Acer Travelmate 550 Service Guide

							TravelMate α
αα α-550
Service Guide
  PART NO.: HLX.0550.001 
                                                                                                                                     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 
						

							II
Revision History
Please refer to the table below for the updates made on TravelMate α-550 service guide.
DateChapterUpdates 
						

							III
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. 
						

							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.
WA R N I N GAlerts 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. 
						

							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. 
						

							VI 
						

							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  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Embedded Numeric Keypad  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Windows Keys   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
Hot Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
Keyboard Ergonomics   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
Touchpad   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
Touchpad Basics   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
Launch Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
Hardware Specifications and Configurations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
Chapter 2 System Utilities  37
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
Navigating the BIOS Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
Main   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
System Devices   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
Others  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
Exit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
BIOS Flash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
System Utility Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
System Diagnostic Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
Running Diagnostics Program   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
Chapter 3 Machine Disassembly and Replacement  51
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Before You Begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
Removing the HDD Module/Thermal Module/CPU and DVD-ROM  . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
Removing the LCD Module/the Keyboard and the System Window   . . . . . . . . . . .  57
Removing the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
Removing the keyboard   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
Removing the system window   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
Disassembling the Main Unit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
Separate the main unit into the logic upper and the logic lower assembly  . . .  58
Disassembling the logic upper   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
Disassembling the logic lower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
Disassembling the LCD Module-15 Inch   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
Disassembling the External Modules  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
Disassembling the HDD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
Disassembling the Floppy Disk Drive Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63 
						

							VIII
Table of Contents
Disassembling the DVD-ROM Module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting  65
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66
External Diskette Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66
External CD-ROM Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
Memory Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
Intermittent Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  76
Undetermined Problems  77
Index of AFlash BIOS Error Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
Index of PQA Diagnostic Error Code, Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
Chapter 5 Jumper and Connector Locations  81
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
SW1 Settings (Lid switch)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
SW2 Settings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Bottom View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
Chapter 6 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  99
Appendix A Model Definition and Configuration  116
Main Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  117
Appendix B Test Compatible Components  119
Microsoft Windows XP Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  120
Appendix C Online Support Information  121
Index 123 
						

							Chapter 11
Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind.  Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance
❑Intel® PentiumTM III or Intel® CeleronTM processor with one-die level 2 cache
❑128 MB memory onboard and one memory upgrade slot
❑Large LCD display with adjustable video memory
❑High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
❑Lithium-Ion main battery pack
❑Power management system
❑DualView capability
❑Simultaneous LCD and CRT display
Display
❑14.1” Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) liquid-crystal display (LCD) displaying 16.7 million colors at 
1024X768 eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) resolution -or- 15.0” TFT LCD displaying 16.7 million 
colors at 1400X1050 Super eXtended Graphics Array Plus (SXGA+) resolution
❑AGP 4X support
❑Video memory allocaton from main memory (BIOS)
❑Simultaneous LCD and CRT display
Multimedia
❑16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3-D sound
❑Built-in dual stereo speakers 
❑Internal optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or DVD/CD-RW combo)
❑Audio DJ (CD playback) feature
❑S-video (NTSC/PAL) output
Connectivity
❑High-speed 56Kbps V.90 fax/data software modem 
❑Ethernet/Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)
❑CarBus PC Card slots
❑Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports
❑IEEE 1394 port
System Specifications
Chapter  1 
						

							2Chapter 1
Human-centric design and ergonomics
❑All-in-one design (CD or DVD, floppy drive, and hard disk)
❑Sleek, smooth and stylish design
❑Full-sized keyboard
❑Wide and curved palm rest
❑Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
❑Launch keys (supports Audio DJ feature)
Expansion
❑Upgradeable memory and hard disk
Keyboard and Pointing Device
❑85-/86-key Windows keyboard
❑Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
I/O Ports
❑One type III or two typeII/I PC Card slots (PCMCIA, CardBus)
❑One RJ-11 modem jack (V.90, 56K)
❑One RJ-45 network jack (Ethernet 10/100)
❑One DC-in jack
❑One parallel port (ECP/EPP)
❑One external monitor port
❑One keyboard/mouse port (PS/2)
❑One speaker/headphone-out jack (3.5mm minijack)
❑One microphone-in jack (3.5mm minijack)
❑One video-out jack (S-video)
❑Two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports
❑One IEEE 1394 port