Acer Aspire 8930 Service Guide

							
Chapter 465
Use the following procedure as a guide for computer problems.
NOTE: The diagnostic tests are intended to test only Acer  products. Non-Acer products, prototype cards, or 
modified options can give false errors and invalid system responses.
1. Obtain the failing symptoms in as much detail as possible.
2. Verify the symptoms by attempting to re-create the fa ilure by running the diagnostic test or by repeating 
the same operation.
3. Use the following table with the verified symptom to determine which page to go to.
Symptoms (Verified)Go To
Power failure. (The power indicator does not 
go on or stay on.) “Power System Check” on page 67.
POST does not complete. No beep or error 
codes are indicated. “Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message” 
on page 69
“Undetermined Problems” on page 82
POST detects an error and displayed 
messages on screen. “Error Message List” on page 70
Other symptoms (i.e. LC D display problems or 
others). “Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message” 
on page 69
Symptoms cannot be re-created (intermittent 
problems). Use the customer-repor
ted symptoms and go 
to “Power-On  Self-Test (POST) Error 
Message” on page 69
“Intermittent Problems” on page 81
“Undetermined Problems” on page 82
Troubleshooting
Chapter 4 
						

							
66Chapter 4
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.
NOTE:  Make sure that the diskette does not have more than on e label attached to it. Multiple labels can cause 
damage to the drive or cause the drive to fail. 
Do the following to select the test device. 1. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the diagnostics program.
2. See if FDD Test is passed as the program runs to FDD Test.
3. Follow the instructions in the message window.
If an error occurs with the internal diskette drive,  reconnect the diskette connector on the system board.
If the error still remains: 1. Reconnect the external diskette drive/DVD-ROM module.
2. Replace the external diskette drive/CD-ROM module.
3. Replace the main board.
External CD-ROM Drive Check
Do the following to isolate the problem to a controller,  drive, or CD-ROM. Make sure that the CD-ROM does 
not have any label attached to it. The label can caus e damage to the drive or can cause the drive to fail.
Do the following to select the test device: 1. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the diagnostics program.
2. See if CD-ROM Test is passed when  the program runs to CD-ROM Test.
3. Follow the instructions in the message window.
If an error occurs, reconnect the connector on  the System board. If the error still remains:
1. Reconnect the external diskette drive/CD-ROM module.
2. Replace the external diskette drive/CD-ROM module.
3. Replace the main board.
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check
Remove the external keyboard if the internal keyboard is to be tested.
If the internal keyboard does not work or an unexpected  character appears, make sure that the flexible cable 
extending from the keyboard is correctly se ated in the connector on the system board.
If the keyboard cable connection is  correct, run the Keyboard Test. 
If the tests detect a keyboard problem, do the following  one at a time to correct the problem. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRU:
1. Reconnect the keyboard cables.
2. Replace the keyboard.
3. Replace the main board.
The following auxiliary input devices are supported by this computer: ‰ Numeric keypad
‰ External keyboard
If any of these devices do not work, reconnect the  cable connector and repeat the failing operation.  
						

							
Chapter 467
Memory check
Memory errors might stop system operations, show error messages on the screen, or hang the system.
1. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the doa gmpstotics program (please refer to main board.
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.
NOTE:  Make sure that the DIMM is fully installed into  the connector. A loose connection can cause an error.
Power System Check
To verify the symptom of the problem, power on the co mputer using each of the following power sources:
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Connect the power adapter and check that power is supplied.
3. Disconnect the power adapter and install the charged ba ttery pack; then check that power is supplied by 
the battery pack.
If you suspect a power problem, see the approp riate power supply check in the following list:
‰ “Check the Power Adapter” on page 67
‰ “Check the Battery Pack” on page 67
Check the Power Adapter
Unplug the power adapter cable from  the computer and measure the output voltage at the plug of the power 
adapter cable. See the following figure
1. If the voltage is not correct , replace the power adapter.
2. If the voltage is within the range, do the following:
z Replace the System board.
z If the problem is not corrected, see “Undetermined Problems” on page 82.
z If the voltage is not correct, go to the next step.
NOTE:  An audible noise from the power adapter does not always indicate a defect.
3. If the power-on indicator does not light up, check  the power cord of the power adapter for correct 
continuity and installation.
4. If the operational charge does not work, see “Check the Battery Pack” on page 67. 
Check the Battery Pack 
To check the battery pack, do the following:
From Software:
1. Check out the Power Management in control Panel
2. In Power Meter, confirm that if the parameters sh own in the screen for Current Power Source and Total 
Battery Power Remaining are correct.
3. Repeat the steps 1 and 2, for both battery and adapter.
4. This helps you identify first the prob lem is on recharging or discharging. 
Pin 1: +19 to +20.5V
Pin 2: 0V, Ground 
						

							
68Chapter 4
From Hardware:
1. Power off the computer. 
2. Remove the battery pack and measure  the voltage between battery terminals 1(+) and 6(ground). See the 
following figure
3. If the voltage is still less than 7.5 Vdc  after recharging, replace the battery. 
To check the battery charge operation, use a discharged battery pack or a battery pack that has less than 50% 
of the total power remaining when installed in the computer. 
If the battery status indicato r does not light up, remove the battery pack and let it return to room temperature. 
Re-install the battery pack.
If the charge indicator still does not li ght up, replace the battery pack. If the charge indicator still does not light 
up, replace the DC/DC charger board. 
Touchpad Check
If the touchpad doesn’t work, do the following actions  one at a time to correct the problem. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRU:
1. Reconnect the touchpad cables.
2. Replace the touchpad.
3. Replace the system board.
After you use the touchpad, the pointer drifts on the scr een for a short time. This self-acting pointer movement 
can occur when a slight, steady pressure is applied to the touchpad pointer. This symptom is not a hardware 
problem. No service actions are necessary if the  pointer movement stops in a short period of time. 
						

							
Chapter 469
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message 
The POST error message index lists the error message and their possible causes. The most likely cause is 
listed first.
NOTE: Perform the FRU replacement or actions in the s equence shown in FRU/Action column, if the FRU 
replacement does not solve the problem, put the orig inal part back in the computer. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRU.
This index can also help you determine the next possible FRU to be replaced when servicing a computer.
If the symptom is not listed, se e “Undetermined Problems” on page 82.
The following lists the error messages that the BIOS di splays on the screen and the error symptoms classified 
by function. 
NOTE:  Most of the error messages occur  during POST. Some of them display information about a hardware 
device, e.g., the amount of memory installed. Others  may indicate a problem with a device, such as the 
way it has been configured. 
NOTE:  If the system fails after you make changes in the B IOS Setup Utility menus, reset the computer, enter 
Setup and install Setup defaults or correct the error.  
						

							
70Chapter 4
Index of Error Messages
Error Code List
Error Message List 
Error CodesError Messages
006 Equipment Configuration Error
Causes:
1. CPU BIOS Update Code Mismatch
2. IDE Primary Channel Master Drive Error
(THe causes will be shown before “Equipment 
Configuration Error”)
010 Memory Error at xxxx:xxxx:xxxxh (R:xxxxh,  W:xxxxh) 
070 Real Time Clock Error
071 CMOS Battery Bad
072 CMOS Checksum Error
110 System disabled. Incorrect password is specified.
 Battery critical LOW In this situation BIOS will issue 4 short beeps 
then shut down system, no message will show.
 Thermal critical High In this situation BIOS will shut down system, 
not show message.
Error MessagesFRU/Action in Sequence
Failure Fixed Disk Reconnect hard disk drive connector.“Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup Utility.
Hard disk drive
System board
Stuck Key see “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device  Check” on page 66. 
Keyboard error see “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device  Check” on page 66. 
Keyboard Controller Failed see “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device  Check” on page 66. 
Keyboard locked - Unlock key sw itch Unlock external keyboard
Monitor type does not match CMOS - Run 
Setup Run “Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup 
Utility.
Shadow RAM Failed at offset: nnnn BIOS ROM System board
System RAM Failed at offset: nnnn DIMM System board
Extended RAM Failed at offset: nnnn DIMM System board 
						

							
Chapter 471
System battery is dead - Replace and run 
SetupReplace RTC battery and Run BIOS Setup 
Utility to reconfigure system time, then reboot 
system.
System CMOS checks um bad - Default 
configuration used RTC battery
Run BIOS Setup Utility 
to reconfigure system 
time, then reboot system.
System timer error RTC battery Run BIOS Setup Utility to reconfigure system 
time, then reboot system.
System board
Real time clock error RTC battery Run BIOS Setup Utility to reconfigure system 
time, then reboot system.
System board
Previous boot incomplete - Default 
configuration used Run “Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup 
Utility.
RTC battery
System board
Memory size found by POST differed from 
CMOS Run “Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup 
Utility.
DIMM
System board
Diskette drive A error Check the  drive is defined with the proper 
diskette type in BIOS Setup Utility
See “External Diskette Drive Check” on page 
66. 
Incorrect Drive A type - run SETUP Check  the drive is defined with the proper 
diskette type in BIOS Setup Utility
System cache error - Cache disabled System board
CPU ID: System board
DMA Test Failed DIMM System board
Software NMI Failed DIMM System board
Fail-Safe Timer NMI Failed DIMM System board
Device Address Conflict Run “Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup  Utility.
RTC battery
System board
Allocation Error for device Run “Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup  Utility.
RTC battery
System board
Failing Bits: nnnn DIMM BIOS ROM
System board
Fixed Disk n None
Error MessagesFRU/Action in Sequence 
						

							
72Chapter 4
Error Message List
Invalid System Configuration Data BIOS ROM
System board
I/O device IRQ conflict Run “Load  Default Settings” in BIOS Setup 
Utility.
RTC battery
System board
Operating system not foun d Enter Setup and see if fixed disk and drive A: 
are properly identified.
Diskette drive
Hard disk drive
System board
No beep Error MessagesFRU/Action in Sequence
No beep, power-on indicator turns off and LCD 
is blank. Power source (battery pack and power 
adapter). See “Power System Check” on page 
67. 
Ensure every connector is connected tightly 
and correctly. 
Reconnect the DIMM.
LED board.
System board.
No beep, power-on indicator turns on and LCD 
is blank. Power source (battery pack and power 
adapter). See “Power System Check” on page 
67. 
Reconnect the LCD connector
Hard disk drive
LCD inverter ID
LCD cable
LCD Inverter
LCD
System board
No beep, power-on indicator turns on and LCD 
is blank. But you can see POST on an external 
CRT.  Reconnect the LCD connectors.
LCD inverter ID
LCD cable 
LCD inverter
LCD
System board
No beep, power-on indicator turns on and a 
blinking cursor shown on LCD during POST. Ensure every connector is connected tightly 
and correctly.
System board
No beep during POST but system runs 
correctly. Speaker
System board
Error MessagesFRU/Action in Sequence 
						

							
Chapter 473
Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes
CodeBeepsPOST Routine Description
02h Verify Real Mode
03h Disable Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI)
04h Get CPU type
06h Initialize system hardware
08h Initialize chipset with initial POST values
09h Set IN POST flag
0Ah Initialize CPU registers
0Bh Enable CPU cache
0Ch Initialize caches to initial POST values
0Eh Initialize I/O component
0Fh Initialize the local bus IDE
10h Initialize Power Management
11h Load alternate registers with initial POST values
12h Restore CPU control  word during warm boot
13h Initialize PCI Bus Mastering devices
14h Initialize keyboard controller
16h 1-2-2-3 BIOS ROM checksum
17h Initialize cache before memory autosize
18h 8254 timer initialization
1Ah 8237 DMA controller initialization
1Ch Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller
20h 1-3-1-1 Test DRAM refresh
22h 1-3-1-3 Test 8742 Keyboard Controller
24h Set ES segment register to 4 GB
26h Enable A20 line
28h Autosize DRAM
29h Initialize POST Memory Manager
2Ah Clear 215 KB base RAM
2Ch 1-3-4-1 RAM failure on address line xxxx
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 bi ts 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 configurati on of chipset registers
3Dh Load alternate registers with CMOS values
42h Initialize interrupt vectors 
						

							
74Chapter 4
45h POST device initialization
46h 2-1-2-3 Check ROM copyright notice
48h Check video configuration against CMOS
49h Initialize PCI bus and devices
4Ah Initialize all video adapters in system
4Bh QuietBoot start (optional)
4Ch Shadow video BIOS ROM
4Eh Display BIOS copyright notice
50h Display CPU type and speed
51h Initialize EISA board
52h Test keyboard
54h Set key click if enabled
58h 2-2-3-1 Test for unexpected interrupts
59h Initialize POST display service
5Ah Display prompt “Press F2 to enter SETUP”
5Bh Disable CPU cache
5Ch Test RAM between 512 and 640 KB
60h Test extended memory
62h Test extended memory address lines
64h Jump to User Patch1
66h Configure advanced cache registers
67h Initialize Multi Processor APIC
68h Enable external and CPU caches
69h Setup System Management Mode (SMM) area
6Ah Display external L2 cache size
6Bh Load custom defaults (optional)
6Ch Display shadow-area message
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-compatible PnP ISA devices
86h Re-initialize onboard I/O ports
87h Configure Motherboard Configurable Devices (optional)
88h Initialize BIOS Area
89h Enable Non-Maskable Interrupts (NMIs)
CodeBeepsPOST Routine Description