Acer Extensa 500 User manual

Extensa 500 Notebook
Service Guide
Service Guide files and updates are available on Acer
Intranet and CSD database on Lotus Notes.
For more detailed information, please refer to
Service CD kit.

Copyright
Copyright * 1996 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
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 anydefect in the software. Further,Acer Incorporated reserves
the right to revise this publication and to make changes from time to time in
the contents hereof without obligation of Acer Incorporated to notify any
person of such revision or changes.
Acer is a registered trademark of Acer Incorporated.
Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation.
Other brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.

PART No: 49.42B02.001....................................................PRINT IN TAIWAN
DOC No: SG281-9807A

4 Table of Contents
Chapter 1 System Introduction
Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Special Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Hardware Configuration and Specification. . . . . . . 17
Memory Address Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Interrupt Channel Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
DMA Channel Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
I/O Address Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
System Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
DIMM Combinations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Video Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Cache Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Video Resolutions Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Parallel Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Serial Port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
PCMCIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Diskette Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Hard Disk Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
CD-ROM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Battery Pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
DC-DC/Charger Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
LCD Inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
LCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Power Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Power Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Power Management Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
BIOS Setup Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Chapter 2 Software Utilities
Basic System Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Table of Contents

Extensa 500 Service Guide 5
Startup Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Onboard Devices Configuration . . . . . . . . . . .36
System Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Load Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
AFlash Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Executing AFlash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Quick Way to Execute AFlash. . . . . . . . . . . . .42
System Utility Diskette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Set LCD Panel ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Set Thermal Sensor Threshold . . . . . . . . . . . .43
System Diagnostic Diskette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Running PQA Diagnostics Program. . . . . . . . .45
Diagnostic Program Error Code and Messages47
Chapter 3 Machine Disassembly
General Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Connector Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Disassembly Procedure Flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Removing the Battery Pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Removing the DIMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Removing the Modem Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Removing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Removing the LCD Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Disassembling the LCD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Disassembling the Main Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Removing the HDD & PCMCIA Heat Sink. . . .61
Removing the Hard Disk Drive . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Removing the CPU Heat Sink and CPU Board62
Removing the RTC Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Disassembling the Upper Case. . . . . . . . . . . .63
Removing the Touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Disassembling the Lower Case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Removing the CD-ROM/Diskette Drive Module66
Removing the Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Removing the DC-DC/Charger Board . . . . . . .69
Removing the DC-DC/Charger Board . . . . . . .70
Removing the System Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Table of Contents

6 Table of Contents
Removing the PCMCIA slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Removing the Modem Phone Jack. . . . . . . . . 71
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting
System Check Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Diskette Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
CD-ROM Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check . . . 75
Memory Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Power System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Touchpad Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Error Symptom-to-FRU Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Error Messages List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
No-Beep Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
LCD-Related Symptoms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Indicator-Related Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Power-Related Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
PCMCIA-Related Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Memory-Related Symptoms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Speaker-Related Symptoms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Power Management-Related Symptoms . . . . 84
Peripheral-Related Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Keyboard/Touchpad-Related Symptoms . . . . 85
Intermittent Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Undetermined Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Modem-Related Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Chapter 5 Connectors and Jumpers
SW1 Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
SW2 Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Spare Parts List (P/N:91.45BXX.XXX). . . . . . 91
Chapter 6 Spare Parts List
Model Number Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Extensa 500 Service Guide 7
Appendix AModel Definitions
Appendix BCompatibility Tested Components

8 Table of Contents

Chapter 1 9
This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its
many features:
Performance
❑Intel Pentium® processor with MMX™ technology
❑512-KB, 64-bit main memory and external (L2) cache memory
❑Large LCD display and PCI local bus video with 128-bit graphics
acceleration
❑Internal CD-ROM drive
❑Internal 3.5-inch floppy drive
❑High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE removable hard disk
❑Nickel metal-hydride battery pack
❑Heuristic power management system with standby and hibernation
power saving modes
Multimedia
❑ISA-based 16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3-D sound and wavetable
synthesizer
❑Built-in dual speakers
❑“No power-on” audio CD playback
❑Ultra-slim, high-speed CD-ROM drive
Connectivity
❑High-speed fax/data modem port
❑USB (Universal Serial Bus) port
Human-centric Design and Ergonomics
❑Lightweight and slim
❑Sleek, smooth and stylish design
❑Full-sized keyboard
❑Wide and curved palm rest
❑Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
Expansion
❑CardBus PC card (formerly PCMCIA) slots (two type II/I or one type III),
upper sort with additional ZV (Zoomed Video) port support.
❑Mini docking station option for one-step connection to/disconnection
System Introduction
Chapter 1

10 SystemIntroduction
from peripherals
❑Upgradeable memory and hard disk
Display
The large graphics display offers excellent viewing, excellent display quality
and high performance desktop graphics. The computer supports two
different display configurations — High Performance Addressing (HPA) or
Thin-Film Transistor (TFT).
Video Performance
The PCI local bus video with 128-bit graphics acceleration and 2MB
Extended Data Out (EDO) video RAM boosts video performance.
Simultaneous Display
The computer’s large display and multimedia capabilities are great for giving
presentations. If you prefer, you can also connect an external monitor when
giving presentations. This computer supports simultaneous LCD and CRT
display. Simultaneous display allows you to control the presentation from
your computer and at the same time face your audience. You can also
connect other output display devices such as LCD projection panels for large-
audience presentations.
Power Management
The power management system incorporates an “automatic LCD dim”
feature that automatically decides the best settings foryour display and at the
same time conserves power. See “Power Management Modes” on page 30
for more information on power management features.
Opening and Closing the Display
To open the display, slide the display cover latch to the left and lift up the
cover. Then tilt it to a comfortable viewing position. The computer employs a
microcircuit that turns off the display (and enters standby mode) to conserve
power when you close the display cover, and turns it back on when you open
the display cover.
Note:
If an external monitor is connected, the computer turns off the
display (but does not enter standby mode) when you close the
display cover.
To close the display cover, fold it down gently until the display cover latch
clicks into place.

Chapter 1 11
Basic Operation
Indicators
The computer has six easy-to-read status indicators (LEDs) under the display
screen.
The Power and Standby indicators 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 Power Lights when the computer is on.
Blinks when a battery-low condition occurs.
2 Standby Lights when the computer enters Standby
mode.
3Media
Activity Lights when the floppy drive, hard disk or CD-ROM drive (or other media bay
module) is active.
4 Battery
Charge Lights when the battery is being charged.
5 Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is activated
6 Num Lock Lights when Numeric Lock is activated

12 SystemIntroduction
Keyboard
The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor
keys, two Windows 98 keys and twelve function keys.
Special Keys
Lock Keys
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.
Lock Key Description
Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in
uppercase.
Num Lock
(Fn-F11) When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric mode. The keys function as a calculator (complete with the
arithmetic operators +, -, *, and /). Use this mode when you
need to do a lot of numeric data entry. A better solution would
be to connect an external keypad.
Scroll Lock
(Fn-F12) When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down when you press ↑or ↓respectively. Scroll Lock does not work
with some applications.

Chapter 1 13
Embedded Numeric Keypad
The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It
is indicated by small characters located on the upper right corner of the
keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols are not
printed on the keys.
Note:
If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to the computer,
the numlock feature automatically shifts from the internal
keyboard to the external keyboard or keypad.
Desired Access Num Lock On Num Lock Off
Number keys on
embedded keypad Type numbers in a normal manner.
Cursor-control keys on
embedded keypad Hold Shift while using cursor-control keys. Hold Fn while using cursor-
control keys.
Main keyboard keys Hold Fn while typing letters
on embedded keypad. Type the letters in a normal manner.

14 SystemIntroduction
Windows 98 Keys
The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows 98-specific functions.
Key Description
Windows logo key Start button. Combinations with this key performs
special functions. Below are a few examples:

+ Tab (Activate next Taskbar button)

+ E (Explore My Computer)

+ F (Find Document)

+ M (Minimize All)
Shift +

+ M (Undo Minimize All)

+ R (Display Run dialog box)
Application key Opens the application’s context menu (same as right-
click).

Chapter 1 15
Hot Keys
The computer employs hot keys or key combinations to access most of the
computer’s controls like screen contrast and brightness, volume output and
the BIOS setup utility.
Hot Key Icon Function Description
Fn-F1 Hot key help Displays a list of the hotkeys and
their functions.
Fn-F2 Setup Accesses the notebook
configuration utility. .
Fn-F3 Standby Puts the computer in Standby
mode. Press any key to return.
See “System Standby Mode” on
page 30 to learn more about
Standby mode.
Fn-F4 Hibernation Puts the computer in Hibernation
mode (if Sleep Manager, the
hibernation utility, isinstalled,valid
and enabled). Press the power
switch to resume.
Otherwise, the computer enters
Standby mode. See “Hibernation
Mode” on page 31 for more about
Hibernation mode.
Fn-F5 Display toggle Switches display output between
the display screen, external
monitor (if connected) and both
the display screen and external
monitor.
Fn-F6 Screen blank Turns the display screen backlight
off to save power. Press any key
to return.

16 SystemIntroduction
Fn-F7 Touchpad on/off Turns the internal touchpad on
and off.
When you connect an external
PS/2 mouse, the computer
automatically disables the
touchpad.
Fn-F8 Speaker on/off Turns the speakers on and off;
mutes the sound.
Fn-↑Contrast up Increases the screen contrast
(available only for models with
HPA displays).
Fn-↓Contrast down Decreases the screen contrast
(available only for models with
HPA displays).
Fn-→Brightness up Increases the screen brightness.
Fn-←Brightness
down Decreases the screen brightness.
Hot Key Icon Function Description

Chapter 1 17
Hardware Configuration and Specification
Memory Address Map
Memory Address Size Function
00000000-0009FFFF 640 KB Base memory
000A0000-000BFFFF 128 KB Video memory
000C0000-000C9FFF 40 KB Video BIOS
000CA000-000CBFFF 8 KB I/O ROM
000E0000-000FFFFF 128 KB System BIOS
00100000-top limited
04301000-04301FFF
04302000-04302FFF
0430000-04300FFFF
--
4 KB
4 KB
64 KB
Extended (DIMM) memory
PCMCIA controller (slot 1)
PCMCIA controller (slot 2)
USB controller
FFFF0000-FFFFFFFF 64 KB System board extension for
PnP BIOS
Interrupt Channel Assignment
Interrupt Channel Function
NMI System errors
IRQ0 System timer
IRQ1 Keyboard
IRQ2 Cascade
IRQ3 Modem or Audio (optional)
IRQ4 COM1 or Modem (optional)
IRQ5 Audio or LPT2 (optional)
IRQ6 Floppy
IRQ7 LPT1 or Audio (optional) or Modem (optional)
IRQ8 Real time clock
IRQ9 Card bus / ACPI or Audio (optional)
IRQ10 USB or Audio (optional) or Modem (optional)
IRQ11 Audio (optional) or Modem (optional)
IRQ12 PS2 pointing device
IRQ13 Numeric data processor
IRQ14 1st EIDE device (hard disk)
IRQ15 2nd EIDE device (CD-ROM drive)

18 SystemIntroduction
DMA Channel Assignment
DMA Channel Function
DRQ0 Audio(optional)
DRQ1 ECP or Audio(optional)
DRQ2 Floppy
DRQ3 ECP(optional)
DRQ4 DMA controller
DRQ5 Not used
DRQ6 Not used
DRQ7 Audio
I/O Address Map
I/O Address Function
000-00F DMA controller-1
020-021 Interrupt controller-1
040-043 Timer 1
060, 064 Keyboard controller 8742 chip select
061 System speaker out
040B DMA controller-1
061 System speaker
070-071 Real-time clock and NMI mask
080-08F DMA page register
0A0-0A1 Interrupt controller-2
0C0-0DF DMA controller-2
0F0-0FF Numeric data processor
120-13F
180-18F Power management controller
170-177 2nd EIDE device (CD-ROM) select
1F0-1F7 1st EIDE device (hard drive) select
220-22F Audio
240-24F Audio(optional)
278-27F Parallel port 3
2E8-2EF LT Win modem or COM4(optional)
2F8-2FF COM2 or LT Win modem(optional)
378, 37A Parallel port 2

Chapter 1 19
3BC-3BE paraller port 1
3B0-3BB
3C0-3DF Video Controller
3F0h-3F7 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
3E8-3EF COM3 or LT Win modem(optional)
3F0-3F7 Floppy disk controller
3F8-3FF COM1 or LT Win modem(optional)
480-48F, 4D6 DMA controller-1
4D0-4D1
CF8-CFF PCI configuration register
Processor
Item Specification
CPU type Intel Tillamook 233/266 Mhz processor
Tillamook--Intel Pentium architecture, 64 bit data bus,
16K-Byte code cache, 16 K-Bytes write back data,
cache, with MMX technology
CPU package TCP package
CPU core voltage 1.8V
CPU I/O voltage 2.5V
BIOS
Item Specification
BIOS vendor Acer
BIOS Version V 3.0
BIOS ROM type Flash ROM
BIOS ROM size 256KB
BIOS package 32-pin TSOP
Supports protocol PCI 2.1, APM 1.2, DMI 2.00.1, E-IDE, ACPI, USB,
ESCD 1.03, ANSI ATA 3.0, PnP 1.0a, Bootable CD-
ROM 1.0, ATAPI, LDCM 3.3
BIOS password control Set by switch, see SW2(swtich 2) settings
I/O Address Map
I/O Address Function

20 SystemIntroduction
System Memory
Item Specification
Memory controller ALi M1531
Onboard memory size 0MB
DIMM socket number 2 sockets (2 banks)
Supports memory size per socket 16/32/64/128 MB
Supports maximum memory size 256MB (128MB x 2)
Supports DIMM type Synchronous DRAM
Supports DIMM Speed 100MHz
Supports DIMM voltage 3.3V
Supports DIMM package 144-pin DIMM
DIMM Combinations
Slot 1 Slot 2 Total Memory
0 16MB 16MB
0 32MB 32MB
0 64MB 64MB
0 128MB 128MB
16MB 16MB 32MB
16MB 32MB 48MB
16MB 64MB 80MB
16MB 128MB 144MB
32MB 16MB 48MB
32MB 32MB 64MB
32MB 64MB 96MB
32MB 128MB 160MB
64MB 16MB 80MB
64MB 32MB 96MB
64MB 64MB 128MB
64MB 128MB 192MB
128MB 16MB 144MB
128MB 32MB 160MB
128MB 64MB 192MB
128MB 128MB 256MB