Acer Travelmate 270 Service Guide

							36Chapter 1
IRQ04 Communications Port (COM1)
IRQ05 PCI AUDIO/MODEM
IRQ06 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
IRQ07 ECP Printer Port (LPT1) 
IRQ08 Real Time Clock
IRQ09 SCI 
IRQ10 LAN/Universal Serial Bus
IRQ11 PCMCIA/VGA
IRQ12 Mouse
IRQ13 Numeric data processor
IRQ14 Primary IDE controller (hard disk)
IRQ15 Secondary IDE controller (CD-ROM drive)
DMA Channel Assignment
DMA ChannelFunction(Hardware)
00 PnP Audio System CODEC
01 Free
02 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
03 ECP Printer Port (default)
IRQ Assignment Map
Interrupt ChannelFunction(Hardware) 
						

							Chapter 237
BIOS Setup Utility
The BIOS Setup Utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer’s BIOS (Basic Input/
Output System).
Your computer is already properly configured and optimized, and you do not need to run this utility. However, if 
you encounter configuration problems, you may need to run Setup.  Please also refer to Chapter 4 
Troubleshooting when problem arises.
To activate the BIOS Utility, press 
m during POST (when “Press  to enter Setup” message is prompted 
on the bottom of screen).
Navigating the BIOS Utility
There are six menu options:  Main, System Devices, Security, Boot, Info. and Exit.
Follow these instructions:
To choose a menu, use the cursor left/right keys (zx).
To choose a parameter, use the cursor up/down keys ( wy).
To change the value of a parameter, press p or q.
A plus sign (+) indicates the item has sub-items. Press e to expand this item.
Press ^ while you are in any of the menu options to go to the Exit menu.
In any menu, you can load default settings by pressing t. You can also press u to save any 
PhoenixBIO S Setup Utility 
Main
        System Devices        Security        Boot        Info.        Exit 
  Item  specific H elp 
System  T im e: [09:00:00]  
System  D ate:   [01/01/2002] , , or 
   
Floppy Disk Drive 1.44 MB Floppy disk size 
Internal H ard Disk :   [ xxxxx MB] Disk Size 
AT API D evice :  [ Model Name]  
   
Boot Display Device: [Both]  
Screen Expansion: [Enabled]  
T elevision Type: [NT SC ] Select NTSL or PAL standard 
   
VGA Memory: [32MB] VGA Memory Size C onfiguration 
   
F1
  Help     ↑↓ Select Item     F5/F6 
Change Values        F9
  Setup defaults 
Esc
  Exit    ←→ Select Menu  Enter
  Select4Sub-Menu    F10
  Save and Exit 
 
System Utilities
Chapter  2 
						

							38Chapter 2
changes made and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
NOTE: You can change the value of a parameter if it is enclosed in square brackets. Navigation keys for a 
particular menu are shown on the bottom of the screen. Help for parameters are found in the Item 
Specific Help part of the screen. Read this carefully when making changes to parameter values. 
						

							Chapter 239
Main
The Main screen displays a summary of your computer hardware information, and also includes basic setup 
parameters. It allows the user to specify standard IBM PC AT system parameters.
NOTE: The screen above is for reference only. Actual values may differ.
PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility 
Main
        System Devices        Security        Boot        Info.        Exit   Item specific Help 
System Time: [09:00:00]  
System Date:   [01/01/2002] , , or 
   
Floppy Disk Drive 1.44 MB Floppy disk size 
Internal Hard Disk:  [ xxxxx MB] Disk Size 
ATAPI Device :  [ Model Name]  
   
Boot Display Device: [Both]  
Screen Expansion: [Enabled]  
Television Type: [NTSC] Select NTSL or PAL standard 
   
VGA Memory: [32MB] VGA Memory Size Configuration 
   
F1
  Help     ↑↓ Select Item    F5/F6 
Change Values        F9
  Setup defaults 
Esc
  Exit    ←→ Select Menu  Enter
  Select4Sub-Menu    F10
  Save and Exit 
  
						

							40Chapter 2
The table below describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested 
parameter settings..
NOTE: The sub-items under each device will not be shown if the device control is set to disable or auto. This is 
because the user is not allowed to control the settings in these cases.
ParameterDescriptionFormat/Option
System Time Sets the system time. Format: HH:MM:SS 
(hour:minute:second)System Time
System Date Sets the system date. Format MM/DD/YYYY (month/day/
year)
System Date
Floppy Disk Drive Shows floppy drive type information.
Internal Hard Disk Shows the hard disk types and capacity. If there 
is no hard disk present or unknown type, “None” 
should be shown on this field, otherwise the 
capacity must be shown.
ATAPI Device Auto detects and shows the CD-ROM, DVD-
ROM or CD-RW types. If there is no ATAPI 
Device present or unknown type, “None” should 
be shown on this field, otherwise the model 
name must be shown.
Boot Display Device Both: Simultaneously enable both the integrated 
LCD screen and the system’s external video port 
(for an external CRT or projector).
Auto-Selected: During power on process, the 
system will detect if any display device is 
connected on external video port. If any external 
display device is connected, the power on 
display will be in CRT (or projector) only mode. 
Otherwise it will be in LCD only mode.Option: 
Both or Auto-Selected
Screen Expansion
Option: 
Enabled or Disabled
Television Type Selects NTSC or PAL standard.
Option: 
NTSC or PAL
VGA  Memory Specifies the amount of main memory to allocate 
for VGA.Option: 
32MB/16MB/64MB 
						

							Chapter 241
System Devices
The System Devices screen contains parameters involving your hardware devices. It also provides advanced 
settings of the system.
The table below describes the parameters in the screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested 
parameter settings.
ParameterDescriptionOptions
PS/2 Pointing Device Determines whether or not to disable the internal 
touchpad of a PS/2 pointing device is connected.
Both or Auto-Selected
Serial Port Enables, disables or auto detects the serial port.
Enabled/Disabled/Auto
Base I/O address Sets the I/O address of the serial port.
3F8h/2F8h/3E8h/2E8h
Interrupt Sets the interrupt request of the serial port.
IRQ4/ IRQ3
Parallel Port Enables, disables or auto detects the parallel port.
Enabled/Disabled/Auto
Mode Sets the operation mode of the parallel port.
ECP, EPP, Normal or Bi-directional
Base I/O address Sets the I/O address of the parallel port. This 
parameter is enabled only if Mode is set to ECP or 
Bi-directional.
378h, 278h or 3BCh
Interrupt Sets the interrupt request of the parallel port.
IRQ 7 or IRQ5
Mode Sets the operation mode of the parallel port.
ECP, EPP or Bi-directional
ECP DMA Channel Sets a DMA channel for the printer to operate in 
ECP mode. This parameter is enabled only if Mode 
is set to ECP.
DMA3 or DMA1
P hoenixBIO S S etup Utility 
Main
        System  Devices        Security        Boot        Info.        Exit 
  Item  specific Help 
PS/2 Pointing Device [Both]  
   
Serial Port: [Enabled]  
B ase I/O  address [3 F 8 h]  
 In te r ru p t [IR Q 4 ]  
   
Parallel Port: [Enabled]  
Mode: [E C P ]  
B ase I/O  address: [378h]  
 In te r ru p t [IR Q 7 ]  
E CP DM A channel: [D M A 1]  
   
Intel® SpeedStep™  Technology    [ A utom atic ]  
   
F1  Help     ↑↓ Select Item     F5/F6 Change Values        F9  Setup defaults 
Esc  Exit    ←→ Select Menu  Enter  Select4Sub-M enu    F10  S ave and Exit 
  
						

							42Chapter 2
Security
The Security screen contains parameters that help safeguard and protect your computer from unauthorized 
use.
PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility 
Main
        System Devices        Security
        Boot        Info.        
Exit 
  Ite m  s p e c ific  H e lp  
User Password is Clear  
Administrator Password is   Clear  
   
Set User Password [Enter]  
Set Administrator Password [Enter] Supervisor Password 
controls access to the 
setup utility 
   
Password Required to:    
              Boot: [Enabled]  
   
Processor Serial Num ber : [Enabled]  
   
   
   
F1
  Help     ↑↓ Select Item    F5/F6 
Change Values        F9
  Setup defaults 
Esc
  Exit    ←→ Select Menu  Enter
  Select4Sub-Menu    F10
  Save and Exit 
  
						

							Chapter 243
The table below describes the parameters in this screen. Settings in boldface are the default and suggested 
parameter settings. 
NOTE: When you are prompted to enter a password, you have three tries before the system halts. Don’t forget 
your password. If you forget your password, you may have to return your notebook computer to your 
dealer to reset it.
Setting a Password
Follow these steps as you set the user or the administrator password:
1.Use the 
w andy keys to highlight the Set Administrator Password parameter and press the e key. The 
Set Administrator Password box appears:
2.Type a password in the Enter new password field. The password length can not exceeds 8 alphanumeric 
characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, not case sensitive). Retype the password in the Confirm new password field.
IMPORTANT:Be very careful when typing your password because the characters do not appear on the screen.
3.Press
 e.
                After setting the password, the computer sets the User Password parameter to “Set”.
4.If desired, you can opt to enable the Password on boot parameter.
5.When you are done, press 
u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
Removing a Password
Follow these steps:
1.Use the 
w and y keys to highlight the Set User Password parameter and press the e key. The Set 
Password box appears:
ParameterDescriptionOption
User Password is Shows the setting of the user password.
Clear or Set
Administrator Password is Shows the setting of the administrator 
password
Clear or Set
Set User Password Press Enter to set the user password. When 
set, this password protects the BIOS Setup 
Utility from unauthorized access.
Set Administrator  Password Press Enter to set the administrator password. 
When set, this password protects the BIOS 
Setup Utility from unauthorized access. 
Password require to Defines whether a password is required or not 
while the events defined in this group 
happened. The following sub-options are all 
requires the Admininstrator password for 
changes and should be grayed out if the user 
password was used to enter setup.m (When 
enabled, the user password protects the 
computer from unauthorized access during 
boot up.)
Disabled or Enabled
Boot Allows the user to specify whether or not a 
password is required to boot.
Disabled or Enabled 
						

							44Chapter 2
2.Type the current password in the Enter Current Password field and press e.
3.Press 
e twice without typing anything in the Enter New Password and Confirm New Password fields. 
The computer then sets the Administrator Password parameter to “Clear”.
4.When you have changed the settings, press 
u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
Changing a Password
1.Use the w and y keys to highlight the Set User Password parameter and press the e key. The Set 
Password box appears:
2.Type the current password in the Enter Current Password field and press 
e.
3.Type a password in the Enter New Password field. Retype the password in the Confirm New Password 
field.
4.Press 
e. After setting the password, the computer sets the User Password parameter to “Set”.
5.If desired, you can enable the Password on boot parameter.
6.When you are done, press 
u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
If the verification is OK, the screen will display as following. 
The password setting is complete after the user presses 
u.
If the current password entered does not match the actual current password, the screen will show you the 
Setup Warning. 
						

							Chapter 245
If the new password and confirm new password strings do not match, the screen will display the following 
message.