Acer Travelmate 8331 Service Guide

							
Chapter 353
17.Remove two screws on the VGA board.
18. Remove VGA board.
19. Remove the LAN connection and two screws and remove wireless card.  
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54Chapter 3
20.Remove all of the connectors on the main board.
21. Remove the screw on the fan module and  three screws on the thermal module.
  
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Remove Panel
22.Remove eight screws on the bottom of panel and remove the panel.
23. Remove six sponges on the LCD and remove 6 screws under them.
  
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56Chapter 3
24.Remove the bezel on the panel  and remove four screws on it.
25. Remove LCM cable on the back of panel.
Disassembling the External Module
Disassembling the HDD Module
1. Remove HDD bezel and get HDD out of cover.  
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Use the following procedure as a guide for computer problems.
NOTE: The diagnostic tests are intended to test only Acer  products. Non-Acer products, prototype cards, or 
modified options can give false errors and invalid system responses.
1. Obtain the failing symptoms in as much detail as possible.
2. Verify the symptoms by attempting to re-create the fa ilure by running the diagnostic test or by repeating 
the same operation.
3. Use the following table with the verified symptom to determine which page to go to.
Symptoms (Verified)Go To
Power failure. (The power indicator does not 
go on or stay on.) “Power System Check” on page 59.
POST does not complete. No beep or error 
codes are indicated. “Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message” 
on page 61.
“Undetermined Problems” on page 74.
POST detects an error and displayed 
messages on screen. “Error Message List” on page 62.
Other symptoms (i.e. LC D display problems or 
others). “Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message” 
on page 61.
Symptoms cannot be re-created (intermittent 
problems). Use the customer-repor
ted symptoms and go 
to “Power-On  Self-Test (POST) Error 
Message” on page 61.
“Intermittent Problems” on page 73.
“Undetermined Problems” on page 74.
Troubleshooting
Chapter 4 
						

							
58Chapter 4
System Check Procedures
External Diskette Drive Check
Do the following to isolate the problem to a controller, driver, or diskette. A write-enabled, diagnostic diskette is 
required.
NOTE:  Make sure that the diskette does not have more than on e label attached to it. Multiple labels can cause 
damage to the drive or cause the drive to fail. 
Do the following to select the test device. 1. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the diagnostics program.
2. See if FDD Test is passed as the program runs to FDD Test.
3. Follow the instructions in the message window.
If an error occurs with the internal diskette drive,  reconnect the diskette connector on the system board.
If the error still remains: 1. Reconnect the external diskette drive/DVD-ROM module.
2. Replace the external diskette drive/CD-ROM module.
3. Replace the main board.
External CD-ROM Drive Check
Do the following to isolate the problem to a controller,  drive, or CD-ROM. Make sure that the CD-ROM does 
not have any label attached to it. The label can caus e damage to the drive or can cause the drive to fail.
Do the following to select the test device: 1. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the diagnostics program.
2. See if CD-ROM Test is passed when  the program runs to CD-ROM Test.
3. Follow the instructions in the message window.
If an error occurs, reconnect the connector on  the System board. If the error still remains:
1. Reconnect the external diskette drive/CD-ROM module.
2. Replace the external diskette drive/CD-ROM module.
3. Replace the main board.
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check
Remove the external keyboard if the internal keyboard is to be tested.
If the internal keyboard does not work or an unexpected  character appears, make sure that the flexible cable 
extending from the keyboard is correctly se ated in the connector on the system board.
If the keyboard cable connection is  correct, run the Keyboard Test. 
If the tests detect a keyboard problem, do the following  one at a time to correct the problem. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRU:
1. Reconnect the keyboard cables.
2. Replace the keyboard.
3. Replace the main board.
The following auxiliary input devices are supported by this computer: ‰ Numeric keypad
‰ External keyboard
If any of these devices do not work, reconnect the  cable connector and repeat the failing operation.  
						

							
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Memory check
Memory errors might stop system operations, show error messages on the screen, or hang the system.
1. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the doa gmpstotics program (please refer to main board.
2. Go to the diagnostic memory in the test items.
3. Press F2 in the test items.
4. Follow the instructions in the message window.
NOTE:  Make sure that the DIMM is fully installed into  the connector. A loose connection can cause an error.
Power System Check
To verify the symptom of the problem, power on the co mputer using each of the following power sources:
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Connect the power adapter and check that power is supplied.
3. Disconnect the power adapter and install the charged ba ttery pack; then check that power is supplied by 
the battery pack.
If you suspect a power problem, see the approp riate power supply check in the following list:
‰ “Check the Power Adapter” on page 59
‰ “Check the Battery Pack” on page 59
Check the Power Adapter
Unplug the power adapter cable from  the computer and measure the output voltage at the plug of the power 
adapter cable. See the following figure:
1. If the voltage is not correct , replace the power adapter.
2. If the voltage is within the range, do the following:
z Replace the System board.
z If the problem is not corrected, see “Undetermined Problems” on page 74.
z If the voltage is not correct, go to the next step.
NOTE:  An audible noise from the power adapter does not always indicate a defect.
3. If the power-on indicator does not light up, check  the power cord of the power adapter for correct 
continuity and installation.
4. If the operational charge does not work, see “Check the Battery Pack” on page 59. 
Check the Battery Pack 
To check the battery pack, do the following:
From Software:
1. Check out the Power Management in control Panel.
2. In Power Meter, confirm that if the parameters sh own in the screen for Current Power Source and Total 
Battery Power Remaining are correct.
3. Repeat the steps 1 and 2, for both battery and adapter.
4. This helps you identify first the prob lem is on recharging or discharging. 
Pin 1: +19 to +20.5V
Pin 2: 0V, Ground 
						

							
60Chapter 4
From Hardware:
1. Power off the computer. 
2. Remove the battery pack and measure  the voltage between battery terminals 1(+) and 6(ground). See the 
following figure.
3. If the voltage is still less than 7.5 Vdc  after recharging, replace the battery. 
To check the battery charge operation, use a discharged battery pack or a battery pack that has less than 50% 
of the total power remaining when installed in the computer. 
If the battery status indicato r does not light up, remove the battery pack and let it return to room temperature. 
Re-install the battery pack.
If the charge indicator still does not li ght up, replace the battery pack. If the charge indicator still does not light 
up, replace the DC/DC charger board. 
Touchpad Check
If the touchpad doesn’t work, do the following actions  one at a time to correct the problem. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRU:
1. Reconnect the touchpad cables.
2. Replace the touchpad.
3. Replace the system board.
After you use the touchpad, the pointer drifts on the scr een for a short time. This self-acting pointer movement 
can occur when a slight, steady pressure is applied to the touchpad pointer. This symptom is not a hardware 
problem. No service actions are necessary if the  pointer movement stops in a short period of time. 
						

							
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Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message 
The POST error message index lists the error message and their possible causes. The most likely cause is 
listed first.
NOTE: Perform the FRU replacement or actions in the s equence shown in FRU/Action column, if the FRU 
replacement does not solve the problem, put the orig inal part back in the computer. Do not replace a 
non-defective FRU.
This index can also help you determine the next possible FRU to be replaced when servicing a computer.
If the symptom is not listed, se e “Undetermined Problems” on page 74.
The following lists the error messages that the BIOS di splays on the screen and the error symptoms classified 
by function. 
NOTE:  Most of the error messages occur  during POST. Some of them display information about a hardware 
device, e.g., the amount of memory installed. Others  may indicate a problem with a device, such as the 
way it has been configured. 
NOTE:  If the system fails after you make changes in the B IOS Setup Utility menus, reset the computer, enter 
Setup and install Setup defaults or correct the error.  
						

							
62Chapter 4
Index of Error Messages
Error Code List
Error Message List 
Error CodesError Messages
006 Equipment Configuration Error
Causes:
1. CPU BIOS Update Code Mismatch.
2. IDE Primary Channel Master Drive Error.
(THe causes will be shown before “Equipment 
Configuration Error”)
010 Memory Error at xxxx:xxxx:xxxxh (R:xxxxh,  W:xxxxh) .
070 Real Time Clock Error.
071 CMOS Battery Bad.
072 CMOS Checksum Error.
110 System disabled. Incorrect password is specified.
 Battery critical LOW. In this situation BIOS will issue 4 short beeps 
then shut down system, no message will show.
 Thermal critical High. In this situation BIOS will shut down system, 
not show message.
Error MessagesFRU/Action in Sequence
Failure Fixed Disk Reconnect hard disk drive connector.“Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup Utility.
Hard disk drive
System board
Stuck Key see “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device  Check” on page 58. 
Keyboard error see “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device  Check” on page 58. 
Keyboard Controller Failed see “Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device  Check” on page 58. 
Keyboard locked - Unlock key sw itch Unlock external keyboard.
Monitor type does not match CMOS - Run 
Setup Run “Load Default Settings” in BIOS Setup 
Utility.
Shadow RAM Failed at offset: nnnn BIOS ROM System board
System RAM Failed at offset: nnnn DIMM System board
Extended RAM Failed at offset: nnnn DIMM System board