Acer Travelmate 505 Service Guide

							TravelMate 505
Service Guide
  PART NO.: 49.43F02.001
  DOC. NO.:  C4225-R01                                                                                       PRINTED IN TAIWANService guide files and updates are available
on the AIPG/CSD web; for more information, 
please refer to http://csd.acer.com.tw
505-1.book  Page I  Thursday, November 4, 1999  4:36 PM 
						

							II
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 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.
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							III
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this manual:
Screen messagesDenotes actual messages that appear 
on screen.
NOTE
Gives bits and pieces of additional 
information related to the current 
topic.
WARNING
Alerts you to any damage that might 
result from doing or not doing specific 
actions.
CAUTION
Gives precautionary measures to 
avoid possible hardware or software 
problems.
IMPORTANT
Reminds you to do specific actions 
relevant to the accomplishment of 
procedures.
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							IV
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.
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							V
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 System Specifications  1
Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Keyboard Ergonomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Touchpad   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
System Block Diagram  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Board Layout   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Bottom View   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Panels  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Front Panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Rear Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Right Panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Indicators   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Hardware Specifications and Configurations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Chapter 2 System Utilities  27
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   27
System Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Basic System Configuration   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Startup Configuration   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Onboard Device Configuration  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
System Security   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Load Default Settings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
AFlash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Executing AFlash   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
System Utility Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Panel ID Utility   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Thermal and Fan Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Main Board Data Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
System Diagnostic Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Running PQA Diagnostics Program   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Chapter 3 Machine Disassembly and Replacement  41
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Before You Begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Connector Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Removing the Battery Pack   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Removing the DIMM  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Removing the Modem Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Removing the Keyboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Removing the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Disassembling the LCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Disassembling the Main Unit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Removing the Heatsink and CPU EMI Shield  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Removing the Hard Disk Drive  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Removing Upper Case  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Removing the Floppy Disk Drive/CD-ROM Drive Combo Module   . . . . . . . 51
Removing the Speakers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Removing the Audio I/O and Battery Connection Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Removing the Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Removing the Mainboard   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
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							VI
Table of Contents
Removing the PCMCIA Card   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Removing the Touchpad Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Disassembling the Hard Disk Drive Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Disassembling the Floppy Disk Drive and CD-ROM Combo Module  . . . . . . . . . 56
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting 57
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Diskette Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
CD-ROM Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Memory Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Index of Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Intermittent Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Undetermined Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Index of PQA Diagnostic Error Code, Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Chapter 5 Jumper and Connector Locations  71
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Bottom View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Chapter 6 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  73
Appendix A Model Definition and Configuration  87
Appendix B Test Compatible Components  89
Microsoft Windows 98 ACPI Environment Test   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Appendix C Online Support Information  93
Index 95
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							Chapter 11
Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind.  Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance

Intel® Celeron™ processor with 128 KB level 2 cache

64-bit/128-bit main memory

Large LCD display and PCI video with 128-bit graphics acceleration

Internal CD-ROM drive

Built-in FDD module

High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk

NiMH battery pack

Power management system with hibernation power saving modes
Multimedia

16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3D sound and wavetable synthesizer

Built-in dual speakers

Ultra-slim, high-speed CD-ROM drive
Connectivity

High-speed fax/data modem port

USB (Universal Serial Bus) port
Human-centric Design and Ergonomics

All-in-one design (CD-ROM, FDD, HDD)

Sleek, smooth and stylish design

Full-sized keyboard

Wide and curved palm rest

Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
Expansion

CardBus PC card (formerly PCMCIA) slots (two type II/I or one type III), with ZV (Zoomed Video) 
port support

Upgradeable memory and hard disk
System Specifications
Chapter 1
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							2Chapter 1
Display
The large graphics display offers excellent viewing, display quality and desktop performance graphics.  The 
computer supports two different display configurations — High Performance Addressing (HPA) or Thin-Film 
Transistor (TFT).
Video Performance
PCI video with 128-bit graphics acceleration and 2 MB video memory boost video performance.
Simultaneous Display
The computer’s large display and multimedia capabilities are great for giving presentations.  If you prefer, you 
can also connect an external monitor when giving presentations.  This computer supports simultaneous LCD 
and CRT display.  Simultaneous display allows you to control the presentation from your computer and at the 
same time face your audience.  You can also connect other output display devices such as LCD projection 
panels for large-audience presentations.
Power Management
The power management system incorporates an “automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically dims the LCD 
when the computer is powered by a battery pack to conserve battery power.  See “Power Management” for 
more information on power management features.
Opening and Closing the Display
To open the display, slide the display cover latch to the left and lift up the cover.  Then tilt it to a comfortable 
viewing position.  The computer employs a microswitch that turns off the display (and enters standby mode) to 
conserve power when you close the display cover and turns it back on when you open the display cover.
NOTE: 
If an external monitor is connected, the computer turns off the display (but does not enter standby 
mode) when you close the display cover.
To close the display cover, fold it down gently until the display cover latch clicks into place.
CAUTION: 
To avoid damaging the display, do not slam it when you close it.  Also, do not place any object on 
top of the computer when the display is closed.
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							Chapter 13
Keyboard
The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and 
twelve function keys.
Special Keys
Lock Keys
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.
Embedded Numeric Keypad
The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad.  It is indicated by small characters 
located on the upper right corner of the keycaps.  To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols 
are not printed on the keys.
NOTE: 
If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the computer, the NumLock feature automatically 
shifts from the internal keyboard to the external keyboard or keypad.
Lock KeyDescription
Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in uppercase.
Num Lock (Fn-F11) When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric mode.  The keys function as 
a calculator (complete with the arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /).  Use this mode when 
you need to do a lot of numeric data entry.  A better solution would be to connect an 
external keypad.
Scroll Lock (Fn-F12) When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down when you press 
­ or 
¯ 
respectively.  Scroll Lock does not work with some applications.
Desired AccessNum Lock OnNum Lock Off
Number keys on embedded keypad Type numbers in a normal manner.
Cursor-control keys on embedded 
keypadHold Shift while using cursor-control keys. Hold Fn while using cursor-
control keys.
Main keyboard keys Hold Fn while typing letters on embedded 
keypad.Type the letters in a normal 
manner.
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							4Chapter 1
Windows Keys
The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions.
The Euro Symbol
If your keyboard is in any of the following languages -- United States-International, United Kingdom, French, 
German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Swiss German, Swiss French, Czech, Belgian, Norwegian, 
Hungarian, Turkish, Swedish or Finnish -- you can type the Euro symbol on your keyboard.
IMPORTANT:
(for US keyboard users): The keyboard type is set when you first set up Windows.  For the Euro 
symbol to work, the keyboard type has to be set to United States-International.
To verify the keyboard type:
1.
Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel
.
2.
Double-click on Keyboard
.
3.
Click on the Language
 tab.
4.
Verify that the keyboard type used for English (United States) is set to United States-International
. 
5.
If not, select and click on Properties
; then select United Stated-International 
and click on OK
.
6.
Click on OK
.
KeyDescription
Windows logo key Start button.  Combinations with this key perform special functions.  Below are a 
few examples:

 + Tab (Activates next Taskbar button)

 + E (Explores My Computer)

 + F  (Finds Document)

 + M  (Minimizes All)
Shift + 

 + M  (Undo Minimize All)

 + R  (Displays the Run dialog box)
Application key
(Fn-Application key)Opens the application’s context menu (same as right-click).
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