Acer Aspire 1620 Service Guide

							Aspire 1620 Series
Service Guide
                                                                                                                                       PRINTED IN TAIWAN 
						

							II
Revision History
Please refer to the table below for the updates made on Aspire 1620 service guide.
Date Chapter Updates
2004/04/28 Chapter 4 Add POST Code 
						

							III
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 by Acer Incorporated.   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, 
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in 
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without 
the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
Disclaimer
The information in this guide is subject to change without notice.
Acer Incorporated makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the 
contents hereof and specifically disclaims any warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular 
purpose.  Any Acer Incorporated software described in this manual is sold or licensed as is.  Should the 
programs prove defective following their purchase, the buyer (and not  Acer Incorporated, its distributor, or its 
dealer) assumes the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair, and any incidental or consequential 
damages resulting from any defect in the software.  
Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
Pentium and Pentium II/III are trademarks of Intel Corporation.
Other brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders. 
						

							IV
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this manual:
Screen messagesDenotes actual messages that appear 
on screen.
NOTEGives bits and pieces of additional 
information related to the current 
topic.
WARNINGAlerts you to any damage that might 
result from doing or not doing specific 
actions.
CAUTIONGives precautionary measures to 
avoid possible hardware or software 
problems.
IMPORTANTReminds you to do specific actions 
relevant to the accomplishment of 
procedures. 
						

							V
Preface
Before using this information and the product it supports, please read the following general information.
1.This Service Guide provides you with all technical information relating to the BASIC CONFIGURATION 
decided for Acer global product offering. To better fit local market requirements and enhance product 
competitiveness, your regional office MAY have decided to extend the functionality of a machine (e.g. 
add-on card, modem, or extra memory capability). These LOCALIZED FEATURES will NOT be covered 
in this generic service guide. In such cases, please contact your regional offices or the responsible 
personnel/channel to provide you with further technical details.
2.Please note WHEN ORDERING FRU PARTS, that you should check the most up-to-date information 
available on your regional web or channel. If,  for whatever reason, a part number change is made, it will 
not be noted in the printed Service Guide.  For ACER AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERS, your Acer 
office may have a DIFFERENT part number code to those given in the FRU list of this printed Service 
Guide. You MUST use the list provided by your regional Acer office to order FRU parts for repair and 
service of customer machines. 
						

							VI 
						

							VII
Chapter 1 System Introduction  1
Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
System Block Diagram  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Board Layout   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Bottom View   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Front View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Left view   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Right View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Rear Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Bottom View   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Indicators   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Understanding the icons  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
 Keyboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Special keys   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Hot Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Hardware Specifications and Configurations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Chapter 2 System Utilities  34
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Navigating the BIOS Utility   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Main   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Advanced   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Exit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
BIOS Flash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Chapter 3 Machine Disassembly and Replacement  48
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Before You Begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Removing the Battery  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Removing the Memory Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Removing the Wireless LAN Board and the Modem Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Removing the Hard Disk Drive Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Disassembling the Hard Disk Drive Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Removing the LCD Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Removing the Middle Cover  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Removing the Launch Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Removing the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Disassembling the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Removing the LCD Bezel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Removing the Inverter Board (15” LCD)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Removing the 15” TFT LCD   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Removing the LCD Brackets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Removing the LCD Coaxial Cable   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Removing the LCD Hinges  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Disassembling the Main Unit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Removing the Keyboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Table of Contents 
						

							VIII
Removing the RTC Battery  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Removing the Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Removing the Thermal Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Removing the Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Installing the Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Removing the Upper Case Assemly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Removing the Touchpad Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Removing the Touchpad Cable   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Removing the VGA Thermal Plate   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Removing the CPU Heatsink Plate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Removing the Second Fan Bracket   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Removing the ODD Module(1)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Removing the ODD Module(2)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Removing the HDD Bracket   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Removing the Main Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Removing the DC Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Removing the I/O Port Bracket  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Removing the PCMCIA Slot  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Removing the Speaker Set  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
System Upgrade Procedure  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Base Unit to Wireless Unit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting  74
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
External Diskette Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
External CD-ROM Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Memory check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
POST Code   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Intermittent Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Undetermined Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
How to Build NAPP Master Hard Disc Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
CD to Disk Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Disk to Disk Recovery  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Chapter 5 Jumper and Connector Locations  100
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Bottom View   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Chapter 6 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  102
Aspire 1620 Exploded Diagram   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Appendix A Model Definition and Configuration  114
Model Name Definition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Appendix B Test Compatible Components  116
Microsoft Windows XP Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Table of Contents 
						

							IX
Appendix C Online Support Information  122
Index 124 
						

							Chapter 11
Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance
TIntel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.80 Ghz and above
TIntel® Hyper-ThreadingTM Technology
T256/512MB of DDR333 SDRAM, upgradeable to 2048 MB with dual soDIMM modules
T30GB and above high-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
Display
TThe 15.0” XGA (1024x768 resolution), or SXGA+ (1400x1050 resolution) TFT LCD panel 
providing a large viewing area for maximum efficiency and ease-of-use
TATI MobilityTM Radeon 9700 with external 64/128 MB DDR memory buffer
T3D graphics support
TSupport simultanesous display between LCD and CRT
TS-video for output to a television or display device that supports S-video input
T“Automatic LCD dim” feature, automatically selecting the best setting for the display in order to 
conserve power
TDualViewTM support
Multimedia
THigh-speed built-in optical drive:
                   DVD/CD-RW Combo, or DVD-Dual or DVD Super-Multi
TMS DirectSound compatible
TBuilt-in dual speakers
Connectivity
TIntegrated 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet connection
TBuilt-in 56Kbps fax/data modem
TFour Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports
TOne IEEE 1394 port
TIEEE 802.11b or IEEE 802.11g Wireless LAN (manufacturing option)
TBluetooth (manufacturing option)
Expansion
TOne Type III or two Type II CardBus PC Card slots
TUpgradeable hard disk and memory modules
System Introduction
Chapter 1