Acer Travelmate 520 Service Guide

							Chapter 235
Three password types protect your computer from unauthorized access.  Setting these passwords creates 
several different levels of protection for your computer and data:
TSetup Password prevents unauthorized entry to the BIOS Utility.  Once set, you must key-in this 
password to gain access to the BIOS Utility.  
TPower-On Password secures your computer against unauthorized use.  Combine the use of this 
password with password checkpoints on boot-up and resume from hibernation for maximum 
security.
THard Disk Password protects your data by preventing unauthorized access to your hard disk.  
Even if the hard disk is removed from the computer and moved to another computer, it cannot be 
accessed without the Hard Disk Password.
When a password is set, a password prompt appears on the left-hand corner of the display screen.
1.When the Setup Password is set, the following prompt appears when you press F2 to enter the BIOS 
Utility at boot-up.
Type the Setup Password and press Enter to access the BIOS Utility.
2.When the Power-on Password is set, the following prompt appears at boot-up.
Type the Power-on Password (a symbol appears for each character you type) and press Enter to use the 
computer.  If you enter the password incorrectly, an x symbol appears.  Try again and press Enter.
3.When the Hard Disk Password is set, the following prompt appears at boot-up.
Type the Hard Disk Password (a symbol appears for each character you type) and press Enter to use the 
computer.   If you enter the password incorrectly, an x symbol appears.  Try again and press Enter.
You have three chances to enter a password.  If you successfully entered the password, the following symbol 
appears.
If you fail to enter the password correctly after three tries, the following message or symbol appears.
To change a password, follow the same steps used to set a password.
To remove a password, follow the same steps used to set a password, except type nothing in the password 
boxes. 
						

							36Chapter 2
Load Default Settings
If you want to restore all parameter settings to their default values, select this menu item and press Enter
.  The 
following dialog box displays.
If you would like to load default settings for all parameters, use the cursor left/right
 (→←) keys to select Ye s
; 
then press Enter
.  Choose No
 if otherwise. 
						

							Chapter 237
BIOS Flash Utility
The BIOS flash memory update is required for the following conditions:
TNew versions of system programs
TNew features or options
Use the AFlash utility to update the system BIOS flash ROM.
NOTE: 
Do not install memory-related drivers (XMS, EMS, DPMI) when you use AFlash.
NOTE: 
This program contains a readme.txt file.  This readme.txt file will introduce on how to use AFlash utility.
Executing Flash Program
IMPORTANT:
If this diskette is not bootable, do the following actions before you use it:
1.
Create a bootable disk.
2.
Copy all AFlash files into this bootable diskette.
3.
Put the bootable disk into TravelMate 520 series module, then reboot.
IMPORTANT:
Never turn off the system power while Flash BIOS is programming.  This will damage your 
system.
4.
After Flash BIOS is done, reboot the system.
NOTE: 
If there are any problems occurred during BIOS update, see “Index of PQA Diagnostic Error Code, 
Message” on page 81 for troubleshooting. 
						

							38Chapter 2
System Utility Diskette
This utility diskette is for the Acer TravelMate 520 notebook machine.  It provides the following functions:
1.
Panel ID Utility
2.
Thermal & Fan Utility
3.
Main Board Data Utility
To use this diskette, first boot from this diskette, then a “Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu” prompt you to 
choose the testing item.  Follow the instructions on screen to proceed.
NOTE: 
This program contains a readme.txt file.  This readme.txt file will introduce each test utility and its 
functions.
IMPORTANT:
If this diskette is not bootable, do the following actions before you use it:
1.
Do system transfers.
2.
Copy the following files to A:\.
HIMEM.SYS
RAMDRIVE.SYS
Panel ID Read/ Write Utility
1.
Panel ID Read
This function will display the panel ID setting of Acer TravelMate 520 series, there maybe no values in inverter 
if no ID was found.
2.
Panel ID Write
This function will display a table of all panel IDs of Acer TravelMate 520 series, and ask to input the no. 
corresponding to the panel ID of the LCD.  Then, the chosen ID will be set in EEPROM.
Thermal test Utility
1.
Read thermal setting
This function will show the current thermal setting of your system and CPU which include the status, current 
local temp, remote temp, conversion and configuration.
2.
Set thermal setting
This function will write the default values into EEPROM.
3.
Te s t  f a n
This function will test the fan.
Error message will be displayed when problem is found.
Main Board Data Utility
1.
Read Main Board Data.
This function displays the MBD data.
2.
Create MBD header, product & manufacturer names.
This function will create three informations and write to EEPROM automatically:
a.
Header information
b.
Product name
c.
Manufacturer name
3.
Write MBD U UID
There are two sub-functions:
a.
Create and write a new UUID - this function is used when the original UUID is lost or damaged. 
						

							Chapter 239
b.Write UUID by user keyin - this function is used when the original UUID is kept.  User may use “Read 
Main Board Data” function first to keep the UUID.
4.Write MBD serial number - this function will write MBD serial number by user keyin. 
						

							40Chapter 2
System Diagnostic Diskette
IMPORTANT: 1The diagnostics program here that we used is called PQA (Product Quality Assurance) and is 
provided by Acer Headquarters.  You can utilize it as a basic diagnostic tool.  To get this program, 
either download it from http://csd.acer.com.tw or find it in the TravelMate 520 service CD kit. 
To better fit local service requirements, your regional office MAY have other diagnostic program.  
Please contact your regional offices or the responsible personnel/channel to provide you with further 
technical details. 
NOTE: 
This program contains a readme.txt file.  This readme.txt file will introduce each test and its functions.
This diagnostic program is designed to perform the following diagnostic tools for Acer TravelMate 520 
notebook machine.  It provides the following functions.
1.
PQA System Diagnostics
2.
Audio Resource and Loopback Test
3.
IR Test
4.
USB Register and Connect/ Disconnect Test
To use this diskette, first boot from this diskette, then a “Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu” prompts you to 
choose the testing item.  Follow the instructions on screen to proceed.
IMPORTANT:
If this diskette is not bootable, do the following actions before you use it:
1.
Do system transfers.
2.
Copy the following files to A:\
HIMEM.SYS
RAMDRIVE.SYS
CHOICE.COM
MSCDEX.EXE
PQA System Diagnostics
NOTE: 
This PQA diagnostics program will test Acer TravelMate 520 notebook series’ hardware peripherals.
1.
When you select One Test, Test command (F2 key) will only work in the first-level menu (Item Test), if you 
are in sub-level menu, please press ESC to return to upper-level (Item Test) menu.
2.
Use Space Bar to select/ deselect a testing item.
3.
When testing is done, there will be a testing report, where you could find out whether the testing is 
successful or not.
Audio Resource and Speaker-Out Test
This function will test Audio Resource and Loopback of Acer TravelMate 520 notebook series.  You will see 
“PASS” when test is successful.
You need “Loopbacker” when you choose “Loopback Test”.  Please put Loopbacker in Line-in, Line-out and 
Micro-in.  You will see “PASS” when test is successful.
Infrared Ray (IR) Test
This function will test Infrared Ray of Acer TravelMate 520 series.  Following are the steps:
1.
You must prepare a reflect server (another Acer TravelMate 520 notebook) which can reply to testing unit 
the communicated data.
2.
Prepare a bootable disk for the server, choose “Make a Host Disk”.
3.
Insert the Host disk in Host Server, then reboot.
1New added description. Please pay attention to it. 
						

							Chapter 241
4.Type “Host” to run Host server first.
5.If there is no reflect server, the test program will show “IR FAIL”.
USB Register and Connect/ Disconnect Test
This function will test USB Register and Connect/Disconnect of TravelMate 520 notebook series.
1.Register test (USBCMD, USBINTR, FRNNUM, FLBASEADD, SOF) - test its own USB internal circuit.
2.UHCI/ OHCI test utility
a.Please prepare a USB device such as USB mouse, USB keyboard or USB modem, and leave the 
USB port disconnected.  (Don’t connect first)
b.Program will dynamically detect the incoming device for two times, please plug the USB connector in 
USB port first, then plug it out.  (Connect one time, disconnect one time)
c.The test program will show the account  of connected/ disconnected, if every steps was doing right, 
the screen will show “PASS”, otherwise show “FA IL”.
Running PQA Diagnostics Program
Press →← to move around the main menu.  Press Enter to enable the selected option.  The main options are 
Diag, Result, SysInfo, Option and Exit.
The Diag option lets you select testing items and times.
The following screen appears when you select Diag from the main menu.
One Test performs a single test and Manual checks the selected test items in sequence.
Multi Test performs multiple tests of the selected items and check the selected test items in sequence.
PQA                                        Vx_x     xx-xx-xx
DiagResult 
SysInfoOption
Exit
PQA                                        Vx_x     xx-xx-xx
DiagResult
SysInfoOption
Exit
DiagONE      TEST
MULTI   TEST
FULL     TEST
QUICK   TEST 
						

							42Chapter 2
Full Test performs all test items in detail  for your system.
Quick Test performs all test items quickly for your system.
The screen below appears if you select Multi Test.
Specify the desired number of tests and press Enter.
After you specify the number of tests to perform, the screen shows a list of test items (see below).
Move the highlight bar from one item to another. Press Space to enable or disable the item. Press Enter to 
view the available options of each selected item. Press Esc to close the submenu.
The right corner screen information gives you the available function keys and the specified test number.
TSpace: Enables/disables the item
TESC: Exits the program
TF1: Help
TF2: Tests the selected item(s)
TEnter: Opens the available options
TTest Times:  Indicates the number of tests to perform.
NOTE: The F1 and F2 keys function only after you finish configuring the Test option.
NOTE: When any errors are detected by diagnostic program, refer to “Index of PQA Diagnostic Error Code, 
Message” on page 81 for troubleshooting.
PQA                                        Vx_x     xx-xx-xx
DiagResult
SysInfoOption
Exit
DiagOne         TEST
Multi         TEST
PQA                                        Vx_x     xx-xx-xx
DiagResult
SysInfoOption
Exit
DiagONE      TEST
MULTI   TEST
FULL     TEST
QUICK   TEST
TEST COUNT VALUE (1...9999) 1
PQA                                        Vx_x     xx-xx-xx
DiagResult
SysInfoOption
ExitDiagMANUAL TEST
AUTO      TESTTest Items
[ ] System Board
[ ] Memory 
[ ] Keyboard
[ ] Video
[ ] Parallel Port
[ ] Serial Port
[ ] Diskette Drive
[ ] Hard Disk
[ ] CD-ROM
[ ] Coprocessor
[ ] Pointing Dev.
[ ] Cache
SPACE: mark/unmark selecting item
ESC    : return to upper menu
F2       : test the marked item(s)
ENTER: open sub-item’s menu
Test Times = 1 
						

							Chapter 343
This chapter contains step-by-step procedures on how to disassemble the notebook computer for 
maintenance and troubleshooting.
To disassemble the computer, you need the following tools:
!Wrist grounding strap and conductive mat for preventing electrostatic discharge
!Flat-bladed screw driver
!Phillips screw driver
!Tw e e z e r s
!Flat-bladed screw driver or plastic stick
NOTE: The screws for the different components vary in size.  During the disassembly process, group the 
screws with the corresponding components to avoid mismatch when putting back the components.
Machine Disassembly and Replacement
Chapter 3 
						

							44Chapter 3
General Information
Before You Begin
Before proceeding with the disassembly procedure, make sure that you do the following:
1.Turn off the power to the system and all peripherals.
2.Unplug the AC adapter and all power and signal cables from the system.