Acer Travelmate 7730a Service Guide

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components53
Preparing your work space
Before performing maintenance on the notebook, make sure that your work space and the 
notebook are correctly prepared.
❑Wear a grounding (ESD) wrist strap, and use a grounded or dissipative work mat.
❑Use a stable and strong table, and make sure that the table top is large enough to 
hold each component as you remove it.
❑Use bright lighting to make part identification easier.
❑Keep your work surface free from clutter and dust that may damage components.
❑Use a magnetized screwdriver for removing screws.
❑When removing components that are attached to the notebook by a cable, unplug 
the cable before removing the screws, when possible, to avoid damaging the cable.
❑As you remove components and screws, lay them toward the rear of your work 
surface (behind the notebook) or far enough to the side that your arms do not 
accidentally brush them onto the floor.
❑To help keep track of screws, try the following:
❑Place each component’s screws in their own section of a parts sorter.
❑Place each component’s screws next to the component on your work surface.
❑Print the first page of each task, then place the page toward the rear of your 
work surface. As you remove screws, place the screws in their respective boxes 
on the page.
❑After loosening screws that are deeply recessed in a hole (for example, on the 
bottom of the base assembly), you can leave the screws in the holes if you 
place small pieces of masking tape over the hole openings. When reassembling 
the component, just remove the tape and tighten the screws.
❑When you place flat-headed screws on your work surface, stand them on their 
heads to prevent the screws from rolling off the table. 
						

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Tools required
To disassemble the notebook, you need the following tools:
❑Wrist grounding strap and conductive mat for preventing electrostatic dischargev
❑Flat screwdriverv
❑Philips screwdriverv
❑Scribe or non-marring toolv
❑Tweezersv 
						

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components55
Preparing the notebook
To prepare the notebook for maintenance:
1Make sure that the disc drive is empty.
2Turn off the notebook.
3Close the LCD panel
4Disconnect the AC adapter, modem cable, and network cable.
5Disconnect all peripheral devices connected to the notebook and remove any 
PC Cards, Express Cards, and memory cards.
6Remove the battery.
Remove a PC Card
To remove a PC Card:
1Release the eject button by pressing the PC Card eject button once.
2Eject the PC Card by pressing the eject button again.
Removing an ExpressCard
To remove an ExpressCard:
1Push the ExpressCard all the way into the notebook. 
						

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2Pull the ExpressCard all the way out of the notebook.
Removing a memory card
To remove a memory card:
1Push the memory card all the way into the notebook.
2Pull the memory card all the way out of the notebook.
Removing the battery
To remove the battery:
1Turn the notebook over so the bottom is facing up.
2Slide the battery lock to the unlocked position.
3Slide the battery release latch, then lift the battery out of the notebook.
Battery
lock
Battery release latch 
						

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components57
Adding or replacing memory modules
Important: Use only memory modules designed for this notebook.
Tools you need to complete this task:
Locating components:
To add or replace memory modules:
1Complete the steps in “Preparing the notebook” on page 55.
2Loosen the memory bay cover screws (these screws cannot be removed).
Phillips #0 screwdriver
Memory bay
Screw
Screw
Screw Screw 
						

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3Use the thumb notch to lift the memory bay cover, then remove it. Be careful not 
to break off the tabs located on the end of the cover opposite the thumb notch.
4If you are removing a module, gently press outward on the clip at each end of the 
memory module until the module tilts upward.
Thumb notch
Clip
Clip 
						

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components59
5Pull the memory module out of the slot. 
						

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6Hold the new or replacement module at a 30-degree angle and press it into the 
empty memory slot. This module is keyed so it can only be inserted in one 
direction. If the module does not fit, make sure that the notch in the module lines 
up with the tab in the memory slot.
7Press the card down until it click into place.
8Replace the memory bay cover, then tighten the cover screws. 
						

							Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components61
Replacing the graphics card
Important: Use only graphics cards designed for this notebook.
Tools you need to complete this task:
Additional materials you need to complete this task:
❑X-23-7762 thermal grease 
Screws removed during this task:
Locating components:
To replace the graphics card:
1Complete the steps in “Preparing the notebook” on page 55.
Phillips #0 screwdriver
4 black M2.5×8 
(graphics card)
Graphics card bay 
						

							62Chapter 3: Replacing notebook components
2Loosen the graphics card bay cover screws (these screws cannot be removed).
3Use the thumb notch to lift the graphics card bay cover, then remove it. Be careful 
not to break off the tabs located on the end of the cover opposite the thumb 
notch.
4Remove the graphics card screws.
Screw
Screw
Screw Screw
Thumb notch
ScrewScrew
Screw Screw