Acer Travelmate 620 Service Guide

							TravelMate 620
Service Guide
  
PART NO.: 91.42S01.001                                                                                        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 
						

							II
Revision History
Please refer to the table below for the updates made on  TravelMate 620 service guide.
DateChapterUpdates 
						

							III
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 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.
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. 
						

							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   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Right Panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Rear Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Bottom Panel   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Indicators   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Lock Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Embedded Numeric Keypad  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Windows Keys   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Hot Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Launch Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Touchpad   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Touchpad Basics   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Hardware Specifications and Configurations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Chapter 2 System Utilities  31
BIOS Setup Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Navigating the BIOS Utility   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
System Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Basic System Settings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Startup Configuration   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Onboard Device Configuration  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
System Security   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Load Default Settings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
BIOS Flash Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
System Utility Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
System Diagnostic Diskette   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Running PQA Diagnostics Program   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Chapter 3 Machine Disassembly and Replacement  43
General Information   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Before You Begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Removing the Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   47
Removing the External  DIMM Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Removing the External Modem Combo Card  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Removing the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Removing the Hard Disk Drive Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Disassembling the Main Unit   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Removing the Middle Cover  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Removing the Keyboard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Removing the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Removing the TouchPad Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Removing the CPU  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Removing the RTC  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Separating the Lower Case from the Upper Case   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Removing the System Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 
						

							VIII
Table of Contents
Removing the PCMCIA Socket  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Removing the Modem Power Cable  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Disassembling the LCD Module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Removing the LCD Bezel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Removing the Inverter Board   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Removing the LCD Bracket   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting  63
System Check Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
External Diskette Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
External CD-ROM Drive Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Memory Check   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Power System Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Touchpad Check  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Intermittent Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Undetermined Problems  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Index of AFlash BIOS Error Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Index of PQA Diagnostic Error Code Message   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Chapter 5 Jumper and Connector Locations  79
Top View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
SW2 Settings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Bottom View  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Chpater 6 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List  83
Exploded Diagram   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Appendix A Model Definition and Configuration  91
Appendix B Test Compatible Components  93
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Microsoft Windows XP Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Appendix C Online Support Information  99
Index  101 
						

							Chapter 11
Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance
!Intel® Mobile Pentium® III Tualatin processor with 512 KB L2 cache and Intel® SpeedStepTM 
technology support
!64-bit memory bus 
!Modular bay (removable CD or DVD drive)
!External USB floppy drive
!High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
!Li-Ion main battery pack
!Power management system with ACPI (Advanced Configuration Power Interface)
!Smart Card interface with pre-boot authentication systems as security feature
Display
!13.3” or 14.1” Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) eXtended Graphics Array+ (XGA) liquid crystal-display 
(LCD), or 15” TFT Super eXtended Graphics Array+ (SXGA+) LCD
!3D capabilities
!Simultaneous LCD and CRT display support
!Supports other output display devices such as LCD projection panels for large-audience 
presentations
!“Automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically decides the best settings for your display and 
conserves power
!Dual display capability (except Windows 2000)
Multimedia
!Built-in 16-bit 3D Audio subsystem
!Built-in dual speakers 
!Built-in microphone
Connectivity
!High-speed fax/data modem port 
!Fast infrared wireless communication
!Dual USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports
!Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port
!1394 port
!Optional Bluetooth wireless communication feature
!Optional InviLink 802.11b wireless LAN
System Specifications
Chapter  1 
						

							2Chapter 1
Expansion
!One type II CardBus PC Card slot
!One SmartBus slot
!Upgradeable memory
!Removable drives
!EasyPort port replicator
Keyboard and Pointing Device
!84-/85-key Windows keyboard
!Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device with scroll function
I/O Ports
!One type II CardBus PC Card slot(s) 
!One RJ-45 jack for Ethernet
!One RJ-11 phone jack
!One DC-in jack (AC adapter)
!One parallel port (ECP/EPP compliant)
!One external monitor port
!One PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
!One audio line-out jack
!One microphone-in jack
!Two USB ports
!One port replicator connector
!One firewire 1394 port
!One S-video output port
!One RF receiver socket
!One SmartCard reader
!One FIR port