FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Acer Aspire S3 Series

The following is a list of possible situations that may arise during the use of your computer. Easy solutions are provided for each one.

I turned on the power, but the computer does not start or boot up. Look at the power indicator:
• If it is not lit, no power is being supplied to the computer. Check the following:

• If you are using on the battery, it may be low and unable to power the
  computer. Connect the AC adapter to recharge the battery pack.
• Make sure that the AC adapter is properly plugged into the computer
  and to the power outlet.

• If it is lit, check the following:

• Is a disc in the optical 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 display back on, three things might be  the cause:

• The brightness level might be too low. Press <Fn> + < > (increase) to
  adjust the brightness level.
• The display device might be set to an external monitor. Press the
  display toggle hotkey <Fn> + <F5> to toggle the display back to the
  computer.
• If the Sleep indicator is lit, the computer is in Sleep mode. Press and
  release the power button to resume.

No audio is heard from the computer. Check the following:

• The volume may be muted. In Windows, look at the volume control
  (speaker) icon on the taskbar. If it is crossed-out, click the icon and
  deselect the Mute all option.
• The volume level may be too low. In Windows, look at the volume
  control icon on the taskbar. You can also use the volume control
  buttons to adjust the volume.
• If headphones, earphones or external speakers are connected to the
  line-out port on the computer, the internal speakers automatically 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 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 internal keyboard cable may be loose.

The printer does not work. Check the following:

• 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 securely to a USB port
  and the corresponding port on the printer.

I want to restore my computer to its original settings without recovery CDs.
Note: If your system is the multilingual version, the operating system and language you choose when you first turn on the system will be the only option for future recovery operations.

This recovery process helps you restore the C: drive with the original software content that is installed when you purchased your computer.
Follow the steps below to rebuild your C: drive. (Your C: drive will be reformatted and all data will be erased.) It is important to back up all data files before using this option.

Before performing a restore operation, please check the BIOS settings.

1. Check to see if Acer disk-to-disk recovery is enabled or not.
2. Make sure the D2D Recovery setting in Main is Enabled.
3. Exit the BIOS utility and save changes. The system will reboot.

Note: To activate the BIOS utility, press <F2> during POST.

To start the recovery process:

1. Restart the system.
2. While the Acer logo is showing, press <Alt> + <F10> at the same time
   to enter the recovery process.
3. Refer to the onscreen instructions to perform system recovery.

Important! This feature occupies 15 GB in a hidden partition on your hard disk.

Requesting service

International Travelers Warranty (ITW)
Your computer is backed by an International Travelers Warranty (ITW) that gives you security and peace of mind when traveling. Our worldwide network of service centers are there to give you a helping hand.
An ITW passport comes 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 centers. Place your proof-of-purchase in the flap located inside the front cover of the ITW passport.
If the country you are traveling in does not have an Acer-authorized ITW service site, you can still get in contact with our offices worldwide. Please visit www.acer.com.