Acer Aspire 7540 Service Guide

							Aspire 7736/7736Z/7336 Series
Aspire 7540 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 7736/7736Z/7336  and Aspire 7540 Series 
service guide.
DateChapterUpdates 
						

							III
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 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. 
Acer is a registered trademark of Acer Corporation.
Intel is a registered trademark 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 Acers 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
Table of Contents
System Specifications  1
Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
System Block Diagram  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Your Acer Notebook tour   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Right View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Indicators   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Easy-Launch Buttons   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Touchpad Basics (with fingerprint reader)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Touchpad basics (with two-click buttons)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Using the Keyboard   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Lock Keys and numeric keypad   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Windows Keys   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Hot Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Special Key (only for certain models)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Windows Mobility Center   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Using the System Utilities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Acer Bio-Protection (only for certain models)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Hardware Specifications and Configurations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
System Utilities  27
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Navigating the BIOS Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Main   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Exit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
BIOS Flash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Remove HDD Password  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Machine Disassembly and Replacement  41
Disassembly Requirements   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Pre-disassembly Instructions   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Disassembly Process  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
External Module Disassembly Process   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
External Modules Disassembly Flowchart   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Removing the SD Dummy Card   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Removing the Battery Pack   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Removing the Back Cover   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Removing the Hard Disk Drive Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Removing the Wireless LAN Card   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Removing the DIMM Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Removing the Heatsink Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Removing the CPU  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Removing the Optical Drive Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Main Unit Disassembly Process  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Main Unit Disassembly Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Removing the Middle Cover  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Removing the Keyboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Removing the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Separating the Upper Case from the Lower Case  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Removing the Fingerprint/Button and Touchpad Boards   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 
						

							VIII
Table of Contents
Removing the USB Board Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Removing the Modem Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Removing the Bluetooth Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Removing the Microphone Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Removing the Main Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
 LCD Module Disassembly Process  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
LCD Module Disassembly Flowchart   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Removing the LCD Bezel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Removing the LCD panel with the Brackets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Removing the LCD Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Removing the Web Camera  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Removing the FPC Cable  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Removing the Antennas  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Troubleshooting 85
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
External Diskette Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
External Optical Disk Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Memory Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Intermittent Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Undetermined Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Connector Locations  103
Main Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Clearing Password Check and BIOS Recovery  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Clearing Password Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
BIOS Recovery by Crisis Disk   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  111
Aspire 7736/7736Z/7336 Series and Aspire 7540 Series Exploded Diagram   . . . . .112
Model Definition and Configuration  143
Aspire 7736/7736Z/7336 Series    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
Test Compatible Components  171
Microsoft® Windows® Vista Environment Test   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Online Support Information  175
Index 177 
						

							Chapter 11
Features
Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:
Platform
For Aspire 7736/7736Z/7336 Series
•Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology, featuring:
•Intel® Core™2 Duo processor
•Intel Celeron processor
•Mobile Intel® PM45/GM45/GL40 Express Chipset*
•Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100/5300*
•Intel® Pentium® mobile processor*
•Mobile Intel® GM45/GL40 Express Chipset*
•Acer InviLink™ Nplify™ 802.11b/g/Draft-N*
•Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g*
For Aspire 7540 Series
•AMD Better By Design Program, featuring:
•AMD Turion™ II Ultra dual-core processor*
•AMD Turion™ II dual-core processor*
•AMD Athlon™ 64 II dual-core processor*
•AMD M880G Chipset
•Acer InviLink™ Nplify™ 802.11b/g/Draft-N*
•Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g*
System Memory
•Dual-channel SDRAM support
•Up to 2 GB of DDR2 667 MHz memory, upgradeable to 4 GB using two soDIMM modules
Display and graphics
•16:9 aspect ratio
•17.3 HD+ 1600 x 900
For Aspire 7736/7736Z/7336 Series
•Mobile Intel® GL40 Express Chipset
•Mobile Intel® GM45 Express Chipset*
•NVIDIA® GeForce® G210M*
For Aspire 7540 Series
•ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4570*
•ATI Radeon™ HD 4200 Graphics*
System Specifications
Chapter 1 
						

							2Chapter 1
•Screen resolution support
For UMA models: 640x480, 720x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x480, 1024x600, 1024x768, 1152x864, 
1280x600, 1280x720, 1280x768, 1600x900
• For Discrete models: 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x862, 1280x720, 1280x768, 1280*800, 1360*768, 
1600x900 
Storage subsystem
•2.5 hard disk drive
•Optical drive options:
•Blu-ray Disc™/DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive*
•DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive*
•Multi-in-1 card reader
Special keys and controls
•103-/104-/107-key keyboard
•Touchpad pointing device
Audio
•Dolby®-optimized surround sound system with two built-in stereo speakers
•True 5.1-channel surround sound output
•High-definition audio support
•S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) support for digital speakers
•MS-Sound compatible
•Built-in microphone
Communication
•Integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam*
•WLAN: 
•Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100/5300 (For Aspire 7736/7736Z/7336 Series)
•Acer InviLink™ Nplify™ 802.11b/g/Draft-N*
•Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g* 
•WPAN: Bluetooth® 2.1+Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)*
•LAN: Gigabit Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready
•Modem: 56K ITU V.92; Wake-on-Ring ready
I/O Ports
•Acer Bio-Protection fingerprint reader* (For Aspire 7736/7736Z/7336 Series)
•Multi-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD)
•USB 2.0 port
•HDMI™ port with HDCP support
•External display (VGA) port
•Headphones/speaker/line-out jack with S/PDIF support
•Microphone-in jack
•Line-in jack
•Ethernet (RJ-45) port