Acer Aspire E5 User Manual

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Aspire E 15 Series
User’s Manual 
						

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© 2014. All Rights Reserved.
Aspire E 15 Series
Covers: E5-571 / E5-531 / E5-551 / E5-521 / E5-511
This revision: May 2014
Sign up for an Acer ID and enable Acer Remote Files
Open the Acer Portal from the Start screen to sign up for an 
Acer ID or sign in if you already have an Acer ID.
There are three great reasons 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:  ______________________________
Place of purchase:  ______________________________
Important
This manual contains proprietary information that is protected by 
copyright laws. The information contained in this manual is subject to 
change without notice. Images provided herein are for reference only 
and may contain information or features that do not apply to your 
computer. Acer Group shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors 
or omissions contained in this manual. 
						

							Table of contents - 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
First things first  6
Your guides .............................................  6
Basic care and tips for using your 
computer..................................................  6
Turning your computer off ........................... 6
Taking care of your computer ..................... 7
Taking care of your AC adapter .................. 7
Taking care of your battery pack................. 8
Cleaning and servicing................................ 8
Your Acer notebook tour  9
Screen view ...........................................  10
Keyboard view .......................................  11
Left view  ...............................................  12
Information on USB 3.0............................. 12Right view  .............................................  14
Base view ..............................................  15
Using the keyboard  16
Lock keys...............................................  16Hotkeys ..................................................... 16Windows keys........................................  18
Touchpad  19
Touchpad basics ...................................  19
Touchpad gestures ................................  19
Recovery  21Creating a recovery backup...................  21
Creating a drivers and applications 
backup ...................................................  23
Recovering your system ........................  25
Reinstalling drivers and applications......... 26
Returning to an earlier system snapshot .. 28
Returning your system to its factory 
condition.................................................... 29
Recovering from Windows ........................ 29
Recovering from a recovery backup ......... 32
Connecting to the Internet  35
Connecting with a cable ........................  35Built-in network feature ............................. 35Connecting wirelessly ............................  36Connecting to a wireless LAN ................... 36
Connecting to a 3G network ..................... 37
Using a Bluetooth connection  38Enabling and disabling Bluetooth ..........  38Enable Bluetooth and add a device .......... 38
BIOS utility  41
Boot sequence.......................................  41
Setting passwords .................................  41
Securing your computer  42
Using a computer security lock ..............  42
Using passwords ...................................  42
Entering passwords .................................. 43
Power management  44
Saving power .........................................  44
Battery pack  46
Battery characteristics ...........................  46Charging the battery ................................. 46
Optimizing battery life ............................... 47
Checking the battery level......................... 48
Battery-low warning .................................. 48
Installing and removing the battery pack .. 49
Traveling with your computer  50Disconnecting from the desktop ............  50
Moving around .......................................  50
Preparing the computer ............................ 50
What to bring to meetings ......................... 51
Taking the computer home ....................  51Preparing the computer ............................ 51
What to take with you................................ 52
Special considerations .............................. 52
Setting up a home office ........................... 52
Traveling with the computer...................  53Preparing the computer ............................ 53
What to take with you................................ 53
Special considerations .............................. 53
Traveling internationally .........................  54Preparing the computer ............................ 54
What to bring with you .............................. 54
Special considerations .............................. 54
Memory card reader  56Connectivity options...............................  56
Video and audio connectors  58
HDMI  59
Universal Serial Bus (USB)  60
Frequently asked questions  62Requesting service ................................  64
Tips and hints for using Windows 8.1 ....  66
How do I get to Start? ............................... 66
What are Charms? ................................. 66
Can I boot directly to the desktop? ........... 67
How do I jump between apps?.................. 67
How do I turn off my computer? ................ 67
How do I unlock my computer?................. 67
How do I set the alarm? ............................ 69
Where are my apps?................................. 70
What is a Microsoft ID (account)? ............. 71
How do I add a favorite to Internet  
						

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Explorer?................................................... 72
How do I check for Windows updates? ..... 72
Where can I get more information?........... 72
Troubleshooting .....................................  73Troubleshooting tips.................................. 73
Error messages......................................... 73
Internet and online security  75
First steps on the net .............................  75
Protecting your computer .......................... 75
Choose an Internet Service Provider ........ 75
Network connections................................. 77
Surf the Net! .............................................. 79
Security ..................................................... 79
Playing Blu-Ray or DVD movies  86 
						

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Getting started...
In this section you will find:
• Useful information on caring 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 Acer’s bundled software 
						

							6 - First things first
FIRST THINGS FIRST
We would like to thank you for making this Acer notebook your choice 
for meeting your mobile computing needs.
Your guides
To help you use your Acer notebook, we have designed a set of 
guides:
First off, the Setup Guide helps you get started with setting up your 
computer.
The Quick Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions 
of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you 
to be more productive, please refer to the User’s Manual. 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 notebook. 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 off
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
• Use the Windows shutdown command: Press the Windows key + 
, click Settings > Power then click Shut Down.
If you need to power down the computer for a short while, but don’t 
want to completely shut it down, you can put it into Hibernate by 
pressing the power button. 
						

							First things first - 7
You can also put the computer in sleep mode by pressing the sleep 
hotkey  + .
Taking care of your computer
Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.
• Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it near 
sources of heat, such as a radiator.
• Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0º C (32º F) or 
above 50º C (122º F).
• Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.
• Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.
• Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.
• Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration.
• Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.
• Never place objects on top of the computer.
• Do not slam the computer display when you close it.
• Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.
Taking care of your AC adapter
Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter:
• Do not connect the adapter to any other device.
• 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 ratings of the equipment plugged in should not 
exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension 
Note
If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power 
button for more than four seconds to shut down the computer. If you turn off 
the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before 
powering up. 
						

							8 - First things first
cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a 
single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating.
Taking care of your battery pack
Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:
• Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the 
power off before removing or replacing batteries.
• Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children.
• Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if 
possible.
Cleaning and servicing
When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:
1. Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack.
2. Disconnect the AC adapter.
3. 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 69. 
						

							Your Acer notebook tour - 9
YOUR ACER NOTEBOOK TOUR
After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Setup Guide, let us 
show you around your new Acer computer. 
						

							10 - Your Acer notebook tour
Screen view
#IconItemDescription
1 Webcam Web camera for video 
communicat

ion. 
A light next to the webcam indicates 
that the
  webcam is active.
2 Screen Displays computer output.
3
SD card reader Accepts one Secure Digital card (SD 
or SD

HC).
To remove the card, simply pull it 
from th
 e slot. The card sticks from 
the side of the computer. Ensure you 
don’t damage your card.
4
Power indicator Indicates the computer’s power 
st
atus.
Battery indicator Indicates battery status.
Charging:
 The  light is amber when 
the battery is charging.
Fully charged:  The
  light is blue.
5 Microphone Internal stereo microphone for sound 
recording.
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