FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception.
EPSON® EQUITY® 386SX/16 PLUS User’s Guide
IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you. COPYRIGHT NOTICE All rights reserved.
Important Safety Instructions 1. Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference. 2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. 3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning, not liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. 4. Do not use this product near water. 5. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. 6.
13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: A. When the power cord or plug is damaged. B. If liquid has entered the product. C. If the product does not operate normally when the operating instructions are followed.
Contents Introduction Optional Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Operating Systems and Other Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VGA Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How to Use This Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Where to Get Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System 1 Choosing a Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Primary Display Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8 Setting the Keyboard Test Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9 Setting the Shadow RAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10 Setting the CPU Clock Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 2-12 EMS Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 4 Enhancing System Operations Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and Other Batch Files . . . . . . . . . . . Changing the Processor Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Entering Keyboard Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the ESPEED Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Expanded Memory Beyond 640KB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Modifying the CONFIG.SYS File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the VGA Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix A Specifications CPU and Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Controllers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mass Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix C Performing System Diagnostics Starting the Diagnostics Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Main Menu Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Run Time Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Error Logging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting Diagnostic Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting Multiple Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix D Troubleshooting Identifying Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Computer Won’t Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Computer Does Not Respond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Password Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accessing Your Current Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keyboard Problems . .
Introduction The Epson® Equity® 386SX/16 PLUS is a high-performance personal computer which offers exceptional speed and convenience in a compact design. Your 16 MHz, 80386SX system includes 2MB of internal memory, a built-in VGA (video graphics array) display adapter, built-in parallel and serial interfaces, and an IBM@ PS/2™ compatible mouse port. These interfaces allow you to connect most of your peripheral devices directly to the computer, so you do not have to install option cards.
You may want to install an 80387SX, 16 MHz math coprocessor in your computer to speed up mathematical calculations in certain application programs. Check with your authorized Epson dealer for information on optional equipment. Operating Systems and Other Software You probably have a version of MS-DOS® to use with your computer. However, you can run any operating system compatible with MS-DOS, OS/2, UNIX® or XENIX®.
How to Use This Manual This manual explains how to set up and operate your computer, install options, and run diagnostic checks. Although the illustrations show a computer with a 5Mnch diskette drive, instructions for using a 3%inch drive are included.
Appendix C outlines the system diagnostic tests you can run to diagnose hardware problems. Appendix D contains troubleshooting tips. At the end of the manual, you’ll find a glossary and an index. Where to Get Help If you purchased your Epson product in the United States, Epson America provides local customer support and service through a nationwide network of authorized Epson dealers and Service Centers.
Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System Setting up your Equity 386SX/16 PLUS personal computer is easy. Just follow the eight steps in this chapter. As you set up your system, you may want to leave this manual’s back cover foldout open so you can refer to the illustrations identifying the different parts. Note The illustrations in this manual show the computer with a 5¼-inch diskette drive. If your system has a 3½-inch diskette drive instead, and you need instructions for using it, see Chapter 3.
Before you set up your computer, it’s important to choose a safe, convenient location that provides the following: A sturdy desk or table strong enough to support the weight of your system and all of its components. A flat, hard surface. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted floors attract static electricity, which can erase data on your disks, damage the computer’s circuitry, and prevent proper ventilation. Good air circulation. Leave several inches of space around the computer so air can move freely.
2 Removing the Protector Card If you have a 5%inch diskette drive, there is a protector card in the diskette slot. This card is inserted at the factory to protect the read/write heads in the drive. To remove it, flip the latch up to pop the card out part way, as shown below; then pull it out. (If you have a second 5 X-inch diskette drive, be sure to remove the protector card from it.) Save the protector card.
3 Connecting a Monitor The way you connect your monitor to the computer depends on the type of monitor you have. If you have a VGA monitor (or a multi-frequency monitor with an analog connector), you can connect it to the computer’s built-in VGA port. See “Using the VGA Interface” below. If you have any other type of monitor, see “Using a Display Adapter Card” on page 1-7. Using the VGA Interface Follow these steps to connect your VGA monitor to the VGA port on the computer: 1.
4. Examine the connector end of the monitor cable, and position the plug to match the orientation of the monitor port (marked with a monitor icon). Then insert the plug into the port, as shown below. I Ii i I retaining screws Caution To avoid damaging the connector, take care not to bend the pins when inserting the plug. 5. If the connector has retaining screws, be sure to tighten them.
6. Plug the monitor power cord into the monitor’s power inlet, as shown below. 7. Plug the other end of the power cord into an electrical outlet.
Using a Display Adapter Card If you are using a non-VGA monitor, you’ll need to install a display adapter (video) card in one of the computer’s option slots before you can connect the monitor. (Your dealer may have already installed the video card for you.) If the video card has not yet been installed, you’ll need to follow the instructions in Chapter 5 to install an option card. But first, check the following table to make sure your display adapter card and monitor are properly matched.
Once you have installed your video card, return to this section to connect your monitor to the computer. If your monitor came with its own manual, follow the instructions there. Otherwise, you can follow the steps in “Using the VGA Interface” above; just insert your monitor connector into the video card port instead of the built-in VGA port. 4 Connecting a Printer or Other Device Your computer has both parallel and serial interfaces.
2. One end of the printer cable has a 25-pin, D-shell connector. Position the plug to match the orientation of the parallel interface (marked with a special icon shown in the illustration below). Then plug the connector into the port, as shown below. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them by hand or with a screwdriver, depending on the screw type.
3. 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, 4. Plug the printer’s power cord into a three-hole, 120-volt, grounded electrical outlet.
Using the Serial Interface If you have a printer, a modem, or other peripheral device with a serial interface, you can connect it to the serial (RS-232C) port on the back of the computer. The serial port uses a DB-9P connector, so be sure you have a compatible cable. To connect a serial device, follow the same steps as above for connecting a parallel device but insert the connector into the serial port, marked with a special icon, as shown below.
Connecting the Keyboard Follow these steps to connect the keyboard: 1. Hold the keyboard cable connector so the indicator on the housing faces up. Insert the plug into the appropriate socket, marked with a keyboard icon, as shown below. keyboard connector Caution Although the keyboard and mouse connectors are physically identical, they cannot be used interchangeably. Be sure to insert the keyboard plug into the keyboard socket.
2. 6 You can raise the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. To change the angle of the keyboard, turn it over and flip each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown below. Connecting the Mouse Your computer has an auxiliary port for an IBM PS/2 compatible mouse that uses a miniature DIN (6-pin) connector. If your mouse has this type of connector, you can connect it to the built-in port on your computer.
- mouse connector ,. caution Although the mouse and keyboard connectors are physically identical, they cannot be used interchangeably. Be sure to insert the mouse plug into the mouse port. Once you have connected a mouse, you may need to add commands to your MS-DOS CONFIG.SYS file to enable your computer to use a mouse. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual and the manual that came with your mouse for instructions.
7 Connecting the Power Cord Follow these steps to connect the power cord: 1. Plug the power cord into the AC power inlet on the back panel, as shown below. WARNING To avoid an electric shock, be sure to plug the cord into the computer before plugging it into the wall socket. 2. Plug the other end of the power cord into a three-hole, 120-volt, grounded electrical outlet.
8 Turning On the Computer After you set up your system, you’re ready to turn on the power. But first, read the following safety rules to avoid accidentally damaging your computer or injuring yourself: Do not connect or disconnect any cables when the computer’s power is on. Never turn on the computer with a protector card in the diskette drive. Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk drive light is on. This can destroy data stored on the disk.
4. To turn on the computer, press the power button located on the right side of the front panel, as shown below. power button The power indicator next to the button lights up. After a few seconds, the computer counts the amount of memory in your computer, and then performs a diagnostic self test. This is a series of checks the computer completes each time you turn it on to make sure everything is working correctly.
When the system has successfully completed its self test, you see the following prompt: Press to start SETUP Do not press any key yet. If MS-DOS has already been installed on your system, you’ll see a prompt to enter the date. (For information about loading the operating system, see your MS-DOS Installation Guide or Reference Manual.) If there is no operating system on your computer, you see an error message. Ignore the message for now.
Chapter 2 Running the SETUP Program When you use your computer for the first time, you need to run the SETUP program to define how your system is set up. This is a simple procedure which you must do at least once. You may need to run it again later if you change some part of your configuration. The SETUP program is stored in the computer’s read-only memory (ROM), so you can run the program any time you turn on or reset your computer. You do not need to insert a diskette or access the hard disk.
The configuration you define through SETUP is stored in a special area of memory called CMOS RAM. This memory is backed up by a battery, so it will not be erased when you turn off or reset the computer. Whenever you reboot the computer, it checks the settings, and if it discovers a difference between the information in the CMOS RAM and your system’s configuration, it prompts you to run SETUP.
The menu automatically displays the base memory size, the extended memory size, and whether a math coprocessor (numeric processor) is installed. Additionally, the SETUP menu lists the parameters you can change. Selecting Options A solid cursor bar highlights the parameter currently selected. You can scroll through the parameters using the four arrow keys (t,-+, 1‘, 4). When you reach a parameter you want to change, press Page Up or Page Down to display and select the available options.
Setting the Diskette Drive(s) Your system probably came with one diskette drive installed. You may have added another drive or replaced the existing drive with one of a different size or capacity. The SETUP menu offers five possible selections for your diskette drives (A and B): 3 1.2MB 59Linch Q 360KB 5’/4-inch 0 1.44MB 3%inch 0 720KB 3%inch Q Not installed. Check the settings displayed for both drives and correct them if necessary. (If you have only one diskette drive, select Not installed for drive B.
Setting the Hard Disk Drive(s) The SETUP program lets you select the type of hard disk drive(s) installed in your computer. If you have two hard disk drives, the first one is C and the second one is D. Be sure to choose the correct setting for both drives. Follow these guidelines: 0 If your system does not have a hard disk, select Not i n s t a l l e d for drives C and D. If you have only one hard disk drive, select Not installed for drive D.
Hard disk drive types 2-6 Running the Setup Program
Hard disk drive types (continued) Defining your own drive type If the parameters for your hard disk (listed in its documentation) do not match any of the types listed in the table above, you can define your own type. Follow these steps: 1. With the cursor at the Hard disk type option, press Page Up or Page Down to scroll through the types until you come to 47 = USER TYPE. 2. Use the numeric keys to enter the appropriate values for these parameters: Cyln = the number of cylinders on the disk.
Press Enter after typing each number. If you enter an invalid number, the computer beeps and does not go on to the next parameter. Check your drive documentation and try again. You do not enter a value for Size; SETUP does this automatically based on the other values you have entered. Setting the Primary Display Type This option lets you define the type of adapter you are using in your computer for your primary display device: Cl VGA or EGA D Color 80 x 25 Q Monochrome Q Color 40 x 25.
Q If you have a composite color monitor, such as a color television with a video input, try selecting Color 80x25. If you find that the monitor’s resolution is poor, run SETUP again and select Color 40x25. If you have two display adapters of different types, select the setting for the one you want to be your primary display adapter. The other one is your secondary adapter.
Setting the Shadow RAM Your computer can access RAM (random access memory) faster than ROM (read-only memory). The Shadow RAM feature enables the Equity 386SX/16 PLUS to copy the contents of its system BIOS and/or video ROM into RAM so it can perform certain operations faster. The SETUP Shadow RAM option lets you choose what to place in the shadow RAM area: Ll System 0 Video Ll System and video D None.
Setting the CPU Clock Speed This option lets you set the default speed at which your computer’s processor operates when you turn it on: U High speed (16 MHz) U Low speed (8 MHz) U Auto speed. When it is running at high speed, the TURBO light on the front panel is illuminated. At high speed, it can access memory faster, so your programs work faster. You should use high speed for everything you do unless you are using an application program that requires the slower speed.
EMS Size The EMS Size option provides a simple way to set the amount of memory you want to use as expanded. Expanded memory can be used by application programs conforming to the Lotus/Intel®/Microsoft® Expanded Memory Specification (LIM EMS). The Equity 386SX/16 PLUS is compatible with version 4.0 of the LIM EMS. Once you have set the expanded memory size with the EMS Size option, you also need to use a memory manager to convert the memory to expanded memory.
For example, with 2MB of memory, you can specify any of the following as expanded memory: tl 0KB 0 256KB Cl 512KB Cl 768KB CL 1024KB CI 1280KB. Setting the Password The SETUP program lets you set an optional password to control who can use your system. If you do not want to set a password for your computer, skip this section. Once you set a password through SETUP, you must enter it every time you turn on your computer or reset it by pressing the RESET button.
Now type the password you want to use. You can type up to eight characters using the letter or number keys, in upper- or lowercase. For example, you could enter the following: 123aBc! You can use the backspace key to correct mistakes. After you type the password, press Enter. Note Be sure to remember the password you enter or write it down and keep it in a safe place. If you cannot remember it, you will not be able to access the computer the next time you turn it on.
Setting the Built-in Interfaces This option lets you define how the following built-in interfaces operate: 0 Parallel port (LPT1, LPT2, LPT3) U Serial port (COM1 or COM2) Q Hard disk drive controller (HDC) tl Floppy disk drive controller (FDC). Setting the Parallel Interface The built-in parallel port is set to act as the primary (LPT1). If you install an option card that provides an additional parallel interface, you may need to select LPT2 or LPT3 for the builtin port.
Setting the Serial Interface The built-in serial port in your computer is set to act as the primary port (COM1). If you install an option card that provides an additional serial port, that port automatically becomes secondary (COM2). However, if you want the port on the card to be COM1, select COM2 for the built-in port. If you install a card (or cards) that provide two additional serial ports and you want them to act as the primary and secondary ports, select Disable for the built-in port.
If you saved your changes, the SETUP program resets your system and the computer runs through its power-on diagnostic tests. If something is wrong, however, you see an error message and a prompt to run SETUP. Follow the instructions on the screen to run SETUP again to correct it. (You may need to reset the computer.) If you have just run SETUP for the first time, the next thing you need to do is install MS-DOS on your computer. See your MS-DOS Installation Guide for instructions.
2-18 Running the Setup Program
Chapter 3 Using Your Computer This chapter briefly describes the following procedures for using your computer: U Installing MS-DOS or another operating system CI Using special keys on the keyboard Cl Stopping a command or program U Resetting the computer 2 Using a password U Using disks and disk drives. Installing MS-DOS or Another Operating System After you connect the components of your system and run the SETUP program, you must install the operating system on your computer.
Special Keys on the Keyboard Certain keys on your keyboard serve special functions when your computer is running MS-DOS or application programs. The special keys are described in the table below. Special key functions 3-2 Key Purpose Tab It Tab -+I 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.
Special key functions (continued) I Key Purpose Num Lock Changes the function of the numeric/cursor keys from entering numbers to positioning the cursor; changes back when pressed again. Esc Cancels the current command line or operation. F1-F12 Perform special functions within application programs. Print Screen Prints the screen display on a printer. SYS Rq Generates the System Request function in some application programs (used with Alt). Scroll Lock Controls scrolling in some applications.
These methods may also work in your application program. If not, you may need to reset the computer, as described below. Caution It is best not to turn off the computer to stop a program or command. If you created new data and have not yet stored it, the data will be erased if you turn off the computer. The computer stores your data in its memory area (RAM) until you save it; but the data is erased each time you turn off or reset the computer.
There are two ways to reset the computer: 3 If you are using MS-DOS, hold down Ctrl and Alt and press the Del key. The screen goes blank for a moment and then the computer should reload MS-DOS. If it doesn’t, try the next method. Q Press the RESET button on the front panel. This method works even when the computer does not respond to your keyboard entries. If resetting the computer does not correct the problem, you probably need to turn it off and reboot it.
If you do not enter the correct password the first time, press Enter and try again. If you want to change or delete your current password, you must run the SETUP program. See Chapter 2 for instructions. Using Disks and Disk Drives The disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk, and then retrieve and use your stored data.
All disks are divided into data storage compartments by sides, tracks, and sectors. Double-sided diskettes store data on both sides. On each side are concentric rings, called tracks, on which a disk can store data. A disk is further divided by sectors, which are similar in shape to pie slices. The figure below provides a simple representation of tracks and sectors.
Your computer uses the read/write heads in a disk drive to store and retrieve data on a disk. To write to a disk, the computer spins it in the drive to position the disk so that the area where the data is to be written is under the read/write head. A diskette has an exposed area where the read/write head can access it. 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.
0 360KB drive-Use 5%inch, double-sided, double-density, 48 TN, 360KB diskettes. (You can also use single-sided, 160KB or 180KB diskettes.) These diskettes contain 40 tracks per side and 8 or 9 sectors per track. With 8 sectors per track, a diskette holds up to 320KB. With 9 sectors per track, a diskette holds up to 360KB of information, which is approximately 150 pages of text. Note You must format a new diskette before you can store data on it. See “Formatting Diskettes,” later in this section.
Because of these incompatibilities, always indicate the diskette type and density when you label your diskettes. (Usually this information appears on the manufacturer’s label.) If you have any combination of the above drives (1.44 MB, 1.2MB, 720KB, or 360KB), you can copy files from one drive to another-using COPY or XCOPY-as long as the correct diskette type is in each drive. You can also use these commands to copy files between a hard disk and any type of diskette.
Keep diskettes in a moderate environment. Don’t leave diskettes sitting in the sun, or in extreme cold or heat. Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields, such as electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers. (Remember that diskettes store information magnetically.) cl Do not place diskettes on top of your monitor or near an external hard disk drive. 0 Always hold a 5?4inch diskette by its protective jacket and never touch the magnetic surface (exposed by the read/write slot).
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 it 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 5%inch diskette, cover the small, rectangular notch (shown below) with an adhesive writeprotect tab.
On a 3%inch diskette, the write-protect device is a small switch on the back of the diskette in the lower right corner, shown below. To write-protect a 3%?-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 and the hole is covered.
Using a Single Diskette Drive System MS-DOS expects the computer to have at least two diskette drives and displays prompts and messages accordingly. Usually, MS-DOS recognizes the first diskette drive (the top drive) as A and a second diskette drive as B. If you have only one diskette drive, MS-DOS can treat it as both A and B when you need to perform operations that normally require two diskette drives.
Inserting and Removing Diskettes If you have a 5%inch diskette drive, insert a diskette as follows: hold the diskette with the label facing up and the read/write slot leading into the drive, as shown below. rite slot 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 drive to access the diskette.
If you have a 3 1/2-inch diskette drive, insert the diskette with the label facing up and the metal shutter leading into the drive, as shown in the following illustration. Slide the diskette into the drive until it clicks into place. release button metal shutter When you want to remove the diskette, make sure the drive light is off; then press the release button. When the diskette pops out, remove it and store it properly.
Formatting Diskettes Before you can store data on a new diskette, you must format it using the FORMAT command. Formatting prepares the diskette so that MS-DOS can write data on it. You need to do this only once, before you use the diskette for the first time. You can also reformat previously used diskettes to store new data. This process erases all the data on the diskette, so be sure you do not want to save any of the files on a used diskette before you format it.
Using a Hard Disk Drive Using a hard disk is similar to using a diskette. However, the hard disk provides several advantages: Q A 40MB hard disk can store as much data as approximately thirty-three 1.2MB diskettes, and a 100MB hard disk can store as much data as approximately eighty-two 1.2MB diskettes. 0 Your computer can perform all disk-related operations faster.
Caring for your hard disk drive Follow these precautions to protect your hard disk drive from damage and to avoid losing data: Ll Never turn off or reset the computer when the hard disk access light is on. This light indicates that the computer is copying data to or from the hard disk. If you interrupt this process, you can lose data. Q Never attempt to open the hard disk drive. The disk itself is enclosed in a sealed container to protect it from dust.
You see a message on the screen that tells you the disk drive’s read/write heads will remain locked until you reset the computer or turn the power off and on again. The computer locks the heads and disables the keyboard. Remove any diskettes and turn off the computer. You are now ready to move it to the new location. Note For convenience, you may want to copy the following two files from the Reference diskette to your hard disk: HDSIT.COM HDSIT.
Chapter 4 Enhancing System Operations This chapter tells you how to use the following procedures to enhance the operation of your computer: CI Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and other batch files Ci Changing the processor speed Q Using expanded memory beyond 640KB c3 Using the VGA utilities. Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and Other Batch Files As you get used to using MS-DOS and your application programs, you may find that there are commands you need to run frequently.
When you install MS-DOS, it creates an AUTOEXEC.BAT file for you. To modify the file or replace it with a new one, you can use the COPY or EDLIN command, a text editor, or a word processing program that can save a file as a text-only file. However, be sure to name the file AUTOEXEC.BAT and store it in the root directory of the hard disk or diskette from which you load MS-DOS. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information about creating and using batch files.
There are different types of copy-protected programs. Depending on the type you have, you may or may not want to set the processor to automatic speed. Follow these guidelines: 0 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 on high speed. If this works, you do not need to set the speed to change automatically. If you can’t load the program on high, set the speed to change automatically.
Entering Keyboard Commands You can change the processor speed by entering one of the commands shown in the following table. Speed setting commands ni To enter these commands, hold down the Ctrl key and the Alt key simultaneously and then press the 2, +, 1, or - key. Use the + or - key on the numeric keypad or the 1 or 2 key on the main keyboard. Note You can use the commands listed above while you are running a program.
Using the ESPEED Program ESPEED provides an easy way to change the processor speed if your application program does not recognize the Ctrl keyboard commands or if you want to include the program command in a batch file. The ESPEED program is provided with your system on the Reference diskette. If you do not have a hard disk, insert your Reference diskette in drive A and log onto drive A before you enter the command to start the program. If you have a hard disk drive, copy the file ESPEED.
To display the current CPU speed, type ES P E ED only and press Enter. You see the following: 16.0 MHz <+> : Speed Up <-> : Speed Down : Exit To change the speed when you see this display, press the + or - key; then press Esc to exit. The processor speed you set remains in effect until you change it using the ESPEED program again, a keyboard command, or the SETUP program; or until you press the RESET button or turn off the computer.
Using Expanded Memory Beyond 640KB The Equity 386SX/16 PLUS comes with 2MB of random access memory. MS-DOS and your application programs that run under MS-DOS use the first 640KB of memory. You can use any memory above 1MB as extended memory (up to 16MB) or expanded memory (up to 24MB). Shadow RAM uses 128KB of the RAM available between 640KB and 1MB in your system (384KB). If you use the shadow RAM feature, 256KB of this memory is available for use as extended or expanded memory.
3. Add a command to the CONFIG.SYS file to include the memory manager as a device driver, as described in the next section. The CONFIG.SYS file is used by MS-DOS to set up the computer’s system configuration requirements. Modifying the CONFIG.SYS File If you have a word processing program that can save a file as a text-only file (also called an ASCII file), you can use it to add the memory manager to the CONFIG.SYS file. Follow these steps: 1. Start your word processing program. 2. Load the file CONFIG.
3. Save the file as an ASCII text file. 4. Reset the computer. If you do not have a word processing program capable of saving an ASCII text file, you can modify CONFIG.SYS using the MS-DOS EDLIN or COPY CON command, or a text editor. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions. Using EMM386SX.SYS options You can include optional parameters in the DEVICE= command line to tailor the way the memory manager works. The table below summarizes the EMM386SX.SYS parameters. EMM386SX.
The M[n] parameter specifies a particular 64KB page frame address for EMM386SX.SYS. The value n must be a number from 1 to 9 to indicate one of the following addresses: 1 2 3 4 5* 6 7 8 9 0C0000h 0C4000h 0C8000h 0CC000h 0D0000h 0D4000h 0D8000h 0DC000h 0E0000h * Default setting For example, to specify a page frame address of 0CC000h, add the following command line to your CONFIGSYS file: DEVICE-EMM386SX.SYS /M4 The P[nnn] parameter specifies the number of handles (or process IDS) available to EMM386SX.
EMM386SX.SYS automatically excludes from mapping any addresses that are reserved for use by your system ROM and RAM. If you install an option card, such as a network card, that uses the memory address range C000 through E000, include the X parameter in the DEVICE= command line to exclude this memory range from expanded memory mapping. For more information about your system’s memory, see “System Memory Map” in Appendix A.
You can use the VGA utilities (also provided on the Utility diskettes) to take advantage of other special features of your VGA adapter. Even if you do not use any device drivers, you may want to install some of the VGA utilities, such as the following: VGAMODE Provides 132-column text in text-based programs such as Wordstar® and WordPerfect®. SETVGA Sets the built-in VGA adapter to emulate the operation of other adapters, such as Hercules@ and CGA adapters.
Chapter 5 Installing and Removing Options You can enhance the performance of your computer by adding a variety of options, including the following: 0 Option cards Q Memory modules Q A math coprocessor. An option card is a circuit board you install in your computer to add a particular function. Most option cards contain a device, such as a modem, or provide an interface, such as a connector to which you connect to a network.
A math coprocessor speeds up the numeric calculations your computer performs when using certain application software. If you purchase a math coprocessor, it is a good idea to ask your dealer to install it for you, because it can be damaged easily. If you decide to install it yourself, follow the appropriate steps in this chapter. This chapter also explains how to change the jumper settings inside the computer.
4. Turn the computer around so you are facing the back panel. The cover is secured by a large screw on the back panel, as shown below. Turn the screw counterclockwise to unlock the cover. 5. The cover is also secured by two latches on the back of the cover near the corners. Press both latches inward and then lift up the cover from the back panel. You might meet some resistance from the grounding tabs along the inside of the cover.
6. Pull the cover away from the front of the computer to completely remove it. Then set it aside. 7. Before you touch any of the components, touch the inside of the computer’s back panel, as shown below, to ground yourself and avoid an electric shock. WARNING Be sure to ground yourself to the inside back panel of the computer every time you remove the cover. If you are not properly grounded, you could generate an electric shock when you touch a component.
Changing the Jumper Settings If you change your computer’s configuration or need to alter the way it operates, you may need to change a jumper setting inside the computer. A jumper is a small electrical connector that controls one of the computer’s functions.
Setting the Jumpers The illustration below shows the locations of the jumpers on your computer’s main system board. II i II IIll ____............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ill I . .._.._..___.______. A jumper’s setting is determined by where the jumper is placed on the pins. It connects either pin A and the middle pin (position A) or pin B and the middle pin (position B), as shown below.
The following table lists the jumper settings and their functions.
If you need to change any jumper settings, follow these steps: 1. Remove any option cards that may be blocking your access to the jumpers. See page 5-16 for instructions. 2. Change the jumper settings. 3. Replace any option cards you removed. See “Installing an Option Card” on page 5-12. 4. Follow the instructions on page 5-40 to replace the computer’s cover. Replacing the Battery Your computer comes with a 3.6 volt lithium battery that provides power for the real-time clock and the CMOS RAM.
If necessary, follow the instructions on page 5-2 to remove the computer’s cover. Then follow these steps to replace the battery: 1. Turn the computer so that the front panel is facing you. The battery is attached to the bottom of the computer case, just behind the front panel, as shown below. To disconnect the battery from the main system board, pull up on the connector plugged into socket CN1, as shown below.
2. The battery is attached to the computer with Velcro? Remove the battery by pulling it up from the bottom of the computer case, as shown below. Then set it aside. -- 3. Remove the new battery from its package and position it so the Velcro faces down and the cable faces connector CN1. Then attach it to the bottom of the computer case, as shown below.
4. Connect the battery cable to connector CN1. battery cable connector CN1 5. Follow the steps on page 5-40 to replace the computer’s cover. Then run the SETUP program to reconfigure your system and reset the time for the real-time clock. See Chapter 2 for instructions.
Installing an Option Card Your computer has four standard option slots: three 16-bit slots and one 8-bit slot. Each slot can accommodate an option card. You can buy option cards from authorized Epson dealers as well as other vendors. This section explains how to install option cards in your computer. If you need to remove an option card later (to access jumpers, memory modules, or a math coprocessor), see “Removing an Option Card” on page 5-16 for instructions.
Slots 1 through 3 are designed for 16-bit option cards and slot 4 is designed for an 8-bit card. As you can see below, a 16-bit card has an extra connector along the bottom. 16-bit option card 8-bit option card 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 8-bit cards in a 16-bit slot.
Follow these steps to install an option card: 1. If you have not already done so, remove the cover from the computer. (See page 5-2 for instructions.) WARNING After you remove the cover, touch the inside back panel of the computer to ground yourself and avoid an electric shock. 2. If you are installing an option card that controls a mouse, you need to change the setting of jumper J4 on the main system board before you install the card.
4. Unpack the option card and adjust any switches or jumpers on it, if necessary. (Check the option card instructions.) When you handle the card, be careful not to touch any of the components on the circuit board or the gold-edged connectors. If you need to set it down before you install it, place it gently on top of its original packing material with the component side facing up. Keep the packing materials in case you remove the card later. 5.
7. Secure the end of the card to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. 8 8. Follow the instructions at the end of this chapter to replace the cover. Then see “Post-installation Setup,” following that section. Removing an Option Card If you need to remove an option card, follow these steps: 1. First, remove the cover from the computer. See page 5-2 for instructions. 2. Remove the screw securing the card to the back of the computer and pull it straight up and out of the slot.
4. If you are removing an option card that controls a mouse, you need to change the setting of jumper J4 on the main system board. If you are removing a display adapter card, you may need to change the settings of jumpers J1, J3, and J5. See page 5-7 for instructions. 5. Replace the cover. See page 5-40 for instructions. Removing the Subassembly You need to remove the subassembly to access the SIMM sockets and the math coprocessor socket on your computer’s main system board.
Follow these steps to remove the subassembly: 1. Remove the front panel from the computer by lifting up slightly on the three clips at the top of the panel and tilting it toward you. Then set it aside. clips 2. If you have a hard disk drive, the drive cable is connected to the main system board on the left side of the subassembly, as shown below.
Grasp the connector and pull it straight up to remove it from the socket. Do not pull only on the cable. 3. The diskette drive cable is connected to the socket behind the hard disk drive socket; disconnect it in the same manner. 4. To lift the subassembly from the front of the computer, place your thumbs under the diskette drive and grasp the top edge of the computer with the rest of your fingers, as shown in the following illustration.
5. Raise the front of the subassembly, as shown below. 6. Reach back underneath the subassembly and disconnect the two power supply cables connected to the right side of the main system board, as shown below. Pull each connector straight up. Do not pull only on the cables.
7. Lift the entire subassembly out of the computer and carefully place it on your work surface. Adding Memory Modules Your computer comes with 2MB of memory soldered directly onto the main system board. By installing SIMMs (single inline memory modules), you can increase the memory in your computer up to 24MB. The first 16MB can be used as either extended or expanded; any memory above 16MB can be used only as expanded. You can install 256KB, 1MB, or 4MB SIMMs, as described in this section.
Installing Memory Modules There are six SIMM sockets on the main system board organized in three banks consisting of two sockets each. The sockets are labeled SIMM1 through SIMM6. The following table shows all the possible SIMM configurations for your computer. Do not install SIMMs in any configuration that is not listed below. Keep in mind that 2MB of memory is already soldered directly on the main system board.
Follow these steps to install SIMM: 1. Remove the computer’s cover. See page 5-2. 2. Remove the subassembly. See page 5-17. 3. The SIMM sockets are located on the front of the main system board near the math coprocessor socket, as shown below.
4. Install the SIMMs in the sockets closest to the right side of the main system board first. Position each SIMM so the notch on its edge faces the front of the computer and place it on the left side of the tabs at an angle, as shown below. 5.
The SIMM should snap into place between the tabs and the retaining posts. If it does not go in smoothly, do not force it; pull it all the way out and try again. Make sure the SIMM is fully inserted into the socket and that the pins on the retaining posts extend through the holes in both ends. 6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each SIMM you want to install. 7. Replace the subassembly. See page 5-32 for instructions. 8. Follow the steps on page 5-40 to replace the computer’s cover.
3. The SIMM sockets are located on the front of the main system board near the math coprocessor socket, as shown below. SIMM sockets .
4. Remove the SIMMs in the sockets closest to the left side of the main system board first. Use your fingers or two small screwdrivers to pull away the tabs that secure the SIMM at each end. Be careful not to pull the tabs too far, or they may break. As you pull away the tabs, the SIMM falls to the left. When the SIMM is at an angle, release the tabs and carefully remove it from the socket. 5. Repeat step 4 for each SIMM you need to remove. 6. Replace the subassembly. See page 5-32. 7.
Installing a Math Coprocessor Your computer has a socket on the main system board to accommodate an 80387SX, 16 MHz math coprocessor. A math coprocessor speeds up your computer’s numeric calculations and graphic image displays when you are using certain application software. It is best to have your dealer install a math coprocessor for you, since it is a delicate component that can be damaged easily if it is installed incorrectly.
4. The math coprocessor socket is located on the front of the main system board near the SIMM sockets, as shown below. math coprocessor socket 5. The math coprocessor socket is hollow and square, and has a notch in the lower left corner, as shown below.
The math coprocessor also has a notch in one corner, marked by a dot, as shown below. J r5 0 0 A80370X-16 SX106 L9450188 INTEL@@ 1986 notch \a . 0 V Align the notched corner of the coprocessor with the notched corner of its socket. The notched sides must be aligned for the coprocessor to operate properly, so be sure its position is correct before you go to the next step.
If the coprocessor 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. It is completely inserted when the surface of the coprocessor is flush (even) with the surface of the socket. Be sure it is inserted all the way. 7. Replace the subassembly. See page 5-32. 8. Follow the steps on page 5-40 to replace the computer’s cover.
Replacing the Subassembly Follow the steps below to replace the subassembly inside your computer: 1. Notice that there are four mounting slots on the back of the subassembly: two in the upper corners and two in the lower corners.
There are four corresponding tabs on the inside back panel of the computer which fit into the openings in the subassembly slots. tabs Lift up the subassembly from your work surface and lower the back end into the computer, guiding the top slots on the subassembly into the top tabs on the computer.
2. Hold up the front of the subassembly at a slight angle and arrange the ribbon cables so they curve underneath the subassembly and extend out its left side. Then grasp the two power supply cables, labeled P4 and P5. Each connector has six pin holes and a large tab on one side, as shown below. There is one 12-pin power supply socket on the right side of the main system board (toward the back) that holds both of the power supply connectors, as shown below.
3. Position power supply connector P4 so the large tab on the connector faces the right side of the computer. Beginning with the six pins toward the back of the computer, carefully line up the holes in the connector with the pins in the socket and then push in the connector. Caution If you do not correctly align the holes with the pins in the socket, you could severely damage your computer when you push in the connector. 4.
5. Carefully lower the front of the subassembly onto the computer. Make sure that all four tabs on the back of the computer are inserted into the slots on the subassembly as you lower it.
Guide the tabs on the front of the subassembly over the opening in the front of the computer so the two small tabs sit behind the opening and the large tab with the curved lip sits over the front of the opening. If necessary, press on the large tab until the subassembly snaps into place. 6. Locate the hard disk drive and diskette drive ribbon cables. (The hard disk drive cable is slightly longer than the diskette drive cable.) Look at the back of each drive to make sure you know which cable is which.
Both the diskette drive and hard disk drive sockets are located on the main system board on the left side of the subassembly, as shown below. diskette drive socket hard disk drive socket subassembly - - E l - Both sockets have a notch on one side. Connect the diskette drive cable first. As shown below, there is a tab on one side of the connector.
Align the connector with the socket so the tab on the connector lines up with the notch in the socket. Make sure the holes in the connector fit over all the pins in the socket and then push in the connector. Caution If you do not correctly align the holes with the pins, you could severely damage your computer when you push in the connector. 7. Now connect the hard disk drive cable in the same manner. 8.
Replacing the Cover Follow these steps to replace the computer’s cover: 1. Facing the back of the computer, hold the cover so that the side with three tabs on the edge faces away from you, as shown below. tabs 2. Insert the three tabs into the three notches in the back of the front panel of the computer.
3. Lower the back of the cover onto the computer and press down firmly on all edges of the cover to form a tight seal. 4. Turn the large screw on the back panel clockwise to secure the cover to the computer. 5. Reconnect the computer to the monitor, printer, keyboard, and any other peripheral devices you have. Then reconnect the power cable to the back of the computer and to an electrical outlet.
U If you want to use any of the memory on your card as expanded memory, see “Using Expanded Memory Beyond 640KB” in Chapter 4. Also see “Post-installation Setup,” below, for more information on setting up your computer for use with an option card. Post-installation Setup After you install or remove options such as memory modules, a math coprocessor, or a disk drive, you need to run the SETUP program to update the computer’s configuration information.
If you install an optional memory card, use the setup program that comes with it to configure the computer for use with the card. See your memory card manual for instructions. Additionally, you may need to add some commands to your configuration files. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual and the manual that comes with your optional equipment for instructions. You may also want to test a newly-installed option.
5-44 Installing and Removing Options
Appendix A Specifications CPU and Memory 16-bit CPU 80386SX microprocessor, 16 MHz system clock speed, 16 MHz or 8 MHz processor speed; user selectable 0 wait state memory access speed at 16 MHz System memory 2MB RAM standard; expandable using 256KB, 1MB, or 4MB SIMMs up to 24MB (the first 16MB can be extended or expanded memory; above 16MB can be only expanded memory); SIMM access speed must be 80ns or faster ROM 128KB (includes system BIOS and VGA BIOS) Shadow RAM 0 wait state access speed; system
Controllers Diskette Supports up to two drives in any of four formats: 5Wnch, high-density, 1.2MB; 5?Unch, double-density, 360KB; 3%inch, high-density, 1.
Power Supply Type 145W, fan-cooled Input ranges 98 VAC to 132 VAC, 47 Hz to 63 Hz Maximum outputs +5 VDC at 18 Amps, +12 VDC at 4.2 Amps -12 VDC at 0.3 Amps, -5 VDC at 0.3 Amps Mass Storage Three half-height drives maximum (one vertical mount and two horizontal mounts) configurable using the following drive types: Diskette drives 5%~inch diskette drive, 1.2MB (high-density) storage capacity 3%inch diskette drive, 1.
Keyboard Detachable, two position; 101 sculpted keys Layout 58-key QWERTY main keyboard; 17-key numeric/cursor pad; 10 cursor keys; additional 4-key cursor pad; 16 function keys (user-definable) Function Four levels (normal, shift, control, alternate); user-definable Environmental Requirements Condition Operating range Non-operating range Storage range Temperature 41° to 95°F (5° to 35° C) -4° to 140° F (-20° to 60° C) -4° to 140° F (-20° to 60° C) Humidity (noncondensing) 20% to 80% 10% to 90
System Memory Map OOOFFFFFFh System BIOS ROM: 64KB Duplicated from 0F0000h 000FF0000h Reserved for system board: 64KB Duplicated from 0E0000h 16MB (Maximum system memory) 000FE0000h Extended memory 00100000h 1MB System BIOS ROM: 64KB Default Shadow RAM Duplicated at FF0000h 000F0000h Reserved for system board: 64KB Duplicated at FE0000h 000E0000h I/O Expansion ROM: 96KB Reserved for ROM on I/O adapters 000C8000h 000C0000h VGA BIOS ROM: 32KB Default Shadow RAM Video memory: 128KB Reserved for graphics
A-6 Specifications
Appendix B Installing and Removing Disk Drives This appendix describes how to do the following: Ci Install a hard disk or diskette drive Q Remove a hard disk or diskette drive D Change the hard disk drive jumper settings. Your system can include up to three drives: either two diskette drives and one hard disk drive or one diskette drive and two hard disk drives. Your computer has two horizontal drive bays and one vertical mounting position to hold the drives, as shown below.
Caution Installing or removing a disk drive is a complicated procedure, so you may want to ask your dealer to do it for you. If you decide to do it yourself, you must carefully follow all the instructions in this appendix or you could damage your equipment. Using the Correct Drive Bay The upper horizontal drive bay probably contains the diskette drive that came with your system.
How to Use This Appendix The instructions in this appendix describe how to install and remove optional Epson diskette and hard disk drives. All drives sold by Epson for the Equity 386SX/16 PLUS are qualified and recommended for use in this system. Your drive may look a bit different from the one illustrated in this appendix, but you install it the same way.
Setting the Hard Disk Drive jumpers You need to check or change the jumper settings on the hard disk drive if you are installing or removing any hard disk drives. The jumpers tell the computer whether you are using one hard disk drive or two. If you remove one hard disk drive and leave another in your computer, you need to change the jumper settings on the remaining drive to indicate that you now have only one hard disk drive installed.
Changing the Jumper Settings The hard disk drive jumpers are located on the drive’s circuit board, near the large cable connector. cable connector The jumpers on your drive may be in a slightly different location, but you set them the same way. There are four positions for the jumpers on each hard disk drive. Jumpers are installed in only two of the positions and the other two positions are left open.
The following table lists the jumper settings for all the possible hard disk drive configurations. Jumper One hard positions disk drive H S Two hard disk drives: master - P Two hard disk drives: slave - C/D X X DSP - X - ACT X X X X = jumper installed - = no jumper installed To move a jumper from one position to the other, use your fingers, needle-nose pliers, or tweezers to pull it off its pins and gently move it to the other position.
If one of your hard disk drives is already installed in the computer, follow the steps under “Removing a Hard Disk From the Vertical Position” on page B-24 to remove it. Then set the jumpers on both drives while they are out of the computer. The steps in that section tell you which instructions to follow next. Note If you are removing one hard disk drive and leaving one in your computer, be sure to set the jumpers on the remaining drive to indicate that you have only one hard disk drive.
Removing the Mounting Frames From the Drive Your hard disk drive comes with 5 N-inch mounting frames attached to each side of the hard disk drive, as shown below.
On one side, there may also be a plastic guiderail. Follow these steps to remove the mounting frames (and guiderail) from the drive: 1. If necessary, remove the screws securing the plastic guiderail and the metal grounding plate to one of the mounting frames, as shown below. guiderail screws 2. Remove the four screws securing the mounting frames to the hard disk drive. There are two screws securing each frame, as shown below.
Keep the four screws so you can use them to secure the mounting plate to the hard disk drive. Then set the drive aside with the component side facing up. Removing and Attaching the Mounting Plate If you are installing a new hard disk drive in your computer, you need to attach a hard disk drive mounting plate to the drive. This mounting plate is currently attached to the side of the subassembly, as shown below. Follow these steps to remove the mounting plate from your computer: 1.
2. Remove the screw securing the mounting plate to the computer and set it aside. Then lift up the mounting plate to remove it. , retaining screw I - - - 3. Turn your hard disk drive so the components are facing up and the connectors at the back of the drive are facing to the right.
Then place the flat side of the mounting plate on the hard disk drive and align the four holes on the plate with the four holes on the drive, as shown below. mounting plate holes comp connectors 4. Locate the four screws that you removed from the S?Mnch mounting frames and use them to secure the mounting plate to the hard disk drive. Installing the Drive Follow these steps to install the hard disk drive in the vertical mounting position: 1.
The connector at one end of the cable has two rows of holes, one of which is blocked with a plug, as shown below. The ribbon cable socket on the back of the drive has two rows of pins. In one of the rows, a pin is missing.
Align the connector with the socket so that the row in the connector with the blocked hole lines up with the row in the socket with the missing pin, as shown below. Make sure the holes fit over all the pins and then push in the connector. Caution If you do not correctly align the holes with the pins, you could severely damage your hard disk drive when you push in the connector. 2. Place the hard disk drive on top of the subassembly with the mounting plate facing up.
3. Locate one of the power supply cables that lead from the power supply in the computer (behind the horizontal drive bays). The cables are labeled P1, P2, and P3; you can use any one. As shown below, the end of the connector has two notched corners. power supply socket > notched corners The power supply socket is on the back of the hard disk drive, next to the cable you just connected. The socket also has two notched corners, as shown above.
Make sure the holes fit over all the pins and then push in the connector. 4. Pick up the hard disk drive and hold it above the vertical mounting area so the mounting plate is facing the subassembly, as shown below. Connectors mounting plate sembly Notice that there are two tabs facing downward on the bottom of the mounting plate. These tabs will fit into two slots in the right side of the subassembly.
5. As you lower the drive into the vertical mounting area, guide the ribbon cable underneath the drive. hole - tabs in slots As shown above, fit the tabs on the mounting plate into the slots on the side of the subassembly. Then tilt the drive toward the subassembly and align the retaining screw hole on the mounting plate with the hole in the bracket. 6. Secure the drive to the bracket with the retaining screw.
Connecting the Hard Disk Drive Cables Follow these steps to lift up the subassembly and connect the drive cable to the main system board: 1. Remove the front panel from the computer by lifting up slightly on the three clips at the top of the panel and tilting it toward you. Then set it aside. 2. To lift the subassembly from the front of the computer, place your thumbs under the diskette drive and grasp the top edge of the computer with the rest of your fingers, as shown in the following illustration.
3. Raise the front of the subassembly to a slight angle, as shown below.
4. Use one of your hands to hold up the subassembly or have someone do it for you. With your other hand, grasp the hard disk drive ribbon cable that you tucked beneath the subassembly. Pull the cable under the subassembly all the way to its left side. 5. Carefully lower the front of the subassembly onto the computer, as shown below.
Guide the tabs on the front of the subassembly over the opening in the front of the computer so that the two small tabs sit behind the opening and the large tab with the curved lip sits over the front. If necessary, press on the large tab until the subassembly snaps into place. 6. Locate the hard disk drive socket on the main system board (in front of the socket that holds the diskette drive ribbon cable). There is a notch on one side of the socket, as shown below.
Pick up the hard disk drive cable and notice the connector on the end of the cable. There is a tab on one side of the connector, as shown below. tab Pull the cable over toward the socket and fold it to align the connector with the socket. Make sure the side of the connector with the tab lines up with the side of the socket with the notch. Then line up the holes over all of the pins and push in the connector.
7. To replace the front panel, fit the three ridged tabs on its bottom edge into the three notches on the lower edge of the computer, as shown below. tabs 8. Tilt up the front panel until the clips on the top touch the computer. Then push on the top of the panel until it clicks into place. Your diskette drive(s) should be flush with the front of the panel. 9. Follow the steps on page 5-43 to replace the computer’s cover.
Removing a Hard Disk From the Vertical Position 1. Turn the computer so that the front panel is facing you. The vertically mounted drive is attached to the right side of the subassembly, as shown below.
2. Remove the retaining screw securing the hard disk drive mounting plate to the computer and set it aside. 3. Tilt the hard disk drive slightly to the right, away from the subassembly, and lift it out of the vertical mounting area. Turn it over and set it on top of the subassembly with the gray mounting plate facing up. Since the drive is attached to its cables, make sure you do not try to move it too far away from the subassembly as you turn it.
4. Disconnect the power supply connector from the socket on the back of the hard disk drive, as shown below. Firmly pull the connector straight out of the socket so you do not bend the pins. Do not pull too hard on the cable; pull on the plastic connector, if possible. ribbon cable connector .I power mo PIa supply connector 5. Remove the ribbon cable connector from the back of the drive in the same manner, as shown above.
7. Remove the hard disk drive ribbon cable from its socket on the main system board (near the left side of the subassembly). Store the cable along with the drive. 8. Wrap the hard disk drive in its original packing materials and set it aside. Then carefully arrange the power supply cable so it does not interfere with any other cables or mechanisms. 9. Follow the steps on page 5-43 to replace the computer’s cover.
Removing the Subassembly Follow these steps to remove the subassembly: 1. Turn the computer so that the front panel is facing you. 2. To remove the front panel, lift up slightly on the three clips at the top of the panel and tilt it toward you, as shown below. Then pull the panel away from the front of the computer. clips If you are going to install a hard disk drive in the lower horizontal position, set the front panel aside and go to step 4.
3. Place the front panel face down and remove the screws securing the slot cover to the panel. Lift out the slot cover, as shown below. Set the front panel, slot cover, and screws aside. 4. The hard disk drive cable is connected to the main system board on the left side of the subassembly, as shown below. hard disk/ drive cable Grasp the connector and pull it straight up to remove it from the socket. Do not pull only on the cable.
5. The diskette drive cable is connected to the socket behind the hard disk drive socket; disconnect it in the same manner. 6. The subassembly is the large metal casing enclosing the horizontal drive bays and the power supply, as shown below. To remove the subassembly, first lift it up from the front only. Place your thumbs under the diskette drive and grasp the top edge of the computer with the rest of your fingers, as shown in the next illustration.
7. Lift up the front of the subassembly with your thumbs. Raise it to a slight angle, as shown below.
8. Reach back underneath the subassembly and disconnect the two power supply cables connected to the right side of the main system board, as shown below. Pull each of the connectors straight up; do not pull only on the cables. power supply cables I 9. Lift the entire subassembly out of the computer and carefully place it on your work surface. If you are installing a drive, follow the instructions under “Installing a Disk Drive in the Horizontal Position” on the next page.
Installing a Disk Drive in the Horizontal Position Before you perform the following steps, be sure that you have set the jumpers on any hard disk drive(s) that you’ll be using. (If not, see “Setting the Hard Disk Drive Jumpers” on page B-4 for instructions.) If you are adding a 3M-inch diskette drive or hard disk drive, you need to make sure that 5%-inch metal mounting frames are attached to the drive so it fits properly in the drive bay. Epson 3 ‘h-inch drives come with mounting frames already installed.
2. There are two or three holes on each side of the disk drive. When you insert the drive, align the appropriate round holes in the drive with the two oval holes on each side of the drive bay, as shown below. 3. Insert the drive in the lower drive bay and slide it toward the back of the subassembly. Watch the oval holes on the side of the drive bay so you can see when the holes on the drive are positioned in the middle of them.
4. Locate the four retaining screws that came with your disk drive, Insert two screws into the oval holes on each side of the drive bay and tighten them with a screwdriver, as shown below. screws If you are installing a diskette drive, go to step 5. If you are installing a hard disk drive, go to step 6. 5. If you are installing a diskette drive in the lower drive bay, you may want to turn the subassembly upside down and place it on your work surface.
The interface that protrudes from the back of the drive has gold contacts on both sides. Near one end of the interface, there is a gap to accommodate the plastic divider on the connector. Align the connector with the interface so that the plastic divider on the connector lines up with the gap in the interface, as shown below. divider gap Make sure the cable connector fits properly onto the drive interface and then push it onto the interface.
6. Locate the hard disk drive ribbon cable that you removed from the drive in the vertical mounting position. Follow the instructions below to attach the connector on the end of this cable to the drive that will be mounted vertically. As shown below, there are two rows of holes in the connector. One of the holes is blocked with a plastic plug. n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n 0 n mmmmmmmmQmmmmmmmmmm I I blocked hole 7.
Align the connector with the socket so that the row in the connector with the blocked hole lines up with the row in the socket with the missing pin, as shown below. Make sure the holes fit over all the pins and then push in the connector. If you will have two hard disk drives in your system, perform the procedures in steps 6 and 7 again. This time, however, attach the connector in the middle of the ribbon cable to the horizontally mounted hard disk drive you just installed.
8. Looking at the subassembly, locate one of the power supply cables that lead from the power supply (behind the horizontal drive bays). The cables are labeled P1, P2, and P3; you can use any one. As shown below, the end of the connector has two notched corners. The power supply socket on the back of the drive is next to the ribbon cable connector. The socket also has two notched corners, as shown below.
Position the power supply cable connector so that the notched corners on the connector line up with the notched corners of the power supply socket on your drive. Make sure the holes fit over all the pins and then push in the connector. notched corners Caution If you do not correctly align the holes with the pins, you could severely damage your drive when you push in the connector. If you do not need to reinstall a vertically mounted hard disk drive, see “Replacing the Subassembly” on page B-46.
Replacing the Drive on the Subassembly This section describes how to reinstall your hard disk drive in the vertical mounting position. The following illustrations show the subassembly installed inside the computer with the front panel attached. However, if your subassembly is out of the computer you can install the drive in the manner described below. Follow these steps: 1.
2. Lower the drive into the computer, fitting the tabs on the mounting plate into the slots on the side of the subassembly, as shown below. Guide the ribbon cable underneath the drive as you lower it. hole br tabs in slots 3. Tilt the drive toward the subassembly and align the retaining screw hole on the mounting plate with the hole in the bracket. Secure the drive to the bracket with the retaining screw. 4. To replace the subassembly, see the instructions on page B-46.
Removing a Disk Drive from the Horizontal Position The figures in this section show a diskette drive in the lower horizontal drive bay, but you can use the same instructions to remove a hard disk drive from the lower bay or to remove a diskette drive from the upper bay. Follow these steps to remove a drive from a horizontal drive bay: 1. Remove the disk drive ribbon cable from the back of the drive, as shown below. drive ribbon cable 2. Remove the power supply cable from the back of the drive.
power supply cable 3. Using a screwdriver, remove the screws securing the drive to the drive bay. There are two screws on each side, as shown below.
4. Grasp the disk drive from the front of the drive bay, pull it completely out, and set it aside. 5. If you have removed one hard disk drive and are leaving another one in your system, make sure you have set the jumpers on the remaining drive to indicate that you now have only one hard disk drive. (If not, see “Setting the Hard Disk Drive Jumpers” on page B-4 for instructions.) If you do not need to replace a hard disk drive in the vertical mounting position, see “Replacing the Subassembly” below.
Replacing the Subassembly Follow the steps below to replace the subassembly inside your computer: 1. Notice that there are four mounting slots on the back of the subassembly: two in the upper corners and two in the lower corners.
There are four corresponding tabs on the inside back panel of the computer which fit into the openings in the subassembly slots. Lift up the subassembly from your work surface and lower the back end into the computer, fitting the top tabs in the computer into the openings in the top slots on the subassembly. 2. Hold up the front of the subassembly at a slight angle and arrange the ribbon cables leading from the back of the drives so they curve underneath the subassembly toward its left side.
3. Reach under the subassembly and grasp the two main system board power supply cables, labeled P4 and P5. Each connector has six pin holes and a large tab on one side, as shown below. There is one 12-pin power supply socket on the right side of the main system board (toward the back) that holds both of the power supply connectors, as shown below.
4. Position power supply connector P4 so the large tab on the connector faces the right side of the computer. Beginning with the six pins toward the back of the computer, carefully line up the holes in the connector with the pins in the socket. Make sure the holes fit over all six pins and then push in the connector. 5. Connect power supply connector P5 to the remaining six pins in the socket using the same procedure.
6. Carefully lower the front of the subassembly onto the computer. Make sure that all four tabs on the back of the computer are inserted into the slots on the subassembly as you lower it. .
Guide the tabs on the front of the subassembly over the opening in the front of the computer so the two small tabs sit behind the opening and the large tab with the curved lip sits over the front of the opening. If necessary, press on the large tab until the subassembly snaps into place. 7. Locate the hard disk drive and diskette drive ribbon cables. (The hard disk drive cable is slightly wider than the diskette drive cable.) Check the back of the drives to make sure you know which cable is which.
8. Both the diskette drive and hard disk drive sockets are located on the main system board on the left side of the subassembly, as shown below. diskette drive socket hard disk drive socket subassembly Both sockets have a notch on one side. The hard disk drive socket is a bit longer than the diskette drive socket.
Connect the diskette drive ribbon cable first. As shown below, there is a tab on one side of the connector. diskette drive connector tab diskette drive socket notch Align the connector with the socket so that the tab on the connector lines up with the notch in the socket. Make sure the holes in the connector fit over all the pins in the socket and then push in the connector.
10. To replace the front panel, fit the three ridged tabs on its bottom edge into the three notches on the lower edge of the computer, as shown below. tabs 11. Tilt up the front panel until the clips on the top of the panel touch the computer. Then push on the top of the panel until it clicks into place. The diskette drive(s) should be flush with the front panel. (If you removed the slot cover, be sure to store it in a safe place in case you need to replace it later.) 12.
Appendix C Performing System Diagnostics This appendix describes how to use the System diagnostics program to test the condition of your computer’s main unit and peripheral devices. The diagnostics program provides tests to check the following hardware: cl System board cl Memory cl Hard disk drive(s) tl Diskette drive(s) D Keyboard cl Video adapter and monitor 0 Parallel and serial ports. By changing settings on the System diagnostics main menu, you can run the tests in several different ways.
Starting the Diagnostics Program To start the diagnostics program, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A and turn on or reset the computer. 2. When you see the following prompt, press the Del key: Press to start SETUP 3. At the next prompt, select Start operating system. 4. At the A : prompt, type DIAG and press Enter to run System diagnostics. You see a title screen. 5. Press any key to continue. You see the main menu, described below.
When you select a test category from the option line at the top of the menu, you see a submenu of the available diagnostic tests. For example, the submenu for the System board category appears when you first see the main menu because the System board option is selected. The Run time parameters window, near the bottom of the display, lets you specify how you want to run the test(s).
Setting the Run Time Parameters The tests you select will run in the following manner unless you change the run time parameters: 0 Each test is performed one time (passbound) tl The program waits if an error occurs D No errors are recorded to the printer, disk, or other device. If you want to change the default run time parameters, press F2 to move to the Run time parameters window. (Press Esc at any time to exit and return to the submenu of diagnostic tests.
Press N and Enter if you want the diagnostics program to continue when an error occurs. The next option is: Error logging (Y/N) ? N Press Y and Enter to record the errors that may occur during the test. See “Error Logging,” below, for details. Press N and Enter if you do not want to create the log. (N is the default setting.) You may see a prompt requesting additional information the program needs to perform the test(s).
If you selected Passbound testing, you see this prompt: No. of passes : 00001 Specify the number of times (from 1 to 65535) you want the program to run the test(s). Or press Enter without entering a number to select the default of one pass. You can use the backspace key to make corrections. Note In most cases, running a test once is sufficient. Multiple passes test the reliability of essential functions only.
If you select Log errors on d i s k, the program displays this submenu: Floppy disk A: Floppy disk B: Hard disk C: Hard disk D: (You do not see drive D unless you have a second hard disk drive.) Press .L or ? to highlight the disk on which you want to log the error messages and press Enter. The program creates a file called ERROR.LOG in the current directory of the specified disk drive. After running the tests, you can open the ERROR.LOG file to review the errors that occurred during the tests.
Selecting Diagnostic Tests To start a single test, press + or t to highlight the test category on the main menu. Then press 3. or ‘? to highlight the particular test in the submenu and press Enter to run it. When a test has been completed, you see this prompt: Press to return to Main menu. Selecting Multiple Tests To select several tests at one time, highlight each test you want to perform and press F3. To cancel a selection, highlight the test and press F3 again.
You can stop testing at any time and return to the main menu by holding down Ctrl and pressing Break. The program completes the current test before it stops. You must enter certain parameters to run the hard disk and diskette drive tests. If you use F3 to select these tests, the program prompts you for the parameters immediately. If you use F4, the program prompts you for the parameters during the first pass of the test.
Running the Tests The table below lists all of the available System diagnostic tests and refers you to other sections in this chapter for additional information, if necessary.
System diagnostic tests (continued) Function Component Tests Hard disk drives Hard disk format Media analysis Performance Seek Read/verify Check test cylinder Force bad tracks See “Hard Disk Diagnostics” Floppy disk drives Diskette format Drive speed Random read/write Sequential read/write Disk change line See “Floppy Disk Diagnostics” Keyboard Controller Tests the keyboard controller Scan/ASCII code Tests the scan codes assigned to the keys Keyboard clock line Tests the keyboard clock line Ke
System diagnostic tests (continued) Video (continued) Misc. 640 x 350 graphics* Test the 640 x 350 graphics display 640 x 480 graphics* Test the 640 x 480 graphics display Printer adapter Comm. adapter See “Miscellaneous Diagnostics” * Test appears only if you have installed a color monitor. Memory Diagnostics If you have relocated any memory addresses, you must change the addresses to their original locations before running the memory tests or they will not work properly.
Format Media analysis Force bad tracks Performance Seek Read/verify Check test cylinder Before performing any destructive test, the program displays the following messages: W A R N I N G All data on hard disk you have specified may be lost... Do you still want to continue (Y/N)? Press Y and Enter to begin the test. Press N and Enter to stop the operation.
Disk drive identifier The program displays this prompt for the disk drive identifier: Disk drive (C/D) ? C If only one hard disk is connected to the computer, the program assumes it is drive C and does not display this prompt. Disk drive type The program determines the type of hard disk drive based on the type number stored in the CMOS RAM by the SETUP program and displays the following prompt: Disk drive type ? 17 A window on the screen lists the possible drive types.
Bad track list Entering the bad track list is optional. The program displays the following prompt for the bad track list: Mark bad tracks (Y/N) ? N You do not need to enter a bad track list for the hard disk that comes with the Equity 386SX/16 PLUS. Press N, if necessary, and then press Enter. If you press Y and then Enter, you see the following submenu: Add an entry Revise an entry Delete an entry Clear bad track list Save and Exit Use 1 or 1‘ to highlight a menu option and press Enter.
Enter the first and last cylinder numbers on which you want to perform the tests. The default for the start cylinder number is 0, and the default for the end cylinder number is one less than the highest cylinder number of your hard disk. For example, on the 40MB hard disk, the highest cylinder number is 976.
You may want to reformat a hard disk if you have a serious problem with the drive. However, before formatting a disk with data on it, try every other recovery procedure described in your MS-DOS Reference Manual. Then back up all the data on the disk before you begin. Note If you do not enter a bad track list before you. format the disk, the format program analyzes the surface of the hard disk to determine the bad tracks.
Performance Test This test checks the performance of your hard disk by determining the data transfer rate and track-to-track seek time based on the transfer size, the seek count, and the amount of data transferred. The program measures the data transfer rate in kilobytes per second. It reads 64KB of data 15 times and counts the number of timer ticks using this formula: Transfer rate = (64KB x 15 x 18.
Check Test Cylinder This test checks the test cylinder, which is the last cylinder on the hard disk. You should perform this test if you receive a hard disk error when you boot the system. Force Bad Tracks Use this test to mark bad tracks on the hard disk without formatting it. Caution The Force bad tracks test destroys any data on your hard disk.
The controller displays one of the following messages when an error occurs during a diagnostics procedure: Address mark not found Attachment failed to respond Bad ECC on disk read Bad sector flag detected Controller has failed Drive activity failed ECC corrected data error Requested sector not found Reset failed Seek operation failed Write fault on selected drive If you see one of these error messages, check the drive, controller, cables, and power connectors.
Performing the Tests The Diskette format test checks the format capability of the diskette drive and its controller. In order to run the test, you need a blank diskette that has been formatted using the MS-DOS FORMAT command and that is not write-protected. When the program prompts you to insert a diskette, insert the newly formatted one. Once the Diskette format test is completed successfully, you must use the test diskette to run any of the tests in the following table.
Note Be sure to insert a blank diskette that has been formatted using the MS-DOS FORMAT command before you run the Diskette format test. Then use that diskette when you run any of the other destructive tests. Check that you have inserted the correct diskette before you enter Y at the Proceed prompt. You see the following prompt before the program performs a test: Diskette drive (A/B) ? If necessary, type the drive identifier and press Enter.
You may see the following message if you attempt to run the Change line test on a drive that does not support a change line, such as a 360KB or 720KB drive: Change line not available The controller displays one of these messages when an error occurs during a diagnostics procedure: Bad address mark Bad CRC error Bad DMA error Bad seek error Diskette write protected Media change error Record not found Timeout error These errors could occur because of a faulty drive, controller, or cable, or if you attempt t
Before running the test, be sure that the printer is on-line, paper is loaded, and all connections are secure, or you may see one of the following error messages: Error Error Error Error - Printer out of paper Printer not selected Printer interface I/O error Time out on printer Communication Adapter Test Before running this test on your serial port, you must connect a special RS-232C, AT-type loopback connector to the port, This connector enables the test to send out data and receive the same data back o
If you see one of the following errors, there may be a problem with the controller or the test cable: Error Error Error Error Error - Break detected Framing error Overrun error Parity error Time out! Check to make sure that the test connector is securely connected to the port. If the error persists, contact your dealer. Exiting System Diagnostics To exit from the System diagnostics program, press Esc.
C-26 Performing System Diagnostics
Appendix D Troubleshooting You should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and use your computer, but if anything out of the ordinary happens, refer to this appendix. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. Besides trying the suggestions in this chapter, you can run diagnostics checks on the various components of your computer system. See Appendix C for instructions.
3. When the computer performs a memory test, the version number of your system ROM BIOS appears at the bottom of the screen. Quickly write down the version number. If you do not have enough time to write down the entire number, press RESET and try again. 4. When you see Press to start SETUP, press the Del key. Write down the appropriate information about your configuration shown on the main SETUP menu. Then exit SETUP (without saving the configuration). 5.
The Computer Won’t Start If your computer does not start when you turn on the power, check the following: 1. Is the power light on? If not, remove any diskettes and turn off the power. Check that the power cord is securely connected to both the AC inlet on the back panel and an electrical outlet. Replace the Startup or Reference diskette, if necessary, and turn on the computer again. 2. If the power light still does not come on, check the electrical outlet for power.
The Computer Does Not Respond If your computer locks up and does not respond when you type on the keyboard, follow these steps: 1. Some operations take longer than others to complete. For example, the computer takes longer to sort a database than to accept a single typed character. If your computer still does not respond after a reasonable length of time, proceed to the next step. 2.
7. If your computer still does not respond, you can reset it using the Ctrl Alt Del command or the RESET button. See “Resetting Your Computer” in Chapter 3 for more information. 8. If resetting the computer does not work, turn it off and wait at least five seconds. If you do not have a hard disk drive, insert the Startup or Reference diskette in drive A. Then turn on the computer. It should load MS-DOS. 9.
Accessing Your Current Pass word If you have forgotten your current password and cannot use your computer, follow these steps: 1. Turn off the computer and follow the instructions under “Changing the Jumper Settings” in Chapter 5 to disable the password function by setting jumper J2 to position A. 2. Turn on the computer. You do not see the Enter Password prompt. 3. When the Press to start SETUP prompt appears, press Del. 4. Highlight Run SETUP and press Enter. You see the SETUP menu.
If you did not set a new password, you do not see the Enter Password prompt and you can access your system immediately. N o t e Keyboard Problems If you are having trouble with the keyboard, check the following: 1. If the screen displays a keyboard error when you turn on or reset the computer, make sure the keyboard is securely connected to its port. See “Connecting the Keyboard” in Chapter 1 for instructions. 2. If the cursor keys do not work properly, the num lock function may be on.
Monitor Problems For monitor problems, check the following: 1. If there is no display on the screen, check that the monitor’s power switch is on and that the power light on the monitor is lit. If the power light is on but you still do not see anything on the screen, check the monitor’s brightness and contrast controls. 2. If the power switch is on but the power light is not, turn off the monitor’s power, wait five seconds, and turn the power back on. Wait to see if the screen displays any text. 3.
Note If your application program requires a monitor that supports graphics but you have a monochrome monitor, the results will be unpredictable. 8. If you installed a display adapter card in your computer, and you want to use that adapter as your primary display adapter, you need to change the setting of jumper J1 on the main system board to disable the built-in VGA adapter. Otherwise, you will not see any display on the screen. You may also need to set jumpers J3 and J5.
3. If reinserting the diskette does not solve the problem and you have access to another diskette drive of the same type, place the diskette in the other drive and repeat the operation. If this works, the trouble may be in your diskette drive. See “Diskette Drive Problems,” below. 4. Check to see if you have inserted the right type of diskette. For example, are you trying to read a 1.44MB diskette in a 720KB diskette drive? See “Types of Diskette Drives” in Chapter 3 for more information. 5.
If you see one of these messages, make sure the diskette is properly inserted in the drive. On a 5 %-inch diskette drive, make sure the drive latch is closed. Try the operation again. If the problem persists, try removing the diskette and reinserting it. This may solve the problem if the diskette was not seated properly in the drive. If the error message still occurs, you may have a defective diskette. Use the MS-DOS COPY command to copy the files from the bad diskette to a new diskette.
3. Did you run the SETUP program to define the correct type of diskette drive as part of the computer’s configuration? (See Chapter 2 for instructions.) 4. If you are still having trouble with the drive, run the Floppy disk system diagnostic tests, described in Appendix C. If the diagnostics program indicates an error, consult your Epson dealer. 5. If the diskette drive is making loud or unusual noises, contact your Epson dealer.
Installing the Drive If you are having problems with a newly-installed drive, check the following: 1. If your dealer installed the drive, consult that person about the problem. 2. If you have installed the hard disk in your computer yourself, did you carefully follow all the instructions in Appendix B of this manual? Review the instructions and check all the cable connections to make sure you have installed it correctly. Also check the jumper settings on your drive to make sure they are set correctly. 3.
Preparing the Drive Before you can store data on a new hard disk (which has already been physically formatted), you must do the following to prepare it for use: 1. Run the SETUP program to define your hard disk as part of the computer’s configuration. (See Chapter 2 for instructions.) 2. Partition the drive, format it for MS-DOS, and install MS-DOS. Step-by-step instructions for performing these procedures are provided in your MS-DOS Installation Guide.
If you still have trouble with your hard disk, you can back up your data and physically reformat the disk. Then you’ll need to reinstall MS-DOS and copy your files back onto the disk. See “Hard Disk Format” in Appendix C and your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions. If you cannot access data on your hard disk or you are receiving read/write errors, the disk may have a physical problem. Contact your dealer.
4. An application program can occasionally lock the computer, making it unresponsive to the keyboard. If your computer does not respond when you type on the keyboard, you can reset it. Follow the instructions in Chapter 3. 5. If resetting the computer does not help, turn off your system, wait five seconds, and then turn it back on. Then you can restart your application program. 6. If none of these solutions solve your software problem, contact the software manufacturer for technical support.
If it does not, you may need to change the internal setting of the computer’s parallel port for a parallel printer (or serial port for a serial printer). To do this, use the MS-DOS MODE or SETMODE command. See your printer manual and the MS-DOS Reference Manual for more details. 5. Many application programs (such as word processors) must be set up properly before they can use a printer. Check your program manual to see what customizing may be required. 6.
3. Did you set the necessary jumpers on the main system board? See Chapter 5 for more information. 4. Did you run the SETUP program to update your configuration after installing the card? See Chapter 2. 5. 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 card’s connector on the back panel? 6.
Memory Module Problems If you added extra memory to your system by installing SIMMs and that memory is not operating properly, check the following: 1, If the memory count displayed by the power-on diagnostics program is incorrect, you or your dealer may not have installed the SIMMs correctly. The SIMMs may be installed in the wrong sockets, they may be the wrong type of SIMM, or they may not be inserted all the way into their sockets.
Math Coprocessor Problems If your math coprocessor does not seem to be operating properly, check the following: 1. Run the SETUP program and check to make sure that the math coprocessor is listed as Installed on the SETUP display. If it is listed as Not installed, you or your dealer may have installed the coprocessor incorrectly. See Chapters 2 and 5 for more information. Caution Do not attempt to remove the math coprocessor yourself.
Glossary Address A number or name that identifies the location where information is stored in a computer’s memory. Analog monitor A monitor that generates, responds to, or acts upon analog data. Analog data is transmitted by varying the voltage levels in a continuous current. Application program A software program designed to perform a specific task, such as a word processing or spreadsheet program. ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
Automatic speed The feature that enables the computer to switch automatically from high speed (16 MHz) to low speed (8 MHz) when accessing a diskette drive. Backup An extra copy of a program, data file, or disk, that is created in the event your working copy is damaged or lost. Bose memory The memory in the computer below 1MB that is available to MS-DOS and application programs-usually 640KB. Also called conventional memory or main memory.
A sequence or group of eight bits that represents one character. CGA Color Graphics Adapter. A type of display adapter card that can generate up to 25 lines of text with 80 characters on each line, monochrome graphics at 640 x 200 resolution, or fourcolor graphics at 320 x 200 resolution. Character Anything that can be printed in a single space on the page or the screen; includes numbers, letters, punctuation marks, and graphic symbols. CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor.
Configuration The particular setup of a group of components. A typical system configuration consists of a computer with one diskette drive and one hard disk drive connected to a monitor and a printer. Control code A command (generated when you hold down Ctrl and press another key on the keyboard) that instructs the computer to perform a specific function. Coprocessor An optional device that enables the computer to process certain mathematical calculations faster.
Cylinders The vertical alignment of tracks in a hard disk that can be lined up under one read/write head. The number of tracks on a disk is equal to the number of cylinders times the number of heads. Data Information such as text or graphics stored or processed by a computer. Data diskette A formatted diskette on which you store data files (as opposed to program files). Default Any value or setting that takes effect when the computer is turned on or reset.
Diagnostics The tests and procedures the computer performs to check its internal circuitry and set up its configuration. DIP switch Dual Inline Package switch. A small switch on a computer, option card, or printer that controls a particular function. Directory A list of files stored in a particular area on a disk; part of a structure for organizing files into groups. A directory listing shows the name, location, and size of the files in the directory.
DOS Disk Operating System. A commonly used operating system that controls the computer’s input and output functions. See also Operating system. Double-density A type of diskette format that allows you to store twice as much data as the standard-density format. A 5%-inch doubledensity diskette can store 360KB of data. A 3%inch doubledensity diskette can store 720KB of data. Drive designator The letter name of a disk drive, followed by a colon-for example, C : . EGA Enhanced Graphics Adapter.
file A group of related pieces of information called records, or entries, stored together on a disk. Text files consist of words and sentences. Program files consist of codes and are used by computers to interpret and carry out instructions. Filename A name up to eight characters long that MS-DOS uses to identify a file. Fixed disk See Hard disk. Format To prepare a new disk (or an old one you want to reuse) so that it can store information.
High-density A type of format that allows you to store more data than on single- or double-density diskettes. A 5’/-inch high-density diskette can store 1.2MB of data. A 3?4.-inch high-density diskette can store 1.44MB of data. Input/output (l/O) port See Port. interface A physical or software connection used to transmit data between equipment or programs. jumper A small device that connects two pins on an option card, a disk drive, or the main system board to activate a particular function.
Math coprocessor An optional device that enables the computer to process certain mathematical calculations faster. MCGA Monochrome/Color Graphics Adapter. A type of display adapter that runs either a monochrome or color graphics monitor. MDA Monochrome Display Adapter. A type of display adapter that displays text in only one color, such as green or amber. Megabyte (MB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. One megabyte equals 1024KB.
Memory on card The additional memory on an option card installed in the computer. MGA Multi-mode Graphics Adapter. A type of display adapter card that can display monochrome text and color graphics on the screen. Microprocessor A small version of a CPU contained on one semiconductor chip. Modem A device that allows a computer to transmit signals over telephone lines so it can send and receive data. Modem stands for MOdulator/DEModulator.
MS- DOS Microsoft Disk Operating System. The operating system most commonly used with your computer. See also Operating system. Numeric keypad The number and cursor control keys grouped to the right of the keyboard. Operating speed The speed at which the central processing unit can execute commands. The Equity 386SX/16 PLUS can run at 16 MHz or 8 MHz. Operating system A collection of programs (such as MS-DOS, OS/2, or UNIX) that manages a computer’s operations.
Parity A method used to verify the accuracy of data transmissions by adding a bit that makes the total of the byte odd for odd parity or even for even parity. Partition (1) The area defined on a hard disk for use by an operating system; (2) to divide a hard disk into separate sections or logical drives. You can define a primary partition and one or more extended partitions on a hard disk.
Processor speed See Operating speed. Program A file that contains coded instructions and tells a computer what to do and how to do it. Prompt A message the screen displays to request information or tell you what action you need to perform next. See also Command prompt. RAM Random Access Memory. The portion of the computer’s memory used to run programs and store data while you work.
Reset To reload a computer’s operating system so you can retry a task or begin using a different operating system. Resetting erases all information in RAM. RCB Red Green Blue. A type of color monitor. ROM Read Only Memory. A portion of memory that can only be read and cannot be used for temporary storage. ROM retains its contents even when you turn off the power. Root directory The top-level directory in MS-DOS, designated by a \ (backslash).
Shadow RAM The feature provided by the Equity 386SX/16 PLUS that enables the computer to copy the system ROM BIOS and video ROM into the RAM area of memory to speed up processing. SIMM See Memory module. Software The programs that enable your computer to perform the tasks and functions you indicate. Subdirectory A directory or group of files that branches down from another subdirectory or from the root directory. Switch An option added to an MS-DOS command that modifies the way the command works.
Tracks Addressable, concentric circles on a disk, resembling the grooves on a record, which help to divide the disk into separate accessible areas. VGA Video Graphics Array. A type of high-resolution display adapter. The VGA adapter built into the system board of your computer can display 16-color graphics at resolutions up to 800 x 600 on a compatible VGA monitor. Video card A display adapter card that can be installed in one of the computer’s option slots to provide a monitor interface.
18 Glossary
Index A AUTOEXEC.BAT, 4-1 -2 Auto speed, 2-11, 4-2 -3 B Backing up data, from diskettes, 3-10, 3-17 on hard disk, 3-17-18 with BACKUP, 3-17 with DISKCOPY, 3-17 BACKUP, 3-17 Base memory, 2-3, 2-10, 4-7, A-5 Batch files, 4-1 -2 AUTOEXEC.
CTRL ALT +, 4-4 CTRL ALT -, 4-4 CTRL ALT DEL, 3-5 CTRL BREAK, 3-3 CTRL C, 3-3 Cursor bar, 2-3 D Date, setting, 2-3 Diagnostics, power-on, D-2 system, C-1 -25 DISKCOPY, 3-10, 3-17 Diskette drive, cable, B-29, B-35 -36 caring for, 3-10 -11 compatibility, 3-8 -10 configuring, 2-4 controller, 2-16 diagnostics, C-20 -23 inserting diskettes, 3-15-16 installing, B-1 -54 problems, D-11 -12 removing, B-1 -54 removing diskettes, 3-15-16 setting types, 2-4 single, 3-14-15 specifications, A-3 tests, C-20 -23 types, 3-
F Files, AUTOEXEC.BAT, 4-1 -2 backing up, 3-17-18 batch, 4-1 -2 CONFIGSYS, 1-14, 4-7-11 copying, 3-17-18 EMM386SX.
L LIM 4.0 EMS, 4-7 Loading MS-DOS, 3-14-15 Location, choosing for computer, 1-1 -2 Low speed, 2-11, 4-2-6 Low-level format, see Physical formatting M Map, system memory, A-5 Mass storage, A-3 Master drive, B-4, B-6 Math coprocessor, configuring, 2-3 installing, 5-2, 5-28 -31 problems, D-20 removing, 5-31 specification, A-1 MDA card, see Video cards Memory, base, 2-3, 2-10, 4-7, A-5 beyond 640KB, 4-7 -l1 cards, 5-1, 5-41 -43 configuration, 2-3, 2-10, 2-12-13 diagnostics, C-10, C-12 EMM386SX.
Options, installing, 5-1 -43, B-1 -54 OS/2, Intro-2, 3-1 P Packing materials, 5-15 Parallel, cable, 1-8 -10 interface, 1-8 -10, 2-15, A-2 port, 1-8 -10, 2-15 port test, C-23 -24 Partitions on hard disk, 3-18, C-16, D-14 Password, changing, 2-14 deleting, 2-14 disabling, D-5 -7 entering, 3-6 jumper, 5-5 -8, D-6 problems, D-5 -7 setting, 2-13-14 using, 3-56 Physical characteristics, A-4 Physical formatting, C-16 -17, D-13 -14 Port, keyboard, 1-12, A-2 monitor, 1-4 -6, A-2 mouse, 1-13-14, A-2 parallel, 1-8 -1
SETUP program, EMS size, 2-12-13 error message, 2-2, 2-17 hard disk drive type(s), 2-5 -8 keyboard test function, 2-9 leaving the program, 2-16-17 math coprocessor, 2-3 memory, 2-3, 2-10, 2-12-13 parallel interface, 2-15 password, 2-13-14 primary display type, 2-8-9 processor speed, 2-11 real-time clock, 2-3 running, 1-18, 2-1-17, 5-41-42 saving settings, 2-16 -l7 serial interface, 2-16 shadow RAM, 2-10 starting the program, 1-18, 2-2-3 SETVGA utility, 4-12 Shadow RAM, Intro-l, 2-10, 4-7, A-l SIMMS, configu
Video car&, MDA, 1-7, 2%-9 MGA, 1-7, 2-8-9 problems, D-5, D- 17-18 removing, 5-16-17 setting display type, 2-8-9 tests, C-11 -12 VGA, 2-8 -9 Video diagnostics, C-l 1-12 Video graphics array (VGA), built-in port, see VGA port card, see Video cards Video monitors, see Monitors Video ROM, 2-10 W Windows, 2-12, 4-7 WordPerfect, 4-12 WordStar, 4-12 Write-protecting diskettes, 3-12-13 Write-protect notch, 3-12 Write-protect switch, 3-13 Write-protect tab, 3-12 X XCOPY, 3-10, 3-17 Index 7
TURBO speed light hard disk access light diskette drive RESET button diskette release latch hard disk or diskette drive slot power inlet power light option card slots parallel port VGA monitor port \ keyboard port power button -serial port
EPSON®
