Acer Aspire 1500 Service Guide

							Chapter 492
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message
The POST error message index lists the error message and their possible causes. The most likely cause is 
listed first.
NOTE: Perform the FRU replacement or actions in the sequence shown in FRU/Action column, if the FRU 
replacement does not solve the problem, put the original part back in the computer. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRU.
This index can also help you determine the next possible FRU to be replaced when servicing a computer.
If the symptom is not listed, see “Undetermined Problems” on page 104.
The following lists the error messages that the BIOS displays on the screen and the error symptoms classified 
by function. 
NOTE: Most of the error messages occur during POST. Some of them display information about a hardware 
device, e.g., the amount of memory installed. Others may indicate a problem with a device, such as the 
way it has been configured.
NOTE: If the system fails after you make changes in the BIOS Setup Utility menus, reset the computer, enter 
Setup and install Setup defaults or correct the error.  
						

							93Chapter 4
Index of Error Messages
Error Message List
Error MessagesFRU/Action in Sequence
Struck Key See ““Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check” on page 89
System CMOS checksum bad - Default 
configuration usedRTC battery
Run BIOS Setup Utility to reconfigure system, then reboot system.
Real time clock error RTC battery
Run BIOS Setup Utility to reconfigure system time, then reboot 
system.
Main board
Previous boot incomplete - Default configuration 
used“Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup Utility.
RTC batter
Main baord.
Invalid System Configuration Data “Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup Utility.
Main board.
Operating system not found Enter Setup and see if fixed disk and drive A are properly identified.
Dikette drive
Hard disk drive
Main board. 
						

							Chapter 494
Error Message List
No beep Error MessagesFRU/Action in Sequence
Power-on indicator turns off and LCD is blank. Power source (battery pack and power adapter.) See “Power 
System Check” on page 90
Ensure every connector is connected tightly and correctly.
Reconnect the DIMM.
Main board.
Power-on indicator turns on and LCD is blank. Power source (battery pack and power adapter.) See “Power 
System Check” on page 90
Reconnect the LCD connector
Hard disk drive
LCD cable
LCD inverter
LCD
Main board
Power-on indicator turns on and LCD is blank. 
But you can see POST on an external CRT.Reconnect the LCD connectors.
LCD cable
LCD inverter
LCD
Main board
Power-on indicator turns on and a blinking cursor 
shown on LCD during POST.Ensure every connector is connected tightly and correctly.
Main board 
						

							95Chapter 4
POST Codes
CodeBeepsPOST Routine Description
02h Verify Real Mode
03h Disable Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI)
04h Get CPU type
06h Initialize system hardware
08h Initialize chipset with initial POST values
09h Set IN POST flag
0Ah Initialize CPU registers
0Bh Enable CPU cache
0Ch Initialize caches to initial POST values
0Eh Initialize I/O component
0Fh Initialize the local bus IDE
10h Initialize Power Management
11h Load alternate registers with initial POST 
values
12h Restore CPU control word during warm boot
13h Initialize PCI Bus Mastering devices
14h Initialize keyboard controller
16h 1-2-2-3 BIOS ROM checksum
17h Initialize cache before memory autosize
18h 8254 timer initialization
1Ah 8237 DMA controller initialization
1Ch Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller
20h 1-3-1-1 Test DRAM refresh
22h 1-3-1-3 Test 8742 Keyboard Controller
24h Set ES segment register to 4 GB
26h Enable A20 line
28h Autosize DRAM
29h Initialize POST Memory Manager
2Ah Clear 215 KB base RAM
2Ch 1-3-4-1 RAM failure on address line xxxx
2Eh 1-3-4-3 RAM failure on data bits xxxx of low byte of 
memory bus
2Fh Enable cache before system BIOS shadow
30h 1-4-1-1 RAM failure on data bits xxxx of high byte of 
memory bus
32h Test CPU bus-clock frequency
33h Initialize Phoenix Dispatch Manager
36h Warm start shut down
38h Shadow system BIOS ROM
3Ah Autosize cache
3Ch Advanced configuration of chipset registers
3Dh Load alternate registers with CMOS values
42h Initialize interrupt vectors
45h POST device initialization 
						

							Chapter 496
46h 2-1-2-3 Check ROM copyright notice
48h Check video configuration against CMOS
49h Initialize PCI bus and devices
4Ah Initialize all video adapters in system
4Bh QuietBoot start (optional)
4Ch Shadow video BIOS ROM
4Eh Display BIOS copyright notice
50h Display CPU type and speed
51h Initialize EISA board
52h Test keyboard
54h Set key click if enabled
58h 2-2-3-1 Test for unexpected interrupts
59h Initialize POST display service
5Ah Display prompt “Press F2 to enter SETUP”
5Bh Disable CPU cache
5Ch Test RAM between 512 and 640 KB
60h Test extended memory
62h Test extended memory address lines
64h Jump to User Patch1
66h Configure advanced cache registers
67h Initialize Multi Processor APIC
68h Enable external and CPU caches
69h Setup System Management Mode (SMM) area
6Ah Display external L2 cache size
6Bh Load custom defaults (optional)
6Ch Display shadow-area message
6Eh Display possible high address for UMB 
recovery
70h Display error messages
72h Check for configuration errors
76h Check for keyboard errors
7Ch Set up hardware interrupt vectors
7Eh Initialize coprocessor if present
80h Disable onboard Super I/O ports and IRQs
81h Late POST device initialization
82h Detect and install external RS232 ports
83h Configure non-MCD IDE controllers
84h Detect and install external parallel ports
85h Initialize PC-compatible PnP ISA devices
86h Re-initialize onboard I/O ports
87h Configure Motherboard Configurable Devices 
(optional)
88h Initialize BIOS Area
89h Enable Non-Maskable Interrupts (NMIs)
8Ah Initialize Extended BIOS Data Area
8Bh Test and initialize PS/2 mouse
CodeBeepsPOST Routine Description 
						

							97Chapter 4
8Ch Initialize floppy controller
8Fh Determine number of ATA drives (optional)
90h Initialize hard-disk controllers
91h Initialize local-bus hard-disk controllers
92h Jump to UserPatch2
93h Build MPTABLE for multi-processor boards
95h Install CD ROM for boot
96h Clear huge ES segment register
97h Fixup Multi Processor table
98h 1-2 Search for option ROMs. One long, two short 
beeps on checksum failure.
99h Check for SMART drive (optional)
9Ah Shadow option ROMs
9Ch Set up Power Management
9Dh Initialize security engine (optional)
9Eh Enable hardware interrupts
9Fh Determine number of ATA and SCSI drives
A0h Set time of day
A2h Check key lock
A4h Initialize Typematic rate
A8h Erase F2 prompt
AAh Scan for F2 key stroke
ACh Enter SETUP
AEh Clear Boot flag
B0h Check for errors
B2h POST done- prepare to boot operating system
B4h 1 One short beep before boot
B5h Terminate QuietBoot (optional)
B6h Check password (optional)
B9h Prepare Boot
BAh Initialize DMI parameters
BBh Initialize PnP Option ROMs
BCh Clear parity checkers
BDh Display MultiBoot menu
BEh Clear screen (optional)
BFh Check virus and backup reminders
C0h Try to boot with INT 19
C1h Initialize POST Error Manager (PEM)
C2h Initialize error logging
C3h Initialize error display function
C4h Initialize system error handler
C5h PnPnd dual CMOS (optional)
C6h Initialize notebook docking (optional)
C7h Initialize notebook docking late
C8h Force check (optional)
C9h Extended checksum (optional)
CodeBeepsPOST Routine Description 
						

							Chapter 498
D2h Unknown interrupt
CodeBeepsFor Boot Block in Flash ROM
E0h Initialize the chipset
E1h Initialize the bridge
E2h Initialize the CPU
E3h Initialize the system timer
E4h Initialize system I/O
E5h Check force recovery boot
E6h Checksum BIOS ROM
E7h Go to BIOS
E8h Set Huge Segment
E9h Initialize Multi Processor
EAh Initialize OEM special code
EBh Initialize PIC and DMA
ECh Initialize Memory type
EDh Initialize Memory size
EEh Shadow Boot Block
EFh System memory test
F0h Initialize interrupt vectors
F1h Initialize Run Time Clock
F2h Initialize video
F3h Initialize System Management Mode
F4h 1 Output one beep before boot
F5h Boot to Mini DOS
F6h Clear Huge Segment
F7h Boot to Full DOS
CodeBeepsPOST Routine Description 
						

							99Chapter 4
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message
LCD-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
LCD backlight doesnt work First, plug a monitor to CRT port. Next, enter BIOS utility to running 
“Load Default Settings” then reboot the system.
Reconnect the LCD connectors.
Keyboard (if the brightness function key doesnt work).
LCD cable
LCD inverter
LCD
Main board
LCD is too dark
LCD brightness cannot be adjustedEnter BIOS Utility to execute “Load Setup Default Settings”, then 
reboot system.
Reconnect the LCD connectors.
Keyboard (if the brightness function key doesnt work).
LCD cable
LCD inverter
LCD
Main board
Unreadable LCD screen 
Missing pels in characters
Abnormal screen 
Wrong color displayed
LCD has extra horizontal or vertical lines 
displayed.Reconnect the LCD cable
LCD cable
LCD
Main board
Indicator-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Indicator incorrectly remains off or on, but system 
runs correctlyMain board
HDD/CD-ROM active indicators cannot work HDD/CD-ROM drive
Device driver
Main board
Power-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Power shuts down during operation Power source (battery pack and power adapter). See “Power 
System Check” on page 90. 
Battery pack
AC adapter
See if the thermal module is overheat (Heat sink or fan).
Main board
The system cannot power-on. Power source (battery pack and power adapter). See “Power 
System Check” on page 90.
Battery pack
Power adapter
CPU
Main board
The system cannot power-off. In Windows XP operating system, hold and press the power switch 
for more than 4 seconds. If the system can power off, then the main 
board is OK. Verify OS in the HDD. 
Main board 
						

							Chapter 4100
Battery can’t be charged or discharged See “Check the Battery Pack” on page 91. 
Battery pack
Main board
System hang during POST ODD/HDD/FDD/RAM module
Main board
PCMCIA-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
System cannot detect the PC Card (PCMCIA)  PCMCIA slot assembly
Main board
PCMCIA slot pin is damaged. PCMCIA slot assembly
PC Card cannot be inserted or ejected Check if the PCMCIA slot is blocked
Main board
Memory-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Memory count (size) appears different from 
actual size.Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute “Load Default Settings” then 
reboot system.
RAM module
Main board
Check BIOS revision
System can power on, but you hear two long 
beeps: “B--, B--” and the LCD is blank.Reinsert DIMM
DIMM
Main board
Speaker-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
In Windows, multimedia programs, no sound 
comes from the computer. OS volume control
Audio driver
Speaker
Main board
Internal speakers make noise or emit no sound. Speaker
Main board
Microphone cannot work Audio driver
Volume control in Windows XP
Main board
Power Management-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
The system will not enter hibernation mode Power option in Windows XP
Hard disk drive
Main board
The system doesn’t enter standby mode after 
closing the lid of the portable computer.Driver of Power Option Properties
Lid close switch in upper case
Main board
Power-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence 
						

							101Chapter 4
The system doesnt resume from hibernation/ 
standby mode.Connect AC adapter then check if the system resumes from 
Standby/Hibernation mode. 
Check if the battery is low.
Hard disk drive
Main board
The system doesnt resume from standby mode 
after opening the lid of the portable computer.LCD cover switch
Main board
Battery fuel gauge in Windows doesn’t go higher 
than 90%. Refresh battery (continue use battery until power off, then charge 
battery).
Battery pack
Main board
System hangs intermittently. Reconnect hard disk/CD-ROM drives. 
Main board
Peripheral-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
System configuration does not match the 
installed devices. Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute “Load Setup defaults”, then 
reboot system.
Reconnect hard disk/CD-ROM drives/FDD or other peripherals.
Main board
External display does not work correctly. Press Fn+F5, LCD/CRT/Both display switching
Keyboard
Main board
USB does not work correctly Main board
Print problems. Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute “Load Default Settings” then 
reboot the system.
Run printer self-test.
Printer driver
Printer cable
Printer
Main board
Parallel port device problems Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute “Load Default Settings” then 
reboot the system.
Device driver
Device cable
Device
Main board
Keyboard/Touchpad-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Keyboard (one or more keys) does not work. Reconnect the keyboard cable.
Keyboard
Main board
Touchpad does not work. Reconnect touchpad cable.
Touchpad board
Main board
Power Management-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence