Acer Aspire 5920G Service Manual

Aspire 5920G Series

Service Guide

Service guide files and updates are available

on the ACER/CSD web; for more information,

please refer to http://csd.acer.com.tw

PRINTED IN TAIWAN

Revision History

Please refer to the table below for the updates made on Aspire Chapla service guide.

Date Chapter Updates

Copyright © 2007 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.

III

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.

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.

System Specifications

Features

Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:

Operating system

T Genuine Windows

NOTE: Windows® VistaTM Capable PCs come with Windows® XP installed, and can be upgraded to

Windows

VistaTM. For more information on Windows® VistaTM and how to upgrade, go to:

Microsoft.com/windowsvista.

Platform and memory

T Intel

T Integrated Intel

T Core logic: Intel

T Up to 2GB of DDR2 533/677 MHz memory, upgradeable to 4GB using two soDIMM modules

Mobile Merom mobile technology, featuring:

t Intel

CoreTM Duo processor (4 MB L2 cache, 1.66/1.83/2/2.16 GHz, 800 MHz FSB) or higher

t Intel

PM965 Chipset

n) Wi-Fi CERTIFIED

(dual-channel support)

VistaTM Capable

VistaTM Home Basic / Home Premium / Ultimate / Business Edition

XP Home / Professional Edition (Service Pack 2)

XP Media Center / Tablet Edition

2000 (Service Pack 4)

PRO/Wireless 3945ABGN network connection (dual-band tri-mode 802.11a/b/g/

solution, supporting Acer SignalUpTM wireless technology

Santa Rose Platform, Crestline 965GM+ICH8M (north bridge+ south bridge)

Chapter 1

Display and graphics

T 15.4” WXGA+ high-brightness Acer CrystalBrite

T 16 ms typical of/off and 8 ms average gray-to-gray response time

T Simultaneous multi-window viewing via Acer Vista

T Supporting NVIDIA

PureVideoTM technology (WMV HD, High-Definition MPEG-2 Hardware

Acceleration, integrated HDTV encoder) dual-link DVI, Microsoft OpenEXR High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, Unified Shader Architecture, Geometry

Instancing 2.0, SGI OpenGL

PCI Express

T Dual independent display

T 16.7 million colors (20.1” LCD model)

T 16.2 million colors (19” LCD model)

T MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability

T S-video/TV-out (NTSC/PAL) support

T Acer Arcade

featuring Acer CinemaVisionTM and Acer ClearVision technologies

2.0 Optimizations and support, SmartDimmerTM Technology and

Chapter 1 1

TFT LCD, 1680 x 1050 pixel resolution, 6 lamps

supported

DirectX® 10, Shader Model 4.0,

Audio

T Intel

T Two built-in Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers (1W)

T Realtek ALC268 Audio Code with Dolby

T Sound Blaster Pro

T Built-in microphone

T VoIP-enabled

Storage subsystem

T One or two 60/80/100/120 GB Serial ATA hard disk drive, supporting Ultra DMA100 S.M.A.R.T /

Hybrid HDD

T Optical drive options: DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive, Blue-ray drive (slot-load)

T 5-in-1 card reader, supporting Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick

Memory Stick PROTM (MS PRO), xD-Picture CardTM (xD)

T Supports 3G SIM Card

Input devices

T 88/89-key keyboard with 101/102 key emulation

T Touchpad with 4-way scroll button

T Six Media keys

T Four easy-launch buttons

High Definition audio support

and MS Sound compatible

(MS),

Communication

T Acer Video Conference, featuring Voice and Video over Internet Protocol (VVoIP) support via Acer

T Acer OrbiCam

T Modem: 56K V.90/V.92 WWDAA modem; wake-on-ring ready support by S3

T LAN: gigabit Ethernet; wake-on-LAN ready

T WPAN: Bluetooth

T Integrated Kedron-n 3945abg network connection (dual-band tri-mode 802.11a/b/g/n) Wi-Fi

Mini Cards

T Two mini card slots (one supports a wireless module, the other a TV, 3G, or MPEG decoder

T 3G SIM card support

I/O Ports

T PC Card slot (one Type II)

T 5-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD)

T Four USB 2.0 ports

T Two mini card slots

T HDMI port

T IEEE 1394 port

OrbiCam

t 30 degree ergonomic rotation

t Acer VisageOn

t Acer PrimaLite

CERTIFIED

and optional Acer Bluetooth® VoIP phone

0.3 megapixel CMOS camera, featuring:

technology

2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)

solution, supporting Acer SignalUpTM wireless technology

module)

2 Chapter 1

T Fast infrared (FIR) port

T External display (VGA) port

T S-video/TV-out (NTSC/PAL) port

T Headphones/speaker/line-out port with S/PDIF support

T Microphone-in jack

T Line-in jack

T Ethernet (RJ-45) port

T Modem (RJ-11) port

T DC-in jack for AC adaptor

T 3G SIM Card slot (optional)

T TV-in port (optional)

T RF-in port (optional)

Chapter 1 3

Environment

T Temperature:

T Humidity (non-condensing):

t Operating: 5ºC to 35ºC

t Non-operating: -20ºC to 65ºC

t Operating: 20%~80%

t Non-operating: 20%~80%

4 Chapter 1

System Block Diagram

Chapter 1 5

Board Layout

252626

Top View

Jack

272728

27 28

25 26

1 CN15 Battery Connector 16 CN26 IEEE 1394 Connector

2 U22 CPU Socket 17 CN28 Optical Disk Drive Connector

3 CN20 Fan Connector 18 CN30

4 CN13 VGA Jack 19 U34 South Bridge

5 CN14 Ethernet Controller 20 U32 Audio Codec

6 CN18 USB Connector 21 U31

7 CN19 Wireless LAN Card Connector 22 CN32 SATA HDD Connector

8 PJ1 DC-IN Connector 23 CN39

9 CN25 DIMM Socket 24 CN35 Speaker Connector

10 CN23 DIMM Socket 25 VR1 Volume Dial

11 U29 North Bridge 26 CN30 Headphones/Speaker/Line-out

12 U30 27 CN37 Microphone-in Jack

13 CN21 HDMI Connector 28 CN36 Line-in Jack

14 CN22 S-Video Connector 29 CN38 5-in-1 Card Reader

15 CN23 USB Connector 30 U37 Infrared Sensor

6 Chapter 1

Bottom View

20 212121

910

1 CN2 12 U7 DDR2 SDRAM IC

2 CN1 LCD Connector 13 CN9 Card Bus Socket

3 CN3 MDC Connector 14 U11

4 CN5 Email Board Connector 15 U10

Winbond

5 CN4 Power Board Connector 16 CN16 Subwoofer Connector

6 CN6 Keyboard Connector 17 CN11 MSC Connector

7 U4 Audio Codec 18 U19

8 U6 DDR2 SDRAM IC 19 CN12

9 CN7 Bluetooth Connector 20 LED2 HDD LED

10 CN8 Wireless Connector 21 LED3 Battery LED

11 U8

Touchpad Connector

Chapter 1 7

Your Acer Notebook tour

After knowing your computer features, let us show you around your new Aspire computer.

Front View

# Icon Item Description

1 Built-in camera 0.3 megapixel web camera for video

communication.

2 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording.

3 Power button Turns the computer on and off.

4 Speaker Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio

8 Chapter 1

output.

5 Wireless communication

Note:

button/indicator

6 WWW/E-mail buttons Button to launch your internet browser and

8 Keyboard For entering data into your computer.

9 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which

10 4-way scroll button To scroll up, down, left, and right.

11 Status indicators Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up

12 Click buttons (left and

13 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD),

14 Empowering button Launches the Empowering Technology

15 Media buttons To play, pause, record, rewind, fast forward

16 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands

Bluetooth communication button/ indicator

right)

Enables/disables the wireless function. Indicates the status of wireless LAN communication.

e-mail reader.

Enables/disables the Bluetooth Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication.

functions like a computer mouse.

to show the status of the computer’s functions and components.

The left and right buttons function like the left and right mouse buttons.

displays computer output.

toolbar.

or stop playback / recording.

when you use the computer.

function.

Closed Front View

# Icon Item Description

1 Power indicator Indicates the computer’s power status.

2 Battery indicator Indicates the computer’s battery status.

3 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g,

4 5-in-1 card reader Accepts Secure Digital (SD),

infrared printer and IR-aware computer).

MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS PRO), xDPicture Card (xD).

Chapter 1 9

5 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio

"Easy-launch buttons" on page 18

CD player, stereo walkman).

6 Microphone-in jack Accepts input from external microphones.

7 Headphones/speaker/

8 Volume control Increases and decreases the volume.

Left View

# Icon Item Description

1 External display (VGA)

2 Ethernet (RJ-45) Connects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000-

line-out jack with S/PDIF support

port

Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones).

Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).

based network (for selected models).

3 Modem (RJ-11) port Connects to a phone line.

4 2 USB 2.0 ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB

5 HDMI port Connects to a television or display device

6 S-video/TV-out (NTSC/

PAL) port

7 USB 2.0 port Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB

8 4-pin IEEE 1394 port Connects to IEEE 1394 devices.

9 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II PC Card.

mouse, USB camera).

with HDMI input.

Connects to a television or display device with S-video input.

mouse, USB camera).

10 Chapter 1

Right View

# Icon Item Description

1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs

2 Optical disk access

3 Optical drive eject

4 Emergency eject hole Ejects the optical drive tray when the

5 USB 2.0 port Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB

(slot-load or tray-load depending on model).

Lights up when the optical drive is active.

indicator

Ejects the optical disk from the drive.

button

computer is turned off.

mouse, USB camera).

6 Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington-compatible

Rear view

# Icon Item Description

1 DC-in jack Connects to an AC adapter.

computer security lock.

Chapter 1 11

Base view

# Item Description

1 Battery bay Houses the computer’s battery pack.

2 Battery lock Locks the battery in position.

3 Battery release latch Releases the battery for removal.

4 Ventilation slots and

5 System fan Enables the motheboard to stay cool, even after prolonged use.

6 Memory compartment Houses the computer’s main memory.

7 Hard disk bay Houses the computer’s hard disk (secured with screws)

cooling fan

Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use.

Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan.

Indicators

The computer has several easy-to-read status indicators.

The front panel indicators are visible even when the computer cover is closed up.

12 Chapter 1

Icon Function Description

HDD Indicates when the hard disc or optical drive is active.

Num lock Lights when Num Lock is activated.

Cap lock Lights when Cap Lock is activated

Power Lights up when the computer is on.

Battery Lights up when the battery is being charged.

Bluetooth Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication.

Wireless LAN Indicates the status of wireless LAN communication.

NOTE: 1. Charging: The light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The light shows

green when in AC mode.

Easy-Launch Buttons

To the right of the keyboard there are three easy-launch buttons: Web browser, mail, and one user-

programmable button. You can also find an Empowering Key “ located above the keyboard.

Press “ “ to run the Acer Empowering Technology. The mail and Web browser buttons are pre-set to email and Internet programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable buttons, run the Acer Launch Manager.

Chapter 1 13

Launch key Default application

Acer Empowering Technology (user-programmable)

Web browser Internet browser (user-programmable)

Mail Email application (user-programmable)

P User-programmable

Touchpad Basics

The following teaches you how to use the touchpad:

T Move your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor.

T Press the left (1) and right (4) buttons located beneath the touchpad to perform selection and

execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad is the same as clicking the left button.

T Use the fingerprinter (3) to enroll the computer with registered fingerprint. This recognition device

helps prevent unauthorized access by others.

Function Left Button (1) Right Button (4) Main touchpad (2) Fingerprinter (3)

Execute Click twice quickly Tap twice (at the

Select Click once Tap once

Drag Click and hold, then

use finger on the touchpad to drag the cursor.

Access context menu

Click once

same speed as double-clicking the mouse button)

Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button); rest your finger on the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor.

Swipe your finger over the fingerprinter.

NOTE: When using the touchpad, keep it - and your fingers - dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger

movements; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping too hard will not increase the touchpad’s responsiveness.

14 Chapter 1

Using the Keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, one Windows key and twelve function keys.

Lock Keys and embedded numeric keypad

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

Scroll lock

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.

When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line up or down when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively. Scroll Lock does not work with some applications.

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.

Desired Access Num Lock On Num Lock Off

Number keys on embedded keypad

Cursor-control keys on embedded keypad

Main keyboard keys Hold <Fn> while typing

Type numbers in a normal manner.

Hold <Shift> while using cursor-control keys.

letters on embedded keypad.

Hold <Fn> while using cursor-control keys.

Type the letters in a normal manner.

Windows Keys

The keyboard has one key that performs Windows-specific functions.

Chapter 1 15

Key Icon Description

Windows key Pressed alone, this key has the same effect as

clicking on the Windows Start button; it launches the Start menu. It can also be used with other keys to provide a variety of function:

+ <Tab> Activates next taskbar button.

+ <E> Opens the My Computer window

+ <F1> Opens Help and Support.

+ <F> Opens the Search: All Files dialog box.

+ <R> Opens the Run dialog box.

+ <M> Minimizes all windows.

<Shift>+ + <M> Undoes the minimize all windows action.

This key has the same effect as clicking the right

Application key

mouse button; it opens the application’s context menu.

Hot Keys

The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to access most of the computer’s controls like screen brightness, volume output, and the BIOS utility.

To activate hot keys, press and hold the <Fn> key before pressing the other key in the hotkey combination.

Hot Key Icon Function Description

<Fn>+<F1> Hot key help Displays help on hot keys.

<Fn>+<F2> Acer eSettings Launches the Acer eSettings in Acer eManager.

<Fn>+<F3> Acer ePower

Management

<Fn>+<F4> Sleep Puts the computer in Sleep mode.

Launches the Acer ePower Management in Acer Empowering Technology. See “Acer Empowering Technology” on page 18.

16 Chapter 1

Hot Key Icon Function Description

<Fn>+<F5> Display toggle Switches display output between the display screen,

<Fn>+<F6> Screen blank Turns the display screen backlight off to save power.

<Fn>+<F7> Touchpad toggle Turns the internal touchpad on and off.

<Fn>+<F8> Speaker toggle Turns the speakers on and off.

<Fn>+<w> Volume up Increases the speaker volume.

<Fn>+<y> Volume down Decreases the speaker volume.

<Fn>+<-x> Brightness up Increases the screen brightness.

external monitor (if connected) and both.

Press any key to return.

<Fn>+<z> Brightness down Decreases the screen brightness

Special Key

You can locate the Euro symbol and US dollar sign at the upper-center of your keyboard.

To t y pe :

The Euro symbol

1. Open a text editor or word processor.

2. Hold <Alt Gr> and then press the <5> symbol at the upper-center of the keyboard.

NOTE: Some fonts and software do not support the Euro symbol. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/

typography/faq/faq12.htm for more information.

The US dollar sign

1. Open a text editor or word processor.

2. Hold <Shift> and then press the <4> key at the upper-center of the keyboard.

NOTE: This function varies by the operating system version.

Chapter 1 17

Acer Empowering Technology

Acer’s innovative Empowering Technology makes it easy for you to access frequently used functions and manage your new Acer notebook. It features the following handy utilities:

T Acer eNet Management hooks up to location-based networks intelligently. T Acer ePower Management extends battery power via versatile usage profiles. T Acer ePresentation Management connects to a projector and adjusts display settings conveniently. T Acer eDataSecurity Management protects data with passwords and advanced encryption algorithms. T Acer eLock Management limits access to external storage media. T Acer eRecovery Management backs up and recovers data flexibly, reliably and completely. T Acer eSettings Management accesses system information and adjusts settings easily. T Acer ePerformance Management improves system performance by optimizing disk space, memory and

registry settings.

For more information, press the < > key to launch the Empowering Technology toolbar, then click on the appropriate utility and select the Help or Tutorial function.

Empowering Technology password

Before using Acer eLock Management and Acer eRecovery Management, you must initialize the Empowering Technology password. Right-click on the Empowering Technology toolbar and select “Password Setup” to do so. If you do not initialize the Empowering Technology password, you will be prompted to do so when running Acer eLock Management or Acer eRecovery Management for the first time.

Acer eNet Management

Acer eNet Management helps you to quickly and easily connect to both wired and wireless networks in a variety of locations. To access this utility, either click on the “Acer eNet Management” icon on your notebook, or start the program from the Start menu. You also have the option to set Acer eNet Management to start automatically when you boot up your PC.

Acer eNet Management automatically detects the best settings for a new location, while offering you the freedom to manually adjust the settings to match your needs.

18 Chapter 1

Acer eNet Management can save network settings for a location to a profile, and automatically switch to the appropriate profile when you move from one location to another. Settings stored include network connection settings (IP and DNS settings, wireless AP details, etc.), as well as default printer settings.

Security and safety concerns mean that Acer eNet Management does not store username and password information.

Chapter 1 19

Acer ePower Management

Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch it, select Acer ePower Management from the Empowering Technology interface.

AC Mode (Adapter mode)

The default setting is “Maximum Performance.” You can adjust CPU speed, LCD brightness and other settings, or click on buttons to turn the following functions on/off: Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, CardBus, FireWire (1394), Wired LAN and Optical Device if supported.

DC Mode (Battery mode)

There are three pre-defined profiles - Balanced, Power Saver, and High Performance. You can also define the power plan optimized for your needs.

To create new power plan

1. Select a predefined power plan and click the “ “ icon shown on the lower left-hand side.

2. Enter the name for the newly created power plan.

3. Select one of the predefined power plan that is closest to what you want.

4. Change the display and sleep settings as desired.

5. Click “OK“ to apply the setting.

6. A new power plan is created.

20 Chapter 1

Battery status

For real-time battery life estimates based on current usage, refer to the time shown in the “Remaining Battery Life” field.

For additional power options, click “More Power option”.

Acer ePresentation Management

Acer ePresentation Management lets you project your computer’s display to an external device or project using the hot key: Fn + F5. If auto-detection hardware is implemented in the system, your system display will be automatically switched out when an external display is connected to the system.

Chapter 1 21

Acer eDataSecurity Management

Acer eDataSecurity Management is handy file encryption utility that protects your files from being accessed by unauthorized persons. It is conveniently integrated with Windows explorer as a shell extension for quick and easy data encryption/decryption and also supports on-the-fly file encryption for MSN Messenger and Microsoft Outlook.

The Acer eDataSecurity Management setup wizard will prompt you for a supervisor password and default encryption. This encryption will be used to encrypt files by default, or you can choose to enter your won filespecific password when encrypting a file.

NOTE: The password used encrypt a file is the unique key that the system needs to decrypt it. If you lose the

password, the supervisor password is the only other key capable of decrypting the file. If you lose both passwords, there will be no way to decrypt your encrypted file! Be sure to safeguard all related

passwords!

22 Chapter 1

Chapter 1 23

Acer eLock Management

Acer eLock Management is a security utility that allows you to lock your removable data, optical and floppy drives to ensure that data cannot be stolen while your notebook is unattended.

T Removable data devices - includes USB disk drives, USB pen drives, USB flash drives, USB MP3 drives,

USB memory card readers, IEEE 1394 disk drives and any other removable disk drives that can be mounted as a file system when plugged into the system.

T Optical drive devices - includes any kind of CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives. T Floppy disk drives - 3.5-inch disks only. T Interfaces - includes serial ports, parallel port, infrared (IR), and Bluetooth.

To activate Acer eLock Management, a password must be set first. Once set, you can apply locks to any of the devices. Lock(s) will immediately be set without any reboot necessary, and will remain locked after rebooting, until unlocked.

NOTE: If you lose your password, there is no method to reset it except by reformatting your notebook or taking

your notebook to an Acer Customer Service Center. Be sure to remember or write down your password.

24 Chapter 1

+ 74 hidden pages