Epson 486SX manual

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FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio[...]

EPSON® User’s Guide[...]

IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not [...]

Important Safety Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning, not liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Do not use this product near water. D[...]

12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Guide, do not attempt to service this product yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. 13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: A. When the power cord or plug is damaged. B. If liquid has e[...]

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Contents Introduction Optional Equipment ........................ 2 Operating Systems and Other Software ............. 2 VGA Utilities ............................. 3 How to Use This Manual ...................... 3 Where to Get Help ......................... 5 Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System 1 Choosing a Location ........................ 1-1 2 Rem[...]

Setting the Display Adapter Type . . . . . . Setting the Power-on Password . . . . . . . . Setting the Extended Memory Caching . . . Setting the Processor Speed . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Keyboard and Speaker Options . Setting the Real-time Clock . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Hard Disk Drive Configuration . Hard Disk Drive Types . . . . . . [...]

Using Expanded Memory Beyond 640KB ............ 4-12 Using Special VGA Features .................... 4-13 Chapter 5 Accessing Internal Components Special Precautions ......................... 5-1 Removing the Cover ........................ 5-2 Removing the Front Panel ..................... 5-4 Removing the Subassembly .................... 5-6 Repla[...]

Installing a Drive ........................ 7-17 Connecting the Cables ..................... 7-18 Appendix A Physically Formatting a Hard Disk Choosing the Type of Format .................... A-2 Formatting a New Disk .................... A-3 Reformatting a Used Disk ................... A-4 Selecting an Option ....................... A-4 Starting t[...]

Printer Problems ........................... B-24 Option Card Problems ....................... B-26 Mouse Problems ........................... B-27 Using the MOUSE7PT.EXE Program ............ B-27 Memory Module Problems ..................... B-29 Math Coprocessor Problems .................... B-30 Appendix C Performing System Diagnostics Starting S[...]

Introduction You’ve chosen a powerful, versatile Epson@ computer, ideally suited for use in a network or as a high-performance personal workstation. Whether you have the 25 MHz model or the 50 MHz model (with built-in math coprocessor), your system includes 4MB of internal memory, a built-in VGA display adapter, built-in parallel and serial inter[...]

Optional Equipment You can easily upgrade your computer by installing additional memory and adding just about any optional device that is compatible with the IBM Personal Computer, PC XT, TM or PC AT®. By adding memory modules to the memory card, you can expand the computer’s memory up to 16MB. If you have the 25 MHz model and want to speed up m[...]

VGA Utilities Epson has included special VGA device drivers and utilities for use with your built-in VGA adapter. With these utilities, you can take advantage of extended VGA features such as 16-color graphics mode resolutions up to 1024 x 768 (non-interlaced), 256-color resolutions up to 640 x 480, and 132-column text mode. The VGA device drivers [...]

Chapter 6 describes some of the options you can use in your computer and contains instructions for setting jumpers and installing various options. Chapter 7 explains how to install and remove disk drives. Appendix A describes how to perform a low-level format on a hard disk. Appendix B contains troubleshooting tips. Appendix C covers the system dia[...]

Where to Get Help If you purchased your Epson product in the United States, Epson America provides local customer support and service through a nationwide network of authorized Epson dealers and Service Centers. Epson also provides the following support services through the Epson Customer Resource Center at (800) 922-8911: cl cl ci cl CI cl Technic[...]

Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System Setting up your Epson personal computer is easy. Just follow the eight steps in this chapter. You may want to leave this manual’s back cover foldout open so you can refer to the illustrations identifying the different parts. Before you begin, make sure your computer is turned off by pressing the power button on th[...]

Before you set up your computer, it’s important to choose a safe, convenient location that provides the following: cl A sturdy desk or table strong enough to support the weight of your system and all of its components. A flat, hard surface. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted floors attract static electricity, which can erase data on your disks,[...]

2 Removing the Protector Card If you have a 544inch diskette drive, a protector card has been inserted in the diskette slot at the factory to protect the drive’s read/write heads. To remove it, either flip up the latch or press the release button to pop the card out part way. Then pull it all the way out. Save any protector cards you remove; you [...]

Using the VGA Interface Follow these steps to connect your VGA monitor to the VGA port on the computer: 1. Make sure your monitor and computer are turned off. 2. Place your monitor on top of or near the computer. For easy access, turn the monitor and computer around so the backs of both components are facing you. 3. If necessary, connect the monito[...]

Caution To avoid damaging the connector, take care not to bend the pins when you insert the plug. 5. If the connector has retaining screws, be sure to tighten them. 6. Plug the monitor power cord into the monitor’s power inlet, as shown below. 7. Plug the other end of the power cord into a properly grounded (earthed) electrical outlet. Setting Up[...]

Using a Display Adapter Card If you are using a non-VGA monitor, you’ll need to install a display adapter (video) card in one of the computer’s option slots before you can connect the monitor. (Your dealer may have already installed the video card for you.) If the video card is not installed, follow the instructions in Chapter 6 to install an o[...]

If you install one or more cards, you also may need to set jumper JP6 to tell the computer the type of monitor you are using: monochrome or color. If you have two types of cards, set the jumper to indicate which one is your primary monitor type. See Chapter 6 for instructions on changing jumper settings. Once you have installed your video card, ret[...]

3. One end of the printer cable has a 25-pin, D-shell connector. Position the plug to match the orientation of the parallel port (marked with a special icon); then insert it into the port, as shown below. If the plug has retaining screws, be sure to tighten them. 4. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer, as shown below. To secure the ca[...]

5. Plug the printer’s power cord into a properly grounded (earthed) electrical outlet. Using the Serial Interface If you have a printer, a modem, or other peripheral device with a serial interface, you can connect it to the serial (RS-232C) port on the back of the computer. The serial port has a DB-9P connector, so be sure you have a compatible c[...]

5 Connecting the Keyboard Follow these steps to connect the keyboard: 1. Make sure the computer is turned off. 2. Hold the keyboard cable connector so the arrow indicator on the housing faces up. Insert the connector into the port marked with the keyboard icon, as shown below. Caution Although the connectors and ports for the keyboard and mouse are[...]

3. You can raise the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. To change the angle of the keyboard, turn it over and flip each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown below. recessed tab If you want to lower the keyboard, press down on the recessed tab (labelled L or R) and lower the leg into the slot. 6 Connecting the Mouse Your compute[...]

Follow these steps to connect a mouse: 1. Make sure the computer is turned off. 2. Hold the mouse connector so it is oriented properly with its port (marked with a mouse icon). Insert the connector as shown below. interchangeably. Be sure to plug the mouse only into the 3. After you connect a mouse, you may need to add commands to your MS-DOS CONFI[...]

7 Connecting the Power Cord Follow these steps to connect the power cord: 1. Plug the power cord into the AC power inlet on the back panel, as shown below. WARNING To avoid an electric shock, be sure to plug the cord into the computer before plugging it into the electrical outlet. 2. Plug the other end of the power cord into a properly grounded (ea[...]

8 Turning On the Computer After you set up your system, you’re ready to turn on the power. But first, read the following safety rules to avoid accidentally damaging your computer or injuring yourself: Do not connect or disconnect any peripheral device or power cables when the computer’s power is on. Never turn on the computer with a protector c[...]

4. To turn on the computer, press the power button located on the right side of the front panel, as shown below. power The power indicator below the button lights up. After a few seconds, the computer starts to perform a diagnostic self test- a series of checks it completes each time you turn it on to make sure everything is working correctly. Note[...]

Turning Off the Computer When you are ready to turn off your system, reverse the sequence of steps you followed to turn it on. Turn off the computer first, then turn off the monitor and any peripheral devices. Now go on to Chapter 2 and follow the instructions to run the Setup program. 1-16 Setting Up Your System[...]

Chapter 2 Running the Setup Program The first time you use your computer, you need to run the Setup program on the Reference diskette to define the computer’s configuration. You may also need to run it again later, if you change the configuration. The Setup program automatically configures parts of your system and lets you set (or change) the fol[...]

Automatic Configuration Your computer automatically defines your system’s memory configuration and recognizes whether the CPU chip contains a math coprocessor. It also detects and configures most of the devices you have installed in your system. For this reason, you may not need to change any of the default settings in the Setup program. However,[...]

3. Turn on your system. (Remember to turn on your monitor and any peripheral devices before you turn on the computer.) The screen displays the Operation Menu: OPERATION MENU 1- Setup 2 - Format hard disk 3- System diagnostics 4 - Prepare hard disk for moving 0 - Exit to DOS for more utilities If an error message appears when you turn on the compute[...]

Continuing From an Error Message If your computer has never been set up, you may see an error message, such as the following: 162 - System options not set (Run SETUP in REFERENCE DISK) (Resume = "F1" key) If you see an error message like this one, follow these steps: 1. Press I. The computer beeps and the screen displays a message, such a[...]

2. Be sure Y is highlighted and press IEnter The Setup program changes the setting that caused the error to one that is more likely to match your configuration. The screen displays the main Setup menu: Exit Display Password Cache memory Processor speed Keyboard/Sound Real-time clock Hard disk drive Diskette drive Serial/Parallel You should check al[...]

Moving the Cursor Block Use 1 and 1‘ to move the cursor block (the highlighted bar) through the options on the main Setup menu. After you highlight the option you want, press [Enter to select it. Note If the arrow keys on the numeric keypad do not appear to work, num lock mode may be enabled (turned on). If the Num Lock indicator in the upper rig[...]

Note If you have installed an EGA or VGA display adapter card, or another type of card that you want to be the primary display adapter, you must set jumper JP4 on the main system board to disable the built-in VGA interface. If you have installed one or more video cards, you also may need to set jumper JP6 to tell the computer the type of monitor yo[...]

3. Press m to move the cursor block into this submenu and then use I’ or 1 to highlight the option that matches your display adapter type. If you are not sure which one to choose, follow these guidelines: tl If you are using the built-in VGA adapter or have installed a VGA, EGA, or MCGA card, select EGA, MCGA,VGA or other. tl If you have a color [...]

4. After you highlight the appropriate display adapter type, press IEnter The screen displays your new setting. 5. Highlight *** SAVE SETTING *** and press CEnter] to return to the main Setup menu. Setting the Power-on Password A power-on password is an optional feature that lets you control who can access your system. If you do not want to set a p[...]

Note If a password already exists, this message appears: Power-on password already installed The Setup program does not allow you to enter a new password if you have already set one. However, you can easily change or delete the current password if you know it. See “Using a Power-on Password” in Chapter 3 for instructions. 4. To enter a password[...]

6. If you want to change the network server mode setting, highlight Network server mode. To turn network server mode on or off, press w). You must set a power-on password to turn on network server mode. If you did not yet enter a password, this message appears: Set a power-on password first To enter a password, highlight Power-on password and follo[...]

Your computer automatically enables memory caching for the 640KB of base memory. For the memory above 1MB, the Setup program allows you to turn extended memory caching on or off. The default setting is on for all the extended memory currently installed in your system from 1MB up to the maximum. Most of the time, you should cache all of your extende[...]

2. To change the setting, press m. The cursor block moves to Extended memory caching. 3. Press m again. The cursor block moves to the first range in the cache table. To change the setting for the first range from ON to OFF or vice versa, press (Enter. 4. If you installed memory above 4MB, press + three times to move the cursor block to the 4MB to 5[...]

You can also set the processor to change its speed automatically. This enables the computer to switch to low speed whenever it needs to access a diskette drive, but run at high speed for all other operations. Note You may not want to use the automatic setting for certain copy-protected programs. See “Changing the Processor Speed” in Chapter 4 f[...]

3. Press [Enter] to move the cursor block into the option menu. 4. Use ? or 1 to highlight the speed you want and press IEnter 5. Highlight ** SAVE SETTING ** and press m to return to the main Setup menu. Setting the Keyboard and Speaker Options The Keyboard/Sound option lets you control these three features: Ci Speaker tl Initial num lock mode Cl [...]

1. 2. 3. 4. Note If you are using the keyboard that came with your computer (or another IBM AT compatible keyboard), the default setting for the initial num lock setting is ON. If you are using a keyboard that has 83 or 84 keys, the initial num lock default setting is OFF. The keyboard repeat rate option lets you change the speed at which your keyb[...]

5. To change the keyboard repeat rate, highlight KB repeat rate. You see the following option menu: Slow Normal Fast 6. Press m to move the cursor block into the menu. 7. Use ? or 1 to highlight the speed you want and press IEnter 8. Highlight *** SAVE SETTINGS *** and press @@ to return to the main Setup menu. Setting the Real-time Clock The real-[...]

Follow these steps to set the real-time clock: 1. At the main menu, highlight Real-time clock. If the time and date have been previously set, the current settings appear: Time 09:16:52 Date 03-29-1992 If the time and date are correct, you can skip the rest of this section. If the time and date are incorrect, go to step 2 below. If the time and date[...]

You can use the backspace key to make corrections. When the time is correct, press [Enter. If you enter an invalid time-for example, a number greater than 23 for the hours or greater than 59 for the minutes or seconds-the computer ignores your entry. Try again. 5. To set or change the date, highlight Date and press IEnter You see this template: mm-[...]

Setting the Hard Disk Drive Configuration If your computer came with a factory-installed hard disk, your hard disk configuration has already been set and you can skip this section. If you installed or removed a hard disk, follow these steps to set the computer’s hard disk configuration: 1. At the main menu, highlight Hard disk drive. Your current[...]

2. Press IEnter You see a menu such as the following: Drive 1: Type 34 Drive 2: None Number of cylinders 723 Number of cylinders Nunher of heads 13 Number of heads Number of sectors 51 Number of sectors Precomp. cylinder OFFFF Precomp. cylinder Landing zone 722 Landing zone Total capacity (MB) 234.06 Total capacity (MB) The menu lists the settings [...]

5. If you have disconnected the drive or if the drive does not exist, highlight None and press [Enter. All the drive settings revert to 0. Go to step 8. If your hard disk matches one of the drive types listed in the Hard disk drive types table, go to step 6. If your hard disk does not match one of the drive types listed in the Hard disk drive types[...]

7. If your hard disk does not match one of the drive types listed in the Hard disk drive types table, highlight User defined and press [Enter. You see the following: Number of cylinders 000 The same parameter is highlighted on the submenu above. Enter the correct number of cylinders and press IEnter The information for Number of cylinders is automa[...]

Hard Disk Drive Types The following table lists the types of hard disk drives you can use in your computer. Check this table and the documentation supplied with your hard disk to find the correct type number for the hard disk drive(s) installed in your computer. Hard disk drive types 2-24 Running the Setup Program[...]

Hard disk drive types (continued) Running the Setup Program 2-25[...]

Hard disk drive types (continued) l Supported in translate mode. l * With Western Digital ESDI controller. 2-26 Running the Setup Program[...]

Setting the Diskette Drive Type(s) Your system probably came with one factory-installed diskette drive. If you added a second diskette drive or removed one, you may need to change the diskette drive settings to match your configuration. If you haven’t made any changes, you can verify your drive type settings. Follow these steps: 1. At the main me[...]

4. the correct capacity for your diskette The screen displays the type you selected. If you want to enter the type for another diskette drive, return to step 3. 5. When the diskette drive settings are correct, highlight ** SAVE SETTINGS * * and press I. The cursor block returns to the main Setup menu and you see the updated information for drives A[...]

Follow these steps to change your built-in serial and parallel interface settings: 1. 2. 3. 4. At the main menu, highlight Serial/Parallel. The current settings for each port appear: Serial Primary Parallel Primary Press m to move the cursor block into the submenu. You see this additional option menu: Disabled Primary Secondary If you want to chang[...]

If you want to change the setting for the other port, return to step 3. 5. When the serial and parallel port settings are correct, highlight ** * SAVE SETTINGS *** and press IEnter The cursor block returns to the main Setup menu and you see your updated serial and parallel interface settings. Reviewing Your Settings When you finish using the Setup [...]

There are two more Setup summary screens you need to check. To display the next screen, press m. You see the following: Real-time clock Diskette drive Speaker Initial num lock Keyboard repeat rate Time Date Drive A: Drive B: 13:40:38 03-29-1992 not installed 1.44 MB None Enabled ON Normal Serial Parallel Primary Primary If you have never set the re[...]

To view the last Setup summary screen, press m. You see your hard disk drive configuration(s): Hard disk drive Drive 1: Type 34 Number of cylinders Number of heads Number of sectors Precomp. cylinder Landing zone Total capacity (MB) 723 13 51 OFFFF 722 234.06 Drive 2: None Number of cylinders Number of heads Number Of Sectors Precomp. cylinder Land[...]

If you want to save the settings you entered, highlight ** EXIT AND S A VE ** and press m at a Setup summary screen. The Setup program stores the new settings and resets the computer using the new configuration. If you have set a password, you need to enter it at the key prompt. (See “Using a Power-on Password” in Chapter 3 for instructions.) T[...]

Chapter 3 Using Your Computer This chapter briefly describes the following procedures for using your computer: Q Installing MS-DOS or another operating system CI Copying the Reference and Utility diskette files tl Locking the computer’s cover Cl Using special keys on the keyboard CI Stopping a command or program tl Resetting the computer tl Using[...]

Copying the Reference and Utility Files If you have a hard disk, you’ll probably want to copy some of the files on your Reference and Utility diskettes to the hard disk for convenience. This allows you to run the programs any time without having to insert a diskette. Copy the following files from the Reference diskette to your hard disk: AFDD.EXE[...]

Locking the Computer’s Cover You can lock the cover onto the computer to prevent unauthorized users from accessing its internal components. To lock the cover, insert the key as shown on the left and turn it clockwise. To unlock the cover, insert the key as shown on the right and turn it counterclockwise. Special Keys on the Keyboard Certain keys [...]

I Purpose Works with other keys to perform special (control) functions, such as editing operations in MS-DOS and various application programs. Works with other keys to enter alternate character codes or functions. Moves the cursor back one space, deleting the character to the left of the cursor. Ends a line of keyboard input or executes a Turns the[...]

Stopping a Command or Program You may sometimes need to stop a command or program while it is running. If you have entered an MS-DOS command that you want to stop, try one of the following commands: Cl Hold down the m key and press [cl. D Hold down the [ key and press w. These methods may also work in your application program. If not, you may need [...]

To reset the computer, the operating system must be either on the hard disk or on a diskette in drive A; so if you do not have a hard disk, insert the system diskette in drive A. There are two ways to reset the computer: Ll If you are using MS-DOS, hold down m and [ and press the [Delete] key. The screen goes blank for a moment and then the compute[...]

After you type the password correctly and press ml, a happy face character appears. Then the computer loads the operating system and displays the command prompt. Note If you turned on network server mode when you ran the Setup program, you need to use a different procedure to enter your password. See “Using Your Computer as a Network Server” in[...]

Do not use characters requiring the m key, such as $, @, or *, in your new password. 3. Press IEnter A happy face character appears and then the computer loads the operating system. Deleting a Power-on Password To delete your power-on password, follow these steps: 1. If you do not have a hard disk, insert your system diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on[...]

Preparing the Hard Disk for Moving If you need to move your computer to a new location, you may want to run the HDSIT program (on your Reference diskette) to protect the hard disk during the move. HDSIT moves (or parks) the disk drive’s read/write heads to a region on the disk surface that does not contain data, and locks them securely in positio[...]

Chapter 4 Enhancing System Operations This chapter tells you how to use the following procedures to enhance the operation of your computer: Ll Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and other batch files a Changing the processor speed Ll Reassigning the diskette drives CI Using your computer as a network server tl Using expanded memory beyond 640KB 0 Using special VGA[...]

One batch file that you may find particularly useful is called AUTOEXEC.BAT. Every time you turn on your computer, MS-DOS looks for the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and automatically executes each of the commands in the file. When you install MS-DOS, it creates an AUTOEXEC.BAT file for you. To modify the file or replace it with a new one, you can use the COPY[...]

Some copy-protected programs require the computer to run at low speed while accessing the program on a diskette. These programs also usually require you to leave a key disk-the diskette that contains the copy protection-in the diskette drive. If you use a copy-protected program often, you may want to set your processor speed to change automatically[...]

If you frequently use programs that require low or automatic speed, use Setup to change the processor speed. See Chapter 2 for instructions. If you use these programs only occasionally, you should use the keyboard commands or the ESPEED program (described below) to change the processor speed. Entering Keyboard Commands You can change the processor [...]

The speed setting remains in effect until you press the RESET button or turn off the computer, or until you change it again using the Setup program, another keyboard command, or the ESPEED program, described below. Using the ESPEED Program ESPEED provides an easy way to change the processor speed if your application program does not recognize the m[...]

(This command sets the processor speed to change to low speed automatically when the computer accesses a diskette.) If you include the switch when you type the initial ESPEED command, the program changes the speed without displaying the command options. The processor speed you set remains in effect until you change it using the Setup program, a key[...]

Reassigning the Diskette Drives If your system has two diskette drives, they are connected inside your computer so that the top drive is A and the bottom drive is B. Because drive A is the boot drive, whenever you want to load the operating system or a bootable program from a diskette, you must insert the diskette into drive A. If both of your driv[...]

Using the AFDD Program AFDD reverses the current diskette drive assignments and resets the system. When you are done using the reversed drive assignments, you can use the AFDD program again to reassign the drives to their original configuration. The AFDD program is provided with your system on the Reference diskette. If you do not have a hard disk,[...]

If you are running the AFDD program from a hard disk, you can reassign the drives and reset the corn Type the following command and press AFDD /S The /S switch tells the AFDD program to reset the computer, load MS-DOS, and change the diskette drive assignments without displaying the messages. Note You may want to run AFDD by including the command i[...]

If you set a power-on password but do not turn on network server mode, you enter the password before the computer loads the operating system or the network software. Once you load it, anyone can access your system by typing commands on the keyboard. However, if you set a password and turn on network server mode, you can load your operating system o[...]

Using a Password in Network Server Mode When you turn on or reset the computer, it loads your operating system or network software and you see either the command prompt or the first screen displayed by your network software. Follow these steps to enter your password: 1. Turn on or reset your computer. You do not see the key prompt ( @rrr ) even tho[...]

Using Expanded Memory Beyond 640KB Your computer comes with 4MB of random access memory. MS-DOS and your application programs that run under MS-DOS use the first 640KB of memory. You can use the unused memory above 640KB as extended memory, or you can convert it to expanded memory, as described below. Expanded memory is used by application programs[...]

Using Special VGA Features Your built-in VGA display adapter supports standard VGA monitors and multi-frequency monitors with analog connectors. The VGA adapter allows these monitors to operate in all standard VGA modes without requiring any special device drivers. However, if you want to use extended VGA modes, you can install one or more of the d[...]

The Utility diskettes that came with your computer contain device drivers for various application programs, as well as special utilities that allow you to enhance VGA performance. See the VGA Utilities booklet for more information about VGA device drivers and utilities. 4-14 Enhancing System Operations[...]

Chapter 5 Accessing Internal Components To access your computer’s internal components, you need to remove the cover. In some cases, you may also need to remove the front panel and the subassembly (the metal case that holds the drive bays). The instructions in this chapter explain how to do these tasks: Ll Remove and replace the cover Ll Remove an[...]

0 Every time you remove the cover, be sure to ground yourself by touching the inside of the computer’s back panel before you touch any components inside. If you are not properly grounded, you could conduct static electricity and damage your components. Also, do not touch any components except those that this manual instructs you to touch. Ll When[...]

Follow these steps to remove the cover: 1. 2. 3. 4. Turn off the computer and any peripheral devices connected to it. Then disconnect the computer’s power cord from the electrical outlet and from the back panel. Also disconnect any peripheral device cables that are connected to the computer, including the keyboard cable. Turn the computer around [...]

5. Grasp the sides of the cover (toward the front of the computer) and pull it firmly toward you, as shown below. Then lift it up and off the computer. Removing the Front Panel You must remove the computer’s front panel if you need to install or remove a disk drive from the external drive bay or if you need to remove the subassembly from the comp[...]

2. Release the six tabs securing the front panel to the computer case, as shown below. You may want to use a flat-blade screwdriver to release the tabs. 3. Once these tabs are free, grasp the sides of the front panel and pull it straight toward you to disengage the two tabs at the bottom, as shown below. Be careful not to pull the panel off at an a[...]

Removing the Subassembly You need to remove the subassembly only if you are installing or removing the hard disk drive that is mounted next to the power supply. Follow these steps: 1. Turn the computer so you are facing the front panel. 2. Disconnect the power supply and drive cables from the backs of all the drives installed in your computer, as s[...]

3. Open the clasp holding the power supply and drive cables to the side of the subassembly, as shown below. Then remove all the cables from the clasp. 4. Grasp the back of the subassembly by the edge on its upper left side, as shown below, and lift up the back end. 5. Pull the subassembly forward slightly to release it from the two pins beneath the[...]

Replacing the Subassembly Follow these steps to replace the subassembly: 1. Turn the computer so you are facing the front panel. 2. Hold the subassembly at a slight angle and guide the front of it down through the opening in the front of the computer, as shown below. 3. Fit the two holes in the lower front of the subassembly over the two posts on t[...]

4. Lower the back end of the subassembly into the computer. If necessary, fit the post beneath the back right edge of the subassembly into the hole on the top of the power supply. Then lower the subassembly all the way down. 5. If necessary, connect the diskette drive cable to the FDD socket on the main board, then connect the hard disk drive cable[...]

7. Connect the power supply and drive cables to the backs of all your drives, as described in Chapter 7. Replacing the Front Panel Follow these steps to replace the computer’s front panel: 1. Turn the computer so you are facing its front. 2. Align the openings in the front panel with the power button, RESET button, and drives that extend out from[...]

Replacing the Cover Follow these steps to replace the computer’s cover: 1. Turn the computer so you are facing the back panel. 2. Hold the cover at a slight angle, as shown below, and lower the front part onto the computer. Then lower the back of the cover. 3. Slide the cover forward until the front edge overlaps the top edge of the front panel. [...]

Post-installation Setup Any time you install or remove a math coprocessor or memory modules, you must run the Setup program on your Reference diskette so it can automatically update the computer’s configuration information. You must also run Setup if you install or remove any other type of option, such as an option card or a disk drive. For examp[...]

You may also want to test a newly-installed option. Some options come with their own diagnostics programs; however, you can test the following with the System diagnostics program on your Reference diskette: Ll System memory Lt Math coprocessor Ci Serial and parallel ports tl Disk drives Q Monitors and display adapters Cl Dot matrix printers. See Ap[...]

Chapter 6 Installing and Removing Options You can enhance the performance of your computer by adding a variety of options, including the following: Q Option cards CI Memory modules Li An 80487SX microprocessor with built-in math coprocessor (for the 25 MHz model). An option card is a circuit board you install in your computer to add a particular fu[...]

A math coprocessor speeds up the numeric calculations and graphic displays your computer performs when using certain application software. The 50 MHz model includes a built-in math coprocessor. If you have the 25 MHz model and you want math coprocessor capabilities, you must remove your 80486SX microprocessor and install the 80487SX microprocessor [...]

Main System Board As you follow the instructions in this chapter and in Chapter 7, use the illustration below to locate the necessary components on your main system board. VGA monitor parallel port port ^^_:-I --A a option slots 1 l-4 llbll IWI lull I * 25 MHz system only keyboard port , (CN2) 37 power w- supply connectors icroprocessor diskette [...]

Jumper Settings If you change your computer’s configuration or need to alter the way it operates, you may need to change a jumper setting inside the computer. A jumper is a small electrical connector that controls one of the computer’s functions. The jumper settings in your computer are preset at the factory; however, you can control certain fe[...]

A jumper’s setting is determined by where the jumper is placed on the pins. The jumper connects either pin A and the middle pin (position A) or pin B and the middle pin (position B), as shown below. position A position B J=&!gB L$gA &zJg A A A The following tables list the jumper settings and their functions. Miscellaneous jumper settings[...]

Jumper settings for base memory Base memory Jumper JP13 640KB A’ Jumper JP14 A’ 512KB B A 256KB B B l Factory setting Jumper settings for extended memory l Factory setting Jumper settings for alternate 25 MHz microprocessor Jumper Jumper Function number setting JP2 A B* 80487SX installed; NMI signal 80486SX installed; NMI signal 80487SX install[...]

Changing the Jumper Settings If you need to change any jumper settings, follow these steps: 1. Remove any option cards that may be blocking your access to the jumpers. See page 6-12 for instructions. 2. Change the jumper settings as necessary according to the tables above. To move a jumper from one position to the other, use needle-nose pliers or t[...]

Option Cards Your computer has six standard option slots: five 16-bit slots and one 8-bit access slot. Each slot can accommodate an option card. You can buy option cards from authorized Epson dealers as well as other vendors. Before you install an option card, check the power requirements given in the card’s documentation. Make sure that the powe[...]

The illustration of the main system board on page 6-3 shows the six standard option slots inside your computer. Slot 5 is designed for an 8-bit option card and slots 0 through 4 are designed for 16-bit cards. As you can see below, a 16-bit card has an extra connector along the bottom. 16-bit card 8-bit card Usually it does not matter which slot an [...]

Installing Option Cards Follow these steps to install an option card: 1. If you are installing an option card that controls a mouse, you need to change the setting of jumper JP7 before you install the card. If you install a display adapter card, you may need to change the settings of jumpers JP4 and JP6. If this is the case, see page 6-4 for instru[...]

3. Unpack the option card. When you handle it, be careful not to touch any of the components on the circuit board or the gold-edged connectors. If you need to set it down before you install it, place it gently on top of its original packing material with the component side facing up. Keep the packing materials in case you remove the card later. Adj[...]

6. Secure the end of the card to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. 7. Follow the instructions in Chapter 5 to replace the computer’s cover. Then see “Post-installation Setup Procedures” at the end of that chapter for information on updating your computer’s configuration settings. Removing an Option Card If you need to remov[...]

Memory Modules Your computer comes with 4MB of memory soldered onto the memory card in your computer. By installing SIMMs (single inline memory modules) on this card, you can increase the amount of memory in your computer up to 16MB. Caution It is best to have your dealer install memory modules for you because they can be damaged easily if installe[...]

Installing Memory Modules There are 12 SIMM sockets on the memory card organized in three banks consisting of four sockets each. Each socket can contain one memory module. You must fill all of the sockets in any bank you use. Since each bank has four sockets, you must install four SIMMs to fill up the bank. The following table shows all the possibl[...]

Removing the memory card Follow these steps to remove the memory card from your computer: 1. Remove the screw securing the memory card to the bracket at the front of the computer case, as shown below. 2. Grasp the top of the card and pull it straight up and out of its socket. 3. Gently place it on your work surface with the component side facing up[...]

Installing SlMMs Follow these steps to install SIMMs: 1. Turn the memory card on your work surface so the connectors at the bottom of the board are toward you. The sockets are labeled as shown below. 2. It is easiest to install SIMMs in the left sockets first. Position each SIMM with the notched edge toward the top of the socket and insert it on th[...]

3. Gently push the SIMM into the socket and then tilt it left until it is vertical. The SIMM should snap into place between the tabs and the retaining posts. If it does not go in smoothly, do not force it; pull it all the way out and try again. Make sure the SIMM is fully inserted into the socket and that the pins on the retaining posts extend thro[...]

Removing SlMMs If you need to remove SIMMs from your computer, have your dealer do it for you or follow the steps below. If you remove them yourself, check the table on page 6-14 to be sure you remove SIMMs from the correct sockets. Follow these steps to remove SIMMs: 1. Turn the memory card on your work surface so the connectors at the bottom of t[...]

4. Set the appropriate main system board jumpers to indicate the total amount of memory you now have. See “Jumper Settings” on page 6-4 for instructions. 5. Follow the instructions below to reinstall the memory card. Replacing the memory card Follow these steps to replace the memory card in your computer: 1. Hold the card by its top corners and[...]

Chapter 7 Installing and Removing Drives The instructions in this chapter describe how to install and remove optional Epson drives in your computer. You can use these instructions to install a variety of devices, including diskette drives, hard disk drives, and tape drives. Even if your drive looks a bit different from the one illustrated here, you[...]

Using the Correct Drive Bay Your system can hold up to five half-height drives or a combination of third-, half-, and full-height drives. As shown below, there are two drive bays: the external drive bay and the internal drive bay. subassembly I internal drive bay external drive bay The external bay can accommodate up to three drives in the followin[...]

You can install 3Winch drives in the internal bays. In the external bay, you can install 51/4-inch drives or 3M-inch drives with 5%inch mounting frames attached. You also need to attach metal drive brackets to each drive you install in the external bay. Two sets of these brackets (with retaining screws) come in the box with your computer. The instr[...]

Changing the Jumper Settings The hard disk drive jumpers are usually located on the drive’s circuit board, near the large cable connector. jumpers The instructions in this section describe setting the jumpers on the factory-installed hard disk drive. The jumpers on your drive may be in a slightly different location, but you set them the same way.[...]

Set the jumpers according to the table below. Hard disk drive jumper settings X = jumper installed - = no jumper installed To move a jumper from one position to the other, use your fingers, needle-nose pliers, or tweezers to pull it off its pins and gently move it to the other position. Be careful not to drop the jumper or damage the pins as you in[...]

Installing or Removing a Drive in the External Bay This section describes how to install or remove an Epson diskette drive; however, you can use these instructions to install or remove another type of storage device. See the manual that came with it for additional installation instructions. Installing a Drive On each interior side of the external d[...]

Follow the steps below to install a disk drive in an external bay. 1. Locate the following parts included with your computer for each drive you will install: Lt two metal drive brackets Ci four retaining screws (with attached flat washers) tl two nuts (with attached star washers) 0 small wrench. 2. Attach one bracket to each side of the drive, as s[...]

3. Slide the drive into the bay as shown below, aligning the bracket screws on each side with the appropriate grooves in the drive bay guide. 4. Guide the holes in the front of the brackets over the threaded posts on the front of the subassembly. Then push the drive all the way into the bay. 5. Secure the drive to the drive bay with the two nuts. 6[...]

8. Locate one of the power supply cables (labelled P1 through P5) in the clasp on the left side of the subassembly. (You can use any one that is available.) Align the notched corners on the cable connector and the socket on the back of the drive, as shown below. Then push in the connector. 9. Locate the appropriate drive cable for the drive. If you[...]

Align the cable connector with the drive interface so that the divider in the connector lines up with the gap in the interface, as shown below. Then push in the connector. divider 11. To remove the slot cover for the drive you just installed, turn the front panel so you are facing the inside. Press outward on the slot cover tabs, as shown below, an[...]

12. Locate the hard disk drive cable. If you are installing your first hard disk drive, this cable came in the box with your computer. If you are installing a second drive, the cable is attached to your internal hard disk drive. Align the available cable connector with the drive socket so the row in the connector with the blocked hole lines up with[...]

Removing a Drive Follow these steps to remove a drive from the external drive bay: 1. Disconnect the power supply and drive cables from the back of the drive you want to remove, as shown below. 2. Use the small wrench to remove the two nuts securing the metal drive brackets to the front of the drive bay, as shown below. 7-12 Installing and Removing[...]

3. 4. 5. Grasp the front of the drive and pull it out. Note If you remove an IDE hard disk drive from the external bay and it is your only hard disk drive, you must also remove the hard disk drive cable from its connector on the main system board. First remove the cable from the clasp on the left side of the subassembly. Then disconnect the cable f[...]

Installing or Removing a Drive in the Internal Bay You can install only 3M-inch hard disk drives in your computer’s internal drive bay. If you are installing your first hard disk drive, install it in the position farthest from the power supply. power supply If you are installing or removing a hard disk drive in the position next to the power supp[...]

Removing a Drive Follow these steps to remove an internal drive: 1. Disconnect the power supply and drive cables from the drive (if you have not already done so), as shown below. drive cable power cable 2. Remove the four screws securing the drive to the internal drive bay. Installing and Removing Drives 7-15[...]

Note If you remove one IDE hard disk drive and are leaving another one in the system, you must set the jumpers on the remaining drive to indicate that you have only one IDE drive installed. Remove the other drive following steps 1 and 2, above; then see page 7-4 or the documentation that came with your hard disk drive for instructions on setting th[...]

connectors % 2. Adjust the drive’s position so that the four holes on the drive are aligned with the corresponding holes in the drive bay. Then secure the drive with four retaining screws. 3. Connect the drive and power supply cables, as described below. Installing and Removing Drives 7-17[...]

Connecting the Cables Follow these steps to connect the drive and power supply cables: 1. If the subassembly is out of the computer, follow the steps in Chapter 5 to replace it. 2. Locate one power supply cable for each drive you installed in the internal drive bay. You can use any of the free cables labeled P1 through P5. If you removed the subass[...]

If you are installing your second drive, the cable is already attached to your other drive; use the second connector on that cable. Connect the cable as described below; then skip to step 5. To connect the cable, align the cable connector with the drive interface so the row in the connector with the blocked hole lines up with the row in the interfa[...]

4. If you are installing your first hard disk drive, you also need to connect the drive cable to the main board. The hard disk drive socket is labeled HDD and is located to the right of the memory card. Connect the cable to the HDD socket, matching the notch on the socket to the tab on the cable. notch tab If you have difficulty reaching the socket[...]

Physically Formatting a Hard Disk Appendix A This appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk. Sometimes called a low-level format, this procedure should not be confused with the logical format performed by the operating system, such as the MS-DOS FORMAT command. Physically formatting a hard disk is a separate step that is usually done [...]

In addition to destroying all the data on the hard disk, physical formatting removes any partitions and logical formatting defined on the disk by your operating system. After you physically format a new or used hard disk, follow the instructions in your operating system manual to partition and format the hard disk to prepare it for use. Note Someti[...]

The formatting options work as follows: tl Format first scans the disk for defective (bad) tracks and lets you decide which tracks to mark as bad. Then it formats the disk and marks the bad tracks so they are never used to store data. Q Destructive surface analysis tests the entire disk for read/write errors or unflagged bad tracks and updates the [...]

Reformatting a Used Disk If you are reformatting a disk you have been using, follow these steps: 1. Use the Non-destructive surface analysis test to check for unflagged bad tracks. 2. If errors occur during the Non-destructive surface analysis, back up your hard disk to diskettes. 3. Run the Destructive surface analysis to update the defective trac[...]

Option 1, Format If you select Format from the Hard Disk Format Menu, you see the following (for a disk with no defective track table): Format Hard Disk < Drive 1: > Scan hard disk to get defective track information ? (Y/N) (If the disk already has a defective track table, you do not see the message because the disk does not need to be scanne[...]

For an Epson hard disk drive, it is best to accept the recommended skewed sector (also called the interleave factor) of 1 since this setting allows your drive to perform more efficiently. For other hard disk drives, you may need to change this value if the documentation that came with the disk recommends a different number. To accept the default, s[...]

4. The program now allows you to edit the defective track table. At the bottom of the table is this prompt: Modify defective track table ? (Y/N) Select N to leave the table as it is. Then skip the following section and go to “Formatting the Disk” on page A-8. To add bad tracks to the defective track table, see the next section. Modifying the De[...]

When you complete a valid entry, it appears in the table and you can add the next bad track, if necessary. If you make a mistake, move the cursor block to the incorrect track and press [cl to change the track data or press [Dl to delete the track from the table. Change the track data in the same way as you add a track. The maximum valid cylinder nu[...]

Select Y to cancel formatting (and check your backups) or N to continue. If you continue with formatting, you see: Format started. Head : nnn Cylinder : nnnnn The head and cylinder numbers decrease as the program progresses. When formatting is complete, the program flags any bad tracks and you see a series of messages like these: Format finished. F[...]

Caution If any errors occur during this check, all data on the track that produces the error is destroyed. For this reason, if you suspect an unflagged bad track is causing trouble, first run option 3, Non-destructive surface analysis, to check the disk surface. To start this test, select Destructive surface analysis from the Hard Disk Format Menu,[...]

If the program finds one bad track that is not flagged, the summary would show one track with a write, read error. The report is followed by a table like this: Write, Read Error Tracks Cylinder Head Cylinder Head Cylinder Head Cylinder Head 237 2 Confirm to register the tracks in the Write, Read Error Track Table as bad tracks. Do you want to regis[...]

Option 3, Non-destructive Surface Analysis The Non-destructive surface analysis does not destroy any data, and you can use it to safely check the condition of your hard disk drive. However, this test does not flag bad tracks. To start the test, select Non-destructive surf ace analysis from the Hard Disk Format Menu. You see these messages: Analyze [...]

Exiting the Hard Disk Format Menu To leave the Hard Disk Format Menu, select Exit. The screen displays the Operation Menu. If you formatted the hard disk with option 1 or 2, you must now install MS-DOS (or another operating system) on the hard disk to prepare it for use. Remove the Reference diskette from drive A and then follow the instructions in[...]

Appendix B Troubleshooting You should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and use your computer, but if anything out of the ordinary happens, refer to this appendix. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. Besides trying these suggestions, you can run diagnos[...]

2. At the MS-DOS command prompt, type VER and press IEnter The screen displays the MS-DOS version number. Write down the number so you can give it to your dealer. If you did not copy ROMBIOS.COM or you do not have a hard disk, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A and turn on or reset your computer. 2. At the Operation Men[...]

If the error is serious, the computer cancels further checking and halts system initialization. The error message remains on the screen and the computer locks up. If this happens, contact your dealer as soon as possible. Report the error messages when you request technical assistance. The following table lists all the error messages that may appear[...]

Power-on diagnostics error messages (continued) Error code Memory 171 173 BIOS shadow RAM error 1 Contact dealer Cache options error 201 Memory error 202 Memory address error 203 Memory address error Keyboard 301 Keyboard error 303 Keyboard or system unit error 304 Keyboard or system unit error Monitor 401 CRT error 501 CRT error Diskette drive(s) [...]

Power-on diagnostics error messages (continued) Error code Hard disk drive(s) and controller 1760 1761 1770 1771 1780 1781 1782 1790 1791 Auxiliary device(s) 8601 8602 8603 Message Disk 0 parameter failure Disk 1 parameter failure Disk 0 parameter error Disk 1 parameter error Disk 0 failure Disk 1 failure Disk controller failure Disk 0 error Disk 1[...]

2. If the power light still does not come on, check the electrical outlet for power. Turn off your computer, unplug the power cord, and plug a lamp into the outlet. Turn it on to see if the outlet supplies power. 3. If you installed or removed any of your system components, such as a disk drive, check to make sure you have reconnected all the inter[...]

2. If you have just made a change in your system’s configuration, your computer may take a few minutes to complete its power-on diagnostics. The first time you turn on your computer after making such a change, it can take up to five minutes to finish its self test, depending on what you changed. If the computer does not display the MS-DOS prompt [...]

9. If you installed an EGA or VGA display adapter card, or another type of card that you want to be the primary display adapter, you must set jumper JP4 to disable the built-in VGA adapter. Otherwise, you will not see any display on the screen. See “Changing the Jumper Settings” in Chapter 6 for instructions. If you are using one or more displa[...]

Restoring the Power Supply To restore normal power supply operation, follow these steps: 1. Turn off the computer and leave it off for at least 30 seconds to reset the power supply logic. 2. To determine the cause of the high temperature and correct the condition, check for the following: Ci Room temperature above 95°F (35°C). If this is the case[...]

Password Problems If you have any trouble using your password, try the following: 1. If you think you know the correct password, reset the computer and try again. See Chapter 3 for instructions. Note If you enabled network server mode when you set a password, you do not see the key prompt. For more information, see “Using Your Computer as a Netwo[...]

Removing a Password If you have forgotten your password and you do not want to set a new one, there are two ways to remove the current password: tl Disable the existing password Q Disable the password function. To do either of these procedures, you must reset a jumper on the main system board. I., If you are using network server mode and you remove[...]

2. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A and turn on the computer. You do not see the key prompt. 3. When the Operation Menu appears, highlight Setup and press (Enter. Then see “Setting the Power-on Password” in Chapter 2 and follow the instructions to enter a new password. However, when you see the prompt to enter a password, press m immedi[...]

Setting a New Password If you have forgotten your current power-on password and want to set a new one, follow these steps: 1. Turn off the computer. Then follow the instructions under “Changing the Jumper Settings” in Chapter 6 to disable the password function by setting jumper JP5 to position A. 2. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A and [...]

Keyboard Problems If you are having trouble with the keyboard, check the following: 1. If the screen displays a keyboard error message when you turn on or reset the computer, make sure the keyboard is securely connected to the computer. See “Connecting the Keyboard” in Chapter 1 for instructions. 2. If the cursor keys do not work properly, the [...]

Monitor Problems For monitor problems, check the following: 1. If there is no display on the screen, check that the monitor’s power switch is on and that its power light is lit. If the power light is on, but you still do not see anything on the screen, check the brightness and contrast controls. 2. Did you run the SNOOZE utility (described in you[...]

8. If you are running an application program, see if you need to set up the program for the type of monitor and display adapter you have. Also make sure you are using the appropriate monitor and display adapter for your software. 9. If you installed an EGA or VGA display adapter card, or another type of card that you want to be the primary display [...]

Diskette Problems If you see a diskette error message or have trouble accessing data on a diskette, try the following steps: 1. Did you secure the diskette in the drive properly? On a 5%inch drive, be sure to turn down the latch or press the button. 2. You may have inserted the diskette upside-down or it may not be inserted all the way. Remove the [...]

7. You may have entered an incorrect diskette drive type when you ran the Setup program. Run the Setup program again to check the setting. See Chapter 2 for instructions. 8. Did you receive one of the following MS-DOS error messages? Ll Disk Drive Error: Abort, Ignore, Retry? Cl Disk error reading drive d: D Disk error writing drive d: If you see o[...]

Diskette Drive Problems If you see a diskette error message or have difficulty with a diskette drive, follow these steps: 1. Try running the Diskette drives and controller diagnostic test described in Appendix C. If the diagnostics program indicates an error, consult your Epson dealer. 2. If you installed the drive yourself, did you carefully follo[...]

Hard Disk Problems If you are having a problem with a hard disk in your computer, you may see a hard disk error message. The problem could be the result of improper installation, incomplete disk preparation, or corrupted data. The suggestions in this section cover problems in three categories: Ll Installing the drive 0 Preparing the drive for use 3[...]

2. If you installed the hard disk in your computer yourself, did you carefully follow all the instructions in Chapter 7? Review the instructions and check all cable connections to make sure you installed it correctly. Also check the jumper settings on your drive to make sure they are set correctly. 3. If you installed a non-Epson hard disk drive, w[...]

If you do not prepare the drive correctly, you cannot store data on the disk. For example, if you partition the drive and format it for MS-DOS (or for another operating system) but you do not copy the operating system to it, you will not be able to load the operating system from the hard disk. If you are sure the hard disk was installed properly an[...]

Software Problems If you are having trouble with an application program, try the following solutions: 1. If the application program does not start, check that you are following the correct procedure for starting the program, and that it is installed correctly. If you have a hard disk and the program is stored in a directory on that drive, make sure[...]

5. If resetting the computer does not help, remove any diskettes, turn off your system, wait five seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your application program. If none of these solutions solve your software problem, contact the software manufacturer for technical support. Printer Problems Below are some general steps to follow if you are hav[...]

4. If your printer is properly set up but is still not functioning, test it from the MS-DOS level. When the screen displays the MS-DOS command prompt (such as C> or A>), hold down [ and press [Print]. This should print the contents of the screen on your printer. If it does not, you may need to change the internal setting of the computer’s p[...]

Option Card Problems If you install an option card and it does not function properly, check the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Is the option card installed correctly? Make sure it is well-seated in its slot. Check the installation procedure described in Chapter 6 and also see the instructions that come with the card. Did you set the necessary DIP [...]

Mouse Problems If you are having a problem with your mouse or you see an auxiliary device error message, check the following: LI Make sure the mouse cable is securely connected to the mouse port and not the keyboard port. The mouse port has a special icon on the computer case. See Chapter 1. tl If you installed a mouse on an option card, be sure to[...]

3. Use the COPY command to copy MOUSE7PT.EXE from your Reference diskette to the directory on your hard disk that contains the MOUSE.COM file. (See your MS-DOS manuals for instructions on using the COPY command.) 4. Log onto the directory that contains the MOUSE7PT.EXE and MOUSE.COM files. 5. Type the following and press (Enter to run the program: [...]

Memory Module Problems If you added extra memory to your system by installing SIMMs and that memory is not operating properly, check the following: 1. Check to make sure that you set the memory configuration jumpers (JP8 through JP14) correctly and that they match your current SIMM configuration. See Chapter 6 for instructions on setting memory jum[...]

Math Coprocessor Problems If the math coprocessor in your system does not seem to be operating properly, check the following: 1. If you have the 25 MHz model and replaced the 80486SX microprocessor with an 80487SX chip, make sure you set jumpers JP1 through JP3 to indicate that you installed a math coprocessor. See Chapter 6 for instructions. 2. Ru[...]

Appendix C Performing System Diagnostics This appendix describes how to test the operation of your computer and its peripheral devices using the System diagnostics program on your Reference diskette. Run the diagnostics program if you are not sure whether a device is performing correctly. The table at the end of this appendix lists the error messag[...]

Starting System Diagnostics To run the System diagnostics program, you turn on or reset your computer with the Reference diskette in drive A. If you start the program in any other way, some tests may produce strange results. To start the System diagnostics program, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset[...]

If the list correctly describes your system, highlight Y and press IEnter If a device is missing from this list, or if you want to change the list, press [Nl or + and IEnter Then see “Modifying the Device List” on page C-5. Note If your system uses the built-in VGA adapter or an EGA or VGA card with a color monitor, your device list should incl[...]

Selecting an Option When you are using the System diagnostics program, you often need to select an option from a menu. There are two ways to do this: tl Use the arrow keys (1‘ 1 t +) to highlight the option you want and then press B to select it Ll Type the number of the desired option and press m to select it. For example, you may see this menu:[...]

Modifying the Device List If an installed device is missing from the Device List, you can add it to the list for testing. At the following prompt, select N. DEVICE LIST is correct ? (Y/N) You see this menu: 1 - Add device 2 - Delete device 0 - Finish modification To add a device to the list, select 1. The program displays a list of other devices th[...]

Selecting a Test From the Device List, select the device you wish to test. Before the test begins, the program asks how many times to perform the test. You see this menu: Number of times to test device 1 - Run test one time 2 - Run test multiple times 0 - Exit You can specify that the test be performed any number of times in the range 1 to 9999. Ru[...]

For some devices, the computer does not display a submenu of tests to choose from. Instead, it performs all the tests that do not require you to enter a response. If you chose to test the device more than once, the computer runs all the tests and then repeats them in the same order. You may see this message on the screen during the tests: On errors[...]

After printing the error message, the program displays this prompt: Printout is finished. Press ENTER to return to the menu. The program continues after an error in one of the following ways: Q It returns to the Device List 0 If you are running multiple tests and are not terminating on an error, the program repeats the test that caused the error. T[...]

System diagnostics tests (continued) Device Monochrome display adapter and CRT Tests available Description Adapter check Tests all types of Attribute check monochrome monitors Character set check Graphics mode check Screen paging check Video check Sync check Run all above checks Color graphics adapter and CRT Adapter check Attribute check Character[...]

System diagnostics tests (continued) Device Dot matrix printer L L Hard disk drive(s) and controller L Parallel port on a video adapter L Alternate parallel port L Tests available Seek check Write, read check Read, verify check Run all above checks Description Tests the operation of a dot matrix printer in several modes; requires the printer to be [...]

System diagnostics error messages (continued) Error code Message System board (continued) 107 Keyboard controller timeout error 108 Keyboard controller self diagnostic error 108 Keyboard controller write command error 109 Interrupt controller error 110 CMOS shutdown byte error 111 CMOS battery error 112 CMOS checksum error 113 CPU instruction error[...]

System diagnostics error messages (continued) Error code Message Color graphics adapter and CRT 501 Error in adapter check 503 Error in attribute 504 Error in character set check 506 Error in color graphics check 508 Error in screen paging check 509 Error in light pen check 510 Error in color video check 511 Error in sync check Diskette drive(s) an[...]

System diagnostics error messages (continued) Error code Message Math coprocessor (continued) 710 Coprocessor precision error Parallel port (printer interface) 901 Error pin p Serial port (RS-232C port) 1101 control signal always low 1101 control signal always high 1102 Timeout error 1103 Verify error Alternate serial port d Dot matrix printer 1401[...]

Appendix D Specifications CPU and Memory 32-bit CPU System speed System memory ROM Shadow RAM Math coprocessor Clock/calendar Cache controller 25 MHz system: 80486SX processor, 50 MHz system: 80486DX2/50 processor 25 MHz regardless of CPU; for 80486DX2/50, 50 MHz speed is internal only; 8 MHz speed is simulated by inserting wait states; high/low sp[...]

Cache RAM Speaker Controllers Diskette Hard disk Interfaces Monitor 32KB high-speed static RAM, two-way set associative on main system board; 8KB integrated into microprocessor Internal, programmable; volume selectable by software Supports up to two diskette drives in any of four formats: 5?&inch, high-density, 1.2MB; 5?&inch, double-densit[...]

Auxiliary Keyboard Option slots Speaker Power Supply Type Input ranges Maximum outputs Mini DIN, 6-pin connector for PS/2 compatible mouse or other device Mini DIN, 6-pin connector for PS/2 compatible keyboard Six standard ISA compatible input/output expansion slots (five 16-bit and one 8-bit); 8 MHz bus speed Internal; operation controllable by so[...]

Keyboard Layout Detachable, two position, 101/102 sculpted keys (country-dependent) 58-key QWERTY main keyboard; 17-key numeric/cursor pad; 10 cursor keys; additional 4-key cursor pad; 16 function keys (user-definable) Function Four levels (normal, shift, control, alternate); user-definable Environmental Requirements Condition Operating range Non-o[...]

Power Source Requirements 120 Volt power source requirements AC plug Plug Type Power cord Reference standards ANSI C73.11, NEMA 5-15-P IEC 83 North America 125V, 10A UL/CSA Listed, Type SJT. no. 18/3AWG. or no. 16/3AWG, or <HAR> 300V, 10A or 13A 240 Volt power source requirements AC plug Plug type Reference standards Power cord Europe 240V, 1[...]

System Memory Map 02000000h 16MB (Maximum system memory on SIMMs) Extended memory OO1OOOOOh 1MB System BIOS ROM: 64KB* 000F0000h c VGA BIOS: 32KB* 000E0000h c Available 000D0000h t Available 000C0000h Video memory: 64KB (MDA or CGA) 000B0000h c Video memory: 64KB (EGA or VGA) 000A0000h 640KB Conventional system memory: 640KB 00000000h l The system [...]

Glossary Address A number or name that identifies the location where information is stored in a computer’s memory. Analog monitor A monitor that generates, responds to, or acts upon analog data. Analog data is transmitted by varying the voltage levels in a continuous current. Application program A software program designed to perform a specific t[...]

Automatic speed The feature that enables the computer to switch automatically from high speed to low speed when accessing a diskette drive. Backup An extra copy of a program, data file, or disk, that is created in the event your working copy is damaged or lost. Base memory The memory in the computer below 1MB that is available to MS-DOS and applica[...]

A sequence or group of eight bits that represents one character. Cache memory A high-speed type of memory buffer that stores information from base or extended memory where your system can access it faster. CGA Color Graphics Adapter. A type of display adapter card that can generate up to 25 lines of text with 80 characters on each line, monochrome [...]

Command prompt The symbol or message that tells you MS-DOS is loaded and ready to receive instructions. The default command prompt displays the current drive and directory. If you are logged onto drive C, the command prompt may look like this: C : >. Configuration The particular setup of a group of components. A typical system configuration cons[...]

CPU Central Processing Unit. The primary unit of the computer that interprets instructions, performs the tasks you indicate, keeps track of stored data, and controls all input and output operations. Cursor The highlighted marker that shows your position on the screen. Cylinders The vertical alignment of tracks in a hard disk that can be lined up un[...]

Device driver A file containing instructions that allow your computer to recognize and control a device. Diagnostics The tests and procedures the computer performs to check its internal circuitry and set up its configuration. DIP switch Dual Inline Package switch. A small switch on a computer, option card, or printer that controls a particular func[...]

Display adapter card A circuit board that can be installed in one of the computer’s option slots to provide the monitor interface. The display adapter card controls the way the monitor displays text and graphics. (In this computer, a VGA display adapter is built into the system board.) Also called Video card. DOS Disk Operating System. A commonly[...]

Extended Memory Memory above 1MB that is accessed by the protected mode of the microprocessor and is available to some application programs and operating systems. Extended VGA mode Special features of the built-in VGA adapter available when you are using certain display drivers and a multi-frequency monitor. These features include 132-column text m[...]

Format To prepare a new disk (or an old one you want to reuse) so that it can store information. Formatting divides a disk into tracks and sectors and creates addressable locations on it. Graphics Lines, angles, curves, and other nonalphanumeric data. Hard disk The enclosed unit used to store large amounts of data. Unlike a diskette, it is fixed in[...]

A small device that connects two pins on an option card, a disk drive, or the main system board to activate a particular function. Key disk A diskette containing a copy-protected program that must remain in the diskette drive while you are using the program. Kilobyte (KB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. O[...]

MDA Monochrome Display Adapter. A type of display adapter that displays text in only one color, such as green or amber. Megabyte (MB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. One megabyte equals 1024KB. Megahertz (MHz) A unit used to measure oscillation frequency (of a computer’s internal timing clock). A megahe[...]

Microprocessor A small version of a CPU contained on one semiconductor chip. See also CPU. Modem A device that allows a computer to transmit signals over telephone lines so it can send and receive data. Modem stands for MOdulator/DEModulator. Monitor The piece of hardware that contains the screen and displays information. Monochrome monitor A monit[...]

Network server mode An optional password mode that provides extra security for a computer that is operating as a network server. Non-inter/aced mode A technique used by the built-in VGA display adapter that refreshes all the lines on the monitor screen sequentially from top to bottom. Numeric keypad The number keys grouped on the right side of the [...]

Parallel The type of interface that transmits all the bits in a byte of data simultaneously over separate lines. See also Interface and Serial. Parameter A qualifier added to a command that tells the program what particular conditions to look for and specifies information such as what data you want to process and where to locate or store a file. Pu[...]

Power-on diagnostics Tests that the computer runs to check its internal circuitry and configuration each time you turn it on. Power-on password The sequence of characters you type after you turn on the computer in order to access and use your system. A power-on password can be up to seven characters long and can include letters, numbers, and blank [...]

Read/write head The physical device inside a disk drive that reads and records data on the magnetic surface of a disk. Real-time clock A battery-powered clock inside the computer that keeps track of the time and date, even when the computer is turned off. Reset To reload a computer’s operating system so you can retry a task or begin using a diffe[...]

Sector A contiguous section of a disk track that provides an address at which the computer can access data. Se/f test The initial diagnostics procedures a system performs to check its hardware. Also called Power-on diagnostics. Serial The type of interface that transmits data one bit at a time. See Interface and ParalIel. Shadow RAM The feature tha[...]

Switch An option added to a command that modifies the way the command works. Switches are usually preceded by a / (forward slash). For example, if you add the /S switch to a FORMAT command, MS-DOS installs the operating system on the diskette as it formats it. See also Parameter. System diagnostics A series of checks you can perform on the computer[...]

Video card See Display adapter card. Write To store data on a disk. Write-protect To protect the data on a diskette from being changed by placing a write-protect tab over the notch on the side of a 5%inch diskette or by setting the write-protect switch on a 3Winch diskette. When a diskette is write-protected, you cannot erase, change, or record ove[...]

Index A AFDD program, 3-2, 4-7-9 Alternate parallel port check, C-10 Alternate serial port check, C-9 Analog monitor, 4-13 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 2-33, 4-1 -2, C-3 Automatic configuration, 2-2 Automatic speed change, 2-13-15, 4-2 -6 Auxiliary device problems, B-27 -28 Auxiliary interface, D-3 B Backing up data, from diskettes, 3-1 -2 on hard disk, A-1 Base [...]

Copy-protected programs, 2-14, 4-3 Cover, locking, 3-3 removing, 5-24 replacing, 5-11 CPU, D-1 CPU speed, see Processor speed CTRL ALT +, 4-4 -5 CTRL ALT -, 4-4 -5 CTRL ALT *, 4-4 -5 CTRL ALT DEL, 3-6 CTRL BREAK, 3-5 CTRL C, 3-5 Cursor block, 2-6 Customer Resource Center number, Intro-5 D DATE, 2-17 Date, setting, 2-17 -19 Destructive surface analy[...]

F Files, AFDD.EXE, 3-2, 4-7 -9 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 2-33, 4-1 -2, C-3 backing up, 3-1 -2, A-1 batch, 4-1 -2 CONFIG.SYS, 1-12, 2-33, C-3 copying, 3-1 -2, A-1 EMM386.EXE, 4-12 EMM386.SYS, 4-12 ESPEED.EXE, 3-2, 4-3 -6 HDSIT, 3-2, 3-9 MOUSE7PT.EXE, B-27 -28 ROMBIOS.COM, 3-2, B-1 -2 utility, 3-2 Floppy disk drive, see Diskette drive Floppy disks, see Diskettes[...]

L LIM 4.0 EMS, 4-12 Loading MS-DOS, 2-33 Location, choosing for computer, 1-1 -2 Locking computer cover, 3-3 Low-level format, see Physical formatting M Main system board, 6-3 Mass storage, D-2 -3 Master drive, 7-3 -5 Math coprocessor, check, C-9 configuring, 2-2, 2-31 installing, Intro-2, 6-1 -2 jumpers, 6-6, B-30 problems, B-30 specification, D-l[...]

N Network server, 4-9 -11 Network server mode, 2-9 -11, 3-7, 4-9 -11 Non-destructive surface analysis, A-2 -3, A-12 -13 Non-interlaced mode, 4-13 Num lock, initial, 2-15-17 mode, 2-6, 2-15-17 O Operating speed, see Processor speed Operating system, installing, 3-1, C-3 Operation Menu, 2-3 Option cards, configuring, 2-6 -9, 6-8, 6-12 installing, 6-1[...]

R RAM cache, D-2, D-6 RAM check, B-2 Random access memory (RAM), 2-1, 3-18, B-2 Read only memory (ROM), B-2, D-l, D-6 Read/write heads, 3-9 Real-time clock, 2-17-19, D-l Reassigning diskette drives, 4-7-9 Redirecting printer output, 1-9 Reference diskette, 2-1, 3-2 RESET button, 3-6 Resetting the computer, 3-5 -6 ROM, see Read only memory ROMBIOS.C[...]

System, identifying, B-1 -2 memory, see Memory setting up, 1-1-16 T Tape drive, 7-1, 7-9 TIME, 2-17 Time, setting, 2-17 -19 Timer check, B-2 Tracks, A-1 -13 Troubleshooting, B-1 -30 TURBO light, 4-2 Turning off computer, 1-16 Turning on computer, 1-14 -15 U UNIX, Intro-2, 3-1 Utilities, VGA, 3-2, 4-13 -14 Utility diskettes, 3-2, 4-13 -14 V VER, B-2[...]

diskette diskette release release button power optional RESET drive bay button power inlet option card slots mouse’ I serial parallel port keyboard port port VGA Port power light TURBO speed light hard disk access light monitor port[...]

User’s Guide Update To run any of the following programs from your Reference diskette, you need to access the Operation Menu: cl Setup c3 Format hard disk D System Diagnostics tI Prepare hard disk for moving. The instructions in your User’s Guide tell you that when you insert the Reference diskette in drive A and then turn on or reset your comp[...]

However, if this screen appears and you are trying to run a program other than Setup, follow these instructions to reach the Operation Menu: 1. Use [rl to highlight Exit; then press [Enl#l. At the bottom of the next screen, you see the following menu: Change settings Exit without saving **EXIT AND SAVE** 2. Press I to highlight Exit without saving;[...]