Acer Aspire 5910 Service Guide

Chapter 463
This chapter provides instructions on how to troubleshoot system hardware problems. If the problem can’t be 
resolved using the procedures described here, informati on for getting online technical assistance is also 
provided. 
Hardware Diagnostic Procedure
IMPORTANT:   The diagnostic tests described in this chapter ar e only intended to test Acer products. Non-Acer 
products, prototype cards, or  modified options can give false errors and invalid system 
responses.
1. Obtain as much detail...

64Chapter 1
System Check Procedures
External Diskette Drive Check
Do the following to isolate the problem to a controller, driver, or diskette. A write-enabled, diagnostic diskette is 
required.
IMPORTANT:   Make sure that the diskette does not have more  than one label attached to it. Multiple labels 
can damage to the drive. 
1. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the diagnostics program.
2. Check if the FDD Test is successful (pass).
3. Follow the instructions in the message window.
If an...

Chapter 165
Memory Check
Memory errors might stop system operations, display error messages, or cause the system to hang up.
Make sure that the DIMM is properly installed  in its slot. A loose connection can cause an error.
If the DIMM connection is correct, run the Doagmpstotics Test. 
1. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the Doagmpstotics program.
2. Go to the diagnostic memory in the test items.
3. Press  F2 in the test items.
4. Follow the instructions in the message window.
Power System...

66Chapter 1
Check the Battery Pack  
Check the battery pack via the OS control and by checking the actual battery pack. 
Using the OS control:
1.Open the  Power Management  setting in the Windows Control Panel
 screen. 
2. On the Power Meter
 tab, confirm that the  Current Power Source  and Total Battery Power Remaining  
parameters are correct.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 using both the battery  pack and the AC adapter as the power source.
This will help you identify if the prob lem is on recharging or...

Chapter 167
POST Error Indicators
When POST detects a system failure, it either displays a POST error message, or emits a series of beep 
codes. 
POST Error Message
Whenever a non-fatal error occurs during POST, an error message describing the problem appears onscreen. 
These text messages are displayed in normal video (white  text on black background). It shows the details of 
the error.
The POST error message index in this section lists  the error messages and their possible causes. The most 
likely...

68Chapter 1
Error Message List
Error MessageFRU/Action in Sequence
Failure Fixed Disk Reconnect the hard disk drive to its connector.
Run the Setup Utility, then press F9 to load the system 
defaults.
Hard disk drive
System board
Stuck Key Refer to the “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check”  section on page 64. 
Keyboard Error Refer to the “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check”  section on page 64.
Keyboard Controller Failed Refer to the “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check”  section on...

Chapter 169
System Error – No Beep
DMA Test Failed DIMM
System board
Software NMI Failed DIMM System board
Fail-Safe Timer NMI Failed DIMM System board
Device Address Conflict Run the Setup Utility, then press  F9 to load the system 
defaults.
RTC battery
System board
Allocation Error for device Run the Setup Utility, then press  F9 to load the system 
defaults.
RTC battery
System board
Failing Bits: nnnn DIMM BIOS ROM
System board
Fixed Disk n None
Invalid System Config uration Data BIOS ROM
System...

70Chapter 1
POST Beep Codes
No beep, power indicator turns on, the LCD 
screen is blank, but you can view POST 
when connected to an external CRT. Reconnect the LCD-CCD cable.
LCD-CCD cable 
Inverter board
LCD panel
System board
No beep, power indicator turns on and a 
blinking cursor appears on screen during 
POST. Ensure every internal cables are properly and securely 
connected. 
System board
No beep during POST  but system runs 
correctly.  Speaker
System board
CodeBeepsPOST Routine Description
02h...

Chapter 171
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
46h...

72Chapter 1
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-compa tible PnP ISA devices
86h Re-initialize...