Acer Travelmate 420 Service Guide

							Acer TravelMate 420 Series
Service Guide
  PART NO.: VD.T19V5.001 
                                                                                                                                     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
TM420.book  Page I  Monday, September 23, 2002  10:27 AM 
						

							II
Revision History
Please refer to the table below for the updates made on TravelMate 420 service guide.
DateChapterUpdates
TM420.book  Page II  Monday, September 23, 2002  10:27 AM 
						

							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.
TM420.book  Page III  Monday, September 23, 2002  10:27 AM 
						

							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.
TM420.book  Page IV  Monday, September 23, 2002  10:27 AM 
						

							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.
TM420.book  Page V  Monday, September 23, 2002  10:27 AM 
						

							VI
TM420.book  Page VI  Monday, September 23, 2002  10:27 AM 
						

							VII
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 System Specifications  1
Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
System Block Diagram  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Board Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Bottom View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Outlook View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Front View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Left Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Right Panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
Bottom Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Lock Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
Embedded Numeric Keypad  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Windows Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Hot Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
The Euro Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
Launch Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
E-Mail Detection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Touchpad   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
Touchpad Basics   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
Hardware Specifications and Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
Chapter 2 System Utilities  39
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
Navigating the BIOS Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
Info.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
System Devices   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
BIOS Flash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
System Diagnostic Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Running Diagnostics Program   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
Chapter 3 Machine Disassembly and Replacement  61
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Before You Begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Removing the Optical Module/HDD Module and Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Removing the Optical Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66
Removing the HDD module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Removing the Memory   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Removing the Keyboard/ LCD Module and VGA Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Removing the Keyboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Removing the LCD module and VGA Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
Disassembling the Main Unit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Disassembling the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
Disassembling the External Modules  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
Disassembling the HDD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
Disassembling the Optical Disk Drive Module/Combo Drive Module  . . . . . . .  75 
						

							VIII
Table of Contents
Chpater 4 Troubleshooting 77
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
External Diskette Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
External CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
Memory Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
Display Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
Sound Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  82
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  86
Intermittent Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  89
Undetermined Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  90
POST Task Routines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  91
Index of Flash BIOS Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  95
Chapter 5 Jumper and Connector Locations  97
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
SW1 Settings (Lid switch)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  98
SW2 Settings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  98
Bottom View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  99
Chapter 6 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  101
Appendix A Model Definition and Configuration  118
TravelMate 420 Series  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  118
Main Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  119
Appendix C Test Compatible Components  121
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  122
Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro Environment Test  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  125
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Environment Test   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  127
Appendix B Online Support Information  129
Appendix C Index  131 
						

							Chapter 11
Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind.  Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance
TIntel® Pentium®4 Processor with 512KB level 2 cache
TDDR 226 (O/c2100) SDRAM, memory expandable up to 1GB
TInternal optical drive
THigh-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
TLi-Ion main battery pack
TPower management system wit h ACPI (Advanced Configuration Power Interface)
Display
T Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid-crystal display (LCD) displaying 32-bit high true colour up to 16.7 
million colours at 1024X768 eXtended Graphics A rray (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)
T3D capabilities
TSimultaneous LCD and CRT display at 1024x768, 16.7M colours
TS-video for output to a television or display device that supports S-video input
T“Automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically  decides the best settings for your display and 
conserves power
TDual display capability
Multimedia
T18-bit high-fidelity AC’97 stereo audio
TBuilt-in dual speakers 
TBuilt-in microphone
THigh-speed optical drive
TS-video (NTSC/PAL) output
Connectivity
THigh-speed fax/data modem port 
TEthernet/Fast Ethernet port
T3 USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports
TIEEE 1394 port
TSD/MMmC memory slot
TAcer EasyPort port replicator
TBluetooth ready (optional)
Human-centric design and ergonomics
T4-way scroll button
System Specifications
Chapter  1
SG_TM420_Ch1.fm  Page 1  Thursday, September 26, 2002  9:23 AM 
						

							2Chapter 1
TSleek, smooth and stylish design
TAcer FinTouch full-sized curved keyboard
TErgonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
Expansion
TOne type II CardBus PC Card slots
TUpgradeable memory
Keyboard and Pointing Device
T84/85/88-key windows keyboard
TBuilt-in touchpad pointing device with ergonomic buttons and 4-way integrated scroll key
T5 launch keys, including Internet browser, email (with LED for received mail), and 3 user-
progammable keys
TAcer InviLinkTM button for wireless models
TEmbedded numeric keypad
TInternational language support
I/O Ports
TOne type II CardBus slots
TOne RJ-11 modem jack
TOne RJ-45 network jack 
TOne DC-in jack for AC adapter
TOne ECP/EPP-compliant parallel port
TOne external monitor port
TOne headphone/speaker/line-out jack (3.5mm mini jack)
TOne microphone/line-in jack (3.5mm mini jack)
TOne S-video-out (NTSC/PAL) port
TThree Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports
TOne IEEE 1394 port
T100-pin port replicator connector for Acer EasyPort
TOne SD/MMC slots
TOne memory stick slot
SG_TM420_Ch1.fm  Page 2  Thursday, September 26, 2002  9:23 AM