Acer Aspire 5942g Service Guide

							Chapter 4139
HDD Not Operating Correctly
If the HDD does not operate correctly, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem. 
1.Disconnect all external devices.
2.Run a complete virus scan using up-to-date software to ensure the computer is virus free. 
3.Run the Windows 7 Startup Repair Utility:
a.insert the Windows 7 Operating System DVD in the ODD and restart the computer. 
b.When prompted, press any key to start to the operating system DVD. 
c.The Install Windows screen displays. Click Next. 
d.Select Repair your computer. 
e.The System Recovery Options screen displays. Click Next. 
f.Select the appropriate operating system, and click Next. 
NOTE: Click Load Drivers if controller drives are required. 
g.Select Startup Repair. 
h.Startup Repair attempts to locate and resolve issues with the computer.
i.When complete, click Finish. 
If an issue is discovered, follow the onscreen information to resolve the problem.
4.Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. For more information see Windows Help and Support.
5.Restart the computer and press F2 to enter the BIOS Utility. Check the BIOS settings are correct and that 
CD/DVD drive is set as the first boot device on the Boot menu.
6.Ensure all cables and jumpers on the HDD and ODD are set correctly.
7.Remove any recently added hardware and associated software.
8.Run the Windows Disk Defragmenter. For more information see Windows Help and Support.
9.Run Windows Check Disk by entering chkdsk /r from a command prompt. For more information see 
Windows Help and Support.
10.Restore system and file settings from a known good date using System Restore. 
If the issue is not fixed, repeat the preceding steps and select an earlier time and date.
11 .Replace the HDD. See “Disassembly Process” on page 42. 
						

							140Chapter 4
ODD Failure
If the ODD fails, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem. Do not replace a non-
defective FRUs:
ODD Not Operating Correctly
If the ODD exhibits any of the following symptoms it may be faulty:
• Audio CDs do not play when loaded 
• DVDs do not play when loaded 
• Blank discs do not burn correctly 
• DVD or CD play breaks up or jumps 
• Optical drive not found or not active: 
• Not shown in My Computer or the BIOS setup 
• LED does not flash when the computer starts up 
• The tray does not eject
• Access failure screen displays
• The ODD is noisy
Perform the following general solutions one at a time to correct the problem.
1.Reboot the computer and retry the operation.
2.Try an alternate disc.
3.Navigate to Start´ Computer. Check that the ODD device is displayed in the Devices with Removable 
Storage panel.
4.Navigate to Start´ Control Panel´ System and Maintenance´ System´ Device Manager. 
						

							Chapter 4141
a.Double-click lDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. If a device displays a down arrow, right-click on the device 
and click Enable.
b.Double-click DVD/CD-ROM drives. If the device displays a down arrow, right-click on the device and 
click Enable.
c.Check that there are no yellow exclamation marks against the items in l D E  ATA / ATA P I  c o n t r o l l e r s. If 
a device has an exclamation mark, right-click on the device and uninstall and reinstall the driver.
d.Check that there are no yellow exclamation marks against the items in DVD/CD-ROM drives. If a 
device has an exclamation mark, right-click on the device and uninstall and reinstall the driver.
e.If the exclamation marker is not removed from the item in the lists, try removing any recently installed 
software and retrying the operation.
Discs Do Not Play
If discs do not play when inserted in the drive, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the 
problem.
1.Check that the disc is correctly seated in the drive tray and that the label on the disc is visible.
2.Check that the media is clean and scratch free. 
3.Try an alternate disc in the drive.
4.Ensure that AutoPlay is enabled:
a.Navigate to Start´ Control Panel´ Hardware and Sound´ AutoPlay.
b.Select Use AutoPlay for all media and devices.
c.In the Audio CD and DVD Movie fields, select the desired player from the drop down menu.
5.Check that the Regional Code is correct for the selected media:
IMPORTANT:Region can only be changed a limited number of times. After Changes remaining reaches zero, 
the region cannot be changed even Windows is reinstalled or the drive is moved to another computer.
a.Navigate to Start´ Control Panel´ System and Maintenance´ System´ Device Manager.
b.Double-click DVD/CD-ROM drives. 
c.Right-click DVD drive and click Properties, then click the DVD Region tab.
d.Select the region suitable for the media inserted in the drive.
Discs Do Not Burn Properly
If discs can not be burned, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem.
1.Ensure that the default drive is record enabled:
a.Navigate to Start´ Computer and right-click the writable ODD icon. Click Properties.
b.Select the Recording tab. In the Desktop disc recording panel, select the writable ODD from the 
drop down list. 
c.Click OK.
2.Ensure that the software used for burning discs is the factory default. If using different software, refer to 
the softwares user manual.
Playback is Choppy
If playback is choppy or jumps, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem.
1.Check that system resources are not running low:
a.Try closing some applications.
b.Reboot and try the operation again.
2.Check that the ODD controller transfer mode is set to DMA:
a.Navigate to Start´ Control Panel´ System and Maintenance´ System´ Device Manager. 
						

							142Chapter 4
b.Double-click IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, then right-click ATA Device 0. 
c.Click Properties and select the Advanced Settings tab. Ensure that the Enable DMA box is 
checked and click OK. 
d.Repeat for the other ATA Devices shown if applicable.
Drive Not Detected
If Windows cannot detect the drive, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem.
1.Restart the computer and press F2 to enter the BIOS Utility. 
2.Check that the drive is detected in the ATAPI Model Name field on the Information page. 
NOTE: Check that the entry is identical to one of the ODDs specified in “Hardware Specifications and 
Configurations” on page 16.
3.Turn off the power and remove the cover to inspect the connections to the ODD. See “Disassembly 
Process” on page 42.
a.Check for broken connectors on the drive, motherboard, and cables. 
b.Check for bent or broken pins on the drive, motherboard, and cable connections. 
c.Try an alternate cable, if available. If the drive works with the new cable, the original cable should be 
replaced.
4.Reseat the drive ensuring and all cables are connected correctly.
5.Replace the ODD. See “Disassembly Process” on page 42.
Drive Read Failure
If discs cannot be read when inserted in the drive, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the 
problem.
1.Remove and clean the failed disc. 
2.Retry reading the CD or DVD. 
d.Test the drive using other discs.
e.Play a DVD movie 
f.Listen to a music CD
If the ODD works properly with alternate discs, the original disc is probably defective and should be 
replaced.
3.Turn off the power and remove the cover to inspect the connections to the ODD. See “Disassembly 
Process” on page 42.
a.Check for broken connectors on the drive, motherboard, and cables. 
b.Check for bent or broken pins on the drive, motherboard, and cable connections. 
c.Try an alternate cable, if available. If the drive works with the new cable, the original cable should be 
replaced.
4.Replace the ODD. See “Disassembly Process” on page 42. 
						

							Chapter 4143
Modem Function Failure
If the internal Modem fails, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRUs:
Wireless Function Failure
If the WLAN fails, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem. Do not replace a non-
defective FRUs:
START
RJ-11 well
connected?
Modem  wire
well connected?
Modem card
well connected?
Modem card  OK?
Replace
Mainboard
Connect it well
Seat it well
Replace
Modem card
Connect it well
No
No
No
No 
						

							144Chapter 4
Thermal Unit Failure
If the Thermal Unit fails, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRUs:
External Mouse Failure
If an external Mouse fails, perform the following actions one at a time to correct the problem. 
1.Try an alternative mouse.
2.If the mouse uses a wireless connection, insert new batteries and confirm there is a good connection. See 
the mouse user manual.
3.If the mouse uses a USB connection, try an alternate USB port.
4.Try an alternative program to verify mouse operation. Reinstall the program experiencing mouse failure.
5.Restart the computer.
6.Remove any recently added hardware and associated software.
7.Remove any recently added software and reboot.
8.Restore system and file settings from a known good date using System Restore. 
If the issue is not fixed, repeat the preceding steps and select an earlier time and date.
9.Run the Event Viewer to check the events log for errors. For more information see Windows Help and 
Support.
10.Roll back the mouse driver to the previous version if updated recently.
11 .Remove and reinstall the mouse driver.
12.Check the Device Manager to determine that:
• The device is properly installed. There are no red Xs or yellow exclamation marks. 
• There are no device conflicts. 
START
Fan cab le well
connected?
Fan OK?
CPU heat sink
well seated?
CPU OK?
Replace
Mainboard
Connect it well
Seat it well
Replace CPU
Replace fan
No
No
No
No 
						

							Chapter 4145
• No hardware is listed under Other Devices.
13.If the Issue is still not resolved, see “Online Support Information” on page 231.
Other Failures
If the CRT Switch, Dock, LAN Port, external MIC or Speakers, PCI Express Card, 5-in-1 Card Reader or 
Volume Wheel fail, perform the following general steps to correct the problem. Do not replace a non-defective 
FRUs:
1.Check Drive whether is OK.
2.Check Test Fixture is ok.
3.Swap M/B to Try. 
						

							146Chapter 4
Intermittent Problems
Intermittent system hang problems can be caused by a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with a 
hardware defect, such as: cosmic radiation, electrostatic discharge, or software errors. FRU replacement 
should be considered only when a recurring problem exists.
When analyzing an intermittent problem, do the following:
1.Run the advanced diagnostic test for the system board in loop mode at least 10 times.
2.If no error is detected, do not replace any FRU.
3.If any error is detected, replace the FRU. Rerun the test to verify that there are no more errors. 
Undetermined Problems
The diagnostic problems does not identify which adapter or device failed, which installed devices are incorrect, 
whether a short circuit is suspected, or whether the system is inoperative. 
Follow these procedures to isolate the failing FRU (do not isolate non-defective FRU).
NOTE: Verify that all attached devices are supported by the computer.
NOTE: Verify that the power supply being used at the time of the failure is operating correctly. (See “Power On 
Issue” on page 132.):
1.Power-off the computer.
2.Visually check them for damage. If any problems are found, replace the FRU.
3.Remove or disconnect all of the following devices:
• Non-Acer devices
• Printer, mouse, and other external devices
•Battery pack
• Hard disk drive
•DIMM 
• CD-ROM/Diskette drive Module
• PC Cards
4.Power-on the computer.
5.Determine if the problem has changed.
6.If the problem does not recur, reconnect the removed devices one at a time until you find the failing FRU.
7.If the problem remains, replace the following FRU one at a time. Do not replace a non-defective FRU:
• System board
• LCD assembly 
						

							Chapter 4147
Post Codes
These tables describe the POST codes and descriptions during the POST.
Post Code Range
SEC Phase POST Code Table
NOTE: The color bar items indicate 3rd party related functions that are platform dependent.
PhasePOST Code Range
SEC 0x01 - 0x0F
PEI 0x70 - 0x9F
DXE 0x40 - 0x6F
BDS 0x10 - 0x3F
SMM 0xA0 - 0xBF
S3 0xC0 - 0xCF
ASL 0x51 - 0x55
0xE1 - 0xE4
PostBDS 0xF9 - 0xFE
InsydeH2ODDT™
Reserve0xD0 - 0xD7
OEM Reserve 0xE8 - 0xEB
Reserved 0xD8 - 0xE0
0xE5 - 0xE7
0xEC - 0xF8
Functionality Name (Include\ 
PostCode.h)PhasePost 
CodeDescription
SEC_SYSTEM_POWER_ON SEC 1 CPU power on and switch to 
Protected mode
SEC_BEFORE_MICROCODE_PATCH SEC 2 Patching CPU microcode
SEC_AFTER_MICROCODE_PATCH SEC 3 Setup Cache as RAM
SEC_ACCESS_CSRSEC4PCIE MMIO Base Address initial
SEC_GENERIC_MSRINITSEC5CPU Generic MSR initialization
SEC_CPU_SPEEDCFGSEC6Setup CPU speed
SEC_SETUP_CAR_OK SEC 7 Cache as RAM test
SEC_FORCE_MAX_RATIOSEC8Tune CPU frequency ratio to 
maximum level
SEC_GO_TO_SECSTARTUP SEC 9 Setup BIOS ROM cache
SEC_GO_TO_PEICORE SEC 0A Enter Boot Firmware Volume 
						

							148Chapter 4
PEI Phase POST Code Table:
NOTE: The color bar items indicate 3rd party related functions that are platform dependent.
Functionality Name (Include 
PostCode.h)PhasePost 
CodeDescription
PEI_SIO_INIT PEI 70 Super I/O Initialization
PEI_CPU_REG_INIT PEI 71 CPU Early Initialization
PEI_CPU_AP_INITPEI72Multi-processor Early Initial
PEI_CPU_HT_RESETPEI73HyperTransport Initialization
PEI_PCIE_MMIO_INIT PEI 74 PCIE MMIO BAR Initialization
PEI_NB_REG_INIT PEI 75 North Bridge Early Initialization
PEI_SB_REG_INIT PEI 76 South Bridge Early Initialization
PEI_PCIE_TRAININGPEI77PCIE Training
PEI_TPM_INIT PEI 78 TPM Initialization
PEI_SMBUS_INIT PEI 79 SMBUS Early Initialization
PEI_PROGRAM_CLOCK_GEN PEI 7A Clock Generator Initialization
PEI_IGD_EARLY_INITIALPEI7BInternal Graphic device early 
Initialization
PEI_HECI_INITPEI7CHECI Initialization
PEI_WATCHDOG_INITPEI7DWatchdog timer Initialization
PEI_MEMORY_INIT PEI 7E Memory Initial for Normal boot.
PEI_MEMORY_INIT_FOR_CRISIS PEI 7F Memory Initial for Crisis Recovery
PEI_MEMORY_INSTALL PEI 80Simple Memory test
PEI_TXTPEIPEI81TXT function early Initialization
PEI_SWITCH_STACK PEI 82 Start to use Memory
PEI_MEMORY_CALLBACK PEI 83 Set cache for physical memory
PEI_ENTER_RECOVERY_MODE PEI 84 Recovery device Initialization
PEI_RECOVERY_MEDIA_FOUND PEI85 Found Recovery image
PEI_RECOVERY_MEDIA_NOT_FOUND PEI 86 Recovery image not found
PEI_RECOVERY_LOAD_FILE_DONE PEI 87 Load Recovery Image completed
PEI_RECOVERY_START_FLASH PEI 88 Start Flash BIOS with Recovery 
image
PEI_ENTER_DXEIPL PEI 89 Loading BIOS image to RAM
PEI_FINDING_DXE_CORE PEI8A Loading DXE core
PEI_GO_TO_DXE_CORE PEI 8B Enter DXE core