Acer AcerNote 970

Overview

• Microprocessor: Mobil Intel Pentium (133/150 MHz).Not Upgradeable.
• System memory: 16MB Dual 64-bit memory banks.Maximum 64MB.
• External Cache: 256KB L2 cache.
• Flash ROM BIOS: 256KB
• Data storage devices: One 2.5" E-IDE hard disk drive
• HDD Controller: CMD PCI 0643
• CD-ROM model: One high-speed IDE CD-ROM Module
• FDD model: One 3.5-inch, 1.44MB floppy drive module (internal/external)
• Display: DualScan STN or TFT active matrix, 800x600, 64K colors (SVGA)
• Video: PCI local bus video w/128-bit graphics accelerator
• Audio: 16-bit stereo audio with Built-in FM syntesizer; Built-in microphone and dual speakers
• Modem: Built in V.34 fax/data modem (28.8kbps) simultaneous voice over data (DSVD) support
• Keyboard and pointing device: 84-/85-key with Windows 95 keys,auto tilt feature.Touchpad.
• I/O Ports:
  • One 9-pin RS-232 serial (16550-compatible)
  • One 25-pin parallel (EPP/ECP-compliant)
  • One 15-pin CRT port
  • One 6-pin PS/2 keypad, keyboard/mouse connector.
  • One type III or two type II slot(s)
  • One 240-pin mini dock connector
  • One serial infrared port (IrDA-compliant)
  • 1 3.5mm minijack audio port for line-in
  • 1 3.5mm minijack audio port for line-out
  • RJ11 phone jack (US & Japan only)
• Weight: 3.4-3.5kg (includes battery)
• Temperature:
  • Operating:10ºC - 35ºC
  • Non-operating: -10ºC - 60ºC
• Humidity:
  • Operating:20% - 80% RH
  • Non-operating: 20% - 80% RH
• AC adapter: 100-240 Vac, 50"60 Hz autosensing AC adapter
• Battery pack: 57WH Lithium-Ion battery w/intelligent charging and built in gauge
• Charge time: 2.0-hr. (rapid-charge), 4.0-hr. (charge-in-use)
• Longevity: approx. 500 recharges

Upgrade Memory

Memory is upgradeable from 8 to 64 MB, employing 64-bit soDIMMs (small outline Dual Inline Memory Modules) in 8, 16 and 32 MB configurations (3.3V 60NS).After installing the memory modules, the system automatically detects and reconfigures the total memory size during the POST routines.

Note - The system ships with two slots for memory.Only Slot 2is accessible through the memory door on the bottom of the notebook.To upgrade the memory in Slot 1,contact an authorized service provider.

Known Issues

Switching From SVGA to VGA on AcerNote 970

To set the resolution successfully, please check your settings in Windows95 OSR2.

• Go to "Display Properties" by double-clicking Display icon in Control Panel
• Go to "Settings" tab and click on "Advanced Properties" button
• Go to "Monitor" tab, check "Reset display on Suspend/resume"
• Click on "Apply" button to successfully change resolution

CD-ROM Missing After Running Backup on Nuovo 970

There are two possible ways to solve the problem.

• In Control Panel, double click "Add New Hardware" icon and let Win95 auto detect CD-ROM drive.
• Format HDD and Reinstall Windows95 with Backup Disk. If the Backup Disk doesn't have CD-ROM driver, please find it in the System Utility Pack CD \english\win31\cdrom\D910v320.sys.Delete contents of C:\Windows\Options\Cabs\*.cab and don't use rescue95.bat in Backup Disk.

Reinstalling Preloaded Software on AcerNote 970CX

You must first boot the system with a floppy or must have an OS loaded to have the option [CD-ROM Then A: Then C:] appear at "Start Up Sequences" option of BIOS setup. The procedure is outlined below:

• Boot AcerNote 970 with bootable floppy disk (eg. DOS).
• Enter BIOS setup by Fn-F2 Hot keys, go to "System Security", and set "Start Up Sequences" option to [CD-ROM Then A: Then C:].
• Press ESC key until "Do you want to save current settings?" is prompted.
• Save the setting by answering "Yes".
• You are returned to DOS/OS screen. Press Fn-1 Hot keys or eject button of CD-ROM drive to eject the CD-ROM drive.
• Insert System Utility Pack (SUP) CD into CD-ROM drive of AcerNote 970.
• Reboot the system.
• The system is booted by System Utility Pack (SUP) CD inserted and returned with A:> prompt.
• Type "rescue95" and follow instructions on screen to reload Windows95 OS.

CD-ROM Not Working After Suspend AcerNote 970CX

When I put down the display lid of AcerNote 970CX to enter into suspend mode, and about 1 minute later I resume the system, the CD-ROM drive "reject" function does not work.

Upon restoring system from 0V suspend, you need to wait a while (about 10 seconds) to allow CD-ROM drive powered up and spinned down, and then perform CD-ROM eject by using CD-ROM eject button, or hot key Fn-F9 or Fn-1, or by right clicking on CD-ROM drive of "My Computer" window and selecting the "Eject" option. Note that 0v-suspend is achieved by: [When lid is closed = Suspend to Disk] then close LCD. While 5v-suspend is achieved by using the hot keys: Fn+ESC

AFLASH Always Fail for AcerNote 970 Nuovo

AFLASH utility for AcerNote 970 is built into the BIOS. You can not use the AFLASH program on this model. Follow these procedures:

• Power on AcerNote 970, then press Fn-F2 to enter CMOS setup.
• Go to System security option, and change "flash new BIOS" from default "disabled" to "enabled".
• Save the CMOS setup during exit.
• Power off the AcerNote 970 by closing the LCD lid.
• Prepare a formatted data disk (don't use a bootable disk) with a new desired BIOS binary file *.BIN in it.
• Power on the AcerNote 970 with the data disk in drive A: by opening the LCD lid.
• AcerNote 970 will flash the new BIOS. You'll hear 4 beeps if the new BIOS is flashed successfully.
• AcerNote 970 should automatically shut down. If not, reset the system.
• Restart AcerNote 970 system.
• Make sure to change "flash new BIOS" back to "disabled".

MPEG

AcerNote 970 is not designed to use PCMCIA H/W MPEG card.However, AcerNote 970 is capable of using S/W MPEG.

Clear Password

Take off bottom housing of AcerNote 970 by unscrewing 7 screws. You'll see 2 DIMM slots. There is a PAD21 printed between the 2 DIMM slots toward upper/lower portion of the area. All you need to do is to short PAD21, then power on the AcerNote 970 to clear the password. Make sure you remove the PAD21 cable to enable password setting.

Xircom PCMCIA Ethernet Card in AcerNote 370 and 970

If you experience problems getting the Xircom PCMCIA ethernet adapter to work with Acernote 370s and 970s running Windows 95, make the changes listed below :

• Go to START - CONTROL PANEL - PCMCIA.
• Under GLOBAL SETTINGS change the memory range to.:
  • Start : 000D0000
  • End : 000DFFFF
  • Size : 00001000
• Then goto CONTROL PANEL - SYSTEM
• Under DEVICE MANAGER select the Xircom adapter and click on the PROPERTIES button, select RESOURCES and change to:
  • Memory : 000D0000 - 000D0FFF and 000D4000 - 000D7FFF
  • I/O : 2F8 - 2FF and 120 - 13F
  • IRQ : 03

DOS Sound Drivers on 350P, 370 and 970

The Acernote models 350P, 370 and 970 use an ESS sound chip, to obtain sound in the DOS mode of Windows 95 we recommend the following steps.

Locate the Audio drivers diskettes (created when backing up the system utilities set)

Create a new directory on the notebook then copy 3 files from the first disk ESSCFG.EX_, ESSCFG.IN_ and ESSVOL.EX_ to it. (These files are in a directory ESSSET for 350P and 370, W31.DRV\ESSSET for 970)

For 350P and 370 rename the EX_ files to EXE and the IN_ file to INI

For 970 use the expand utility as follows.

EXPAND ESSCFG.EX_

When prompted for a filename use ESSCFG.EXE, do the same process for the other files, expanding EX_ files to EXE and IN_ files to INI

(The expand utility can be found in the directory D:\drivers\ingame\sidewndr or D:\other\oldmsdos on the W95 companion CD)

Add this line to DOSSTART.BAT using the name of the directory you created in place of pathname C:\pathname\ESSCFG.EXE /A:220 /I:5 /D:1 /B:300 /M:E

You can also add a second line with volume settings (optional) C:\pathname\ESSVOL.EXE /V:8 /L:8 /W:8 /M:0 /C:8 /S:8 /A:8

You can also add these lines to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file of a shortcut that is setup to restart the machine in MS-DOS mode.

N.B. This error only ever affected Windows 95 backup and has been corrected and does not occur on current production machines.