Aspire 1640 Series

User's Guide
Copyright 2005. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Aspire 1640 Series User's Guide Original Issue: August 2005
Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Record the model number, serial number, purchase date and place of purchase information in the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label affixed to your computer. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial number, model number and purchase information. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
Aspire 1640 Series Notebook PC
Model number: __________________________________ Serial number: ___________________________________ Date of purchase: ________________________________ Place of purchase: ________________________________
Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies' product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.

Disposal instructions

Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment, please recycle.
USA For electronic products containing an LCD/CRT monitor or display: Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycled or disposed of according to local, state or federal laws. For more information, contact the Electronic Industries Alliance at www.eiae.org. For lamp-specific disposal information, check www.lamprecycle.org.

First things first

We would like to thank you for making the Aspire series of notebook PC your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs.

Your guides

To help you use your Aspire, we have designed a set of guides: First off, the Just for Starters. poster helps you get started with setting up your computer.
The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you to be more productive, please refer to the AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it: 1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem. 2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Reader. If Adobe Reader is not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Adobe Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Reader, access the Help and Support menu.

Caution

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority, which is granted by the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this computer.

Operation conditions

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions for wireless option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option device. An improper installation or unauthorized use may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Also, any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty. To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors, and installation outdoors is subject to licensing. For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our website: http://global.acer.com.
Disposal instructions First things first Your guides Basic care and tips for using your computer Turning your computer on and off Taking care of your computer Taking care of your AC adapter Taking care of your battery pack Cleaning and servicing An Aspire tour Front view Closed front view Left view Right view Rear view Base view Specifications Indicators Easy-launch buttons Touchpad Touchpad basics Using the keyboard Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad Windows keys Hotkeys Special keys Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray Using a computer security lock Audio Adjusting the volume Using the system utilities Acer eManager Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) Launch Manager Norton AntiVirus Frequently asked questions Requesting service International Travelers Warranty (ITW) Before you call Acer Arcade (for selected models) Arcade hotkeys InstantOn Arcade mode Finding and playing content Settings Arcade controls Navigation controls Player controls
iii iv iv iv iv v v vi vi 30 30

Contents

Virtual keyboard Background mode Cinema Settings Album Editing pictures Slide show settings Video Playing a video file Capturing video (TV models only) Snapshot Editing video Music Make DVDs Authoring CD/DVDs Taking your notebook PC with you Disconnecting from the desktop Moving around Preparing the computer What to bring to meetings Taking the computer home Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations Setting up a home office Traveling with the computer Preparing the computer What to take with you Special considerations Traveling internationally with the computer Preparing the computer What to bring with you Special considerations Securing your computer Using a computer security lock Using passwords Entering passwords Setting passwords Expanding through options Connectivity options Fax/data modem Built-in network feature Fast Infrared (FIR) Universal Serial Bus (USB) IEEE 1394 port PC Card slot ExpressCard

Left view

Item Optical drive LED indicator Optical drive eject button Emergency eject hole
Description Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending on the optical drive type. Lights up when the optical drive is active. Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive. Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is turned off.

Right view

Item PC Card slot eject button PC Card slot Two USB 2.0 ports Ethernet (RJ-45) port Modem (RJ-11) port Ventilation slot
Description Ejects the PC Card from the slot. Accepts one Type II PC Card. Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera). Connects to an Ethernet 10/100-based network. Connects to a phone line. Enable the computer to stay cool, even after prolonged use.

Rear view

Item DC-in jack External display (VGA) port
Description Connects to an AC adapter. Connects to a display device (e.g., external monitor, LCD projector).
# 3 Icon Item Description
Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock.

Base view

Item Hard disk bay Battery release latch Battery bay Battery lock Cooling fan Memory compartment
Description Houses the computer's hard disk (secured with screws). Releases the battery for removal. Houses the computer's battery pack. Locks the battery in place. Helps keep the computer cool. Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. Houses the computer's main memory and Mini PCI card.

Specifications

Operating system Platform Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2) Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 2) Processor: Intel Pentium M processor 730/740/750/760/ 770/780 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60/1.73/1.86/2/2.13/2.26 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Intel Pentium M processor 725/725A (2 MB L2 cache, 1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) Intel Celeron M processor 360/370/380 (1 MB L2 cache, 1.40/1.50/1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FSB)
Chipset: Intel 915GM Memory Display 256/512 MB or 1 GB of DDRmemory, upgradeable to 2 GB using two soDIMM modules 15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing on dual displays via Acer GridVista 15.4" WXGA color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing on dual displays via Acer GridVista 15" XGA color TFT LCD, supporting 1024 x 768 pixel resolution 16.7 million colors Intel 915GM integrated 3D graphics, featuring Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 and up to 128 MB of shared memory Microsoft DirectX 9.0 and dual independent display support Simultaneous LCD and CRT display with LCD panel resolution at 70 Hz Up to 2048 x 1536 resolution via non-interlaced CRT display MPEG-2/DVD hardware-assisted capability Audio Audio system with two built-in speakers Sound Blaster Pro and MS Sound compatible Built-in microphone 40/60/80/100 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive Choice of: DVD-Dual double-layer drive DVD/CD-RW combo drive

Center button (3)

Select Drag
Access context menu Scroll
Click once. Click and hold to move up/ down/left/ right.
Note: When using the touchpad, keep it and your fingers dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping harder will not increase the touchpad's responsiveness.

Using the keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded numeric keypad, separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys.
Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.
Lock key Caps Lock Num Lock <Fn> + <F11>
Description When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in uppercase. 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.
Scroll Lock <Fn> + <F12>
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 Number keys on embedded keypad Num Lock on Type numbers in a normal manner. Hold <Fn> while using cursor-control keys. Num Lock off
Cursor-control keys Hold <Shift> while using on embedded keypad cursor-control keys. Main keyboard keys
Hold <Fn> while typing Type the letters in a letters on embedded keypad. normal manner.

Windows keys

The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions. Key Windows key Description 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 functions: < < < < < < > + <Tab>: Activates the next Taskbar button. > + <E>: Opens the My Computer window. > + <F1>: Opens Help and Support Center. > + <F>: Opens the Search Results window. > + <R>: Opens the Run dialog box. > + <M>: Minimizes all windows.

Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray
To eject the optical drive tray when the computer is turned on, press the drive eject button.
When the power is off, you can eject the drive tray by using the emergency eject hole.
Using a computer security lock
A security keylock notch, located on the chassis of the computer, lets you connect a Kensington-compatible computer security lock.
Wrap the computer security lock cable around an immovable object such as a table or handle of a locked drawer. Insert the lock into the notch and turn the key to secure the lock. Some keyless models are also available.
The computer comes with 16-bit high-fidelity AC'97 stereo audio and dual stereo speakers.

Adjusting the volume

Adjusting the volume on the computer is as easy as pressing some buttons. See "Hotkeys" on page 14 for more information on adjusting the speaker volume.
Using the system utilities
Note: The system utilities work under Microsoft Windows XP only.

Acer eManager

The innovative Acer eManager software is designed for easy access to frequently used functions. Press < > to launch the Acer eManager user interface, which features five main settings: Acer ePowerManagement, Acer eNetManagement, Acer ePresentation, Acer eRecovery and Acer eSettings.

To set the <

> key, see "Easy-launch buttons" on page 9.
Acer ePowerManagement Provides a central location from which to control all your PC's power schemes and maximize battery life. Acer eNetManagement Helps you to quickly and easily connect to networks in a variety of locations. Acer ePresentation Simplifies resolution settings when connecting to a projector. Acer eRecovery Creates backups and recovers system configurations reliably. Acer eSettings Makes managing system settings and security easy.
For more information, open Acer eManager, click on the appropriate application and select the Help function.
Note: If your computer did not come with a Recovery CD or System CD, please use Acer eRecovery's "System backup to optical disk" feature to burn a backup image to CD or DVD. To ensure the best results when recovering your system using a CD or Acer eRecovery, detach all peripherals (except the external Acer ODD, if your computer has one), including your Acer ezDock.
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible)
Note: This feature is only available on certain models. To enable the dual monitor feature of your notebook, first ensure that the second monitor is connected, then, select Start, Control Panel, Display and click on Settings. Select the secondary monitor (2) icon in the display box and then click the check box Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor. Finally, click Apply to confirm the new settings and click OK to complete the process.

If it is lit, check the following:
Nothing appears on the screen.
The computer's power management system automatically blanks the screen to save power. Press any key to turn the display back on. If pressing a key does not turn the display back on, three things might be the cause:
The brightness level might be too low. Press <Fn> + <> (increase) to adjust the brightness level. The display device might be set to an external monitor. Press the display toggle hotkey <Fn> + <F5> to toggle the display back to the computer. If the Sleep indicator is lit, the computer is in Sleep mode. Press and release the power button to resume.
Image is not full-screen.
Each computer display has a different native resolution depending on the screen. If you set the resolution lower than this native resoution, the screen expands to fill the computer display. Right-click on your Windows desktop and select Properties to bring up the "Display Properties" dialog box. Then click on the Settings tab to make sure that the resolution is set to the appropriate resolution. Resolutions lower than the specified resolution are not full-screen on the computer or on an external monitor.
No audio is heard from the computer.

Check the following:

The volume may be muted. In Windows, look at the volume control (speaker) icon on the taskbar. If it is crossed-out, click on the icon and deselect the Mute all option. The volume level may be too low. In Windows, look at the volume control icon on the taskbar. You can also use the volume control buttons to adjust the volume. See "Hotkeys" on page 14 for more detail. If headphones, earphones or external speakers are connected to the lineout port on the computer, the internal speakers automatically turn off.
I want to eject the optical drive tray without turning on the power.
There is a mechanical eject hole on the optical drive. Simply insert the tip of a pen or paperclip into the hole and push to eject the tray.
The keyboard does not respond.
Try attaching an external keyboard to a USB port on the computer. If it works, contact your dealer or an authorized service center as the internal keyboard cable may be loose.
The infrared port does not work.
Make sure that the infrared ports of the two devices are facing each other (+/- 15 degrees) a maximum of 1 meter apart. Make sure there is a clear path between the two infrared ports. Nothing should be blocking the ports. Make sure you have the appropriate software running on both devices (for file transfers) or you have the appropriate drivers (for printing to an infrared printer). During the POST, press <F2> to access the BIOS utility and verify that the infrared port is enabled. Make sure both devices are IrDA-compliant.

The printer does not work.
Make sure that the printer is connected to a power outlet and that it is turned on.
Make sure that the printer cable is connected securely to the computer's parallel port or a USB port and the corresponding port on the printer.
I want to set up my location to use the internal modem.
To properly use your communication software (e.g. HyperTerminal), you need to set up your location: 3 Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel. Double-click on Phone and Modem Options. Click on Dialing Rules and begin setting up your location.
Refer to the Windows manual.
Note: Please note, on first booting your notebook, that you can skip the Internet Connection setup, as it is not necessary to complete the installation of your Operating System. After the Operating System is set up, you can proceed with the Internet Connection setup.
I want to restore my computer to its original settings without recovery CDs.
Note: If your system is the multilingual version, the operating system and language you choose when you first turn on the system will be the only option for future recovery operations. This recovery process helps you restore the C:\ drive with the original software content that is installed when you purchase your notebook. Follow the steps below to rebuild your C:\ drive. (Your C:\ drive will be reformatted and all data will be erased.) It is important to back up all data files before using this option. Before performing a restore operation, please check the BIOS settings. 3 Check to see if Acer disk-to-disk recovery is enabled or not. Make sure the D2D Recovery setting in Main is Enabled. Exit the BIOS utility and save changes. The system will reboot.
Note: To activate the BIOS utility, press <F2> during POST.
To start the recovery process: 3 Restart the system. While the Acer logo is showing, press <Alt> + <F10> at the same time to enter the recovery process. Refer to the onscreen instructions to perform system recovery.
Important! This feature occupies 2 to 3 GB in a hidden partition on your hard disk.

Requesting service

International Travelers Warranty (ITW)
Your computer is backed by an International Travelers Warranty (ITW) that gives you security and peace of mind when traveling. Our worldwide network of service centers are there to give you a helping hand. An ITW passport comes with your computer. This passport contains all you need to know about the ITW program. A list of available, authorized service centers is in this handy booklet. Read this passport thoroughly. Always have your ITW passport on hand, especially when you travel, to receive the benefits from our support centers. Place your proof-of-purchase in the flap located inside the front cover of the ITW passport. If the country you are traveling in does not have an Acer-authorized ITW service site, you can still get in contact with our offices worldwide. Please consult http://global.acer.com.

TV recording Bluetooth devices
Finding and playing content
Clicking a button on the Arcade home page opens the corresponding feature's home page. The content pages have buttons on the left and a content browsing area on the right. If a button shows one of several choices, such as sort order, the current setting is shown by a brightly colored ball on the button. To pick content, click an item in the content area. When there is more than one CD or DVD drive, all drives will be shown. Pictures and videos are shown as files (with thumbnails) and organized into folders. To browse a folder, click to open it. To go back up to the folder above it, click the Up one level button. If there is more content than will fit on a page, use the buttons at the lower right to scroll through the pages.
Note: For more detailed information on the features of Acer Arcade, please refer to the Arcade Help menu. This can be accessed from the Arcade home page by selecting Help.

Settings

There are settings in Acer Arcade that allow you to finetune its performance to suit your machine and your personal preferences. The Settings page is reached by the Advanced Settings button on the Home page. Click Acer Arcade Help for comprehensive help on each Arcade mode. In Display Settings: Use the "screen ratio" option to choose between standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) display when watching movies. The "4:3 movie display type" option allows you to select between "CinemaVision" or "letterbox" mode.
Acer CinemaVision is a nonlinear video stretching technology that produces minimal distortion in the center of the picture. The Letterbox option displays widescreen movie content in its original aspect ratio and adds black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.
"Color profile" allows you to choose between "original" or "Acer ClearVision."
Acer ClearVision is a video enhancement technology that detects video content and dynamically adjusts the brightness/contrast/saturation levels so that you do not need to change the color settings if the movie you are watching contains scenes that are overly dark or too bright.

List of applicable countries
EU member states as of May 2004 are: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta. Usage allowed in the countries of European Union, as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This device must be used in strict accordance with the regulations and constraints in the country of use. For further information, please contact local office in the country of use.

Notice for Australia

For safety reasons, only connect headsets with a telecommunications compliance label. This includes customer equipment previously labelled permitted or certified.

Notice for New Zealand

For modem with approval number PTC 211/03/The grant of a Telepermit for any item of terminal equipment indicates only that Telecom has accepted that the item complies with minimum conditions for connection to its network. It indicates no endorsement of the product by Telecom, nor does it provide any sort of warranty. Above all, it provides no assurance that any item will work correctly in all respects with another item of Telepermitted equipment of a different make or model, nor does it imply that any product is compatible with all of Telecom's network services. This equipment is not capable, under all operating conditions, of correct operation at the higher speeds for which it is designed. Telecom will accept no responsibility should difficulties arise in such circumstances. Some parameters required for compliance with Telecom's Telepermit requirements are dependent on the equipment (PC) associated with this device. The associated equipment shall be set to operate within the following limits for compliance with Telecom's Specifications: a b There shall be no more than 10 call attempts to the same number within any 30 minute period for any single manual call initiation, and The equipment shall go on-hook for a period of not less than 30 seconds between the end of one attempt and the beginning of the next call attempt.

This device is equipped with pulse dialing while the Telecom standard is DTMF tone dialing. There is no guarantee that Telecom lines will always continue to support pulse dialing.
8 If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the fuse rating. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind onto or into the product. Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: a b c d When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed. If liquid has been spilled into the product. If the product has been exposed to rain or water. If the product does not operate normally when the operating instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions, since improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition. If the product has been dropped or the case has been damaged. If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service.

e f 12

The notebook PC series uses lithium batteries. Replace the battery with the same type as the product's battery we recommend in the product specification list. Use of another battery may present a risk of fire or explosion. Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly. Do not disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep them away from children and dispose of used batteries promptly. To avoid hazard of unexpected electrical shock, use the AC adapter only when the wall socket is properly grounded. Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided in your accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified, type SPT-2, rated 7 A 125 V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent. Maximum length is 4.6 meters (15 feet). Always disconnect all telephone lines from the wall outlet before serving or disassembling this equipment. Avoid using a telephone (other than a cordless type) during an electrical storm. There may be a remote risk of electric shock from lightning.

The CD or DVD drive used with this computer is a laser product. The CD or DVD drive's classification label (shown below) is located on the drive. CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT CAUTION: INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM. APPAREIL A LASER DE CLASSE 1 PRODUIT LASERATTENTION: RADIATION DU FAISCEAU LASER INVISIBLE EN CAS DOUVERTURE. EVITTER TOUTE EXPOSITION AUX RAYONS. LUOKAN 1 LASERLAITE LASER KLASSE 1 VORSICHT: UNSICHTBARE LASERSTRAHLUNG, WENN ABDECKUNG GEFFNET NICHT DEM STRAHLL AUSSETZEN PRODUCTO LSER DE LA CLASE I ADVERTENCIA: RADIACIN LSER INVISIBLE AL SER ABIERTO. EVITE EXPONERSE A LOS RAYOS. ADVARSEL: LASERSTRLING VEDBNING SE IKKE IND I STRLEN. VARO! LAVATTAESSA OLET ALTTINA LASERSTEILYLLE. VARNING: LASERSTRLNING NR DENNA DEL R PPNAD L TUIJOTA STEESEENSTIRRA EJ IN I STRLEN VARNING: LASERSTRLNING NAR DENNA DEL R PPNADSTIRRA EJ IN I STRLEN ADVARSEL: LASERSTRLING NAR DEKSEL PNESSTIRR IKKE INN I STRLEN

LCD pixel statement

The LCD unit is produced with high-precision manufacturing techniques. Nevertheless, some pixels may occasionally misfire or appear as black or red dots. This has no effect on the recorded image and does not constitute a malfunction.
Macrovision copyright protection notice
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,631,603; 4,819,098; 4,907,093; 5,315,448; and 6,516,132.
Laser compliance statement
Radio device regulatory notice
Note: Below regulatory information is for models with wireless LAN and/or Bluetooth only.

General

This product complies with the radio frequency and safety standards of any country or region in which it has been approved for wireless use. Depending on configurations, this product may or may not contain wireless radio devices (such as WLAN and/or Bluetooth modules). Below information is for products with such devices.

European Union (EU)

This device complies with the essential requirements of the European Council Directives listed below: 73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive EN 60950 EN 55022 EN 55024 EN 61000-3-2/-3 Art.3.1a) EN 60950 Art.3.1b) EN -1/-17 Art.3.2) EN 300 328-2 Art.3.2) EN *applies to 5 GHz only 89/336/EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive

99/5/EC Radio & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive
The FCC RF safety requirement
The radiated output power of the wireless LAN Mini PCI Card and Bluetooth card is far below the FCC radio frequency exposure limits. Nevertheless, the notebook PC series shall be used in such a manner that the potential for human contact during normal operation is minimized as follows: 1 Users are requested to follow the RF safety instructions on wireless option devices that are included in the user's manual of each RF option device.
Caution: To comply with FCC RF exposure compliance requirements, a separation distance of at least 20 cm (8 inches) must be maintained between the antenna for the integrated wireless LAN Mini PCI Card built in to the screen section and all persons.
Note: The Acer wireless Mini PCI adapter implements a transmission diversity function. The function does not emit radio frequencies simultaneously from both antennas. One of the antennas is selected automatically or manually (by users) to ensure good quality radiocommunication.
2 This device is restricted to indoor use due to its operation in the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz frequency range. FCC requires this product to be used indoors for the frequency range 5.15 to 5.25 GHz to reduce the potential for harmful interference to co-channel Mobile Satellite systems. High power radar are allocated as primary users of the 5.25 to 5.35 GHz and 5.65 to 5.85 GHz bands. These radar stations can cause interference with and/or damage this device. An improper installation or unauthorized use may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Also any tampering of the internal antenna will void the FCC certification and your warranty.
Canada Low-power license-exempt radio communication devices (RSS-210)
a Common information Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause interference, and 2. This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. Operation in 2.4 GHz band To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors and installation outdoors is subject to licensing. Operation in 5 GHz band

Aspire 1640 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 1640 service guide.
Date 200512/27 2006/02/15 Chapter 1 Chapter 3

Chapter

Updates Revise memory specification to 533MHz on page 20. Revise disassembling SOP.

Copyright

Copyright 2005 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.

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual: SCREEN MESSAGES NOTE Denotes actual messages that appear on screen. Gives bits and pieces of additional information related to the current topic. Alerts you to any damage that might result from doing or not doing specific actions. Gives precautionary measures to avoid possible hardware or software problems. Reminds you to do specific actions relevant to the accomplishment of procedures.

WARNING

CAUTION

IMPORTANT

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. 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.

Chapter 1

System Introduction

Features

This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here are just a few of its many features:

Platform

Intel Pentium M 730/740/750/760/770/780 processor (2MB L2 cache, 1.60/1.73/1.86/2/2.13/ 2.26 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Intel Pentium M 725 processor (2MB L2 Cache, 1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) Intel Celeron M processor 360/370/380 (1 MB L2 cache, 1.40/1.50/1.60 GHz, 400 MHz FSB) Chipset: Intel 915GM

Memory

256 MB/512 MB of DDRII 533 memory, upgradeable to 2 GB with dual so DIMM modules

Data storage

40/60/80/100 GB ATA/100 hard disk DVD-Dual double-layer drive DVD/CD-RW combo drive

Click buttons (Left and right) Touchpad Status indicators

Launch keys Power button

Closed front view

Icon Speakers

Item/ Port
Description Left and right speakers deliver stereo audio output. Lights up when the computer is on.

Power indicator

Battery indicator
Lights up when the battery is being charged.
Bluetooth communication button/ indicator (for selected models)
Press to enable/disable the Bluetooth function. Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication (optional). Press to enable/disable the wireless function. Indicates the status of wireless LAN communication (optional). Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio CD player, stereo walkman). Accepts inputs from external microphones.

5 Item

Wireless Description communication button/ indicator

Line-in jack

# Item

Mic-in jack

Description
Speaker/Line-Out/Headphone jack
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones).

USB 2.0 port

Connects to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, UsB camera).

Left view

Icon Optical drive LED indicator
Description Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs depending on the optical drive type. Lights up when the optical drive is active. Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is turned off. Ejects the optical drive tray from the drive.
Emergency eject hole Optical drive eject button

Right view

Item/ Port PC Card slot eject button PC card slot
Description Ejects the PC Card from the slot Accepts one Type II CardBus PC Card.
Connects to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, USB camera).

Network jack

Connects to an Ethernet 10/100 based network.

Modem jack

Connects to a phone line.

Ventilation slots

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

Rear view

Port Power jack
Description Connects to an AC adaptor.

External display port

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

Security keylock

Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock.

Bottom view

# Hard disc bay
Item Battery release latch Battery bay Battery lock Cooling fan Memory comparment
Description Houses the computers hard disc (secured by a screw). Unlatches the battery to remove the battery pack. Houses the computers battery pack. Locks the battery in place. Helps keep the computer cool. Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan. House the computers main memory.

Indicators

The computer has three easy-to-read status icons on the upper-right above the keyboard, and four on the front panel.

Function

Function Caps Lock
Description Lights when Caps Lock is activated.

Num Lock (Fn-F11)

Lights when Numeric Lock is activated.

Media activity

Indicates when the hard disk or optical drive is active.

Bluetooth

Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication.

Wireless LAN

Lights when the computer is on.

Battery

Lights when the battery is being charged.
NOTE: 1. Charging: the light shows amber when the battery is charging. NOTE: 2. Fully charged: light shows green when in AC mode.
Hot Key Fn-F1 Description

Launch Keys

Located at the upper-right, above the keyboard are four buttons. These buttons are called launch keys. They are mail, Web browser, Acer Empowering key
eManager" on page 23 "Acer , and one user-programmable button.
Fn-F3 Press eManager" on page 23
"Acer to run the Acer eManager. The mail and Web buttons are pre-set ot email and internet programs, but can be reset by users. To set the Web browser, mail and programmable keys, run the Acer Launch Manager. "Acer eManager" on page 23
Fn> "Acer eManager" on page
Launch key P Default application User-programmable Acer eManager (user-programmable)
"Acer eManager" on page 23

Web browser Mail

Internet browser (user-programmable) Email application (user-programmable)

Using the keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys 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 Caps Lock

Description When @is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in uppercase. When ] 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 [ is on, the screen moves one line up or down when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively. [ does not work with some applications.

Scroll Lock (Fn-F12)

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.

The US dollar sign

1. 2. Open a text editor or word processor. Either directly press the <Euro> key at the bottom-right of the keyboard (for Chinese keyboard), or hold <Shift> and then press the <4> key at the upper-center of the keyboard.symbol at the upper-center of the keyboard (for European keyboard, you can use both method). NOTE: This function varies according to the language settings.
The built-in touchpad is a pointing device that senses movement on its surface. This means the cursor responds as you move your finger on the surface of the touchpad. The central location on the palmrest provides optimum comfort and suuport.

Touchpad basics

The following items teach you how to use the touchpad:
* Move your finger across the touchpad (2) to move the cursor. * Press the left (1) and right (4) buttons located on the edge of the touchpad to do selection and execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchapd is the same as clicking the left button. * Use the 4-wa scroll (3) button to scroll up or down and move left or right a page. This button mimics your cursor pressing on the right scroll bar of Windows applications.

Function Execute

Left button (1) Click twice quickly.

Right button (4)

Touchpad (2) Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button). Tap once. Tap twice (at the same speed as double-clicking a mouse button); hold finger to the touchpad on the second tap and drag the cursor.

Center button (3)

Select Drag
Click once. Click and hold, then use finger to drag the cursor on the touchpad. Click once.
Access context menu Scroll
Click and hold to move up/down/left/ right.
NOTE: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement, hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Taping harder will not increase the touchpads responsiveness.
Hardware Specifications and Configurations

System Board Major Chip

Wireless Module 802.11b/g (optional device)
Item Chipset Data throughput Protocol Interface 11M~54M bps 802.11 b+g Mini-PCI type II Specification
Floppy Disk Drive Interface
Item Vendor & model name Floppy Disk Specifications Media recognition Sectors/track Tracks Data transfer rate (Kbit/s) Rotational speed (RPM) Read/write heads Encoding method Power Requirement Input Voltage (V) +5V 2DD (720KB) 1 MB MFM 2HD (1.2 MB, 3 mode) 1.6 MB 360 2HD (1.44MB) 2 MB 300 Specification There is no FDD module for this product
. Hard Disk Drive Interface
Item Vendor & Model Name HGST MORAGA IC25N060ATMR04-0 08K0634 Seagate N2 ST960821A TOSHIBA PLUTO MK6025GAS Capacity (MB) Bytes per sector Logical heads Logical sectors Drive Format Logical cylinders 63 HGST MORAGA IC25N080ATMR04-0 08K635 Seagate N2 ST9808210A TOSHIBA PLUTO MK6025GAS TOSHIBA PLUTO MK1031GAS SEAGATE N2 ST9100822A
Hard Disk Drive Interface
Item Physical read/write heads Disks Spindle speed (RPM) Buffer size Interface Data transfer, rate (host~buffer, Mbytes/ s) Voltage tolerance 3/3/4 2/2/4 4200RPM 8MBytes (8192kbytes) ATA-MB/Sec 4/3/2 2/2/4 4200RPM 8MBytes (8192kbytes) ATA/ATAPI-MB/Sec 4200RPM 8MBytes ATA/ATAPI-MB/Sec
Performance Specifications
DC Power Requirements 5 +/- 5% 5 +/- 5% 5 +/- 5%

Combo Drive Interface

Item Vendor & model name General Specification Interface Disc Diameter Loading Type Drive Mounting Read/Write Enhanced IDE (ATAPI) 8cm/12cm Drawer Type Horizontal/Vertical Read Speed: Max. 24X(3,600 KB/sec) for CD-ROM Max. 24X(3,600 KB/sec) for CD-RW Write Speed: Max. 24X(3,600 KB/sec) for CD-R Max. 10X(1,500 KB/sec) for CD-RW Max. 24X(3,600 KB/sec) for US-RW Horizontal/Vertical 2MB DC +5v/1.2A Enhanced IDE(ATAPI) compatible CD: 120mm CD-ROM (Read Only) 80mm CD 800/700/650/550MB CD-Recordable (Read & Write) 700/650MB CD-Rewritable (Read & Write) 700/650MB High Speed CD-Rewritable (Read & Write) DVD: 5/9/10/18 DVD-Single/Dual (PTP, OTP) 3.9/4.7G DVD-R (Read Only) 4.7GDVD+R (Read Only) DVDRW (Read only) 80mm DVD CAV 24X CAV 24X P-CAV 24X/20X/16X ; CLV 10X/8X/4X CLV 10X/4X P-CAV 24X/16X All angles Specification DVD/CDRW TOSHIBA TS-L462A Remark
Mounting Orientation Buffer Under Run Power consumption Interface Media compatibility
Item Format compatibility Specification Remark
CD CD-DA (Red Book) - Standard Audio CD & CD-TEXT CD-ROM (Yellow Book Mode1 & 2) - Standard Data CD-ROM XA (Mode2 Form1 & 2) - Photo CD, Multi-Session CD-I /FMV (Green Book, Mode2 Form1 & 2, Ready, Bridge) CD-Extra/ CD-Plus (Blue Book) - Audio & Text/Video Video-CD (White Book) - MPEG1 Video DVD DVD-ROM (Book 1.02), DVD-Video (Book 1.1) DVD-R (Book 1.0, 3.9G) DVD-R (Book 2.0, 4.7G) - General & Authoring DVD+R (Version 1.0) DVDRW Play DVD-AUDIO except the case that required CPPM (Content protection for prerecorded Media) Write Method Load: Manual Release: (a) Electrical Release (Release Button) (b) Release by ATAPI command (c) Emergency Release DC +5V+/- 5% (operation) DC +5V+/- 8% (start up)

Loading mechanism

Power Requirement Input Voltage

DVD-RW Interface

Item Vendor & model name Performance Specification Transfer rate (KB/sec) (1) Read DVD-ROM DVD-R CD-ROM (2) Write CD-R CD-RW HS-RW US-RW (3) ATAPI Interface PIO mode DMA mode Ultra DMA mode Buffer Memory Interface Applicable disc format MAX 8X CAV (MAX 10800kB/s) MAX 4X CAV (MAX 5400kB/s) MAX 24X CAV (MAX 3600kB/s) 4X, 8X (CLV), MAX. 24X(ZCLV) 4X (CLV) 4X, 8X, 10X (CLV) 8X, 10X(CLV), MAX. 16X (ZCLV) 16.6MB/s: PIO mode4 16.6MB/s: Multi word mode2 33.3MB/s: Ultra DMA mode2 2MB Enhanced IDE(ATAPI) compatible Read: copy-protected DVD discs, CD-ROM, CD audio, DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW and CD-R/-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/+R, DVD-R/+R, DVD-RW/+RW, 4.38GB DVD-RAM, CD-DA discs, CD-ROM discs, CD-R discs, CD-RW discs Write: CD-R, CD-RW, high-speed CD-RW, Ultra-speed CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW TOSHIBA TS-L532A Specification
Item Loading mechanism Specification Load: Manual Release: (a) Electrical Release (Release Button) (b) Release by ATAPI command (c) Emergency Release 5 V +/- 5 % (Operating)

Audio Interface

Item Audio Controller Audio onboard or optional Mono or Stereo Resolution Compatibility Sampling rate Internal microphone Internal speaker / Quantity Supports PnP DMA channel Supports PnP IRQ Built-in Stereo 18 bit stereo full duplex HD audio Interface; S/PDIF output for PCM or AC-3 content 1Hz resolution VSR (Variable Sampling Rate) Yes Yes DMA channel 0 DMA channel 1 IRQ10, IRQ11 Specification Realtek ALC260 (Audio amplifier: Maxim MAX9755)

Video Interface

Item Vendor & Model Name Video memory size Chip voltage Supports ZV (Zoomed Video) port Graph interface Maximum resolution LCD Maximum resolution CRT built-in Intel 915GM Specification
up to 128MB for Aspire 3000/5000 up to 64MB for Aspire 3500 Core / 2.5V, 1.5V, NO 4X AGP (Accelerated Graphic Port) Bus 1600X1200 (UXGA) 2048X1536@60HZ

Video Resolutions Mode

Monitor Resolution 2D Display Mode 640x480 800x600 1024x768 1152X864 1280X1024 1600x1200 1920x1080*16:9 1920x1200 1920xHz
Monitor Resolution 2048xHz
Resolution, colors and maximum refersh rate (Hz) in 256, 65K or 16.7M colors. NOTE: 16:9 aspect ratio monitors are supported on 1920x1080 and 848x480 on Windows(R)XP, Windows(R) 2000 and Windows(R)ME. The complete list of resolutions depends on the driver version and operating system. NOTE: resolutions are limited by the performance of the attached monitor. USB Port

Option

Clear or Set Clear or Set

Set Supervisor Password

Primary Harddisk Security

Disabled or Enabled

Password on Boot
NOTE: When you are prompted to enter a password, you have three tries before the system halts. Dont forget your password. If you forget your password, you may have to return your notebook computer to your dealer to reset it.

Setting a Password

Follow these steps as you set the user or the supervisor password: 1. Use the w andy keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The Set Supervisor Password box appears:
Type a password in the Enter New Password field. The password length can not exceeds 8 alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, not case sensitive). Retype the password in the Confirm New Password field.
IMPORTANT:Be very careful when typing your password because the characters do not appear on the screen.

3. 4. 5.

Press e. After setting the password, the computer sets the User Password parameter to Set. If desired, you can opt to enable the Password on boot parameter. When you are done, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

Removing a Password

Follow these steps: 1. Use the w and y keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The Set Password box appears:

2. 3. 4.

Type the current password in the Enter Current Password field and press e. Press e twice without typing anything in the Enter New Password and Confirm New Password fields. The computer then sets the Supervisor Password parameter to Clear. When you have changed the settings, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

Changing a Password

1. Use the w and y keys to highlight the Set Supervisor Password parameter and press the e key. The Set Password box appears:

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Type the current password in the Enter Current Password field and press e. Type a password in the Enter New Password field. Retype the password in the Confirm New Password field. Press e. After setting the password, the computer sets the User Password parameter to Set. If desired, you can enable the Password on boot parameter. When you are done, press u to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.
If the verification is OK, the screen will display as following.
The password setting is complete after the user presses u. If the current password entered does not match the actual current password, the screen will show you the Setup Warning.
If the new password and confirm new password strings do not match, the screen will display the following message.
This menu allows the user to decide the order of boot devices to load the operating system. Bootable devices includes the distette drive in module bay, the onboard hard disk drive and the CD-ROM in module bay.

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 seated 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. 2. 3. Reconnect the keyboard cables. Replace the keyboard. Replace the main board.
The following auxiliary input devices are supported by this computer: Numeric keypad External keyboard 67 Chapter 4
If any of these devices do not work, reconnect the cable connector and repeat the failing operation.

Memory check

Memory errors might stop system operations, show error messages on the screen, or hang the system. 1. 2. 3. Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the doagmpstotics program (please refer to main board. Go to the diagnostic memory in the test items. 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 computer using each of the following power sources: 1. 2. 3. Remove the battery pack. Connect the power adapter and check that power is supplied. Disconnect the power adapter and install the charged battery pack; then check that power is supplied by the battery pack. Check the Power Adapter on page 69 Check the Battery Pack on page 70
If you suspect a power problem, see the appropriate power supply check in the following list:

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
Pin 1: +19 to +20.5V Pin 2: 0V, Ground
If the voltage is not correct, replace the power adapter. If the voltage is within the range, do the following: Replace the System board. If the problem is not corrected, see Undetermined Problems on page 83.
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. 4. If the power-on indicator does not light up, check the power cord of the power adapter for correct continuity and installation. If the operational charge does not work, see Check the Battery Pack on page 70.

Index of Error Messages

Error Code List
Error Codes 006 Causes: 1. CPU BIOS Update Code Mismatch 2. IDE Primary Channel Master Drive Error (THe causes will be shown before Equipment Configuration Error) 110 <No error code> Memory Error at xxxx:xxxx:xxxxh (R:xxxxh, W:xxxxh) Real Time Clock Error CMOS Battery Bad CMOS Checksum Error 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. <No error code> Thermal critical High In this situation BIOS will shut down system, not show message. Error Messages Equipment Configuration Error

Error Message List

Error Messages Failure Fixed Disk FRU/Action in Sequence Reconnect hard disk drive connector. Load Default Settings in BIOS Setup Utility. Hard disk drive System board Stuck Key Keyboard error Keyboard Controller Failed Keyboard locked - Unlock key switch Monitor type does not match CMOS - Run Setup Shadow RAM Failed at offset: nnnn System RAM Failed at offset: nnnn Extended RAM Failed at offset: nnnn System battery is dead - Replace and run Setup System CMOS checksum bad - Default configuration used System timer error see Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check on page 67. see Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check on page 67. see Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check on page 67. Unlock external keyboard Run Load Default Settings in BIOS Setup Utility. BIOS ROM System board DIMM System board DIMM System board Replace RTC battery and Run BIOS Setup Utility to reconfigure system time, then reboot system. RTC battery Run BIOS Setup Utility to reconfigure system time, then reboot system. RTC battery Run BIOS Setup Utility to reconfigure system time, then reboot system. System board
Error Messages Real time clock error RTC battery Run BIOS Setup Utility to reconfigure system time, then reboot system. System board Previous boot incomplete - Default configuration used Memory size found by POST differed from CMOS Diskette drive A error Run Load Default Settings in BIOS Setup Utility. RTC battery System board Run Load Default Settings in BIOS Setup Utility. DIMM System board Check the drive is defined with the proper diskette type in BIOS Setup Utility See External Diskette Drive Check on page 67. Incorrect Drive A type - run SETUP System cache error - Cache disabled CPU ID: DMA Test Failed Software NMI Failed Fail-Safe Timer NMI Failed Device Address Conflict Check the drive is defined with the proper diskette type in BIOS Setup Utility System board System board DIMM System board DIMM System board DIMM System board Run Load Default Settings in BIOS Setup Utility. RTC battery System board Allocation Error for device Run Load Default Settings in BIOS Setup Utility. RTC battery System board Failing Bits: nnnn DIMM BIOS ROM System board Fixed Disk n Invalid System Configuration Data I/O device IRQ conflict None BIOS ROM System board Run Load Default Settings in BIOS Setup Utility. RTC battery System board Operating system not found Enter Setup and see if fixed disk and drive A: are properly identified. Diskette drive Hard disk drive System board FRU/Action in Sequence

No beep Error Messages No beep, power-on indicator turns off and LCD is blank. FRU/Action in Sequence Power source (battery pack and power adapter). See Power System Check on page 68. Ensure every connector is connected tightly and correctly. Reconnect the DIMM. LED board. System board. No beep, power-on indicator turns on and LCD is blank. Power source (battery pack and power adapter). See Power System Check on page 68. Reconnect the LCD connector Hard disk drive LCD inverter ID LCD cable LCD Inverter LCD System board No beep, power-on indicator turns on and LCD is blank. But you can see POST on an external CRT. Reconnect the LCD connectors. LCD inverter ID LCD cable LCD inverter LCD System board No beep, power-on indicator turns on and a blinking cursor shown on LCD during POST. No beep during POST but system runs correctly. Ensure every connector is connected tightly and correctly. System board Speaker System board

Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes

Code 02h 03h 04h 06h 08h 09h 0Ah 0Bh 0Ch 0Eh 0Fh 10h 11h 12h 13h 14h 16h 17h 18h 1Ah 1Ch 20h 22h 24h 26h 28h 29h 2Ah 2Ch 2Eh 2Fh 30h 32h 33h 36h 38h 3Ah 3Ch 3Dh 42h 45h 1-4-1-1 1-3-4-1 1-3-4-3 1-3-1-1 1-3-1-3 1-2-2-3 Beeps POST Routine Description Verify Real Mode Disable Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) Get CPU type Initialize system hardware Initialize chipset with initial POST values Set IN POST flag Initialize CPU registers Enable CPU cache Initialize caches to initial POST values Initialize I/O component Initialize the local bus IDE Initialize Power Management Load alternate registers with initial POST values Restore CPU control word during warm boot Initialize PCI Bus Mastering devices Initialize keyboard controller BIOS ROM checksum Initialize cache before memory autosize 8254 timer initialization 8237 DMA controller initialization Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller Test DRAM refresh Test 8742 Keyboard Controller Set ES segment register to 4 GB Enable A20 line Autosize DRAM Initialize POST Memory Manager Clear 215 KB base RAM RAM failure on address line xxxx RAM failure on data bits xxxx of low byte of memory bus Enable cache before system BIOS shadow RAM failure on data bits xxxx of high byte of memory bus Test CPU bus-clock frequency Initialize Phoenix Dispatch Manager Warm start shut down Shadow system BIOS ROM Autosize cache Advanced configuration of chipset registers Load alternate registers with CMOS values Initialize interrupt vectors POST device initialization
Code 46h 48h 49h 4Ah 4Bh 4Ch 4Eh 50h 51h 52h 54h 58h 59h 5Ah 5Bh 5Ch 60h 62h 64h 66h 67h 68h 69h 6Ah 6Bh 6Ch 6Eh 70h 72h 76h 7Ch 7Eh 80h 81h 82h 83h 84h 85h 86h 87h 88h 89h 8Ah 8Bh 2-2-3-1 2-1-2-3

Symptom / Error Battery cant be charged Battery pack System board Action in Sequence See Check the Battery Pack on page 70.

PCMCIA-Related Symptoms

Symptom / Error System cannot detect the PC Card (PCMCIA) PCMCIA slot pin is damaged. PCMCIA slot assembly System board PCMCIA slot assembly Action in Sequence

Memory-Related Symptoms

Symptom / Error Memory count (size) appears different from actual size. Action in Sequence Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute Load Default Settings, then reboot system. DIMM System board

Speaker-Related Symptoms

Symptom / Error In Windows, multimedia programs, no sound comes from the computer. Internal speakers make noise or emit no sound. Audio driver Speaker System board Speaker System board Action in Sequence
Power Management-Related Symptoms
Symptom / Error The system will not enter hibernation Hard disk drive System board The system doesn't enter hibernation mode and four short beeps every minute. See S4 Sleeping State on page 28. Press Fn+oand see if the computer enters hibernation mode. Touchpad Keyboard Hard disk connection board Hard disk drive System board The system doesnt enter standby mode after closing the LCD The system doesn't resume from hibernation mode. See S4 Sleeping State on page 28. LCD cover switch System board See S4 Sleeping State on page 28. Hard disk connection board Hard disk drive System board The system doesn't resume from standby mode after opening the LCD. See S4 Sleeping State on page 28. LCD cover switch System board Action in Sequence Keyboard (if control is from the keyboard)
Symptom / Error Battery fuel gauge in Windows doesnt go higher than 90%. Action in Sequence Remove battery pack and let it cool for 2 hours. Refresh battery (continue use battery until power off, then charge battery). Battery pack System board System hangs intermittently. Reconnect hard disk/CD-ROM drives. Hard disk connection board System board
Peripheral-Related Symptoms
Symptom / Error System configuration does not match the installed devices. External display does not work correctly. USB does not work correctly Print problems. Action in Sequence Enter BIOS Setup Utility to execute Load Default Settings, then reboot system. Reconnect hard disk/CD-ROM/diskette drives. Press Fn+F5, LCD/CRT/Both display switching System board System board Ensure the Parallel Port in the Onboard Devices Configuration of BIOS Setup Utility is set to Enabled. Onboard Devices Configuration Run printer self-test. Printer driver Printer cable Printer System Board Serial or parallel port device problems. Ensure the Serial Port in the Devices Configuration of BIOS Setup Utility is set to Enabled. Device driver Device cable Device System board

Keyboard/Touchpad-Related Symptoms
Symptom / Error Keyboard (one or more keys) does not work. Keyboard System board Touchpad does not work. Reconnect touchpad cable. Touchpad board System board Action in Sequence Reconnect the keyboard cable.

Modem-Related Symptoms

Symptom / Error Internal modem does not work correctly. Modem phone port modem combo board System board Action in Sequence
NOTE: If you cannot find a symptom or an error in this list and the problem remains, see Undetermined Problems on page 83.

Intermittent Problems

Intermittent system hang problems can be caused by a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with a hardware defect, such as: cosmic radiation, electrostatic discharge, or software errors. FRU replacement should be considered only when a recurring problem exists. When analyzing an intermittent problem, do the following: 1. 2. 3. Run the advanced diagnostic test for the system board in loop mode at least 10 times. If no error is detected, do not replace any FRU. If any error is detected, replace the FRU. Rerun the test to verify that there are no more errors.

Undetermined Problems

The diagnostic problems does not identify which adapter or device failed, which installed devices are incorrect, whether a short circuit is suspected, or whether the system is inoperative. Follow these procedures to isolate the failing FRU (do not isolate non-defective FRU). NOTE: Verify that all attached devices are supported by the computer. NOTE: Verify that the power supply being used at the time of the failure is operating correctly. (See Power System Check on page 68): 1. 2. 3. Power-off the computer. Visually check them for damage. If any problems are found, replace the FRU. Remove or disconnect all of the following devices: Non-Acer devices Printer, mouse, and other external devices Battery pack Hard disk drive DIMM CD-ROM/Diskette drive Module PC Cards 4. 5. 6. 7. Power-on the computer. Determine if the problem has changed. If the problem does not recur, reconnect the removed devices one at a time until you find the failing FRU. If the problem remains, replace the following FRU one at a time. Do not replace a non-defective FRU: System board LCD assembly

Chapter 6

FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List
This chapter gives you the FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) listing in global configurations of Aspire 1640. Refer to this chapter whenever ordering for parts to repair or for RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization). Please note that WHEN ORDERING FRU PARTS, you should check the most up-to-date information available on your regional web or channel. For whatever reasons a part number change is made, it will not be noted on the printed Service Guide. For ACER AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERS, your Acer office may have a DIFFERENT part number code from those given in the FRU list of this printed Service Guide. You MUST use the local FRU list provided by your regional Acer office to order FRU parts for repair and service of customer machines. NOTE: To scrap or to return the defective parts, you should follow the local government ordinance or regulations on how to dispose it properly, or follow the rules set by your regional Acer office on how to return it.