Acer Aspire 1500 series User manual

Aspire 1500 Series
Service Guide
SERVICE GUIDE PART NO.:
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 Aspire 1450 service guide.
Date Chapter Updates

III
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 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 MESSAGES Denotes 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 Acer's "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 Introduction 1
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
System Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Board Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Top View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Bottom View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Left Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Right Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Bottom Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Understanding the icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Special keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Hot Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Hardware Specifications and Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Chapter 2 System Utilities 28
BIOS Setup Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Navigating the BIOS Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Advanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
BIOS Flash Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Chapter 3 Machine Disassembly and Replacement 42
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Removing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Removing the Memory Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Removing the Modem Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Removing the Hard Disk Drive Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Removing the LCD Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Disassembling the LCD Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Disassembling the Main Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
System Upgrade Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Assembling the Main Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Assembling the LCD Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Installing the LCD Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Installing the Hard Disk Drive Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Installing the Modem Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Installing the Memory Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Installing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting 88
System Check Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
External Diskette Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
External CD-ROM Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

VIII
Table of Contents
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Memory check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Power System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Touchpad check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
POST Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Intermittent Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Undetermined Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Chapter 5 Jumper and Connector Locations 106
Top View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Bottom View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Chapter 6 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List 108
Exploded Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Appendix A Model Definition and Configuration 119
Aspire 1500 Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Appendix B Test Compatible Components 120
Microsoft®Windows® XP Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Appendix C Online Support Information 124

IX
Table of Contents

Chapter 1 1
Features
This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance
TThe AMD AthlonTM 64 processor 3000+~3400+
TAMD Hyper Transport technology
TTwo memory slots supporting 333 MHz DDR, upgradeable to 2GB (Memory modules are strictly
required to be JEDEC compliant)
TDual 200-pin soDIMM sockets
TRC2700 DDR SDRAM (Double Date Rate-Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory)
support
THigh-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
Display
TThe 14.1” XGA (1024X768 resolution), or 15.0” SXGA+ (1400X1050 resolution) TFT LCD panel
provides a large viewing area for maximum efficiency and ease-of-use
T3D graphics support
TSupport simultaneous display between LCD and CRT display
TS-video for output to television or display device that supports S-video input
T“Automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically selects the best setting for the display in order to
conserve power
TDualViewTM support
Multimedia
THigh-speed built-in optical drive: CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD/CD-RW combo, or DVD-Dual
TMS DirectSound compatible
TBuilt-in dual speakers
Connectivity
TIntegrated Gigabit Ethernet connection
TBuilt-in 56Kbps fax/data modem
TFour universal serial bus (USB 2.0) ports
TOne IEEE 1394 port
TIEEE 802.11g or IEEE 802.11a/g Wireless LAN (manufacturing option)
TBluetooth option (manufacturing option)
Human-centric design
TAll-in-one design (incorporating hard drive, optical drive and floppy disk drive)
TRugged, yet extremely protable, construction
TStylish appearance
TFull-size keyboard with four programmable launch keys
System Introduction
Chapter 1

2Aspire 1500
TComfortable palm rest area with well-positioned touchpad
Expansion
TPC card slot enables a range of add-on options
TUpgrageable hard disk and memory modules
I/O Ports
TTwo Type II or one Type III PC CardBus (PCMCIA) slot
TOne IEEE 1394 port
TOne FIR port
TOne RJ-11 modem jack (V.90/V.92, 56K)
TOne RJ-45 network jack (Gigabit Ethernet)
TOne DC-in port
TOne parallel port (ECP/EPP)
TOne S-video port
TOne external monitor port
TOne microphone-in jack (3.5mm mini jack)
TOne headphone jack (3.5mm mini jack)
TFour USB 2.0 ports

Chapter 1 3
System Block Diagram
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
4 4 3 3
2 2
1 1
J8 Block Diagram
FWH
SST-49LF040
STM-M50FW040
SVIDEO/COMP
RGB CRT
LVDS
CRT
TVOUT
LCD
ATA 133
P EIDE
HDD DVD/ CD-RW
S EIDE
USB 2.0
USB x 4
AGP 8X VGA ATI
LPC Bus / 33MHz
6-CH AC97 2.1
LPC I/F
HyperTransport 6.4GB/S 16b/8b
Claw Hammer 2.4GHz AMD CPU
MP3
OZ263
AC LINK
UNBUFFERED DDR SODIMM UNBUFFERED DDR SODIMM
200-PIN DDR SODIMM
DDR 333/400
RJ11 CONN MDC
K4D263238A-GC36
DDR-SDRAM
LPC Debug Board Conn
KBC
M38859
Touch Pad
Int. KB
Thermal & Fan
G768D
VIA
ATA 133
VT8237 / VT8235CE
ACPI 2.0
PCI
8xUSB 2.0
VIA
AGTL+ CPU I/F AGP 8x
M10-P
CLK GEN CYPRESS CY28331-2
8 bit V-LINK 66MHZ 8x/4x/2x
2* Slot Cardbus
+
2* 1394 Ports
RICOH
1394 Conn
R5C554PCMCIA
2 SLOTS Support TypeIII
5532V Power Switch
802.11a/b/g Mini-PCI
10/100/Giga LAN
BCM4401/5705M
PCI Bus / 33MHz
PCB Layer Stackup
For High Speed Trace For Low Speed Trace
L1: Signal 1 L2: GND L3: Signal 2 L4: VCC L5: Signal 3 L6: GND L7: Signal 4 L8: Signal 5 L1: Signal 1 L2: GND L3: Signal 2 L4: Signal 3 L5: VCC L6: GND L7: Signal 4 L8: Signal 5
5V_S5 , 3D3V_S5
OUTPUTS DCBATOUT
VGA VCORE VVGAEER
INPUTS
MAX1715/CM8500
Controller-HIP6301 Drive-ISL6207*2(2 Phase)
SYSTEM DC/DC
AD+ BAT+
ATINY12/MAX1645
MAX1999
Battery Charger
DCBATOUT
CPU V_CORE
DDR&VDDR DC/DC
DCBATOUT
INPUT
OUTPUT
+5V_UP_S5
INPUT OUTPUT
1D25V_SO
OUTPUT
VCC_CORE
TPS5110/FDC653N/APL1117
OUTPUT
SYSTEM POWER
DCBATOUT
INPUT INPUT
G913C/LP2951ACM/FDS9412
5V_S3 3D3V_S5 DCBATOUT 2D5V_S3 VVGADDR
5V_S0 3D3V_S3 3D3V_S0 3D3V_LAN_S3 1D8V_S5 2D5V_S3 1D8V_S0 +5V_AUX_S5 2D5V_S0 1D5V_S0
VT8385
W83L518D-VD6
Card Reader
42
42
MediaBay Socket
PCMCIA I/F
SD/MS/MMC/CF
OP AMP
LINE OUT
APA2020
MIC IN
AC'97 CODEC
VT1612A
TFDU6101E
FIR
PC87392 NS SIO
Parallel Port
RS232 Transceiver MAX3243 FDD
3937
38 38 27
39
4041
40
414036
35,36
28
28
34
29,30
33
23,24,25
8,9,10 4,5,6,7
31,32
32 31
3
14,15,16
11,12,13 11,12,13
17,18
22 21 21 26 26 28
44 45 46 47
48,49
J8
SC
Block Diagram
A3
151Monday, July 14, 2003
Title Size Document Number Rev Date: Sheet of
Acer Incorporated 8F, 88, Sec.1, Hsin Tai Wu Rd., Hsichih, Taipei Hsien 221, Taiwan, R.O.C.
ݛ㠨ٝڶૻֆ׹

4Aspire 1500
Board Layout
Top View
1 Line-in/MIC Connector 14 Switch Cable Connector (LCD Lid Switch)
2 Line-out/S/PDIF Connector 15 CPU Socket
3 LAN Connector 16 RTC Battery Connector
4 USB Connector 17 Fan Cable Connector
5 LCD Inverter Cable Connector 18 Touchpad Cable Connector
6 CRT Connector 19 HDD Connector
7 TV-out Connector 20 Keyboard Connector
8 LCD Coaxial Cable Connector 21 Speaker Connector
9 Mini PCI Socket 22 ODD Connector
10 VGA Chip 23 South Bridge
11 North Bridge 24 FDD Connector
12 Printer Connector 25 Launch Cable Connector
13 AC Adapter Connector 26 PCMCIA Slot

Chapter 1 5
BottomView
1 Modem Cable Connector
2 Card Reader Slot
3 IEEE 1394 Connector
4 IR Connector
5 Modem Board Connector
6 DIMM Socket 1
7 DIMM Socket 2

6Aspire 1500
Panel
Ports allow you to connect peripheral devices to your computer as you would with a desktop PC.
Front Panel
#Item Description
1 Display screen Also called LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), displays computer
output.
2 Status indicators LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) that turn on and off to show
the status of the computer and its functions and
components.
3 Launch Keys Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See
“Launch keys” on page 17 for more details.
4 Power switch Turns on the computer power.
5 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use the
computer.
6 Click buttons (left, center and right) The left and right buttons function like the left and right
mouse buttons, the center button serves as a scroll up/
down button.
7 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a
computer mouse.
8 Keyboard Inputs data into your computer.
9 Ventilation Slot Enables the computer to stay cool, even after the
prolonged use.

Chapter 1 7
LeftPanel
#Icon Item/ Port Description
1 PC Card slots Support two Type II or one Type III CardBus PC
Card(s).
2 Eject buttons Eject PC card(s) from the card slots.
3 3-in-1 card reader Supports Secure Digital (SD), MultiMedia Card
(MMC) and Memory Stick (MS) formats
4 IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices
5 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g., infrared
printer, IR-aware computer).
6 LED indicator Lights up when the optical drive is active.
7 Eject button Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive.
8 Emergency eject slot Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is
turned off. There is a mechancial eject button on
the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. Simply insert
the tip of a pen or paperclip and push to eject the
tray.
9 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs
depending on the optical drive type.
10 Speaker Delivers stereo audio output.

8Aspire 1500
Right Panel
#Icon Item/ Port Description
1 Speaker Delivers stereo audio output.
2 Floppy activity indicator LED (light-emitting diode) that turns on and off
when the floppy is active.
3 Floppy drive Internal diskette drive; accepts 3.5-inch
diskettes.
4 Floppy disk eject button Push this button to eject the floppy disk.
5 Security keylock Connects to a Kensington-compatible
computer security lock.

Chapter 1 9
Rear Panel
l
#Icon Port Description
1 Power Jack Connects to an AC adapter
2 Parallel port Connects to a parallel device (e.g., parallel
printer)
S-video port Connects to a television or display device
with S-video input.
3 External display port Connects to a display device (e.g., external
monitor, LCD projector) and displays up to
16M colors at 1024x768 resolution
4 Four USB port (four) Connects to any Universal Serial Bus
devices(e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).
5 Network jack Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based
network
6 Modem jack Connects to the phone line
7 Speaker/line-out/
headphone jack
Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio
CD player, stereo walkman).
8 Line-in/mic-in jack Acceptis audio line-in devices (e.g., audio
CD player and stereo walkman).

10 Aspire 1500
BottomPanel
#Item Description
1 Battery bay Houses the computer’s battery pack.
2 Battery release latch Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack.
3 Memory compartment Houses the computer’s main memory.

Chapter 1 11
Indicators
The computer has six easy-to-read status icons on the right of the display screen.
The Power and Standby status icons are visible even when you close the display cover so you can see the
status of the computer while the cover is closed.
#Icon Function Description
1 Wireless
communication button
Lights when the Wireless LAN capability is
enabled
2 Power Lights when the computer is on.
3 Sleep Lights when the computer enters Standby
mode and blinks when it enters into or
resumes from hibernation mode.
4 Media Activity Lights when the floppy drive, hard disk or
optical drive is active.
5 Battery Charge Lights when the battery is being charged.
6 Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated.
7 Num Lock
(Fn-F11)
Lights when Numeric Lock is activated.