Acer Extensa 900 Maintenance Manual
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Theory of Operation 4-25 4.2.11.2 AC Power Adapter The computer is equipped with a universal AC power adapter that converts AC voltage into DC voltage (approx. 46 Watts of power) used to operate the notebook and charge the batteries. The specifications for the AC adapter include: ¨Input Voltage: 100 to 250 VAC ¨Input Current: Approximately 1.5 Amps ¨Input Frequency: 50 to 60 Hz 4.2.12 Mobile Productivity Base Interface Figure 4-5 MPB Interface Diagram PCI0643 SW SW HDD/ CD/MO FDD SW M1521 M1523 PCI1130 PCI0643PCIPCI 87338 DPCIRST# SW65550/S3ZV ZV CLOCK GEN. M6377 RDATA#, WDATA#IDE PCICLK1 PCICLK2 Advanced PCI Card Notebook MPB
Troubleshooting Procedures 5-1 5 Troubleshooting Procedures 5.1 Introduction This section provides an overview of the fault isolation process, provides guidelines for isolating 900 Series computer malfunctions to replaceable subassemblies and provides instructions for executing diagnostics and interpreting error messages. 5.2 Overview of Fault Isolation Process The fault isolation process (summarized in Figure 5-1) consists of the following steps: ¨Checking the Notebook power system (including battery packs and AC adapter connections) - refer to Paragraph 5.4. ¨Checking Switch settings (ensuring Power is On and notebook correctly configured) - Pressing the Shift key to ensure that Notebook is not in Suspend mode - Verifying if computer is configured to boot from the A: Drive or C: Drive - Checking LCD brightness adjustment (press Fn-Up Arrow keys to increase brightness) - Ensuring that computer is not set for external monitor (press Fn-F12 to select internal screen) ¨Undocking from the Mobile Productivity Base (if installed) and running diagnostics to isolate problem to either the base or the notebook. ¨Recording and attempting to resolve any displayed error messages or error beeps (refer to Paragraph 5.3.3.1 and Tables 5-1 and 5-2) ¨Rebooting the system (Ctrl-Alt-Del) ¨If the computer is capable of running the Setup program; checking the serial and parallel port configurations, Sound System enable/disable, and other features that may affect system operation. ¨Running PC-Doctor Diagnostics to further isolate problem area (refer to Paragraph 5.5). For indicated hardware failures, cycling power and repeating self test to verify that a hard failure has occurred. ¨Removing and replacing suspect hardware (as described in Section 6 of this manual) and retest the system using the diagnostic tests as described in Paragraph 5.4.5.
5-2 Troubleshooting Procedures ® Figure 5-1 Notebook Computer Troubleshooting Flow Chart START COMPUTER TROUBLE INDICATION ? DEAD COMPUTER SYMPTOMS ? RUN SELF TEST ERROR MESSAGE ? MODEM PROBLEM ? RUN DIAGNOSTICS DIAGNOSTICS ERROR MSG ? NO YES NO YESSee Paragraph 5.3.5 NO YESSee Paragraphs 5.3.3.1 and 5.3.3.2 NO See Paragraphs 5. 3.1 & 5.3.2 NOYES See Paragraph 5.5 When Power button is pressed, no indication of power is present (dark LCD, no Status icons lit, no disk drive activity, etc.) Press Power button; Selftest automatically runs when power turned on. MPB TROUBLE INDICATION ?NO See Paragraph 5.4
Troubleshooting Procedures 5-3 5.3 Troubleshooting Procedures The built-in self test program and the disk resident diagnostics program (PC-Doctor) are useful tools in computer troubleshooting. However, if the computer has a power, keyboard or display problem, you must first solve this problem before running diagnostics. If the computer powers up and displays messages on the LCD or emits a series of beeps, skip to Paragraph 5.3.3.1 for further instructions. 5.3.1 Troubleshooting a Power Supply Problem If the computer does not power up when the Power Switch is pressed, you most likely have a malfunction in the power subsystem (loss of power at the AC outlet, faulty AC adapter, discharged Battery Packs, or faulty Power Supply on the Main Board). With a power problem, all LEDs are extinguished, the LCD screen is blank, the system does not respond when the suspend switch is pressed several times consecutively and no drive activity can be heard. The computer is unable to load software and displays no visible signs of activity. To fault isolate a power problem, check the following: ¨AC adapter and Battery - Plug in the AC adapter and double-check all connections on the adapter and computer. Ensure that the Notebook Power switch is set to the On position and that the system is not in Suspend or Sleep mode. ¨Measure the voltage at the AC outlet or plug in a known good appliance (e.g., a lamp) to verify that voltage is present. If the voltage is okay, try replacing the AC adapter. ¨Check to see that a charged battery pack is installed correctly; also attach the AC adapter and connect to live wall outlet. If the AC outlet voltage, AC adapter, and battery packs test normal but the computer will not power up, try the DC- In PWB, Power Supply PWB, Main Board PWB or LED PWB. 5.3.2 Troubleshooting a Display Problem If the LCD remains blank when you turn on the computer, and the status indicators light, check the following controls on the display: ¨LCD suspend mode - Press Shift to terminate Suspend mode. ¨Brightness set too low - Press Fn-Up Arrow keys to increase screen brightness ¨Notebook Set for External Monitor - Press Fn-F12 to switch to the internal screen. ¨Faulty LCD - Replace the cover-display assembly as described in Section 6 of this manual. ¨Low battery - Use a fully charged battery and/or plug in the AC adapter.
5-4 Troubleshooting Procedures Table 5-1 contains fault isolation information for Display Problems on the notebook. Symptoms are listed along the left side of the chart and the various Display FRUs are listed along the top of the chart. Within the body of the table are the probabilities of each of the FRUs causing that particular problem. For example, a single display line on the screen is most likely caused by the LCD Panel or Display Cable; other components have a low probability of causing the problem. 5.3.3 Fault Isolation Using Power On Self Test When the computer is first powered up, it automatically performs a Power On Self Test (POST) that checks the notebook’s central hardware and memory functions. During POST (which lasts for a few seconds), the display shows copyright and version number information. Note: Some procedures in this paragraph require you to use keystroke sequences, such as Ctrl-Alt-Del. To execute a keystroke sequence such as this, you must press all three keys simultaneously.Table 5-1 Display Troubleshooting Guide Problem Description Inverter BoardLCD PanelDisplay CableMother BoardBIOS Single line on LCD display (horizontal or vertical)Low High Medium Low Low Multiple lines on display (horizontal or vertical)Low Medium Medium Low Low Sections of the display are missing charactersLow Medium Medium Low Low Scrambled Display Low Medium Low Medium Medium Intermittent characters on display Low Medium Medium Medium Low Bright display, no visible characters Low Medium Medium Medium Low Brightness level fluctuating or display blinking on/offHigh Low Medium Low Low Display goes dim over time High Medium Low Low Low Dim display but characters very visibleMedium Medium Low Low Low Very dark display and characters are slightly visible when a light is directed at surface of the displayHigh Low Low Low Low Very dark display and no characters are visibleLow High High Medium Low
Troubleshooting Procedures 5-5 5.3.3.1 POST Error Messages Upon successful completion of Power On Self Test, the computer automatically loads its operating system and other built-in utilities. If POST fails to complete successfully, the display shows one of the error messages described in Table 5-2. Note: In the event of a hardware problem that affects the display, the Notebook also communicates errors via a series of beeps. The interpretation of the beep codes is provided in Table 5-3. Note: Refer to Appendix C for POST BIOS listing.
5-6 Troubleshooting Procedures Table 5-2 Power On Self Test Error Messages Message Possible Cause Action Diskette drive A failure The drive failed or is missing. Check the drive to determine the problem. Diskette read failure - press F1 to retry boot, F2 for SETUP utilityThe disk is either not formatted or is defective.Replace the disk with a bootable disk and retry. Display adapter failed, using alternateThe primary video adapter failed.Check the primary video adapter. Gate A20 failure The keyboard controller is not accepting command, specifically, the enable and disable A20 command.Check the keyboard controller and system board. Turn the power off, then back on again. If the problem persists contact qualified service personnel . Fixed disk configuration errorThe specified configuration is not supported or doesnt match the actual hardware installed.Correct the fixed diskette configuration. Fixed disk controller failure The fixed diskette may be defective.Try rebooting. If that doesnt work, replace the fixed diskette. Fixed disk read failure- press F1 to retry boot, F2 for SETUP utilityThe fixed diskette may be configured incorrectly or is defective.Check the drive type selected in Setup. Try rebooting. If that does not work, replace the fixed diskette. Pointer device failure The PS/2-style mouse failed. Try rebooting. If problem persists, check the mouse, cable and connector.
Troubleshooting Procedures 5-7 Table 5-2 Post Error Messages (continued) Message Possible Cause Action No boot device available - press F1 to retry boot, F2 for SETUP utilityEither disk drive A:, the fixed diskette, or both the disk and fixed diskette are defective.Try rebooting. If the problem persists, replace the disk or the fixed diskette. No boot sector on fixed disk - press F1 to retry boot, F2 for SETUP utilityThe C: drive is not formatted or is not bootable.Format the C: drive and make it bootable. Not a boot diskette - press F1 to retry boot, F2 for SETUP utilityThe disk in drive A: is not formatted as a bootable disk.Replace the disk with a bootable disk and try rebooting. No timer tick interrupt The timer chip has failed. Check the system board. Turn the power off, then back on again. If the problem persists, contact qualified service personnel. Shutdown failure Either the keyboard controller is not accepting the reset command or the associated reset logic has failed.Check the keyboard controller and system board. Turn the power off, then back on again. If the problem persists, contact qualified service personnel. Time of day not set - run SETUP programReal time clock not set. Run the Setup utility. Timer 2 failure The timer chip has failed. Check the system board. Turn the power off, then back on again. If the problem persists, contact qualified service personnel. F2 to enter ROM-based SETUPInvalid configuration information must be changed.You must run the Setup utility and correct configuration information. Invalid configuration information - please run SETUPDisplay adapter is configured incorrectly. Memory size is incorrect. Wrong number of disk drives. Other configuration errors.Run the Setup utility.
5-8 Troubleshooting Procedures 5.3.3.2 POST Beep Error Messages In the event of a hardware problem that affects the display, the Notebook also communicates errors via a series of beeps. These codes may be heard over the systems speaker as a series of beeps (long and short duration). The interpretation of the beep codes is provided in Table 5-3. To recover from a self test error, try cycling power to the computer. Also, press Ctrl-Alt-Esc to ensure that the Setup configuration is correct. In general, most of the Table 5-2 POST Error Messages (continued) Message Possible Cause Action Keyboard clock line failure The keyboard, the keyboard cable connection, or the keyboard controller is defective.Make sure the keyboard cable and keyboard are connected properly. Check the keyboard controller and the system board. Turn the power off, then back on again. If the problem persists, contact qualified service personnel. Keyboard data line failure The keyboard controller firmware has failed.Check the keyboard controller and system board. Turn the power off, then back on again. If the problem persists, contact qualified service personnel. Keyboard stuck key failure A key is jammed. Locate the jammed key and fix it. Make sure the keyboard cable and keyboard are connected properly. Turn the power off, then back on again. If the problem persists, contact qualified service personnel. Memory failure at hex- value, read hex-value, expecting hex-valueCircuitry associated with the memory chips has failed.Turn the power off, then back on again. If the problem persists, contact qualified service personnel. Unexpected interrupt in protected modeHardware i nterrupt or NMI occurred while in protected mode.Check the timer chip or the interrupt controller on the system board. Real time clock failure The RTC or battery failed. Run Setup and turn the power off and on. If the problem persists, replace the RTC battery. If the problem remains, contact qualified service personnel.