Acer Aspire 8730 Service Guide

							Aspire 8730/8730Z/8530 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 8730/8730Z/8530 Series service guide.
DateChapterUpdates 
						

							III
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 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.
Pentium and Pentium II/III are trademarks 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. 
						

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							VII
Table of Contents
System Specifications  1
Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
System Block Diagram  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Your Acer Notebook tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Right View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
Easy-Launch Buttons   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Touchpad basics (with two-click buttons)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Using the Keyboard   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Lock Keys and embedded numeric keypad   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Windows Keys   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Hot Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Special Key (only for certain models)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Acer Empowering Technology   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Launching Acer Empowering Technology   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Empowering Technology password   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Acer eAudio Management  (only for certain models)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Acer ePower Management  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Acer eDataSecurity Management (only for certain models)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
Acer eRecovery Management   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Acer eSettings Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
Windows Mobility Center   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Using the System Utilities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Hardware Specifications and Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
System Utilities  37
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Navigating the BIOS Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Exit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
BIOS Flash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Remove HDD Password  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Machine Disassembly and Replacement  51
Disassembly Requirements   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Pre-disassembly Instructions   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Disassembly Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
External Module Disassembly Process   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
External Modules Disassembly Flowchart   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Removing the Battery Pack   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Removing the SD dummy card  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
Removing the ExpressCard dummy card  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
Removing the Lower Cover   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Removing the DIMM  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
Removing the TV Tuner Board Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Removing the WLAN Board Modules  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
Removing the Hard Disk Drive Module 1   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Removing the Hard Disk Drive Module 2   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Removing the Optical Drive Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 
						

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Table of Contents
Main Unit Disassembly Process  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Main Unit Disassembly Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Removing the Middle Cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
Removing the Keyboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Removing the Power Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Removing the Heatsink Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Removing the CPU  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
Removing the Discrete Board Module (For Discrete Models Only) . . . . . . . . . .  82
Removing the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Separating the Upper Case from the Lower Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  87
Removing the E-Key Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  93
Removing the Fingerprint Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Removing the Touchpad Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  97
Removing the Modem Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Removing the Main Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Removing the Speaker Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Removing the Subwoofer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  105
Removing the USB Board Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
 LCD Module Disassembly Process  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
LCD Module Disassembly Flowchart   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Removing the LCD Bezel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Removing the LCD panel with the Brackets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  111
Removing the Inverter Board and FPC Cable   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Removing the LCD Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  116
Removing the Antennas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  116
Removing the Web Camera  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Troubleshooting 119
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
External Diskette Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
External CD-ROM Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Memory Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  121
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  133
Intermittent Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
Undetermined Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Jumper and Connector Locations  139
Motherboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Clearing Password Check and BIOS Recovery  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Clearing Password Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
BIOS Recovery by Crisis Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  143
FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  145
Aspire 8730/8730Z/8530 Series Exploded Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Model Definition and Configuration  154
Aspire 8730/8730Z/8530 Series  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 
						

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Table of Contents
Test Compatible Components  179
Microsoft® Windows® Vista Environment Test   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
Online Support Information  183
Index 185 
						

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Table of Contents