Acer Travelmate 3210z Service Guide

							
Chapter 463
Error Message List
No beep Error MessagesFRU/Action in Sequence
Power-on indicator turns off and LCD is blank. Power s ource (battery pack and power adapter.) See “Power 
System Check” on page 59
Ensure every connector is connected tightly and correctly.
Reconnect the DIMM.
Main board.
Power-on indicator turns on and LCD is blank. Power s ource (battery pack and power adapter.) See “Power 
System Check” on page 59
Reconnect the LCD connector
Hard disk drive
LCD cable
LCD inverter
LCD
Main board
Power-on indicator turns on and LCD is blank. 
But you can see POST on an external CRT. Reconnect the LCD connectors.
LCD cable
LCD inverter
LCD
Main board
Power-on indicator turns on and a blinking cursor 
shown on LCD during POST. Ensure every connector is connected tightly and correctly.
Main board 
						

							
64Chapter 4
Insyde MobilePro BIOS POST Beep Code and POST Messages
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 proble m, put the original 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 71.
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.
Beep CodeMessageDescription
short, short, short; short, 
short, long “FAULTY DMA PAGE REGISTERS” DMA page registers do not function properly.
short, short, short; short, 
long, short “FAULTY REFRESH CIRCUIT” RAM refresh circuit does not function properly.
short, short, short; short, 
long, long “ROM CHECKSUM INCORRECT” BIOS ROM checksum failed.
short, short, short; long, 
short, short “CMOS RAM TEST FAILED” CMOS RAM test failed.
short, short, short; long, 
short, long “DMA CONTROLLER FAULTY” DMA cont
roller does not work properly.
short, short, short; long, long 
short “INTERRUPT CONTROLLER 
FA I L E D ” The interrupt controller does not work properly.
short, short, short; long, 
long, long N/A
Keyboard controller failed to respond with the 
self-test command.
short, short, long; short, 
short, short N/A No video device found.
short, short, long; short, 
short, long N/A No RAM installed.
N/A “KEYBOARD CONTROLLER  FA I L U R E ” Keyboard controller failed during system inquiry 
about connected devices.
N/A “KEYBOARD FAILURE” The keyboard fails to respond or no keyboard is 
connected.
N/A “CMOS FAILURE - RUN SCU” CMOS data error, probably due to battery power 
loss.
N/A “CMOS CHECKSUM INVALID - RUN  SCU” CMOS checksum error.
N/A “RAM ERROR AT LOCATION  xxxxxx:
WROTE:  xxxx
READ:  xxxx” The RAM failed during memory test at the indi-
cated location.
N/A “PARITY ERROR AT UNKNOWN
LOCATION” Parity error during memory test at unknown 
location.
N/A “PARITY ERROR AT LOCATION  XXXXXX” Parity error during memory test at the indicated 
location. 
						

							
Chapter 465
N/A “NO INTERRUPTS FROM TIMER 0” Timer 0 of the clock timer controller does not 
generate system interrupts correctly.
N/A “UNEXPECTED AMOUNT OF  MEMORY - RUN SCU” The system memory size does not match with 
the CMOS record.
N/A “CLOCK NOT TICKING CORRECTLY” The system clock does not working correctly.
N/A “TIME/DATA CORRUPT - RUN SCU” The time/ date information in CMOS is invalid.
N/A “MACHINE IS LOCKED - TURN KEY” The keyboard operation is locked.
N/A “BOOT SECTOR 0 HAS CHANGED” The boot sector of the hard disk has been  changed, probably because of a virus attack.
N/A Suspend-to-Disk partition MISSING!” No Suspend-to-Disk partition found.
N/A “Hard Disk ERROR!” Access to the Suspend-to-Disk partition failed.
N/A “Suspend-to-Disk partition signature  NOT FOUND!” No Suspend-to-Disk partition signature found.
N/A “Suspend-to-Disk partition size TOO  SMALL!” The capacity of the Suspend-to-Disk partition is 
not enough.
N/A “MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED --  REBOOTING” The memory size has changed after previous 
Suspend-to-Disk operation.
Beep CodeMessageDescription 
						

							
66Chapter 4
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message
LCD-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
LCD backlight doesnt work First, plug a monitor to CRT port. Next, enter BIOS utility to running  “Load Default Settings” then reboot the system.
Reconnect the LCD connectors.
Keyboard (if the brightness function key doesnt work).
LCD cable
LCD inverter
LCD
Main board
LCD is too dark
LCD brightness cannot be adjusted Enter BIOS Utility to execute “Load Setup Default Settings”, then 
reboot system.
Reconnect the LCD connectors.
Keyboard (if the brightness 
function key doesnt work).
LCD cable
LCD inverter
LCD
Main board
Unreadable LCD screen 
Missing pels in characters
Abnormal screen 
Wrong color displayed
LCD has extra horizontal or vertical lines 
displayed. Reconnect the LCD cable
LCD cable
LCD
Main board
Indicator-Rela
ted Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Indicator incorrectly remains off or on, but system 
runs correctly Main board
HDD/CD-ROM active indicators cannot work HDD/CD-ROM drive Device driver
Main board
Power-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Power shuts down during operation Power source (battery pack and power adapter). See “Power  System Check” on page 59. 
Battery pack
AC adapter
See if the thermal module is overheat (Heat sink or fan).
Main board
The system cannot power-on. Power source (battery pack and power adapter). See “Power  System Check” on page 59.
Battery pack
Power adapter
CPU
Main board
The system cannot power-off. In Windows XP operat ing system, hold and press the power switch 
for more than 4 seconds. If the system can power off, then the main 
board is OK. Verify OS in the HDD. 
Main board 
						

							
Chapter 467
Battery can’t be charged or discharged See “Check the Battery Pack” on page 60. 
Battery pack
Main board
System hang during POST ODD/HDD/FDD/RAM module Main board
PCMCIA-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
System cannot detect the PC Card  (PCMCIA)  PCMCIA slot assembly
Main board
PCMCIA slot pin is damaged. PCMCIA slot assembly
PC Card cannot be inserted or ejected Check if the PCMCIA slot is blocked Main board
Memory-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Memory count (size) appears different from 
actual size. Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute “Load Default Settings” then 
reboot system.
RAM module
Main board
Check BIOS revision
System can power on, but you hear two long 
beeps: “B--, B--” and the LCD is blank. Reinsert DIMM
DIMM
Main board
Speaker-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
In Windows, multimedia programs, no sound 
comes from the computer.  OS volume control
Audio driver
Speaker
Main board
Internal speakers make noise or emit no sound. Speaker Main board
Microphone cannot work Audio driver Volume control in Windows XP
Main board
Power Management-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
The system will not enter hibernation mode Power option in Windows XP Hard disk drive
Main board
The system doesn’t enter standby mode after 
closing the lid of the portable computer. Driver of Power Option Properties
Lid close switch in upper case
Main board
Power-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence 
						

							
68Chapter 4
The system doesnt resume from hibernation/ 
standby mode.Connect AC adapter then check if the system resumes from 
Standby/Hibernation mode. 
Check if the battery is low.
Hard disk drive
Main board
The system doesnt resume from standby mode 
after opening the lid of the portable computer. LCD cover switch
Main board
Battery fuel gauge in Windows doesn’t go higher 
than 90%.  Refresh battery (continue use battery until power off, then charge 
battery).
Battery pack
Main board
System hangs intermittently. Reconnect hard disk/CD-ROM drives.  Main board
Peripheral-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
System configuration does not match the 
installed devices.  Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute “Load Setup defaults”, then 
reboot system.
Reconnect hard disk/CD-ROM drives/FDD or other peripherals.
Main board
External display does not work correctly. Press Fn+F5, LCD/CRT/Both display switching Keyboard
Main board
USB does not work correctly Main board
Print problems. Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute “Load Default Settings” then  reboot the system.
Run printer self-test.
Printer driver
Printer cable
Printer
Main board
Parallel port device problems Enter BIOS Setup  Utility to execute “Load Default Settings” then 
reboot the system.
Device driver
Device cable
Device
Main board
Keyboard/Touchpad-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Keyboard (one or more keys) does not work. Reconnect the keyboard cable. Keyboard
Main board
Touchpad does not work. Reconnect touchpad cable. Touchpad board
Main board
Power Management-Related Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence 
						

							
Chapter 469
NOTE: If you cannot find a symptom or an error in this list and the problem remains, see “Undetermined 
Problems” on page 71.
Modem/LAN-Rela
ted Symptoms
Symptom / ErrorAction in Sequence
Internal modem does not wo rk correctly. Phone cable
Driver
Reconnect the Internal modem cable to the main board tightly.
Main board
Internal LAN does not work correctly Lan cable Driver
Main board 
						

							
70Chapter 4
Intermittent Problems
Intermittent system hang problems can be caused by a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with a 
hardware defect, such as: cosmic radiation, electros tatic discharge, or software errors. FRU replacement 
should be considered only when a recurring problem exists.
When analyzing an intermittent problem, do the following:
1. Run the diagnostic test for the system board in loop mode at least 10 times.
2. If no error is detected,  do not replace any FRU.
3. If any error is detected, replace t he FRU.  Rerun the test to verify that there are no more errors.  
						

							
Chapter 471
Undetermined Problems
The diagnostic problems does not identify which adapter or device failed, which installed devices are incorrect, 
whether a short circuit is suspected, or  whether the system is inoperative.  
Follow these procedures to isolate the faili ng FRU (do not isolate non-defective FRU).
NOTE:  Verify that all attached devices  are supported by the computer.
NOTE:  Verify that the power supply being used at the time  of the failure is operating correctly. (See “Power 
System Check” on page 59):
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Visually check them for damage. If an y problems are found, replace the FRU.
3. Remove or disconnect all of the following devices:
TNon-Acer devices
TPrinter, mouse, and other external devices
TBattery pack
THard disk drive
TDIMM 
TPC Cards
4. Power-on the computer.
5. Determine if the problem has changed.
6. If the problem does not recur, reconnect the remove d devices one at a time until you find the failing FRU.
7. If the problem remains, replace the following FRU one  at a time. Do not replace a non-defective FRU:
TSystem board
TLCD assembly 
						

							
72Chapter 4