® EPSON EQUITY™386/20 User’s Guide Y18499100101
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How to Use This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Setting Up Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing the Diskette Drive Protector Card . . . . . . . . 2 Choosing a Location . . . . . . . .
Formatting the Primary Partition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Copying the Remaining Files to the Hard Disk . . . . . . . . . . Formatting the Extended Partition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Booting From the Hard Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Using the Equity 386 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Locking the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting the Execution Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6 Using Directories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Default Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Pathnames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Including Filenames With Pathnames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Including Drive Letters With Pathnames and Filenames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Listing the Contents of a Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creating Directories .
Appendixes A Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Computer Won’t Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Computer Locks Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diskette Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Color Graphics Adapter and CRT Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . Color Graphics Adapter Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Attribute Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Character Set Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40-column Character Set Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320x200 Graphics Mode Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 640x200 Graphics Mode Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Screen Paging Check . . . . . .
E Hard Disk Drive Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1 F Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CPU and Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Controllers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction The Epson® Equity™ 386/20 is a versatile, high-performance personal computer. Its 80386 microprocessor and 20 MHz operation speed make this a fast machine, and you can easily upgrade it by adding memory and installing options. The Equity 386 is available in these configurations: l l l A single diskette drive system with one 1.2MB (megabyte) diskette drive A hard disk drive system with one 40MB hard disk and one 1.2MB diskette drive A hard disk drive system with one 90MB hard disk and one 1.
The Equity 386 offers a shadow RAM feature which lets you speed up processing by moving the ROM BIOS and VIDEO ROM into the RAM area of memory. When the ROM data is in RAM, the computer can access information and display text and graphics on the screen faster. Your computer comes with version 3.3 of MS-DOS®-the operating system by Microsoft@-and version 3.2 of the GW-BASIC® programming language. You’ll find reference manuals for both MS-DOS and GW-BASIC packed in the box with the computer.
Chapter 1 provides simple step-by-step instructions for setting up your computer. On the inside back cover are illustrations identifying the different parts of the Equity 386; you may want to refer to this while you are setting up your system. Chapter 2 describes how to run the Setup program to define your computer’s configuration. You must do this for a new computer before you use it. You may need to do it again later, if you change the configuration.
Appendix F gives the technical specifications for the Equity 386. At the back of the manual you’ll find a glossary of the computer terms used in this manual and an index. Where to Get Help Customer support and service for Epson products are provided by a network of authorized Epson dealers and service centers throughout the United States. Epson America provides product information and toll-free support to its dealers and service centers.
Chapter 1 SETTING UP YOUR SYSTEM Setting up your Epson Equity 386 personal computer is easy. Just follow the 10 steps in this chapter, which describe how to set up your computer, start MS-DOS, and make copies of your system diskettes. As you set up your computer, you may want to leave the back flap of this book open so you can refer to the two illustrations identifying the different parts of the computer.
Besides this manual, you should have the following: l The computer and power cord l The keyboard with attached cable l Keys for locking the computer l l Four diskettes: three that contain the MS-DOS operating system and the GW-BASIC programming language (Startup, Operating 1, and Operating 2), and a Reference diskette An MS-DOS Reference Manual and a GW-BASIC Reference Manual.
(If you have a second diskette drive, be sure to remove the card from that drive too.) Save the protector card and reinsert it whenever you move the computer. If you don’t plan to use your computer for a week or more, reinsert the card to help prevent dust from entering the disk drive. 2 Choosing a Location Before you set up your Equity 386, it’s important to choose a comfortable, convenient location where it can run properly.
l l l Moderate environmental conditions. Protect your computer from extremes in temperature, humidity, dust, and smoke. Avoid direct sunlight or any other source of heat. High humidity also hinders operation, so select a cool, dry area. Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges, connect all your equipment to 3-prong, 120-volt grounded outlets. You need one outlet for the computer, one for the monitor, and additional outlets for a printer and any other peripherals.
Monitor/video card compatibility Monitor Video card Output type Monochrome Monochrome, graphics, or enhanced graphics One 9-pin output (TTL compatible) Color or or enhanced color Graphics, color graphics, or enhanced graphics One 9-pin RGB output or one RCA-type jack for composite video VGA monochrome Video graphics array One 15-pin analog output 1. Place your monitor on top of or near the computer.
4. Plug the monitor’s power cord into the monitor’s power inlet, as shown below. 5. Plug the other end of the power cord into an electrical outlet. 4 Connecting a Printer The Equity 386 has a parallel interface and a serial interface. You can easily connect a printer or other device that has either type of interface-just follow the instructions below. Epson, of course, offers a full range of printers; check with your dealer for more information.
Using the Parallel Interface The Equity 386 parallel interface is Centronics®-compatible and uses a DB-25S connector. Most Epson printers have parallel interfaces. To connect a printer to the computer, you need an IBM-compatible printer cable. If you are not sure which one you need, check with your Epson dealer. Once you have the correct printer cable, follow these steps to connect your printer to the parallel interface on the computer: 1. Place the printer next to your computer. 2.
4. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer as shown below. To secure the cable, squeeze the clips at each side of the printer port and push them into place. 5. Plug the printer’s power cord into an electrical outlet. Using the Serial Interface If you have a 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.
The Equity 386 uses a DB-9P male connector, so be sure you have a compatible cable (or an adapting cable that converts the 9-pin output to the standard 25-pin output). To connect a serial device, follow the same steps as above for connecting a parallel device. You need to ensure that the serial port is set up so it functions properly. If you are using the port for a serial printer, you need to redirect printer output to the serial port instead of the parallel port.
6 1. Connecting the Keyboard Follow these steps to connect the keyboard: Turn the computer around so you are facing the front. 2. Pull open the cover on the lower left corner of the computer’s front panel. You need to push down slightly on the tab as you open the cover. 3. Plug the keyboard cable into the socket, as shown below. Do not force the connector, but be sure to insert it all the way.
4. 5. Push the cable into the notch at the left side of the computer, as shown below, so the cable leads away to the side of the computer. Close the keyboard cable cover. 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 to a low or high position, or leave them flat.
Setting the Monitor Type 7 In addition to connecting the monitor, as you did in step 3, you must set the monitor switch on the front panel to match the type of monitor you are using. To access the monitor switch, open the cover to the right of the keyboard cable socket cover, as shown below. You need to push down slightly on the tab as you open the cover. monitor switch Slide the switch left for a monochrome monitor or right for a color monitor.
l l l Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk drive light is on. This can destroy data stored on disk or make a whole disk unusable. 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 components. Follow these steps to turn on your system: 1.
(For more instructions on inserting, removing, and caring for diskettes, see Chapter 4.) You can turn on your computer with or without the MS-DOS Startup diskette in the drive. With the Startup diskette in the top drive (A) as it is now, the computer loads MS-DOS from that drive. (If the drive is empty, the screen displays a message prompting you to insert a system disk.) 4. To turn on the power, flip up the switch on the right side of the computer, toward the back.
This means the operating system is ready for you to enter a command. The command prompt identifies the current operating drive: A, B, or C, for example. Usually, drive A is the top diskette drive; B is the second diskette drive, C is the first hard disk drive, and D is used for a second hard disk drive. The command prompt appears on the screen whenever you load MS-DOS, complete an MS-DOS command, or exit an application program.
2. Type the following and press Enter: DISKCOPY A: A: You see these messages: Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 3. Drive A (the top drive) already contains a diskette you want to copy (the source diskette), so just press any key. The DISKCOPY program copies the contents of the Operating 1 diskette to the computer’s memory, and then you see the following: Insert TARGET diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 4.
Chapter 2 Running the Setup Program The first time you use your Equity 386 after setting it up, you need to run the Setup program on the Reference diskette to define the computer’s configuration. This is a simple procedure you must do at least once. You may need to do it again later if you change something.
Starting the Setup Program Follow these steps to start the Setup program: 1. Insert the working copy of your Reference diskette into the diskette drive. 2. Press the RESET button (shown below) to reset the computer. (See Chapter 4 for more information about resetting the computer.
3. Press 1 and then Enter to select the Setup option. The screen displays the main Setup menu: Exit Memory Display Auto speed Shadow RAM Coprocessor Mass storage Real-time clock Use 4 and t to move the cursor block through the options on this menu. Once you highlight the option you want, press Enter to select it. Each option on the main menu (except Exit) leads to an additional submenu of choices. Follow the instructions below to verify or change the values for the Setup options.
Follow these steps to set the amount of memory: 1. Press 1 to highlight the Memory option and press Enter. A smaller box appears beneath the main Setup menu: - If the displayed settings are correct, press t to return to the main menu. 2. To change the Main memory setting press Enter. The value changes to 256 KB. Press Enter again to change it to 512 KB. If you press Enter again, the value returns to 640 KB. 3. To change the Expansion memory setting, press J to highlight the Expansion option.
Setting the Display Type Follow the steps below to set the type of display adapter you are using with your Equity 386. Note that with this option you are selecting the type of display adapter (the video card) you are using-not the type of monitor, which may be called something different. 1. Highlight Display and press Enter. The following box appears beneath the main menu: Special opt ions is the display adapter type currently selected.
3. Highlight the option that matches your display adapter. If you are not sure which one to choose, follow these guidelines: l l l If you have an EGA or VGA card, select Special options. (If you are using a compatibility mode provided by the video card, you may need to set the DIP switches on the video card, which will override the display setting in CMOS RAM.) If you have a color graphics adapter (CGA) attached to an RGB (color) monitor, select Color/graph. 80 col.
When Auto speed is enabled, your computer automatically switches to 8 MHz whenever it needs to access a diskette drive. It runs at 20 MHz for all other operations. There are different types of copy-protected programs, and depending on the type you have, you may or may not want to enable the Auto speed function. Follow these guidelines: l l If you are using a copy-protected program that can run only on a diskette or that requires a key disk, try to start the program at 20 MHz.
Setting the Shadow RAM Function A computer can access RAM (random access memory) faster than ROM (read only memory). The Equity 386 provides a shadow RAM feature that enables it to copy data from ROM areas in the computer to the RAM area so it can perform certain operations faster. If you enable the shadow RAM function through the Setup program, the Equity 386 automatically copies the data stored in ROM to RAM whenever you turn on or reset the computer.
Now, whenever you turn on or reset your computer, it automatically copies the system ROM BIOS and video ROM to RAM. If you later want to disable either shadow RAM function, follow the same procedure; when you select the option and press Enter, the enabled changes back to disabled. Setting the Coprocessor Function The Setup program assumes you have not installed an 80387 math coprocessor in your Equity 386. If you have, you need to change the coprocessor option, as follows: 1.
If the settings displayed match the configuration of disk drives in your computer, press t to return to the main menu. If one of the settings is incorrect, change it as described in the following steps. 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: 3. Highlight the type of drive that matches the second diskette drive installed in your computer; then press Enter to select it.
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 the first time you run the Setup program. You may need to use it again later to adjust the time for daylight saving time. The Equity 386 automatically changes the date for leap years. Follow these steps to set the real-time clock: 1. Highlight the Real-time clock option and press Enter.
If you enter an invalid time-for example, a number greater than 23 for the hours or greater than 59 for the minutes or secondsthe computer beeps and ignores your entry. Try again. When the time is correct, press Enter. 4. To set the date, highlight Date and press Enter. You see this box: 5. Enter the date in the exact format shown in the box, using two digits for the month and day and four digits for the year; the program automatically inserts the dashes.
Leaving the Setup Menu When you finish setting the options in the Setup menu, highlight the Exit option and press Enter. You see a summary such as this: Memory size Main Expansion 640 KB 3072 KB Display type *Special options* Coprocessor 80387 not installed Mass storage Drive Drive Drive Drive A: B: C: D: 1.2 MB 360 KB Type 17 None Change settings Exit without saving **EXIT AND SAVE** There is a second screen of information you need to check. To display that screen, press PgDn.
Check each list to see if all the information is correct. If any setting is incorrect, highlight Change settings and press Enter. The main Setup menu appears and you can change the setting. If you did not make any changes or you want to cancel the changes you made, highlight Exit without saving and press Enter. The Operation menu appears on the screen. Press 0 and Enter to return to the MS-DOS command prompt. (If you changed the time or date, however, the new setting will be in effect.
Chapter 3 Preparing a Hard Disk for Use If your Equity 386 has a hard disk, follow the instructions in this chapter to prepare the hard disk before using it for the first time.
l l If you are using MS-DOS and another operating system, use MS-DOS to partition and format the space on the hard disk you want to be used by MS-DOS. Then use the other operating system to prepare the rest of the disk space. For example, if you have a 90MB hard disk and want to use 30MB for MS-DOS and 60MB for XENIX®, use MS-DOS to prepare the first 30MB (as described in this chapter) and then use XENIX to prepare the other 60MB.
2. If MS-DOS does not start, you need to check whether the disk has been partitioned. To do this, place the MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A and hold down the Ctrl key and Alt key and press Del to start MS-DOS. 3. Press Enter twice to accept the date and time prompts. Then type FDISK and press Enter. Press 4 and Enter to select the Display Partition Information option.
Partitioning the Hard Disk Partitioning is necessary because, while your hard disk can store either 40MB or 90MB of data (depending on which Equity 386 model you purchased), MS-DOS cannot manage more than 32MB at a time. The partitioning process divides the single physical disk drive into two or more logical drives. After you have followed the steps in this chapter, you will be able to access each logical drive as though it were a separate physical device.
Creating the Primary Partition Follow the steps below to create a primary partition on your hard disk: 1. Insert the working copy of the MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on the computer (if it is not on already). 3. At the A> prompt, type FDISK and press Enter. The screen displays the FDISK Options menu. 4. Press 1 to select the Create DOS partition option and press Enter. 5. Press 1 to select the Create Primary DOS partition option and press Enter.
Creating the Extended Partition on a 40MB Disk If you have a 40MB hard disk, follow these steps to create an 8MB extended partition and designate it as drive D. (See the instructions below if you have a 90MB hard disk.) 1. Insert the working copy of the MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A (if it is not there already). 2. At the A> prompt, type FDISK and press Enter. The screen displays the FDISK Options menu. 3. Press 1 to select the Create DOS Partition option and press Enter. 4.
8. Press ESC twice. The screen displays the following message and prompts: System will now restart Insert DOS diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 9. 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. 10. Press Enter twice to accept the date and time shown. The system now recognizes the primary partition as drive C and the extended partition as drive D.
5. Press Enter to accept the partition size. The screen displays the following message: Extended DOS partition created and shows you information about the partitions you have created. 6. Press EsC to return to the FDISK Options menu. EDISK automatically displays the Create Logical DOS Drive(s) option and a message similar to this: No logical drives defined Total partition size is 657 cylinders. Maximum space available for logical drive is 364 cylinders. Enter logical drive size . . . . . . [364] 7.
10. 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. 11. Press Enter twice to accept the date and time shown. The system now recognizes the primary partition as drive C and the extended partition as drives D and E. The A > prompt reappears. After you create the partitions, you must format each logical drive separately. Follow the instructions below.
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. Formatting does not begin immediately The screen displays the following: WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST! Proceed with Format (Y/N)? 4. Press Y and Enter to begin formatting the primary partition. The screen continuously displays the changing head and cylinder numbers.
Copying the Remaining Files to the Hard Disk Follow the instructions below to copy the files on your other MS-DOS diskettes and the Reference diskette to drive C, the primary partition on the hard disk: 1. Remove the MS-DOS Startup diskette from drive A and insert the diskette labeled Operating 1 in the drive. 2. You should still be logged onto drive A. If not, type A :, and press Enter. 3. At the A> prompt, type the following and press Enter: COPY *.
Formatting the Extended Partition Once you have formatted the primary partition and copied the remaining MS-DOS files to the hard disk, follow this procedure to format the extended partition: 1. Insert the working copy of your MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A (if it is not there already). 2. At the A> prompt, type the following and press Enter: FORMAT D:/V 3. The screen displays this message and prompt: WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE D: WILL BE LOST! Proceed with Format (Y/N)? 4.
Booting From the Hard Disk Now you can boot your system (load MS-DOS) from drive C on your hard disk. Be sure there is no diskette secured in drive A when you turn on or reset your computer. Otherwise, your computer tries to boot MS-DOS from the disk in drive A. If drive A is empty (or the latch is up), MS-DOS is booted from drive C. Turn off the computer, wait at least five seconds, and then turn it back on. After the computer completes the power-on self test, the screen displays the date prompt.
Chapter 4 Using the Equity 386 This chapter covers the following basic procedures for using your Equity 386 computer: l l l Locking the computer Selecting execution speed Selecting monitor type l Controlling the volume l Resetting the computer l Using special keys on the keyboard l Using disks and disk drives l Turning off the computer. Locking the Computer The key lock on the front panel allows you to lock the cover on the computer and disable the keyboard and the RESET button for security.
notch To unlock the computer, insert the key with the notch pointing right and turn the key counterclockwise, to the U N LOCK position. You can remove the key in either a locked or unlocked position. Your Equity 386 comes with two keys; store them safely in different locations in case you misplace one. Be sure the computer is unlocked before you try to use the keyboard; otherwise it will not respond to anything you enter. Selecting Execution Speed The Equity 386 can operate at two speeds: 8 MHz or 20 MHz.
Use the CPU SPEED switch on the front panel to change the CPU speed; move it left for 8 MHz or right for 20 MHz. \ CPU speed switch Selecting the Monitor Type When you set up your computer, you used the switch on the front panel to select the type of monitor you are using with your Equity 386: either monochrome or color. If you sometimes use an alternate monitor that is the other type or if you later get a new monitor, don’t forget to change the switch to match the monitor.
Controlling the Volume Your Equity 386 has a speaker which enables it to beep when you perform certain operations. You can control the speaker’s loudness with the VOLUME knob on the front panel, shown below. Turn it to the right to make the sound louder or to the left to make it quieter. - POWER - HDD volume control knob Resetting the Computer You can reset the Equity 386 to load a different operating system or to reload the current operating system.
To reset the computer, MS-DOS must be either on a diskette in drive A or on the hard disk. There are three ways to reset. Because each is more powerful than the last, try them in the order listed here: 1. If you are using MS-DOS, hold down Ctrl and Alt and press the Del key on the numeric keypad at the right of the keyboard. The screen goes blank for a moment and then the computer reloads MS-DOS. If this does not correct the problem, try the second method. 2. Press the RESET button on the front panel.
Key functions Key Tab I++I Purpose Moves the cursor one tab to the right in normal mode and one tab to the left in shift mode. 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. Shift Produces uppercase characters or the top symbols on the keys when used with the main character keys. Produces lowercase characters when Caps Lock is on.
Key Purpose Home, End Page Up (PgUp) Page Down (PgDn) t +,l+ Control cursor location. Num Lock Changes the function of the numeric/cursor keys from numeric to cursor positioning; changes back when pressed again. Esc Cancels the current command line or operation. F1 - F12 Perform special functions within application programs. Print Screen (Prt SC) Prints the screen display on a line printer.
Using Disks and Disk Drives The disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk, and then retrieve and use it when you like. All Equity 386 systems have at least one diskette drive; you may also have a hard disk drive and/or a second diskette drive in your system.
A hard disk consists of two or more platters stacked on top of one another; so it has four or more sides with many more tracks per side than a diskette. (The number of tracks depends on the capacity of the hard disk. You do not need to know how many sides and tracks your hard disk has.) A disk is further divided by sectors. To understand what a sector is, picture the spokes on a bicycle wheel radiating from the center of the wheel to the tire.
Because data is stored magnetically, you can retrieve it, record over it, and erase it-just as you play, record, and erase music on a cassette tape. Types of Diskette Drives Your computer has at least one 1.2MB diskette drive. You may also have a second diskette drive, and it may be the same type or it may be different.
Note You must format new diskettes before you can use them with an operating system, Formatting erases all the data an a diskette and prepares it to receive- new data; so be sure to format only new blank diskettes or diskettes that contain data you want to erase, ‘See Chapter 5 for instructions on formatting diskettes. Drive and diskette incompatibilities Because of the size difference, you cannot use 3½-inch diskettes in a 5¼-inch drive or vice versa.
If you have any combination of the above drives (360KB, 1.2MB, 720KB, or 1.44MB), you can copy files from one drive to anotherusing the COPY or XCOPY command-as long as the correct diskette type is in each drive. You can use these commands to copy files between the hard disk and any type of diskette. You cannot use the DISKCOPY command to copy from one drive to another if the two drives are not the same type.
Do not place anything on top of your diskettes and be sure they do not get bent. A diskette does not rotate properly in the drive if it has been damaged. Carefully label your diskettes. Attach labels firmly but gently, and only along the top of a diskette (next to the manufacturer’s label). Do not stick several labels on top of one another; too many labels can make it difficult to insert and remove the diskette in the drive.
Slide the diskette into the slot until it is in all the way, Then turn the latch down to lock it in a vertical position. This keeps the diskette in place and enables the read/write heads in the disk drive to access the diskette. To remove the diskette, turn the latch up until it is horizontal and the edge of the diskette pops out. Carefully pull out the diskette, place it in its protective envelope, and store it in a proper location, such as a diskette container.
Write-protecting Diskettes You can write-protect a diskette to prevent its data from being altered. When a diskette is write-protected, you can read it and copy data from it, but you cannot store new data on the diskette or delete any files it contains. If you try to change data stored on a write-protected diskette, MS-DOS displays an error message. To write-protect a 5¼-inch diskette, cover the small, rectangular notch (shown below) with an adhesive write-protect tab.
On a 3½-inch diskette, the write-protect device is a small switch on the lower-right corner 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. write-protect switch / To remove the write protection, slide the switch toward the center of the diskette until it clicks into position so the hole is covered.
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 5 or see your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more instructions on using DISKCOPY and MENU. If you have a hard disk, it’s 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, and regularly copy important data files to diskettes as well.
If you have only 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 to the computer’s memory (RAM) so you do not need to leave the system 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.
The added storage capacity makes it easy to move back and forth between different programs and data files. However, because it is so easy to add programs and files to your hard disk, you may find yourself trying to organize hundreds of files. MS-DOS lets you keep related files together in directories and subdirectories so they are easier to find and use. See Chapter 5 for instructions on how to use directories. Epson also includes the XTREE utility with MS-DOS.
Backing up the hard disk While the hard disk is very reliable, it is essential to back up your hard disk files to diskettes in case you lose some data accidentally. Make copies of all your system and application diskettes before copying the programs to the hard disk. After you create data files on the hard disk, be sure to copy them to diskettes whenever you revise them to keep your backup diskettes up-to-date. You can use the MENU utility or the BACKUP command to back up your hard disk files.
You see a screen of information reminding you that the heads will not be unlocked until you reset the computer or turn the power off and on again. Next the program moves the heads and disables the keyboard. You can now turn off the computer and prepare to move it to the new location. Turning Off the Computer Before turning off your computer, save your data, exit the program you are using, and remove any diskettes from the disk drives.
Chapter 5 Using MS-DOS with Your Equity 386 Your Equity 386 comes with version 3.3 of MS-DOS. This operating system manages your computer by organizing the computer’s memory, controlling the monitor display, accepting keyboard input, and directing external communications. 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.
Drive Designators MS-DOS uses letters to identify the disk drives in your system. If you have one diskette drive, that device is known as drive A. If you have two diskette drives, one is called drive A, the other drive B. If you have one hard disk drive, MS-DOS identifies its primary partition as drive C, even if you have only one diskette drive. If you have more than one physical hard disk drive, the primary partition of the second drive is known as D, the primary partition of the third is E, and so on.
Changing the Default Drive To change the default drive, type the letter of the drive you want to change to, followed by a colon. Then press Enter. For example, to change the default from A to C, type C : and press Enter. MS-DOS acknowledges the change by displaying the command prompt C >. Changing to a new drive is also sometimes called logging onto that drive. To access a program or file without first changing the default drive, use a drive identifier with the filename.
Some commands also have optional switches you can use. A switch is a type of parameter that alters the effects of a command. For example, suppose you want to format a 360KB diskette in your 1.2MB diskette drive. To do this, you need to add a switch to the FORMAT command like this: FORMAT A: /4 Without the /4 switch, FORMAT would try to format the diskette as a 1.2MB capacity diskette. Switches are generally preceded by a forward slash ( / ). Each MS-DOS command is either internal or external.
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. A data file contains information, such as words, numbers, or pictures. A program file contains instructions that the computer can understand and execute.
Some application programs add extensions to the files you create. These application programs use the extension to determine whether it is a compatible data file. Avoid using the same extensions as your application programs. Also, do not use uppercase and lowercase letters to distinguish between files. MS-DOS does not recognize the difference and displays all filenames in uppercase. Certain extensions are reserved for program files. You must not use these extensions for your data files.
A few rules apply when copying files: l l l l You must tell MS-DOS where to find the original file and where to store the copy. You cannot create a new file with the same name and in the same directory as an existing file. If an existing file on the destination diskette or directory has the same name as the file you are copying from, the copy automatically replaces the existing file.
An easy way to copy a group of files is by using wildcard characters in the filenames. You can use two wildcard characters: * and ?. The asterisk represents any group of characters and the question mark represents any single character. For example, to copy all the files on the diskette in drive A to the diskette in drive B, type the following and press Enter: COPY A:*.
You can use wildcards to rename groups of files. For example, to change just the extensions of all files on drive B with the extension .NEW to .OLD, type the following and press Enter: REN B:*.NEW *.OLD To rename all files that begin with the same five characters “MEMOS” but end with one varying character, type the following and press Enter: REN MEMOS? MEMOS?.OLD See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information on the RENAME command.
- Printing Files If you have a printer attached to your computer, you can print files with the PRINT command. Of course, you will probably be printing files with the application programs you use with MS-DOS, but if you need to print a file from the command prompt, follow the steps below. To print a file named STATS.NBA on drive A: 1. Make sure your printer is on and ready to print. 2. At the command prompt, type the following and press Enter: PRINT A:STATS.
Whenever you format a hard disk or a diskette, MS-DOS creates one directory for you. This directory is called the root directory. Any subsequent directories you create are logically subordinate to the root directory; that is, they are subdirectories of the root directory.
Here are some additional points to note about directories: l l l l l On the root directory, the total number of files and subdirectories must not exceed 512. All directories other than the root directory can have any number of files and subdirectories. Subdirectories are named the same way files are. The name can include as many as eight characters, and you can add an extension of up to three characters. The root directory does not have a name. It is identified by a backslash (\) character.
Here is an example of an absolute pathname: \WORDPROC\PERSONAL The backslash at the beginning of this pathname tells MS-DOS to start its journey at the root directory, proceed down the directory tree to WORDPROC, then continue down the tree to PERSONAL. Here is an example of a relative pathname: SALES Because this pathname does not begin with a backslash, MS-DOS assumes that the starting point of the path is the current default directory.
This command tells MS-DOS to list on screen (TYPE) the contents of the file JEAN1204.DOC, which is stored in the directory \WORDPROC\PERSONAL. Note that the filename is connected to the pathname by a backslash character-the same character used to separate the various directories in the pathname itself.
Listing the Contents of a Directory To list the files in the current directory, type DIR and press Enter. MS-DOS lists the names of the files in the current directory on the current drive. If the listing is too long to fit on one screen, add the /P switch to the command, like this: DIR /P This switch causes MS-DOS to pause after displaying each screenful of information. To see the next screenful, press any key.
Creating Directories The MKDIR command lets you create directories. To create a LEDGER directory under your root directory, for example, type the following and press Enter: MKDIR\LEDGER You can abbreviate the name of this command to MD. For example, to create a SALES directory under the LEDGER directory, type the following and press Enter: MD \ LEDGER\ SALES Removing Directories To delete a directory from a disk, use the RMDIR command (or its shorthand equivalent, RD).
To change from ACCOUNTS back to LEDGER, you can use the special symbol . . or you can use an absolute pathname. (The . . symbol always designates the parent directory.) In other words, you can type: CD . . or CD \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. You need to do this only once, before you use the diskette for the first time. You can reformat previously used diskettes.
- Formatting Diskettes With a Hard Disk 1. If necessary, log onto drive C. If you are not in the directory where the file FORMAT.COM is stored, change to that directory. 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. 4.
4. When the diskette is formatted, you see a message similar to this: Format complete 1213952 bytes total disk space 1213952 bytes available on disk Format another (Y/N)? At this point, you can either format another diskette by pressing Y and Enter, or return to the MS-DOS command prompt by pressing N and Enter. Formatting Diskettes With One Diskette Drive (No Hard Disk) 1. Insert the working copy of your MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A. 2.
Backing Up It’s very important to keep backup diskettes containing copies of the files you create. You can copy data and program files several ways: l l l 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.
2. If you have a hard disk, make sure you are logged onto the directory that contains the DISKCOPY.COM file. If you don’t have a hard disk, make sure your working copy of the MS-DOS Operating 1 diskette is in drive A. 3. At the MS-DOS command prompt, type the following and press Enter: DISKCOPY A: A: MS-DOS displays this message: Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 4. If necessary, remove the Operating 1 diskette from drive A.
8. When the copy is complete, you see this message: Copy another diskette (Y/N)? 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 When you use the DISKCOPY command with two diskette drives, be sure to specify both diskette drives (A: and B:). If you don’t, MS-DOS copies the diskette in drive A to a second diskette that you insert in drive A, requiring you to swap diskettes during the copy process.
Using the BACKUP Command The BACKUP command offers several conveniences for archival purposes.
To use the HELP menu, follow these steps: 1. Type HELP at the MS-DOS command prompt and press Enter. 2. The screen displays a menu of MS-DOS commands. Use the cursor keys to highlight the command you want information about and press Enter. 3. 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 the PgUp key to display the rest of the text. 4. To return to the HELP menu, press the ESC key.
You can also request help information for more than one command. Follow these steps: 1. At the command prompt, type HELP followed by the names of the commands you want information about. Then press Enter. Separate each command name with a space. For example, to see help information for the DISKCOPY, FORMAT, and COPY commands, type the following and press Enter: HELP DISKCOPY FORMAT COPY 2. The help information for the first command is displayed first.
To select an option, use the arrow keys to highlight your selection and then press Enter. Most options contain submenus; keep highlighting your selection and pressing Enter until you have selected the desired operation. Because MENU works by calling other programs, you may see an error message similar to this when you select an option: SETPRINT.EXE not on the current disk. Press any key to continue...
Mode Settings Lets you change your configuration settings. This option also lets you 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. Help Lets you access the Epson HELP program. Enter DOS Command Lets you run other MS-DOS commands without leaving the MENU program.
l Display data in both ASCII and hexadecimal format l Display how much space is available on your disks. Running XTREE To run XTREE, log onto the directory where XTREE is located or insert the Operating 1 diskette in drive A. Type XTREE at the command prompt and press Enter. A title screen appears while XTREE reads your disk’s directory, and then the XTREE display appears.
Alt key commands execute additional XTREE commands. Press the Alt key to display the ALT DIR COMMANDS or ALT FILE COMMANDS. These commands appear on the line where the DIR COMMANDS or FILE COMMANDS normally appear. To execute an Alt key command, hold down the Alt key and press the highlighted letter of the command name. Function keys control XTREE itself. Press F1 to quit XTREE, F2 to display a screen of help information, or F3 to cancel a command.
Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT File You may find that there are some commands you want to run every time you turn on your computer. To run a command or a series of commands automatically upon startup, you can type the commands into a special file called AUTOEXEC.BAT When you load MS-DOS, it automatically looks for this file. If MS-DOS finds an AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the root directory, it executes the commands in that file. Here are some tasks you can perform using an AUTOEXEC.
Here’s an example of an AUTOEXEC.BAT file: PATH C:\; C:\DOS PROMPT $P The first line tells MS-DOS to look for programs or batch files in the root directory and the DOS directory. This way you can run programs in those directories without having to specify pathnames in the commands. The second line changes the MS-DOS command prompt so that it displays your current directory. 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.
Using Memory Beyond 640KB Your Equity 386 is equipped with at least 1MB of random access memory. 640KB is for use by the operating system, your application programs, and your data. The memory between 640KB and 1MB is reserved for use by the computer and is not available to application programs or the operating system.
3. Type DEVICE=EEMM386.EXE and press Enter. 4. Press the F6 key, and then press Enter. 5. Reboot your computer. This procedure makes the memory in your computer above 1MB available to any application program that supports the Lotus/Intel/ Microsoft Expanded Memory Specification 4.0 (LIM EMS 4.0). About EEMM386.EXE EEMM386.EXE is an expanded memory manager that supports the LIM 4.0 expanded memory specification. It does so by using ordinary memory above 1MB (extended memory) to emulate expanded memory.
- Using HDCACHE and EEMM386.EXE The HDCACHE program (described in your MS-DOS Reference Manual) cannot use expanded memory. If you use both HDCACHE and EEMM386.EXE and you want HDCACHE to use extended memory, you must not convert all your extended memory to expanded memory with EEMM386.EXE. Instead, decide how much extended memory you want to allocate to HDCACHE. Then use the size parameter to convert the remainder of your extended memory to expanded memory.
Chapter 6 Installing Options You can enhance the performance of your Equity 386 by adding a variety of options, including the following: l 80387 math coprocessor l Memory modules l Option cards. A math coprocessor speeds up numeric calculations your computer performs when using certain application software. If you want to install a math coprocessor in your computer, ask your authorized Epson dealer to do it for you.
however, add memory according to certain grouping limitations to preserve the 32-bit access capability of the Equity 386. There are basically two restrictions: the total amount of memory and the way the memory is installed. Here are the guidelines: l l l l The total amount of memory must be one of the following: 1MB, 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, 10MB, or 16MB. You cannot, for example, have 3MB or 12MB of memory on the memory card. You must fill up any memory bank you use with one size of SIMM.
Remember, your system already has 1MB of memory (consisting of four 256KB SIMMs) installed in bank 0; so consider this when you are deciding how much memory to add and in what configuration. You can use the EEMM386 utility to improve memory management in your Equity 386. See Chapter 5 for instructions. Installing Option Cards The Equity 386 has nine option slots so it can hold up to nine cards.
3. Disconnect the keyboard. 4. If the computer is locked, unlock it (using the key lock). Otherwise you cannot take off the cover. (See Chapter 4 for instructions on locking and unlocking the computer.) 5. If the monitor is on top of the computer, lift it off and set it to one side. 6. As shown below, the top cover is secured by five screws on the back panel. Remove the screws and set them safely to one side where you will not lose them. 7.
8. When the back edge of the cover has cleared the power switch, you can lift off the cover. Separate the sides from the bottom ledge of the computer by pulling them outward slightly, as shown below. Then lift off the cover and set it aside.
Installing an Option Card The illustration below shows the nine option slots inside the Equity 386. (Slot number 9 is occupied by the SPF card.) - SPF card Slots 1, 2, and 9 are designed for 8-bit option cards, and slots 3 through 8 are designed for 16-bit cards. As you can see below, a 16-bit card has a second connector.
Usually, it does not matter which slot an option card occupies as long as the card fits in the slot. For example, you can place some &bit cards in a 16-bit slot. However, it is best to leave the SPF card in slot 9 because of the cables. Likewise, an additional disk drive controller card should be installed as close as possible to the disk drive it is controlling. Some option cards must be installed in a specific slot; consult the instructions that come with the card to see if this is the case.
Keep the screw to secure the option card to the computer. Store the slot cover in a safe place in case you remove the option card later. 2. Unpack the option card and adjust any switches or jumpers on it if necessary. (Check the option card instructions to see if this is necessary.) When you handle the card, be careful not to touch any of the contacts on the circuit board, especially the gold-edged connector pins.
If the card does not go in smoothly, do not force it-pull it all the way out and try again, keeping it straight as you insert it. 5. Secure the end of the card to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. If there was a grounding tab underneath the screw when you removed the metal slot cover, replace it now.
6. See “Post-installation Setup,” below, to see if you need to make any configuration changes. Changing Jumpers on the SPF Card If you installed an additional parallel or serial port, you may need to change the jumper settings on the SPF card. Normally, the serial and parallel ports on the SPF card are addressed as the primary ports (COM1 and LPT1, respectively).
SPF card jumper settings for serial port Jumper number 6 5 A A B A B Function 9 A B Built-in port is primary * Built-in port is secondary Disable built-in port ** * default setting * * the setting of jumpers 6 and 9 do not matter SPF card jumper settings for parallel port Function Jumper number 4 3 10 A A B A B A A B A Built-in port is primary * Built-in port is secondary Enable compatibility with IBM monochrome display/printer adapter Disable built-in port ** B B * default setting ** the settin
Removing the hard disk drive controller card 1. Disconnect the wire leading from the drive light on the front panel to the hard disk drive controller card. 2. Remove the retaining screw that secures the card at the back panel of the computer, taking care not to drop the screw.
3. Without disconnecting any cables, gently pull the card straight up, out of the slot, and then turn it over and lay it on the power supply. Removing the SPF card 1. Unplug the disk drive cable from the SPF card as shown below.
2. Remove the retaining screw that secures the SPF card at the back panel of the computer. Be careful not to drop the screw. 3. Remove the card from the slot by pulling it straight up, as shown below, and set it on a soft surface with the components facing up.
Changing the jumper settings Once you have removed the SPF card, you can change the necessary jumper settings. The illustration below shows the location of the jumpers on the card. Check the tables above to see which one(s) you need to change.
Replacing the SPF card 1. Reinstall the SPF card in slot 9 as shown below, and secure it to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. 2. Reconnect the disk drive cable to the card.
Replacing the hard disk drive controller card 1. Reinstall the hard disk drive controller card in the appropriate slot and secure it to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. 2. Reconnect the drive light wire to the card. Removing an Option Card If you later 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 After you install (or remove) an option card, follow these steps to replace the computer’s cover: 1. Facing the front of the computer, position the cover on the computer as shown in the following illustration. Pull the sides outward slightly and ease the curved edge on each side of the cover underneath the ledge on the bottom of the computer. 2. Slide the cover straight back until the front panel is flush with the diskette drive and key lock. 3.
Post-Installation Setup . After you install an option card, memory modules, or a math coprocessor, you need to run the Setup program on the Reference diskette to update the configuration information. For example, if you add a hard disk, you need to let the computer know that it has the additional drive. See Chapter 2 for instructions. You may also need to add some commands in your configuration files. See the MS-DOS Reference Manual and the instructions that came with the option card for the procedure.
Appendix A Troubleshooting You should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and use your Equity 386. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. If anything out of the ordinary happens, turn to this chapter for a solution. Besides trying the suggestions in this chapter, you can run diagnostic checks on the various components of your computer system. See Appendix C, System Diagnostics, for instructions.
The Computer Won’t Start If your computer does not start up when you turn on the power switch, follow the steps below. (If you have a hard disk, also see the section on hard disk problems later in this chapter.) 1. Check that the POWER light on the front panel of the main unit is on. If it is not, remove any diskettes you have in the drives and turn off the power. Wait five seconds, then turn the power back on. 2. If the light still does not come on, turn off the power again.
2. Wait a few seconds. Remember that some operations the computer performs take longer than others. For example, it takes longer to recalculate an entire spreadsheet than to record one figure. If the computer remains locked up after you’ve allowed a reasonable amount of time, follow the steps in Chapter 4 to reset the computer. Monitor Problems If your monitor screen displays strange characters or images, or is blank, try the steps outlined below.
Diskette Problems If you have trouble with one of your diskettes, see if any of the following questions apply: 1. Is the diskette damaged? To find out, make a copy of the diskette. Using this copy, repeat the operation that caused the problem. If the operation works using the copy diskette, the original diskette is probably damaged. Make another copy to use as a backup. If you have trouble copying the entire diskette, some of the sectors may be bad. Try using the COPY command to copy one file at a time.
3. Is the diskette write-protected? There may be a write-protect tab over the notch on the side of the diskette (5¼-inch) or the writeprotect switch may be set (on a 3½-inch diskette). Before you remove the write-protection, check the directory of files for that diskette to see which files it contains; it may contain information you do not want to change or lose. Although you should normally write-protect all program diskettes, some programs store temporary files on the diskette.
To copy the hidden system files from your Startup/Operating 1 diskette to the root directory of the hard disk, log onto the diskette drive, type the following command, 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 FDISK program to see if your hard disk has an active (bootable) DOS partition on it.
2. If an application routine does not work, check the program’s manual and try the routine again according to the instructions. If this does not work, reset the computer, reload the program, and try the routine again. 3. Some programs work at only one operating speed. The Equity 386 can run at either 8 or 20 MHz. Check your software manual for this information and then change the CPU operating speed if necessary.
3. If you used the option card to add an external device to your computer, did you use the proper cable to connect the device to the option card connector on the back panel? 4. Did you run the Setup program to redefine your computer’s configuration after installing the option card? See Chapter 2. 5. Did you perform the necessary setup procedures for the software you are using? If necessary, see your software manual for instructions on running the software setup procedure.
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. The diagnostics programs check the internal devices such as ROM, RAM, keyboard controller, timer, video controller, floppy disk driver, and hard disk controller. When you turn on the power, your system performs the tests described in this appendix.
If a fault in the main board is found, a number from 101 to 108 and an error message appear. This message is in the following format: l0x-System board error where x is a number from 1 to 8 that represents the specific LSI circuit in which the error is found. Your service dealer needs this information to find and correct the problem. If an I/O ROM checksum error occurs, you see this message: xxxx0 ROM error where xxxx is the number of the segment of the bad I/O ROM.
RAM Check The computer now begins to check the RAM installed on the main memory card and any option cards. During this check, the screen displays this message: xxxxxx KB Ok where xxxxxx indicates the amount of memory in which no malfunction is found. This value increases continuously by 64KB up to the amount of RAM installed. If the computer detects an error in the first 64KB area, an error message appears and the computer halts with no further information.
If another failure is found, you see one of these messages: ‘j$Jj-Keyboard or system unit error J&Keyboard or system unit error Display Card Check The computer checks the color or monochrome display adapter card that is installed in the computer. An error number and message appear if any faults are found. Number 401 represents an error in the monochrome display adapter, and 501 represents an error in the color display adapter.
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, one of these error messages appears: 178x-Disk x failure 179x-Disk x error where x 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 Equity 386. 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.
2. Turn on or reset the computer. The OPERATION MENU appears. 3. Press 3 to select System diagnostics and then press Enter. When you start the System diagnostics, the computer checks the results of the power-on diagnostics and any peripheral devices that are connected to the system. Then 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.
To add a device to the list, press 1 and then Enter. The program displays a list of other devices that are not currently included in the DEVICE LIST You see a menu similar to this: Additional DEVICE LIST 4 7 12 21 81 - Monochrome display adapter and CRT Math coprocessor Alternate serial port Alternate parallel port Parallel port (on video adapter) 0 - Exit Enter the number of the item to add: Type the number of the item you wish to add and press Enter. You can add as many devices as necessary.
When the DEVICE LIST is correct, press 0 and then Enter. The screen displays the modified DEVICE LIST for a final check. If the list is correct, press Y and Enter. You are now ready to select a test. 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.
Press Y and Enter to terminate checking if the device produces an error, or press N and Enter to repeat the tests regardless of an error. You see this prompt: How many times (1-9999): Type the number of times you wish to repeat the test, then press Enter. The tests for the device now start. 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.
The remainder of this chapter 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. For a complete list of the error codes and messages these tests may display, see the table at the end of this chapter.
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 memory count displays after each block tests without error. After the program checks the last block, you see a message such as the following: 000640 KB OK If an error occurs, make a copy or a printout of the error code and message, and contact your Epson dealer or service center.
You see these messages on the screen: KEYBOARD CHECK Press ESC followed by ENTER to exit. Press END followed by ENTER if screen and keyboard do not match. If all the keys function correctly and match the characters displayed, press ESC and then Enter. If all the keys function, but the characters displayed do not match the keys, press ESC and then Enter. Then reselect the keyboard test from the DEVICE LIST, and check that you selected the correct keyboard layout.
You can select the individual checks from this menu: MONOCHROME DISPLAY ADAPTER AND CRT CHECK MENU 1 - Monochrome adapter check 2 - Attribute check 3 - Character set check 4 - Video check 5 - Sync check 6 - Run all above checks 0 - Exit Enter selection number: If an error occurs during any of these tests, record the error code and message, or print them out. Then contact your Epson dealer or service center. Monochrome Adapter Check To check the monochrome adapter, press 1 and then Enter.
Character Set Check To check your character set, press 3 and then Enter. The character fonts that are included in the internal character generator display on your screen. Compare your screen display to this illustration: CHARACTER SET CHECK Is the display correct (Y/N)? After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? If the characters match the illustration, press Y and Enter.
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. Although you do not start each test, you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next. Press any key to return to the menu. Color Graphics Adapter and CRT Check Use this option to check the operation of a color graphics adapter (or EGA or VGA) and display.
If an error occurs during any of these tests, record the error code and message, or print them out. Then contact your Epson dealer or service center. Color Graphics Adapter Check To check the color graphics adapter, press 1 and then Enter. The computer checks the video RAM (display memory) on the display adapter by writing test data to memory, and then reading it back and comparing it to the written data. The computer also tests the video enable signal of the display controller chip.
Is the display correct (Y/N)? After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? If the characters match the illustration, press Y and then Enter. If you find a problem with the characters on the screen, 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 display on your screen.
I 40-COLUMN Is the CHARACTER display SET CHECK correct (Y/N)? After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? If the characters match the illustration, press Y and Enter. If you find a problem with the characters on the screen, press N and Enter to display the error message. 320x200 Graphics Mode Check To check your 320x200 graphics mode, press 5 and then Enter.
640x200 Graphics Mode Check To check your 640x200 graphics mode, press 6 then Enter. The screen displays three patterned squares against a contrasting background, as shown below. 640X200 GRAPHICS MODE CHECK Is the display correct (Y/H)? I If the patterns on your screen are clear and distinct, press Y and then Enter. If any pattern is not clear, first check the adjustment of your monitor, and then make sure that both ends of the cable are plugged in firmly.
Once you examine this screen, press any key to display the next page. The eight pages, numbered 0 to 7, are displayed sequentially. After the eighth page appears, you see the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? 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 the color graphics adapter card, press 8 and then Enter.
If you do not have a light pen attached, press N and Enter. To begin the test, press Y and Enter. You see this prompt: PLACE LIGHT PEN ON CENTER OF WHITE BLOCK Touch the center of the white block on the screen with the light pen. When the light pen is correctly positioned, the block moves to another part of the screen for a second test. After three successful tests, the check ends.
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 11 and Enter. When you choose this option, all checks for the color adapter and CRT are performed automatically in sequential order. Although you do not start each test, you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next.
I FLOPPY DISK DRIVE(S) AND CONTROLLER CHECK MENU 1 ?" 4 - Sequential seek check Random seek check Write, read check Run all above checks 0 - Exit Enter selection number: 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 dealer.
Random Seek Check This test is identical to the sequential seek check, except that the seek operation is performed on each track in random order instead of sequential order. Select option 2 from the menu to start this test. 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. Select option 3 from the menu to start this test.
Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, press 4 and then Enter. When you choose this option, all checks for the diskette drive(s) and controller are performed automatically in sequential order. Although you do not start each test, you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next. Math Coprocessor Check Use this option to check the operation of the 80387 math coprocessor if you have one installed in your computer.
Insert the loop-back connector. Then press Y and Enter to start the check. The computer checks the port by writing and reading data and control information, and reports errors for any pins that are faulty. Note that if you connect a printer cable instead of a loop-back connector, you will get errors. Alternate Parallel Port Check Use this option to test the operation of an additional parallel port.
When you select option 11 from the DEVICE LIST, you see these prompts: Attach loop-back connector to serial port. Enter Y to start this check when connector is attached, or Enter N to return to the menu. Insert the loop-back connector. Then press Y and Enter to start the check. First, the computer checks the serial port control lines to see that they are able to change from high to low and vice versa. No messages display during this part of the test unless an error occurs.
Alternate Serial Port Check Use this option to test the functions of an additional serial communications (RS-232C) port. To perform the test you must insert a special loop-back connector into the alternate serial port so that the computer can check individual pins of the port. This test is identical to the check for the primary serial port. For more details, see the description of the Serial Port (RS-232C) Check. Dot-matrix Printer Check Use this option to check the following: l l .
The text data includes all the characters commonly used by programs that require foreign languages or graphic characters. If your printer prints different characters than you see in the illustration, you may need to take care with certain software. The bit-image data is sent to the printer using a command (ESC K) compatible with Epson and IBM printers. If this pattern is printed correctly, you can use the MS-DOS GRAPHICS command to print out copies of graphics screens.
When you select a check from this menu, the program determines the number of hard disk drives installed in your computer. If you have more than one physical drive, then each time you select a test you see this prompt: Check which drive (C/D)? Press C or D and then Enter. Seek Check This test checks the ability of the read/write heads to locate any part of the hard disk. This action by a read/write head is called a seek.
Select option 2 from the menu to start this test. You see these messages: The data on the highest physical cylinder destroyed by this check. may be Enter Y to start this check. Enter N to return to the menu. Press Y and then Enter to continue with the test. You do not see a cylinder count during the test. If no errors occur, the program returns to the menu. If an error occurs, make a note of the code and message.
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 hard disk with no bad tracks, you see: BAD TRACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . READ ERROR TRACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOOD TRACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press ENTER to return to the menu n n nnnn Enter when you have viewed the table.
Error Codes and Messages The following table lists all the error codes and messages that may appear during diagnostics checks.
Error codes and messages (continued) Error code Message Color graphics adapter and CRT V-RAM ERROR 501 ATTRIBUTE ERROR 503 CHARACTER SET ERROR 504 40-COLUMN CHARACTER SET ERROR 505 COLOR GRAPHICS ERROR 506 640 x 200 GRAPHICS MODE ERROR 507 SCREEN PAGING ERROR 508 LIGHT PEN ERROR 509 COLOR VIDEO ERROR 510 Floppy disk drives and controller FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER ERROR 601 SEQUENTIAL SEEK ERROR 602 RANDOM SEEK ERROR 603 WRITE ERROR 604 READ ERROR 605 DISK CHANGE CHECK 606 REMOVE ERROR DISK CHANGE CHECK 607 I
Error codes and messages (continued) Error code Message Alternate serial port control signal ALWAYS LOW 1201 control signal ALWAYS HIGH 1201 TIMEOUT ERROR 1202 VERIFY ERROR 1203 Dot-matrix printer 1401 status Hard disk drives and controller SEEK ERROR 1701 WRITE ERROR 1702 READ ERROR 1703 HEAD ERROR 1704 ERROR DETECTION ERROR 1705 1706 ERROR CORRECTION ERROR Alternate parallel port ERROR PIN p 2101 C-32 Performing System Diagnostics
Appendix D Physically Formatting a Hard Disk This appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk. This operation, sometimes called low-level or hard formatting, should not be confused with the logical formatting process performed by the MS-DOS FORMAT command. The physical formatting of a hard disk is a separate step that is usually performed by the disk manufacturer. If your Equity 386 came equipped with a hard disk, that disk has already been physically formatted.
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.
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. In all cases, run the Non-destructive surface analysis before formatting the disk; this routine finds all bad tracks that are not flagged. If the analysis shows that all the tracks listed as bad are already flagged, you can then use the Conditional format (Normal) option to format the disk.
When the scan is complete, the program displays information about the condition of the disk. For a hard disk with no bad tracks, the display looks like this: Scanning Count of Count of Count of finished.
When formatting is complete, any bad tracks are flagged, and you see a series of messages like these: Format finished. Flagging bad tracks... Cylinder is xxxx, head is yy Format completed. Press ENTER to return to the menu. 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.
Unconditional Format Use this option to format your hard disk when you want to enter the list of bad tracks before formatting begins. The main difference between unconditional and conditional formatting is the way in which bad tracks are identified. With the unconditional format, you must enter the list of bad tracks before formatting begins. To start the Unconditional format routine, press 2 and then Enter.
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. This test operates by a complex process of writing, reading, and verifying information on every track of the hard disk, except for tracks that are already flagged as bad tracks. To start the test, press 3 and then Enter. You see these messages: Analyze Hard Disk Read/Save/Write/Read/Restore/Read check for all tracks...
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 these counts: l l l 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 Hard Disk Drive Types This appendix lists the types of hard disk drives you can use in your Equity 386. Check this table and the documentation supplied with your hard disk to find the correct number for the type of hard disk drive installed in your computer. You need to enter this number when you set the mass storage option for the hard disk drive in the Setup program. See Chapter 2 for instructions. Hard disk drive types Type No.
Appendix F Specifications CPU and Memory 32-bit CPU 80386 microprocessor, 8 or 20 MHz clockrate, switch-selectable Real, protected, and virtual 8086 modes 0 wait state (or 1 wait state selectable through software) 32-bit address and 32-bit data bus Main memory 1MB RAM on memory card; expandable using 256KB or 1MB SIMMs to 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, 10MB, or 16MB (maximum) ROM 64KB Math coprocessor 80387 support (coprocessor is optional) Controllers Floppy disk Supports up to two drives in any of four formats:
Option slots Nine input/output expansion slots; three with B-bit bus and six with 16-bit bus; one slot occupied by the serial/parallel/floppy disk controller card, another occupied by a hard disk controller card if installed Speaker Internal, with volume control Clock/calendar RAM Real-time clock, calendar, and 104-byte CMOS RAM for configuration; battery backup Power Supply Switching type, fan-cooled, 115/230 VAC, 190 W; +5 VDC, +12 VDC, -5 VDC, - 12 VDC; 50/60 Hz Mass Storage Four drives maximum,
Keyboard Detachable, three positions, 101 sculpted keys Layout 58-key QWERTY main keyboard; 17-key numeric/cursor pad; 10 cursor keys; 16 function keys (user-definable) Function keys Four levels (normal, shift, control, alternate); user-definable Environmental Requirements Temperature Operating range: 41° to 104° F (5° to 35° C) Storage range: 22° to 158° F (-20° to 60° C) Humidity Operating range: 20% to 80%, non-condensing Storage range: 20% to 90%, non-condensing Physical Characteristics Width
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.
Base memory The amount of memory in the computer below 1MB that is available to MS-DOS and application programs-usually 640KB. Also called main memory. 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.
CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. A method of making low power silicon chips. Code A system of symbols for representing data or instructions. Also any software program or part of a program. 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.
CPU Central Processing Unit. The primary unit of the computer that interprets instructions, performs the tasks you indicate, keeps track of stored data, and controls all input and output operations. 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.
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. Diagnostics The tests and procedures the computer performs to check its internal circuitry and set up its configuration. DIP switch A small switch on a piece of hardware such as an option card or a printer that controls a particular function. DIP stands for Dual In-line Package.
DOS The Disk Operating System that controls the computer’s input and output functions. See Operating system. Double-density A type of diskette format that allows you to store twice as much data as the standard-density format. A 5¼-inch double-density diskette can store 360KB of data. A 3½-inch double-density diskette can store 720KB of data. Drive identifier The letter name of a disk drive, followed by a colon-for example, c:. EGA Enhanced Graphics Adapter.
Extended partition An additional MS-DOS partition; you can create one primary MS-DOS partition and one extended partition. Extension A suffix of up to three characters that can be added to a file name to better identify it. External command An MS-DOS command stored in a program file with the extension .COM or .EXE. MS-DOS must be able to find the program file to execute the command. See also Internal command.
Hard disk The enclosed unit used to store data permanently. Unlike a diskette, it is fixed in place. It can process data more rapidly and store many more files than a diskette. Hardware Any physical component of a computer system, such as a monitor, printer, keyboard, or CPU. Hexadecimal A base 16 numbering system frequently used by programmers. Any decimal number between 0 and 255 can be represented by a two-digit hexadecimal number.
Key disk A diskette containing a copy-protected program that must remain in the diskette drive while you are using the program. Kilobyte (KB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. One kilobyte equals 1024 bytes. LIM EMS 4.0 Version 4.0 of the Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded Memory Specification-a protocol that allows certain application programs to use memory above 1MB. To take advantage of LIM EMS 4.0, you must have the file EEMM386.
Megahertz (MHz) A unit used to measure oscillation frequency (of a computer’s internal timing clock). A megahertz is one million cycles per second. The Equity 386 computer operates at 8 MHz or 20 MHz. Memory The area where your computer stores data. Memory contents can be permanent and inalterable (ROM) or temporary (RAM). Memory module A small circuit board with an edge connector that contains memory chips.
MS-DOS Microsoft Disk Operating System. The operating system that comes with your computer. See Operating system. Numeric keypad The number keys grouped to the right of the keyboard. Operating speed The speed at which the central processing unit can execute commands. Also called execution speed. The Equity 386 can run at 8 MHz or 20 MHz. Operating system A collection of programs (such as MS-DOS) that manages a computer’s operations.
Partition The area defined on a hard disk for use by an operating system; to divide a hard disk into separate sections or logical drives. Pathname The list of directories and subdirectories you need to specify to locate a file. For example, the pathname for the file SALES which is located in the subdirectory BUSINESS of the root directory (\) is \BUSINESS\SALES. Peripheral A device (such as a printer or a modem) connected to a computer that depends on the computer for its operation.
Read To move data from one area to another. For example, when you open a text file stored on disk, the computer reads the data from the disk and displays it on the screen. Read/write head The physical device inside a disk drive that reads and records data on the magnetic surface of a disk. Real-time clock A battery-powered clock inside the computer that keeps track of the time and date, even when the computer is turned off. Relative pathname A pathname that does not begin with the backslash character.
Sector A contiguous section of a disk track that provides an address at which the computer can access data. Self test The initial diagnostics procedures a system performs to check its hardware. Serial The type of interface that transmits data one bit at a time. See Interface and Parallel. Shadow RAM The feature provided by the Equity 386 that allows you to copy the ROM BIOS and video ROM to RAM to speed up processing.
Switch An option added to an MS-DOS command that modifies the way the command works. Switches are usually preceded by a / (forward slash). For example, if you add the /S switch to a FORMAT command, MS-DOS installs the operating system on a diskette as it formats it. See Parameters. System diagnostics A series of checks you can perform on the computer to make sure the hardware is functioning correctly. System diskette A diskette that contains the operating system.
Wildcard A character that represents any character or group of characters. The wildcard character * (asterisk) represents a group of characters, and the wildcard character ? (question mark) represents a single character. Write To store data on a disk. Write-protect To protect the data on a diskette from being changed by placing a write-protect tab over the notch on the side of a 5¼-inch diskette or by setting the write-protect switch on a 3½-inch diskette.
Index A Absolute pathname, 5-12 -13 Alternate parallel port check, C-23 Alternate serial port check, C-25 APPEND, 5-15 Auto speed function, 2-6-7 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 5-6, 5-30 -31 B Backing up, 5-20 -23 with BACKUP 5-23 with DISKCOPY, 5-20 -22 BACKUP 4-20, 5-20, 5-23 Base memory, 2-3 Batch files, 5-6 AUTOEXEC.
Conditional format, D-2, D-3 -5 CONFIG.
DIR, 5-15 Directories, 5-10 -17 changing, 5-16 -17 creating, 5-16 default, 5-12 listing contents of, 5-15 naming, 5-12 on diskettes, 5-12 pathnames for, 5-12 -15 removing, 5-16 root, 5-11 -12 DISKCOPY, 4-12, 4-17, 5-20 -22 Diskette drives, see also Hard disks assignments, 4-17 -18, 5-2 caring for, 4-12 -13 compatibility, 4-11 configuring, 2-9 -10 drive and controller check, C-19 -22 drive protector cards, 1-2 -3 drive seek check, B-4 how they work, 4-8 -9 inserting diskettes, 4-13 -15 removing diskettes, 4-
Display adapters, see Video cards Display screen, see Monitors Dot-matrix printer check, C-25 -26 Double-density diskettes, 4-10 -12 Double-sided diskettes, 4-10 -12 Drive assignments, 4-17 -18, 5-2 Drives, see Diskette drives see Hard disks E EEMM386.
Floppy disk drives, see Diskette drives Floppy disks, see Diskettes FORMAT, 3-1, 3-12, 5-17 -19, D-1 Formatting, diskettes, 5-17 -19 extended partition, 3-12 physical, D-1 -10 primary partition, 3-9 -11 H Hard disks, see also Diskette drives assignments, 5-2 backing up, 4-20 check, 3-2-3 controller and drive check, B-5, C-26 -29 enhancing performance, 4-19 how they work, 4-8 -9 parking the heads, 4-20 -21 partitioning, 3-1, 3-4 -8 precautions, 4-19 preparing for moving, 4-20 -21 preparing for use, 3-1 -13
Keyboard, connecting, 1-10 -11 controller and keyboard check, B-3 -4, C-8 -9 layout, F-3 locking, 4-1 -2 special keys, 4-5 -7 Key lock, 4-1 -2 L LIM EMS 4.
MS-DOS, booting, 3-13 command format, 5-3 copying files, 5-6-8 correcting commands, 5-4 default drive, 5-2-3 deleting files, 5-9 directories, 5-10 -17 entering commands, 5-4 -5 exiting, 5-1 filenames, 5-5 -6 loading, 1-14 -15 pathnames, 5-12 -15 printing files, 5-10 renaming files, 5-8 -9 starting, 5-1 starting from hard disk, 3-13 MS OS/2, Intro-2, 3-2 N Non-destructive surface analysis, D-2, D-9 -10 0 Optional RAM check, B-4 Option cards, 6-1, 6-3 -20 configuring, 6-19 installing, 6-6 -17 memory, 6-3 pr
Parameters, 5-3 Partitioning, 3-1, 3-4 -8 PATH, 5-15 Pathnames, 5-12 -15 absolute and relative, 5-12 -13 including drive letters in, 5-14 including filenames in, 5-13 -14 Physical characteristics, F-3 Physical formatting, D-1 -10 formatting and checking options, D-1 -3 Power, connecting, 1-9 cord, 1-9 source, 1-4 supply, F-2 Power-on diagnostics, B-1 -5 Precautions, computer, 1-12 -13 hard disk, 4-19 Primary partition, 3-4-5 PRINT, 5-10 Printer, connecting, 1-6 -9 interface check, C-22 -23 parallel interfac
RMDIR (RD), 5-16 RESET button, 4-4 -5 Resetting the computer, 4-4 -5 ROM, see Read only memory ROM BIOS, 2-8 Root directory, 5-11 -12 S Sectors, 4-9 SELECT, 3-1, 3-9 -11, D-1 Serial, see also SPF card cable, 1-9 interface, 1-8 -9 port, 1-8 -9 port check (RS-232C), C-23 -24 SETMODE, 1-9 Setting up, 1-1 -16 Setup menu, 2-3 Setup program, 2-1 -14, E-1 auto-speed function, 2-6-7 display adapter type, 2-5-6 mass storage, 2-9 -10 math coprocessor, 2-9 memory, 2-3-5 quitting the program, 2-13 -14 real-time clock,
Subdirectories, see Directories SUBST, 5-15 Switches, 5-4 System board check, C-7 device check, B-1 -2 diskettes, 1-15 -16 T Time, setting, 2-11 -12 Toll-free number, Intro-4 Tracks, 4-9 Troubleshooting, A-1 -8 Turning off computer, 4-21 Turning on computer, 1-12 -14 U Unconditional format, D-2, D-6 -7 Unpacking the system, 1-1 -3 V Video cards, color graphics adapter and CRT check, B-4 compatibility, 1-5 configuring, 2-5 -6 enhancing EGA/VGA performance, 2-8 monochrome display adapter and CRT check, C
hard disk indicator light control knob release latch drive slot switch voltage switch option card slots I I I power outlet \ power inlet I serial port \ parallel port
