Acer Travelmate 420 Service Guide

							Chapter 243
Main
The Main screen displays a summary of your computer hardware information, and also includes basic setup 
parameters. It allows the user to specif y standard IBM PC AT system parameters.
NOTE:  The screen above is for reference only. Actual values may differ.
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							44Chapter 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 t he 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
System Memory This field reports the memory size of system  base memory.  The size is fixed to 640KB.
Extended Memory This field reports the memory size of the  extended memory in the system.
Extended Memory size=Total memory size-1MB
VGA Memory VGA Memory size=16MB
Quiet Boot Control whether Customer Logo and Summary  Screen are displayed or not.  Option: 
Enabled or Disabled
Power on Display Auto: 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 the system 
will be in LCD only mode.
Both: Simultaneously enable both the integrated 
LCD screen and the system’s external video port 
(for an external CRT or projector). Option:
 
Auto or Both
LCD Auto Dim Enabled: LCD brightness will automatically lower  to save more power when AC is not present.
Disabled: LCD brightness will NOT automatically 
lower to save more power when AC is not 
present. Option: 
Enabled or Disabled
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							Chapter 245
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
Internal TouchPad Determines whether  or not to disable the internal 
touchpad of a PS/2 point ing device is connected.
Both or Auto
Infrared Port (FIR) Sets the interrupt request of the serial port. Please  set the parameter to “Enabled” if you need to use 
FIR under Windows operation system.
Disabled/ Enabled/ Auto
Base I/O address/IRQ Sets the I/O address of the Infrared port. 3F8h/IRQ4; 2F8h/IRQ3; 2E8h/IRQ3
DMA Sets a DMA channel for the printer to operate in  disabled mode. DMA1/ DMA3
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
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
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							46Chapter 2
Security
The Security screen contains parameters that help safeguard and protect your computer from unauthorized 
use.
PhoenixBIO S Setup Utility 
Main         System Devices         Security        Boot        Info.        
Exit 
  Ite m  s p e c ific  H e lp  
User Password is Clear  
A dm inistrator Passw ord is   Clear  
   
Set User Password [Enter]  
Set Adm inistrator Password [Enter] Supervisor Password 
c o n tro ls  a c c e s s  to  th e 
setup utility 
   
Password Required to:    
              Boot: [Enabled]  
   
Processor Serial Num ber : [Enabled]  
   
   
   
F1
  Help     ↑↓ S e lec t Ite m      F5/F6
 
Change Values         F9
  Setup defaults 
Esc   Exit     ←→ Select M enu   Enter
  Select4Sub-M enu     F10
  Save and Exit 
 
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							Chapter 247
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 ma y have to return your notebook computer to your 
dealer to reset it.
Setting a Password
Follow these steps as you set the us er or the administrator password:
1. Use the  w and y 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). Re type the password in the Confirm new password field.
IMPORTANT: Be very careful when typing your password bec ause 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.
ParameterDescriptionOption
User Password is Shows the setting of the user password.
Clear or Set
Supervisor Password is Shows the  setting of the Supervisor 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 Supervisor Password Press Enter to set the administrator password.  When set, this password protects the BIOS 
Setup Utility from unauthorized access. 
Primary Harddisk Security This feat ure is available to user when 
Supervisor password is set. Password can be 
written on HDD only when Supervisor 
password or user password is set and 
password on HDD is set to enabled. 
Supervisor Password is written to HDD only 
when Supervisor password is being set. User 
password is written to HDD when both 
passwords are set. When both Supervisor and 
user password are present, both passwords 
can unlock the HDD.
Disabled or Enabled
Password on Boot Defines whether a password is required or not  while the events defined in this group 
happened. The following sub-options are all 
requires the Supervisor password for changes 
and should be grayed out if the user password 
was used to enter setup.
Disabled or Enabled
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							48Chapter 2
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:
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 Administ rator 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.
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							Chapter 249
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.
If the new password and confirm new password string s do not match, the screen will display the following 
message.
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							50Chapter 2
Boot
This menu allows the user to decide the order of boot devices to load the operating system. Bootable devices 
includes the distette drive in m odule bay, the onboard hard disk drive and the CD-ROM in module bay.
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							Chapter 251
Exit
The Exit screen contains parameters that help safeguard and protect your computer from unauthorized use.
The table below describes the parameters in this screen.
ParameterDescription
Exit Saving Changes Allows the user to save changes to CMOS and reboot the system.
Exit Discarding Changes Allows the user Disc ards changes made and exits System Setup.
Load Setup Default Loads default setti ngs for all parameters (same as t ).
Discard Changes Allows the user to disc ard previous changes in CMOS Setup.
Save Changes Allows the user to save current changes in CMOS Setup. 
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							52Chapter 2
BIOS Flash Utility
The BIOS flash memory update is required for the following conditions:
TNew versions of system programs
TNew features or options
TRestore a BIOS when it becomes corrupted. 
Use the Flash utility to updat e the system BIOS flash ROM.
NOTE:  If you do not have a crisis recovery diskette at hand, then you should create a  Crisis Recovery 
Diskette  before you use the Flash utility.
NOTE:  Do not install memory-related drivers (XMS, EM S, DPMI) when you use the Flash utilities.
NOTE:  Please use the AC adaptor power supply when you  run the Flash utility. If the battery pack does not 
contain enough power to finish BIOS flash, you  may not boot the system because the BIOS is not 
completely loaded. 
Fellow the steps below to run the Flash.
1. Prepare a bootable diskette.
2. Copy the Flash utilities to the bootable diskette.
3. Then boot the system from  the bootable diskette. The Flash ut ility has auto-execution function.
System Diagnostic Diskette
This diagnostic diskette is for the Acer TravelMate 4 20 series notebook machine. You can find the utility in 
Service CD kit. It provides the following functions:
1. RTC Function Test
2. PIO Loop Back Test
3. CD ROM Function Test
4. Touchpad and USB Mouse Test
5. Video Model (R.G.B.) Test
6. Internal Keyboard Test
7. Num/Caps/Scroll Key Lock Test
8. Battery (Charge/Discharge) Test
9. Audio Test
10. Audio CD Play Function Test
11 . Lid Switch Function Test
12. Easy Button Function Test
13. FA N  Te s t
14. CRT Output Function Test
To use the diagnostic programs, and system utilities,  please boot the system from this service CD. The
diagnostic programs contain autorun function un der DOS. Please select the item you want to test
under DOS mode according to the menu. 
IMPORTANT:  
1The diagnostics program we use for TravelMate 420 series is not exactly the same as PQA 
(Product Quality Assurance), the diagnostic program  we used to employ in other model. The system 
diagnostic utilities is provided by  Acer Headquarters. You can utilize it as a basic diagnostic tool. To 
get this program, find it in the TravelMate 420 series service CD kit. To better fit local service 
1New added description. Please pay attention to it.
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