Acer Travelmate 270 Service Guide

							Acer TravelMate 270 Series
Service Guide
  PART NO.: VD.T18V5.001 
                                                                                                                                     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 TravelMate 270 service guide.
DateChapterUpdates 
						

							III
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 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. 
						

							I
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 System Specifications  3
Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
System Block Diagram  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Board Layout   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Bottom View   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
Outlook View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Front View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Left Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
Right Panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
Rear Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Bottom Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
Indicators   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Lock Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Embedded Numeric Keypad  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
Windows Keys   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
Hot Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
The Euro Symbol   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Launch Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
E-Mail Detection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
Touchpad   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
Touchpad Basics   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
Hardware Specifications and Configurations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
Chapter 2 System Utilities  37
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
Navigating the BIOS Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
Main   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
System Devices   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
Info.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
Exit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
BIOS Flash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
System Utility Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
System Diagnostic Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
Running Diagnostics Program   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
Chapter 3  Machine Disassembly and Replacement  55
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
Before You Begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
Removing the HDD Module/Memory/FDD Module/Optical Module and CPU . . . . .  60
Removing the HDD Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
Removing the Memory   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
Removing the FDD Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
Removing the Optical Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
Removing the CPU  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
Removing the LCD Module and Switch Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
Removing the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
Removing the Switch Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
Disassembling the Main Unit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
Separate the main unit into the logic upper and the logic lower assembly  . . .  65
Disassembling the logic upper   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65 
						

							II
Table of Contents
Disassembling the logic lower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
Disassembling the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
Disassembling the External Modules  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Disassembling the HDD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Disassembling the Floppy Disk Drive Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Disassembling the Optical Drive Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Chapter 4  Troubleshooting  71
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
External Diskette Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
External CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
Memory Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
Display Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
Sound Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  76
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
Index of Error Messages   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
Intermittent Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83
Undetermined Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Index of AFlash BIOS Error Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
Chapter 5 Jumper and Connector Locations  87
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  87
SW1 Settings (Lid switch)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  88
SW2 Settings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  88
Bottom View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  89
Chapter 6 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  91
TravelMate 270 Series  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  108
Appendix A Model Definition and Configuration  108
Main Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  109
Appendix B Test Compatible Components  111
Microsoft® Window® XP Home Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  112
Microsoft® Window® XP Pro Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  114
Microsoft® Window® 2000 Environment Test   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  116
Appendix C Online Support Information  119
Index 121 
						

							Chapter 13
Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind.  Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance
Mobile Intel® Pentium®4 processor-M at 1.4GHz or higher
Built-in 0.13 micron technology; includes 512KB L2 Cache; supports Enhanced Intel® 
SpeedStepTM technology
Standard 128/256MB DDR-266 SDRAM, upgradeable up to 1GB on dual SoDIMM sockets
14.1” or 15.0” XGA TFT color LCD, 1024x768, 16.7M colours
High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
Li-Ion main battery pack
Power management system with ACPI (Advanced Configuration Power Interface)
DualViewTM support
Simultaneous LCD and CRT display at1024x768, 16.7M colours
Display
 Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid-crystal display (LCD) displaying 32-bit high true colour up to 16.7 
million colours at 1024X768 eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) resolution for 14.1”/15.0” or 
1400x1050 Super eXtended Graphics Array+ (SXGA+) for resolution for some  15.0” models 
(specification varies depending on models)
3D capabilities
S-video for output to a television or display device that supports S-video input
“Automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and 
conserves power
Simultaneous LCD and CRT display at 1024x768, 16.7M colours
SiS 650 with integrated VGA, default shared 16MB DDR video memory (or 32/64MB configured 
via BIOS)
4x AGP graphics accelerator
MPEG-2/DVD hardware assisted capability
Multimedia
high-fidelity AC’97 stereo audio
Built-in dual speakers 
Built-in microphone
SoundBlaster-Pro and MS DirectSound compatible
High-speed optical drive
S-video (NTSC/PAL) output
Connectivity
High-speed fax/data modem port 
Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port
System Specifications
Chapter  1 
						

							4Chapter 1
USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports
IEEE 1394 port
802.11b wireless LAN
Keyboard and Pointing Device
4-way scroll button
Sleek, smooth and stylish design
Full-sized keyboard
Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
Expansion
Two type II or one type III cardBus PC Card slots
Upgradeable memory
Keyboard and Pointing Device
Acer FineTouch keyboard: with a 5 curve, 84/85/88-key, inverted “T” cursor layout, 18mm 
spacing, 2.5mm(min) key travel
Built-in touchpad pointing device with ergonomic buttons and 4-way integrated scroll key
12 function keys; 4 cursor keys; two Windows® keys; hotkey controls
5 launch keys, including Internet browser, email (with LED for received mail), and 3 user-
progammable keys
Acer InviLinkTM button for wireless models
Embedded numeric keypad
International language support
I/O Ports
Two CardBus Type II/One Type III slots
One RJ-11 modem jack
One RJ-45 network jack 
One DC-in jack for AC adapter
One RS-232 (16550 compatible) serial port
One ECP/EPP-compliant parallel port
One PS/2-compatible keyboard/mouse port
One external VGA port
One speaker/microphone/line-in jack
One microphone/line-in jack
One S-video-out (NTSC/PAL) port
Three Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports
One IEEE 1394 port° 
						

							Chapter 15
System Block Diagram