
Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338 Series
Aspire 5536/5536G/5236 Series
Service Guide
PRINTED IN TAIWAN
Service guide files and updates are available
on the ACER/CSD web; for more information,
please refer to http://csd.acer.com.tw

II
Revision History
Please refer to the table below for the updates made on Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338 and Aspire
5536/5536G/5236 Series service guide.
Date Chapter Updates

III
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 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.
AMD****
Other brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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

V
Preface
Before using this information and the product it supports, please read the following general information.
1. This Service Guide provides you with all technical information relating to the BASIC CONFIGURATION
decided for Acer's "global" product offering. To better fit local market requirements and enhance product
competitiveness, your regional office MAY have decided to extend the functionality of a machine (e.g.
add-on card, modem, or extra memory capability). These LOCALIZED FEATURES will NOT be covered
in this generic service guide. In such cases, please contact your regional offices or the responsible
personnel/channel to provide you with further technical details.
2. Please note WHEN ORDERING FRU PARTS, that you should check the most up-to-date information
available on your regional web or channel. If, for whatever reason, a part number change is made, it will
not be noted in the printed Service Guide. For ACER-AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERS, your Acer
office may have a DIFFERENT part number code to those given in the FRU list of this printed Service
Guide. You MUST use the list provided by your regional Acer office to order FRU parts for repair and
service of customer machines.

VI

VII
Table of Contents
System Specifications 1
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Dimension and weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
System Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Your Acer Notebook tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Right View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Easy-Launch Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Touchpad basics (with two-click buttons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Using the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Lock Keys and embedded numeric keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Windows Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Hot Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Special Key (only for certain models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Using the System Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Hardware Specifications and Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
System Utilities 27
BIOS Setup Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Navigating the BIOS Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
BIOS Flash Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Remove HDD Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Machine Disassembly and Replacement 43
Disassembly Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Pre-disassembly Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Disassembly Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
External Module Disassembly Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
External Modules Disassembly Flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Removing the Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Removing the SD Dummy Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Removing the DIMM Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Removing the Back Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Removing the Hard Disk Drive Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Removing the WLAN Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Removing the Optical Drive Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Main Unit Disassembly Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Main Unit Disassembly Flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Removing the Middle Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Removing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Removing the LCD Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Separating the Upper Case from the Lower Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Removing the Fingerprint and Touchpad Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Removing the Left Speaker Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Removing the USB Board Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Removing the Modem Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Removing the Bluetooth Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

VIII
Table of Contents
Removing the Right Speaker Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Removing the Main Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Removing the Heatsink Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Removing the CPU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
LCD Module Disassembly Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
LCD Module Disassembly Flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Removing the LCD Bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Removing the LCD panel with the Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Removing the LCD Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Removing the FPC Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Removing the Antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Removing the Web Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Troubleshooting 97
System Check Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
External Diskette Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
External CD-ROM Drive Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Keyboard or Auxiliary Input Device Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Memory Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Power System Check. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Touchpad Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Error Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Index of Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Index of Symptom-to-FRU Error Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Intermittent Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Undetermined Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Connector Locations 115
Main Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Clearing Password Check and BIOS Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Clearing Password Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
BIOS Recovery by Crisis Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List 123
Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338 Series and
Aspire 5536/5536G/5236 Series Exploded Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Model Definition and Configuration 170
Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338 Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
Aspire 5536/5536G/5236 Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202
Test Compatible Components 217
Microsoft® Windows® Vista Environment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
Online Support Information 221
Index 223

Chapter 1 1
Features
Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:
Platform
For Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338 Series
• Intel
®
Centrino
®
2 processor technology, featuring:
• Intel
®
Core
â„¢
2 Duo processor
• Mobile Intel® PM45/GM45 Express Chipset*
• Intel
®
Wireless WiFi Link 5100/5300*
• Intel
®
Wireless WiFi Link 5150/5350*
• Intel
®
Pentium
®
mobile processor*
• Intel
®
Celeron
®
mobile processor*
• Mobile Intel
®
GM45/GL40 Express Chipset*
• Acer InviLink
â„¢
Nplify
â„¢
802.11b/g/Draft-N*
• Acer InviLink
â„¢
802.11b/g*
For Aspire 5536/5536G/5236 Series
AMD Better By Design program, featuring:
• AMD Turion
â„¢
X2 dual-core processor*
• AMD Athlon
â„¢
64 X2 dual-core processor*
• Mobile AMD Sempron
â„¢
processor*
• AMD M780G Chipset
• Acer InviLink
â„¢
Nplify
â„¢
802.11b/g/Draft-N*
• Acer InviLink
â„¢
802.11b/g*
System memory
For Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338 Series
• Dual-channel SDRAM support
• Up to 2 GB of DDR2 667 MHz memory, upgradeable to 4 GB using two soDIMM modules
• Up to 2 GB of DDR3 800 MHz memory, upgradeable to 4 GB using two soDIMM modules*
• Up to 2 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, upgradeable to 4 GB using two soDIMM modules*
• Up to 4 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, upgradeable to 8 GB using two soDIMM modules*
For Aspire 5536/5536G/5236 Series
• Dual-channel SDRAM support
• Up to 2 GB of DDR2 667 MHz memory, upgradeable to 4 GB using two soDIMM modules*
• Up to 4 GB of DDR2 667 MHz memory, upgradeable to 8 GB using two soDIMM modules*
System Specifications
Chapter 1

2 Chapter 1
Display and graphics
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 15.6" HD 1366 x 768
• VGA Controller
For Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338 Series:
• Mobile Intel
®
GL40 Express Chipset*
• Mobile Intel
®
GM45 Express Chipset*
• NVIDIA
®
GeForce
®
G105M*
For Aspire 5536/5536G/5236 Series:
• ATI Radeon™ HD 3200 Graphics*
• AATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4570*
• Screen resolution support
• 1366*768
• 1280*768
• 1280*720
• 1024*768
• 800*600
Storage subsystem
• 2.5" hard disk drive
• Optical drive options:
• Blu-ray Disc
â„¢
/DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive*
• DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive*
• 5-in-1 card reader
Special keys and controls
• 103-/104-/107-key keyboard
• Touchpad pointing device
Audio
• Dolby
®
-optimized surround sound system with two built-in stereo speakers
• True 5.1-channel surround sound output
• High-definition audio support
• S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) support for digital speakers
• MS-Sound compatible
• Built-in microphone
Communication
• Acer Video Conference, featuring:
• Integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam*
• Optional Acer Xpress VoIP phone*
• Wi-Fi/WiMAX: Intel
®
Wireless WiFi Link 5150/5350* (For Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338
Series only)
• WWAN: UMTS/HSPA at 850/1900/2100 MHz and quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900
MHz)* (For Aspire 5738G/5738ZG/5738Z/5738/5338 Series only)
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Description
This official factory service and repair manual is designed for the Acer Aspire 5738G, 5738ZG, 5738Z, 5738, 5338 Series, as well as the Aspire 5536, 5536G, and 5236 Series laptops. It is available in English and spans a total of 232 pages. The manual is keyword searchable, providing ease of use for both professional mechanics and DIY enthusiasts.
- File Format: PDF
- DELIVERED Format IN: PDF
- ZOOM IN/OUT: Yes
- Printable: Yes
- QUALITY OF MANUAL: Factory
This comprehensive manual is instantly accessible without any shipping costs or the need to wait for a CD-ROM, making it a valuable resource for all your repair needs.