Acer Aspire 5500z Service Guide

							
Aspire 5500Z Series
Service Guide
    
                                                                                                                                     PRINTED IN TAIWAN
Service guide files and updates are available
on the ACER/CSD web;  for more information, 
please refer to  http://csd.acer.com.tw 
						

							
II
Revision History
Please refer to the table below for the updates made on Aspire 5500Z service guide.
DateChapterUpdates 
						

							
III
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 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, magne tic, 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 warrantie s 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 bu yer (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.  
Acer is a registered tradem ark of Acer Corporation.
Intel is a registered tradem ark of Intel Corporation.
Pentium and Pentium II/III are trademarks of Intel Corporation.
Other brand and product names are  trademarks and/or registered tradem arks of their respective holders. 
						

							
IV
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this manual:SCREEN MESSAGES Denotes actual messages that appear 
on screen.
NOTE Gives bits and pieces of additional 
information related to the current 
topic.
WARNING Alerts you to any damage that might 
result from doing or not doing specific 
actions.
CAUTION Gives precautionary measures to 
avoid possible hardware or software 
problems.
IMPORTANT Reminds 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 Acers global product offering. To better fit local market requirements and enhance product 
competitiveness, your regional offi ce 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, plea se 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 wh atever 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 t hose given in the FRU list of this printed Service 
Guide. You MUST use the list provid ed by your regional Acer office to order FRU parts for repair and 
service of customer machines. 
						

							
VI 
						

							
1
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 System Specifications  1
Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
System Block Diagram  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Board Layout   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Bottom View   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
An Aspire tour  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Front View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Closed Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Left View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Right View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Rear Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Bottom Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Indicators   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Easy-launch Buttons  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Touchpad   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Touchpad Basics   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Using the Keyboard   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Lock Keys and embedded mumeric keypad  . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Windows Keys   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Hot Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Special Key  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Hardware Specifications an d Configurations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Chpater 2 System Utilities  29
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Navigating the BIOS Utility   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Main   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Advanced   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Exit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
BIOS Flash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Chapter 3 Machine Disassem bly and Replacement  41
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Before You Begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Removing the Battery Pack   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Removing the Wireless LAN Card /the HDD Module/the Memory/
the CPU/the ODD Module and the LCD Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Removing the Wireless LAN Card and the HDD Modu le   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Removing the Memory and the CPU    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Removing the ODD Module and the LCD module   .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Disassembling the Main Unit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Separate the Main Unit Into  the Upper and the Lower Case  Assembly   . . . . . . .50
Disassembling the Upper Case Assembly   . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Disassembling the Lower Case Assembly   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Disassembling the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Disassembling the External Modules  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Disassembling the HDD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Disassembling the ODD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 
						

							
2
Table of Contents
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting  55
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56External Diskette Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
External CD-ROM Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check   . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Memory check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Insyde MobilePro BIOS POST Beep Code and PO ST Messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Intermittent Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Undetermined Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Chpater 5 Jumper and C onnector Locations  71
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 1
Bottom View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Chpater 6 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  75
Exploded Diagram   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 The System  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Upper Case Assembly   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Lower Case Assembly   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
LCD Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
HDD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
ODD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 
						

							
Chapter 11
Features
Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many feature:
Platform and memroy
           Intel® CentrinoTM Mobile Technology, featuring:
tIntel® Pentium®  M Processor 740/750/760/770 (2 MB L2  cache, 1.73/1.86/2/2.13 GHz, 533 
MHz FSB)
tIntel® Pentium® M Processor 735/735A (2MB L2 cache, 1.6 GHz, 400 MHz FSB)
tIntel® 915GM/PM Express chipset
tWireless solution: integrated Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection (dual-band 
802.11b/g) Wi-Fi® CERTIFIEDTM solution, supporting Acer SignalUp wireless technology
TIntel® 915GM/PM+Intel ICH6-M  (Mobile Intel 82801FB)
T256/512 MB of DDR2 400/533 MHz memory, upgradeable to 2 GB using two soDIMM modules 
(dual-channel support)
Display
T14.1 WXGA Acer CrystalBriteTM  color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 resolution, 16:10 viewing ratio, 
supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing on dual displays via Acer GridVistaTM 
T16.7 million colors
TIntel® 915GM integrated 3D grap hics, featuring Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 and up to 
128 MB of VRAM, supporting Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 and dual independent display (for UMA 
models)
TAT I  M O B I L I T YTM RADEONTM X1300 256/512 HyperMemoryTM , supporting ATI PopwerPlayTM 5.0, 
, Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0, PCI Express® and  and DualViewTM 
TSimultaneous LCD and CRT display, with LCD panel refresh rate at 70 Hz
TMPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability
TAcer CinemaVisionTM video technology (Acer Arcade)
TAcer ClearVisionTM video optimization technology (Acer Arcade)
Storage subsystem
T40/60/80/100 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive
TOptical drive options:
tDVD-Super Multi double-layer
tDVD-Dual double layer
tDVD/CD-RW combo
Input devices
T84/85-key keyboard
System Specifications
Chapter  1 
						

							
2Chapter 1
TTouchpad with 4-way integrated scroll button
T12 function keys, four cursor keys, two Windows® keys, hotkey controls, embedded numeric 
keypad, international language support
TFour easy-launch buttons
TTwo front-access LED-buttons: WLAN and Bluetooth®
Audio
TAudio system with two built-in speakers
TBuilt-in microphone
TIntel AC’97 audio support
TSound Blaster ProTM MS-Sound compatible
Communication
TModem: 56K ITU V.92 modem with PTT approval; wake-on ring ready
TLAN: 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet; wake-on ring ready
TWLAN: integrated Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection (dual-band 802.11b/g) Wi-Fi® 
CERTIFIEDTM solution, supporting Acer SignalUPTM wireless technology
TAcer SignalUp wireless technology support
TWPAN: integrated Bluetooth®
Human-centric design and ergonomics
TRugged, yet extremely portable design
TStylish appearance
TFull-size keyboard with four  programmable launch keys
TErgonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
TAcer FineTouch keyboard with a 5-degree curve
TInternet 4-way scroll button
I/O Ports
TThree USB 2.0 ports
TPC Card slot (one Type II)
TExternal display (VGA) port
THeadphones/speaker/line-out  jack
TMicrophone/line-in jack
TEthernet (RJ-45) port
TModem (RJ-11) port
TDC-in jack for AC adaptor