Acer Aspire 7715z Service Guide

							Chapter 4131
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. 
						

							132Chapter 4
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. 
						

							Chapter 4133
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 13.
3.Turn off the power and remove the cover to inspect the connections to the ODD. See “Disassembly 
Process” on page 44.
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 44.
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 44.
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 44. 
						

							134Chapter 4
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:
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: 
						

							Chapter 4135
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. 
• No hardware is listed under Other Devices.
13.If the Issue is still not resolved, see “Online Support Information” on page 185.
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. 
						

							136Chapter 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 124.):
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 4137
Post Codes
These tables describe the POST codes and descriptions during the POST.
Sec:
NO_EVICTION_MODE_DEBUG EQU 1 (CommonPlatform\sec\Ia32\SecCore.inc)
Memory:
DEBUG_BIOS equ 1 (Chipset\Alviso\MemoryInitAsm\IA32\IMEMORY.INC)
CodeDescription
0xC2 MTRR setup
0xC3 Enable cache
0xC4 Establish cache tags
0xC5 Enter NEM, Place the BSP in No Fill mode, set CR0.CD = 1, CR0.NW = 0.
0xCF Cache Init Finished
CodeDescription
0xA0 First memory check point
0x01 Enable MCHBAR
0x02 Check for DRAM initialization interrupt and reset fail
0x03 Verify all DIMMs are DDR or DDR2 and unbuffered
0x04 Detect an improper warm reset and handle
0x05 Detect if ECC SO-DIMMs are present in the system
0x06 Verify all DIMMs are single or double sided and not asymmetric
0x07 Verify all DIMMs are x8 or x16 width
0x08 Find a common CAS latency between the DIMMS and the MCH
0x09 Determine the memory frequency and CAS latency to program
0x10 Determine the smallest common TRAS for all DIMMs
0x11 Determine the smallest common TRP for all DIMMs
0x12 Determine the smallest common TRCD for all DIMMs
0x13 Determine the smallest refresh period for all DIMMs
0x14 Verify burst length of 8 is supported by all DIMMs
0x15 Determine the smallest tWR supported by all DIMMs
0x16 Determine DIMM size parameters
0x17 Program the correct system memory frequency
0x18 Determine and set the mode of operation for the memory channels
0x19 Program clock crossing registers
0x20 Disable Fast Dispatch
0x21 Program the DRAM Row Attributes and DRAM Row Boundary registers
0x22 Program the DRAM Bank Architecture register
0x23 Program the DRAM Timing & and DRAM Control registers
0x24 Program ODT
0x25 Perform steps required before memory init
0x26 Program the receive enable reference timing control register
Program the DLL Timing Control Registers, RCOMP settings 
						

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BDS & Specific action:
0x27 Enable DRAM Channel I/O Buffers
0x28 Enable all clocks on populated rows
0x29 Perform JEDEC memory initialization for all memory rows
0x30 Perform steps required after memory init
0x31 Program DRAM throttling and throttling event registers
0x32 Setup DRAM control register for normal operation and enable
0x33 Enable RCOMP
0x34 Clear DRAM initialization bit in the SB
0x35 Initialization Sequence Completed, program graphic clocks
0xAF Disable access to the XMM registers
CodeDescription
0x00 Report the legacy boot is happening
0x12 Wake up the Aps
0x13 Initialize SMM Private Data and relocate BSP SMBASE
0x21 PC init begin at the stage1
0x27 Report every memory range do the hardware ECC init
0x28 Report status code of every memory range
0x50 Get the root bridge handle
0x51 Notify pci bus driver starts to program the resource
0x58 Reset the host controller
0x5A IdeBus begin initialization
0x70 Simple Text Output Protocol Functions(VGA class reset)
0x71 Report that VGA Class driver is being disabled
0x72 Report that VGA Class driver is being enabled
0x78 Terminal Console In reset and Console Out reset
0x79 Report that the remote terminal is being disabled
0x7A Report that the remote terminal is being enabled
0x90 Keyboard reset
0x91 USB Keyboard disable
0x92 Keyboard detection
0x93 Report that the usb keyboard is being enabled
0x94 Clear the keyboard buffer
0x95 Init Keyboard
0x98 Mouse reset
0x99 Mouse disable
0x9A Detect PS2 mouse
0x9B Report that the mouse is being enabled
0xB8 Peripheral removable media reset (ex: IsaFloppy, USB device)
0xB9 Peripheral removable media disable
0xBB Peripheral removable media enable
0xE4 Report Status Code here for DXE_ENTRY_POINT once it is available
CodeDescription 
						

							Chapter 4139
0xF8 Report that ExitBootServices () has been called
0xF9 Runtime driver set virtual address map
CodeDescription 
						

							140Chapter 4
Each PEIM entry point used in 80_PORT
Each Driver entry point used in 80_PORT
CodeDescription
0x00
0x01 PEI_EVENT_LOG
0x02 PEI_OEM_SERVICE
0x03 PEI_SIO_INIT
0x04 PEI_MONO_STATUS_CODE
0x05 PEI_CPU_IO_PCI_CFG
0x06 PEI_CPU_IO
0x07 PEI_PCI_CFG
0x08 PEI_CPU_PEIM
0x09 PEI_PLATFORM_STAGE1
0x0A PEI_VARIABLE
0x0B PEI_SB_INIT
0x0C PEI_CAPSULE
0x0D PEI_PLATFORM_STAGE2
0x0E PEI_SB_SMBUS_ARP_DISABLED
0x0F PEI_HOST_TO_SYSTEM
0x10 PEI_MEMORY_INIT
0x11 PEI_S3_RESUME
0x12 PEI_CLOCK_GEN
0x13 PEI_OP_PRESENCE
0x14 PEI_TPM_TCG
0x15 PEI_FIND_FV
0x16 PEI_H2O_DEBUG_IO
0x17 PEI_H2O_DEBUG_COMM
0x18 PEI_SMM_CONTROL
0x19~0x1F PEI_RESERVED
0x20~0x2E PEI_OEM_DEFINED
0x2F PEI_DXE_IPL
CodeDescription
0x30 RESERVED
0x31 DXE_CRC32_SECTION_EXTRACT
0x32 SCRIPT_SAVE
0x33 ACPI_S3_SAVE
0x34 SMART_TIMER
0x35 JPEG_DECODER
0x36 PCX_DECODER
0x37 HT_CPU / MP_CPU
0x38 LEGACY_METRONOME
0x39 FTWLITE
0x3A RUN_RIME