EPSON® Equity™ III+ User’s Guide Y12699112300
IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY Seiko Epson Corporation makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you. COPYRIGHT NOTICE All rights reserved.
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception.
Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How to Use this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Setting Up Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing the disk drive protector sheet . . . . . . . . . . . Choosing a Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arranging the Components . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Using a Single Floppy Disk Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using a Hard Disk Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7 3-7 Installing Option Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 4-1 4-3 4-6 4-7 4-8 Removing the Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing an Option Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing an Option Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing the Cover . . . . . . . . .
Figures 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 1-6 1-7 1-8 1-9 1-10 1-11 1-12 System arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Backpanel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting the power cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting the cable to the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A-9 Main circuit board jumpers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10 Disconnecting disk drive cable from multi-function card . A-11 Removing multi-function card retaining screw . . . . . . . . A-12 Multi-function card jumpers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8 A-10 A-11 A-11 Tables 1-1 Monitor/video card compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8 2-1 Special keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction Your Epson Equity III+ personal computer is a versatile, highperformance system which offers you a wide variety of choices. First you choose between two models of the Equity III+ main unit, then select the monitor and peripherals you want to use with it to assemble the configuration that does the most for you. The Equity III+ main unit is available in these models: l One 1.2MB (megabyte) high-density floppy disk drive l One 1.2MB floppy disk drive and one 40MB internal hard disk drive.
The Equity III+ comes with the MS™-DOS operating system and the GW™-BASIC programming language. If you have used MS-DOS before on another computer, you will find that it works the same on the Equity III+. Be sure to refer to your Equity MS-DOS manual, however, for descriptions of the special utility programs added by Epson. You may have purchased other software; you can use most software products designed for the IBM PC, PC XT, and PC AT on your Equity III+.
Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System Setting up your Epson Equity III+ personal computer is easy. Just follow the steps in this chapter. Unpacking As you remove your system components from their cartons, be sure to inspect each piece. If anything is missing, looks damaged, or seems wrong, consult your Epson dealer.
Removing the disk drive protector sheet A cardboard sheet occupies the diskette slot in the floppy disk drive. This sheet is inserted at the factory to protect the read/write heads. Be sure to remove it before you connect any cables. Turn the latch that covers the disk slot counterclockwise until it is horizontal. Carefully pull out the sheet. If you have an optional 360KB or 720KB drive as well, press the disk drive button to release the protector sheet.
l No electromagnetic interference. Locate your system away from any electrical device that generates an electromagnetic field. Even a telephone can cause trouble, especially if you keep diskettes right next to it. 3 Arranging the Components First decide how you want to arrange the different parts of your system. Figure 1-1 shows a typical setup. Figure 1-1.
The front panel Figure 1-2 identifies the various components on the front panel. P;;;r Ha;;v$sk F l o p p y d i s k drive lamp LED lamp LED lamp ~/-!~j ~~ Disk lock/ release latch \:j
Key Lock. Use the key to lock the main unit and keyboard. Turn the key clockwise to lock the computer and counterclockwise to unlock it. You can remove the key in either position. (Locking the computer disables the RESET button.) RESET button. Press this button to reset the computer. When an operating system is running and the computer is unlocked, you can press the RESET button to reboot the system. CPU SPEED switch.
WARNING: Connect all your peripherals before you plug in the power cable. After you plug in the power cable, always turn off the power switch before you connect or disconnect any peripheral. Voltage switch. Leave this switch at 115V for USA and Canadian use. Slide the switch to the right to select 230V for use in other countries (as necessary). AC Power outlet. Auxiliary power outlet. Some monitors (and other types of peripherals) can be plugged into the main unit here, instead of a wall outlet.
Figure 1-4. Connecting the power cord Connecting a Video Monitor The procedure you use to connect your monitor to the main unit depends on the type of monitor you have. Refer to your monitor manual for detailed instructions or follow the general guidelines below. Note: Your dealer may have installed a video card in your main unit to control your monitor. If not, you need to install it before you can connect your monitor.
Figure 1-5. Connecting the monitor The monitor type must match the video card in the main unit. If you have a color card, you can use one of two connectors: a nine-pin, female D-connector for RGB monitors or an RCA connector for composite video monitors. Consult Table 1-1 to make sure your card and monitor match. Table 1-1.
Note: If a monochrome monitor has the proper type of plug, you can plug it into the auxiliary outlet next to the power inlet at the back of the Equity III+ main unit. 5. Set the monitor switch on the front panel of the main unit for the type of monitor you are using. (See Figure 1-2.) Slide the switch to the left for a monochrome monitor or to the right for a color monitor. Connecting the Keyboard Follow these steps to connect the keyboard: 1. Connect the cable to the keyboard as shown in Figure 1-6.
3. Plug the other end of the cable into the keyboard socket, as shown in Figure 1-8. Do not force the connector, but be sure to insert it all the way. Figure 1-8. Plugging the keyboard cable into the main unit You can tilt the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. To adjust the legs, turn the keyboard over and lift each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown in Figure 1-9. You can adjust the legs to two different positions, or leave them flat. Figure 1-9.
Connecting a Printer The Equity III+ has both parallel and serial interfaces. You can easily connect a printer or plotter that has either type of interface-just follow the instructions below. Epson offers a full range of printer products. Consult your dealer for more information. Parallel interface The Equity III+ parallel interface is Centronics®-compatible and uses a DB-25S connector. Most Epson printers have parallel interfaces.
4. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer as shown in Figure 1-11. To secure the cable, tighten the squeeze locks at each side of the printer port and push them into the connectors on each side of the cable. Figure 1-11. Connecting the printer 5. Plug the printer’s power cable into an electrical outlet. Serial interface If you have a printer (or another peripheral such as a modem) with a serial interface, connect it to the serial (RS-232C) port at the back of the main unit.
instead. Some Epson printers support the IBM character set (the character set the Equity III+ uses) as a standard feature, and others can be adapted. In addition, some application programs can print the special graphic characters on a standard printer when you use a special printer driver program. Ask your Epson dealer for more information. 8 Turning On the Computer After you set up your system, you’re ready to turn on the power and start using your Equity III+ computer.
First, make sure the power cord is plugged into the power inlet on the back panel of the main unit. Then plug the power cable into a 3-prong, 120-volt, grounded electrical outlet. Turn on the monitor so you can see the messages that appear as your computer starts up. If you have a printer or other peripheral device, turn it on next. You can turn on your computer with or without a system diskette in the top disk drive. For now, leave the drive empty.
Initial screen display After the computer completes its self test, a message tells you how much RAM (random access memory) is available, for example: 640 KB 0K Then the following message displays: Non-System disk or disk error Replace and strike any key when ready This tells you the computer can now load an operating system from a diskette in the top drive. The Equity III+ needs a disk operating system (DOS) to function. It comes with MS-DOS version 3.2.
Chapter 2 Using the Equity III+ This chapter covers some basic procedures for using your Equity III+ computer and keyboard. Locking the Computer The key lock on the front panel allows you to disable the keyboard and RESET button and lock the top cover of the main unit for security. This provides a safeguard against someone accessing confidential information or altering your computer’s internal hardware.
Your Equity III+ comes with two keys; store them safely in different locations in case you misplace one. The keys come with an identification tag and an Epson ID card which contains the serial number and an address. If you need replacement keys, send your request to this address. Keep the ID card in a safe place, too; without the card, you cannot get replacement keys. Be sure the computer is unlocked before you try to use the keyboard. Otherwise, it does not respond to anything you enter.
To remove the diskette, turn the latch counterclockwise until it is horizontal and the diskette pops out. Carefully pull out the diskette, place it in its protective envelope, and store it properly, such as in a special diskette container. If you have an optional 360KB or 720KB floppy disk drive as well, insert the diskette the same way as for a 1.2MB drive (with the label facing up). When it is all the way in, press the disk drive button to lock it in place.
Table 2-1. Special keys The Num Lock, Scroll Lock, and Caps Lock keys work as toggles when you press them. When the function is enabled, the corresponding light on the upper-right corner of the keyboard is on; when the function is disabled, the light is off.
Controlling the Volume Your Equity III+ has a speaker which enables it to beep when you are using certain application programs. You can control the speaker’s loudness with the VOLUME knob on the front panel. See Figure 2-4. Turn it to the right to make it louder or to the left to make it quieter. i\ II VOLUME control knob CPU SPEED switch Figure 2-4.
When the computer is running at 6 MHz, the LED power light is red. At 8 MHz, the LED is orange, and at 10 MHz, the LED is green. After you change the speed, you need to reset the computer by pressing the RESET button to make the new speed take effect. See “Resetting the Computer” below. WARNING: Do not change the speed while you are running a program; if you do, the computer hangs up. Complete your current operation, exit the program, and then change the speed and press RESET.
3. Remove any diskettes from the floppy disk drives. Turn off the monitor and any peripheral devices and then turn off the Equity III+ using the power switch on the right side of the main unit. Wait five seconds and then switch the power back on. Turning Off the Computer Before you turn off your computer, save your data, exit the program you are using, and then remove all diskettes from the disk drives.
2-8
Chapter 3 Using Disks and Disk Drives The disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk, and retrieve and use stored data when you like. All Equity III+ systems have at least one floppy disk drive; you may also have a hard disk drive and/or a second floppy disk drive in your system. This chapter explains how disks work and tells you how to: l l l Choose floppy disks Care for your disks and disk drives Protect your data l Use a single floppy disk drive l Use a hard disk drive.
Choosing Diskettes for the Equity III+ When you buy diskettes, be sure to choose high-quality diskettes with reinforced hub rings. The added reliability is well worth the extra cost. You also need to make sure you buy the proper format type for the drive(s) in your system. The top floppy disk drive on the Equity III+ has a capacity of 1.2MB (megabytes) and uses 5%inch, high-density, soft-sectored, 96 TPI(tracks per inch) diskettes. Each high-density diskette can hold 1.
You can use a double-density diskette in a 1.2MB drive if you format it as a 360KB (or 320KB) diskette in the 1.2MB drive first. (Your MS-DOS or other operating system manual explains how to format a diskette in the density you choose.) After you do this, you can read and write to that diskette only when it is in a 1.2MB drive. If you write to it in a 360KB drive, it may become unusable in both drives. Also, you may not be able to read the diskette in a 360KB drive. You can use a 1.
If you have two drives of different types and want to copy from one diskette to another of the same type, you need to use MS-DOS to change your system’s drive configuration. You do this by inserting the MS-DOS command DRIVER.SYS in a configuration file. See “Device Drivers” in Chapter 7 of your MS-DOS manual for instructions. You can copy files between a hard disk and any type of diskette. See your MS-DOS or other software manual for instructions on how to copy files.
l l Do not remove a diskette or turn off the computer while the drive light is on. This light indicates that the computer is copying data to or from a disk. If you interrupt this process, you can destroy data. Remove all diskettes before you turn off the computer. If you have a hard disk drive, take these additional precautions: l l l Never turn off the power to the computer when the hard disk drive light is on. This light indicates that the computer is currently copying data to or from the hard disk.
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, an error message displays. To write-protect a 514inch diskette, cover the small, rectangular notch shown in Figure 3-1 with an adhesive write-protect tab. Write-protect tabs usually come with new 5Kinch diskettes when you buy them. To unwriteprotect a 5!4inch diskette, remove the write-protect tab. ‘r 0 \ a Write-protect notch Figure 3-1.
To unwrite-protect a 3%inch diskette, move the switch up toward the center of the diskette so the hole is covered. Using a Single Floppy Disk Drive An operating system expects the computer to have at least two physical disk drives, and it displays prompts and messages accordingly. If your system has a single floppy disk drive, MS-DOS treats your single drive like two logical drives. This helps you perform operations that normally require two floppy disk drives.
l Partition the hard disk to run the MS-DOS operating system using the MS-DOS program FDISK. l Format the MS-DOS partition with the MS-DOS program SELECT. l Copy the MS-DOS utility programs to the hard disk using SELECT For instructions on running the diagnostics program, see your Diagnostics manual. For instructions on how to use the MS-DOS programs, refer to your MS-DOS manual.
Chapter 4 Installing Option Cards Option cards are accessories you can install in your Equity III+ to provide extra capabilities. For example, you can add another disk drive or expand the computer’s internal memory up to 15.5MB. The Equity III+ has nine option card slots, so it can hold up to nine cards. A hard disk controller card occupies one slot (whether or not your system has a hard disk) and the parallel and serial interface and floppy disk controller card occupies another.
Figure 4-1. Buck panel mews 4. Turn the main unit around so the front panel faces you. Hold on to the two sides of the cover and carefully pull it straight toward you, away from the back of the computer, as shown in Figure 4-2, until it is about an inch past the power switch. The cover fits tightly, so if you have trouble moving it at first, keep pulling it back firmly. Figure 4-2. Sliding back the cover 5.
Figure 4-3. Removing the cover Installing an Option Card Figure 4-4 shows the nine option slots in the Equity III+ (two of which are occupied). Figure 4-4.
Slot 8 contains the parallel and serial interface and floppy disk controller card, and slot 9 contains the hard disk controller card. The video card must be installed in slot 7. Slots 1, 7, and 8 are designed for 8-bit option cards and the other six--slots 2 through 6 and 9-are designed for 16-bit option cards. Figure 4-5 shows both types of cards. As you can see, the 16-bit card has a second connector. 16-bit option card 8-bit option card Figure 4-5.
Figure 4-6. Removing an option slot cover 2. Unpack the option card and adjust any switches or jumper connections on it if necessary. (For example, a memory expansion card usually contains DIP switches that you need to set. See the option card instructions.) Note: If the option card you are installing requires you to change any of the jumper connections on the Equity III+ main circuit board, memory card, or multi-function card, see Appendix A, ‘Jumper Settings.
Figure 4-7. Inserting an option card 5. Once the connector pins are sitting in the connector slot, push the card downward firmly (but carefully) to fully insert it. If the card does not go in smoothly, do not force it-pull it all the way out and try again, keeping it straight. 6. Secure the adapter plate on the end of the card to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. Removing an Option Card To remove an option card, follow the same basic procedure you used to install it.
Replacing the Cover After you install (or remove) an option card, follow these steps to replace the main unit’s cover: 1. With the front of the computer facing you, position the cover on the computer as shown in Figure 4-8. Figure 4-8. Replacing the cover 2. Pull the sides outward slightly and guide the curved edge on the bottom of the cover underneath the ledge on the bottom of the computer. 3.
Post-installation Setup After you install an option card (and replace the main unit’s cover and reconnect the power cord and peripherals), you may need to run the Setup program on the diagnostics diskette to update the configuration information. For example, if you add a hard disk, you need to tell the computer that it has the additional drive. See your Diagnostics manual for instructions. You may also need to add some commands in the configuration files on your system disk.
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting You should not encounter any serious difficulties as you set up and use your Equity III+. But if anything out of the ordinary happens, refer to this chapter. Usually, such a situation requires nothing more than adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. You can use the suggestions here to solve most problems you may encounter. If the recommended solution does not work, consult an Epson dealer about servicing the computer.
The Video Display Does Not Appear If the computer starts up but no image appears on the screen, follow these steps to solve the problem: 1. Check to see that the power indicator on the video monitor is lit. If it is not, turn off the monitor’s power, wait five seconds, then turn the power back on. Wait to see if the display screen image appears. 2. Use the controls on the monitor to turn up the brightness and contrast. 3.
Floppy Disk Problems If you have trouble with a diskette, check the following questions: 1. Is the diskette damaged? Copy the diskette and repeat the operation that caused the problem using the copy. (If you have trouble copying the entire diskette, some of the sectors may be bad. Try to copy single files with the Copy command.) If the operation works using the copy, the original diskette is probably damaged. Make another copy to use as a backup. 2.
Hard Disk Problems If you have problems with your hard disk when you first start to use it, check to see if it has been set up properly. See “Using a Hard Disk Drive” in Chapter 3 and refer to your MS-DOS manual. If you cannot access data stored on your hard disk, you may have accidentally repartitioned or reformatted part or all of the hard disk. If you have not done so and your hard disk does not function properly, have an authorized Epson service center check your hard disk.
Option Card Problems If you install an option card and get unexpected results, check the following: 1. Is the option card installed correctly? 2. Did you follow the setup and operation procedures in the option card instructions? 3. Did you set any necessary DIP switches or jumpers on the option card? See your option card instructions. 4. Did you change any necessary jumper settings in the main unit? See Appendix A, “Jumper Settings.” 5.
Appendix A Jumper Settings This appendix describes how to set the jumpers inside the Equity III+ if you install optional devices that require different jumper settings in the main unit. It is best if your dealer installs the option and makes all the necessary adjustments when you buy it. If you decide to do it yourself, be very careful when you follow the procedures in this appendix. There are many system components which can be damaged accidentally.
The procedure for changing a jumper setting is given first, then the jumper functions and locations for each card are described separately. All the instructions assume you have already removed the cover from the main unit. For instructions on removing the cover, replacing the cover, and installing and removing option cards, see Chapter 4.
In all cases, make sure you need to alter the jumper settings for the option you are installing before you change anything. Table A-l shows the functions for the jumpers on the memory card. Table A-1.
Figure A-4 shows the locations of the seven jumpers. Refer to Table A-l above to set them as needed. Figure A-4. Memory card jumpers When you finish setting the jumpers, replace the memory card in the computer and secure it with the retaining screw. Main Circuit Board Jumpers The jumpers on the main circuit board control the following functions: l l CPU clock. Leave this jumper in its factory setting. Math coprocessor clock speed.
Number of wait states for EPROM. If necessary, you can change the number of wait states (1 or 2) used by the EPROM. Please consult your dealer for assistance. Number of wait states for 16-bit device access. If necessary, you can change the number of wait states (1, 2, 3, or 4) required by the 16-bit optional devices. Please consult your dealer for assistance. Table A-2 shows the functions for the six jumpers on the main circuit board. Table A-2.
Figure A-5. Removing circuit board screws 3. The small circuit board (on the front of the computer), which contains the power and hard disk LEDs, is connected to the hard disk controller card by a black and red twisted cable. Unplug the connector from the hard disk controller card-the connector is labeled CN6 on the cardas shown in Figure A-6, and lay the cable to one side. Figure A-6.
4. Pull the white levers on the front of the circuit board apart to maneuver the board slightly away from the computer, about 1/2 inch. See Figure A-7. Be careful not to strain any connecting cables. Figure A-7. Removing circuit board 5. Locate the connector marked CN6 at the back right corner of the circuit board. Squeeze the tab slightly and unplug it from the circuit board, as shown in Figure A-8. Figure A-8.
6. Pull the circuit board out two inches more. Locate the connector marked CN3 on the front right corner of the circuit board (see Figure A-8 above) and carefully unplug it. 7. Remove the main circuit board completely from the computer. Figure A-9 shows the locations of jumpers 2 and 3. Refer to Table A-2 above to set them as needed. CN6 CN3 1 Figure A-9. Main circuit board jumpers When you finish changing the jumpers, follow these steps to reinstall the main circuit board: 1.
3. Continue sliding the board into the computer until it is just 1/2 inch short of being in all the way. 4. Reconnect the connector marked CN6 on the back right corner of the main circuit board. 5. Slide the board the rest of the way in. Make sure no cables or loose connectors are blocking its path. It should snap into place as it connects with the option slot board. 6. Reconnect the connector marked CN6 at the end of the LED cable to the hard disk controller card. 7.
Table A-4. Multi-function card jumper settings for serial port 5 Jumper6number 9 A A A B B A B Function Enable built-in port as primary * Enable built-in port as secondary Disable built-in port * Default setting To access the multi-function card jumpers, you need to remove the card from the computer: 1. Unplug the disk drive cable from the card as shown in Figure A-10. Pull it straight up and out, then lay it to one side. Figure A-10. Disconnecting disk drive cable from multi-function card 2.
Figure A-11. Removing multi-function card retaining screw 3. Remove the card from the slot (pull it straight up) and set it on a soft surface with the components facing up. Figure A-12 shows where the jumpers are located. Change them as needed and then reverse the three steps above to reinstall it. Figure A-12.
Appendix B Equity III+ Specifications CPU and Memory 16-bit CPU 80286 microprocessor, 6,8, or 12 MHz clockrate, switch-selectable Real address (8086-compatible) and protected virtual address (multi-tasking or multiuser) modes 24-bit address and 16-bit data bus Main memory 640KB RAM on memory card; expandable to 15.
Interfaces (continued) Option slots Nine IBM-compatible input/output expansion slots: one occupied by hard disk controller card and another occupied by parallel and serial interface and floppy disk controller card; seven slots available for options in base configuration: five with 16-bit bus and two with 8-bit bus Speaker Internal, with volume control Clock/calendar/ RAM Real-time clock, calendar, and 50-byte CMOS RAM for configuration; battery backup Power Supply Switching type, fan-cooled, 115/230
Mass Storage (continued) Optional 5Gnch, half-height or full-height internal hard disk drive; 40MB storage capacity (formatted) 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 Three levels (normal/shift/alternate), userdefinable Environmental Requirements Temperature Operating range: 41° to 104°F (5° to 35°C) Storage range: 22° to 158°F (-20° to 60°C) Humidity Ope
Options Monochrome video card Supports Epson- or IBM-compatible monochrome monitor; 80-character x 25-line display; 9 x 14 character block; installs in option slot TTL green or amber monochrome monitor (12-inch diagonal) High-persistence, P-39 phosphor screen; etched surface to reduce glare; 22 MHz video bandwidth; 35 W Color/graphics video card Supports Epson- or IBM-compatible RGB color or composite video monitor; 40character x 25-line display (low-resolution text); 80-character x 25-line display (hi
Appendix C Glossary ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standardized coding system for representing characters, such as numbers, letters, and graphic symbols, An ASCII character occupies one byte of storage. Files transmitted in ASCII code can be used by many different computers, printers, and programs. Asynchronous A method of data transmission in which one machine sends data one character at a time to another, without either machine preparing for the transmission.
Command An instruction you enter on the keyboard to direct your computer to perform a specific function. Configuration The particular setup of a group of components. For example, a CPU with two floppy disk drives, connected to a monochrome monitor and a printer is a typical system configuration. Control code A command (generated when you hold down Ctrl and press another key on the keyboard) that instructs your computer to perform a specific function. CPU Central Processing Unit.
Disk drive The physical device which allows the computer to read from and write to a disk. A floppy disk drive has a disk slot on the front panel of the main unit into which you insert diskettes. A hard disk is permanently fixed inside the main unit, hidden behind the front panel. Diskette A flat piece of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material and used to store data permanently. Also called floppy disk. DOS The Disk Operating System that controls the computer’s input and output functions.
Hardware Any physical component of a computer system, such as a monitor, printer, keyboard, or CPU. High-density A type of diskette format that allows you to store up to 1.2MB of data. Input/output port See Port. Interface A physical or software connection used to transmit data between equipment or programs. Kilobyte (KB) A unit used to measure storage space (in a computer’s memory or on a disk). One kilobyte equals 1024 bytes. LED Light Emitting Diode.
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 device used (as an alternative to a keyboard) to control a pointer on the screen and operate a program. MS-DOS An operating system from Microsoft. See DOS, Operating system. Operating system A collection of programs that allow a computer to control its operations.
Quad-density A type of diskette format that allows you to store twice as much data as the double-density format. A double-sided quad-density diskette for the Equity III+ has a storage capacity of 720KB. RAM Random Accesss Memory. The part of memory that a computer can both read and write to. The programs you use are temporarily stored in RAM. All data stored in RAM is erased when you turn off the power. Read To copy data from one area to another.
Software The programs that enable your computer to perform the tasks and functions you indicate. System diskette A diskette that contains the operating system. Tracks Addressable concentric circles on a diskette, resembling the grooves on a record, which help to divide the diskette into separate accessible areas. There are 40 tracks on each side of a double-sided, double-density diskette and 80 tracks on each side of a double-sided, quad-density or a double-sided, high-density diskette.
Index A AC inlet, 1-5 -6, 5-1 AC outlet, 1-5-6 Adjusting keyboard legs, 1-10 Application program, 1-13, 2-1, 2-5 Arranging components, 1-3 ASCII codes, 1-12 Asynchronous, B-1, C-1 Auto-boot MS-DOS, 1-15 Auxiliary power outlet, 1-2, 1-6, 1-9 B Back panel, 1-5 Back panel screws, 4-2 BACKUP program, 3-7 Backup copies, 1-15, 3-5, 3-7 Booting MS-DOS, 1-15 See also Resetting Brightness control, monitor, 1-14, 5-2 Button, RESET, 1-5, 2-6 C Cable, keyboard, 1-1, 1-9 -10 monitor, 1-7 -9 parallel, 1-1 1-12 power
D Data diskette, copying, 3-5, 5-3 Data, protecting, 3-5 DB-9P, 1-12, B-l DB-25S, 1-11, B-1 D connector, 1-8, 1-11 Diagnostics diskette, 1-1, 3-7, 4-8, A-4 DIP switches, 4-5, 5-4 -5 Disabling keyboard, 2-1 DISKCOPY, 3-5 Disk drive, caring for, 3-4 -5 compatibility, 3-2 -4, 5-3 floppy, 1-4, 2-2, 3-1, B-l hard, 1-4, 3-1, 3-7, B-l inserting diskettes into, 2-2 LED lamp, 1-4 optional, 1-4 problems, 5-3 -4 protector sheet, 1-2 single floppy, 3-7 slot, 2-2 Diskette, backing up, 1-15, 3-5, 3-7 care and handling,
Head, read/write, 1-2, 3-1, 3-4 High-density diskettes, 3-2 -3, 5-3, B-2 I ID card, 2-2 Identification tag, 2-2 Initial screen display, 1-15 Initial setup procedure, 1-14 Inlet, AC, 1-5, 5-1 Input/output port, 1-5, B-2 Inserting diskette, 2-2 Installing option card, 4-1 -6 Installing video card, 1-7, 4-1 -6 Interface, clock/calendar/RAM, B-2 option slots, B-2 parallel, 1-11, B-1 serial, 1-12, B-1 speaker, B-2 Internal self test, 1-14 J Jumper settings, 4-5, 5-5, A-1 -2 Jumpers, changing, A-2 main circui
Monochrome, monitor, l-l, 1-7-8, B-4 video card, l-l, 1-8, B-4 Moving computer, 1-1 -2 MS-DOS, booting, 1-15 copying, 3-8 operating system, l-l, 1-15 preparing hard disk, 1-15, 3-7-8 system diskette, 1-5, 1-15, 3-5 Multi-function card, location, A-1 jumpers, A-9 removing, A-10 Multi-tasking, B-1 Multi-user, B-1 O Operating system, copying, 3-8 diskette, 1-5 loading, 1-15 Optional disk drive slot, 1-4 Option card, access slots, 1-5 connector(s), 4-4 connector slot, 4-4 -6 installing, 4-1 -6 post-installati
Removing option card, 4-6 Replacing cover, 4-7 RESET button, 1-5, 2-6 Resetting computer, 2-6, 5-4 Retaining screw, option card, 4-4 RGB color monitor, 1-8, B-4 RS-232C serial port, 1-12, B-1 S Safety rules, 1-13 SELECT program, 3-8 Self test, internal, 1-14 Serial, cable, 1-12 controller card, 1-6, 4-1, 4-4, A-l, A-9 interface, 1-12, B-1 port, 1-5, 1-12, A-9 -10 printer, 1-12, B-l RS-232C port, 1-12 SETMODE command, 1-12 Setting up system, l-l Setup, program, 3-7, 4-8, A-4 Setup, post-installation, 4-8 S
