Acer Aspire 5500 Service Guide

							Chapter 15
Board Layout
To p  V i e w
 
SW3 Power Switch SW1 Lid Swtich
JP1 Bluetooth Connector JP5 Touchpad Connector
SW2 E-mail Switch JP4 Keyboard Connector
SW4 Internet Browser Switch JP42 Speaker Connector
SW5 Emanager Switch JP7 PCMCIA Slot
SW6 User Programmable Switch JP10 Microphone Connector
2
JP1
2
JP42
JP5
2
KQ:
JP1022
JP42
2
JP7
2
2
SW1 SW2
SW3SW4
SW5
SW6 
						

							6Chapter 1
Bottom View
JP21 Fan Connector JP24 USB Port
PJP11 Battery Connector JP25 USB Port
JP20 CPU Socket JP30 IEEE 1394 Port
JP16 LVDS Connector JP36 Card Reader Connector
JP22 VGA Board Connector IR Infrared Receiver
PCN1 AC-IN JP40 Headphone out/line-out Jack 
(support SPDIF)
JP13 USB Port JP41 Mic-in Jack
JP12 Reserved for Acer ezDock. No 
ezDock for this model.JP28 HDD Connector
JP14 Modem Board Connector JP35 Wireless LAN Card Connector
JP3 External Display Port U42 BIOS
JP17 S-Video Port JP26 DDR2 Socket
JP19 RJ11/RJ45 JP31 DDR2 Socket
JP23 Modem Cable Connector JP39 ODD Connector
JP26
JP312
2
2
JP35
JP39
U42JP36
IR1
2
JP40
JP41 PCN1JP13
JP12
2
JP142
JP32
JP17
JP19
2
JP232
JP242
JP252
JP302
2
JP222JP162
PJP112
JP20
JP21
2
JP28
JP292
T2Q2 
						

							Chapter 17
An Aspire tour
After knowing your computer features, let us show you around your new TravelMate computer.
Front View
#IconItemDescription
1 Display screen Also called LCD (liquid-crystal display), 
displays computer output.
2 Power button Turns the computer on and off.
3 Launch keys Buttons for launching frequently used 
programs. See “Launch keys” section for 
more details.
4 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording.
5 Status indicators Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that turn on 
and off to show the status of the 
computer’s functions and components.
6 Palmrest Comfortable support area for our hands 
when you use the computer.
7 Click buttons (left, 
center and right)The left and right buttons function like the 
left and right mouse buttons; the center 
button serves as a 4-way scroll button.
8 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which 
functions like a computer mouse.
9 Keyboard For entering data into your computer. 
						

							8Chapter 1
Closed Front View
#IconItemDescription
1 Speaker-out/line-out/
Headphone jackConnects to audio line-out devices (e.g., 
speakers, headphones).
2 Mic-in jack Accepts inputs from external microphone.
3 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio 
output.
4
Bluetooth
® 
communication button/
indicatorPress to enable/disable Bluetooth function. 
Lights to indicate the status of 
Bluetoothcommunications (option only 
available for TravelMate 3210).
5 Wireless 
communication button/
indicatorPress to enable/disable Wireless function. 
Lights to indicate the status of wireless 
LAN communications.
6 Power indicator
Lights when the computer is on.
7 Battery indicator
Lights when the battery is being charged 
						

							Chapter 19
Left View
#IconItemDescription
1 External display port Connects a display device (e.g., external 
monitor, LCD projector).
2 S-video/TV-out port Connects to a television or display device 
with S-video input (TravelMate 3210 only).
3 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-
based network.
4 Modem jack Connects to a phone line.
5 Two USB 2.0 ports Connects to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB 
mouse, USB camera).
6 IEEE 1394 port  Connects to IEEE 1394 devices 
(TravelMate 3210 only).
7 PC Card slot Connects to one Type II PC Card.
8 5-in-1 card reader Accepts and MS, MS PRO, MMC, SD, or 
xD-Picture card (manufacturing option).
Note: Only one card can operate at any 
given time.
9 Infrared  port Interfaces with infrared devices like infrared 
printer and IR-aware computer (TravelMate 
3210 only).
10 PC Card slot eject 
buttonEjects the PC Card from the slot. 
						

							10Chapter 1
Right View
Re a r  P a n e l
#IconItemDescription
1 Optical drive eject 
buttonEjects the optical drive tray from the drive.
2 LED indicator Lights up when the optical drive is active.
3 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs 
depending on the optical drive type.
4 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even 
after prolonged use.
5 Security Keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible 
computer security lock.
#IconItemDescription
1 Battery bay Houses the computer’s battery pack.
2 Power jack Connects to an AC adaptor.
3 Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB 
mouse, USB camera). 
						

							Chapter 111
Bottom Panel
Indicators
The computer has three easy-to-read status indicators on the upper-left above the keyboard, and four on the 
front panel.
The power, battery and wireless communication status indicators are visible even when the LCD display is 
closed.
#ItemDescription
1 Battery bay Houses the computer’s battery pack.
2 Battery lock Locks the battery in place.
3 Cooling fan Helps keep the computer cool.
Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening 
of the fan.
4 Memory compartment Houses the computer’s main memory.
5 Hard disk bay Houses the computer’s hard disk (secured 
by two screws).
6 Battery release latch Releases the battery for removal.
7 Wireless LAN card 
compartmentHouses the computer’s mini PCI.
7 
						

							12Chapter 1
NOTE: 1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The light shows 
green when in AC mode.
Easy Launch Buttons
Located at the upper-right, above the keyboard are four buttons. These buttons are called launch keys. The 
are: mail, Web browser, Acer Empowering key “  “ and one user-programmable button.
Press “  “ to ru the Acer eManager. Please see “Acer eManager”. The mail and Web buttons are pre-set to 
email and Internet programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable keys, 
run the Acer Launch Manager. 
IconFunctionDescription
Cap lock Lights when Cap Lock is activated
Num lock Lights when Num Lock is activated.
Media Activity Indicates when the hard disc or optical 
drive is active.
Bluetooth Indicates the status of Bluetooth 
communication.
Wireless LAN Indicates the status of wireless LAN 
communication.
Power Lights up when the computer is on.
Battery Lights up when the battery is being 
charged. 
						

							Chapter 113
To u c h p a d
The built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor 
responds as you move your finger across the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest 
provides optimum comfort and support.
To u c h p a d  B a s i c s
The following teaches you how to use the touchpad:
Launch keyDefault application
Mail Email application (user-programmable)
Web browser Internet browser (user-programmable)
Acer eManager (user-programmable)
P User-programmable 
						

							14Chapter 1
TMove your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor. 
TPress the left (1) and right (4) buttons located beneath the touchpad to perform selection and 
execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. 
Tapping on the touchpad is the same as clicking the left button.
TUse the 4-way scroll (3) button to scroll up or down and move left or right a page. This button 
mimics your cursor pressing on the right scroll bar of Windows applications.
NOTE: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The 
touchpad is sensitive to finger movements. Hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. 
Tapping too hard will not increase the touchpad’s responsiveness.
FunctionLeft Button (1)Right Button 
(4)Main touchpad 
(2)Center button (3)
Execute Click twice 
quicklyTap twice (at 
the same speed 
as double-
clicking the 
mouse button)
Select Click once Tap once
Drag Click and hold, 
then use finger 
to drag the 
cursor on the 
touchpadTap twice (at 
the same speed 
as double-
clicking a 
mouse button) 
then hold finger 
to the touchpad 
on the second 
tap to drag the 
cursor.
Access context 
menuClick once
ScrollClick and hold to move 
up/down/left/right.