OWNER'S HANDBOOK XEN Pentium apricot MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
OWNER'S HANDBOOK Chapter
Microsoft, MS, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks, and Windows is a trademark, of Microsoft Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark, and VGA and PS/2 are trademarks, of International Business Machines Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark, and Pentium and OverDrive are trademarks, of Intel Corporation. Information contained in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Apricot Computers Limited.
Safety and Regulatory Notices Safety and Regulatory Notices Your computer uses a safety ground and must be earthed. The system unit AC power cord is its “disconnect device”. Ensure that the system unit is positioned close to the AC power outlet, and that the plug is easily accessible. It is imperative that the computer is set to the correct voltage range before use. If not, the machine may be irreparably damaged.
Safety and Regulatory Notices Safety Power cord requirements The power cord packed with the computer complies with the safety standards applicable in the country in which it is sold. Use only this power cord; do not substitute a power cord from any other equipment. If you wish to use the computer in another country, you must ensure that you use a power cord and plug which complies with the safety standards of that country.
Safety and Regulatory Notices UK plug wiring instructions The wire which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured black. The wire which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured red. This appliance is supplied with a mains lead that has a non-removable moulded plug.
Safety and Regulatory Notices Safety Refer to the labels on the rear of your computer to establish which of the following warnings apply. FCC Class A Warning - this equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules. Only peripherals (computer input/output devices, terminals, printer, etc.) certified to comply with the Class A limits may be attached to this computer.
CONTENTS Chapter
Contents CONTENTS 1 Introducing your computer 2 Getting started with your computer 3 Operating your computer Using Using Using Using Using Using Using Using 4 the front panel controls 3/2 the 3.5" diskette drive 3/3 the 5.
Contents Advanced SETUP 4/15 ISA Legacy Resources 4/17 Power management 4/18 Error messages 4/20 5 Expanding the system Contents Expansion cards 5/2 Memory upgrades 5/6 Processor upgrades 5/10 Installing additional video RAM 5/13 5.25" drives 5/15 3.
INTRODUCING YOUR COMPUTER Chapter Chapter 1
Introducing your computer 1 INTRODUCING YOUR COMPUTER The Apricot XEN Pentium range is ideally suited for use as a general-purpose personal computer, networked business workstation or workgroup server. Read the separate Power Connection Guide before using your computer for the first time.
Introducing your computer Standard features Standard features of the range include: • Intel Pentium system processor. • Standard 8 Mbytes of motherboard random access memory (RAM), upgradable to 128 Mbytes by the use of single in-line memory modules (SIMMs). • Second level system memory cache (at least 256kbytes). • On-board high performance PCI bus video based on a Cirrus Logic GD543X controller, equipped with at least 1 Mbyte of video RAM, upgradeable to 2 Mbytes.
Introducing your computer Unpacking On unpacking the computer, you should find: • • • • System unit. Monitor and accompanying User’s Guide. Extended keyboard and two-button mouse. System unit AC power cord and monitor power cord appropriate for the country of sale. • System documentation (Owner’s Handbook, Warranty Pack, and so on). • Microsoft MS-DOS pack. • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups pack (if the system has a hard disk).
2 1 3 Chapter 1 4 5 Introducing your computer 1/4 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
Introducing your computer 1 POWER button: press to turn the system on or off. The green indicator on the button lights when the system unit is powered. 2 activity indicators, from left to right: lights when a diskette, floppy disk or floppy tape drive is accessed (depending on the operating system). lights when a hard disk drive or SCSI tape drive is accessed (depending on the operating system). door (shown closed): hinges down to reveal the removable-media drive bay. 4 3.
8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 12 11 10 Chapter 1 9 10 13 Introducing your computer 1/6 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
Introducing your computer AC power outlet: where the monitor power cord can plug in. Only manufacturer-approved monitors should be powered from this outlet. 2 voltage selection switch: the computer can be set to operate with a 100-120 volt or 220-240 volt AC power supply. 3 AC power inlet: where the system unit AC power cord plugs in. 4 keyboard port: connect the keyboard to this port. 5 mouse port: connect the mouse to this port.
Introducing your computer 1 2 3 6 4 Chapter 1 5 7 1 motherboard: see the label inside the system unit top cover for up-to-date information on the layout of the motherboard. 2 expansion card slots: Three expansion slots, one half length and one full length ISA, and one full length slot which can be used by either an ISA or PCI card. 3 SIMM sockets: every system is fitted with at least 8 Mbytes of memory which can be upgraded to 128 Mbytes by the use of single in-line memory modules.
GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR COMPUTER Chapter Chapter 2
Getting started with your computer 2 GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR COMPUTER You should read this chapter even if you do not read any other. It provides important information to help you site, connect, power and configure your computer. If you are familiar with the operation of personal computers, this chapter will probably tell you all you need to know in order to start working with your computer.
Getting started with your computer General advice The computer is designed to be used in a normal office environment. Here are a few hints for choosing a suitable site: • Place the system unit flat on a sturdy, level surface. Unlike some other computers, the system unit is not designed to be stood on its side. • Site the system away from moisture, direct sunlight, and extremes of heat and cold. Avoid situations in which the surrounding temperature or humidity may change rapidly.
Getting started with your computer Connecting the components See Chapter 1, “Introducing your computer”, if you need help identifying the various ports on the system unit. Checking the AC power supply When your computer is delivered, it is ready for the commercial AC power supply generally available in the country in which it is sold. It has been set for the correct voltage range, and is supplied with an AC power cord and plug which comply with the relevant safety standards.
Getting started with your computer Connecting the components Having assured yourself that the voltage settings and the AC power cords of the computer, the monitor and any other peripherals are correct: 1. If your AC power outlets have switches, set them to their Off positions. 2. Ensure that the system unit, the monitor, and any peripherals are turned off. 3. Connect signal cables and power cords (in that order) to their respective ports and inlets on the system unit, the monitor, and any peripherals.
Getting started with your computer Power-on self-test Whenever the computer is turned on, the power-on selftest (POST) routine tests various hardware components, including memory, and checks the computer’s configuration. During this time, various BIOS sign-on and POST messages are displayed, and you have the opportunity of invoking the built-in SETUP utility to reconfigure the computer (described later in this chapter).
Getting started with your computer To turn off the computer, simply press the POWER button again. The green indicator on the button goes out. (Remember that the monitor is powered from the system unit.) After you turn the computer off, wait at least 5 seconds before turning it on again. The computer may not initialize itself properly if you turn it off then on again in quick succession. Preparing a second hard disk Some computers have two hard disk drives, known as master and slave.
Getting started with your computer The software on your computer All computers with a hard disk arrive with Microsoft MSDOS and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups pre-installed. Other software may be pre-installed at the factory or by your supplier. Hard disks also contain a copy of the Windows display driver for the video subsystem, but Windows is factory configured to use the standard VGA driver. For instructions on changing the Windows display setup refer to the CL543X help file within Windows.
Getting started with your computer Using the SETUP utility What is SETUP? SETUP is a configuration utility programmed into the motherboard’s read-only memory (ROM). Because it is permanently kept in ROM, SETUP does not need an operating system to function and can be invoked whenever you turn on or reboot your computer. SETUP’s purpose is to allow you to view and alter your computer’s configuration.
Getting started with your computer Using Help Along with the diskettes provided with your computer, or the software preinstalled on its hard disk, you will often find one or more Help files. These will explain any special features of the system, and tell you how to install the software needed to exploit those features. Help may be supplied in various forms, depending on the intended operating system; in the MS-DOS/Windows application environment they are usually windows help files or ASCII text files.
Getting started with your computer 3. Choose the .HLP file you want, either by doubleclicking on its filename or by selecting the filename with the cursor and then pressing ENTER. The Windows Help program starts, displaying the first topic in the help file. For more information about using Help, see your Windows documentation. Chapter 2 Alternatively, you can copy the Windows help file from the diskette to a hard disk or network drive, and create a program item for it using Program Manager.
Getting started with your computer type helpfile.txt | more Version numbers All the help files provided have a version number so you can tell whether you’re looking at the most up-to-date version. You can discover the version number of a Windows help file by viewing it with Help and choosing About Help from the Help menu.
OPERATING YOUR COMPUTER Chapter Chapter 3
Operating your computer 3 OPERATING YOUR COMPUTER This chapter contains all you need to know for the day-today operation of your computer. Note that the monitor has its own User’s Guide. Read the separate Power Connection Guide before using the computer for the first time.
Operating your computer Using the front panel controls The computer has only a few front panel controls and activity indicators, and is very simple to use. DISKETTE ACTIVITY HARD DISK INDICATOR ACTIVITY INDICATOR POWER BUTTON The POWER button is used to turn the computer on and off. The green indicator in the button lights when the system is powered. This button also controls the power supply through the AC power outlet to the monitor.
Operating your computer Using the 3.5" diskette drive The 3.5" diskette drive can read and write double-sided diskettes with a formatted capacity of either 1.44 Mbytes (if marked “HD” or “high density”) or 720 Kbytes (if marked “DD” or “double density”). Each diskette has a rigid plastic cover with a metal shutter that guards the disk surface. The drive automatically moves the shutter aside to read the diskette. Never touch the exposed surface under the shutter.
Operating your computer Removing a diskette Before attempting to remove a diskette, ensure that the drive is not currently in use (the diskette activity indicator must be unlit). Press the EJECT button. The drive mechanism disengages and the diskette is ejected halfway out of the drive. Write-protecting a diskette A diskette can be write-protected by sliding the small tab toward the edge of the diskette to expose the little hole beneath it (as shown below).
Operating your computer Keep floppy disks well away from dust, moisture, magnetic objects, and equipment that generates magnetic fields. Also, avoid extremes of temperature and exposure to direct sunlight. Otherwise, data recorded on the disk may become corrupted. Inserting a floppy disk Insert the disk into the drive slot with the read/write aperture foremost. When the disk is fully inserted, turn the locking lever one-quarter turn clockwise to engage the drive mechanism.
Operating your computer Using a CD-ROM drive Your computer may be configured with a CD-ROM drive. With the appropriate software support, the CD-ROM drive can retrieve multimedia data from CD-ROM discs and multisession Photo-CD discs. It can also play commercial audio CDs. The software required to control the CD-ROM drive depends on your operating environment; see the Help provided with your computer or ask your supplier for details. The drive has its own headphone jack with associated volume level control.
Operating your computer If your CD-ROM drive looks like the illustration above, follow the instructions below. If your CD-ROM does not look like the illustration above refer to “CD caddy drives”. Inserting a compact disc Press the EJECT button on the front of the drive to eject the platter; note that the EJECT button will not work unless the computer is turned on. If the platter only ejects halfway out of the drive, pull it out to its fullest extent.
Operating your computer To eject the drawer manually (for example, during a power failure) you must first ensure that the computer is turned off. Then insert a thin metal rod (such as an unwound paper clip) into the emergency eject hole and push (see below). COMPACT Keep CDs well away from dust and moisture, and avoid touching the surface of the CD. Also, avoid extremes of temperature and exposure to direct sunlight. CD caddy drives A few CD-ROM drives need a CD caddy in order to play CDs.
Operating your computer Caddy drives have a flap over the drive slot. When the drive is empty the legend “CD caddy” is visible on the flap, when a CD caddy is loaded the legend “CADDY LOADED” is visible. If your CD-ROM drive looks like the illustration above, follow the instructions below. Inserting a compact disc Caddy CD-ROM drives use a special removable disc caddy to hold a CD within the drive mechanism.
Operating your computer 4. Set the disc, with its label upward, in the caddy. Handle the disc only by its edge. 5. Close the lid of the caddy firmly. 6. Insert the caddy into the slot of the drive with the disc’s label facing up and the arrow on the caddy pointing towards the drive (that is, shutter end foremost). Push the caddy in until it is completely swallowed up by the drive. The drive begins reading the disc’s table of contents.
Operating your computer To eject the drawer manually (for example, after a power failure) you must first ensure that the computer is turned off. Then insert a thin metal rod (such as an unwound paper clip) into the emergency eject hole and push hard (see below). The rod must be at least 35 mm long. CADDY LOADED COMPACT Keep CDs and caddies well away from dust and moisture.
Operating your computer The tape drive can be damaged by incorrect insertion or removal of cartridges, so always observe the following procedures: Inserting a cartridge 1. Remove the cartridge from its plastic holder. 2. Hold the cartridge so that the metal plate faces downwards, as shown below. Slide the cartridge into the drive slot until you feel a slight resistance. ACTIVITY INDICATOR WRITE-PROTECT TAB METAL PLATE 3.
Operating your computer Write-enabling a cartridge A cartridge is normally write protected but can be writeenabled by sliding the tag labelled
Operating your computer The use of 1000 ft, 250 Mbyte cartridges with the 150 Mbyte drive is not supported or recommended. If you must use 1000 ft cartridges with the 150 Mbyte drive, do not use 600 ft cartridges on the same drive. The different cartridges produce different patterns of wear on the read/ write heads, resulting in increased error rates and reduced head life. Standardize on one length only (preferably 600 ft) to get the best performance from your drive.
Operating your computer 4. Push the control lever to the right to engage the mechanism. Removing a cartridge 1. Do not attempt to remove the cartridge while it is being accessed by the computer (that is, while the green indicator is lit). 2. Push the control lever to the left to release the mechanism. 3. Push the control lever further to the left (you will feel a slight resistance as you do so) until the cartridge springs a short way out of the drive.
Operating your computer 4. Pull the cartridge out of the drive slot. 5. Return the cartridge to its plastic holder. This protects the cartridge and prevents dust from collecting on the surface of the tape. Write-protecting a cartridge A cartridge can be write-protected by turning the circular plastic plug in the top left corner of the cartridge so that it points to SAFE. The plug can be turned with a screwdriver or the edge of a coin.
Operating your computer The DDS-DC drive is illustrated below. CASSETTE INSERTION SLOT CASSETTE IN PLACE (GREEN) EJECT BUTTON DRIVE BUSY (AMBER) The DDS-DC drive uses standard 60-metre or 90-metre digital cassettes bearing the DDS symbol. The drive writes compressed data by default, unless it finds uncompressed data already on the cassette. The drive can also write uncompressed data under software control.
Operating your computer Interpreting the LED indicators There are two LED (light-emitting diode) indicators on the drive’s front panel.
Operating your computer Hardware error or high humidity If the Drive Busy (amber) LED flashes rapidly, this indicates either a hardware error or dew (high humidity). If this happens soon after powering-up the computer, the drive’s diagnostic test may have failed, in which case the drive will not operate. Request help from your supplier or an authorized maintainer. If the drive detects high humidity, the tape is automatically ejected.
Operating your computer The drive will automatically format a blank tape when data is first written to it. Remember to allow time for the formatting process when you use a new tape. Removing a cassette Before attempting to remove a cassette, ensure that the drive is not currently in use (the amber Drive Busy indicator must be unlit). Press the EJECT button on the front of the drive (depending on your operating environment, the EJECT button may be disabled while the drive is in use).
Operating your computer The tape log, which includes a record of data integrity failures, cannot be updated while the cassette is write-protected. It follows that the tape log becomes inaccurate if a cassette is used while write-protected, and the media warning LED status cannot be relied upon to determine if the cassette needs to be copied and replaced. Keep your cassettes well away from magnetic objects, and equipment that generates magnetic fields.
Operating your computer The voltage setting of the monitor must always be the same as the voltage setting of the system unit. See the User’s Guide that accompanies the monitor or consult your supplier to find out how to change the voltage setting. Make sure that the computer and its monitor are returned to their original voltage settings when you return home. The AC power cord and plug supplied with the computer comply with the safety standards applicable in the country in which it is first sold.
SETUP Chapter Chapter 4
SETUP 4 SETUP Your computer’s motherboard is fitted with a small area of memory which is used to store information about the configuration of the computer. The computer’s configuration is modified using a SETUP utility provided in Read Only Memory (ROM) on the motherboard. A rechargeable battery on the motherboard maintains the configuration memory when the computer is switched off. Invoking SETUP Each time the computer is switched on, or rebooted, it runs through a self test procedure.
SETUP Chapter 4 The opening screen Once you invoke SETUP, a menu appears on the screen. This menu, called the Main Menu throughout this publication, is a list of sub-menus and commands. The sub-menu selections categorize system setup options, the commands affect the whole of the SETUP program. Menu items which are used to access sub-menus are indicated by bullets alongside them. The sub-menus available are: Item Function System Summary Displays a screen of information about the system.
SETUP This menu allows you to register resources used by ISA cards installed in the system. Resources affected are: memory, I/O ports, DMA, and interrupts used by ISA expansion cards. Power Management Choose this item to view or change settings of the system’s power management features. Each item in the table above is described in detail later. The Main Menu commands are: Item Function Save Settings Saves the new values of all the settings you have changed since starting SETUP.
SETUP Chapter 4 Using SETUP A number of options are available to you in every menu, including context-sensitive help. For each menu a banner across the bottom of the screen indicates which keys are currently valid. The following list explains the function of each key. F1 Pressing the F1 key at any time displays help for the item currently selected. Pressing F1 a second time will display the general help screen.
SETUP These keys are available only when you are in an editable menu where values can be typed (numbers only). F9 The F9 key can be used to restore the current item to the setting in effect when the current SETUP session was invoked. Note Date and time settings cannot be restored in this way. F10 The F10 key can be used to restore the current item to the default setting stored in the BIOS.
SETUP Chapter 4 Devices and I/O Ports This menu allows you to change values for serial and parallel ports, drives and drive interfaces, video and mouse. Serial Ports 1 and 2 Use these two fields to select the I/O ports and interrupts used by the two motherboard serial ports. The defaults correspond to the logical ports COM1 and COM2 respectively. PCI AT Disk Interface This item selects whether the PCI IDE interface is enabled, and if it is, sets the data transfer rate.
SETUP Parallel Port Note The parallel port cannot support the full range of extended modes when the primary (default) set of I/O ports is selected. In order to use the ECP and EPP modes one of the alternate sets of ports must be selected. Parallel Port Mode This field allows you to select either standard or extended modes of operation. Standard mode is simple, output only, operation. Selecting Extended enables the Parallel Port Extended Mode field.
SETUP Chapter 4 Diskette Drive A and B These two items indicate to the system the type of floppy drive installed in each of the two drive bays. The options for each drive are: None, 360KB 5.25", 1.2MB 5.25", 1.44MB 3.5" and 2.88MB 3.5". Diskette Drive A is always a 1.44MB 3.5" drive, if a second floppy drive is fitted it will normally be a 1.2MB 5.25" drive. The other options are provided for compatibility reasons.
SETUP EVGA (high refresh) This option can be used if your EVGA monitor supports high refresh rates. If this option is chosen: 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768 display modes use high refresh rates, typically 75Hz. Some EVGA monitors may also support the 1280x1024 resolution. The video timings in these high refresh rate modes are VESA compatible. VGA and SVGA monitors will not work if this option is selected.
SETUP Chapter 4 Date and Time Setup This menu allows you to set the system date and time which are maintained by the Real Time Clock (RTC) in the system. The RTC is maintained even when the system is switched off. System Time To set or change the values in this field, type a number or use the + and - keys to increase or decrease the current number. To move between fields, i.e.
SETUP Secure Hard Disk and Diskette Drives Note This menu can interact with the Start Options menu. You must ensure that a user has access to a Startup Device or they will not be able to use the system at all. User Password If you choose the User Password option a menu appears. This menu allows you to set or delete a user password, and to choose whether a password prompt is displayed. When a user password is enabled the password must be entered every time the system is powered on or rebooted.
SETUP Chapter 4 Delete User Password Choose this to delete an existing password (if any). Use this method when you want to remove or clear the old password without assigning a new one. A menu appears prompting you to press ENTER to confirm the deletion. Press the ESC key to return to the Main Menu and stop the deletion. Password Prompt This option allows you to choose whether or not you are prompted for a password when the system is powered on or rebooted.
SETUP Delete Administrator Password Choose this to delete an existing password (if any). Use this method when you want to remove or clear the old password without assigning a new one. A menu appears prompting you to press ENTER to confirm the deletion. Press the ESC key to return to the Main Menu and stop the deletion. User password changeable by user This option can be set to Yes or No. When it is set to No, and an Administrator password is set, only the Administrator can change the User Password.
SETUP Chapter 4 Disketteless Operation When this option is set to Disabled the Power On Self Test (POST) will report the absence of a floppy drive and halt the boot process. If this option is set to Enabled, POST by-passes the floppy test and the system will start provided a boot device is available. Displayless Operation When this option is set to Disabled POST will report the absence of a monitor and halt the boot process.
SETUP Advanced Setup Cache Control When you choose Cache Control, a new two line submenu appears, the lines are cache state and cache size. Cache State Under this category, you can elect to enable or disable the second level cache i.e. the cache external to the processor. The default setting is Enabled, and this should normally be used. If you use old, speed sensitive, software you may find that it requires the cache to be Disabled.
SETUP Chapter 4 Note If you find the terminology used in these descriptions confusing, refer to Appendix A of this manual. E0000h - FFFFFh The first three lines of this menu are for information only. The address range from E0000h to FFFFFh is always shadowed. C8000h - DFFFFh These areas are normally used by option ROMs on ISA adapter cards. If you have installed an ISA card with such a ROM, you may wish to enable ROM shadowing for the address range that the cards option ROM uses.
SETUP Read-ahead Many IDE hard disk drives incorporate a read-ahead buffer. This option allows you to disable the buffer. The default setting is Enabled, and this offers a performance advantage. If you use old, speed sensitive, software you may find that it requires the read-ahead buffer to be Disabled. ISA Legacy Resources When you install an ISA adapter in your system you should use the ISA Legacy Resources menu to register the resources that the adapter card uses.
SETUP Chapter 4 Each user definable resource can be set to either Available or Not available. Resources that are Available are assumed by the system not to be in use by an ISA adapter, and can therefore be allocated by the PCI and PnP auto-configuration processes. Those resources that are Not available are assumed to be in use and are excluded from the auto-configuration process.
SETUP From the standby mode normal operation is resumed as soon as any keyboard or mouse activity occurs. Hard Disk Standby When this option is enabled, hard disk drives drop into a low power consumption mode after 20 minutes without a hard disk access. A hard disk drive in the low power mode will automatically resume normal operation on the next hard disk access.
SETUP Chapter 4 Error Messages The table below lists error messages you might see when SETUP is invoked.
EXPANDING THE SYSTEM Chapter Chapter 5
Expanding the system 5 EXPANDING THE SYSTEM This chapter contains instructions on installing add-ons and upgrades in your computer. The areas covered include: expansion cards additional memory upgrade processor video RAM additional drives Read this chapter before purchasing an add-on or upgrade. If, having read the relevant instructions, you are not confident about installing the upgrade, you may wish to have your supplier or service organisation install it for you.
Expanding the system Inside the system unit The illustration below identifies the major components inside the system unit that are affected by the installation instructions later in this section. Chapter 5 BLANKING PLATES POWER SUPPLY EXPANSION CARD CONNECTORS SIMM SOCKETS 3.5" DRIVE BAY PROCESSOR SOCKET CARD GUIDES 5.
Expanding the system The system has three expansion slots: one half length and one full length 16-bit Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), and one full length slot which can be used by either an ISA or PCI card. If your computer has a Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) device such as a QIC tape drive, one of the ISA slots will be occupied by a SCSI drive controller. Other cards may be pre-installed at the factory or by your supplier.
Expanding the system 3. With the system unit cover removed, the space for expansion cards will be visible. It is on the left side of the system unit behind the activity indicators and the volume control. Use the illustration below to help you identify this area. Chapter 5 EXPANSION CARD CONNECTORS BLANKING PLATES CARD GUIDES At the rear of the area are three metal blanking plates, one for each expansion card slot.
Expanding the system To remove the blanking plate, first unscrew the securing screw, then slide the plate out of its slot. Keep the screw, you will use it later to secure the card. 5. You are now ready to install the card. However, before you do so you must first ensure that the card is correctly configured for your system. 6. Position the expansion card alongside the slot in which you wish to install it.
Chapter 5 Expanding the system 7. Slide the card into the slot ensuring that the card edge connector engages correctly with the expansion card connector. 8. Carefully push the card fully home. Do not apply excessive pressure. 9. Secure the card by replacing the screw that you removed in step 4. 10. Connect any signal cables to the card. 11. Replace the system unit cover. Memory upgrades Configurations The motherboard is fitted with sockets for four SIMMs (Single In-line Memory Modules).
Expanding the system The illustration below shows the location of the sockets, and identifies the two banks. Chapter 5 BANK 1 BANK 0 Installation In order to install a memory upgrade you must: 1. Power the system down. 2. Take suitable anti-static precautions and remove the system unit cover. If you are unfamiliar with the recommended anti-static precautions and/or the process of removing the system unit cover refer to the appendices at the rear of this manual.
Expanding the system 3. If there is a drive fitted, disconnect the power and signal cables from the rear of the drive. 4. Remove the two screws that secure the drive bay and slide the bay backwards. 5. Lift the bay out of the system unit and put it down on a safe flat surface. Chapter 5 Removing SIMMs If you wish to install an upgrade in a bank which is already occupied you must first remove the existing SIMMs. 1.
Expanding the system Position the SIMM above the socket with the SIMM tilted slightly to the left. 3. Lower the SIMM into the socket, and ensure that the SIMM is properly located in the connector. 4. Pushing gently on the top corners rotate the SIMM towards the horizontal until it clips into place. Do not use excessive force. If the SIMM will not rotate easily remove it and start again. 5.
Expanding the system 3. Replace the two screws which secure the 5.25" drive bay. 4. If there is a drive in the bay reconnect its power and signal cables. 5. Replace the system unit cover. Chapter 5 The next time you power the system up the SETUP utility will be invoked automatically. Processor upgrades Pentium 60 and 66 systems are fitted with an Intel Socket 4 Zero-Insertion-Force (ZIF) socket.
Expanding the system intel i 486 DX2-66 TM Chapter 5 The processor is installed in a ZIF socket. A lever attached to the socket clamps the processor securely in the socket when it is parallel to the motherboard. 4. Carefully rotate the lever from the secure position until it is perpendicular to the motherboard FREE LOCKED The first and last 15° of movement may require considerable effort. Apply just enough pressure to overcome the resistance offered by the lever.
Expanding the system 5. Once the processor is free of its socket lift it out of the system unit and place it on the anti-static foam provided with the upgrade processor. 1. The upgrade processor and socket are keyed to ensure that the processor can only be installed in one orientation. The inside of one corner of the socket has a key hole, and correspondingly the processor has a extra pin. The corner of the processor which has the extra pin is identified by having a small flat across the corner. 2.
Expanding the system 3. Gently insert the upgrade processor making sure that it is correctly aligned with the socket and that you do not bend or otherwise damage the pins. 4. Once you are certain that all the pins on the processor are in the holes in the socket carefully move the securing lever to the locked position. 5. You may now reassemble the system unit. Intel OverDrive® processors When installing an Intel OverDrive processor, you must ensure there is sufficient air space around it.
Expanding the system Note Installing an OverDrive processor in the system will prevent a full length card from being installed in slot 1. However, shorter cards may be fitted in slot 1, provided they do not intrude upon the OverDrive’s open air space. Chapter 5 Installing additional video RAM The motherboard is fitted with two sockets which allow the video RAM to be expanded from 1 Mbyte to 2 Mbytes using 70nS 256k x 16 DRAM chips. 1. Power the system down. 2.
Expanding the system Pin 1 Chapter 5 7. One by one, carefully align the video RAM chips over the sockets. Make sure that they are in the correct orientation. The chips have pin 1 clearly marked, pin 1 is also marked on the motherboard at the left end of the sockets. 8. Carefully replace the cards, reconnect any cables and reassemble the system.
Expanding the system 5.25" drives Chapter 5 The 5.25" drive bay in the system unit can contain any standard size half height 5.25" device. A range of tape and CD-ROM drives, and a 5.25" floppy drive, are available for this bay. The following instructions describe the installation of a drive in the bay. The Generic instructions apply to all drives, and describe the physical installation of a drive. Instructions specific to each drive type are given after the generic instructions. Generic 1.
Expanding the system 4. Lift the bay out of the system unit. 5. The aperture in the chassis at the front of the drive bay is obscured by a blanking plate. The blanking plate is attached to the top of the chassis and must be removed in order to install a drive in the 5.25" drive bay. Open the drive bay door and identify the blanking plate. Chapter 5 BLANKING PLATE 6. Break the blanking plate out by bending it backwards and returning it to the vertical several times. 7.
Expanding the system 12. Line up the holes in the underside of the drive with those in the base of the drive bay. Chapter 5 SECURING SCREW HOLES ACT COMP 13. Insert the four drive securing screws, and tighten them until they are finger tight. SECURING SCREWS ACT COMP 14. Gently tighten the four screws.
Expanding the system 15. Turn the drive bay over and replace it in the system unit. 16. Slide the bay forwards until the two holes in the bay line up with those in the hard drive assembly and the system unit brace. 17. Replace the two screws that secure the drive bay. 5.25" DRIVE POWER CABLE 19. The drive has now been installed and connected to a power cable. You must now connect it to a signal cable.
Expanding the system 5.25" floppy or FTD Cabling The 5.25" floppy and FTD drives come complete with a suitable signal cable. The signal cable must be connected between the signal connector on the rear of the drive, the 3.5" floppy drive and the socket marked floppy on the motherboard. Chapter 5 Configuration The only configuration on these drives is via the drive select jumpers at the rear of the drive. The jumpers should be set to drive select 1 (DS1).
Expanding the system If a second drive is connected to the ISA IDE interface you must ensure that one drive is configured as Master, and the other as Slave. DOS drivers for the CD-ROM drive are described in help files on a diskette supplied with the drive. SCSI drives Authorized upgrade kits are supplied with a suitable signal cable. The cable should be connected between the SCSI card and the rear of the drive. The following illustration shows a typical routing of the cable.
Expanding the system Configuration Each SCSI drive is assigned an identity on the SCSI bus, these are known as SCSI IDs. All authorized SCSI tape drives are supplied configured with SCSI ID 2, the SCSI CD-ROM drive is configured with ID 5. Chapter 5 All authorized SCSI drives are supplied with termination resistors fitted. 3.5" hard disk drive The system unit supports one 1.6" high or two 1" high, 3.5" hard disk drives. Preparation To install a hard disk drive you must first remove the 3.
Expanding the system 7. Disconnect the cable from the rear of the 3.5" floppy drive. 8. If a 3.5" hard disk is fitted remove the signal and power cables from the rear of the drive. 9. The 3.5" drive bay is secured by two screws and two lugs in the system unit base. Identify the screws and lugs from the following illustration. Chapter 5 SECURING SCREWS 10. Remove the two securing screws shown in the illustration above. 11. Slide the 3.5" drive bay backwards and lift it out of the system unit.
Expanding the system IDE drives are normally configured using jumpers on the drive. Configuration details may vary from drive to drive. Authorized drives are supplied with documentation describing how to configure the drive. Chapter 5 If you are uncertain about configuring the drive, check with your supplier. Installing the drive 1. Having configured the drive, turn the drive bay upsidedown and rest it on a flat surface with the front of the floppy drive towards you. 2.
Expanding the system When installing drives supplied by third parties, be careful to ensure that securing screws do not come into contact with drive circuit boards. If in doubt check with your supplier. 3. Line up the screw holes on the sides of the drive with those in the bay, insert the securing screws supplied with the drive and tighten them until they are finger tight. 4. Carefully tighten the screws. 5. Turn the bay over. Reassembling the system 1. Replace the 3.5" drive bay in the system unit.
Expanding the system 8. Replace the two screws which secure the 5.25" drive bay. 9. If there is a drive in the bay reconnect its power and signal cables. Chapter 5 10. Replace the system unit cover.
CARING FOR YOUR COMPUTER Chapter Chapter 6
Caring for your computer 6 CARING FOR YOUR COMPUTER This chapter provides information on how to care for your computer. Your computer requires little physical maintenance other than occasional cleaning. But you must take care when transporting it to avoid damage to its delicate components, particularly the hard disks.
Caring for your computer Cleaning your computer Turn off the computer and unplug all power cords before cleaning it. If you have any problems which can’t be resolved by cleaning, consult Chapter 7 “Troubleshooting” . The system unit Do not use sprays, solvents or abrasives that might damage the computer’s surface. Do not use cleaning fluids or sprays near air vents, ports, or removable-media drives. • Occasionally wipe the system unit with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.
Caring for your computer 1. If the liquid is viscous, unplug the keyboard and call your supplier or authorized maintainer. 2. If the liquid is thin and clear, try unplugging the keyboard, turning it upside down to let the liquid drain out, and drying it for at least 24 hours at room temperature. If the keyboard still won’t work, call your supplier or authorized maintainer.
Caring for your computer 7. Put the ball back in its socket and replace the plastic cover. It should click into place. The FTD tape drive You should clean the read/write head and the capstan of the FTD frequently to prevent the accumulation of dust and metallic particles. If you notice read or write errors, or many bad blocks when using the drive, be sure to clean the head and capstan thoroughly before concluding that the drive or your tapes are defective.
Caring for your computer 1. Gently rub an alcohol-dampened swab against the surface of the read/write head. If the swab becomes too discoloured, use additional swabs until there is no further discolouration. 2. Rub an alcohol-dampened swab against the surface of the capstan using an up and down motion. Gently rotate the capstan and continue rubbing until the entire surface is clean. 3. Wait for at least one minute before using the tape drive. This allows any residual alcohol to evaporate.
Caring for your computer When you insert the cleaning cassette, the drive recognises it as a cleaning cassette, runs it for about 20 seconds, then ejects it automatically. Each time the cleaning cassette is used the tape advances over an unused portion of the tape. If the drive ejects the cleaning cassette immediately after you insert it, this means that the entire tape has been used and a new cleaning cassette is required. You cannot rewind a cleaning cassette.
TROUBLESHOOTING Chapter Chapter 7
Troubleshooting 7 TROUBLESHOOTING This chapter offers advice if you suspect a fault with your computer. If in doubt, turn off the computer and unplug all power cords before consulting your supplier or an authorized maintainer. This chapter is concerned only with problems caused by the computer itself; remember that problems can also arise from other sources such as your network cabling, operating system or application software.
Troubleshooting Problems when starting Power-on self-test Whenever the computer is turned on or reset, the poweron self-test (POST) routine tests various hardware components, including memory, and compares the actual configuration of the machine with that recorded in configuration (CMOS) memory. A configuration discrepancy could arise if you have just installed or removed a hardware option (for example, if you have added or replaced SIMMs). In this case you are prompted to invoke the SETUP utility.
Troubleshooting Failure to boot On the completion of POST, the computer attempts to boot from a system diskette then a bootable hard disk partition. MS-DOS is normally pre-installed on systems with a hard disk. If necessary, your operating system manuals should tell you how to format a blank diskette as a system diskette (for example, DOS uses the Format a: /s command) or how to partition and format a hard disk (DOS uses the Fdisk utility and Format command).
Troubleshooting Fixed disk read failure Press the F1 key to continue The hard disk may be defective. Press F1 to retry. If the problem persists, insert a system diskette, press F1, backup the data held on the defective hard disk and try reformatting it. No boot device available Press the F1 key to continue This may indicate a fault in the diskette or hard disk drive, or perhaps a damaged system diskette. Press F1 to retry, using another system diskette if possible.
Troubleshooting Power Check that the AC power supply is switched on, and that the fuse in the AC plug has not blown. If the system still does not seem to be getting power, try another power cord. Display If there is no display check: that the monitor is turned on, and the brightness and contrast controls are set appropriately.
INSIDE YOUR COMPUTER Chapter Appendix A
Inside your computer A INSIDE YOUR COMPUTER This appendix provides step-by-step instructions on obtaining access to the inside of your computer’s system unit. Note that instructions for installing upgrade options are provided in Chapter 5 “Upgrading your computer”. Turn off the computer and unplug all power cords before removing the top cover. Also included here is information on configuring expansion cards, and on motherboard jumper settings.
Inside your computer Anti-static precautions Static electricity can cause permanent damage to electronic components. You should be aware of this risk, and take precautions against the discharge of static electricity into your computer. Anyone can generate static electricity by moving on a chair, brushing against desks or walls, or simply walking across an ordinary carpet. Items handed from one person to another, or being wrapped or unwrapped, can acquire a static charge.
Inside your computer Handle static-sensitive items with extreme care. Hold expansion cards and add-on components only by their edges, avoiding their electrical contacts. Never touch the components or electrical contacts on the motherboard or on expansion cards. In general, do not handle static-sensitive items unnecessarily. Keep all conductive material, and food and drink, away from your work area and the open computer. Removing the top cover 1. Turn off both the system unit and the monitor. 2.
Inside your computer Configuring expansion cards Many expansion cards have a number of configurable options. These options can include items such as: the interrupt used, the DMA channel used, where any ROM on the card will appear in the processor’s memory map and which I/O ports are used to control the card. How to select options like this varies from card to card and will be described in documentation supplied with the card.
Inside your computer Interrupts (IRQ) Your computer (like every other ISA compatible PC) supports 15 (IRQ) hardware interrupts. These interrupts are used to alert the processor that a peripheral (e.g. the keyboard controller, or an expansion card) requires a particular piece of software to be executed. This piece of software is known as an interrupt service routine. Each peripheral has a unique interrupt service routine that is executed in response to the interrupt assigned to that peripheral.
Inside your computer Selecting IRQs for cards The table below lists the interrupts available on the motherboard and their default functions. The notes explain whether the default function can be disabled, if so how, and under what circumstances it is safe to do so. Interrupts Default Notes Function IRQ5, IRQ9 IRQ10, IRQ11 Not used These interrupts are not used by the motherboard and are available for expansion cards.
Inside your computer Refer to the table above, and the documentation supplied with the card to establish which IRQ, if any, to use and how to select it. DMA channels ISA compatible PCs are equipped with a seven channel DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller. This DMA subsystem allows peripherals to access motherboard memory directly. Without the DMA subsystem every memory access would have to involve the processor.
Inside your computer If you think of the decimal system using columns: 1000 (10x10x10) 100 (10x10) 10 (10) 1 (1) 10 1 1 9 The number 1019 is: 1000 1 100 0 Each time you add 1 to a column that contains 9, that column goes back to 0 and you add 1 to the column to the left. The columns represent powers of 10: 10x10, 10x10x10 and so on, and the decimal system is said to be base 10. The hex numbering system uses a base of 16.
Inside your computer We can demonstrate that 3FB is exactly the same as 1019 by: (4096x0)+(256x3)+(16xF)+(1xB)=768+240+11=1019 Note A lower case h is often used at the end of a number to ensure that you realise it is in hex format e.g. 3FBh. A larger hex number, and one that you will come across in the Memory map description below, is A0000h. To see this as a decimal number: 16x16x16x16 16x16x16 16x16 16 1 A 0 0 0 0 16x16x16x16=65536 So A0000h is 65536x10=655360. If you have Microsoft Windows 3.
Inside your computer Every address contains 8-bits of data, a byte. Each bit can be thought of as a switch which can be either on or off. A byte is like a bank of 8-switches, where each switch can be on or off. ON OFF ON 1 OFF 1 2 3 4 BIT 5 6 7 8 BYTE So 1Mbyte of memory consists of 1048576 (see Numbers and computers) locations each containing one byte of data. When installing expansion cards it is the first (bottom) Mbyte of address space that is of most interest.
Inside your computer Note The top location of this first Mbyte is 1M-1 or FFFFFh. This is because in the first Mbyte there are 1M locations, starting at 0. Location 1M is the start of the second Mbyte of address space. The memory map above shows the uses of the first Mbyte of address space. The memory map is arranged in this way in order to be compatible with the ISA standard. The region from 0 to 640k-1 (00000h to 9FFFFh) is used by DOS.
Inside your computer The region from C8000h to DFFFFh is available for expansion card ROM other than video BIOS. It is recommended that you configure expansion card ROM at the bottom of this region, with the address ranges as close together as possible without any overlapping. This will leave the maximum amount of memory free for use as UMB space. For information on UMB space refer to your DOS documentation, and the help files supplied with your computer.
Inside your computer I/O ports (Hex) Used by 000 - 01F 020 - 027 030 - 037 040 - 047 050 - 057 060 - 06F 070 - 07F 080 - 09F 0A0 - 0BF 0C0 - 0DF 0F0, 0F1 0F8 - 0FF 1F0 - 1F8 178, 17A 278 - 27F 2F8 - 2FF 35F, 36F 37F 378 - 37F 3F0 - 3F7 3F8 - 3FF 928 - 92F DMA controller 1 Interrupt controller 1 Interrupt controller 1 System timer System timer Keyboard controller Real time clock, NMI mask DMA page register Interrupt controller 2 DMA controller 2 Math coprocessor Math coprocessor Hard disk drive controlle
Inside your computer Motherboard jumper settings The motherboard is fitted with a number of jumpers that are used to configure the operation of the system. The following illustration shows the position of the jumpers. J4 J3 J12 J9 J13 J14 J11 J2 All the jumpers are three pin. These can be configured with a jumper clip connecting the centre pin and either of the two end pins.
Inside your computer Jumper J3 - Flash ROM program This jumper is used to enable programming of the motherboard flash ROM to upgrade the BIOS. During normal operation the flash ROM is write protected and the jumper clip should be in the position marked WP on the motherboard. Note Upgrading the BIOS should only be carried out by your supplier or an authorized maintainer. In order to reprogram the flash ROM chip; with the system powered down, move the jumper clip to the position marked EN.
Inside your computer Jumper J9 - VGA enable This jumper is provided to allow a hardware disable of the on-board VGA controller. During normal operation the jumper clip should be in the position marked EN on the motherboard. For the majority of systems there will be no need to move this jumper. With the jumper in the EN position the on-board video controller is automatically enabled unless another VGA compatible controller is found on an expansion card.
Inside your computer Jumper J12 - ISA IDE interrupt This jumper is provided to allow the ISA IDE controller to be configured as either the primary or secondary IDE controller. On systems fitted with a PCI IDE controller this jumper clip will be in the position marked SEC. On systems not fitted with a PCI IDE controller, or where the PCI IDE controller is disabled, the jumper clip must be in the position marked PRI.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Chapter Appendix B
Technical Information TECHNICAL INFORMATION This appendix provides some technical information about your computer. More detailed information is available from your supplier.
Appendix B Technical Information Specifications System processor Intel Pentium Processor clock speed 60, 66, 90, 100 BIOS ROM 1 or 2Mbit flash device (reprogrammable in situ) Memory Four 32-bit 70ns SIMMs (128 Mb maximum) Video controller I/O ports Video RAM Resolutions Serial Parallel Keyboard Mouse Cirrus Logic GD5434 1 Mb or 2 Mb EVGA 1280 x 1024 EVGA 1024 x 768 SVGA 800 x 600 VGA 640 x 480 dual 9-way male D-type RS232 25-way female D-type 102 key AT-compatible PS/2-compatible two-button
Technical Information Discs Acceptable discs Disc diameter Transfer rate Burst 300 Kbyte/s (Mode 1) 342.2 Kbyte/s (Mode 2) 4.0 Mbyte/s Full stroke Average (random) 450ms (typical) 250ms (typical) Audio output Line Headphone 0.75 V at 47 kOhm 0.55 V at 32 Ohm Power requirement Voltage +5 V dc + 5% +12 V dc + 10% +5 V: 100 mVp-p +12 V: 200 mVp-p +5 V: 800 mA at tray open/close +12 V: 1.
Appendix B Technical Information SCSI DDS-DC tape drive Performance specifications apply when using data compression. Power specifications are measured at the tape drive power connector and are nominal values. Nominal capacity 60-metre cassette 90-metre cassette Transfer rate Sustained 1 Unrecoverable errors Recording format Power specification 1.3 Gbyte (1:1 base) 2.6 Gbyte (2:1 typical) 5.2 Gbyte (4:1 max1) 2.0 Gbyte (1:1 base) 4.0 Gbyte (2:1 typical) 8.
Technical Information Line Headphone Host interface Power specification Laser 0.75 V at 47 kOhm 0.55 V at 32 Ohm SCSI-2 Voltage +5 V dc + 5% +12 V dc + 10% Type Wavelength Output power GaAlAs semiconductor 780 nm 0.6 mW Sustained Burst across SCSI bus 300 Kbyte/s 2.1 Mbyte/s (asynchronous) 4.0 Mbyte/s (synchronous) Full stroke Average Ripple 520 ms (typical) 295 ms (typical) +5 V: 0.05 Vp-p +12 V: 0.1 Vp-p +5 V: 1.6 A at Spin up +12 V: 1.
Appendix B Technical Information Physical characteristics Weight and dimensions Component Height Depth System unit 94 mm 430 mm 428 mm 9.5-12 kg 1 Keyboard 40 mm 205 mm 488 mm 1.4 kg 1 Width Mass depending on configuration Temperature ranges The equipment is designed to operate in a normal office and humidity environment, but during storage and transportation the system is more tolerant of environmental factors.
Technical Information The power cord supplied complies with the safety standards applicable in the country in which it is first sold. If you wish to use the computer in another country, you must ensure that you use a power cord which complies with the safety standards of that country. Current ratings AC power inlet 4.5 A at 100-120 V 3.0 A at 220-240 V AC power outlet 1.5 A at 100-120 V 1.0 A at 220-240 V Connect only manufacturer-approved monitors to the AC power outlet.
Appendix B Technical Information Port characteristics Serial ports 9-way male D-type (COM1/COM2) 1 5 9 6 10101 B/8 Pin I/O Function 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I I O O NA I O I I Data carrier detect Receive data Transmit data Data terminal ready Signal ground Data set ready Request to send Clear to send Ring indicate XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
Technical Information 25-way female D-type (LPT1) 13 1 25 14 Pin I/O Function 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I/O I I I I O I O O NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA -STROBE Data bit 0 Data bit 1 Data bit 2 Data bit 3 Data bit 4 Data bit 5 Data bit 6 Data bit 7 -ACK BUSY PE SLCT -AUTO FEED -ERROR -INIT -SLCT IN Ground Ground Ground Ground Ground Ground Ground Ground XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK B/9 Appendix B Parallel port
Appendix B Technical Information Monitor port 15-way female D-type (VGA) 5 1 6 10 15 11 Pin I/O Output Monochrome Colour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Red Green Blue Reserved Digital G Red Rtn Green Rtn Blue Rtn Plug Digital G Reserved Reserved Hsync Vsync Reserved No pin Mono No pin No pin Self test Key pin Mono Rtn No pin No pin Digital G No pin Digital G Hsync Vsync No pin O O O NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA O O NA Red Green Blue No pin Self test Red Rtn Green Rtn Blue Rtn No pin Digita
Technical Information Both the keyboard and mouse ports accept 6-pin miniature DIN connectors. The voltages and signals are the same for both connectors. 5 6 6 3 4 4 1 2 5 3 2 Pin I/O Function 1 2 3 4 5 6 I/O NA NA NA I/O NA Data Reserved Ground +5 Vdc Clock Reserved 1 Although the keyboard and mouse ports are physically and electrically compatible, neither the keyboard nor the mouse will operate if plugged into the other’s socket.
Appendix B Technical Information Video feature connector The motherboard video adapter provides a video feature connector. The connector on the motherboard uses a standard pinout and a standard cable may be used to connect the feature connector to an expansion card. In case you have difficulty obtaining a cable the pinout of the motherboard connector is given in the following table.
apricot APRICOT COMPUTERS LIMITED 3500 PARKSIDE BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS PARK BIRMINGHAM B37 7YS.
