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 protections 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 communications.
EPSON” User’s Guide Y19399100100
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. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. 4. Do not use this product near water. 5. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product. 6.
11. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a risk of fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product. 12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Manual, do not attempt to service this product yourself. Opening or removing those covers that are marked “Do Not Remove” may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks.
Contents Introduction How to Use This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System 1 Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing the Diskette Drive Protector Card . . . . . . . . . 2 Choosing a Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Connecting a Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Real-time Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Hard Disk Drive Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Diskette Drive Type(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reviewing Your Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leaving the Setup Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 3 2-19 2-22 2-27 2-29 2-31 Using the Equity 386/25 Installing MS-DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 4 Using MS-DOS With Your Equity 386/25 Starting MS-DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Drive Designators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Current Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Types of MS-DOS Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Entering an MS-DOS Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Date and Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 5 Installing Options Adding Memory Modules . . . . . . Installing Option Cards . . . . . . . Removing the Cover . . . . . Installing an Option Card . Removing an Option Card. Replacing the Cover. . . . . . Post-installation Setup . . . . . . . . Appendix A ..................... ..................... ..................... ..................... ..................... ..................... ..................... Changing Jumper and DIP Switch Settings Changing Jumper Settings . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix C Power-on Diagnostics Power-on Diagnostics Error Codes and Messages Table . . . . . C-2 Appendix D Performing System Diagnostics Starting System Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting an Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Modifying the Device List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting a Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resuming From an Error . .
Diskette Drives and Controller Check. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sequential Seek Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Random Seek Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Write, Read Check. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Disk Change Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Run All Above Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Math Coprocessor Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix F Hard Disk Drive Types Hard Disk Drive Types Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix G F- 1 Specifications CPU and Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Controllers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction The Epson ® Equity™ 386/25 is a high-performance personal computer which offers exceptional speed and expandability. The computer’s 25 MHz 80386 microprocessor makes all your programs run extremely fast, even when supporting multitasking operations. The Equity 386/25 is available in these configurations: A single diskette drive system with a 1.2MB (megabyte) 5 ¼-inch diskette drive A hard disk drive system with one 40MB or 100MB hard disk and a 1.2MB diskette drive.
You may also want to install a math coprocessor in your computer to speed up mathematical calculations. You can add an Intel® 80387 or a Weitek® 3167 (25 MHz) math coprocessor; or you can add both by installing a Weitek dual-processor adapter. Check with your authorized Epson dealer to see which options are available. The Equity 386/25 offers several other features to enhance the speed and security of your computer: Memory caching.
Additionally, Epson has included two time-saving utilities that make MS-DOS easier to use: HELP and MENU. The HELP program lets you display information on the screen about any MS-DOS command. MENU provides an easy way to run many useful MS-DOS commands. MS-DOS is not the only operating system you can use with your computer. If you have a hard disk you also may want to use MS® OS/2. Among other capabilities, MS OS/2 provides multitasking, dual-mode processing, and online help.
Chapter 4 provides basic instructions for using MS-DOS with your computer. Chapter 5 describes some of the options you can use in your Equity 386/25 and contains instructions for removing the computer’s cover and installing option cards. Appendix A describes the jumpers and DIP switches inside your computer. If you install options or need to modify the way your computer operates, you may need to change one or more of these settings.
Where to Get Help Customer support and service for Epson products are provided by a network of authorized Epson dealers and Customer Care Centers throughout the United States. Epson America provides product information and support to its dealers and Customer Care Centers. Therefore, we ask that you contact the business where you purchased your Epson product to request assistance. If the people there do not have the answer to your question, they can obtain it through our toll-free dealer support program.
Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System Setting up your Epson Equity 386/25 personal computer is easy. Just follow the seven steps in this chapter. As you set up your computer, you may want to leave this manual’s back cover foldout open so you can refer to the two illustrations identifying the different parts of the computer. 1 Unpacking As you remove your system components from their cartons, be sure to inspect each piece. If anything is missing or looks damaged, check with your Epson dealer.
Besides this manual, you should have the following: The computer and power cord The keyboard with attached cable Two keys for locking the computer Six MS-DOS 4.01 diskettes: Install, Operating 1, Operating 2, Operating 3, Shell, and Select A Reference diskette Four MS-DOS manuals: an Installation Guide, a Shell User’s Guide, a Reference Manual, and a Command Summary. In addition to these items, you need a compatible monitor and display adapter card. You may also have a printer or other peripheral device.
Removing the Diskette Drive Protector Card There is a protector card in the diskette slot of your 5 ¼-inch diskette drive. This card is inserted at the factory to protect the read/write heads in the drive. To remove it, turn the diskette drive latch up until it is horizontal. This causes the card to pop out slightly so you can pull it out of the slot, as shown below. (If you have a second 5 ¼-inch diskette drive, be sure to remove the card from that drive as well.
2 Choosing a Location Before you set up your computer, it’s important to choose a comfortable, convenient location where it can run properly. Select a location that provides the following: A large, sturdy desk or table that can easily support the weight of your system, including all its components. A flat, hard surface. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted floors attract static electricity, which can erase data on your disks and damage the computer’s circuitry.
3 Connecting a Monitor The procedure you use to connect your monitor to the computer depends on the type of monitor you have. See your monitor manual for detailed instructions and follow the general guidelines below. A monitor requires that a display adapter (video) card be installed inside the computer to control it. Your dealer may have already installed a video card for you; if not, you need to install it before you can connect the monitor to the computer.
After your video card is installed, follow these steps to connect the monitor to the computer: Place your monitor on top of or near the computer. It is easiest to connect the monitor cable if the backs of the monitor and the computer are facing you. If necessary, connect the monitor cable to the monitor. (Some monitors come with permanently attached cables.) Connect the appropriate end of the monitor cable to the video card connector on the back of the computer, as shown below.
5. Plug the monitor’s power cord into the monitor’s power inlet, as shown below. 6. Plug the other end of the power cord into an electrical outlet.
4 Connecting a Printer or Other Device The Equity 386/25 has a parallel interface, a serial interface, and an auxiliary mouse connector. To connect a printer or other peripheral device to one of these interfaces, follow the instructions below. Of course, Epson offers a full range of printers; check with your dealer for more information. Using the Parallel Interface The parallel interface on your computer is Centronics®compatible and uses a DB-25S connector.
3. One end of the printer cable has a 25-pin, D-shell, male connector. Connect this end to the parallel port on the back panel of the computer, as shown below. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them by hand or with a screwdriver, depending on the screw type.
4. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer, as shown below. To secure the cable, squeeze the clips at each side of the printer port and push them into place. 5. Plug the printer’s power cord into an electrical outlet.
Using the Serial Interface If you have a printer, a modem, or any other peripheral with a serial interface, you can connect it to the serial (RS-232C) port on the back of the computer. The Equity 386/25 uses a DB-9P male 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.
Using the Mouse Connector Your computer has an auxiliary port for a PS/2™- compatible mouse that uses a mini DIN (6-pin) connector. To connect a mouse to the built-in mouse port and set up the computer to use it, see the manual that comes with the mouse. To use a mouse with your computer, you may need to add commands to your MS-DOS CONFIG.SYS file. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions.
5 Connecting the Power Cord Follow these steps to connect the power cord: 1. Make sure the power switch on the computer is turned off. 2. Plug the power cord into the AC power inlet on the back panel, as shown below. To avoid an electric shock, be sure to plug the cord into the computer before plugging it into the wall socket. 3. Plug the other end of the power cord into a three-prong, 120-volt, grounded electrical outlet.
6 Connecting the Keyboard Follow these steps to connect the keyboard: 1. Turn the computer around so the front is facing you. 2. 1-14 Open the door on the lower left corner of the computer’s front panel by pressing it in slightly and then releasing it.
3. Plug the keyboard cable into the socket, as shown below. Do not force the connector, but be sure to insert it all the way. Guide the keyboard cable through the notch on the left side of the panel. 4. Close the panel access door.
You can change the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. Turn the keyboard over and lift each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown below. You can lock the legs to a low or high position, or leave them flat. 7 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: 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 disk or make an entire disk unusable. Always wait at least five seconds after you turn off the power before you turn it on again. Turning the power off and on rapidly can damage the computer’s circuitry. Do not leave a beverage on top of or next to your system or any of its components. Spilled liquid can damage the circuitry of your components. Follow these steps to turn on your system: 1.
The power indicator on the front panel lights up. After a few seconds, the computer starts to perform an internal self test. This is a series of checks the computer completes each time you turn it on to make sure everything is working correctly. If anything is wrong, an error message appears on the screen. You see a message prompting you to insert a system diskette. (Do not insert a diskette at this point.
Chapter 2 Running the Setup Program The first time you use your Equity 386/25, you need to run the Setup program on the Reference diskette to define the computer’s configuration. This is a simple procedure you must do at least once. (You may need to do it again later, if you change the configuration.
Automatic Configuration The Equity 386/25 automatically defines your system’s memory configuration and recognizes a math coprocessor, if you have installed one. It also detects and configures most of the devices you may have installed in your system. For this reason, it may not be necessary for you to change any of the default settings in the Setup program. However, you should check each of the options on the Setup menu to verify that the settings are correct for your system.
Starting the Setup Program Follow these steps to start the Setup program: 1. Turn off your computer, monitor, and any peripheral devices, if you have not already done so. 2. Insert the Reference diskette into drive A with the label facing up and the read/write slot leading into the drive, as shown below. Slide the diskette into the drive until it is in all the way. Then turn the latch down to lock it in a vertical position. (For more instructions on inserting and removing diskettes, see Chapter 3.
3. Turn on your system. (Remember to turn on your monitor and any peripherals before you turn on the computer.) The screen displays the Operation Menu: 4. The Setup option is highlighted. To select it, press Enter.
Continuing From an Error Message If your computer has never been set up, you may see an error message, such as the following: 162 - System options not set (Run SETUP in REFERENCE DISK) (Resume = "Fl" key) If you see an error message like this one, follow these steps to proceed: 1. Press F1. The computer beeps and the screen displays messages, such as the following: The error message following the diamond indicates the condition causing the error. There may be more than one error listed in the message.
Some errors, such as Time is invalid , do not allow you to set a default value, so the screen does not display the Set default value prompt. If you see one of these errors, press ESC; the screen displays the main Setup menu so you can enter a new setting. 2. Be sure Y is highlighted and press Enter. The Setup program changes the setting that caused the error to a setting that is more likely to match your system configuration.
Moving the Cursor Block Use and to move the cursor block (the highlighted bar) through the options on the main Setup menu. After you highlight the option you want, you can press Enter to select it. Follow the instructions in the rest of this chapter to use the Setup program to define your computer’s configuration. Setting the Extended Memory Caching Extended memory caching allows your system to work much faster.
The Equity 386/25 automatically enables memory caching for the 640KB of base memory in your system. For the memory above lMB, the Setup program allows you to turn extended memory caching on or off. The default setting for extended memory caching is on for all the extended memory currently installed in your system. If you have not installed memory above the 2MB that came with your computer, caching is turned on in the area from 1MB to 2MB.
The table indicates the cachable range of extended memory currently installed in your system. You see ON or OFF in the first area because your system comes with 2MB of memory and the extended memory area from 1MB to 2MB is cachable. If you installed additional memory, you see ON or OFF in all the areas of memory you have installed. The shaded areas indicate ranges of memory that are not installed, and are not cachable at this time.
Setting the Display Adapter Card Type Follow the steps below to set the type of display adapter (video) card you are using with your Equity 386/25. 1. At the main Setup menu, highlight Display . You see the current display adapter card type, such as the following: Most of the time, the Setup program detects the exact type of display adapter card you have installed. If the display adapter card type is correct for your system, you can skip this section. 2.
3. Press Enter to move the cursor block into this submenu and then use or to highlight the option that matches your display adapter card. If you are not sure which one to choose, follow these guidelines: If you have a VGA, EGA, or MCGA card, select the last option. If you have a color graphics adapter (CGA) or a multigraphics adapter (MGA) attached to an RGB (color) monitor, select CGA 80 column . (Also be sure to set the color/mono switch on the MGA card to color.
4. After you highlight the appropriate display adapter card type, press Enter. The screen displays your new display adapter card setting. 5. Highlight * * * SAVE SETTING ** * and press Enter to return to the main Setup menu. Setting the Power-on Password Setting a power-on password lets you control who can use your computer. However, you do not need to set a power-on password to use the Equity 386/25. If you do not want to set a password, skip this section.
2. Press Enter. The cursor block moves to Power-on password. Note If a password already exists, this message appears: Power-on password already in stalled The Setup program does not allow you to enter a new password if one already exists. However, you can easily change or delete the current password if you know it. See “Using a Power-on Password” in Chapter 3 for instructions, 3. Press Enter.
4. After you enter a password, press Enter to return to the password submenu. 5. If you want to change the network server mode setting, highlight Network server mode. To turn network server mode on or off, press Enter. The Setup program requires a power-on password to turn network server mode on. If you did not yet enter a password, this message appears: Set a power-on password first To enter a password, highlight Power-on password and follow steps 3 and 4 above. 6.
When Fast boot is disabled, the diagnostics program performs three different tests on your system’s memory and also checks the internal devices in your computer. When you enable Fast boot, the program performs abbreviated versions of these tests. You should enable Fast boot when you are using your computer in its current configuration. If you install additional memory in your computer, disable Fast boot before you make the change.
Setting the Auto Speed Function The Equity 386/25 can operate at two speeds: high or low. High speed is either 25 MHz or 24 MHz (depending on the setting of an internal jumper). Low speed simulates an 8 MHz operating speed. You can use the CPU SPEED switch on the computer’s front panel to select either speed. (See “Selecting the Operating Speed” in Chapter 3.) You’ll probably use high speed for almost all your operations.
If this does not work, try loading the program at low speed and then switch to high to run it. Do not enable the Auto speed function. Follow these steps to change the Auto speed setting: 1. At the main Setup menu, highlight Auto speed and press Enter. The current status appears: If the displayed setting is correct, press main Setup menu. to return to the 2. To change the setting from disabled to enabled or vice versa, press Enter. 3.
Setting the Shadow RAM Function Many computer systems can access RAM (random access memory) faster than ROM (read-only memory). Your Equity 386/25 provides a shadow RAM feature that enables it to copy data from the ROM BIOS to RAM so it can perform certain operations faster. If you enable the shadow RAM function through the Setup program, the computer automatically copies the data stored in ROM to RAM whenever you turn on or reset the computer. Follow these steps to disable or enable shadow RAM: 1.
Setting the Real-time Clock The real-time clock in your Equity 386/25 constantly tracks the time and date-even when the computer is turned off. The first time you run the Setup program, you use the Real-time clock option to set the time and date for your computer. You may need to use this option again later to adjust the time for daylight savings time. The computer automatically changes the date for leap years. Follow these steps to set the real-time clock: 1.
2. Press Enter to move the cursor block into the submenu. 3. To set or change the time, press Enter again. You see this prompt: 4. Using a 24-hour time period, enter the time in the exact format shown in the box. Type two digits for each part; the Setup program automatically inserts the colons ( : ). For example, to set the time to 1:30 p.m., you would type the following: 133000 If you enter an invalid time-for example, a number greater than 23 for the hours or greater than 59 for the minutes or again.
6. Enter the date in the exact format shown in the box. Use two digits for the month and day and four digits for the year; the Setup program automatically inserts the dashes. For example, to set the date for March 29, 1990, you would type the following: 03291990 You can use the backspace key to make corrections. If you enter an invalid date-for example, a number greater than 12 for the month or greater than the number of days in that month-the computer beeps and ignores your entry. Try again.
Setting the Hard Disk Drive Configuration If your computer came with a 40MB or 100MB hard disk, your computer’s hard disk configuration has already been set for you at the factory and you can skip this section. If you installed or removed a hard disk, follow these steps to set the computer’s hard disk configuration: 1. At the main Setup menu, highlight Hard disk drive . Your current settings appear: The Type number indicates the type of hard disk installed in your computer.
2. To select Hard disk drive , press Enter. You see a menu such as the following: The submenu lists the settings you can change for each drive: the number of cylinders (tracks), the number of read/ write heads, the number of sectors, the precompensation cylinder, the landing zone (the cylinder on which you want to park the heads when moving the computer), and the total storage capacity in megabytes. 3.
If you want to change the drive types, and the configuration of the hard disk you are installing does not match one of the drive types listed in Appendix F, go to step 7. If you have disconnected the drive or if the drive does not None Enter.
You can enter the drive type in one of two ways: You can type the drive type number (listed in Appendix F) and press Enter. The screen displays the new drive type number and hard disk settings. (You cannot type 00 or a drive type number that has more than three digits.
7. If the configuration of the hard disk you are installing does not match one of the drive types listed in Appendix F, highlight User defined and press Enter. You see the following: The same parameter is highlighted on the submenu above. Enter the correct number of cylinders (tracks) for the disk and press Enter. The information for Number of cylinders is automatically updated on the submenu above and you see the next parameter, Number of heads.
8. If you want to change the hard disk settings for drive 2, press and return to step 4. 9. When the hard disk drive settings are correct, press to move the cursor block into the top submenu. Highlight ** SAVE SETTINGS * * and press Enter to save your hard disk drive configuration. The main Setup menu appears. Setting the Diskette Drive Type(s) Your Equity 386/25 comes with one factory-installed diskette drive.
2. Press Enter. The cursor block moves into the diskette drive submenu and you see the following: 3. If you want to change the drive A settings, be sure Drive A: is highlighted and press Enter. If you want to change the drive B settings, highlight Drive B : and press Enter. The cursor block moves into the submenu. 4. Use or to highlight the correct type for your diskette drive and press Enter. The screen displays the new diskette drive type you selected.
Reviewing Your Settings When you finish using the Setup program to define your computer’s configuration, press to highlight Exit at the main Setup menu and press Enter. The following Setup summary appears on the screen: There are two more Setup summary screens you need to check. To display the next screen, press PgDn.
If you have never set the real-time clock, the real-time clock entry at the top of the screen flashes to remind you to set the time and date. To view the last Setup summary screen, press PgDn. You see your hard disk configuration(s): Check each Setup summary screen to see if all the information is correct. You can press PgUp to display the previous screen or PgDn to display the next screen. If anything is incorrect, be sure Change settings is highlighted and press Enter.
Leaving the Setup Menu If you want to save the settings you entered, highlight ** EXIT AND SAVE ** and press Enter at a Setup summary screen. The Setup program stores the new settings and resets the computer using the new configuration. If you have set a password, you need to enter it at the key prompt. (See “Using a Power-on Password” in Chapter 3 for instructions.) The Operation Menu appears. Press 0 and Enter to exit the Operation Menu.
Chapter 3 Using the Equity 386/25 This chapter describes the following procedures for using your Equity 386/25 computer: Installing MS-DOS Using a power-on password Locking the computer Selecting the operating speed Controlling the volume Using special keys on the keyboard Stopping a command or program Resetting the computer Using the Equity 386/25 as a network server Using disks and disk drives Turning off the computer.
The MS-DOS installation process automatically copies the MS-DOS files onto your hard disk or generates working copies of the original MS-DOS diskettes. It is best to make another set of backup copies of your original MS-DOS diskettes. You may also want to copy the working diskettes MS-DOS generates if you do not have a hard disk. In addition, be sure to make a backup copy of your Reference diskette; MS-DOS does not create one for you.
You have three chances to enter the correct password. If you do not enter the correct password at the first or second key prompt, another key prompt appears. If you do not enter the correct password at the third key prompt, the screen displays a 0. The keyboard locks up and you cannot use the computer. You may reset the computer and try to enter the correct password again. Changing a Power-on Password To change your power-on password, follow these steps: 1.
The screen does not display what you type. 3. Press Enter. A happy face character appears and then the computer loads MS-DOS. To access the computer the next time you turn it on or reset it, you must enter the new power-on password. Deleting a Power-on Password To delete your power-on password, follow these steps: 1. If you do not have a hard disk, insert your Startup diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer.
Locking the Computer The key lock on the front panel of the computer allows you to lock the cover onto the computer and disable the keyboard and the RESET button for security. This provides a safeguard against someone accessing confidential information or altering your computer’s internal hardware. For example, you may want to lock the computer while you are running an application program that features a screen demonstration that should not be interrupted.
You can remove the key in either a locked or unlocked position. Your Equity 386/25 comes with two keys; store them safely in different locations in case you misplace one. Be sure the computer is unlocked before you try to use the keyboard; otherwise it will not respond to anything you enter. Selecting the Operating Speed The Equity 386/25 can operate at two speeds: high and low. High speed is either 25 MHz or 24 MHz, depending on the setting of a jumper inside the computer.
Use the CPU SPEED switch on the front panel to change the CPU speed; move it left for low and right for high. When the computer runs at low speed, the power light is orange; at high speed, it is green. Controlling the Volume Your computer has a speaker which enables it to beep when you perform certain operations. You can control the speaker’s loudness with the VOLUME knob on the front panel, shown below. Turn it to the right to make the sound louder or to the left to make it quieter.
Special Keys on the Equity 386/25 Keyboard Certain keys on your keyboard serve special functions when your computer is running MS-DOS or application programs. The following illustration shows the Equity 386/25 keyboard, and the table that follows describes the special keys.
Key functions (continued) The Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock keys work as toggles; press the key once to turn on a function and again to turn it off. When the function is enabled, the corresponding light in the upper right corner of the keyboard is on. When the function is disabled, the light is off.
Stopping a Command or Program You may sometimes need to stop a command or program while it is running. Many application programs provide a command you can use to cancel or even undo an operation. If you have entered an MS-DOS command that you want to stop, try one of the following commands: Hold down the Ctrl key and press C Hold down the Ctrl key and press Break. These methods may also work in your application program.
WARNING Do not reset the computer to exit a program unless you have to. Some application programs classify and store new data when you exit the program. If you reset the computer without properly exiting the program, you may lose data. To reset the computer, MS-DOS must be either on the hard disk or on a diskette in drive A; so if your computer does not have a hard disk, insert the Startup diskette in drive A. There are three ways to reset.
Using the Equity 386/25 as a Network Server If you plan to use your Equity 386/25 in a computer network, you may want to use your computer as the network server. A network server is the master computer in a network and provides storage space for the other computers connected to it. The network server can write files to and read files from the other computers in the network.
See “Setting the Power-on Password” in Chapter 2 for instructions on how to set a power-on password and enable network server mode. Using a Password in Network Server Mode After you enable network server mode and boot the system from the hard disk, you see the following prompt: C:\> You do not see the key prompt ( ) even though the computer is waiting for you to enter the correct password. Follow these steps to enter your password: 1. Type your password and press Enter.
Changing a Password in Network Server Mode To change the power-on password when you are using network server mode, follow these steps: 1. Insert your Reference diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer. At the key prompt, enter your current power-on password followed by a forward slash. After the slash, enter the new password you want to use.
3. Press Enter. A happy face character appears and then you see the Operation Menu. 4. Select 0 to exit to MS-DOS. 5. When you see the A> prompt, remove the Reference diskette and reset your computer. 6. At the C : \ > prompt, enter your new password. 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 when you want to. The Equity 386/25 comes with a single diskette drive or one diskette drive and one hard disk drive.
Write-protect diskettes Make backup copies of your diskettes Use a single diskette drive Use two diskette drives Use a hard disk drive. How Disks Store Data The diskette you insert in your computer’s diskette drive is made of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material. It is enclosed in a square jacket that is either slightly flexible (5 ¼-inch diskettes), or hard (3 ½-inch diskettes). Unlike a diskette, a hard disk is rigid and fixed in place.
A disk is further divided by sectors. To understand what a sector is, picture the spokes on a bicycle wheel radiating from the center of the wheel to the tire. The space between one spoke and the next is like a sector on a diskette; the lines dividing the sectors cut across the tracks. (See the figure below.) A diskette can have 8, 9, 15, or 18 sectors per track. The number of sectors on a hard disk depends on the type of hard disk.
Types of Diskette Drives The Equity 386/25 comes with one 1.2MB diskette drive. With this drive, use 5 ¼-inch, double-sided, high-density, 96 TPI, 1.2MB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 15 sectors per track, and hold up to 1.2MB of information, which is approximately 500 pages of text. MB stands for megabyte; each megabyte equals 1,048,576 bytes or 1024KB. You may also have a second diskette drive, and it may be the same type or it may be different.
Drive and diskette incompatibilities If your computer has more than one type of diskette drive, or if you use diskettes from other computers with other types of diskette drives, you need to be aware of certain incompatibilities between the diskette drives and the diskettes they use. Because of the size difference, you cannot use 3 ½-inch diskettes in a 5 ¼-inch drive or vice versa. There are also certain limitations on using diskettes that are the same size as the drive but have different capacities.
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 (1.2MB, 360KB, l.44MB, or 720KB), you can copy files from one drive to another-using the COPY or XCOPY command-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.
Never wipe, brush, or try to clean diskettes in any way. Keep diskettes in a moderate environment. They work best at normal room temperature and in normal humidity. Don’t leave diskettes sitting in the sun, or in extreme cold or heat. Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields. (Remember that diskettes store information magnetically.) There are many magnetic sources in your home or office, such as electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers.
For a 5 ¼-inch diskette, it is best to write on a label before you attach it to the diskette. If you need to write on a label that is already on a 5 ¼-inch diskette, use only a soft-tip pen-not a ballpoint pen or a pencil. Store diskettes in their protective envelopes and in a proper location, such as a diskette container. Do not store diskettes flat or stack them on top of each other.
To remove the diskette, turn the latch up until it is horizontal and the edge of the diskette pops out. Carefully pull out the diskette, place it in its protective envelope, and store it in a proper location, such as a diskette container. If you have a 3 ½-inch diskette drive, insert the diskette with the label facing up and the metal shutter leading into the drive, as shown below. Slide the diskette into the drive until it clicks into place. To remove the diskette, press the release button.
Write-protecting Diskettes You can write-protect a diskette to prevent its data from being altered. When a diskette is write-protected, you can read it and copy data from it, but you cannot store new data on the diskette or delete any files it contains. If you try to change data stored on a write-protected diskette, MS-DOS displays an error message. To write-protect a 5 ¼-inch diskette, cover the small, rectangular notch (shown below) with an adhesive writeprotect tab.
On a 3 ½-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 ½-inch diskette, slide the switch toward the edge of the diskette until it clicks into position, exposing a hole in the corner. To remove the write protection, slide the switch toward the center of the diskette until it clicks into position and the hole is covered.
To make backup copies of your diskettes, use the DISKCOPY command, the MS-DOS Shell, or the MENU program. See Chapter 4, your Shell User’s Guide, or your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions. It is best to store the programs and data files you use regularly on the hard disk. Keep backup copies of all your program files on diskettes, and regularly copy important data files to diskettes as well. See “Backing up the hard disk” in this chapter for more information.
For example, if you enter a command to copy from A to B, MS-DOS copies from the first diskette you place in the drive (A) to the computer’s memory. Then MS-DOS prompts you to insert another diskette (for drive B) and copies from memory to the new diskette. When copying is complete, you see a prompt to insert the original diskette (for drive A). Because you may often swap diskettes this way, it is important to remember which diskette is which. It is also a good idea to write-protect your original diskette.
Using a Hard Disk Drive Working with a hard disk is similar to working with a diskette. However, the hard disk provides several advantages: A 40MB hard disk can store as much data as approximately 331.2MB diskettes, and a 100MB hard disk can store as much data as approximately 82 1.2MB diskettes. Your computer can perform all disk-related operations faster. You can store frequently used programs and data files on the hard disk, eliminating the inconvenience of swapping diskettes to access different files.
Never attempt to open the hard disk drive. The disk itself is enclosed in a sealed container to protect it from dust. Before you move your computer (even to another part of the room), you need to prepare the hard disk for moving. See “Preparing the hard disk for moving,” below, for instructions. A hard disk must be partitioned and formatted before you can use it. Be sure you have performed the procedures in your MS-DOS Installation Guide to prepare your hard disk for use.
Preparing the hard disk for moving If you need to move your computer to a new location-whether it is across the country or just across the room-you should run the HDSIT program to protect the hard disk during the move. The HDSIT program moves the disk drive’s read/write heads to a region on the disk surface that does not contain data, and locks them securely in position. This protects the hard disk from being damaged if the computer is bumped accidentally. Follow these steps to run HDSIT: 1.
Chapter 4 Using MS-DOS With Your Equity 386/25 Your Equity 386/25 comes with version 4.01 of MS-DOS. This operating system manages your computer by organizing the computer’s memory, controlling the monitor display, receiving keyboard input, and accessing data. How much you need to know about MS-DOS depends on how you will be using your computer. If you plan to use it just to run application programs, the few MS-DOS commands you’ll need are introduced in this chapter.
Starting MS-DOS Before you can run an MS-DOS application program, MS-DOS must be loaded in the computer’s memory. If you have a hard disk and you installed MS-DOS according to the instructions in your MS-DOS Installation Guide, the computer loads MS-DOS automatically after you turn on the power (provided no diskette is in the diskette drive). If you do not have a hard disk, you need to load MS-DOS when you turn on the computer.
Using Drive Designators MS-DOS uses letters known as drive designators to identify the disk drives in your computer. If you have one diskette drive, it is known as drive A. If you have two diskette drives, the top drive is A and the bottom drive is B. If you have one hard disk drive, MS-DOS identifies its primary partition as drive C (even if you have only one diskette drive). If you have a second hard disk drive, MS-DOS identifies its primary partition as drive D.
The Current Drive At any given time, MS-DOS considers one disk drive to be the current (or default) drive. The current drive is the drive on which MS-DOS executes your next command, unless you tell it to do otherwise. For example, if the current drive is C, and you enter the DIR (directory) command, MS-DOS lists the files stored on drive C. If the current drive is A and you type WP and press Enter, MS-DOS looks on drive A for a file called WP and executes the instructions in that file.
Specifying the drive designator If you want to access a program or file on another drive without first changing the current drive, type the drive designator along with the filename. For example, if you are logged onto drive A and want to use a file named PROGRAM on drive B, type B : PROGRAM and press Enter. MS-DOS loads and executes the file named PROGRAM from drive B but stays logged onto drive A. Types of MS-DOS Commands Each MS-DOS command is either internal or external.
If you do not have a hard disk, external commands are stored on the set of working diskettes generated when you installed MS-DOS. To use an external MS-DOS command, you must insert the diskette containing that command into a diskette drive. To find out which external commands are on which diskettes, see the list of working diskette contents in your MS-DOS Installation Guide. For example, if you want to use the FORMAT command, you must insert the Startup diskette into a diskette drive.
Entering an MS-DOS Command To enter an MS-DOS command, you need to type the command in the correct format. The command format provides MS-DOS with the information needed to perform a task. The MS-DOS command format consists of the command name, parameters, and delimiters. The command name tells MS-DOS the task you want the computer to perform. Parameters specify information such as what data you want to process and where to locate or store a file.
See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information on the command format and for command descriptions that explain which parameters and delimiters are required and which parameters and switches are optional for each command. You can enter an MS-DOS command whenever you see the MS-DOS command prompt. Type the command name and any parameters and delimiters. You can type command names and parameters in either uppercase or lowercase letters. Then press Enter to execute the command.
Creating and Managing Files All your data and programs are stored in files on disk. A data file contains information, such as words, numbers, or pictures. A program file contains coded instructions that the computer can understand and execute. The kind of file you create depends on the MS-DOS command or application program you use to create it. In general, a data file that you create using an application program is stored in a special format.
The extension is optional and can be up to three characters long. You can use the extension to further identify a file or to describe what type of file it is, such as a text file or program file. When you use an extension, separate it from the filename with a period, like this: DATA.TXT Do not use uppercase and lowercase letters to distinguish between files. MS-DOS does not recognize the difference and displays all filenames in uppercase.
Copying Files You can use the COPY command to copy individual files or groups of files. COPY is an internal command; you can use it any time you see the MS-DOS command prompt. You can use the COPY command to copy files in several ways: You can copy individual files from one disk to another You can copy a group of files using wildcard characters You can copy one or more files and give them new names You can combine or merge files into one file.
To copy the file named REPORT to the same drive or directory and name the copy FACTS, type the following and press Enter: COPY REPORT FACTS Now you have two files on the current drive that have the same contents but different names. In this example, you can omit the drive designators because the original file and the copy are both on the current drive. You can use wildcard characters to copy a group of files. There are two wildcard characters: * and ?.
To copy REPORT, FACTS, and MEMO from drive A to a file named DATA on drive B, type the following and press Enter: COPY A:REPORT + A:FACTS + A:MEMO B:DATA Remember these rules when using the COPY command: MS-DOS must be able to find the original file and know where to store the copy; that is, you may need to specify the drive (and directory, if necessary) for one or both. You cannot create a new file with the same name and in the same directory as an existing file.
Renaming Files You can use the RENAME command to change the name of a file or group of files on the same disk and directory. For example, to rename a file named PROSPECT (in the current directory) to CLIENT, type the following and press Enter: RENAME PROSPECT CLIENT You can shorten the RENAME command to REN. For example, to change the name of a file from HAMMERS to WRENCHES, you can type the following and press Enter: REN HAMMERS WRENCHES You can use wildcards to rename groups of files.
Deleting Files You can delete files you no longer need with the DEL (delete) command. For example, to delete REPORT.AUG from drive C, type the following and press Enter: DEL C:REPORT.AUG To delete the file WRENCHES from drive C, type the following and press Enter: DEL C:WRENCHES To display a prompt asking you to confirm that you want to delete the file before MS-DOS deletes it, use the /P switch.
Printing Text Files If you have a printer attached to your computer, you can print text files with the PRINT command. In general, you will probably use application programs to print files, but if you need to print a text file from the MS-DOS command prompt, follow the steps below. To print a text file named STATS.NBA on drive C: 1. Make sure your printer is on and ready to print. 2. At the MS-DOS command prompt, type the following and press Enter: PRINT C:STATS.
Directories are essential for organizing files on a hard disk, and you might even want to create directories on a 1.2MB diskette. However, you may not need to create directories if you use lower capacity diskettes-especially if the diskette contains only a few large files. Whenever you format a disk, MS-DOS automatically creates one main directory. This directory is called the root directory.
This directory tree lets you separate business word processing files from personal word processing files, and sales spreadsheets from spreadsheet files used for financial projections. Your directory structure may be as simple as this example or much more complex. Organize your disk(s) to suit your needs. As your needs change, you can modify the structure by deleting old directories and creating new ones. Here are some additional points about directories: Name subdirectories the same way you name files.
The Current Directory MS-DOS always recognizes one directory as the current (or default) directory, just as it always recognizes one drive as the current drive. The current directory is the directory you are logged onto at the time and the one in which MS-DOS performs your commands, unless you tell it to do otherwise. If you installed MS-DOS according to the instructions in your MS-DOS Installation Guide, the MS-DOS command prompt displays the current directory.
Using Pathnames You use pathnames with MS-DOS commands to tell MS-DOS how to find its way to the directory you want to access. Backslashes separate the directories in a pathname. There are two types of pathnames: absolute and relative. An absolute pathname begins with a backslash and tells MS-DOS how to find its way to the desired directory from the root directory. A relative pathname does not begin with a backslash and tells MS-DOS how to find its way to the desired directory from the current directory.
You can use either relative or absolute pathnames at any time, as long as you give MS-DOS enough information to find the directory or file at the end of the pathname. Including Filenames With Pathnames You can use a pathname when you want to access a file that is not in the current directory. You specify the name of the file you want to access at the end of the pathname, like this: TYPE \WORDPROC\PERSONAL\JEANl204.
drive C, the root directory was the current directory. Now you are logged onto drive A and you enter the following command to delete the file JEAN1204.DOC: DEL C:JEAN1204.DOC MS-DOS tries to find the file you want in the root directory of drive C. Because the file is not there, an error message appears on the screen. You need to enter the complete pathname in such a case. If you do not know which is the current directory on another drive, it is best to include the full pathname whether or not you need it.
Creating Directories You use the MKDIR command to create directories. For example, to create a LEDGER directory under the root directory of the current drive, type the following and press Enter: MKDIR \LEDGER You can abbreviate the name of this command to MD.
A directory listing includes the following information about each file in the directory: Name and extension Size of the file in bytes Date and time the file was created or last modified (whichever is later). The directory listing also shows any subdirectories in the directory; they are identified by the letters
.This switch displays a wide-format directory listing, like this: Volume in drive C is MEMODRIVE Volume Serial Number is 354C-12E9 Directory of C:\WORDPROC\PERSONAL LETTERS RESUME.713 BOOKRPRT .. 15013560 bytes free 5 File(s) This type of listing does not show the size of a file or the time and date it was last modified. To list the contents of a different drive or directory, include the appropriate drive designator and/or pathname in the command.
The screen displays a tree diagram of the subdirectories of the current directory, for example: To see a list of all the files in the subdirectories, add the /F switch, like this: TREE /F The screen displays the directory information shown above and the names of all the files in each subdirectory: 4-26 Using MS-DOS with Your Equity 386/25
To see the list of subdirectories of another directory, include the pathname: TREE C:\ WORDPRO c Removing Directories You may sometimes want to remove directories you no longer need. However, before you can delete a directory, it must be empty. If it contains any files or subdirectories, MS-DOS displays an error message and does not delete the directory. (Use the DEL command to delete the files in a directory or the COPY command to move them to another directory.
You can reformat previously used diskettes. This process erases all data on the diskette, so be sure you do not want to save any of the data on a used diskette before you format it. If you plan to use a new diskette to make a backup copy of another diskette, you do not need to use the FORMAT command to format it first. The DISKCOPY command automatically formats a blank diskette if it has never been formatted. (See “Using the DISKCOPY Command,” later in this chapter.
3. If necessary, remove the Working 1 diskette from drive A. Insert the diskette you want to format in drive A and press Enter to start formatting. 4. When the diskette is formatted, you see this message: Format complete Volume label (11 for none)? characters, ENTER 5. At the Volume label prompt, you can enter a name to describe the information the diskette will contain. The name (the volume label) will appear whenever you view the contents of a directory on the diskette using the DIR command.
Formatting a diskette to 360KB If you want to format a 360KB diskette in your 1.2MB diskette drive, you need to use a switch with the FORMAT command. The /4 switch tells the FORMAT command to format a 360KB diskette in your 1.2MB diskette drive. Enter the following command when you follow the instructions in this section to format a diskette: FORMAT A: /4 Note Backing Up Data It is very important to keep backup diskettes containing copies of the files you create.
DISKCOPY, BACKUP, and RESTORE are described below. “Copying Files,” earlier in this chapter, describes the COPY command. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for information on XCOPY. Note Using the DISKCOPY Command The DISKCOPY command lets you make an exact copy of a diskette. (You cannot use DISKCOPY to copy to or from a hard disk.) Because this procedure copies the data byte by byte, the two diskettes must be of the same type. For example, you cannot use DISKCOPY to copy a 360KB diskette to a 1.
Using DISKCOPY with one diskette drive 1. Make sure the diskette you want to copy is write-protected. (See Chapter 3 for instructions.) 2. If you don’t have a hard disk, insert your Working 1 diskette into drive A. 3. If you have a hard disk, type C : and press Enter to log onto drive C. If you do not have a hard disk, type A: and press Enter to log onto drive A. 4.
7. After DISKCOPY copies the data from memory to the target diskette, the screen prompts you to insert the source diskette again to copy the remaining data to the computer’s memory (if necessary). Insert the source diskette into drive A and press any key. 8. After DISKCOPY copies the rest of the source diskette’s data to the computer’s memory, the screen prompts you to insert the target diskette again to copy the remaining data from memory to it. Insert the target diskette and press any key.
4. If necessary, remove the Working 1 diskette from drive A. Insert the diskette you want to copy from (the source diskette) into drive A and the diskette you want to copy to (the target diskette) into drive B. Then press any key to begin copying. If the target diskette is not formatted, DISKCOPY formats it before copying data to it. 5. When the copy is complete, you see this message: Copy another diskette (Y/N)? Press Y to copy another diskette or N to return to the MS-DOS command prompt.
Make sure you have enough diskettes to back up the data on your hard disk drive. For example, it takes about 33 1.2MB diskettes to copy a 40MB hard disk partition that is completely full. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for complete instructions on using BACKUP and RESTORE. The MS-DOS Shell Program The MS-DOS Shell program allows you to execute many MS-DOS commands and programs by selecting options from menus. Using the MS-DOS Shell, you can run commands without having to remember their exact syntax.
If you want information about more than one command you can type HELP followed by the names of the commands, each separated by a space. To use the HELP program, follow these steps: 1. If you don’t have a hard disk, make sure your Working 3 diskette is in drive A. 2. If necessary, type A : and press Enter to log onto drive A. 3. If you want to use the HELP menu, type HELP and press Enter. Use the cursor keys to highlight the command you want information about and press Enter.
If there is yet another screen of text, you see both PgUp and PgDn at the top. Press PgUp to display the next screen of text or PgDn to see the previous screen. On the last page of text you see only PgDn at the top. 5. If you used the HELP menu to chose your help information, press ESC to return to the menu. If you requested information about more than one MS-DOS command in the HELP command line, press ESC to see information about the next command. 6. Press ESC to exit the HELP program.
3. To select an option, use the arrow keys to highlight the option you want and press Enter. Most options contain submenus; keep highlighting your selection and pressing Enter until you select the desired operation. MENU works by calling external commands which it looks for on the current disk or path. If you do not have a hard disk and the diskette in the current drive does not contain a command called by MENU-for example, BACKUP.COM—you may see an error message like this when you select an option: BACKUP.
MENU Program Options Following is a description of each MENU option. Your MS-DOS Reference Manual provides step-by-step instructions for using each option. File Utilities Lets you back up and restore files, replace files, compare files, change file attributes, and copy files and directories. This option does the work of the MS-DOS commands BACKUP, RESTORE, REPLACE, FC, ATTRIB, and XCOPY. Disk Utilities Lets you check, copy, compare, and format diskettes.
Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT File You may want to run some commands every time you turn on your computer. To run a command or a series of commands automatically upon startup, you can type the commands in a special file called AUTOEXEC.BAT. When you load MS-DOS, it always looks for this file. If MS-DOS finds an AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the root directory, it executes the commands in that file. Here are some tasks you can perform using an AUTOEXEC.
Creating an AUTOEXEC.BAT File Here is an example of an AUTOEXEC.BAT file: PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\WP PROMPT $P$G The first line tells MS-DOS to look for programs or batch files in the root directory, the DOS directory, and your word processing directory. This way you can run programs in those directories without having to specify pathnames in the commands. The second line changes the MS-DOS command prompt so that it displays your current directory. To create an AUTOEXEC.
You can also use the MS-DOS COPY or EDLIN command to create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Follow these steps to create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file with the COPY command: 1. If you are creating an AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your hard disk, log onto the root directory of your hard disk. (Type CD C : \ and press Enter.) If you are creating an AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your Startup diskette, insert the Startup diskette into drive A and log onto that drive. 2.
Using the Video Shadow RAM Function The Equity 386/25 has a shadow RAM feature which allows certain types of ROM (read-only memory) to be copied into RAM (random access memory) so that your system can access it faster. You can enable shadow RAM for the ROM BIOS area using the Setup program. (See Chapter 2 for instructions.) You can also enable shadow RAM for the video portion of ROM memory. The video shadow RAM function allows your computer to update its display faster after you enter a command.
The DEVICE=ERAMBIOS.SYS line must be above the DEVICE=ANSI.SYS line in your CONFIG.SYS file to enable the video shadow RAM function. Later, if you add other command lines to the file, make sure that the DEVICE=ERAMBIOS.SYS line still remains above the DEVICE=ANSI.SYS line. You may put the ERAMBIOS.SYS file in a directory other than the root directory and then add the appropriate pathname to the DEVICE= line. (For more information on adding a pathname, see “Using Pathnames” earlier in this chapter.
2. To view the contents of the CONFIG.SYS file, type L (the List command) and press Enter. You see the current CONFIG.SYS file commands preceded by line numbers, such as the following: *L * l:*BREAK=ON 2: BUFFERS=20 3: FILES=20 4: LASTDRIVE=E 5: SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM/P/E:256 6: DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS 7: INSTALL=C:\DOS\FASTOPEN.EXE C:=(50,25) (* is the EDLIN command prompt.) 3. To insert text, specify the line number of the line you want your new text to appear above.
Type DEVICE=ERAMBIOS.SYS and press Enter. Then you see the prompt for the next line: 7:* 5. Hold down CTRL and press C to exit insert mode. You see the * prompt. 6. To make sure your command line is inserted, list the contents of the CONFIG.SYS file again. At the * prompt, type L and press Enter. You see the new list of commands: *L * 7. l:*BREAK=ON 2: BUFFERS=20 3: FILES=20 4: LASTDRIVE=E 5: SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM/P/E:256 6: DEVICE=ERAMBIOS.SYS 7: DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS 8: INSTALL=C:\DOS\FASTOPEN.
If your video card is unable to use the video shadow RAM function, you see the following messages after resetting your computer: WARNING! System must have EPSON VGA Adapter ERAMBIOS.SYS Driver NOT installed These messages indicate that your video card is not compatible with the video shadow RAM function. Therefore, you should delete the DEVICE=ERAMBIOS.SYS command line from your CONFIG.SYS file. See the MS-DOS Reference manual for instructions on how to use EDLIN to delete the command line from your CONFIG.
To use expanded memory, you must modify the file disk or diskette from which you load MS-DOS. If you have a (also called an ASCII text file), you can use that program to program, load the file CONFIG.SYS, and then add the DEVICE=EMM386.SYS You can add one or more of the optional switches explained in the next section to this command line. Then save the file as an ASCII text file and reset the computer. If you do not have a word processing program capable of saving an ASCII text file, you can modify CONFIG.
Using EMM386.SYS EMM386.SYS is an expanded memory manager that lets you use extended memory to emulate expanded memory so that you can use application programs that support LIM 4.0 EMS. The full syntax for the command line that activates EMM386.SYS is: DEVICE=[d:][path] EMM386.SYS [X:mmmm-nnnn] [Mx] [size] The items in brackets are optional; you do not type any brackets when you enter this command. The following paragraphs describe the items in the command line.
This example tells the computer to use 1024KB (1MB) of extended memory as expanded memory: DEVICE=EMM386.SYS 1024 The X:mmmm-nnnn parameter specifies a range of memory to exclude from the EMM386.SYS command in hexadecimal notation. EMM386.SYS does not locate its page frame or other mappable pages in this memory range. For example, to specify 1024KB of memory as expanded memory and ensure that EMM386.SYS does not locate any pages in the address range C400 to C7FF, include this command in your CONFIG.
The Mx parameter specifies a particular address for the EMM386.SYS page frame. You specify the address by substituting a code for x from this table: For example, if you want EMM386.SYS to locate its page frame at the address C800, include this command in your CONFIG.SYS file: DEVICE=EMM386.SYS M2 Do not use the Mx parameter unless you need to force EMM386.SYS to use a particular address. For more information on using EMM386.SYS, see your MS-DOS Reference Manual.
Chapter 5 Installing Options You can enhance the performance of your Equity 386/25 by adding a variety of options, including the following: A math coprocessor Memory modules Option cards. A math coprocessor speeds up the numeric calculations your computer performs when using certain application software. You can install either an Intel 80387 or a Weitek 3167 math coprocessor, or you can install both using a Weitek dualprocessor adapter to provide an additional socket.
Note It is best not to add memory to the, Equity 386/25 by installing an optional memory card. Any memory card you could install is 16-bit and would cause your computer to work slower. Using memory modules is more efficient since you do not need to use one of your option slots to add memory. Adding Memory Modules The standard Equity 386/25 system comes with 2MB of memory. You can add SIMMs (single inline memory modules) to increase the amount of memory in the computer.
You must use only one type of SIMM in a bank. For example, you cannot install two 256KB SIMMs and two 1MB SIMMs in Bank 0; you must install four 256KB or four 1MB SIMMs. Each bank has a “partner” bank. Bank 0 and Bank 1 are partner hanks, as are Bank 2 and Bank 3. If you use two banks, they must both contain the same type of SIMM. For example, if Bank 0 contains 256KB SIMMs, then so must Bank 1 (if you use it). Likewise, if Bank 2 contains 1MB SIMMs, then Bank 3 must also (if you use it).
Remember, your system already has 2MB of memory (consisting of eight 256KB SIMMs) installed in hanks 0 and 1; so consider this when you decide how much memory to add. Do not install SIMMs in any other type of configuration than one of the types shown in the table. Once SIMMs have been installed in your computer, the DIP switches on the main system hoard need to he set correctly so that your computer knows it has the additional memory.
Installing Option Cards The Equity 386/25 has nine standard option slots. One of the slots is occupied by the card that controls the serial/parallel interfaces and the floppy disk drive (known as the SPF card). The video card that controls your monitor occupies another slot. This leaves seven slots in which you can install option cards. You can buy additional option cards from authorized Epson dealers as well as other vendors.
Removing the Cover To install an option card, you need to remove the cover from your computer. Follow these steps: 1. Turn off the computer and then any peripherals (including the monitor and printer) that are attached to it. 2. Disconnect the computer’s power cable from the electrical outlet and from the back panel. Then disconnect any peripheral cables that are connected to the computer. 3. If the computer is locked, you cannot remove the cover. Unlock it using the key lock, if necessary.
7. Facing the front panel, grasp the two sides of the cover and carefully pull it straight toward you, away from the back of the computer (as shown in the following illustration). You might meet some resistance from the grounding tabs on the top of the power supply, so pull firmly.
8. After the cover’s front panel clears the grounding tabs and the power switch, separate the cover’s sides from the inside of the computer by pulling them outward slightly, as shown below. Continue pulling the cover toward you until it has cleared the power supply. Then lift off the cover and set it aside.
Installing an Option Card The illustration below shows the nine standard option slots inside the Equity 386/25. (The SPF card occupies slot number 7.
Slots 7 through 9 are designed for 8-bit option cards, and slots 1 through 6 are designed for 16-bit cards. As you can see below, a 16-bit card has a second connector along the bottom. 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. However, you must follow these guidelines when deciding which slot to use: An S-bit card with an additional tab along the bottom must go in and 8-bit slot.
Follow these steps to install an option card: 1. Decide which slot you want to use. Then remove the retaining screw from the top of the metal option slot cover; hold on to the screw as you remove it so it doesn’t fall into the computer. Lift out the slot cover. Keep the screw to secure the option card to the computer. Store the slot cover in a safe place in case you remove the option card later.
2. Unpack the option card and adjust any switches or jumpers on it if necessary. (Check the option card instructions to see if this is necessary.) When you handle the card, be careful not to touch any of the contacts on the circuit board, especially the gold-edged connector pins. If 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. 3.
4. Insert the card in the slot, guiding it straight down. Once the connector pins reach the connector slot, push the card downward firmly (but carefully) to fully insert it, as shown in the following illustration. You should feel the card fit into place. If the card does not go in smoothly, do not force it-pull it all the way out and try again, keeping it straight as you insert it.
5. Secure the end of the card to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. Removing an Option Card If you later need to remove an option card, simply reverse the steps you followed to install it. Remove the screw securing the card to the back of the computer and pull the card straight up and out of the slot. Then carefully wrap the card, preferably with the original packing materials, and place it inside its box for safe storage.
Replacing option cards To replace any option cards you may have removed, reinstall the card in the appropriate slot and secure it to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. Replacing the Cover After you install (or remove) an option card or change an internal setting, follow these steps to replace the computer’s cover: 1. Facing the front of the computer, position the cover on the computer as shown below. Pull the cover’s sides outward slightly. 2.
3. To secure the cover, replace the five screws on the back panel and the two screws on each side panel. 4. Return the computer to its original position and place the monitor on top, if that is where you use it. Then reconnect the computer to the monitor, printer, keyboard, and any other peripherals you have. 5. Check to be sure the power switch on the computer is in the OFF position. Then reconnect the power cable to the back of the computer and to an electrical outlet.
Additionally, you may also need to add some commands in your configuration files. See the MS-DOS Reference Manual and the manual that comes with the option card for instructions. You may want to test a newly-installed option. Some options come with their own diagnostics test programs, and you can test others with the diagnostics programs on your Reference diskette.
Appendix A Changing Jumper and DIP Switch Settings If you change your computer’s configuration or need to alter the way your computer operates, you may need to change a jumper or DIP switch setting inside the computer. A jumper is a small electrical connector that controls one of the computer’s functions. The jumpers you may need to change are on the main system board and the SPF (serial/parallel/floppy) card. A DIP switch is similar to a light switch; you turn it on or off by flipping the switch.
Changing Jumper Settings A jumper’s setting is determined by where the jumper is placed. On the main system board, the jumper can be placed either between pin 1 and pin 2 (position 1-2) or between pin 2 and pin 3 (position 2-3), as shown below: Only pin 1 is labelled on the main system board. Pin 2 is always the middle pin and pin 3 is on the opposite side from pin 1. Some jumpers on the main system board are different from the others.
The following tables list the jumper settings and their functions. Main system board jumper settings * Factory setting ** If jumper JP5 is set to position 1-2, set DIP switch 8 to the OFF position. If JP5 is set to position 2-3, set DIP switch 8 to the ON position. See “Changing DIP Switch Settings” below for instructions.
SPF card jumper settings for the parallel port * Factory setting ** The setting of jumper J10 does not matter SPF card jumper settings for the serial port * Factory setting ** The settings of jumpers J6 and J9 do not matter SPF card jumper settings for the floppy disk drive controller * Factory setting A-4 Changing Jumper and DIP Switch Settings
If you need to change any jumper settings, follow these steps in the order listed here as necessary for your system: Follow the instructions in “Removing the Cover” in Chapter 5 to remove the computer’s cover. If you need to change the settings of jumpers on the main system board, remove any option cards that may be blocking your access to those jumpers. See “Removing an Option Card” in Chapter 5 for instructions.
Changing DIP Switch Settings If you install SIMMs to add memory to your system, you need to set DIP switches on the main system board to tell the computer the amount and configuration of the memory you now have. There are ten DIP switches on the main system board located near the SIMM card. Switches 1 through 7 control your system memory configuration. Switches 1 and 2 set the amount of base memory and switches 3 through 7 indicate the amount and configuration of your extended memory.
If you have added extra memory by installing SIMMs in your computer, you should check to make sure that your dealer set DIP switches 3 through 7 to the correct settings. Your computer cannot use the additional memory unless the DIP switches are set correctly; so be sure to check these switches before you turn on the computer, and change the settings if they do not match your new memory configuration. The table below shows the proper settings for each available configuration.
See “Adding Memory Modules” in Chapter 5 for more information about the possible SIMM configurations in the Equity 386/25. The following table describes DIP switches 8 through 10. Other DIP switch settings If you need to check or change any DIP switch settings, follow these steps in the order listed here as necessary for your system: Follow the instructions in “Removing the Cover” in Chapter 5 to remove the computer’s cover. To change DIP switch settings, you need to remove the SPF card first.
Removing the SPF Card 1. Unplug the disk drive cable from the SPF card as shown below. Pull it straight up and out, then lay it to one side. 2. Remove the retaining screw that secures the SPF card at the back panel of the computer. Be careful not to drop the screw.
3. Remove the card from the slot by pulling it straight up, as shown below, and set it on a soft surface with the components facing up.
Setting the DIP Switches Now that the SPF card is out of your way, you can change the DIP switch settings. The illustration below shows the location of the DIP switches inside the comp uter. Check the tables earlier in this appendix to see which switches you need to set. To change the setting, use a hard, thin object, such as a small screwdriver or a pen.
Setting the SPF Card Jumpers Once you have removed the SPF card, you can change the necessary jumper settings. The illustration below shows the location of the jumpers on the SPF card. Check the tables earlier in this appendix to see which one(s) you need to change. To move a jumper from position A to position B, or vice versa, use your fingers or needle-nose pliers or tweezers to pull it off its current pins and gently move it to the other position.
Setting the Main System Board Jumpers The illustration below shows the locations of jumpers JP1, JP3, JP5, JP8, JP9, and JP10 on the main system board. Check the table earlier in this appendix to see which one(s) you need to change. To move a jumper from one position to the other, use your fingers or needle-nose pliers or tweezers to pull it off its current pins and gently move it to the other position. Be careful not to lose the jumper or leave it out of the computer.
Replacing the SPF Card 1. Reinstall the SPF card in slot 7 as shown below, and secure it to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. 2. Reconnect the disk drive cable to the card. Now follow the instructions under “Replacing the Cover” in Chapter 5 to prepare your computer for use.
Appendix B Troubleshooting You should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and use your computer, but if anything out of the ordinary happens, refer to this appendix. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. Besides trying the suggestions in this chapter, you can run diagnostics checks on the various components of your computer system. See Appendix D for instructions.
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 the computer’s front panel 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 diskette, if necessary, and turn the computer on again. B-2 2. If the computer’s power light still does not come on, check the electrical outlet for power.
4. If the computer starts but is taking a long time to complete its power-on diagnostics, you may have disabled the Fast boot function and made an extensive change in your computer’s configuration. Power-on diagnostics may take up to five minutes to complete if this is the case. If the computer does not display the MS-DOS prompt after five minutes, press the RESET button and try again. If that doesn’t work, insert the Reference diskette and press the RESET button.
4. If you are running an application program, see “Software Problems,” later in this appendix. This section covers certain problems caused by application programs. 5. If you want to stop whatever the computer is doing and return to the MS-DOS command prompt, hold down the Ctrl key and press Break. In most cases, this solves the problem. See Chapter 3 for more information on stopping a command or program. 6. If your computer still does not respond, you can reset it with the RESET button.
If you have any trouble using your power-on password, try the following: 1. If you think you know the correct password, reset the computer and try again. See Chapter 3 for instructions on using the password. 2. If you know the current power-on password but you want to change or delete it, see Chapter 3 for instructions. (You cannot delete a power-on password and remain in network server mode.) 3.
You should disable the existing password if you want to be able to set a new password later without having to reset a jumper on the main system board again. See “Disabling an existing password” below for instructions. If you disable the password function, you cannot set a new password unless you perform the steps to disable the existing password at that time. If you do not want to use a password anymore, follow the instructions under “Disabling the password function” below.
5. If you do not have a hard disk, insert the Startup diskette in drive A. Turn on the computer again. You do not see the key prompt and the computer loads MS-DOS. Later, if you want to create a power-on password, run Setup and enter a password. The jumper is already in the correct position. Disabling the password function If you do not want to use a power-on password anymore, you can disable the password function.
Make sure you save your password setting and that you highlight * * EXIT AND SAVE * * when you leave the Setup program. 4. After you exit Setup, you see this message: TURN OFF POWER AND CORRECT JUMPER SETTING TO ENABLE PASSWORD CHECKING 5. Remove the Reference diskette, turn off the computer, and follow the instructions under “Changing Jumper Settings” in Appendix A to enable the password function by setting jumper JP9 to position 1-2. 6.
2. If nothing happens when you type on the keyboard, see “The Computer Locks Up,” earlier in this appendix. 3. If the cursor keys do not work properly, the Num Lock function may be on. When Num Lock is on, the numeric/ arrow keys on the numeric keypad work only as numbers. Check to see if the Num Lock indicator in the upper right corner of the keyboard is lit; if it is, press the Num Lock key to turn off the function. Monitor Problems For monitor problems, check the following: 1.
5. Make sure your monitor and display adapter card match, and, if your display adapter card has any switches or jumpers, be sure they are set properly. See “Connecting a Monitor” in Chapter 1 and the documentation that came with your monitor and display adapter card for instructions. 6. If you are running an application program, see if you need to set up the program for the type of monitor and display adapter card you have.
Diskette Problems If you have trouble accessing data on a diskette, try the following steps: 1. You may have inserted the diskette upside-down or it may not be inserted all the way. Remove the diskette from the drive and reinsert it with the label facing up. (See Chapter 3 for detailed instructions on inserting and removing diskettes.) 2.
In a drive that has a storage capacity of 720KB, use 3 ½-inch, double-sided, double-density, 135 TPI diskettes. You cannot use 1.44MB diskettes in this drive. See “Types of Diskette Drives” in Chapter 3 for more information. 4. If your diskette is the right type for your drive, check to see if the diskette is write-protected. On a 5 ¼-inch diskette, there may be a write-protect tab over the notch on the side of the diskette or there may be no notch at all.
Is the diskette formatted? A new diskette must be formatted before you can store data on it. See Chapter 4 for instructions on formatting diskettes. If the error message still occurs, you probably have a defective diskette. Use the MS-DOS COPY command to copy the files from the diskette onto another diskette. (See “Copying Files” in Chapter 4 for instructions.) If you are not able to copy all the files from the defective diskette, copy as many as you can and then use the MS-DOS program RECOVER.
Diskette Drive Problems Follow these steps if you are having difficulty with a diskette drive: 1. If the diskette is not turning or the diskette drive is making loud noises, do not attempt any further examination of it. Contact your Epson dealer. 2. If your diskette drive read/write heads are dirty, you may occasionally see this MS-DOS error message: Error Reading Drive d: Abort, Retry, or Fail? To clean the read/write heads, use a diskette drive head cleaning kit, available in most computer stores. 3.
2. If you have installed MS-DOS on the hard disk but it does not load MS-DOS when you turn on the computer, it may be missing one of the MS-DOS system files. Turn off your computer and insert your Startup diskette into drive A. Then turn on your computer again. Type C : and press Enter to log onto the hard disk. If this works, the next step is to make sure the file COMMAND.COM is in the root directory of the hard disk. Type D I R and press Enter. If COMMAND.
Use the Display Partition Information option of the FDISK program to see if your hard disk has an active (bootable) DOS partition on it. (See the MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on using FDISK.) If it does not, back up all your hard disk files and then reinstall MS-DOS on the hard disk. See your MS-DOS Installation Guide for instructions. If your hard disk does have an active DOS partition, back up all your hard disk files and then try reformatting your hard disk using SELECT.
7. If you have installed a hard disk drive made by another company in your computer, you need to install MS-DOS. See the MS-DOS Installation Guide for instructions. If the hard disk needs a low-level format, do that before you install MS-DOS. (See Appendix E for instructions.) 8. If you have installed a hard disk drive that has its controller on an option card, you may need to change the position of jumper JP1 on the main system board. See “Changing Jumper Settings” in Appendix A.
3. If you have tried changing the operating speed using the CPU SPEED switch or the Auto speed function and your copy-protected application program still does not work properly, check the following: Your application program may be having trouble operating while the shadow RAM function is enabled. Run the Setup program on your Reference diskette to disable shadow RAM. See Chapter 2 for instructions. Then try running your program again.
4. If you have entered an MS-DOS command that you want to stop, there are special key combinations you can type to tell MS-DOS to stop what it is doing. These methods may also work in your application programs. To interrupt an MS-DOS command while it is executing, try one of the following commands: Hold down the Ctrl key and press C Hold down the Ctrl key and press Break. 5. An application program can occasionally lock the computer, making it unresponsive to the keyboard.
3. If you are using more than one parallel port or more than one serial port, the jumper settings on the SPF card must be set properly so MS-DOS knows which port is the primary port and which is the secondary port. See Appendix A for instructions on how to change jumper settings inside your computer. 4. If your printer is properly set up but is still not functioning, test it from the MS-DOS level. When the screen displays the MS-DOS command prompt (such as C > or A>), hold down Shift and press PrtSc.
Option Card Problems If you install an option card and it is not functioning properly, check the following: 1. Is the option card installed correctly? Check the installation procedure described in Chapter 5 and also see the instructions that come with the option card. The most common problem with option cards is a loose connection. Make sure the option card is well-seated in its slot. 2. Did you set the necessary jumpers on the main system board and the SPF card? See Appendix A for more information. 3.
8. If none of the procedures described above solve the problem, your option card may be having trouble functioning at the 25 MHz (high) operating speed. Change the settings of jumpers JP3 and JPl0 on the main system board to reduce high speed to 24 MHz. See “Changing Jumper Settings” in Appendix A for instructions.
Appendix C Power-on Diagnostics Your computer’s built-in memory (ROM) contains a series of diagnostics programs, which your computer runs automatically every time you turn on the power. These programs check internal devices such as ROM, RAM, the timer, the keyboard controller, and the hard disk drive. If the computer finds an error, it displays a specific error number and error message on the screen. If the error is serious, the computer cancels further checking and halts system initialization.
Power-on diagnostics error codes and messages C-2 Power-on Diagnostics
Power-on diagnostics error codes and messages (continued) Power-on Diagnostics C-3
C-4 Power-on Diagnostics
Appendix D Performing System Diagnostics This appendix describes how to check the operation of the main unit and peripheral devices of your Equity 386/25. You check these devices using the diagnostics program on your Reference diskette. Run the diagnostics program if you are not sure whether a device is performing correctly. The table at the end of this appendix lists the error messages you may see during testing.
Starting System Diagnostics To run the System diagnostics program, you must turn on your computer with the Reference diskette in drive A. If you start this program in any other way, some tests may produce strange results. To start the System diagnostics program, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer. The Operation Menu appears. 3. If the Num Lock indicator is illuminated, press Num Lock to turn off the function. 4.
If the list correctly describes your system, press Enter. If a device is missing from this list, or if you wish to change the list, press N or and Enter. Then see “Modifying the Device List,” below. After you confirm the Device List, you can test only those items. If you decide later that you need to add a device, you must return to the Operation Menu and reselect System diagnostics. Selecting an Option When you are using the System diagnostics program, you often need to select an option from a menu.
For example, you may see this menu: Suppose the first option is highlighted. If you want to select that option, just press Enter (because it is already highlighted). If you want to select option 2, you can either press 1 or 2; this causes the cursor block to move to that option. Then press Enter to select it. Therefore, when the instructions in this appendix tell you to select an option, you can either use to highlight the option or you can type the number of the option. Then press Enter.
You see this menu: To add a device to the list, select 1. The program displays a list of other devices that are not currently included in the Device List. You see a menu similar to this: Select the item you wish to add. You can add as many devices as necessary. When the Device List is complete, select 0 (Exit). To remove a device from the list, select 2 (Delete device). The screen displays the current Device List.
Select the item you wish to delete. You can delete as many devices as necessary. When the Device List is correct, select 0. The screen displays the modified Device List for a final check and these options: If the list is correct, select 0. You are now ready to select a test. Selecting a Test From the Device List, select the device you wish to test. Before the test begins, you are asked how many times to perform the test.
To perform the test once, select 1. The program then displays a submenu of more detailed tests for the device you are checking. To perform the test multiple times, select 2. You see this prompt: Terminate checking if an error detected ? (Y/N) Select Y to terminate checking if the device produces an error, or N to repeat the tests regardless of an error. You see this prompt: Repeat times (l-9999) ? 1 To perform the test once, press Enter.
Resuming From an Error If an error occurs during a test, the test stops at that point, and an error code and error message appear. If you want to record the problem, you can print out the message on your printer. You see this prompt: Do you want a printout of the error message(s) ? (Y/N) To continue without printing the error message, select N. Before you request a printout, be sure your printer is ready and contains paper. Then select Y.
The remainder of this appendix describes the tests you can run on the system’s internal devices and on the optional devices installed on your computer. The program displays the title of each check on the screen. For a complete list of the error codes and messages these tests may display, see the table at the end of this appendix.
Memory Check Use this option to check all the memory currently installed in your computer and the memory cache. The program reads the CMOS RAM to find the total amount of memory. If any settings are incorrect, run the Setup program (described in Chapter 2) to automatically set the correct amount of memory in CMOS RAM. If you installed an optional memory card, you may need to adjust some DIP switch settings on the card.
Keyboard Check Use this option to check the operation and the configuration of the keyboard. The program first checks the keyboard controller; during this check, you see the green indicator lights on the keyboard flash. Then the following prompt appears: Do you wish to check the keyboard lock ? (Y/N) If you do not want to test the lock, press Enter to continue checking the keyboard. To test the keyboard lock, select Y.
Before checking the operation of the keys, you must identify your keyboard layout so the test is appropriate for the keys on your keyboard. A display appears, asking you to identify the shape of your Enter key. Choose the shape that matches the one on your keyboard, then press Enter. The program displays your keyboard layout on the screen. When you press a key on the keyboard, an asterisk appears at the corresponding location on the keyboard layout. If you hold a key down, the asterisk begins to blink.
Monochrome Display Adapter and CRT Check Use this option to verify the operation of a monochrome display adapter, VGA, or EGA card attached to a monochrome monitor. This test includes several checks that allow you to identify particular problems related to the monochrome display. You can select the individual checks from this menu: If an error occurs during any of these tests, record the error code and message, or print them out. Then contact your Epson dealer or service center.
Attribute Check To check the display attributes of the adapter card, select 2. Several messages appear showing examples of all the possible display attributes (normal intensity, high intensity, blinking, reverse, and underlining). Check the information that appears on your screen, and then respond to the prompt: Is the display correct ? (Y/N) Select Y if the display is correct. If the display attributes are not correct, adjust the brightness and contrast on your monitor.
After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct ? (Y/N) If the characters match the illustration, select Y. If you find a problem with the characters on the screen, select N to display the error message. Video Check To check the video output of your monochrome adapter, select 4. This check displays two different screens: black and intensified white. First you see the black screen; press any key to display the intensified white screen. Then press any key to end this check.
Color Graphics Adapter and CRT Check Use this option to check the operation of a color graphics adapter (or MGA, EGA, or VGA) card and display. This test includes several checks that allow you to identify particular problems related to the color display. You can select the individual checks from this menu: If an error occurs during any of these tests, record the error code and message, or print them out. Then contact your Epson dealer or service center. When you finish testing the device, select 0 to exit.
Attribute Check To check the display attributes of the color graphics adapter card, select 2. Several messages appear showing examples of all the possible display attributes and colors. Check the information on your screen, and respond to the prompt: Is the display correct ? (Y/N) Select Y if the display is correct. If the colors are not correct, adjust the controls on your monitor. If they are still incorrect, select N. Contact your dealer to verify any monitor problems.
After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct ? (Y/N) If the characters match the illustration, select Y. If you find a problem with the characters on the screen, select N to display the error message. 40-column Character Set Check To check your 40-column character set, select 4. The character fonts that are included in the internal character generator are displayed on your screen. Compare the characters on your screen to the following illustration.
If the characters match the illustration, select Y. If you find a problem with the characters on the screen, select N to display the error message. 320x200 Graphics Mode Check To check your 320x200 graphics mode, select 5. The screen displays three colored squares-green, brown, and red-against a cyan background. These four colors are Color Set 0. If they are correct, select Y. The same pattern appears again; this time the squares are cyan, white, and magenta, and the background is red.
640x200 Graphics Mode Check To check your 640x200 graphics mode, select 6. The screen displays three patterned squares against a contrasting background, as shown below. If the patterns on your screen are clear and distinct, select Y. If any pattern is not clear, first check the adjustment of your monitor, and then make sure that both ends of the cable are plugged in firmly. If a problem still exists, select N to display the error message.
Screen Paging Check To check the screen paging of your monitor, select 7. The video RAM on the color graphics adapter is divided into eight independent display pages (numbered 0 through 7). This test checks the eight pages by first filling all eight with a number corresponding to the page, and then displaying each page in turn. You see the following pattern for screen 0: Once you examine this screen, press any key to display the next page. The eight pages are displayed sequentially.
Light Pen Check To check the function of a light pen connected to the color graphics adapter card, select 8. This test checks that a light pen connected to the color graphics adapter is performing accurately. When you select this check, you see these prompts: Confirm light pen is connected correctly before starting the check. Start the check ? (Y/N) After you verify that the light pen is connected properly, select Y.
Color Video Check This test displays 16 different screens, each a different color, and a message indicating the color. The screens show the following colors in the order specified below: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - Black Blue Green Cyan Red Magenta Brown White 910 11 12 13 14 15 16 - Gray Light blue Light green Light cyan Light red Light magenta Yellow White (high intensity) To start this test, select 9. Press any key to display each screen.
Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, select 11. When you choose this option, all checks for the color adapter and CRT are performed automatically in sequential order. Although you do not start each test, you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next. Press ESC to return to the menu. Diskette Drives and Controller Check Use this option to test the performance of the diskette drive(s) installed in your computer.
You can select the individual tests from the following menu. Before it performs any checks, the program determines the number of diskette drives installed in your computer. If you have more than one drive, you see this prompt each time you select a test: Enter drive number ? (l/2) Select 1 (for drive A) or 2 (for drive B). If any errors occur, record the error code and message and contact your dealer. Always have the diskette drive serviced by your dealer or service center.
Select option 1 from the menu to start this test. The program displays the number of each track it finds. For example, with a 1.2MB diskette, the first message you see is: Current track is 79 The track number counts down from 79 to 0 (39 to 0 for a 360KB diskette). The seek is performed by each head, so you see the count twice. If no errors occur, the menu is displayed.
If you have only one diskette drive, you see a prompt to remove the the Reference diskette and insert a blank diskette before running the test. You see these messages: If using drive 1, remove your Reference Disk. Insert a formatted blank disk in the drive before starting the check. Any data present may be erased. Start the check ? (Y/N) Make sure the blank diskette you prepared is in drive A (1), then select Y. The program displays the current track number as each cylinder is tested.
When you run the test for 1.2MB, 1.44MB, or 720KB drive, you see this prompt: Remove the disk from drive 1. Remove the diskette. The program displays the following prompt: Re-insert the disk into drive 1. Reinsert the diskette. If no errors occur, the menu reappears. An error occurs if you do not remove or replace the diskette in time or if the drive is malfunctioning. Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, select 5.
Parallel Port (Printer Interface) Check Use this option to test the operation of the primary parallel printer port. To perform the test, you must insert a special loopback connector into the parallel port so that the computer can check individual pins of the port. Contact your dealer if you need a loop-back connector. Note that a different connector is required to test the serial port.
Parallel Port (on Video Adapter) Check Use this option to test the operation of an additional parallel port on a video adapter. To perform the test, you must insert the special loop-back connector into the parallel port on the video adapter so that the computer can check individual pins of the port. This test is similar to the Parallel Port Check. For more details, see the description of the Parallel Port (Printer Interface) Check.
First, the program checks the serial port control lines to see that they are able to change from high to low and vice versa. No messages are displayed during this part of the test unless an error occurs. The second test is an echo back check during which the port sends data to itself in a fixed data format, at all the possible baud rates.
Alternate Serial Port Check Use this option to test the functions of an additional serial communications (RS-232C) port. To perform the test you must insert a special loop-back connector into the alternate serial port so that the computer can check individual pins of the port. This test is identical to the check for the primary serial port. For more details, see the description of the Serial Port (RS-232C Port) Check.
When you continue the test, the program checks that the printer is responding correctly. This test detects whether the printer is offline or whether an interface error exists. If no errors occur, the computer sends a repeating sequence of ASCII characters and bit-image data to the printer until you press any key. The pattern looks like this: The text data includes all the characters commonly used by programs that require foreign languages or graphic characters.
Hard Disk Drive(s) and Controller Check Use this option to test the performance of the hard disk drive(s) installed in your computer. If any errors occur, have your dealer or service center check and service the drive. When you select option 17 from the Device List, you see this menu: When you select a check from this menu, the program determines the number of hard disk drives installed in your computer.
Select option 1 from the menu to start this test. The program displays the number of each cylinder it finds. For example, with a hard disk, the first message you see is: Current cylinder is nnn where nnn is the largest cylinder number used on the drive. The cylinder number counts down to 0. The seek is performed by the read/write heads simultaneously, so you see the cylinder numbers only once. If no errors occur, the menu reappears.
If an error occurs, make a note of the code and message. Then use the Non-destructive surface analysis (option 3 on the Hard Disk Format Menu) to check the condition of the hard disk. If this analysis shows no other problems with the disk, follow these steps: 1. Back up all the files on your hard disk. 2. Reformat the disk using option 2, Format hard disk, on the Operation Menu. 3. Install MS-DOS on the hard disk according to the instructions in the MS-DOS Installation Guide. 4. Restore your files.
Press Enter when you have viewed the table. If the results show any read error tracks, run the write/read test (described above), and follow the instructions there. Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, select 4. When you choose this option, all checks for the hard disk drive(s) and controller are performed automatically in sequential order. Although you do not start each test, you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next.
Error Codes and Messages The following table lists all the error codes and messages that may appear during system diagnostics testing.
System diagnostics error codes and messages (continued) Performing System Diagnostics D-39
System diagnostics error codes and messages (continued) D-40 Performing System Diagnostics
Appendix E Physically Formatting a Hard Disk This appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk. Sometimes called a low-level format, this procedure should not be confused with the logical format performed by the MS-DOS FORMAT command. The physical formatting of a hard disk is a separate step that is usually done at the factory by the disk manufacturer. If your Equity 386/25 came with a hard disk, that disk has already been physically formatted.
In addition to destroying all the data on the hard disk, formatting removes any partitions defined on the disk by SELECT or FDISK and the logical formatting performed by SELECT or FORMAT. After you physically format a new or used hard disk (using option 1 or 2 of the Hard Disk Format Menu), you need to install MS-DOS. Follow the instructions in your MS-DOS Installation Guide. The installation process automatically partitions and formats the hard disk to prepare it for use.
The formatting options work as follows: Format first scans the disk (if it has no defective track table) for defective (bad) tracks and lets you decide which tracks to mark as bad. Then the program formats the disk and marks those bad tracks so they are never used to store data. Destructive surface analysis tests the entire disk for read/write errors or unflagged bad tracks and updates the defective track table.
Formatting a New Disk Many hard disk drives come with a printed list of bad tracks but without the bad tracks flagged on the disk. Other hard disks (such as those supplied by Epson) come with the bad tracks already flagged. If you are formatting a new hard disk that has never been formatted, select the l-Format option to format the disk. Selecting an Option When using this program, you often need to select an option from a menu.
Option 1, Format If you select l-Format from the Hard Disk Format Menu, you see the following (for a disk that does not have a defective track table): Format Hard Disk < Drive 1: > Scan hard disk to get defective track information ? (Y/N) (If the disk already has a defective track table, you do not see the message because the disk does not need to be scanned for bad tracks.) Select Y to scan the disk or N to skip the scanning process.
For the hard disk in the Equity 386/25, it is best to accept the recommended skewed sector (also called the interleave factor) of 1. For other hard disk drives, you may need to change this value if the documentation that came with the hard disk recommends a different number. To accept the default, select Y. To enter a new value, select N. You see the following prompt: Enter new skewed sectors in (l-16) : format Enter a number from 1 through 16 which equals the maximum sector number for the drive minus 1.
The program now allows you to edit the table of defective tracks: At the bottom of the table is this prompt: Modify defective track table ? (Y/N) Select N to leave the table as it is. Then skip the following section and go on to “Formatting the Disk,” below. To modify the defective track entries, select Y.
2. Type the number of the cylinder containing the bad track and press Enter. You see this prompt: Enter head number (0 - nn ): 3. Type the head number for the bad track and press Enter. To cancel the operation, press Enter without typing a value. When you complete a valid entry, it appears in the table and you can add the next bad track, if necessary. If you make a mistake, move the cursor block to the incorrect track and press C to alter the track data or press D to remove the track from the table.
Formatting the Disk When you are ready to start formatting the disk, you see the following warning: WARNING? ALL DATA WILL BE DESTROYED IN ALL PARTITIONS OF HARD DISK, NOT JUST IN MS-DOS PARTITION! Do you want to start formatting ? (Y/N) If you are not sure you want to format the hard disk, select N. If you are sure, select Y; the program gives you one more chance to cancel: DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOU HAVE BACKUP DISKETTE COPIES OF ALL YOUR FILES.
You see the head and cylinder numbers decrease as the program progresses. When formatting is complete, the program flags any bad tracks and you see a series of messages like these: Format finished. Flagging bad tracks... Cylinder is nnnn, head is nn Format completed. Press ENTER to return to the menu. Press Enter to return to the Hard Disk Format Menu.
To start this test, select 2-Destructive surface analysis from the Hard Disk Format Menu. You see these messages: Analyze Hard Disk Read/Save/Write/Read/Restore/Read check for all tracks... Current cylinder is nnnn As the program checks each track, it counts the cylinder numbers (nnnn) down to zero. When the test is complete, the program displays a report on the status of the disk, including a table of unflagged tracks that produced write, read errors-such as the following: Analysis finished.
To flag the error tracks as bad, select Y. You see a list of the tracks as they are flagged and these messages: Flagging bad tracks... Cylinder is 237, head is 2 Press ENTER to return to the menu. Press Enter to return to the Hard Disk Format Menu. Option 3, Non-destructive Surface Analysis The Non-destructive surface analysis does not destroy any data, and you can use it to safely check the condition of your hard disk drive. However, this test does not flag any bad tracks it detects.
If the program finds errors, the screen displays a table of the tracks that gave errors, similar to the one the Destructive surface analysis displays. After the status reports, you see this message: Press ENTER to return to the menu. Check the information displayed. Then press Enter to return to the Hard Disk Format Menu. Exiting the Hard Disk Format Menu To leave the Hard Disk Format Menu, select O-Exit. The screen displays the Operation Menu.
Appendix F Hard Disk Drive Types This appendix lists the types of hard disk drives you can use in your Equity 386/25. Check this table and the documentation supplied with your hard disk to find the correct number for the type of hard disk drive installed in your computer. You need to enter this number when you set the hard disk drive parameters in the Setup program. See Chapter 2 for instructions.
Hard disk drive types (continued) F-2 Hard Disk Drive Types
Notes: 1 Miniscribe 8425F. Seagate ST125 2 Conner CP-344 or Minrscribe 8051A can be used as type 17 3. For Western Digital ESDI HDC or Drive Maker default setting 4. Micropolis 1325, Ataal 3085. Lanstor Lan64. MaxtorXT1085, Newbury NDR1085 5. Micropolis 1323A. Miniscribe 3035, Microscience HH1050, Seagate ST4053 6. The landing zone value IS 964 Types 1 through 47 are allocated at OFE401 h, IBM new AT-compatible area. Types 48 through 63 are allocated at OFD2F1h to OFDFFOh.
Appendix G Specifications CPU and Memory 32-bit CPU 80386 microprocessor, 25 MHz or 24 MHz system clock speed, selectable through jumper; 24/25 MHz or simulated 8 MHz processor speed, selectable through a switch or through software 0 wait states at 25 MHz or 24 MHz operating speed 32-bit address and 32-bit data bus System memory 2MB RAM standard on memory expansion board; base memory of either 256KB, 512KB, or 640KB, selectable through DIP switch Memory expandable using 256KB or 1MB SIMMs up to 16MB (ma
Controllers Diskette Supports up to two drives in any of four formats: 5 ¼-inch, high-density, 1.2MB; 5 ¼-inch, double-density, 360KB; 3 ½inch, high-density, 1.
Power Supply Switching type, fan-cooled, 115/230 VAC (switch-selectable), 190W; +5 VDC, + 12 VDC, -5 VDC, -12 VDC; 50/60 Hz Mass Storage Four drives maximum, configurable using five half-height slots (two vertical mounts and three horizontal mounts) Standard 5 ¼-inch diskette drive, 1.2MB (highdensity) storage capacity Optional 5 ¼-inch diskette drive, 1.2MB (highdensity) storage capacity Optional 5 ¼-inch diskette drive, 360KB (doubledensity) storage capacity Optional 3 ¼-inch diskette drive, 1.
Keyboard Detachable, three positions, 101 sculpted keys Layout 58-key QWERTY main keyboard; 17-key numeric/cursor pad; 10 cursor keys; 16 function keys (user definable) Function keys Four levels (normal, shift, control, alternate); user-definable Environmental Requirements Temperature Operating range: 41° to 104°F (5° to 35°C) Storage range: Humidity -40° to 158°F (-40° to 60° C) Operating range: 20% to 80% non-condensing Storage range: 5% to 95% non-condensing Physical Characteristics Width 19.
Glossary Absolute pathname A pathname that begins with the backslash character. An absolute pathname tells MS-DOS how to find its way to a given directory, starting at the root directory. See also Relative pathname. Address A number or name that identifies the location where information is stored in a computer’s memory. 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.
Auto speed The Equity 386/25 feature that enables it to automatically switch from high speed (25 or 24 MHz) to low speed (simulated 8 MHz) when accessing the diskette drive (for copy-protected programs). Backup An extra copy of a program, data file, or disk, kept in case your working copy is damaged or lost. Base memory The amount of memory in the computer below 1MB that is available to MS-DOS and application programs-usually 640KB. Also called conventional memory or main memory.
Bit A binary digit (0 or 1). The smallest unit of computer storage. The value of a bit represents the presence (1) or absence (0) of an electric charge. Boot To load the operating system into the computer’s memory. Byte A sequence or group of eight bits that represents one character. Cache A high-speed type of memory buffer that is filled with information from base or extended memory where your system can access it faster. CGA Color Graphics Adapter.
Code A system of symbols for representing data or instructions. Also any software program or part of a program. Code page A table that defines the country-specific or language-specific character set you are using. Command An instruction you enter (usually on a keyboard) to direct your computer to perform a specific function. Command prompt The symbol or message that tells you MS-DOS is loaded and ready to receive instructions. The default command prompt displays the current drive and directory.
Coprocessor An optional device that enables the computer to process certain mathematical calculations faster. Copy-protected program A type of program that cannot be copied. Some copy-protected programs require you to leave the program diskette in the diskette drive while you are using it. Some also require the computer to be running at low speed (simulated 8 MHz) instead of high speed (25 MHz or 24 MHz). See also Auto speed. CPU Central Processing Unit.
Data Information such as text or graphics stored or processed by a computer. Data diskette A formatted diskette on which you store data files (as opposed to program files). Data length The number of bits per character in serial transmissions. Default Values or settings that take effect when the computer is turned on or reset. A default value stays in effect unless you override it temporarily by changing a setting or you reset the default value itself.
Device A piece of equipment that is part of a computer system and performs a specific task, such as a disk drive, a monitor, or a printer. Diagnostics The tests and procedures the computer performs to check its internal circuitry and set up its configuration. DIP switch A small switch on a computer, option card, or printer that controls a particular function. DIP stands for Dual In-line Package.
Display adapter card The circuit board installed in one of the computer’s option slots that provides the interface to which you connect the monitor. The display adapter card controls the way the monitor displays text and graphics. Also known as Video card. DOS The Disk Operating System that controls the computer’s input and output functions. See Operating system. Double-density A type of diskette format that allows you to store twice as much data as the standard-density format.
Expanded memory Memory that specially-written MS-DOS application programs can use with an Expanded Memory Specification (EMS) device driver such as EMM386.SYS. Extended Memory Memory above 1MB that is accessed by the protected mode of the 80386 microprocessor and available to some application programs and operating systems. Extended partition An additional MS-DOS partition; you can create one primary MS-DOS partition and one extended partition.
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. Formatting divides a disk into tracks and sectors and creates addressable locations on it. Graphics Lines, angles, curves, and other nonalphanumeric data. Hard disk The enclosed unit used to store data permanently. Unlike a diskette, it is fixed in place.
High-density A type of format that allows you to store more data than normal. A 5 ¼-inch high-density diskette can store 1.2 MB of data. A 3 ½-inch high-density diskette can store 1.44 MB of data. Input/output (I/O) port See Port. Interface A physical or software connection used to transmit data between equipment or programs. Internal command An MS-DOS command that is stored in the command processor of the operating system; it is not a separate program file. Examples include COPY, DEL, RENAME, and DIR.
LIM 4.0 EMS Version 4.0 of the Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded Memory Specification-a protocol that allows certain application programs to use memory that MS-DOS cannot use. Logical disk drive A subdivision of a physical disk drive, which MS-DOS treats as though it were a separate physical component of the computer. A physical disk drive may be divided into several logical disk drives. Main system board The board built into your computer containing the circuitry the computer requires to operate.
Memory The area where your computer stores data. Memory contents can be permanent and inalterable (ROM) or temporary (RAM). Memory module A small circuit board with an edge connector that contains memory chips. You can add 256KB or 1MB memory modules to the SIMM card inside the Equity 386/25 to expand the computer’s memory. A memory module is commonly called a SIMM (single inline memory module). Memory on card The additional memory on an option card installed in the computer. MGA Multi-graphics Adapter.
Monochrome monitor A monitor that displays in only one color, such as green or amber, as opposed to a color monitor which can display in several colors. Mouse A hand-held pointing device with one or more buttons. When you slide the mouse over a flat surface in a certain direction, the cursor moves in the same direction on the screen. MS-DOS Microsoft Disk Operating System. The operating system that comes with your computer. See Operating system.
Operating system A collection of programs (such as MS-DOS or MS OS/2) that manages a computer’s operations. The operating system determines how programs run on the computer and supervises all input and output. Option card A circuit board you install inside the computer to provide additional capabilities, such as more memory or a modem. Parallel The type of interface that transmits data in groups of bits. See Interface and Serial.
Pathname The list of directories and subdirectories you specify to locate a file. For example, the pathname for the file SALES which is located in the subdirectory BUSINESS of the root directory ( \ ) is \ BUSINESS \ SALES. Peripheral A device (such as a printer or a modem) connected to a computer that depends on the computer for its operation. Port A physical input/output socket on a computer where you can connect a peripheral device.
Prompt A message the screen displays that tells 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. All data stored in RAM is erased when you turn off the computer; so you must store any data you want to keep on a diskette or hard disk. Read To move data from one area to another.
RGB 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). Allo ther d irectories are subdirectories of the root directory or of other subdirectories. RS-232C A widely-used, standard type of serial interface. You can easily connect an RS-232C compatible device to the computer.
SIMM See Memory module. Software The programs that enable your computer to perform the tasks and functions you indicate. Source diskette The diskette that you are reading or copying data from during a copy or backup operation. SPF card Serial/Parallel/Floppy card. The circuit board inside the computer that provides the serial and parallel interfaces and contains the floppy disk drive controller. The SPF card occupies slot 7 in the Equity 386/25.
System diagnostics A series of checks you can perform on the computer to make sure the hardware is functioning correctly. System diskette A diskette that contains the operating system. Target diskette The diskette to which you are writing or copying data during a copy or backup operation. Tracks Addressable, concentric circles on a disk, resembling the grooves on a record, which help to divide the disk into separate accessible areas. There are 80 tracks on each side of a doublesided 1.2MB, 1.
Wildcard A character that represents any character or group of characters. The wildcard character * (asterisk) represents a group of characters, and the wildcard character ? (question mark) represents a single character. Write To store data on a disk. Write-protect To protect the data on a diskette from being changed by placing a write-protect tab over the notch on the side of a 5 ¼-inch diskette or by setting the write-protect switch on a 3 ½-inch diskette.
Index A Absolute pathname, 4-20-22 Alternate parallel port check, D-29 Alternate serial port check, D-32 APPEND, 4-22 Automatic configuration, Intro-2, 2-2 Auto speed function, 2-16-17, 3-6, B-17-18 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 4-5, 4-10, 4-17, 4-40-42 B Backing up data, 3-25-26, 3-29, 4-30-35 with BACKUP, 3-29, 4-34-35 with DISKCOPY, 3-25, 3-29, 4-30-34 BACKUP, 3-29, 4-34-35 Base memory, 2-2, 2-8, 2-29, A-6 Batch files, 4-10 AUTOEXEC.
Copying, diskettes, 3-20, 3-25-26, 4-30-34 files, 4-11-13 hard disk files, 4-34-35 Coprocessor, see Math coprocessor Copy-protected programs, 2-16-17, B-17-18 Cover, removing, 5-6-8 replacing, 5-15-16 CPU, G-l CPU speed, 2-16-17, 3-6-7, B-17-18 CPU SPEED switch, 2-16-17, 3-7, B-17-18 CTRL ALT DEL, 3-11 CTRL BREAK, 3-10 CTRL c, 3-10 Current directory, 4-19, 4-41 changing, 4-19 Current drive, 4-4-5 D DATE, 2-19, 4-8-9 Date, setting, 2-19-21, 4-8-9 Default directory, see Current directory Default drive, see
Diskettes, removing, 3-22-23 storing, 3-22 swapping, 3-27, 4-38 system, 3-25-26 types, 3-18-20 volume label, 4-29 write-protecting, 3-24-25 Display adapter cards, see Video cards Display screen, see Monitors Dot-matrix printer check, D-32-33 Double-density diskettes, 3-18 Double-sided diskettes, 3-18 Drive designator, 4-3-5 Drives, see Diskette drives see Hard disks E EDLIN, 4-43-47 EGA card, see Video cards EMM386.
Hard disks, how they work, 3-16-17 installing MS-DOS on, 3-l-2 loading MS-DOS from, 4-2-3 parking the heads, 3-30 partitions, 4-3, E-2, E-13 physically formatting, E-l-13 precautions, 3-28-29 preparing for moving, 3-30 preparing for use, 3-29 problems, B-14-17 setting types, 2-22-27 types, F-l-3 HDSIT, 3-30 HELP program, Intro-3, 4-35-37 Help, where to get, Intro-5 Hercules card, see Video cards High-density diskette, 3-18 L Loading MS-DOS, 4-2-3 Location, choosing for computer, 1-4 Locking the computer, 3
Monitor, connecting, 1-5-7 DIP switch, A-8 problems, B-9-10 selecting type, 1-5, 2-6-8 Monochrome display adapter and CRT check, D-13-15 Monochrome graphics adapter card, see Video cards Mouse, connecting, 1-12 port specifications, G-2 setting jumper, A-3 MS-DOS, command format, 4-7-8 command prompt, 4-2-3, 4-4, 4-19, 4-40-41 copying files, 4-11-13 correcting commands, 4-8 current directory, 4-19, 4-41 current drive, 4-4-5 deleting files, 4-15 directories, 4-16-27 diskettes, 1-2, 3-2 EMM386.
Pathnames, 4-20-22, 4-40 absolute, 4-20-22 including drive letters in, 4-21-22 including filenames in, 4-21-22 relative, 4-20-21 Physical characteristics, G-4 Physical formatting, E-l-13 Port, mouse, 1-12 parallel, 1-8-10 serial, 1-11 Power, connecting power cord, 1-13, 1-16-17 source, 1-4 supply, G-3 Power-on diagnostics, 2-14-15, C-1-3 Power-on password, changing, 3-34, 3-14-15 deleting, 3-4 disabling, B-5-7 entering, 3-2-3, 3-12-14 network server mode, 2-12-14, 3-12-15 problems, B-4-8 setting, 2-12-14 us
Setup program, extended memory caching, 2-7-9 fast boot function, 2-14-15, B-3 hard disk drive configuration, 2-22-27 leaving the program, 2-31 math coprocessor, 2-2 memory, 2-2, 2-7-9 network server mode, 2-12-14 password, 2-12-14 real-time clock, 2-19-21 running, 2-1-31 shadow RAM function, 2-18 starting the program, 2-3-7 summary, 2-29-30 Shadow RAM function, Intro-2, 2-18, 4-43-47 SHARE, 3-14 Shell program, 3-26, 3-28, 4-2-3, 4-13, 4-18, 4-28, 4-31, 4-35 SIMM card, 5-24, 5-10, A-6 SIMMs, 5-l-4, A-6-8 SM
W Warranty card, 1-2 Wildcard characters, 4-11-12 Write-protect notch, 3-24 Write-protect switch, 3-25 Write-protect tab, 3-24 Write-protecting diskettes, 3-24-25 X XCOPY, 3-20, 3-29, 4-13, 4-30-31, 4-34, 4-39 8 Index
Epson America, Inc.