Acer Travelmate 7730a Service Guide

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components101
16Taking care to note the cables’ routing and positions as they are installed from 
Acer, slide the microphone and speaker cables out of the wireless bay.
17Remove the screws from the bottom of the notebook.
18Turn the notebook over so the top is facing up.
19Taking care to note the cables’ routing and positions as they are installed from 
Acer, pull the microphone and speaker cables out from under the system board.
Connectors
ScrewScrew
Screw
Screw
Screw
Screw
Screw Screw Screw Screw Screw ScrewScrewScrew Short screwShort screwScrewScrewScrew
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							102Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components
20Lift the palm rest assembly up from the notebook.
21Remove the speakers and microphone from the old palm rest and install them on 
the new palm rest by following the instructions in “Replacing the microphone and 
speakers” on page 103.
22Remove the touchpad button board/fingerprint assembly from the old palm rest 
and install it on the new palm rest by following the instructions in “Replacing the 
touchpad button board/fingerprint assembly” on page 106.

23Remove the button board from the old palm rest and install it on the new palm 
rest by following the instructions in “Replacing the button board” on page 109.
24Route the microphone and speaker cables under the system board.
25Place the new palm rest assembly onto the notebook, then snap the assembly into 
place.
26Replace the screws removed in Step 13.
27Make sure the black power button board connector clip is swung upward, insert 
the cable into the connector, then swing the clip down to lock the connector in 
place.
Important: The cable is correctly oriented if it is not twisted and the blue 
band is facing up.
28Make sure the black button board connector clip is swung upward, insert the cable 
into the connector, then swing the clip down to lock the connector in place.
Important: The cable is correctly oriented if it is not twisted and the blue 
band is facing up.
29Make sure the black touchpad cable connector clip is swung upward, insert the 
cable into the connector, then swing the clip down to lock the connector in place.
Important: The cable is correctly oriented if it is not twisted and the blue 
band is facing up.
30Connect the finger print reader cable to the system board.
31Replace the keyboard plate removed in Step 8.
32Turn the notebook over so the bottom is facing up.
33Replace the screws removed in Step 17.
34Connect the microphone and speaker cables to the system board.
35Replace the LCD assembly by following the steps in “Replacing the LCD assembly” 
on page 84.
36Replace the keyboard by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard” on page 
80.
37Replace the keyboard cover by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard 
cover” on page 78.
38Replace the hard drive(s) by following the steps in “Replacing the primary hard 
drive” on page 64 and “Replacing the secondary hard drive” on page 73.
39If the notebook has wireless networking built in, reconnect the wireless antennas 
by following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 wireless card” on page 67.
40Replace the wireless bay cover by following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 
wireless card” on page 67. 
						

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components103
Replacing the microphone and speakers

Tools you need to complete this task:v
Screws removed during this task:
To replace the microphone and speakers:
1Complete the steps in “Preparing the notebook” on page 55.
2Remove the memory bay cover by following the steps in “Adding or replacing 
memory modules” on page 57.
Flat-blade driver Scribe or non-marring tool
- OR -
Phillips #0 screwdriver
2 black M2.5×6.5 
(Hinge-bottom)2 black M2.5×5 
(Keyboard cover)
1 black M2.5×8 
(Keyboard plate)4 black M2.5×4 (Palm 
Rest-top)
2 black M2.5×3 (Palm 
rest-bottom)
4 chrome M2.5×6.5 
(Hinge-top)
3 black M2.5×5 
(Speaker-Right)
2 black M2.5×8 
(Speaker-Left)
3 black M2.5×5 (Palm 
rest-bottom)
16 black M2.5×6.5 
(Palm rest-bottom) 
						

							104Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components
3If the notebook has wireless networking built in, unplug the wireless antennas by 
following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 wireless card” on page 67.
4Remove the hard drive(s) by following the steps in “Replacing the primary hard 
drive” on page 64 and “Replacing the secondary hard drive” on page 73.
5Remove the keyboard cover by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard 
cover” on page 78.
6Remove the keyboard by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard” on page 
80.
7Remove the LCD assembly by following the steps in “Replacing the LCD assembly” 
on page 84.
8Remove the palm rest by following the instructions in “Replacing the palm rest” on 
page 96.
9Remove the screws securing the right speaker to the palm rest.
10Remove the screws securing the left speaker to the palm rest.
11Carefully lift the microphone out of its holder and put the new microphone in its 
place.
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							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components105
12Replace the left speaker, then replace the screws removed in Step 10.
13Replace the right speaker, then replace the screws removed in Step 9.
14Replace the palm rest by following the steps in “Replacing the palm rest” on page 
96.
15Replace the LCD assembly by following the steps in “Replacing the LCD assembly” 
on page 84.
16Replace the keyboard by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard” on page 
80.
17Replace the keyboard cover by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard 
cover” on page 78.
18Replace the hard drive(s) by following the steps in “Replacing the primary hard 
drive” on page 64 and “Replacing the secondary hard drive” on page 73.
19If the notebook has wireless networking built in, reconnect the wireless antennas 
by following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 wireless card” on page 67.
20Replace the wireless bay cover by following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 
wireless card” on page 67. 
						

							106Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components
Replacing the touchpad button board/
fingerprint assembly
Tools you need to complete this task:v
Screws removed during this task:
To replace the touchpad button board/fingerprint assembly:
1Complete the steps in “Preparing the notebook” on page 55.
2Remove the memory bay cover by following the steps in “Adding or replacing 
memory modules” on page 57.
3If the notebook has wireless networking built in, unplug the wireless antennas by 
following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 wireless card” on page 67.
Flat-blade driver Scribe or non-marring tool- OR -
Phillips #0 screwdriver
2 black M2.5×6.5 
(Hinge-bottom)2 black M2.5×5 
(Keyboard cover)
1 black M2.5×8 
(Keyboard plate)4 black M2.5×4 (Palm 
Rest-top)
2 black M2.5×3 (Palm 
rest-bottom)
4 chrome M2.5×6.5 
(Hinge-top)
2 black M2.5×4 
(Touchpad button 
board/fingerprint 
assembly)
4 chrome M3×3 
(Touchpad cover)
3 black M2.5×5 (Palm 
rest-bottom)
16 black M2.5×6.5 
(Palm rest-bottom) 
						

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components107
4Remove the hard drive(s) by following the steps in “Replacing the primary hard 
drive” on page 64 and “Replacing the secondary hard drive” on page 73.
5Remove the keyboard cover by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard 
cover” on page 78.
6Remove the keyboard by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard” on page 
80.
7Remove the LCD assembly by following the steps in “Replacing the LCD assembly” 
on page 84.
8Remove the palm rest by following the instructions in “Replacing the palm rest” on 
page 96.
9Swing the black touchpad connector clip upward, then lift the touchpad cables out 
of the connectors. Be careful not to touch or damage any other components.
10Disconnect the finger print reader cable from the assembly. Use a scribe or other 
non-marring tool to gently push the plug out of the connector.
11Remove the screws securing the touchpad button board/fingerprint assembly to the 
palm rest, then lift the assembly out of the notebook.

12Replace the touchpad button board/fingerprint assembly, then replace the screws 
removed in Step 5.
13Make sure the black touchpad connector clip is swung upward, insert the cable into 
the connector, then swing the clip down to lock the connector in place.
Important: The cable is correctly oriented if it is not twisted and the blue 
band is facing up.
14Connect the finger print reader cable to the touchpad button board/fingerprint 
assembly.
Touchpad cable 
connectors Fingerprint
reader cable
connector
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							108Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components
15Replace the palm rest by following the steps in “Replacing the palm rest” on page 
96.
16Replace the LCD assembly by following the steps in “Replacing the LCD assembly” 
on page 84.
17Replace the keyboard by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard” on page 
80.
18Replace the keyboard cover by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard 
cover” on page 78.
19Replace the hard drive(s) by following the steps in “Replacing the primary hard 
drive” on page 64 and “Replacing the secondary hard drive” on page 73.
20If the notebook has wireless networking built in, reconnect the wireless antennas 
by following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 wireless card” on page 67.
21Replace the wireless bay cover by following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 
wireless card” on page 67. 
						

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components109
Replacing the button board
Tools you need to complete this task:v
Screws removed during this task:
To replace the button board:
1Complete the steps in “Preparing the notebook” on page 55.
2Remove the memory bay cover by following the steps in “Adding or replacing 
memory modules” on page 57.
3If the notebook has wireless networking built in, unplug the wireless antennas by 
following the steps in “Replacing the IEEE 802.11 wireless card” on page 67.
4Remove the hard drive(s) by following the steps in “Replacing the primary hard 
drive” on page 64 and “Replacing the secondary hard drive” on page 73.
5Remove the keyboard cover by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard 
cover” on page 78.
6Remove the keyboard by following the steps in “Replacing the keyboard” on page 
80.
7Remove the LCD assembly by following the steps in “Replacing the LCD assembly” 
on page 84.
8Remove the palm rest by following the instructions in “Replacing the palm rest” on 
page 96.
Flat-blade driver Scribe or non-marring tool- OR -
Phillips #0 screwdriver
2 black M2.5×6.5 
(Hinge-bottom)2 black M2.5×5 
(Keyboard cover)
1 black M2.5×8 
(Keyboard plate)4 black M2.5×4 (Palm 
Rest-top)
2 black M2.5×3 (Palm 
rest-bottom)
4 chrome M2.5×6.5 
(Hinge-top)
3 black M2.5×4 (Button 
board)3 black M2.5×5 (Palm 
rest-bottom)
16 black M2.5×6.5 
(Palm rest-bottom) 
						

							110Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components
9Swing the black button board connector clip upward, then lift the button board 
cable out of the connector. Be careful not to touch or damage any other 
components.
Button board 
cable connector