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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 allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you. COPYRIGHT NOTICE All rights reserved.
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception.
Contents Introduction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 How to Use This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System 1 Unpacking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Removing the Diskette Drive Protector Card . . . . . . . . . 1-3 2 Choosing a Location. . . . . .
Chapter 3 Using Your Computer Changing the Operating Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Special Keys on the Apex Keyboard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stopping a Command or Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resetting the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turning Off the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Disks and Disk Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Directories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16 The Default Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 Changing the Default Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 Using Pathname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19 Including Filenames With Pathnames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20 Including Drive Letters With Pathnames and Filenames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting The Computer Won’t Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Computer Does Not Respond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keyboard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diskette Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diskette Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix B Power-on Diagnostics System Device Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timer and CMOS RAM Check. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RAM Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keyboard Controller and Keyboard Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Display Card Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Optional RAM Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Floppy Disk Drives and Controller Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-21 Sequential Seek Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-22 Random Seek Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-22 Write, Read Check. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-23 Speed Check. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-23 Disk Change Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-24 Run All Above Checks . . . .
Appendix E Preparing a Hard Disk for Use Partitioning the Hard Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creating the MS-DOS Partition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creating the Extended Partition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Formatting the Primary Partition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Formatting the Extended Partition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Copying the Remaining Files to the Hard Disk . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction Your Apex’” personal computer is powerful, versatile, and easy to use. After setting up your system with the simple instructions in this manual, you’ll soon be using your favorite software programs. The Apex 200 computer is available in these configurations: The Apex 200\20 provides one 1.2MB (megabyte) diskette drive and one 20MB hard disk drive The Apex 200\40 provides one 1.2MB diskette drive and one 40MB hard disk drive.
Computer. For example, you can add an internal modem card to provide data communications. If you use software that executes lengthy mathematical calculations, you may want to install an 80287 math coprocessor to speed up processing. How to Use This Manual This manual explains how to set up and care for your computer. It also describes how to use your computer and run diagnostic checks. The instructions in this manual apply to both the Apex 200\20 and Apex 200\40, except where otherwise indicated.
Appendix C outlines the system diagnostic checks you can perform on your computer. If you are having trouble with any part of the hardware, you may want to run some of these diagnostic checks. Appendix D describes how to perform a low-level format on the hard disk. You need to do this only if you are having serious problems with the hard disk in your computer or if you have installed a new hard disk that has not received this type of format.
Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System Setting up your Apex personal computer is easy. Just follow the nine steps in this chapter. You may want to leave the back cover foldout of this book open so you can refer to the two illustrations identifying the different parts of the computer. Note If you have experience setting up computers, you may prefer to follow the brief instructions on the Read This First card included with this manual.
Besides this manual, you should have the following: The computer and power cord The keyboard with attached cable Four diskettes: three that contain the MS-DOS operating system (Startup, Operating 1, and Operating 2), and a Reference diskette An MS-DOS Reference Manual. In addition to these items, you need a compatible monitor to use with the computer. With the MGA (multi-graphics adapter) card in the computer, you can use a monochrome or color graphics monitor.
Removing the Diskette Drive Protector Card A protective piece of cardboard occupies the slot of the diskette drive in your computer. This card is inserted at the factory to protect the read/write heads in the drive. Be sure to remove the card from the diskette drive before you turn on the computer. Turn the diskette drive latch up until it is horizontal and carefully pull out the card. Save the protector card and reinsert it whenever you move the computer.
2 Choosing a Location Before you set up your computer, it is important to choose the right location. Select a spot that provides the following: A large, sturdy desk or table that can easily support the weight of your system, including all of its components. Make sure the surface is hard and flat. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted floors can generate static electricity, which may erase data on your disks and damage the computer’s circuitry. Soft surfaces also prevent proper ventilation.
Cl 3 No electromagnetic interference. Locate your system away from any electrical device, such as a telephone, that generates an electromagnetic field. Connecting a Monitor Your computer comes with an MGA (multi-graphics adapter) card installed. This card controls the monitor and provides the connection needed to attach the monitor to the computer. You can connect a monochrome or color graphics monitor to this card.
3. Connect the monitor cable to the video card connector on the back of the computer, as shown below. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them securely. 4. If necessary, plug the monitor’s power cord into the monitor’s power inlet. (The power cord on Apex monitors is already attached.) 5. Plug the other end of the monitor’s power cord into an electrical outlet.
Note Many color monitors display in only one color (such as green or amber), but are not monochrome monitors. If your monitor is not specifically a monochrome monitor, you should set the color/mono switch to color. Check the documentation that came with your monitor to verify the type of monitor. 4 Connecting a Printer, Mouse, or Modem The computer has a parallel interface and a serial interface on the back panel, so you can easily connect a printer or other type of device with either type of interface.
Using the Parallel Interface The parallel interface on your computer is Centronics® compatible and uses a 25-pin connector. To connect a parallel printer to your computer, you need an IBM-compatible printer cable. If you are not sure which one you need, or whether you have the right one, check with the store where you purchased the printer. Once you have the correct printer cable, follow these steps to connect the printer to the parallel interface on the computer: 1.
3. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer, as shown below. If the printer has retaining clips on each side of the printer port, squeeze the clips together to secure the cable. 4. Plug the printer’s power cord into an electrical outlet. Using the Serial Interface If you have a serial printer, modem, mouse, or any other peripheral with a serial interface, you can connect it to the serial (RS-232C) port on the back of the computer.
To connect a serial device, follow the same steps outlined above for a parallel device, but connect the cable to the serial port, shown below. Setting up the serial port for a printer If you are using a serial printer but your software does not support a serial printer, you must do two things before you can print: Set up the data transmission parameters for the serial port Tell the computer to redirect printer data from the parallel port to the serial port.
5 Connecting the Power Cord Follow these steps to connect the power cord: 1. Insert the power cord into the AC inlet on the computer’s back panel, as shown below. To avoid an electric shock, be sure to plug the cord into the computer before plugging it into the wall socket. 2. Plug the other end of the power cord into a three-prong, grounded electrical outlet.
6 Connecting the Keyboard Follow these steps to connect the keyboard: 1. Facing the front of the computer, open the cover on the lower left comer. Push the top of the cover inward and then release it. 2. Plug the keyboard cable into the socket, as shown in the following illustration. Do not force the connector, but be sure to insert it all the way.
3. 4. Push the cable into the notch at the left side of the computer, as shown below, so the cable leads away to the left side of the computer.
Adjusting the Keyboard Angle You can change the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. Turn the keyboard over and lift each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown below. You can lock the legs into a low or high position, or leave them flat. 7 Setting the Front Monitor Switch Set the monitor switch on the front panel of the computer to match the type of monitor you are using.
Move the switch to the right to select color and to the left to select monochrome. If you have an EGA or VGA monitor, set the switch to color. 8 Turning On the Computer Before you turn on your computer, read the following safety rules to avoid accidentally damaging the computer or injuring yourself: Never turn the computer on with a protector card in the diskette drive. Do not unplug cables from the computer when the power switch is on. Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk drive light is on.
Always wait at least five seconds after you switch off the power before you switch it on again. Turning the power off and on rapidly can damage the computer’s circuitry. Do not leave a beverage on top of or next to your system or any of its components. Spilled liquid can damage the circuitry of your equipment. Do not attempt to dismantle any part of the computer. Only remove the cover to install and remove optional devices.
After the self test is complete, you see a message on the screen similar to this: RAM Testing . . . 256KB The computer continually updates this display as it tests its memory. This test takes about 15 seconds to complete. You may see a message like this: 162 - System Options not set (Run SETUP in DIAGNOSTICS) Resume = "F1" key) This means that the computer is not yet set up for the equipment you have installed and you must run the Setup program, described in Chapter 2.
The Command Prompt After the computer has loaded MS-DOS from the hard disk, you see the MS-DOS command prompt on the screen: C:\> The command prompt tells you that your computer is ready to receive instructions. It also identifies the current operating drive: A or C, for example. The command prompt appears on the screen whenever you load MS-DOS, complete an MS-DOS command, or exit an application program. In your computer, the diskette drive is A and the hard disk is drive C.
Note If you do not have any 360KB diskettes, you can use unformatted 1.2MB, high-density diskettes. When copying from 360KB diskettes, the DISKCOPY program fomats the 1.2MB high-density diskettes for 360KB. Follow these steps: 1. The C : \> prompt should be on the screen. If not, type C : and press Enter. 2. Type the following and press Enter: DISKCOPY A: A: The screen displays this message: Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 3.
When the diskette is in all the way, turn the latch down (clockwise) to lock the diskette in place. 4. Press any key. The DISKCOPY program copies the contents of the Startup diskette to the computer’s memory, and then you see the following: Insert TARGET diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 5. Remove the Startup diskette and insert a blank diskette (which is to be the target diskette) in drive A. Then press any key. If the diskette is not formatted, the DISKCOPY program formats it.
After you have copied the four diskettes, be sure to label them carefully so you know which one is which. Write on the labels before you attach them to the diskettes in order to prevent damaging the diskettes. Store the originals in a safe place and use the copies as they are needed. You are now ready to run the Setup program, which is described in the following chapter.
Chapter 2 Running the Setup Program The first time you use your computer after setting it up, you need to run the Setup program on the Reference diskette. The Setup program lets you update the following for your computer: The amount of memory installed The type of video display adapter installed The math coprocessor status The number and type of disk drives (“mass storage”) installed The internal clock’s time and date.
3. Type SET UP and press Enter. The screen displays the main Setup menu with these options: Exit Memory Display Coprocessor Mass storage Real-timeclock You use and to move the cursor block (the highlighted bar) through the options on this menu. Once you highlight the option you want, press Enter to select it. If you do not want to make any changes, or when you have finished making changes, select the E x i t option. See “Leaving the Setup Program” below for instructions.
Follow the instructions below to verify or change the values for the Setup options. Changing the Amount of Memory Your computer has two types of memory: main memory and extended memory. The main memory in your computer is set at 640KB, which is the maximum value and is recommended for most applications. Note Although your computer has 1MB of main memory, you can access only 640KB; the computer uses the rest for other purposes.
2. To change the Main memory setting press Enter. The value changes to 256KB. Press Enter again to change it to 512KB. If you press Enter again, the value returns to 640KB. 3. To change the Expansion memory setting, highlight the Expansion option. You can increase and decrease the memory in 64KB increments by using the + and -keys. For example, to increase the expansion memory from 0KB to 256KB, press + four times. The screen displays the following: 640 KB Main 256 KB Expansion ** SAVE SETTINGS ** 4.
To change the display type, follow these steps: 1. Highlight Display and press Enter. Another menu appears to show the current setting. If you have an 80-column, color monitor installed, you see: 80 col Color/graph. ** SAVE SETTINGS ** 2. To change the monitor type, press Enter. This menu appears, listing the various options: * Special options * Color/graph. 80 col 40 col Color/graph.
If you have any other combination of monitor and video card, consult the documentation supplied with your video card. 3. Highlight the appropriate option and press Enter. 4. Highlight ** SAVE SETTINGS Enter to save the setting. ** and then press Adding an 80287 Coprocessor Use the Coprocessor option if you add an Intel® 80287 numeric coprocessor to your system.
Changing the Disk Drive Settings Use the Mass storage option of the main menu if you install an additional diskette drive or hard disk drive, or if you remove an existing drive. Follow these steps: 1. Highlight Mass storage and press Enter. You see a menu like this: 1.2 MB Drive A: Drive B: None Drive C: Type2 Drive D: none ** SAVE SETTINGS ** 2. To change the value for one of the diskette drives— drive B, for example-highlight Drive B : and press Enter. A second menu appears: Not 360 720 1.2 1.
Use this same procedure if you need to change the setting for a second hard disk drive installed in your computer (drive D). 5. When all the disk drive settings are correct, highlight ** SAVE SETTINGS ** and press Enter. Setting the Real-time Clock The real-time clock in your computer keeps track of the time and date at all times-even when the computer is turned off. Use the Real-time clock option to set the time and date for your computer after you set it up.
3. Using a 24-hour time period, enter the time in the exact format shown in the box. Use two digits for each part (you can omit the seconds, if desired); the Setup program automatically inserts the colons (:). For example, to change the time to 1:30 p.m., you would type the following: 1330 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 beeps and ignores your entry. Try again.
The time and date are set automatically as soon as you press Enter after typing the time and date; you do not need to save these settings. Therefore, if you change either setting in the Setup program and then exit the program without saving your changes, the new time or date still takes effect. Leaving the Setup Program When you finish setting the options in the Setup menu, highlight the Exit option and press Enter.
If you did not make any changes or you want to cancel the changes you made, highlight Exit without saving and press Enter. The command prompt appears on the screen. (If you turned on or reset the computer with the Reference diskette in the drive, the Operation menu appears on the screen. Press 0 and Enter to return to the MS-DOS command prompt.) Note If you changed the time or date, the new setting will be in effect even if you exit the Setup program without saving your changes.
Chapter 3 Using Your Computer This chapter covers the following basic procedures for using your computer: Changing the operating speed Using special keys on the keyboard Stopping a command or program Resetting and turning off the computer Using disks and disk drives. Changing the Operating Speed Your computer can operate at two speeds: 8 MHz or 12 MHz. At 12 MHz, the computer performs all tasks faster, and almost all programs may be run at 12 MHz.
WARNING You can change the speed while the computer is on, but do not change it while you are running a program. Complete your current operation, exit the program to the MS-DOS command prompt, and then change the speed. Special Keys on the Apex Keyboard Certain keys on your keyboard serve special functions when your computer is running application programs. The illustration below shows the Apex keyboard, and the table that follows describes the special keys.
Key Purpose Alt Works with other keys to enter alternate character codes or functions. Backspace Moves the cursor back one space, deleting the character to the left of the cursor. Enter Ends a line of keyboard input or executes a command (may be called the Return key in some application program manuals). Caps Lock Changes the letter keys from lower- to uppercase; changes back to lowercase when pressed again. The numeric/symbol keys on the top row of the keyboard are not affected.
The Num Lock, Scroll Lock, and Caps Lock keys work as toggles; press the key once to turn on a function and again to turn it off. When the function is enabled, the corresponding light on the top right comer of the keyboard is on. When the function is disabled, the light is off. Stopping a Command or Program You may sometimes need to stop a command or program while it is running. Many application programs provide a command you can use to stop or even cancel (undo) an operation.
Resetting the Computer Occasionally, you may want to stop what the computer is doing entirely and reload MS-DOS. This is called resetting the computer. You may need to do this if an error occurs and the computer does not respond to anything you type on the keyboard. However, resetting erases all data in the computer’s memory that you have not stored, so reset your computer only if necessary. WARNING Do not reset the computer to exit a program unless y ou need to.
Turning Off the Computer Before turning off your computer, be sure to save your data and exit the program you are using. Then remove any diskettes from the diskette drive. Turn off the computer first and then turn off the monitor and any peripherals. Using Disks and Disk Drives The disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk and retrieve it when you want it. The Apex 200\20 has one 1.2MB diskette drive and one 20MB hard disk. The Apex 200\40 has one 1.
Unlike a diskette, a hard disk is rigid and fixed in place. It is sealed in a protective case to keep it free from dust and dirt. A hard disk stores data the same way that a diskette does, but it works faster and has a much larger storage capacity. All disks are divided into data storage compartments by sides, tracks, and sectors. Double-sided diskettes-like the ones you use in your computer-store data on both sides. On your disk there are concentric rings, called tracks, in which a disk can store data.
Your computer uses the read/write heads in a disk drive to store and retrieve data on a disk. There is one head above the diskette and one below, so the drive can write to both sides of the diskette. To write to a disk, the computer spins it in the drive to a position where one of the read/write heads can access the diskette through the read/write slot. The read/write slot on a diskette exposes the diskette’s magnetic surface so the read/write head can write on the appropriate area.
720KB drive-With this drive, use 3½-inch, double-sided, double-density, 135 TPI, 720KB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 9 sectors per track, and hold up to 720KB of information-approximately 300 pages of text. 1.44MB drive-With this drive, use 3½-inch, doublesided, high-density, 135 TPI, 1.44MB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 18 sectors per track, and hold up to 1.44MB of information-approximately 600 pages of text.
WARNING If you write to a 360KB (or 160KB, 180KB, or 320KB) diskette while it is in a 1.2MB drive, you may not be able to read it or write it in a 360KB drive later. 3½-inch drive/diskette compatibility Drive type Diskette types it can read from and write to 720KB 720KB 1.44MB 720KB, or 1.44MB Because of these incompatibilities, you should indicate the density and diskette type when you label your diskettes. (Usually this information appears on the manufacturer’s label.
Never wipe, brush, or try to clean diskettes in any way. Keep diskettes in a moderate environment. They work best at normal room temperature and in normal humidity. Do not leave your diskettes sitting in the sun, or in extreme cold or heat. Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields. (Remember that diskettes store information magnetically.) There are many sources of magnetism in your home or office, such as electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers.
Follow these additional precautions to protect your hard disk drive and its data: Never turn off the computer when the hard disk drive light is on. This light indicates that the computer is copying data to or from the hard disk. If you interrupt this process, you can lose data. Never attempt to open the hard disk drive. The disk itself is enclosed in a sealed container to protect it from dust. If you are going to move your computer, run the HDSIT program before turning it off.
Slide the diskette into the slot until it is in all the way. Then turn the drive latch down to lock it in a vertical position.
To remove a 3½-inch diskette, press the release button to release it. When the edge pops out of the drive, pull out the diskette and store it properly. WARNING Never remove a diskette or turn off the computer while the drive indicator light is on. You could lose data. Also, be sure to remove all diskettes before you turn off the computer. Write-protecting Diskettes You can write-protect a diskette to prevent its data from being altered.
Note Some program diskettes, such as your MS-DOS diskettes, have no notch so they are permanently write-protected. This protects them from being accidentally erased or altered. On a 3½-inch diskette, the write-protect device is a small switch on the lower-right comer on the back, shown below. To write-protect a 3½-inch diskette, slide the switch toward the edge of the diskette until it clicks into position, exposing a hole in the corner.
Chapter 1 describes how to use DISKCOPY to copy your MS-DOS and Reference diskettes. To make backups of other diskettes, use the DISKCOPY command or the MENU program. See Chapter 4 for more instructions on using DISKCOPY and MENU. It is best to put most of the programs and data files you use regularly on the hard disk. Keep backup copies of all your program files on diskettes, however, and regularly copy important data files to diskettes as well.
Note If you only have one diskette drive and no hard disk, you need to use that drive to load the operating system as well as the application programs you are using. First load the operating system; this copies it into the computer’s memory (RAM) so you do not need to leave the diskette in the drive. Then you can remove that diskette and insert the program diskette you want to use, and load that into memory too. See your application program manual for detailed instructions.
Epson also includes the XTREE utility with MS-DOS. XTREE provides simple menus that allow you to move, create, delete, and rename files and directories. These capabilities are especially useful on the hard disk drive. See Chapter 4 for an introduction to XTREE or see your MS-DOS Reference Manual for complete instructions. The hard disk in your computer has been prepared at the factory so it contains all the MS-DOS system files and automatically loads MS-DOS when you turn on or reset the computer.
To secure the read/write heads for moving, run the HDSIT program. Follow these steps to run HDSIT: 1. Exit any program you are using so the MS-DOS command prompt is on the screen, 2. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A. 3. Type the following and press Enter: A:HDSIT You see a message on the screen that tells you the disk drive’s read/write heads will remain locked until you reset the computer or turn the power off and on again. The computer locks the heads and disables the keyboard.
Chapter 4 Using MS-DOS With Your Computer Your computer comes with version 3.3. of MS-DOS. This operating system manages your computer by organizing the computer’s memory, controlling the monitor display, receiving keyboard input, and accessing data. To communicate with the operating system, you use MS-DOS commands. How much you need to know about MS-DOS depends on how you plan to use your computer.
Starting and Exiting MS-DOS Before you can run an MS-DOS application program, MS-DOS must be running in memory. When you turn on your computer, it loads MS-DOS from the hard disk automatically. The screen then displays the MS-DOS command prompt, C : \>. This tells you that MS-DOS is loaded and identifies the current drive. Before you turn off the computer, make sure the MS-DOS command prompt is displayed. Then remove your diskettes, turn off your computer, and turn off any peripherals.
4. Next the screen displays the time prompt, like this: Current time is 09 : 32 : 21 Enter new time: You may enter the correct time in the format shown (such as 04 : 30 : 00), or you may accept the time shown by pressing Enter. MS-DOS is now loaded and displays the MS-DOS command prompt: A> Starting an Application Program Once you have loaded MS-DOS, you can start using your application program.
The Default Drive At any given time, MS-DOS considers one disk drive to be the default drive. The default drive is the one on which MS-DOS executes your next command, unless you tell it to do otherwise. For example, if the default drive is C, and you issue the DIR (directory) command, MS-DOS lists the files stored on drive C. If the default drive is A and you type WP and press Enter, MS-DOS looks on the diskette in drive A for a file called WP and executes it.
Specifying the Drive Designator If you want to access a program or file on another drive without first changing the default drive, type the drive designator along with the filename. For example, if you are logged onto drive A and want to use a file named PROGRAM on drive C, you would type the following and then press Enter: C:PROGRAM MS-DOS loads and executes the file named PROGRAM from drive C, but stays logged onto drive A. Types of MS-DOS Commands Each MS-DOS command is either internal or external.
Operating 1 diskette APPEND.EXE ASSIGN.COM ATTRIB.EXE BACKUP.COM CHKDSK.COM COMMAND.COM COMP.COM DEBUG.COM DISKCOMP.COM DISKCOPY.COM EDLIN.COM FC.EXE FIND.EXE FORMAT.COM GRAFTABL.COM GRAPHICS.COM JOIN.EXE LABEL.COM MORE.COM PRINT.COM RECOVER.COM RESTORE.COM SHARE.EXE SORT.EXE SUBST.EXE TREE.COM XTREE.EXE XTREEINS.DAT XTREEINS.EXE TESTBUG.COM SETATTR.EXE SETFC.EXE SETMODE.EXE SETPRINT.EXE DU.EXE GRAPH24.COM EPSON.TXT HELP.COM HELP.TXT FDDTST.DIG FORMAT.COM HDCACHE.EXE HDDTST.DIG HDFMTALL.COM HDSIT.
For example, if you have two diskette drives, and are logged onto drive A, you could format a diskette in drive B with the command: FORMAT B: In this case, MS-DOS looks on drive A, the default drive, for the file named FORMAT.COM. If the diskette in that drive contains the file FORMAT.COM (as does the Startup diskette), MS-DOS finds it there. If you are logged onto drive B, however, you would need to enter the command like this: A:FORMAT B: This tells MS-DOS to look on drive A for FORMAT.COM.
FORMAT is the command name to execute the file FORMAT.COM. The A: is a parameter that tells the command what to format-in this case, the diskette in drive A. The space between FORMAT and A: is the delimiter that lets MS-DOS distinguish the command name (FORMAT) from the parameter (A:). Some commands also have optional switches you can use. A switch is a type of parameter that alters the effect of a command. For example, suppose you want to make a copy of a single-sided diskette.
If you press Enter when a command line has an error in it, the screen displays an error message. Usually, the command prompt reappears so you can try again. Type the correct command and press Enter. Creating and Managing Files All your data and programs are stored in files on disk. A data file contains information, such as words, numbers, or pictures. A program file contains instructions that the computer can understand and execute.
The extension is optional and can be up to three characters long. You can use the extension to further identify a file or to describe what type of file it is, such as a text file or program file. When you use an extension, separate it from the filename with a period. For example, an MS-DOS filename might look like this: DATA.TXT Some application programs automatically add extensions to the files you create. These application programs use the extension to determine whether it is a compatible data file.
You can use the COPY command to copy files in several ways: You can copy individual files from one disk to another You can copy a group of files at once using wildcard characters You can copy one or more files and give them new names You can combine or merge files into one file. To use the COPY command, type COPY at the command prompt, followed by the drive designators and necessary filenames. Then press Enter to execute the command.
Now you have two files on the default drive that have the same contents but different names. In this example, you can omit the drive designators because the original file and the copy are both on the default drive. Using wildcards An easy way to copy a group of files is by using wildcard characters in the filenames. You can use two wildcards: * and ?. The asterisk represents any group of characters and the question mark represents any single character.
Remember these rules when copying files: You must tell MS-DOS where to find the original file and where to store the copy; that is, you need to specify the drive (and directory, if necessary) for both. You cannot create a new file with the same name and in the same directory as an existing file. If there is a file on the destination diskette or directory that has the same name as the file you are copying, the copy automatically replaces the existing file.
You can shorten the RENAME command to REN. To change the name of a file from HAMMERS to WRENCHES, therefore, you can type the following and press Enter: REN HAMMERS WRENCHES You can use wildcards to rename groups of files. For example, to change just the extensions of all files on drive A with the extension .NEW to .OLD, type the following and press Enter: REN A:*.NEW *.OLD To add the extension .
You can use wildcards to delete groups of files. For example, to delete all files on the diskette in drive A (in the current directory), type the following and press Enter: DEL A:*.* Because deleting all files is a serious procedure, MS-DOS prompts you to confirm the command when you use the * . * wildcard combination with the DEL command. You see this prompt: Are you sure (Y/N)? Press Y for yes or N for no. A synonym for DEL is ERASE.
3. Type the name of the device, such as PRN, and press Enter. MS-DOS prints the file on your printer. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information on the PRINT command. Using Directories You can create many files on a diskette, and a hard disk can store thousands of files. To help you organize this much information, MS-DOS lets you subdivide a disk into logical units called directories.
As the number of files in your WORDPROC and SPDSHEET directories grows, you can create additional directories subordinate to those two-like this, for example: Root directory WORDPROC DOS BUSINESS PERSONAL SPDSHEET I SALES PROJ This structure would let you segregate your business word processing files from your personal word processing files and your sales spreadsheets from spreadsheet files used for financial projections.
The following sections discuss the basics of creating and using directories. Note The XTREE utility provides a simple way to see and organize your directories. See the description of XTREE later in this chapter. The Default Directory MS-DOS always recognizes one directory as the default or current directory, just as it always recognizes one drive as the default drive. The default directory is the one in which MS-DOS performs your commands, unless you tell it to do otherwise.
To change from PERSONAL back to WORDPROC, you can use the special symbol . . (two periods). The . . symbol always designates the parent directory. In other words, you can type: CD . . Using Pathnames A pathname tells MS-DOS how to find its way to the directory you want to access. There are two basic types of pathnames: relative and absolute. A relative pathname tells MS-DOS how to find its way to the desired directory from the current default directory.
Thus, if the default directory were WORDPROC (in the above example), the pathname . . \DOS would tell MS-DOS to move up one level from WORDPROC (in this case to the root directory) and then find a subdirectory called DOS. You can use either relative or absolute pathnames at any time, as long as you give MS-DOS enough information to find the directory or file at the end of the pathname.
Note that if you change from one drive to another and then try to access a file on the previous drive, MS-DOS remembers which was the default directory when you were last logged onto that drive. For example, suppose the last time you were logged onto drive C, the default directory was the root directory. Now you are logged onto drive A and enter the following command to delete the file JEAN1204.DOC: DEL C:JEAN1204.
Note MS-DOS provides several commands that make using pathnames easier: APPEND lets you set a search path for data files and executable files so MS-DOS knows where to find them even if you don’t specify the drive and directory. PATH lets you specify a search path for commands and program files so you don’t have to type a full pathname every time you want to run an application program or an MS-DOS command.
Listing the Contents of a Directory You can use the DIR command to list all the files in a particular directory. For example, to list the files in the current directory, type the following and press Enter: DIR MS-DOS lists the names of the files in the current directory on the current drive, in a format like the following example: Directory of C:\WORDPROC\PERSONAL
6-09-89 10 : 16a 5-23-89 3 : 24p .. LETTER.Another way to view a long directory listing is to use the /W switch: DIR /W This displays the directory listing in a wide format, as follows: Directory of C:\WORDPROC\PERSONAL LETTER.713 RESUME BOOKRPRT .. 5 File(s) 16013560 bytes free As you can see, this type of listing does not show the size of the file or the time and date it was last modified. To list the contents of a different drive or a different directory, include the appropriate drive designator and/or pathname in the command.
The screen displays a report for every directory on the drive, for example: Path: C:\LEDGER Sub-directories:RECEIV PAYABL SALES If you would also like to see a list of all the files in the directories, add the /F switch to the command: TREE /F The screen displays the directory information shown above plus the names of all files in each subdirectory, for example: Path: C:LEDGER\SALES Sub-directories:None DECSALES Files: FORECAST.
To delete an empty directory from a disk, use the RMDIR command, or its shorthand equivalent, RD. For example, to remove the directory ACCOUNTS, which is a subdirectory in the LEDGER directory, type the following and press Enter: RD \LEDGER\ACCOUNTS If you are currently in the LEDGER directory, you can enter the command as follows: RD ACCOUNTS Formatting Diskettes Before you can store data on a new diskette, you must format it. Formatting prepares the diskette so that MS-DOS can write to it.
The following procedure assumes your computer has a hard disk. If it does not, see “Formatting Diskettes With One Diskette Drive (No Hard Disk)” below. 1. If necessary, type C : to log onto drive C. 2. When you see the C : \> prompt, type the following and press Enter: FORMAT A: You see this prompt: Insert new diskette for drive A: and strike ENTER when ready 3. Insert the diskette you want to format in drive A and press Enter to start formatting.
Formatting Diskettes With One Diskette Drive (No Hard Disk) If your computer has only one diskette drive and no hard disk, follow this procedure to format a diskette: 1. Insert the working copy of your MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A. 2. When you see the A> prompt, type the following and press Enter: FORMAT A: You see this prompt: Insert new diskette for drive A: and strike ENTER when ready 3. Remove the MS-DOS Startup diskette and insert the diskette you want to format into the drive.
Backing Up Data It’s very important to keep backup diskettes containing copies of the files you create. You can copy data and program files several ways: You can use the COPY or XCOPY command to copy individual files or groups of files. You can use the DISKCOPY command to make an exact duplicate of a diskette. You can use the BACKUP command to back up hard disk files to diskettes.
If the diskette you are copying to has not been formatted, DISKCOPY formats it automatically before copying the data. The following procedure for copying diskettes assumes that you have a hard disk. If you do not, see “Using DISKCOPY with one drive only” below. If you have a hard disk and two diskette drives, see “Using DISKCOPY with two diskette drives” below. 1. Make sure the diskette you want to copy is write-protected. (See “Write-protecting Diskettes” in Chapter 3 for instructions.) 2.
6. If you are copying a 1.2MB diskette, MS-DOS asks you to insert the source and target diskettes again. Follow the prompts on the screen. When the copy is complete, you see this message: Copy another diskette (Y/N)? 7. Press Y and Enter to copy another diskette or N and Enter to return to the MS-DOS command prompt. Using DISKCOPY with two diskette drives 1. Make sure the diskette you want to copy is write-protected. (See “Write-protecting Diskettes” in Chapter 3 for instructions.) 2.
5. Insert the blank diskette (the target) into the drive. Press any key. If the new diskette is not formatted, DISKCOPY formats it and then copies the contents of memory to the diskette. When the copy is complete, you see this message: Copy another diskette (Y/N)? 6. Press Y and Enter to copy another diskette or N and Enter to return to the MS-DOS command prompt. Using DISKCOPY with one drive only If your computer has only one diskette drive and no hard disk, follow these steps to copy a diskette: 1.
5. Remove the original diskette from drive A and insert the blank diskette (the target) in the drive. Press any key. If the new diskette is not formatted, DISKCOPY formats it and then copies the contents of memory to the diskette. When the copy is complete, you see this message: Copy another diskette (Y/N)? 6. Press Y and Enter to copy another diskette or N and Enter to return to the MS-DOS command prompt. Using the BACKUP Command Use the BACKUP command to back up the data on your hard disk.
Make sure you have enough diskettes to back up the data on your hard disk drive. It takes about 17 1.2MB diskettes to back up a 20MB hard disk that is completely full, and about 34 1.2MB diskettes to back up a full 40MB hard disk. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for complete instructions on using BACKUP. Using HELP The Epson HELP program provides online information about MS-DOS commands and programs.
To bypass the HELP menu and get information about one command, follow these steps: 1. At the command prompt, type HELP, followed by the name of the MS-DOS command you want information about, and press Enter. For example, to see help information for the COPY command, type the following and press Enter: HELP COPY 2. If there is more than one page of information about the command you selected, you see the prompt PgUp at the top of the screen. Press PgUp to display the rest of the text. 3.
Using MENU Your computer comes with a program provided by Epson called MENU. With this program you can display a menu of commands and select the one you need. MENU is easy to use because it lets you execute MS-DOS commands without having to remember the exact syntax for each command. Follow these steps to use the MENU program: 1. Log onto drive C. 2. Type MENU at the command prompt and press Enter. You see this main menu: EXIT File Utilities Disk Utilities Mode Settings Help Enter DOS Command 3.
Disk Utilities Lets you check, copy, compare, and format diskettes. This option provides an easy-to-use alternative to the MS-DOS CHKDSK, DISKCOPY, DISKCOMP, and FORMAT commands. Mode Settings Lets you change your configuration settings, select alternate code pages (character sets), and redirect data from the parallel port to the serial port. Because you can perform so many tasks from the Mode Settings submenus, this option is a simpler alternative to the MS-DOS MODE command.
Make new directories, rename directories, delete empty directories, and change from one directory to another Display data in both ASCII and hexadecimal format Execute programs without leaving the XTREE program Display how much space is available on your disks. Running XTREE To run XTREE, log onto drive C. Type XTREE and press Enter.
This menu provides the following information: Shows the pathname for the current directory. A single backslash identifies the root directory. Path: L O S The directory structure illustrated under the backslash reflects the organization of the directories on the disk. In this case, the DOS directory is the only subdirectory. If there are no entries listed under the backslash, the disk contains no subdirectories under the root directory. FILE Shows the files XTREE is set to display.
Use the cursor keys to move the highlighted bar. To select a file or directory, use the arrow keys to highlight the name of the file or directory. Press Enter to move the highlighted bar from the directory (top) window to the file (bottom) window. Press Enter to expand the file window, and then press it again to return to the directory window. Letter keys execute XTREE commands. The available XTREE commands appear on the DIR COMMANDS or FILE COMMANDS line at the bottom of your screen.
Cautions With a utility as powerful and as fast as XTREE, you must always be aware of the danger of accidentally erasing important files. Follow these guidelines to protect your files: You can cancel commands, even commands in progress, by pressing F3. This stops any function. Use Ctrl A (the attributes command) to give read-only status to all the files in the directories. Then, in order to erase a file, you must first remove its protection.
Here are some tasks you can perform using an AUTOEXEC.BAT file: Modify the PATH command to include the directories containing other software programs you commonly use. This reduces the number of times you need to change directories or specify pathnames. Add the appropriate command to start your most commonly used application program (such as a word processor or spreadsheet program) so that it loads automatically when you turn on or reset the computer.
The first line changes the MS-DOS command prompt so that it displays your current directory. The second line tells MS-DOS to look for programs or batch files in the DOS directory. This way you can run programs in that directory without having to specify pathnames in the commands. Note The AUTOEXEC.BAT file that came on your hard disk already includes these two lines. The MS-DOS COPY command provides an easy way to create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Follow these steps: 1. If you are creating an AUTOEXEC.
If you need to change anything in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file later, you can use the same procedure to modify the commands. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions. Using HDCACHE for the Hard Disk You can use the MS-DOS program HDCACHE to enhance the performance of your hard disk. This program makes the hard disk work more efficiently by storing data requests in a reserved part of memory. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information.
Chapter 5 Installing Option Cards Option cards are accessories you can add to your computer to provide extra system capabilities. For example, you may want to install an auto-dial modem or a different display adapter card. Your computer has six option card slots, so it can hold up to a total of six cards. The parallel and serial interface and floppy disk controller occupies one slot, and the hard disk controller occupies another slot.
1. If the monitor is on top of the computer, disconnect it and move it to one side. Disconnect the keyboard and any peripherals and set them out of the way too. Turn the computer around so that the back panel faces you. 2. As shown below, the top cover is secured by five screws on the back panel and four screws on the side panels (two on each side). Remove the screws and put them all safely to one side. 3. Turn the computer around so the front panel faces you.
You can separate the sides of the cover from the bottom ledge of the computer by pulling them outward slightly, as shown below. 4. When the back edge of the cover is a few inches away from the back panel, you can lift the cover off, Set the cover aside carefully.
Inserting the Option Card Most option cards can be placed into any of the option slots. Some cards, however, must be installed in a specific slot. Check the option card manual to see if your option card must go in a specific slot. If you are installing a new video card, you may remove the MGA card that comes installed in your computer. The option slots are located in the back of your computer, as shown below.
You can place some 8-bit cards in a 16-bit slot. But if an 8-bit card has an additional skirt along the bottom (which looks like an extra long connector), it must go into an 8-bit slot. If you are installing a video card, be sure to install it in slot 5. Slot 6 contains the parallel and serial interface and the floppy disk controller. To install the option card, follow these steps: 1.
Note Pay specific attention to warnings in your option card instructions. Some devices have delicate CMOS chips that you should not touch. When you handle the card, be careful not to touch any of the contacts on the circuit board, especially the gold connector pins. If you need to put the card down before installing it, place the component side facing down on top of the original packing. Keep the card’s original packing materials in case you remove the card later. 3.
5. Secure the retaining bracket to the frame of the computer with the small screw. Jumper Settings Some optional devices require different jumper settings inside the computer. In this case, it is best if your dealer installs the option and makes all the necessary adjustments when you buy it. If you decide to do it yourself, be very careful when you follow the procedures below. There are many system components that can be damaged accidentally.
The procedure for changing a jumper setting is given first, then the jumper functions and locations for each card are described separately. All the instructions assume you have already removed the cover from the computer. Changing a Jumper Setting A jumper setting is determined by the jumper’s position: either between pin A and the middle pin (position A) or between pin B and the middle pin (position B). Both positions are shown below.
The table below shows the functions for the jumpers on the memory card. Memory card jumper settings Jumper number 1 2 3 Function A A 640KB * B A 512KB (disable upper 128KB) B B 256KB (disable upper 384KB) l A Select EPROM size 27128* B Select EPROM size 27256 Default setting To access the memory card jumpers, you need to remove the card from the computer first: 1. Remove the retaining screw from the bracket on the memory card, as shown below.
2. Lift the card gently out of the computer. Set it on a soft surface, such as a towel, with the component side facing up. The location of the three jumpers is shown below. Refer to the table above to set them as needed. When you finish setting the jumpers, replace the memory card in the computer and secure it with the retaining screw. Main Circuit Board Jumpers The jumpers on the main circuit board control the following : Number of wait states for EPROM.
Math coprocessor clock speed. If you install an 80287 math coprocessor, you may need to set the jumpers for a different clock speed. The jumpers determine the speed of the coprocessor. Since it is easy to damage a math coprocessor, you should have your Epson Customer Care Center install it for you. In addition to checking the jumper settings, you also need to run the Setup program to change the settings in the CMOS RAM, and you may want to test the coprocessor with the System Diagnostics program.
When you finish changing the jumpers, carefully replace the memory card in its slot and secure it with the retaining screw. Multi-function Card Jumpers The jumpers on the multi-function card control the parallel port address and the serial port address. You normally address the parallel and serial ports in the computer as the primary ports (LPT1 and COM1).
Multi-function card jumper settings for parallel port Jumper number 3 4 10 Function A A A Enable built-in port as primary * A B B Enable built-in port as secondary B A A Enable compatibility with IBM monochrome display/printer adapter B B Disable built-in port * Default Setting The table below shows the jumpers on the multi-function card that control the serial port.
To access the multi-function card jumpers, you need to remove the card from the computer: 1. Unplug the disk drive cable from the card as shown below. Pull it straight up and out, then lay it to one side. 2. Remove the retaining screw from the multi-function card at the back panel of the computer, as shown below.
3. Remove the card from the slot (pull it straight up) and set it on a soft surface with the components facing up. The location of the jumpers is shown below. Change them as needed and then reverse the three steps above to reinstall it. Removing an Option Card If you need to remove an option card, simply reverse the steps you followed to install it. Remove the screw securing the card to the back of the computer and pull the card straight up and out of the slot.
Replacing the Cover With the option card properly installed or removed, the last step is to replace the cover of the computer: 1. Facing the front of the computer, position the cover on the computer as shown below.
2. Pull the sides of the cover outward slightly and lower the cover over the computer. Guide the curved edge on the bottom of the cover along the bottom of the computer. 3. Slide the cover straight back until the front panel is flush with the diskette drive. Make sure the power switch fits properly through the opening on the front panel. 4. To secure the cover, replace the screws on the back and side panels. 5.
Post-installation Setup After you install or remove an option card, you may need to run the Setup program to update the configuration information. For example, if you add a second diskette drive, you need to tell the computer that it has the additional drive. See Chapter 2 of this guide for information on the Setup program. You may also need to add some commands in the configuration files on your system disk as well. See the description of CONFIG.SYS in your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions.
Chapter 6 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 chapter. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. If you still have a problem after trying the recommended solution, consult your Epson Customer Care Center.
Replace the system (Startup) diskette, if necessary, and turn the computer on again. 2. If the computer’s power light still does not come on, check the electrical outlet for power. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet. Plug a lamp into the wall outlet, and turn it on to see if the outlet supplies power. 3. If the electrical outlet is working and all the connections are secure but your computer still won’t start, call your Epson Customer Care Center.
4. If your computer still does not respond, you can reset it. Follow the instructions in Chapter 3 for resetting your computer. 5. If resetting the computer does not solve the problem, turn it off, wait at least five seconds, and turn the computer on again. This procedure causes the computer to load MS-DOS and display the MS-DOS command prompt. If you do not have a hard disk, insert the working copy of the Startup diskette in drive A before turning on the computer.
Monitor Problems If you are having difficulty with your monitor, check the following: 1. If there is no display on the screen, check that the monitor’s power switch is on and that the power light on the monitor is lit. If the power switch is on but you still do not see anything on the screen, check the monitor’s brightness and contrast controls. 2. If the power switch is on, but the power light is not, turn off the monitor’s power, wait five seconds, and turn the power back on.
6. If you are running an application program, check to make sure the program is set up for the type of monitor you have. Some programs need to be set up specifically for the type of monitor you are using. Note If your application program requires a monitor that supports graphics but you have a monochrome monitor, the results will be unpredictable. 7.
3. If the problem persists in the new diskette drive, make sure the diskette is the correct type for your drive. See Chapter 3 for more information on appropriate diskette types and storage capacities. 4. If your diskette is the right type for your drive, check whether the diskette is write-protected. There may be a write-protect tab over the notch on the side of the diskette (5¼-inch) or the write-protect switch may be set (on a 3½-inch diskette).
If you are not able to copy all the files from the defective diskette, copy as many as you can and then use the MS-DOS program RECOVER. This program recovers all the data that it can read on the diskette. It is specifically designed to work on disks or diskettes that may be defective. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on using RECOVER. WARNING RECOVER renames all files on the diskette, so use it only after you have copied as many files as possible with the MS-DOS COPY command. 6.
The CHKDSK program can recover data that has been inadvertently lost on the diskette. It makes changes to the diskette if you use the /F switch in the command like this: CHKDSK A: /F See the description of CHKDSK in your MS-DOS Reference Manual before making corrections to the diskette. Diskette Drive Problems Follow these steps if you are having difficulty with a diskette drive: 1. If the diskette is not turning or the diskette drive is making loud noises, do not attempt any further examination of it.
Hard Disk Problems If you are having problems with your hard disk, try the following steps: 1. If the drive is making loud noises, or not functioning at all, do not attempt any further examination of it. Instead, contact your nearest Epson Customer Care Center. 2. If this is the first time you have used the computer after setting it up and the hard disk does not load MS-DOS when you turn it on, it may be missing one of the MS-DOS system files.
To copy the hidden system files from your Startup diskette to the root directory of the hard disk, type A : to log onto the diskette drive, then type the following and press Enter: SYS c: 4. If you can boot from a diskette but cannot access data stored on your hard disk, you may have accidentally repartitioned or reformatted part or all of the disk. Use the Display Partition Information option of the FDISK program to see if your hard disk has an active (bootable) DOS partition on it.
6. If you have been using your hard disk for a long time and begin to see numerous read/write errors, you may need to reformat the hard disk. If you decide to do this, follow these steps: Back up all the data on the disk using the BACKUP command (described in the MS-DOS manual). Follow the instructions in Appendix D to perform a low-level format. Follow the instructions in Appendix E to prepare the hard disk for use. 7.
2. Some programs work at only one operating speed. Your computer can run at either 8 MHz or 12 MHz. Check your software manual to see if your application program must run at the slower speed and change the CPU operating speed if necessary. See “Changing the Operating Speed” in Chapter 3 for instructions. 3. If you have entered an MS-DOS command that you want to stop, there are special key combinations you can type to signal MS-DOS to stop what it is doing.
2. Check the printer manual for the printer’s correct DIP switch or control panel settings. These settings help a printer communicate properly with the computer. 3. If your printer is properly set up but is still not functioning, test it from the MS-DOS level. When the MS-DOS command prompt (such as C : \>) is showing on the screen, press PrtSc. This should print the contents of the screen on your printer.
2. Did you run the Setup program to reconfigure your computer? You must run Setup to update the computer’s internal settings if you changed: The amount of memory installed The type of video display adapter installed The presence of a math coprocessor The number or type of disk drives installed. See Chapter 2 of this manual for more information about Setup. 3. Did you set the necessary DIP switches or jumpers on the option card? See your option card manual for instructions. 4.
Appendix A Specifications CPU and Memory 16-bit CPU 80286 microprocessor; 8 or 12 MHz clockrate, switch-selectable Real address (8086-compatible) and protected virtual address (multi-tasking) modes 24-bit address and 16-bit data bus Main memory 640KB RAM on memory card; expandable to 15.
Interfaces Serial RS-232C, programmable, asynchronous, DB-9P male connector Printer Standard 8-bit parallel, DB-25S female connector Option slots Six IBM PC/AT-compatible input/output expansion slots (three 8-bit and three 16-bit): one 8-bit slot occupied by parallel/serial interface and diskette controller card; one 8-bit slot occupied by multi-graphics adapter card; one 16-bit slot occupied by the hard disk controller card; three available Speaker Internal, programmable Clock/calendar RAM Real-ti
Hard disk drive 3 ½-inch or 5 ¼-inch, half-height internal hard disk; 20MB or 40MB storage capacity; ST 506/412 interface Optional 5 ¼-inch, half-height diskette drive; double-sided, high-density, 1.2MB storage capacity Optional 5 ¼-inch, half-height diskette drive; double-sided, double-density, 360KB storage capacity Optional 3 ½-inch, half-height diskette drive; double-sided, high-density, 1.
Environmental Requirements Temperature Operating range: 41° to 95°F (5° to 35°C) Storage range: -4° to 140°F (-20° to 60°C) Humidity Operating range: 20% to 80%, non-condensing Storage range: 10% to 90%, non-condensing Physical Characteristics (CPU only) Width 15.7” (400 mm) Depth 16.5” (420 mm) Height 6.1” (155 mm) Weight Apex 200\20: 27.5 lbs (12.5 kg) Apex 200\40: 28 lbs (12.
Supports Epson- and IBM PC-compatible monochrome monitor: 80-character x 25line display, 9 x 14 character block; Hercules ® monochrome text/graphics, 720 x 348 Supports Epson- and IBM PC-compatible color graphics monitor: 40-character x 25-line display (low-resolution text), 80-character x 25-line display (highresolution text), 640 x 200 (highresolution graphics), 320 x 200, four colors; 160 x 200, eight colors Other Apex Options Check with the store where you purchased your Apex computer for the following
T-750 9-pin, 136-column, dot-matrix printer; 240 cps draft/48 cps near letter quality (CO2001 1) Black ribbon (8755) Single bin cut sheet feeder (8348) L-1000 24-pin, 80-column, dot-matrix printer; 180 cps draft/60 cps letter quality (CO1901 1) Black ribbon (7753) Single bin cut sheet feeder (7341A) Optional letter quality font modules: Courier (7400A), Prestige (7401A), Script (7402A) L-750 24-pin, 136-column, dot-matrix printer; 216 cps draft/72 cps letter quality (C006021) Black ribbon (7754) Single
Intelligent serial interface board (8148) Intelligent IEEE-488 interface board (8165) Internal 300/1200 baud modem card (C203A-B) Computer accessories External 300/1200 baud modem (C202A-B) Parallel Port Pin Assignments Pin no.
Serial Port Pin Assignments Pin no. Signal name Direction Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DCD RX TX DTR GND DSR RTS CTS RI I I O O — I O I I Data carrier detect Receive data Transmit data Data terminal ready Signal ground Data set ready Request to send Clear to send Ring indicator I = Input O = output Keyboard Connector Pin Assignments Pin no.
Parallel Port Loop-back Connector Pin Assignments Output signal name Strobe Data bit 0 Auto feed Init. printer Select input Pin no. Pin no. 1 2 14 16 17 — — — — — 13 15 12 10 11 Input signal name Select Error P.END (out of paper) Acknowledge Busy Serial Port Loop-back Connector Pin Assignments Output signal name Pin no. Pin no.
Appendix B Power-On Diagnostics The built-in memory (ROM) of your computer contains a series of diagnostics programs, which your computer runs automatically every time you turn on the power. These programs check internal devices such as ROM, RAM, the timer, the keyboard controller, and the diskette drive. When you turn on the power, the computer performs the tests described in this appendix. If it finds an error, it displays a specific error number and error message on the screen.
If the computer finds a fault in the main board, it stops and displays an error message such as this: 10n-System board error where n is a number from 1 to 8 that represents the specific LSI circuit causing the error. Give this error number and message to your Customer Care Center. If an I/O ROM checksum error occurs, you see this message: nnnn0 ROM error where nnnn is the number of the segment of the bad I/O ROM on an option card. Give the error message and number to your Customer Care Center.
RAM Check The computer now begins to check the RAM installed on the main system board and any option cards. During the check, you see this message: nnn KB OK where nnn indicates the amount of memory in which no malfunction is found. This value increases continuously by 64KB up to the amount of RAM installed on the main board, which is 640KB. If the computer detects an error in the first 64KB area, it displays an error message and halts with no further information.
Display Card Check The computer checks the color or monochrome display card that is installed in the system. An error number and message appear if any faults are found in the display adapter card. Number 401 represents an error in the monochrome display card, and 501 represents an error in the color display card. The messages are: 401-CRT error 501-CRT error Optional RAM Check If any additional memory (expansion RAM) is installed, the computer then checks that RAM for any malfunction.
Hard Disk Controller and Hard Disk Check The computer next checks the hard disk controller and drive unit. If a malfunction is found in the hard disk controller card, you see this error number and message: 1782-Disk controller failure If an error is found in the hard disk drive unit, the screen displays one of these error messages: 178n-Disk n error 179n-Disk n error where n is 0 or 1, and represents the drive number of the hard disk. Drive C is number 0, and drive D is number 1.
Appendix C Performing System Diagnostics This appendix describes how to check the operation of the main unit and peripheral devices of your computer. You check these devices using the 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 messages you may see during testing.
To start the system diagnostics program, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer. The OPERATION MENU appears. 3. Press 4 reset System diagnostics and then press Enter. When you start the system diagnostics, the computer checks the following: The positions of the internal jumpers Any peripheral devices that are connected to the system. After these items are checked, you see a list of the devices available for testing.
Once you confirm the DEVICE LIST, you can test only those items. If you decide later that you need to add a device, you must return to the OPERATION MENU and re-select System diagnostics. Modifying the DEVICE LIST If an installed device is missing from the DEVICE LIST, it is important that you add it to the list and test it carefully. In response to this prompt: Is the DEVICE LIST correct (Y/N)? press N followed by Enter.
Type the number of the item you wish to add and press Enter. That item then disappears from the Additional DEVICE LIST on the screen. You can add as many devices as necessary. When you finish adding devices, press 0 followed by Enter to return to the Modify DEVICE LIST menu. Note Even if you have both monochrome and color display adapter cards installed, you can test only the monitor that is currently selected by the color/mono switches on the front and back panels.
Selecting a Test From the DEVICE LIST, select the device you wish to test. Type the number of the device; then press Enter. Before the test begins, you are asked 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 Enter selection number: You can specify that the test be performed one time only or any number of times in the range from 1 to 9999. In almost all cases, running a test only once is sufficient.
Resuming From an Error If an error occurs during a test, the test stops at that point, and an error code and error message appear. If you want to record the problem, you can print out the message on your printer. You see this prompt: Do you want a printout of the error (Y/N) ? message(s) To continue without printing the error message, press N and Enter. Before you request a printout, be sure your printer is turned on and online, and the paper is installed correctly. Then press Y and Enter.
The remainder of this appendix describes the tests you can run on the system’s internal devices and on the optional devices installed on your computer. The program displays the title of each check on the screen. Note For a complete list of the error codes and messages these tests may display, see the table at the end of this chapter.
Memory Check Use this option to check the computer’s built-in memory. The program checks only the amount of memory that you have indicated as present in the Setup program. For this check, the program writes specific data into memory and then reads it back. The data is written and read in blocks of 64KB. A parity check is also made on each block. A count of memory is displayed after each block that is tested without an error.
KEYBOARD SELECT MENU 1 - 2 3 4 5 6 - US ASCII United Kingdom French German Italian Spanish 0 - Exit Enter selection number: Type the number of your keyboard layout, then press Enter. You can exit the keyboard test by pressing 0 and Enter. After you select a keyboard layout, the program displays the layout on the screen. Press each key on the keyboard to make sure the corresponding character is displayed on the screen.
If all the keys function, but the characters displayed do not match the keys, press Y and then Enter. Then re-select the keyboard test from the DEVICE LIST, and check that you selected the correct keyboard layout. You can find diagrams of all the international keyboard layouts in the MS-DOS Reference Manual. If any key is incorrect, press N and Enter. Make a copy of the error code and message, or print them out, and contact your Customer Care Center.
If an error occurs during any of these tests, record the error code and message, or print them out. Then contact your Customer Care Center. When you finish running the monochrome adapter check, press 0 and Enter to return to the DEVICE LIST. Monochrome Adapter Check To check the monochrome adapter, press 1 and then Enter. The computer checks the video RAM (display memory) on the display adapter by writing certain data to memory, then reading it back and comparing it to the written data.
Character Set Check To check your character set, press 3 and then Enter. The characters that are included in the internal character generator are displayed. Check the characters displayed on your screen against this illustration: After checking the characters, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? If the characters displayed match the illustration, press Y and Enter. If they do not match the illustration, press N and then Enter to display the error message.
You can use this display to adjust the size of the display on the screen. The vertical and horizontal adjustments are located on your monitor. Sync Check This test is provided for service purposes only. If you accidentally select this option, press any key to end the test. Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, press 6 and Enter. When you choose this option, all checks for the monochrome adapter and CRT are performed automatically in sequential order.
COLOR GRAPHICS ADAPTER AND CRT CHECK MENU 1 - Color graphics adapter check 2 - Attribute check 3 - Character set check 4 - 40-column character set check 5 67 8 9 10 11 - 320x200 graphics mode check 640x200 graphics mode check Screen paging check Light pen check Color video check Sync check Run all above checks 0 - Exit Enter selection numb&: If you specified to run the color adapter check multiple times, this menu does not appear and only the first test (Color graphics adapter check) is performed.
Attribute Check To check the display attributes of the color graphics adapter card, press 2 and Enter. Several messages are displayed showing examples of all the possible display attributes and colors. Check the information displayed on your screen, and respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? Press Y and then Enter if the display is correct. If the colors are not correct, adjust the controls on your display monitor. If they are still incorrect, press N and Enter.
After checking the characters, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N) ? If the characters displayed match the illustration, press Y and then Enter. If they do not match, press N and Enter to display the error message. 40-column Character Set Check To check your 40-column character set, press 4 and then Enter. The character fonts that are included in the internal character generator are displayed.
320x200 Graphics Mode Check To check your 320x200 graphics mode, press 5 and then Enter. The screen displays three colored squares-light green, brown, and red-against a cyan background. These four colors are Color Set 0. If they are correct, press Y and then Enter. The same pattern is displayed again; this time the squares are cyan, white, and magenta, and the background is red. These colors are called Color Set 1. If these are also correct, press Y and then Enter to end the test.
If the patterns on your screen are clear and distinct, press Y and then Enter. If any pattern is not displayed clearly, check the adjustment of your monitor and make sure it is connected properly. If a problem still exists, press N and Enter to display the error message. Screen Paging Check To check the screen paging of your monitor, press 7 and Enter. The video RAM on the color graphics adapter is divided into eight independent display pages.
If all eight pages are correct, press Y and Enter. If any page is filled with an incorrect number, press N and Enter to display the error message. Light Pen Check To check the function of a light pen connected to a color graphics adapter card, press 8 and then Enter. This test checks that a light pen connected to the color graphics adapter is performing accurately. When you select this check, you see these prompts: Enter Y to start light pen check. Enter N to return to the menu.
Color Video Check Option 9, Color video check, displays 16 different screens, each a different color, and a message indicating the color. The screens show the following colors in the order specified below: 1 - Black 2 - Blue 3 - Green 4 - Cyan 5 - Red 6 - Magenta 7 - Brown 8 - White 9 - Gray 10 - Light blue 11 - Light green 12 - Light cyan 13 - Light red 14 - Light magenta 15 - Yellow 16 - White (high intensity) To start this test, select option 9 from the menu; the first screen appears.
Floppy Disk Drives and Controller Check Use this option to test the performance of the diskette drives installed in your computer. This test includes several checks that allow you to identify particular problems related to your diskette drives. Before running these tests, format a diskette to use for the tests that write data on the disk in the drive. To test a 1.2MB drive, you can use a 1.2MB or a 360KB diskette. However, to test the full capacity of the drive, use only a 1.2MB disk. Likewise, in a 1.
Before any checks are performed, the program determines the number of diskette drives installed in your computer. If you have more than one drive, you see this prompt each time you select a test: Check which drive (A/B)? Press A or B and then Enter. If any errors occur, record the error code and message and contact your Epson Customer Care Center. Sequential Seek Check This test checks the ability of the read/write heads to locate any part of the diskette.
Write, Read Check This test checks the ability of the selected disk drive to read and write data from a diskette. The test writes to and reads from each cylinder on the diskette, starting at the center. Note This test destroys all data on the diskette in the selected drive. Select option 3 from the menu to start this test. If you have only one diskette drive, you see a prompt to remove the diagnostics (Reference) diskette and insert a blank diskette before running the test.
The computer spins the diskette for a few seconds and then displays a message like this: The disk rotation, speed is now 360.5 rpm. The diskette continues to spin and the message listing the rotation speed is updated every few seconds. To stop the test, press any key; the program returns to the menu. If you try to perform a speed test without inserting a diskette, or if a read error occurs, you see this message and prompt: Disk is defective or not installed properly. Press ENTER to return to the menu.
Re-insert the diskette and secure the lock. If no errors occur, the menu reappears. An error occurs if the drive is malfunctioning, or if you do not remove or replace the diskette within a certain time. Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, press 6 and then Enter. When you choose this option, all checks for the diskette drive(s) and controller are performed automatically in sequential order.
To perform the test, you must insert a special loop-back connector into the parallel port so that the computer can check the individual pins of the port. Contact your Customer Care Center if you need a loop-back connector (or see Appendix A for signal/pin assignments to make your own loopback connector). Note that a different connector is required to test the serial port. When you select option 9 from the DEVICE LIST, you see these prompts: Attach loop-back connector to parallel port.
Serial Port (RS-232C) Check Use this option to test the functions of the primary serial communications (RS-232C) port. To perform the test, you must insert a special loop-back connector into the RS-232C port so that the computer can check the individual pins of the port. Contact your Customer Care Center if you need a loopback connector (or see Appendix A for the signal/pin assignments if you want to make your own loop-back connector). Note that a different connector is required to test the parallel port.
The final test is an echo back check during which the port sends data to itself at 9600 baud, using various data formats. At the start of the test, you see these messages: RS232C echo back check - with various data formats 5 data bits, 1 stop bits, Current data format: parity - NONE Current test data is 00 Once again, if any data received does not match the data sent, a verify error occurs, and the computer reports the transmitted and received data at the time of the error.
When you select option 14 from the DEVICE LIST, you see this prompt: Is dot-matrix printer on-line ( Y / N ) ? Check that your printer is connected to the computer, and that it is turned on, loaded with paper, and on-line. Press Y and then Enter to continue, or press N and Enter to return to the menu. When you continue the test, the computer checks that the printer is responding correctly. This test detects whether the printer is off-line or whether an interface error exists.
Hard Disk Drives and Controller Check Use this option to test the performance of the hard disk drive installed in your computer. If any errors occur, have the drive checked and serviced by your Customer Care Center.
Select option 1 from the menu to start thistest. The program displays the number of each cylinder it finds, counting down from 614 (for a 20MB hard disk) to 0. The seek is performed by the read/write heads simultaneously, so you see the cylinder numbers only once. If no errors occur, the menu reappears. Write, Read Check This check tests the ability of the hard disk drive to read and write data. The test writes to and reads from each sector of the innermost cylinder of the disk, using each head.
2. Re-format the disk using option 2, Format hard disk, on the OPERATION MENU. See Appendix D for instructions. 3. Prepare the hard disk for use with FDISK and SELECT. See Appendix E for instructions. Head Select Check This test checks whether each head of the hard disk can be selected correctly. If both heads are checked without error, the program returns to the main menu. Select option 3 from the menu to start this test.
Read, Verify Check This test reads and verifies data from all tracks of the disk, checking each cylinder and using both heads. Select option 4 from the menu to start this test. The program displays the number of each cylinder it finds. For example, with a 20MB hard disk, the first message you see is: Current cylinder is 614 The cylinder number counts down to 0. At the end of the test, you see a table of the results of the test. For example, for a 20MB hard disk with no bad tracks, you see: BAD TRACKS ....
The first prompt you see is: The data on the highest physical cylinder may be destroyed by this check. Enter Y to start this check. Enter N to return to the menu. Press Y and then Enter to continue with the test. Error Codes and Messages This table lists all the error codes and messages that may appear during diagnostics checks.
Error code Message Keyboard 301 301 302 303 8042 ERROR KEYBOARD ERROR KEYBOARD IS NON-STANDARD OR DEFECTIVE KEYBOARD LOCKING ERROR Monochrome display adapter and CRT 401 402 403 404 V-RAM ERROR VIDEO SIGNAL ERROR ATTRIBUTE ERROR CHARACTER SET ERROR Color graphics adapter and CRT 501 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 V-RAM ERROR ATTRIBUTE ERROR CHARACTER SET ERROR 40-COLUMN CHARACTER SET ERROR COLOR GRAPHICS ERROR 640X200 GRAPHICS MODE ERROR SCREEN PAGING ERROR LIGHT PEN ERROR COLOR VIDEO ERROR Floppy
Error code Message Parallel port 901 ERROR PIN p Serial port (RS-232C) 1101 1101 1102 1103 control signal ALWAYS LOW control signal ALWAYS HIGH TIMEOUT ERROR VERIFY ERROR Alternate serial port 1201 1201 1202 1203 control signal ALWAYS LOW control signal ALWAYS HIGH TIMEOUT ERROR VERIFY ERROR Dot-matrix printer 1401 status Hard disk drives and controller 1701 1702 1703 1704 1705 1706 SEEK ERROR WRITE ERROR READ ERROR HEAD ERROR ERROR DETECTION ERROR ERROR CORRECTION ERROR Alternate parallel por
Appendix D Physically Formatting a Hard Disk This appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk. Sometimes called a low-level or hard format, this procedure should not be confused with the logical format performed by the MS-DOS FORMAT command. The physical formatting of a hard disk is a separate step that is usually done at the factory by the disk manufacturer.
new disk or reformatting a used disk, after physically formatting it, you need to run FDISK and SELECT to prepare the hard disk for use. Follow the instructions in Appendix E. Formatting and Checking Options To perform a physical format or to determine if a hard disk needs to be physically reformatted, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer. The OPERATION MENU appears. 3. Press 2 to select Format hard disk, and then press Enter.
Destructive surface analysis tests a formatted hard disk for bad tracks and updates the bad track table. Because this option writes and reads data on the disk, it destroys all data on any track that produces an error. You cannot run the Destructive surface analysis on a disk that has never been formatted. Non-destructive surface analysis checks a formatted hard disk for unflagged bad tracks without destroying data. You cannot run the Non-destructive surface analysis on a disk that has never been formatted.
Formatting a New Disk Many hard disk drives are supplied with a list of bad tracks but without the bad tracks flagged on the disk. Other hard disks are supplied with the bad tracks already flagged. If you are formatting a new hard disk that may not have been formatted, follow these steps: 1. Run the Conditional format to see if the disk has been formatted. If you see the message “This drive has unflagged error(s) or is unformatted,” you need to run the Unconditional format; go on to step 2.
Note If you have more than one hard disk drive, you see this prompt: Enter drive letter (C/D)? Press C or D and then Enter. Conditional Format (Normal) Use this option to format the hard disk. All flagged tracks are marked so that they are never used. To start the Conditional format, press 1 and then Enter. The program starts to scan the disk to find all tracks flagged as bad, starting from the innermost cylinder of the disk.
The program then displays a warning about the consequences of proceeding with formatting: WARNING! ALL DATA WILL BE DESTROYED IN ALL PARTITIONS OF HARD DISK, NOT JUST IN MS-DOS PARTITION! Do you want to start formatting (Y/N)? If there are no tracks with other errors, and you are absolutely sure that you want to format the hard disk, press Y and Enter. The program then asks you once more if you want to continue.
Flagged tracks are identified by xxxx and yy. At this point, press Enter to return to the HARD DISK FORMAT MENU. If there are any tracks with other errors, scanning stops and you see this message: Scanning cancelled. Warning: This drive has an unflagged error(s), or is unformatted. Press ENTER to return to the menu. Press Enter. This may mean that the drive has never been formatted or that an error was not flagged. If you want to format the disk after receiving this message, do the following: 1.
If you are formatting a disk that has never been formatted, check the list of bad tracks that came with the disk. This list identifies each defect by the head and cylinder number, which are required for the Unconditional format. To start the Unconditional format routine, press 2 and then Enter. You are first given the option to change the interleave factor for formatting from the default value of three. Only do this if the documentation with your hard disk recommends a different value.
Some of the messages change if the table is full or empty. However, the way that you add a bad track or make a correction is the same. To add a bad track, follow these steps: 1. Press A. You see this prompt: Enter cylinder number (1 - xxxx): 2. Type the number of the cylinder containing the bad track you want to enter, and press Enter. You see this prompt: Enter head number (0 - yy): 3. Type the head number for the bad track, and press Enter.
Destructive Surface Analysis Use this option to accurately locate any bad tracks on a hard disk, and to flag any bad tracks that are not flagged. WARNING If any errors occur during this check, all data on the track that produces the error is destroyed. For this reason, if you think that an unflagged bad track is causing trouble, first run option 4, Non-destructive surface analysis, to check the disk surface.
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 then followed by a table like this: Cylinder Head 237 Write, Read Error Tracks ============================ Cylinder Head Cylinder Head Cylinder Head 2 Confirm to register the tracks in the Write, Read Error Track Table as bad tracks. Do you want to register the error tracks as bad tracks (Y/N)? To flag the error tracks as bad, press Y and Enter.
When the analysis is complete, the program displays a summary of the status of the disk. This summary lists the following: Flagged bad tracks Tracks with read, verify errors Good tracks. If no errors occur, you see this message: No read, verify error was detected. If errors are found, the program displays a table of the tracks that gave errors, similar to the one displayed by the destructive analysis. After the status reports you see this message: Press ENTER to return to the menu.
Appendix E Preparing a Hard Disk for Use If your Apex computer came with a hard disk, it has already been physically formatted, partitioned, and formatted for MS-DOS. You should not need to do anything to prepare it for use. However, if you have installed a new hard disk in your computer or you need to repartition or reformat the disk you have been using, you may need to perform part or all of the procedures described in this appendix.
See Appendix D for instructions on performing a low-level format. If you need to format the disk, be sure to do it before completing the steps in this appendix. WARNING The procedures described in this appendix destroy any data on the hard disk. If your disk contains data, use the BACKUP command to copy all the data before completing the steps described here. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on using BACKUP.
The instructions in this appendix describe how to: Create a primary partition of 20MB if you have the Apex 200\20, or a primary partition of 32MB if you have the Apex 200\40. Create an extended partition on the Apex 200\40 of 8MB. If you prefer to create a primary and extended partition of different sizes, see the instructions for FDISK in your MS-DOS Reference Manual. Creating the MS-DOS Partition Follow the steps below to create a primary partition on your hard disk for MS-DOS.
7. Press Y to use the maximum size for MS-DOS and press Enter. The screen displays the following message and prompt: System will now restart Insert DOS diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready ... 8. Press any key to restart the system (the Startup diskette is already in drive A). Your computer begins reloading MS-DOS. After the preliminary copyright information displays on the screen, the date prompt appears. 9. Press Enter twice to accept the displayed date and then the time.
3. Press 2 to select the Create Extended DOS partition option and press Enter. The screen displays the following prompt: Total disk space is 1021 cylinders. Maximum space available for partition is 252 cylinders. Enter partition size ........ [252] 4. Press Enter to accept the partition size. The screen displays the following message: Extended Partition Created The screen also displays information about the partitions you have created. 5. Press E SC to return to the FDISK Options menu.
8. Press any key to restart the system (the MS-DOS Startup diskette is already in drive A). Your computer reloads MS-DOS, displaying the preliminary copyright information and the date prompt. 9. Press Enter twice to accept the date and time shown. The system now recognizes the MS-DOS partition as drive C and the extended partition as drive D. To install MS-DOS on your hard disk, you must format these logical drives.
Note 001 and US are the country code and keyboard code, respectively, for the United States. If you want to substitute codes for a different country, see your MS-DOS Reference Manual. The screen displays this message and prompt: SELECT is used to install DOS the first time. SELECT erases everything on the specified target and then installs DOS. Do you want to continue (Y/N)? 3. Press Y and then Enter. Formatting does not begin immediately.
The screen first displays disk space information and then displays the following message: Reading source file(s)... SELECT copies the rest of the files from the Startup diskette to the hard disk. When all the files are copied, the A> prompt reappears. The partition on the hard disk is now formatted. Note The SELECT procedure described above copies all the files from your Startup diskette to a directory it created on drive C named \DOS. This enables you to start MS-DOS from the hard disk.
4. Press Y and Enter to begin formatting the extended partition. The screen continuously displays the changing head and cylinder numbers. When the procedure is complete, you see the following message: Format Complete Volume Label (11 characters, ENTER for none) 5. It is a good idea to enter a name (volume label) for drive D, to protect it from being accidentally reformatted later. If you want to do this, type up to 11 characters and press Enter. If you do not want to name it, just press Enter.
3. At the A> prompt, type the following and press Enter: COPY *.* C:\DOS MS-DOS copies all the files from the diskette to the \DOS subdirectory on the hard disk. The file names appear on the screen as they are copied. 4. When the A> prompt reappears, remove the Operating 1 diskette and repeat the procedure for the Operating 2 and Reference diskettes. Store all your diskettes in a safe place.
Note The AUTOEXEC.BAT file is optional, and you can either not create one at all or create one that is different. For a description of AUTOEXEC.BAT, see Chapter 4; or see your MS-DOS manual for more detailed information. Follow these steps: 1. Type C : and press Enter to log onto the hard disk. 2. Type the following and press Enter: COPY CON AUTOEXEC.BAT 3. Type the following, pressing Enter after each line: ECHO OFF CLS PROMPT = $P$G PATH = C:\DOS 4. Hold down the Ctrl key and press Z.
Appendix F Types of Hard Disk Drives This appendix lists the numbers you need to identify a hard disk drive. Refer to this table and the documentation supplied with your hard disk to find the correct number for the type of drive you are installing. You use this drive type number when you run the Setup program after installing a hard disk drive.
Glossary Absolute pathname A pathname that begins with the backslash character. An absolute pathname tells MS-DOS how to find its way to a given directory, starting at the root directory. See also Relative pathname. Application program A software program designed to perform a specific task, such as a word processing or spreadsheet program. ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standardized coding system for representing characters, such as numbers, letters, and graphic symbols.
Batch file A type of file that lets you execute a series of MS-DOS commands by typing one command. Batch files are text files with the filename extension.BAT. In a batch file, each command is entered on a separate line. When you type the filename, all the commands in that file are executed sequentially. Baud rate A measure of the speed of data transmission. Usually equivalent to bits per second. Bit A binary digit (0 or 1). The smallest unit of computer storage.
CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. A method of making low power silicon chips. Command An instruction you enter (usually on a keyboard) to direct your computer to perform a specific function. Command prompt The symbol or message that tells you MS-DOS is loaded and ready to receive instructions. The default command prompt in MS-DOS also displays the current operating drive; if it is drive C, the command prompt looks like, this: C : \>. See also Prompt.
Current directory The directory you are logged onto and working in. Also known as the default directory. Cursor The highlighted marker that shows your position on the screen. Cylinders See Tracks. Data Information such as text or graphics stored or processed by a computer. Data diskette A formatted diskette on which you store data files (as opposed to program files). Data length The number of bits per character in serial transmissions.
Default drive The disk drive from which MS-DOS executes your next command, unless you tell it to do otherwise (by including a drive designator with the command). Also known as the current drive. Delimiter A character or space used to separate different parts of an MS-DOS command. Device A piece of equipment that is part of a computer system and performs a specific task, such as a disk drive, a monitor, or a printer.
Disk drive The physical device that allows the computer to read from and write to a disk. A diskette drive has a disk slot into which you insert a diskette. A hard disk is sealed inside a protective unit. Diskette A flat piece of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material and used to store data permanently. Also called floppy disk. Display adapter The card that is installed in one of the computer’s option slots.
Executable file A file containing program instructions, as opposed to data created with an application program. An executable file has the extension.BAT, .COM, or .EXE. Execution speed The speed at which the central processing unit can execute commands. Also called operating speed. The Apex can run at 8 MHz or 12 MHz. Extended memory Memory above 1MB that is not available to MS-DOS application programs. Extended memory can be used for the disk caching program, HDCACHE.
Filename A name of up to eight characters that MS-DOS uses to identify a file. Floppy disk See Diskette. 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 data permanently. Unlike a diskette, it is fixed in place.
Input/output (I/O) port See Port. Interface A physical or software connection used to transmit data between equipment or programs. Internal command An MS-DOS command that is stored in the command processor of the operating system; it is not a separate program file. This means that you can execute an internal command without specifying a pathname. Examples include COPY, DEL, RENAME, and DIR. Unlike external commands, internal commands can be executed from any drive or directory.
Main memory The amount of memory in the computer up to 1MB that is available to MS-DOS and application programs. Also called base memory. Math coprocessor An optional device that enables the computer to process certain mathematical calculations faster. Megabyte (MB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. One megabyte equals 1,048,576 bytes. Megahertz (MHz) A unit used to measure oscillation frequency (of a computer’s internal timing clock).
Monitor The piece of hardware that contains the screen and displays information. Monochrome monitor A monitor that displays in only one color, such as green or amber, as opposed to a color monitor which can display in several colors. Mouse A hand-held pointing device with one or more buttons. When you slide the mouse over a flat surface in a certain direction, the cursor moves in the same direction on the screen. MS-DOS Microsoft Disk Operating System. The operating system that comes with your computer.
Parallel The type of interface that transmits data in groups of bits. See Interface and SeriaI. Parameter A qualifier added to a command that tells the computer what particular conditions to look for. Parent directory The directory immediately above a given directory in the directory tree. In pathnames, the parent directory is represented by the symbol .. (two periods). Parity Data signals sent during communications to detect errors in transmitting or receiving data.
Power-on diagnostics The system tests the computer runs to check its internal circuitry and configuration each time you turn it on. Primary partition The MS-DOS partition from which the operating system starts. Program A disk file that contains coded instructions and tells a computer what to do and how to do it. Prompt A message displayed on the screen that tells you what action you need to perform next. RAM Random Access Memory.
Relative pathname A pathname that does not begin with the backslash character. A relative pathname tells MS-DOS how to find its way to a given directory, starting at the current default directory. See also Absolute pathname. Reset To reload a computer’s operating system so you can retry a task or begin using a different operating system. Resetting erases all information in RAM. RGB Red Green Blue. A type of color monitor. ROM Read Only Memory.
Serial The type of interface that transmits data one bit at a time. See Interface and Parallel. Software The programs that enable your computer to perform the tasks and functions you indicate. Source diskette The diskette that you are reading or copying data from during a copy or backup operation. Stop bit A signal sent in serial communications to mark the end of a character. Subdirectory A directory or group of files that branches down from another subdirectory or from the root directory.
Target diskette The diskette to which you are copying data during a copy or backup operation. Tracks Addressable, concentric circles on a disk, resembling the grooves on a record, which help to divide the disk into separate accessible areas. There are 40 tracks on each side of a double-sided 360KB diskette and 80 tracks on each side of a double-sided 1.2MB diskette. The numeber of tracks on a hard disk depends on its capacity. VGA Video Graphics Array.
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 ¼-inch diskette or by setting the write-protect switch on a 3 ½-inch diskette. When a diskette is write-protected, you cannot erase, change, or record over its contents.
Index A Absolute pathname, 4-19-20 Alternate serial port check, C-28 APPEND, 4-22 Application program, starting, 4-3 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 4-41-44, E-10-11 B Back panel monitor switch, 1-5-7 Backing up, 4-29-34 with BACKUP, 4-33-34 with DISKCOPY, 4-29-33 BACKUP, 4-33-34 Batch files, 4-10 AUTOEXEC.
Directories, 4-16—26 changing, 4-18-19 creating, 4-22 default, 4-18-19 displaying list of, 4.
Formatting, diskettes, 4-26-28 extended partition, E-4-6 logical, D-1 physical, D-1—12 primary partition, E-3-4 Front panel monitor switch, 1-14-15 H Hard disks, backing up, 3-18 caring for, 3-12 controller and drive check, c-30-34 installing, 2-7-8 locking the heads, 3-18-19 logically formatting, D-1 moving, 3-18-19 partitioning, E-2-3 physically formatting, D-1—12 precautions, 3-12 preparing for moving, 3-18-19 preparing for use, E-1—11 problems, 6-9—11 removing, 2-7-8 types, F-1 HDCACHE, 4-44 HDSIT, 3-1
Mouse, connecting, 1-7 Multi-function card, 5-7 MS-DOS, booting, 1-17, 4-2-3 command format, 4-7-8 command prompt, 1-18 copying fibs, 4-10-13 correcting commads, 4-8 default drive, 4-4-5 deleting files, 4-14-15 directories, 4-16-26 entering commands, 4-7-9 exiting, 4-2 external commands, 4-5 filenames, 4-9-10 internal commands, 4-5 loading, 1-17, 4-2-3 pathames, 4-19-21 naming files, 4-9-10 printing files, 4-15-16 renaming files, 4-13-14 starting, 4-2 starting from hard disk, 1-17 N Nondestructive surface a
R RAM check, B-3 Read only memory (ROM), A-1 Read/write heads, 3-8 Rea1-time clock, 2-8-10 RECOVER, 6-7 Relative pathname, 4-19-20 RENAME, 4-13-14 RMDIR (RD), 4-26 RESET button, 3-5 Resetting the computer, 3-5 ROM, A-1 Root directory, 4-16-17 S Sectors, 3-7 SELECT, E-6-8 Serial, alternate port check, C-28 cable, 1-9 interface, I-9-10, A-2 port, 1-9-10 port check (RS-232C), C-27-28 port loop-back connector pin assignments, A-9 port pin assignments, A-8 Setting up, 1-1-21 Setup menu, 2-2 Setup program, 2-1-1
Write-protecting diskettes, 3-14-15 X XCOPY, 4-29 XTREE, 4-37-41
