Click Add a folder and open the folder you wish to use your Pictures folder will open by default Click Use this folder OK 4 You can see the list of folders under Add a folder Select a folder name and click Remove to remove the folder from the l...

Page 46: ...upper right hand corner How do I move tiles Right click a tile to select it then drag it to the place on Start that you want it to appear Other tiles will be moved to accommodate the tile in its new location Can I arrange tiles in groups Yes you can Right click a tile to select it and open the Customize menu You will see Name group appear above unnamed groups You can give the group s a name and ar...

Page 47: ...are my apps Move your cursor to the upper right hand corner of the screen and click Search start typing the name of the app you would like to open Results will be displayed on the right hand side of the screen How do I make an app appear on Start If you re in All apps and you want to make an app appear on Start Right click a tile to select it and open the Customize menu Click Pin to Start from the...

Page 48: ...isplay the last app that was opened 4 Swipe right from the left edge of the screen until you see a column divider to display both apps simultaneously Up to three apps may be displayed via three columns at the same time Can I show my desktop apps first Yes you can just follow these steps 1 Go to the desktop 2 Right click the taskbar and select Properties from the menu that opens 3 From the Navigati...

Page 49: ... Change PC settings Accounts Connect to a Microsoft account and follow the onscreen instructions How do I add a favorite to Internet Explorer Internet Explorer 10 doesn t have traditional favorites instead you can pin shortcuts to Start Once you have the page open swipe upwards from the bottom edge of the screen to open the menu at the bottom of the screen Click Pin to Start How do I check for Win...

Page 50: ...ealer 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 error Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Disk boot f...

Page 51: ...ed service center for assistance 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 messages Corrective action ...

Page 52: ...e 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 consumer reports The ISP you select will provide instructions on how to connect to the Internet you may need additional software or a special box that connects to your p...

Page 53: ... generally charged at fixed monthly rates Cable A cable connection provides fast and always on Internet service via a cable television line This service is generally available in large cities You can use your telephone and watch cable TV at the same time you are connected to the Internet 3G WWAN or Wireless Wide Area Network Network connections A LAN Local Area Network is a group of computers for ...

Page 54: ...pull cables through walls and ceilings Components of a wireless LAN To set up your Wireless network at home you need to have the following Access point router Access points routers are two way transceivers that broadcast data into the surrounding environment Access points act as a mediator between wired and wireless network Most routers have a built in DSL modem that will allow you access to a hig...

Page 55: ...rnet you need a program called an Internet browser Internet Explorer provides an easy and secure web browsing experience As soon as you have your Internet access installed and you are connected from Start click the Internet Explorer tile or the icon located on the desktop and take your Internet experience to a new level Acer website To get you started why not visit our website www acer com Acer is...

Page 56: ... designed to infect and damage computers Most viruses are transmitted over the Internet emails or malicious Web sites A typical virus will replicate and pass itself undetected to multiple computers Other forms of nuisance such as Trojan horses worms or spam can infect your computer in various ways using up resources or clogging up a network What is spyware Spyware refers to generally unwanted prog...

Page 57: ...ntrol of your computer to install or re distribute viruses or malicious programs Each connection to your computer is monitored programs that attempt to receive information without your permission are detected and the firewall will display an alert You can then decide if you will allow the connection if the connection is to a program you are currently using then normally you would allow it i e a ga...

Page 58: ... antivirus programs A firewall is usually your computer s first line of defense it controls who and what can communicate with your computer online You could think of a firewall as a sort of policeman that watches all the data attempting to flow in and out of your computer on the Internet allowing communications that it knows are safe and blocking bad traffic such as attacks from ever reaching your...

Page 59: ...y password Try to select especially strong unique passwords for protecting activities like online banking Keep your passwords in a safe place and try not to use the same password for every service you use online Change passwords on a regular basis at least every 90 days This can limit the damage caused by someone who has already gained access to your account If you notice something suspicious with...

Page 60: ...hopping banking or any other Web site where sensitive information should have an S after the letters http i e https www yourbank com not http www yourbank com The s stands for secure and should appear when you are in an area requesting you to login or provide other sensitive data Another sign that you have a secure connection is the small lock icon in the bottom of your web browser usually the rig...

Page 61: ... the first use of your information is attempted One of the easiest ways to get the tip off that something has gone wrong is by reviewing the monthly statements provided by your bank and credit card companies for anything out of the ordinary Additionally many banks and services use fraud prevention systems that call out unusual purchasing behavior i e if you live in Texas and all of the sudden star...

Page 62: ...rratically crashes unexpectedly or if some of your programs do not work correctly your computer may be infected 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 ...

Page 63: ...o enter the region code DVDs are available for 6 regions Region code Country or region 1 USA Canada 2 Europe Middle East South Africa Japan 3 Southeast Asia Taiwan South Korea 4 Latin America Australia New Zealand 5 Former USSR parts of Africa India 6 People s Republic of China Note To change the region code insert a DVD movie of a different region into the DVD drive Once your DVD drive is set to ...

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