EQUITY™LT™-386SX User’s Guide EPSON®
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if it is not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, it may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential installation.
EPSON® EQUITY™LTTM-386SX User’s Guide
IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you. COPYRIGHT NOTICE All rights reserved.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference. 2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. 3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. 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.
12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Guide, 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. Refer all servicing in those compartments to service personnel. 13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: A. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed. B.
Contents Introduction How To Use This Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Where To Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System 1 Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Installing the Hard Disk Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Connecting a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 2 Using the Equity LT-386SX Using the AC Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting the Battery Pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Status Indicator Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opening and Closing the Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Directories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Current Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Listing the Contents of a Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Pathnames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creating Directories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing Directories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Copying From One Directory to Another. . .
Appendix A DIP Switches Setting the DIP Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accessing the DIP Switches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing the Expansion Card Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix B Installing Options Connecting an External Color Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting an External Diskette Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the Internal Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Run Time Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timebound Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continuous Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Passbound Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Error Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executing Diagnostics Tests in Batch Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Running the Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Floppy Disk Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diskette Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Drive Speed Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Random R/W Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sequential R/W Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Disk Change Line Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Floppy Disk Error Messages . . . . . . . .
Appendix F Using Other Reference Diskette Utilities Using Microsoft Windows/386 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Microsoft Windows, Version 3.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using VGARAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using SCROLL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction Your Epson®’ Equity LT-386SX portable computer is a compact, high-performance system you can use just about anywhere: at the office, at home, or on the road. Its rechargeable battery lets you use it in remote locations when you don’t have access to an electrical outlet. With the AC adapter connected, you can use the computer as long as you like and recharge the battery in the process.
The 80386SX microprocessor inside your Equity LT-386SX can run at an execution speed of 16 MHz or 8 MHz. Ordinarily, you’ll want to use the 16 MHz speed to get faster performance from your computer. A few application programs may require 8 MHz, and the 8 MHz speed consumes less energy, if you want to conserve battery life. You can establish the default execution speed in the SETUP program, which you can run when you turn on or reset the computer.
The following optional equipment is available from your Epson dealer: D A 16 MHz 80387SX math coprocessor Cl A 2400-baud, Hayes-compatible, auto-dial internal modem Ci An internal RAM memory card to expand memory to 4MB Ci An external 1.2MB, 5 ‘/+inch diskette drive Cl The GW-BASIC programming language Cl One or more 20MB or 40MB hard disk drives CI An additional battery pack CI An additional AC adapter Cl An adapter for an external, Epson keyboard LI Carrying case.
Q MS-DOS Shell User’s Guide-Use this manual to learn about the MS-DOS Shell feature. Cl MS-DOS Command Summary-Use this as a quick reference when you need to check on the format of a command. In addition to MS-DOS, 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 some MS-DOS commands for routine operations, such as file copying and disk management.
How To Use This Manual This manual explains how to set up and care for your Equity LT-386SX. It also describes how to use your computer and run diagnostic checks. The eight steps in Chapter 1 explain how to set up your computer and prepare it for use. On the inside back cover is a foldout with illustrations of the LT-386SX; you may want to refer to these illustrations while you set up the computer.
Appendix E explains how to install the LCD video driver for OS/2. Appendix F explains how to install other utilities on the Reference diskette, including the LCD VGA video driver for Microsoft Windows/386. At the back of the manual is a glossary of computer terms. Where To Get Help Customer support and service for Epson products is provided by a network of authorized Epson dealers and Customer Care Centers throughout the United States.
Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System Setting up your Epson Equity LT-386SX portable computer is easy. Just follow the steps in this chapter. They describe how to attach the hard disk, connect a printer, and attach the AC adapter and power cord that come with your Equity LT-386SX. After assembling these parts, you start the computer and run the system SETUP program. Then turn to Chapter 2 for information about using the computer.
The standard DIP switch settings are appropriate whether your computer uses the LCD or an external color monitor and whether your computer uses only the internal diskette drive or also uses a hard disk drive and an external diskette drive. If you plan to keep this standard setup, continue with the instructions in this chapter. If your system does not match this configuration, you need to change the appropriate switches as described in Appendix A before you begin.
In addition to this manual, you should have the following items: Cl The main unit Cl The battery pack Ci The AC adapter LI The power cord Cl The hard disk drive (if purchased) Ci The Equity LT-386SX Reference diskette CI The three MS-DOS diskettes: Install, Operating, and Shell CI The MS-DOS manuals: MS-DOS Installation Guide, MS-DOS Reference Manual, MS-DOS Shell User’s Guide, MS-DOS Command Summary. You’ll also find a registration card with the main unit. Fill out this card now and mail it to Epson.
2 Installing the Hard Disk Drive The computer comes with an empty hard disk box installed in the main unit. Your hard disk drive, which may be either 20MB or 40MB, comes in its own package. Your dealer may have installed the hard disk. If the hard disk drive is installed, you can skip this step. If your dealer has not installed the hard disk, your computer contains a box with a label that says, “This box is empty!“. You install the hard disk drive above the keyboard panel on the computer.
2. To remove the empty hard disk box, press in on the PUSH button. When the box releases, lift it straight up and out. Store the empty hard disk box with your other packing materials. 3. Face the front of the computer and hold the hard disk drive with the PUSH button on the left and the retractable tabs on the right.
4. Position the hard disk drive directly above the hard disk drive slot on the computer. The connectors on the hard disk drive fit into the sockets on the computer. 5. Keep the hard disk drive level and lower it straight down into the slot. If you lower either side first, the connectors do not fit into the sockets.
6. Press firmly (but carefully) on the hard disk drive until it snaps into place. A new hard disk drive must be partitioned and formatted to run an operating system. The MS-DOS installation program, called SELECT, performs these functions. See your MS-DOS Installation Guide for instructions after you complete the remaining steps in this chapter. 3 Connecting a Printer The Equity LT-386SX has both parallel and serial interfaces (ports).
Using the Parallel Interface The computer’s Centronics-compatible parallel interface provides a 25-pin, D-shaped female connector. Most Epson printers have parallel interfaces. To connect a printer to the computer, you need an IBM PC-compatible printer cable. If you’re not sure which one you need, consult your Epson dealer. Once you have a printer cable, follow these steps to connect your printer to the parallel interface labeled PRINTER on the computer: 1. Place the printer next to your computer. 2.
labeled PRINTER on the right side of the computer, as shown below. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them by hand or with a screwdriver. 5. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer as shown in the following illustration. To secure the cable, squeeze the clips at each side of the printer connector and push them into place.
6. Plug the printer’s power cable into an electrical outlet. The standard DIP switch settings for the LT-386SX define your PRINTER port as the primary parallel port. If you think the DIP switch settings have been changed or you would like a different setting, see Appendix A. Using the Serial Interface If you have a printer or other peripheral device that uses a serial interface, connect it to the serial interface labeled RS232C on the right side of the computer.
Make sure the serial port is set up to function properly. If you are using the port for a serial printer, you must also redirect printer output from the parallel port to the serial port. Use the MS-DOS MODE command (or the Epson MENU program) to make these changes. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions. The standard DIP switch settings for the LT-386SX define your RS232C port as the primary serial port.
3. The end of the AC adapter cable is shaped like a box. Notice the plastic safety cover that protects the connector on the AC adapter. Slide the release tab in the direction shown on the tab to release the safety cover. Lift off the cover and store it in a safe place. 4. Slide this box up into the slots on the connector on the back panel of the computer. Press the connector box up until it snaps into place.
Be sure to read “Using the AC Adapter” in Chapter 2 for more information about the AC adapter. When you are not using the AC adapter, replace the safety cover that protects the connector.
5 Connecting the Power Cord Follow these steps to connect the power cord: 1. Connect the power cord to the adapter’s input socket. 2. Plug the other end of the power cord into a grounded, 120-volt, AC wall outlet.
6 Starting the System After you complete steps 1 through 5, you’re ready to turn on the power and start using your Equity LT-386SX computer. Read these safety rules first to avoid accidentally damaging your computer or injuring yourself: Do not attempt to dismantle any part of the computer. If there is a hardware problem you cannot solve after reading Chapter 4 on troubleshooting, consult your Epson dealer.
To turn on your computer, follow these steps: 1. Turn on any peripheral devices, such as a printer, an external diskette drive, or a color monitor. rive on 2. Turn on the computer by pressing the power switch on the right side of the computer. Press the switch toward the back of the computer.
The speed indicator on the status bar shows your operating speed (16 MHz), and after a few seconds the computer begins to perform an internal self test. This is a diagnostic program the computer runs whenever you turn it on. The power-on self test checks the RAM (random access memory), keyboard, system board, and peripheral interfaces before the computer begins normal operation.
Initial Screen Display After the computer completes its self test, a message tells you how much RAM is available: 01920 KB OK Next you are prompted to run the SETUP program: Press if you want to run SETUP utility. Running the SETUP Program When you turn on your computer for the first time, run the SETUP program to define how your computer is set up. This is a simple procedure that you must do at least once. You may need to do it again later if you want to change a setting.
Ll Whether or not to enable shadow RAM Ll The amount of time the computer is to use for its powersaving standby mode Cl The LCD display contrast (positive: white letters on a black background; or negative: black letters on a white background). The SETUP menu automatically displays the base memory size, the extended memory size, and whether or not a numeric processor (i.e., math coprocessor) is installed.
The Equity LT-386SX displays the menu below. Date imnl&te/year): Mon, Jan 29 1990 Base memory size Time (hourtminlsec): 10 : 00 : 00 Ext. memory size Floppy drive A: : 1.
Setting the Diskette Drive(s) The possible selections for drives A and B are: CI Not installed Ll 1.44MB 3 l/z” Ll 720KB 3 l/z” Li 1.2MB 5 l/4” Ci 360KB 5 9’4”. Unless you have changed the setting for DIP switch 1, designate drive A as the internal 1.44MB, 3 ‘/z-inch diskette drive. If you have installed an external 1.2MB 5 ‘/+inch drive, choose that as the setting for drive B. If you have set DIP switch 1 to off to reverse the designations of the A and B drives, set drive B to 1.
Setting the Primary Display The computer considers the LCD your primary display, unless you connect an external monitor to the RGB VIDEO port before turning on the Equity LT-386SX. The following definitions are available for the primary display: Cl VGA or EGA CI Color 80x25 Ll Not installed Cl Monochrome Ci Color 40x25. The default selection is VGA or EGA.
Setting the Scratch RAM Option Scratch RAM is an area of memory that OS/2 and some application programs use. The Equity LT-386SX lets you pick what area of memory you want to use for scratch RAM. If you are not using OS/2, VDISK, or a user-defined drive type, choosing BIOS stack area 30:00 provides a little bit more memory for your MS-DOS programs. (See Appendix D in this manual for further information on user-defied drive types.
Setting the Standby Mode Standby mode increases battery life by shutting off the LCD backlight, slowing down the CPU clock speed to 8 MHz, and decreasing the VGA controller clock rate. Standby mode is valid only when the Equity LT-386SX is not attached to an external monitor. The time you select for standby mode (00 to 60 minutes) is the length of time that can pass without keyboard input before the computer enters standby mode. Setting the standby period to 00 turns it off.
Saving Your Settings After you have made your selections for SETUP, press ESC to exit from the SETUP menu. The Equity LT-386SX asks, Write data into CMOS and exit? (Y/N). Press N and Enter to return to the menu to make corrections. Press Y and Enter to save the settings in CMOS RAM. The Equity LT-386SX runs through the power-on tests again and asks you to press Delete if you want to run SETUP again.
8 Inserting the Install Diskette Follow these steps to insert the MS-DOS Install diskette: 1. Hold the diskette with the printed label facing up and the arrow pointing into the diskette drive, as shown below. Insert the diskette in the drive so that it clicks into place. When the diskette is all the way in, the release button pops out. For more information on inserting, removing, and caring for diskettes, see Chapter 2. 2. Reset the LT-386SX and ignore the SETUP prompt.
After you have copied the MS-DOS files onto the hard disk, your original MS-DOS diskettes become your backup copies. Store these diskettes in a safe place. See your MS-DOS Installation Guide for a complete description of SELECT and how to install MS-DOS on your computer.
Chapter 2 Use the Equity LT-386SX This chapter describes some basic procedures for using your computer. Using the AC Adapter The Equity LT-386SX can be powered by its external battery pack or by the AC adapter. When you connect the AC adapter to the computer and to an electrical outlet, the outlet supplies the power to the computer. To preserve the battery’s charge, use the AC adapter whenever you have access to an electrical outlet.
Using the Battery The battery pack that comes with the Equity LT-386SX contains NiCad (nickel cadmium) batteries that power the computer when the AC adapter is not connected. The battery pack is rechargeable. You need to recharge the battery pack at the following times: Cl Before using the battery pack with the computer for the first time 0 If the battery has not been used for a long time Ll If the Battery in Use icon on the status indicator bar starts flashing and you hear a beep.
Remember the following when you are charging the battery: 0 Use only the AC adapter that comes with the Equity LT-386SX. Using a different adapter can damage the computer and/or the battery pack. Q Charge the battery for at least eight hours. If you charge the battery for short periods, it runs low sooner. The length of time the battery provides power after being charged depends on how you are using the computer. A fully charged battery provides approximately one to three hours of use.
To maximize the charge time your battery supplies, completely discharge and then recharge the battery from time to time. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Let the battery drain all the way down. 2. When the Battery in Use icon starts to flash, save your work in progress (if any) and exit any program you are using. 3. Leave the computer on, but do not use it. After about 10 to 20 minutes, the icons on the status indicator bar go dark, indicating the battery is discharged. 4.
2. Make sure the power switch on the computer is off. 3. Turn the computer around so its back is facing you. Position the back of the computer slightly over the edge of the desk to make it easier to slide the battery pack into place. 4. Remove the safety cover that protects the metal connector on the battery pack. 5. Align the two metal connectors on the battery pack with the slots on the back of the computer, as shown below. 6. Pull the battery pack up until it snaps into place.
When the battery pack is connected, you can either use the power from the battery pack or attach the AC adapter for unlimited power. To remove the battery pack, follow these steps: 1. Make sure the computer is off. 2. Disconnect the AC adapter. 3. Turn the computer around so the back is facing you. Make sure the back of the computer is slightly over the edge of the desk so you can slide the battery pack down. 4.
Status Indicator Bar The status indicator bar above the keyboard provides information about the computer’s operation. 43 Indicates when you are accessing the hard disk drive. Elb Indicates when you are accessing the internal diskette drive. EXT.FD Indicates that the DIP switches are configured for an external diskette drive. (See Appendix A.) 16 MHZ Displays the current CPU clock speed, either 8 MHz or 16 MHz. Indicates when you are using the battery pack; blinks when the battery pack charge is low.
Indicates when you can use the LCD display; blinks when the display is in standby mode. SCRL Indicates when the internal keyboard is in Scroll Lock mode; does not respond to the modes of an external keyboard. NUM Indicates when the internal keyboard is in Num Lock mode; does not respond to the modes of an external keyboard. CAPS Indicates when the internal keyboard is in Caps Lock mode; does not respond to the modes of an external keyboard.
Opening and Closing the Screen To open the screen, press the latch release button in the center of the computer (shown below). Then lift the screen back. You can position the screen at a variety of viewing angles. When you are not using the computer or you want to move it, turn it off and close the screen, as shown below. Be sure the screen locks into the bottom part of the computer.
If you close the screen while the computer is on, you hear a warning beep. Always turn off the computer before closing the screen. Using the Handle The Equity LT-386SX has a convenient carrying handle. To use the handle, pull it out from the computer, as shown below. Be sure the screen is closed whenever you carry the computer by its handle. To avoid accidental damage to your Equity LT-386SX, always store the computer in a flat, horizontal position. Do not leave it standing upright on its back panel.
Selecting Execution Speed The Equity LT-386SX can operate at two execution speeds: 8 MHz and 16 MHz. At the higher speed, the computer performs all tasks more quickly. Select the slower speed to run application programs that have specific timing requirements and to prolong the battery’s charge. You can select the CPU clock setting in the SETUP menu. (See the description of running the SETUP program in Chapter 1.) The Equity LT-386SX always starts at the clock speed established in the SETUP menu.
Changing the Gray Scale Pattern for Any Color The Equity LT-386SX assigns VGA colors to 16 shades of gray (or gray scales). There is a utility program called SETLCD on the Reference diskette that lets you modify the shade of gray assigned to any color. This capability is useful if you have trouble reading text that an application program displays in a particular color. You may want to copy the file SETLCD.EXE to your hard disk so that it is easily accessible when you need it.
If you are running SETLCD as a memory-resident program, hold down Ctrl and press left Shift and S simultaneously whenever you want to display the menu that allows you to change the gray scales. The LCD displays a menu similar to the one below: SETLCD.EXE Ver. 1.0 BLACK BLUE GREEN CYAN RED MAGENTA BROWN WHITE LT. BLUE LT. MAGENTA BRT. WHITE You use the following keys to make menu selections. Selects the color you want to change. t Darkens the level of gray. -B Lightens the level of gray.
The table below provides the default gray scale value for every Black 0 0 Blue 1 5 Green 2 17 Cyan 3 28 Red 4 8 5 11 Brown 20 20 White 7 40 Gray 56 14 Light blue 57 24 Light green 58 45 Light cyan 59 50 Light red 60 32 Light magenta 61 36 62 56 63 63 Magenta Yellow Bright white The 16 gray scale numbers listed in the right column above represent the only shades available to define any color.
Items in brackets are optional. (Do not type the brackets into the command.) cc is the color number. This may be any one- or two-digit number from the column titled “Color Number” in the table above. gg is the gray scale number you want to use to represent this color. This may be any one- or two-digit number from the column titled “Gray Scale Number” in the table above. [/cc:gg] is the parameter for changing the gray scale for a second (or subsequent) color.
Special Keys on the Equity LT-386SX Keyboard The illustration below shows the Equity LT-386SX keyboard. Certain keys on your keyboard serve special functions when your computer is running application programs. For instructions on how to use keys for specific software functions, consult the manual that came with the program you’re running. The Num Lock, Scroll Lock, and Caps Lock keys work as toggles; press them once to turn on a function and again to turn it off.
The following table describes special keys on the Equity LT-386SX keyboard. F1 -F10 Perform special functions within application programs. Esc Cancels the current command line or operation in some application programs. Tab 5, Moves the cursor one tab to the right in normal mode and one tab to the left in Shift mode. Ctrl Works with other keys to perform special functions, such as editing operations in MS-DOS.
Caps Lock Changes letter keys from lowercase to uppercase; changes back to lowercase when pressed again. This key does not affect the numeric/symbol keys on the top row of the keyboard or the keypad and scrolling functions enabled when Num Lock is on. Ins Inserts characters at the cursor or turns the insert function on and off. (The function is dependent on the application program.) Del Deletes the character at the cursor. Enter J Ends a line of keyboard input or executes a command.
How Diskettes Work The diskettes you use are flexible plastic, coated with a magnetic material and enclosed in a protective plastic case. Information is recorded in magnetic patterns on both surfaces of the diskette. Because data is stored magnetically, you can retrieve, record, and erase data, just as you play, record, and erase music on cassette tapes. When you insert a diskette in a drive, a metal shutter above the diskette’s access area moves aside to expose the diskette surface.
Because of their size difference, you cannot use a 3 ‘/z-inch diskette in a 5 ‘/+inch drive or vice versa. If you have both types of drives, however, you can copy individual files or groups of files from one drive to the other with the COPY and XCOPY commands. See Chapter 3 or your MS-DOS manuals for information about the COPY and XCOPY commands. You need to format new diskettes before you can use them. Formatting prepares a diskette to receive data.
Keep diskettes away from dust and dirt. Small particles of dust or dirt can scratch the magnetic surface and destroy data. Dust can also ruin the read/write heads in a diskette drive. Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields. (Remember, diskettes store data magnetically; strong magnetic fields can scramble that data.) Do not set your diskettes on such common magnetic sources as electrical appliances, telephones, television sets, and loudspeakers.
Inserting and Removing Diskettes To insert a diskette into the drive, hold it with the label facing up and the arrow on the left side pointing into the computer: Slide the diskette into the drive until it clicks into place. To remove a diskette, press the release button on the diskette drive. When the diskette pops out of the drive, pull it out and store it properly in a diskette container.
Making Backup Copies Copy all diskettes that contain programs. After you make your copies, store the originals in a safe place away from your working diskettes and use only the copies. For general instructions on copying diskettes or hard disk files, see Chapter 3 or your MS-DOS Reference Manual. Write-Protecting Diskettes You can write-protect a diskette to prevent its data from being altered.
To remove the write protection, move the switch up toward the center of the diskette to cover the opening. Using the Hard Disk Drive Unlike a diskette, a hard disk is rigid and fixed in place. It is sealed in a protective environment free of dust and dirt. A hard disk stores data the same way as a diskette, but it works much faster and has a much larger storage capacity.
II Never remove the hard disk unit when the computer’s power is on. Q Never attempt to open the hard disk unit. The disk itself is enclosed in an airtight container to protect it from dust. CI Keep the AC adapter at least six inches away from your computer and disks. Protecting the Data on Your Hard Disk Although the hard disk is very reliable, you must back up your hard disk files onto diskettes in case you lose some data accidentally.
Turning Off the Hard Disk If you are running the computer on its battery and you do not need to use the hard disk, you can use the HDDPSAVE utility on the Reference diskette to turn off the hard disk to prolong the battery’s charge. If you are using the AC adapter, you don’t need to turn off the hard disk. You specify the amount of time (between 1 and 18 minutes) you want the computer to wait before it turns off the hard disk.
Cl Install the appropriate keyboard information for the country in which you’re using your computer 0 Allow you to start the MS-DOS Shell program. These instructions ensure that your system starts up properly each time you boot it from the hard disk. See your MS-DOS Installation Guide for details. You may also want to add the HDDPSAVE utility to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. By adding this utility, you can set the power-off period for the hard disk each time you power on the computer. To modify the AUTOEXEC.
Resetting the Computer You can reset the computer to reload the operating system or to restart a program. You may also need to do this if an error occurs and the computer does not respond to anything you type. Resetting, however, erases any data in the computer’s temporary memory (RAM) that you have not stored; so be careful when you reset your computer. In MS-DOS, you can hold down Ctrl and press C or Break to stop a program’s operation and return to the MS-DOS command prompt.
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. First turn off any peripherals, such as a printer, a monitor, or an external diskette drive. Then turn off the computer.
Chapter 3 Using MS-DOS With Your Computer Your Equity LT-386SX comes with version 4.01 of MS-DOS. MS-DOS manages the routine work of your computer system, such as keeping the computer’s memory organized, controlling the screen display, accepting keyboard input, and directing external communications. To communicate with the operating system, you use MS-DOS commands. How much you need to know about MS-DOS depends on how you plan to use your computer.
Cl Using the MS-DOS Shell program CI Using the Epson HELP utility Cl Using the Epson MENU utility Cl Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT file Q Starting an application program. The information presented in this chapter assumes you are running MS-DOS from the MS-DOS command prompt, not from the MS-DOS Shell program. If you plan to use Shell, see the MS-DOS Shell User’s Guide for a complete description of how to execute commands using Shell.
The C> prompt that appears when you load MS-DOS from the hard disk tells you that drive C, your hard disk, is the current drive (also called the default drive). The current drive is the one that MS-DOS uses for all commands unless you specify a different drive. For example, if the current drive is drive C and you type the name of a program, MS-DOS searches drive C for the program. If you want to run a program or find a data file on a different drive, you must specify the name of that drive.
The MS-DOS Command Format To enter an MS-DOS command, you need to type the command in the correct format. The MS-DOS command format consists of the command name, parameters, and delimiters. The command name tells MS-DOS the task you want to perform. Parameters are items that identify the data you want to process (such as a filename) and change the way a command works. Delimiters are characters such as spaces or commas that separate command names and parameters.
Entering MS-DOS Commands You can enter an MS-DOS command when you see the MS-DOS command prompt. Type the command name and any necessary parameters and delimiters, and then press Enter to execute the command. You can type command names in either uppercase or lowercase letters. If you make a mistake when typing a command and you notice it before you press Enter, you can do one of two things: 0 Use the backspace key to back up and correct the error Ll Press ESC to cancel the command line.
The name can be up to eight characters in length. It is a good idea to choose a name that describes the contents of the file. You can use any characters except blank spaces and the following symbols: * \ / [ ] : | < > + = ; . ? , The extension is optional and can be up to three characters long. You can use the extension to describe the type of data contained in the file-for example, TXT for a text file. When you use an extension, separate it from the filename with a period, like this: DATA.
When you format your hard disk, MS-DOS creates a single directory for the disk. This directory is called the root directory. Because the hard disk has room for hundreds of files, MS-DOS allows you to create additional directories, called subdirectories. Subdirectories allow you to organize your hard disk to keep files of similar type or purpose together. Without subdirectories, it would be difficult to keep track of all the files on your hard disk. You can also create subdirectories on your diskettes.
On your own hard disk, you can create a subdirectory structure that is more complex than this one. Or you may prefer to keep things simple. Organize your disk to suit your own needs; you can modify the structure as your needs change. When creating subdirectories, note the following points: 0 Any directory can have any number of subdirectories (except the root directory, which is limited in the number of files and subdirectories). a You name subdirectories in the same way as files.
CI Changing directories Cl Copying from one directory to another 0 Deleting a directory. You may also want to read about Shell, an MS-DOS program that makes it easier to perform these functions, as well as others. You can use Shell to generate a visual diagram of your subdirectory structure, to move quickly between directories, to add and remove directories, and so on. Shell is described in the MS-DOS Shell User’s Guide.
To list the files in a different directory on the current drive, type the pathname of that directory. For example, to list the contents of the LEDGER subdirectory while logged onto drive C, type DIR \LEDGER and press Enter. (Pathnames are described below.) Using Pathnames Whenever you want to access a file that is not in the current directory, you must specify the file’s pathname. A full pathname consists of one or more directory names separated by backslashes and followed by the filename.
Because this pathname does not begin with a backslash, MS-DOS starts in the current directory (PERSONAL), moves to the subdirectory LETTERS, then finds the file APRIL.TXT. If you did begin with the backslash, MS-DOS would not find the file, because it is located in a subdirectory of PERSONAL, not of the root directory. Creating Directories The MKDIR command lets you create directories.
The screen displays a list of files in the root directory, along with the names of any subdirectories of the root directory:
LEDGER WORDPROC COMMAND C O M 2 5 3 0 7 CONFIG SYS 209 AUTOEXEC BAT 309 9-14-89 10:17a 9-14-89 10:32a 3-17-88 12:OOa 9-14-89 10:48a 9-14-88 12:11p 3 File(s) 18625536 bytes free The list identifies the subdirectories by the letters . Changing Directories You can use any directory as your current or working directory.To change from any directory to its parent directory (the directory of which it is a subdirectory), type the following and press Enter: CD . . The two periods represent the parent directory. To return to the root directory from any subdirectory, type the following and press Enter: CD \ Copying From One Directory to Another The COPY command lets you copy files from one directory to another.
Deleting a Directory If you no longer need a directory, you can remove it with the RMDIR command (which can be abbreviated RD). Before removing a directory, you must delete any files it contains or move them to a different directory. You can only delete a directory that is empty. (To delete files from a directory, use the DEL or ERASE command. See “Deleting Data,” later in this chapter.
Formatting a 1.44MB Diskette To format a 1.44MB diskette, follow these steps: 1. If necessary, log onto drive C. If you are not in the directory containing the file FORMAT.COM, change to that directory. For example, if FORMAT.COM is stored in a subdirectory named DOS, type CD \DOS and press Enter. 2. Type the following and press Enter: FORMAT A: You see this prompt: Insert new diskette for drive A: and strike ENTER when ready... 3. Insert the diskette you want to format into drive A and press Enter.
At this point, you can format another diskette by pressing Y and Enter, or return to the MS-DOS command prompt by pressing N and Enter. Formatting a 720KB Diskette To format a 720KB diskette in a 1.44MB drive, follow these steps: 1. If necessary, log onto drive C. If you are not in the directory containing the file FORMAT.COM, use the CD command to change to that directory. 2.
4. Enter up to 11 characters for the volume label to be stored on the diskette and press Enter. FORMAT displays these messages: 730112 bytes total disk space 730112 bytes available on disk 1024 bytes in each allocation unit 713 allocation units available on disk Volume Serial Number is 1C55-14C6 Format another (Y/N)? At this point, you can format another diskette by pressing Y and Enter, or return to the MS-DOS command prompt by pressing N and Enter.
Note Using DISKCOPY The DISKCOPY command lets you copy an exact image of one diskette onto another diskette as long as the two diskettes are the same size and type. You cannot use DISKCOPY to copy data from a 3 ‘/z-inch diskette to a 5 ‘/+inch diskette or to copy data from a 1.44MB diskette to a 720KB diskette. You also cannot use DISKCOPY to copy data between a hard disk and a diskette. To use DISKCOPY, follow these steps: 1.
4. Insert the diskette you want to copy from (your source diskette) in the diskette drive and press any key. DISKCOPY copies the contents of the diskette to the computer’s memory. When memory is full, the screen displays this message: Insert TARGET diskette in drive A: Press any key to continue . . . 5. Remove the diskette from drive A and insert the blank diskette (your target diskette) in the drive. Press any key. DISKCOPY formats the diskette, if necessary.
Using COPY The COPY command lets you copy files in several ways: CI Copy individual files from a diskette or the hard disk to another diskette or hard disk CI Copy a group of files using wildcard characters (wildcard characters are explained below) Cl Copy one or more files and give them new names LI Combine or merge files into one file. A few simple rules apply to all uses of COPY: LI You must tell MS-DOS where to find the source file and where to store the target file.
If you want to copy this file from the diskette in drive A to the hard disk but want to change the name of the copy from REPORT to FACTS, type this command and press Enter: COPY A:REPORT C:FACTS To make a copy of this file on the diskette in drive A and assign the name FACTS to the copy, type the following and press Enter: COPY A:REPORT A:FACTS In this case, you must assign a new name to the copy, because MS-DOS does not allow two files in the same directory to have the same name.
To copy all files on the diskette in drive A to the current directory on the hard disk, type the following and press Enter: COPY A:*.* C: To copy all files with names that begin with the four letters MEMO and end with any single character, type the following and press Enter: COPY A:MEMO? C: You can also use the COPY command to combine a number of files into one file.
CI The BACKUP command can perform incremental backups. That is, you can copy only those files that changed since the last time you used the BACKUP command. This also results in more efficient diskette use. Ll The BACKUP command can format new diskettes as it copies files. You don’t have to go through a separate formatting step when you use BACKUP.
Deleting Data To delete a file, type DEL and then the full name (including the extension, if any) of the file you wish to delete. For example, to delete the file named APRIL.TXT from the current directory, type the following and press Enter: DEL APRIL.TXT You can delete all files in the current directory at once by typing the following and pressing Enter: DEL *.* For your protection, when you type DEL * . * MS-DOS asks if you are sure that is what you want to do. If you are sure, press Y, then Enter.
Using HELP The Epson HELP utility provides on-line information about the MS-DOS commands and programs. You can use HELP in either of two ways: CI To display the HELP menu, type HELP at the command prompt and press Enter. 0 To bypass the menu, type HELP plus the name of the command you want information about. To use the HELP menu, follow these steps: 1. Type HELP at the MS-DOS command prompt and press Enter. 2. The screen displays a menu of MS-DOS commands.
To bypass the HELP menu and display information about a specific command, follow these steps: 1. At the command prompt, type HELP and the name of the MS-DOS command you want information about. Then press Enter. For example, to see information about the COPY command, type the following and press Enter: HELP COPY 2. If there is more than one page of information about the command, you see the prompt PgUp at the top of the screen. Press Page Up to display the rest of the text. 3.
Using MENU Your Equity LT-386SX comes with an Epson utility called MENU. This program gives you access to several utilities that perform the functions of some of the most commonly used MS-DOS commands. MENU lets you execute several commands without having to remember the exact format for each one. To access the MENU utility, log onto the directory containing the file MENU.EXE. Type MENU at the command prompt and press Enter.
MENU Utility Options The MENU utility offers five options: File Utilities Lets you back up and restore files, replace files, compare files, change file attributes, copy files, and copy directories. This option does the work of these MS-DOS commands: BACKUP, RESTORE, REPLACE, FC, ATT-RIB, and XCOPY. Disk Utilities Lets you check, copy, compare, and format diskettes. This option gives you easy-touse alternatives to the MS-DOS CHKDSK, DISKCOPY, DISKCOMP, and FORMAT commands.
Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT File You may find that there are some commands you need to run every time you turn on your computer. To run a command or a series of commands automatically upon startup, you can type the commands into a special file called AUTOEXEC.BAT. When you load MS-DOS, it automatically looks for this file. If there is an AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the root directory, MS-DOS executes the commands in that file. Here are some suggestions for tasks you can perform using an AUTOEXEC.
Creating an AUTOEXEC.BAT File You can create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file with any program that lets you store a text-only file (also called an ASCII text file). If your word processing program can save a file as a textonly file, you can use that program to create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Just be sure to name the file AUTOEXEC.BAT and store it in the root directory of the hard disk. You can also use the MS-DOS COPY command to create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Follow these instructions to use the COPY command: 1.
Starting an Application Program Any time you see the MS-DOS command prompt (for example, A : \ > or C : \ >), you can start using an application program. Just log onto the drive and directory containing your application program files (if necessary) and type the name of the program’s executable file. (See the documentation for your application program if you are not sure what to type.) When you press Enter, MS-DOS runs the application program. When you exit the program, the MS-DOS command prompt reappears.
If you have a word processing program that allows you to save the file as an unformatted, text-only file (also called an ASCII text file), you can use that program to modify the CONFIG.SYS file. Start the word processing program, load the file \CONFIG.SYS, then add the following line to the file: DEVICE=EMM386.SYS You can add one or more of the optional switches explained in the next section to this command line. Save the file as an ASCII text file, and then reset your computer.
About EMM386.SYS EMM386.SYS is an expanded memory manager that lets you use extended memory above 1MB to emulate expanded memory so that you can use application programs that support LIM 4.0. The full syntax for the command line that activates EMM386.SYS is: DEVICE=[d:][path]EMM386.SYS[size] [X:mmmm-nnnn][Mx] The items in brackets are optional; you do not type the brackets when you enter the command. The following paragraphs describe the items in the command line. d:path specifies a pathname.
X:mmmm-nnnn represents a range of memory in hexadecimal to be excluded from the EMM386.SYS page frame or other mappable pages. This parameter is necessary only when there is a conflict with your expansion option board. You can use more than one X: parameter to exclude more than one range of memory. Mx indicates the address of the EMM386.SYS page frame. Do not include this parameter unless you want to force EMM386.SYS to use a particular address. The options for x are shown below.
For example, to convert 512KB of extended memory to expanded memory and ensure that EMM386.SYS does not locate its page frame or other mappable pages in the ranges C400 to C7FF and E000 to E3FF, include this command in your CONFIG.SYS file: DEVICE=EMM386.SYS 512 X:C400-C7FF X:E000-E3FF Once EMM386.SYS is installed in MS-DOS, the Equity LT-386SX displays a message when you turn it on or reset it listing the device parameters. For instance: MICROSOFT Expanded Memory Manager 386 Version 4.
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting You should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and use your Equity LT-386SX. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, changing a DIP switch setting, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. If anything out of the ordinary happens, turn to this chapter for a solution. If the suggestions in this chapter do not solve the problem, contact your Epson dealer.
2. If the status indicator bar still does not come on, turn off the power switch. Check that the AC adapter is securely connected to both the computer (or the battery pack) and an electrical outlet. Make sure the green LED on the AC adapter is illuminated. Then turn the power back on. 3. If the computer still does not start, check the electrical outlet. Plug a lamp into the outlet and turn it on to see if the outlet supplies power. 4. If your computer still won’t start, contact your Epson dealer.
3. If you are using OS/2, refer to Appendix E for information on how to install the LCD video driver from the Reference diskette. 4. If you are using Microsoft Windows/386, see Appendix F for information on how to install the LCD VGA video driver from the Equity LT-386SX Reference diskette. 5. If you still do not see an image on the screen, contact your Epson dealer.
The Computer Locks Up If the computer does not respond to your keyboard entries, try the following: 1. Wait a few seconds. Some operations take longer than others to perform. For example, a spreadsheet program takes longer to recalculate an entire spreadsheet than to record one figure. Also, programs involving many calculations can take several minutes, or even hours, to complete. Be aware of the task the computer is performing and judge the time accordingly. 2.
2. Is the diskette write-protected? If the write-protect switch is set, first make sure the diskette does not contain files you do not want to change or lose. Then try moving the switch to remove the write protection. (Ordinarily, it’s a good idea to leave program diskettes write-protected, but some programs don’t work properly on write-protected diskettes.) 3. Try formatting a blank diskette to determine if the diskette drive is operating properly.
Hard Disk Problems If you have problems with your hard disk when you first start to use it, make sure it is properly set up. See the description of installing the hard disk drive in Chapter 1. Check the shock indicator on the bottom of the hard disk to verify that the disk has not sustained a severe shock. Reread the section on caring for the hard disk drive in Chapter 2. Also see the instructions for setting up the hard disk in your MS-DOS Installation Guide.
Appendix A DIP Switches This appendix describes the DIP switches you set to define your system’s configuration. The computer uses this information each time you turn it on. If you are using the standard LT-386SX settings--that is, you are using the LCD screen in VGA mode, a parallel printer, and your internal diskette drive as the A drive-you do not need to change the DIP switches. If you are not using these settings, you need to define your system configuration using these switches.
Accessing the DIP Switches To locate the DIP switches, follow these steps: 1. Remove the expansion slot cover on the left side of the computer. Press down on the release tab and lift off the expansion slot cover. 2. Pull out the carrying handle. 3. Turn the computer upside down with the handle away from you.
4. Remove the expansion card cover as shown below. Lift up on the two tabs while you press on the grated squares to release the cover. Slide the cover away from you (toward the handle). The DIP switches are located on the right side of the computer.
Because the computer is upside down, the DIP switch numbers are upside down and the ON/OFF orientation is reversed. Take care when changing a DIP switch setting that you are changing the correct switch. THE PICTURE SHOWS FACTORY SETTING SWITCH DESCRIPTION SW-1 SWAP THE FDD SW -2 PRIMARY DISPLAY SW-3 SELECT SERIAL PORT SW-4 ENABLE SERIAL PORT SW-5 SELECT PARALLEL PORT SW-6 ENABLE PARALLEL PORT SW-7 SELECT B DRIVE SW-8 NOT USED ON: OFF : ON: OFF : ON: OFF : ON: OFF: ON: OFF.
5 6 ON‘ Enables the serial port. OFF Disables the serial port. ON* Selects parallel port 1 (LPT1, I/O addresses 378H through 37FH) as the parallel port. OFF Selects parallel port 2 (LPT2, I/O addresses 278H through 27FH) as the parallel port. ON* Enables the parallel port. OFF Disables the parallel port. ON Defines the internal diskette drive as drive B. (When this switch is ON, the internal drive is defined as both A and B, and an optional external drive is effectively disabled.
Switch 3 tells the computer whether you want the internal serial port (labeled RS232C on the right side of the computer) to be COM1 or COM2. When switch 3 is ON (the factory setting), the serial port is COM1; when it is OFF, the port is COM2. When switch 4 is ON (the factory setting), the internal serial port is enabled; if it is OFF, the serial port is disabled.
Replacing the Expansion Card Cover After you verify or change your DIP switch settings, you need to replace the expansion card cover. Follow these steps: 1. Set the cover on the computer and slide it back into position as shown below. Press firmly until the cover snaps into position. 2. Turn the computer right side up with the handle facing you.
3. Replace the expansion slot cover on the left side of the computer. The cover has two tabs that fit into slots on the computer’s cover. 4. Lift the cover up into place and slide the release tab up to secure the cover. 5. Slide the handle back into place.
Appendix B Installing Options This appendix describes how to install the following optional devices in your LT-386SX: Q External monitor 0 External diskette drive Cl Internal modem Cl Internal 2MB memory card LI External keyboard 0 $size, IBM AT-compatible expansion card Cl Math coprocessor. Connecting an External Color Monitor If you plan to use an external monitor with your Equity LT-386SX, follow the instructions below to connect it to your computer. 1.
5. Connect the appropriate end of the monitor cable to the port marked RGB VIDEO on the right side of the computer, as shown below. RGB VIDEO port 6. If the connector has retaining screws, tighten them with a screwdriver. 7. If necessary, plug the monitor’s power cable into the power inlet on the monitor. (Some monitors come with permanently attached power cables.) Then plug the power cable into an electrical outlet.
Connecting an External Diskette Drive Follow these steps to connect the optional, 1.2MB, 5 ‘/+-inch diskette drive to your LT-386SX: 1. Make sure both the computer and external diskette drive (as well as any other peripheral devices) are turned off. 2. Verify that DIP switch 7 is OFF (the factory setting). 3. Place the external diskette drive near the Equity LT-386SX. 4. Lower the interface cover on the front, right side of the computer (when the front of the computer is facing you). 5.
6. Tighten the retaining screws on the connector with a screwdriver. 7. Plug the drive’s power cable into an electrical outlet. When you are ready to use the computer, turn on the external diskette drive and then turn on the computer. Now run the SETUP program, as described in Chapter 1. Installing the Internal Modem Follow these steps to install the optional, Epson internal modem in your Equity LT-386SX. 1. Make sure the computer is turned off. 2.
3. Slide the modem card into this slot. Secure the connector on the modem to the socket inside the slot. 4. Snap out the plastic moldings that cover the LINE and PHONE openings on the modem cover. 5. Close the modem cover. Press up on the release tab to secure the cover. 6. Connect the modem to a phone line. Installing the RAM Card Follow these steps to install the optional Epson 2MB RAM card in your LT-386SX: 1. Make sure the computer is turned off. 2.
3. There is a groove in the top left side of the RAM card slot. Fit the card into this groove, and slide the RAM card into the slot. Push the card back as far as possible. 4. Close the RAM card cover. Press up on the release tab to secure the cover. 5. Turn on the computer and run the SETUP program to record the new memory size to CMOS RAM. SETUP is described in detail in Chapter 1. Connecting an External Keyboard You can attach an external keyboard to your LT-386SX.
3. Attach the keyboard connector to the external keyboard socket, labeled EXT.KEY on your computer. If the keyboard connector interferes with the EXT.FDD port and you are planning to connect an external diskette drive to this port, you need to use the external keyboard adapter, as shown below. Attach the optional keyboard adapter to the external keyboard port. Then attach the connector from the external keyboard to the adapter.
An option card must meet certain power supply requirements. The option card cannot draw more than the specified current (Amps): + 12 Volts 0.1 Amps -5 Volts 0.05 Amps -12 Volts 0.05 Amps The option card must not interfere with options installed in the internal ports. For example, if you install an option card with a parallel port, you must assign that port as the secondary parallel port (278H) if the internal parallel port is the primary parallel port (378H).
Follow these steps to install an option card: 1. Turn off the computer and disconnect all cables, including the AC adapter. 2. Remove the expansion slot cover on the left side of the computer. Press down on the release tab and lift off the expansion slot cover. 3. Pull out the carrying handle. 4. Turn the computer upside down with the handle away from you.
5. Remove the expansion card cover as shown below. Lift up on the two tabs while you press on the grated squares to release the cover. Slide the cover away from you (toward the handle). 6. Remove the bracket on the side of the computer.
7. Insert the card from the back of the computer. Line up the connector on the card with the socket inside the expansion slot. Insert the connector directly into the socket. Secure the card with the screw you removed from the bracket. 8. Set the cover on the computer and slide it back into position as shown below. Press firmly until the cover snaps into position.
9. Turn the computer right side up with the handle facing you. 10. Replace the expansion slot cover on the left side of the computer. The cover has two tabs that fit into slots on the computer’s cover. 11. Lift the cover up into place and slide the release tab up to secure the cover. 12. Slide the handle back into place.
Installing a Math Coprocessor You can install a math coprocessor in your Equity LT-386SX easily. If your software supports a math coprocessor, it processes mathematical calculations much faster than without the coprocessor. Follow these steps to install the coprocessor: 1. Turn off the computer, close it, and disconnect all cables. 2. Turn the computer upside down, with the handle away from you. 3.
Appendix C Specifications Main Unit CPU 80386SX microprocessor; 8 MHz or 16 MHz clock speed, selectable through SETUP or software command (Ctrl-left Shift-F) Main memory 2MB (640KB standard and 1280KB extended) Math coprocessor 80387SX coprocessor (optional) Interfaces Parallel Standard 8-bit parallel, Z-pin, D-type female connector Serial RS-232C, programmable, asynchronous, 9-pin, D-type male connector Video 15-pin, female connector; supports VGA monitor External diskette drive 15-pin, D-ty
Memory Internal RAM memory card slot; allows expansion to 4MB Modem Internal modem slot; 34-pin male connector Clock/calendar Real-time clock and calendar with battery backup Keyboard 85 sculptured keys; status indicator bar icons for Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock Optional, external keyboard Mass Storage Hard disk Interchangeable, pop-out, 20MB or 40MB hard disk designed for low power consumption; 28ms average access time; built-in, 16-bit bus AT-compatible controller Diskette drives One in
CRT mode enabled automatically by inserting a connector into the RGB VIDEO port before power on External RGB monitor supported (VGAcompatible) Power Supply Externally attached, rechargeable NiCad battery pack (4000 milliampere-hours); lasts from 1 to 3 hours 12/5-volt AC adapter (can recharge battery pack while operating computer) with automatic 120-240V sensing Power Requirements 120-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz NiCad rechargeable battery pack, 9.6 volts, 4 ampere-hours Physical Dimensions Height 3.
Environmental Requirements Temperature Operating: 41° to 95° F (5° to 35°C) Non-operating: -4° to 122°F (-20° to 60°C) Humidity Operating: 20% to 80% (non-condensing) Non-operating: 8% to 80% (non-condensing) Options Modem Internal 2400-baud, Hayes-compatible, auto-dial Memory 2MB RAM expansion card Expansion cards One 2/+size, IBM PC AT-compatible slot Carrying case Soft case for carrying computer C-4 Specifications
Appendix D System Diagnostics This appendix describes how to use the diagnostics program to test the condition of your computer’s main unit and peripheral devices. The diagnostics program provides tests to check the following hardware: LI System board LI Memory Cl Hard disk drive LI Diskette drive 0 Keyboard 0 Video adapter board and monitor CI Printer and communications ports. After you start the diagnostics program, you can create a database that records the location of faulty memory chips, if any exist.
Starting the Diagnostics Program To start the diagnostics program, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer. 3. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the following and press Enter: DIAGUS The diagnostics program displays a title screen. 4. Press any key to continue. Creating a Database You can create a database to record the location of faulty memory chips that are causing memory errors.
If you want to create a database, follow these steps: 1. Type the name (from 1 to 50 characters) that identifies your company or the computer and press Enter in response to this prompt: vendor's name : (maximum 50 characters) For example, type EPSON and press Enter. 2. Type the computer’s model number (from 1 to 8 characters) and press Enter in response to this prompt: model number (maximum 8 characters) For example, type LT-386SX and press Enter.
To update the existing database, press Y and Enter. Now you respond to the screen prompts to update the configuration. If you do not want to update the database, press N and Enter. You see the diagnostics program’s main menu. The Main Menu Screen The main menu screen looks like this: Hard Disk Keyboard Video Miscl. The program’s title, copyright information, and the date and time appear at the top of the screen.
The Run Time Parameters window lets you specify how long you want the test to run, whether you want the program to notify you of each error as it occurs, and whether to create a log of all errors that occur during testing. The Help window shows the keys you use to make menu selections. A short message describing each test you highlight appears at the bottom of the screen.
Selecting Diagnostics Tests This section describes the various ways you can select the tests you want to run. To start a single test, move the cursor to highlight the test category on the main menu. Then move the cursor to the submenu and highlight the test you want to perform. Press Enter to start the test. To select several tests at one time, move the cursor to each test you want to perform and press F3. If you decide you do not want to run a selected test, highlight the test name and press F3 again.
You cannot include certain tests in a group. The tests that must run separately include: System Board Timer test Real Time Clock test Hard Disk Hard Disk Format Auto Interleave Media Analysis Force Bad Tracks Floppy Disk Change Line Test Keyboard Scan/ASCII Code Test Miscellaneous Printer Adapter Test Comm. Adapter Test After you select the test(s) you want to run, you must set the Run Time Parameters.
Type T and press Enter to run the selected tests in Timebound mode. In Timebound mode, the program runs the tests for the amount of time you specify. Type C and press Enter to run the selected tests in Continuous mode. In Continuous mode, the tests run until you interrupt them. Type P and press Enter to run the diagnostics tests in Passbound mode. In Passbound mode, the program executes the selected tests the number of times you specify. This is the default setting.
Next, the program requests information it needs to perform the type of testing you selected. Timebound Testing If you selected ‘Timebound testing, you see this prompt: Period :001 hr 00 min Specify the amount of time you want to run the selected test(s). Type the number of hours, from 000 to 999, and press Enter. Then type the number of minutes, from 00 to 59, and press Enter. You can use the backspace key (t) to edit your input.
If you specify a number larger than 65535, the program subtracts 65536 from your entry to determine how many times to run the test. For example, if you enter a value of 65540, the test runs four times. Error Logging When you request error logging, the program displays the following pop-up window: Log errors on disk Log errors to printer (LPT1) Log errors to serial port (COM1) Cancel error logging Highlight the device you want to use to store or print the error messages.
After selecting error logging, the program uses this device (and/or disk drive) for error logging until you indicate you do not want error logging. You can then specify a new device and/or disk drive by selecting error logging in the Run Time Parameters window. When you specify a new device and/or disk drive, the program erases the existing ERROR.LOG file. If you select the printer, the program writes the error messages to the device connected to your parallel port assigned LPT1.
Executing Diagnostics Tests in Batch Mode To execute the selected group of diagnostics tests in batch mode, simply press F6. The diagnostics program highlights each test name as it runs the test. If you selected Passbound testing, the program displays the pass number on the right side of the screen above the Run Time Parameters window. For example: Pass : 00001 When the program is executing a group of tests, you can stop the testing and return to the System Board submenu of tests by pressing Ctrl Break.
System Board Diagnostics The tests listed in the System Board submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the system board. CoProcessor test DMA Controller test Interrupt Controller test Timer test Real Time Clock test CMOS Validity test Basic Functionality Test This test verifies the operation of each major component on the system board. It checks the instructions, registers, and flags of the CPU. When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Basic functionality test of CPU passed OK.
Processor Speed Test This test identifies the CPU clock speed and displays a message similar to this: Measure CPU speed in Megahertz = 16.00 Coprocessor Test This test checks the math coprocessor. If the math coprocessor is not installed, you see this message: Numeric Data processor not present. DMA Controller Test This test performs read/write tests on the memory address registers and page registers of DMA controller 1 and 2. During the test, you see this message: Testing Programmable DMA Controller.
Interrupt Controller Test This test performs read/write tests on the interrupt mask registers and checks for invalid interrupts. During the test, you see this message: Testing Programmable Interrupt Controller . . . . When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Programmable Interrupt Controller test passed OK. Timer Test This test verifies the accuracy of the timer count by comparing it to the periodic interrupt of the system’s real time clock (RTC).
RTC Test This test verifies the accuracy of the real time clock by comparing it to the timer 0 interrupt. During the test, you see this message: Testing Real Time Clock.... When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Real Time Clock test passed. CMOS Validity Test This test checks the system’s CMOS RAM. During the test, you see this message: Testing CMOS validity....
Memory Diagnostics The tests listed in the Memory submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the system’s built-in memory. BIOS ROM Test Parity test Pattern test Walking l's test Walking O's test Address test Refresh test If you have relocated any memory addresses, you must change the addresses to their original locations for the memory tests to work properly. If an error occurs during a memory test, the program displays this message: PRESS TO VIEW FAULTY MEMORY CHIP.
BIOS ROM Test This test checks the data path of the BIOS ROM. When the test completes successfully, you see this message: System ROM module test passed. Parity Test This test checks for parity errors in memory. During the test, the program displays these messages: Testing from absolute memory location xxxxxxxxh. Checking for parity error. When the parity test completes without an error, you see this message: Parity test passed OK.
Walking 1’s Test This test checks the voltage in the data lines for any shorts and checks for any data bits that are always 1. During the test, you see this message: Testing from absolute base xxxxxxxxh When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Walking 1s test in memory passed OK. Walking 0’s Test This test checks the voltage in the data lines for any shorts and checks for any data bits that are always 0.
Refresh Test This test checks the refresh interval. If an error occurs, the program displays this message: Failure in Refresh test. When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Refresh test passed OK. Hard Disk Diagnostics The tests listed in the Hard Disk submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the system’s hard disk drive. Hard Disk Format Auto Interleave Media Analysis Perform Test Seek Test Read/Verify Test Check Test Cyl.
Destructive diagnostics tests include: Hard Disk Format Auto Interleave Media Analysis Force Bad Tracks The non-destructive diagnostics tests include: Performance Test Seek Test Read/Verify Test Check Test Cylinder Hard Disk Parameters The diagnostics program may request any or all of the following parameters before performing a hard disk test: Disk drive identifier Disk drive type Interleave factor Bad track list Start cylinder number End cylinder number Start head number End head number Disk drive identi
Disk drive type The program displays the following prompt for the disk drive type: Disk Drive type ? 2 Select drive type 2 for a 20MB drive or drive type 17 for a 40MB drive. The program determines the type of hard disk drive based on the settings in CMOS RAM. A pop-up window on the screen lists 47 possible drive types. This allows for the possibility of additional hard disk drives in the future.
Bad track list The program displays the following prompt for the bad track list: Mark Bad Tracks (Y/N) ? Entering the bad track list is optional. If you respond Y to the above prompt, you see the following menu in a pop-up window: Add an entry Revise an entry Delete an entry Clear Bad Track list Save and Exit You do not need to enter a bad track list for the hard disk that comes with the Equity LT-386SX.
Start and end head numbers The program displays the following prompts for the starting and ending head numbers: Start Head number End Head number ? ? Enter the first and last head numbers on which you want to perform the tests. The default for the start head number is 0, and the default for the end head number is one less than the highest head number of your hard disk. The default end head number for a 20MB disk is 3. The default end head number for a 40MB disk is 4.
When you select Hard Disk Format, the program requests the following hard disk parameters: Disk drive identifier Disk drive type Interleave factor Bad track list (optional) Start cylinder number End cylinder number Start head number End head number If you do not specify the bad track list, the program performs an analysis of the surface of the hard disk to determine the bad tracks.
When you select Auto Interleave, the program requests the disk drive identifier and disk drive type. After you specify the parameters, you see these messages: WARNING All d a t a o n H a r d d i s k y o u h a v e specified may be LOST... Do y o u s t i l l w a n t t o c o n t i n u e ( Y / N ) ? Press Y and Enter to start the Auto Interleave function. Press N and Enter to stop the operation. Media Analysis This test identifies the bad tracks on the hard disk.
The program displays the following messages after you specify the hard disk parameters: W A R N I N G All data on Hard disk you have specified may be LOST... Do you still want to continue (Y/N)? Press Y and Enter to start analyzing the hard disk. Press N and Enter to stop the operation. Performance Test This test checks the performance of your hard disk. It determines the data transfer rate and track-to-track seek time based on the transfer size, seek count, and the amount of data transferred.
When you select the Performance Test, the program requests the disk drive identifier and disk drive type. Seek Test This test checks the seek capability of the hard disk on the specified range of cylinders and heads. The program performs a series of sequential seeks followed by random seeks. It reports any errors found.
Check Test Cylinder This test checks the test cylinder, which is the last cylinder on the hard disk. Perform this test if you receive a hard disk error when you boot the system. When you select Check Test Cylinder, the program requests the disk drive identifier and disk drive type. Force Bad Tracks Use this test to mark bad tracks on the hard disk without formatting the disk.
Press Y and Enter to start the test. Press N and Enter to stop the operation. Hard Disk Error Messages The program displays two types of error messages while testing the hard disk: messages the program itself generates and those the controller generates.
Floppy Disk Diagnostics The tests listed in the Floppy Disk submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the system’s diskette drive. 1 Diskette Format Drive Speed Test Random R/W Test Sequential R/W Test Disk Change Line Test Floppy disk diagnostics tests may be destructive or nondestructive. Destructive diagnostics destroy data on the diskette. These tests include: Diskette Format Random R/W Test Sequential R/W Test Non-destructive diagnostics do not destroy data on the diskette.
Diskette Format This test checks the format of the floppy disk controller and drive. It does not format the diskette for any particular operating system. This test destroys all data on the diskette. Drive Speed Test This test verifies how fast the floppy drive rotates a diskette. Your internal, 1.44MB, 3 ‘/z-inch diskette drive should rotate the diskette at 300 rpm, allowing a tolerance of one percent. An external, 1.2MB, 5 ‘/+-inch diskette drive should rotate a 1.
Sequential R/W Test This test checks the sequential seek, read, and write capabilities of a floppy disk drive. It performs a sequential read/write operation on the diskette in the specified drive. To perform this test, insert a diskette into the drive you plan to test. Use a diskette you have formatted with the Diskette Format test. This test destroys all data on the diskette. Disk Change Line Test This test checks the status of the disk change line.
CHANGE LINE Not Available The program displays this message if you attempt to run the Change Line Test on a drive that does not support a change line, such as a 360KB or 720KB drive.
Controller Test This test checks the keyboard controller. Scan/ASCII Code Test This test checks the scan codes assigned to the keys on the keyboard. When you select this test, the program displays the layout of your keyboard on the screen. When you press a key, the program displays the scan code and the ASCII code of the key. See the “Keyboard Scan/ASCII Codes” section later in this appendix for a complete list of the scan codes and ASCII codes for your keyboard.
Video Diagnostics The tests listed in the Video submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the video adapter. Use these tests to check the operation of the LCD or monitor connected to your computer. Adapter Test Attribute Test 80x25 Display Test 40x25 Display Test 320x200 Graphics Test 640x200 Graphics Test Page Selection Test Color Test 640x350 Graphics Test 640x480 Graphics Test Adapter Test This test checks the memory assigned to the display adapter.
40x25 Display Test This test checks the 40x25 display feature of the display adapter. 320x200 Graphics Test This test checks the 320x200 graphics display feature of the display adapter. (In LCD mode, colors are converted to 16 shades of gray.) 640x200 Graphics Test This test checks the high resolution (600x200) graphics display feature of the display adapter. Page Selection Test This test checks the paging function of the display adapter.
640x480 Graphics Test This test checks the 640x480 graphics display of the VGA adapter. (In LCD mode, colors are converted to 16 shades of gray.) Video Error Message The following error message may appear during the Adapter Test: DISPLAY MEMORY R/W ERROR The Adapter Test detected a read/write error in the display memory. This indicates a problem with the display controller. Contact your dealer.
You may see one of the following error messages during this test: Error Error Error Error - Printer Out of Paper Printer Not Selected Printer Interface I/O Error Time Out On Printer Check that the printer is on-line, paper is loaded, and all connections are secure. Communication Adapter Test This test checks the serial port. Before running this test, you must connect a special RS-232C connector to the serial port.
You may see one of the following error messages during this test: Error Error Error Error Error - Break Detected Framing error Overrun error Parity error Time out! These error messages indicate a problem with the controller or with the test cable. Make sure the test connector is secure. If the error persists, contact your dealer.
Keyboard Scan/ASCII Codes Print Screen (SYSRq) ** Scroll Lock ** ** 29 60 ** ** 0C 2D Home 47 EO t 48 EO Page Up 49 EO 0C 2D F1 3B 00 F2 3C 00 F3 3D 00 F4 3E 00 F5 3F 00 F6 40 00 F7 41 00 F8 42 00 F9 43 00 F10 44 00 F11 85 00 F12 86 00 Num Lock ** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics D-41
** No codes - Ignored D-42 System Diagnostics
** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics D-43
C V b n m , (comma) / Right Shift Alt \ [space bar] Caps Lock Insert Delete Shift SysRq Shift ’ (~) Shift Num Lock Shift Scroll Lock Shift - (-) Shift Home Shift t Shift Page Up Num Lock P ** No codes - Ignored D-44 System Diagnostics
Shift F1 54 00 Shift F2 55 00 Shift F3 56 00 Shift F4 57 00 Shift F5 58 00 Shift F6 59 00 Shift F7 5A 00 Shift F8 5B 00 Shift F9 5C 00 Shift F10 5D 00 Shift F11 87 00 Shift F12 88 00 Shift = (+) OD 2B Shift t 48 EO Shift + 4D EO Shift Esc 01 1B Shift 1 (!) 02 21 Shift 2 (@) 03 40 Shift 3 (#) 04 23 Shift 4 ($) 05 24 Shift 5 (%) 06 25 Shift 6 (^) 07 5E Shift 7 (&) 08 26 Shift 8 (*) 09 2A I I ** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics D-4
_ Shift 9 (0 0A 28 Shift 0 0) 0B 29 Shift End 4F E0 Shift 1 50 E0 Shift Page Down 51 E0 Shift t (bksp) 0E 08 Shift Tab OF 00 Shift Q 10 51 Shift W 11 57 Shift E 12 45 Shift R 13 52 Shift T 14 54 Shift Y 15 59 Shift U 16 55 Shift I 17 49 Shift O 18 4F Shift P 19 50 Shift [ (0 1A 7B Shift ] (}) 1B 7D Shift Enter 1C 0D Shift Ctrl ** ** Shift A 1E 41 Shift S 1F 53 20 44 Shift D ** No codes - Ignored D-46 System Diagnostics
Shift F 21 46 Shift G 22 47 Shift H 23 48 Shift J 24 4A Shift K 25 4B Shift L 26 4C Shift ; (:) 27 3A Shift ’ (") 28 22 Left Shift ** ** Shift Z 2C 5A Shift X 2D 58 Shift C 2E 43 Shift V 2F 56 Shift B 30 42 Shift N 31 4E Shift M 32 4D Shift, (<) 33 3C Shift.
** No codes - Ignored D-48 System Diagnostics
** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics D-49
** No codes - Ignored D-50 System Diagnostics 14 14 15 19 16 15 17 09 18 OF 19 10 1A 1B 1B 1D 1C 0A 2B 1C 1E 01 1F 13 20 04 21 06 22 07 23 08 24 0A 25 0B 26 0C - - - - ** ** 2C 1A 2D 18
** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics D-51
** No codes - Ignored D-52 System Diagnostics
** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics D-53
** No codes - Ignored D-54 System Diagnostics
** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics D-55
Num Lock Shift J 4F 00 Num Lock Shift K 50 00 Num Lock Shift L 51 00 Num Lock Shift ; 4E 2B Num Lock Shift M 52 00 Num Lock Shift > 53 00 Num Lock Shift / - ** No codes - Ignored D-56 System Diagnostics
Appendix E Using OS/2 If you have purchased OS/2 (version 1.1) for your Equity LT-386SX, you need to install the LCD video driver Epson has provided on your Reference diskette to run OS/2 on the LCD display. The steps below describe how to install this file. 1. Follow the instructions in your MS-DOS 4.01 Installation Guide to install MS-DOS on your hard disk. 2. Make a duplicate of the OS/2 Installation diskette on a blank 1.44MB diskette using the DISKCOPY command.
5. To copy the BVSCALLS.DLL file from the hard disk onto the copy you made of the OS/2 Installation diskette, type the following and press Enter: COPY C:BVSCALLS.DLL A: 6. Follow the instructions in your OS/2 Setup Guide to install OS/2 and use the copy of the OS/2 Installation diskette you made.
6. Type the following and press Enter: LIBPATH=C:\OSZ\LCD 7. Press F6 and then press Enter. 8. Reboot the computer. You can now use OS/2 with the LCD. If you want to place the LCD driver in your DLL directory and remove the LCD directory you created, use the steps below. 1. Insert the Reference diskette into drive A. Type the following and press Enter: COPY A:BVSCALLS.DLL C:\DLL\ 2. Type CD\ and press Enter to change to the root directory. 3. Type the following and press Enter: COPY CONFIG.
Appendix F Using Other Reference Diskette Utilities This appendix describes how to use the following utility files on your Reference diskette: Cl LCD video drivers for Microsoft Windows/386 Q LCD drivers for Microsoft Windows, version 3.0 0 VGARAM (which copies the contents of the video BIOS into the MS-DOS memory area) 0 SCROLL (which improves the LCD display for certain graphics scrolling programs).
2. Be sure that your copy of Setup and Build is installed in the diskette drive. Type A: and press Enter to change to the diskette drive. 3. Type SETUP and press Enter to begin installing Windows/386. 4. When the Setup program displays a list of computers and asks you to choose the one on which you are installing Windows/386, select: COMPAQ 80386-Based Personal Computers and compatibles 5.
Using Microsoft Windows, Version 3.0 Epson provides drivers to allow Microsoft Windows (version 3.0) to function properly on the LCD. If you have purchased this version of Windows for your Equity LT-386SX, follow the steps below to install these drivers: 1. Follow the instructions in the Windows documentation and on the display to begin running the Setup program. Setup displays a menu similar to the one below: Windows Setup Setup has determined that the following components make up your computer system.
5. Continue with the Setup procedure according to the directions in the Windows documentation and on the screen. Using VGARAM The VGARAM utility loads the contents of the video BIOS into the MS-DOS memory area. This increases the display speed for the Equity LT-386SX. Follow these steps to use VGARAM: 1. Insert your Reference diskette into the diskette drive. 2. Type A : and press Enter to log onto drive A. 3. Type the following and press Enter: VGARAM 4.
Using SCROLL The SCROLL utility improves the LCD display for running certain graphics scrolling programs. When you are running your application program, if you notice that the top half of the screen scrolls but the bottom half does not, you can use this utility. Follow these steps to use SCROLL: 1. Insert your Reference diskette into the diskette drive. 2. Type A : and press Enter to log onto drive A. 3. Type SCROLL and press Enter. You see the following message: Extended panel support enabled.
Glossary 80386SX A CMOS integrated circuit, or chip; the central processing unit (CPU) of your Equity LT-386SX. The CMOS-type chip provides low power consumption. 80387SX A special-purpose CMOS integrated circuit used to assist the 80386SX and speed up certain kinds of mathematical calculations. The computer’s motherboard has a socket to accommodate an optional 80387SX math coprocessor.
Asynchronous A method of data transmission in which one device sends data one bit at a time to another device. This method allows for delays of any length between characters. AUTOEXEC.BAT file A special kind of batch file MS-DOS executes automatically each time you turn on or reset the computer. Backlighting The internal fluorescent illumination of the computer’s LCD screen. LCD screens that are not backlit are not legible without an external source of light.
BIOS Basic Input/Output System. Routines in ROM memory that handle basic input/output functions of the operating system. Bit A binary digit (0 or 1). The smallest unit of information a computer can store. Eight bits make one byte. Boot To load a program or an operating system into the computer’s memory. Byte A sequence or group of bits (usually eight). In the ASCII encoding system, a byte represents one character of data.
CMOS RAM A special type of low-power memory in your Equity LT-386SX that records information about your system’s configuration. Unlike ordinary RAM, CMOS RAM is backed up by a small battery and is not erased when you turn off the computer. Code A system of symbols for representing data or instructions. Also, any software program or part of a program. COM1 The name that MS-DOS uses to identify the primary serial port. COM2 The name that MS-DOS uses to identify a secondary serial port.
Configuration The particular arrangement of the hardware components of your computer. Your configuration, for example, might include a printer and an internal modem, as well as your hard disk and diskette drive. Control code A character (generated by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing another key on the keyboard) that instructs the computer to perform a specific function. Controller A hardware component of your computer that oversees the operation of the hard disk or diskette drive.
CRT connector The socket on the side of your Equity LT-386SX where you plug in the cable of a VGA monitor. Current directory The directory in which you are working. MS-DOS executes a command in the current directory unless you include a pathname with the command. Also called the default directory. Current drive The disk drive (A or C, for example) you are currently using. MS-DOS executes a command in the current drive unless you include a drive identifier with the command. Also called the default drive.
Data length The number of bits per character in serial transmissions. Default A value or setting that takes effect when you turn on or reset the computer. Also, a response to a command the system uses unless you provide a different response. Default directory A synonym for current directory. Default drive A synonym for current drive. Delimiter A character (usually a semicolon, comma, or a space) used to separate different parts of an MS-DOS command.
Directory A list of files on a hard disk or diskette. Disk A general term meaning either a diskette or a hard disk. Disk drive The physical device (either a hard disk drive or a diskette drive) that allows the computer to read from and write to a disk. A diskette drive has a slot into which you insert a diskette. A hard disk is permanently sealed inside its own container. Diskette A flat piece of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material and used to store data. Also called a floppy disk.
ECD Enhanced Color Display. EGA Enhanced Graphics Adapter. A type of video monitor that can display graphics. Executable file A file containing program instructions. In MS-DOS, executable files must have an extension of .BAT, .COM, or .EXE. To perform the instructions in the file, type its name at the command prompt (with or without the extension). Execution speed The speed at which the CPU can execute commands. The Equity LT-386SX can run at 8 MHz or 16 MHz. Also called clock speed or operating speed.
Extension A suffix of up to three characters you can add to a filename. External command A command MS-DOS stores in a program file. The FORMAT command, for example, is stored in the file FORMAT.COM. To perform an external command, MS-DOS must be able to find the appropriate program file. External commands are distinguished from internal commands (such as DIR or ERASE), which are not stored in separate program files.
Graphics Lines, angles, curves, and other non-alphanumeric data. Gray scale The mapping of colors to shades of gray on the LCD screen GW-BASIC Microsoft’s extended version of the BASIC programming language. Hard disk A sealed mass storage device you use to store data permanently. A hard disk can process data more rapidly and can store many more files than a diskette. Hardware Any physical component of a computer system, such as a monitor, printer, keyboard, or CPU.
Interface A hardware or software connection used to transmit data between equipment or programs. Internal command A command, such as DIR or ERASE, that MS-DOS does not store in a separate program file. You can execute internal commands from any drive or directory. Kilobyte (KB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. One kilobyte equals 1,024 bytes. LCD Liquid Crystal Display. A form of flat panel display. LED Light-emitting diode.
Main memory See Base memory. Main unit The part of the computer that houses the central processing unit, random access memory, disk drives, and other supporting circuitry. Megabyte (MB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. One megabyte equals 1,048,576 bytes. Megahertz (MHz) A unit used to measure the oscillation frequency of a computer’s internal timing clock. One megahertz is one million cycles per second. The Equity LT-386SX operates at 8 or 16 MHz.
Modem A device that allows a computer to send or receive data over a telephone line. Monitor The screen of a CRT. Motherboard The main circuit board of your computer. Also called the system board. MS-DOS An operating system from Microsoft that comes with your computer. See Operating system. NiCad The type of battery used by your Equity LT-386SX. NiCad stands for nickel-cadmium. Numeric keypad The number keys grouped on the right side of the keyboard.
Operating system A collection of programs that allows a computer to control all of its operations. The operating system determines how programs run on the computer and supervises all input and output. Your computer comes with MS-DOS, an operating system by Microsoft. Option card A circuit board you install in a slot in your main unit. Option cards provide additional capabilities, such as a mouse, fax, or network. You can access the expansion slot on the LT-386SX from the bottom of the computer.
Pathname The list of directories the operating system must search through to locate a file. For example, the pathname for a file named CONTRACT.TXT that is located in the BUSINESS subdirectory is \BUSINESS\CONTRACT.TXT. Peripheral An external device, such as a printer or modem, connected to a computer. Port An input/output connection on a computer to which you can attach a peripheral. Power-on diagnostics A set of self-testing routines the computer performs automatically every time you turn it on.
RAM Random Access Memory. The portion of the computer’s memory that runs programs and temporarily stores 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 save on a diskette or hard disk. Read To copy data from one area to another. For example, when you open a text file stored on disk, the computer reads the data from the disk and displays it on the screen.
ROM Read Only Memory. The portion of the computer’s memory that contains permanent instructions and cannot be modified. The power-on diagnostic programs, for example, are stored in ROM. Unlike RAM, ROM retains its contents even after you turn off the computer. Root directory The top-level directory on a diskette or hard disk. The root directory is designated by a backslash (\). All other directories are subdirectories of the root directory or of other subdirectories. RS-232C A standard serial interface.
SETUP A program you can run when you turn on or reset the computer. In SETUP you define the configuration settings for your Equity LT-386SX. Shadow RAM The feature provided by the Equity LT-386SX that allows you to copy ROM BIOS and video ROM to RAM to speed up processing. Shell An MS-DOS program that lets you run programs and perform operating system commands from menus. Software The programs that enable the computer to perform the tasks and functions you indicate.
Stop bit A signal sent in serial communications to mark the end of a character. Subdirectory A disk directory that branches down from another subdirectory or from the root directory. Switch An option you can add to an MS-DOS command that affects the way the command works. Also see Parameter and DIP switch. System board See Motherboard. System diskette A diskette from which you can boot the operating system. An MS-DOS system diskette must contain the file COMMAND.
Track A circular region on a diskette, which is divided into sectors. Each side of a 1.44MB or 720KB diskette has 80 concentric tracks. Each side of a 360KB 5 ‘/,-inch diskette has 40. On a hard disk, tracks are called cylinders. Utility program A type of application program designed to perform housekeeping chores, such as copying files, creating directories, and so on. HELP and MENU are examples of utility programs. VGA Video Graphics Array.
Write-protect To prevent a diskette from being overwritten. When a diskette is write-protected, you cannot erase, change, or record over its contents.
Index A AC adapter, 1, 3, 1-3, 1-11 -15, 2-14, 2-6, 2-21, 2-25, 2-26, 4-2, B-9, C-3 connecting, 1-11 -13 disconnecting, 1-13 using, 2-1 -2 AC wall outlet, 1-14 APPEND command, 3-11 Application programs, 2, 4, 1-23, 2-11, 2-12, 2-15 -17, 3-2, 3-5, 3-29, 3-31 -33, F-5 starting, 3-31 AUTOEXEC.
Computer, resetting, 1-15, 1-18-19, 1-23-24, 2-28, 4-4 starting, 1-15 -16, 4-1 -2 storing, 2-10, C-4 turning off, 1-11, 1-15, 2-3, 2-5, 2-8, 2-20, 2-22, 2-28 -29, 4-1 -2, A-1, B-1, B-3 -6, B-9, B-13 turning on, 1-2, 1-15 -16, 1-18, 4-1, 4-2, A-1 using, 2-1 -30 CONFIG.
Diskette drive, external, 2-3, 1-1, 1-18, 1-21, 2-7, 2-18, 4-5, A-4 -6 connecting, 1-11, 1-16, B-3 -4 internal, 1-1, 1-21, 2-7, A-4 -6 Diskettes, 3i/2-inch, 2-18 -21 5’/+inch, 2-18 -21 caring for, 2-20 choosing, 2-19 formatting, 3-14 -17 inserting, 2-22 problem-solving, 4-4 -5 removing, 2-22 using, 2-18-24 write-protecting, 2-23 Display, primary, 1-1, 1-11, 1-22, A-4 -5 type, l-l, 1-18, 1-22 See also LCD screen Drive identifiers, 1-1, 1-21, 3-3, A-4 -5, D-21 swapping, 3-3, A-4 -5 E EGA, 1-22, 1-25 Electric
H K Handle, 2-10, A-3, A-7 -9, B-12 -13 Hard disk drive, 3, 1-1 -7, 1-18, 1-21, 1-25, 2-3, 2-7, 2-24 -26, 3-2, 4-6, C-2 -3, D-20 -30 care, 2-24-25 diagnostics, D-20 -30 installing, 1-4 -7 turning off, 2-3, 2-26 -27 types, 1-18, 1-20-21, 1-25, D-22 using, 2-23-26 Hard disk performance, 2-25, D-22 Hard disk problems, 4-6 HDDPSAVE utility, 2-3, 2-26 -27 HELP utility, 4, 3-25 -28 using, 3-25-26 Help, MENU, 3-27-8 Keyboard, 3, 1-20, 1-22, 2-8, 2-16-18, B-1, B-6 -7, C-1 -2, D-l, D-34 -35, D-41 -56 adapter, B-7
Memory, resident, 2-12, 2-15, 2-26-27, F-4 -5 read-only memory (ROM), 1-18, 1-23,1-25, D-17 -20, F-4 scratch RAM, 1-18, 1-20, 1-23 SETUP, 1-19, 1-25 shadow RAM, 1-19, 1-20, 1-23 MENU utility, 4, 1-11, 2-25, 3-18, 3-23, 3-27 -28 using, 3-27-28 Merging files, 3-20, 3-22 Microprocessor, 1-2, C-1 MODE command, 1-11, 3-28 Mode settings, MENU, 3-28 Modem, 1, 3, B-4 -5, C-2, C-4 installing, B-4 -5 Monitor, external, 2, 1-1 -2, 1-11, 1-16, 1-22, 2-7,4-3, A-5, B-1 -2 MS-DOS, command prompt, 3-2-3, 3-29-31 commands,
Power, off, 1-11, 1-15, 2-3, 2-5, 2-8, 2-20, 2-22, 2-28 -29, 4-1 -2, A-l, B-l, B-3 -6, B-9, B-13 requirements, C-3 supply, C-3 switch, 1-15 -16,4-1-3, A-2 Power-off period, 1-15, 2-28 Power-on diagnostics, 1-17 Primary, display, 1-1, 1-11, 1-20, 1-22, A- 4-5 port, parallel, 1-1, 1-10, 1-25, A-5 -6, B-8 serial, l-l, 1-11, 1-25, A-4, A-6, B-8 Printer, connecting, 1-7 -11 PROMPT command, 3-29 PUSH button, 1-5 R RAM (random access memory), 1, 3, 1-17-19, 1-23, 1-25, 2-28, 3-3 1-35, B-5 -6, C-2 CMOS, 1-19, 1-22
SMARTDRV.
ernal diskette drive e x ternal keyboard port serial port external monitor port external diskette port status indicator bar expansion slot cover handle
