Acer Altos 9000 User Guide

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AcerAltos 9000

User’s Guide
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Document EDITION PART NUMBER DATE History First Edition 49.AA984.001 June 1996
Copyright Notice

Copyright © 1996 by Acer America Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer America Corporation.

Programs Copyright All rights reserved.
Printed in U.S.A
© 1996 Acer America Corporation.
Trademarks Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated.
AcerAltos is a trademark of Acer America Corporation and Acer Inc..
Adaptec and the Adaptec logo are registered trademarks of Adaptec, Inc. SCSISelect is a trademark of Adaptec, Inc.
Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark and PS/2 is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
MS-DOS and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Mylex is a registered trademark of Mylex Corporation.
Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell Incorporated.
SCO and SCO UNIX are registered trademarks of The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Other brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Disclaimer Acer and its suppliers make no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the
contents hereof and specifically disclaim any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Further, Acer reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes from time to time in the contents hereof without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Acer reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this manual at any time and without notice.
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Warranty/Limitation of Liability
Any software described in this manual is licensed “as is” and Acer and its suppliers disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to any warranty of non-infringement of third party rights, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Acer does not warrant that the operation of the software will be uninterrupted or error free. Should the programs prove defective, the buyer (and not Acer, its distributor, or its dealer) assumes the entire cost of all necessary service, repair, and any incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect in the software. Please see the Acer Limited Product Warranty for details of Acer’s limited warranty on hardware products. IN NO EVENT SHALL ACER BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS OR DATA, EVEN IF ACER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Software License
Acer grants you a personal, non-transferable, non-exclusive license to use the software that accompanies your computer system only on a single computer. You may not (a) make copies of the software except for making one (1) backup copy of the software which will also be subject to this license, (b) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, translate or create derivative works based upon the software, (c) export or re-export the software to any person or destination which is not authorized to receive them under the export control laws and regulations of the United States, (d) remove or alter in any way the copyright notices, or other proprietary legends that were on the software as delivered to you or (e) sublicense or otherwise make the software available to third parties. The software is the property of Acer or Acer’s supplier and you do not have and shall not gain any proprietary interest in the software (including any modifications or copies made by or for you) or any related intellectual property rights. Additional restrictions may apply to certain software titles. Please refer to any software licenses that accompany such software for details.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read these instructions carefully. Save them for future 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. Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect it from overheating, these openings must not be blocked or covered. This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
7. This product should be operated from the type of power indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult your dealer or local power company.
8. This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding-type plug, a plug having a third (grounding) pin. This plug will only fit into a grounding-type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace the outlet. Do not defeat the purpose of the grounding-type plug.
9. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this product where persons will walk on the cord.
10. If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.
11. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.
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12. Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified 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. If liquid has been spilled into the product
c. If the product has been exposed to rain or water
d. If the product does not operate normally when the operating instructions
are followed. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions since improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition.
e. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged
f. If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need
for service
14. Use only the proper type of power supply cord (provided in your keyboard/manual accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified, type SVT/SJT, rated 6A 125V minimum. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).
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FCC Class A Radio Frequency
Interference Statement
Note:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
2. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
3. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
4. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.
Notice 1:
The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Notice 2:
Shielded interface cables, if any, must be used in order to comply with the emission limits.
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Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................... 1
Features ................................................................................................................. 2
Options .................................................................................................................. 3
Conventions ..........................................................................................................4
Chapter 1 System Housing ................................................... 1-1
1.1 Features ...................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1.1 Front Panel ......................................................................................1-1
1.1.2 Rear Panel........................................................................................1-3
1.2 Getting Started............................................................................................1-5
1.2.1 Selecting a Site................................................................................. 1-5
1.2.2 Unpacking the System....................................................................1-6
1.2.3 Positioning the System ...................................................................1-7
1.2.4 Moving the System......................................................................... 1-9
1.3 Connecting Components......................................................................... 1-10
1.4 Installing Options .................................................................................... 1-15
1.4.1 ESD Precautions.............................................................................. 1-15
1.5 Opening the System.................................................................................1-16
1.5.1 Opening the Housing Panels ....................................................... 1-16
1.5.2 Installing Disk Drives...................................................................1-19
1.5.3 Installing An Expansion Board....................................................1-25
1.5.4 Installing a CPU Board.................................................................1-27
1.6 Drive Tray Management System (DTMS) Hot Plug Backplane...........1-29
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Chapter 2 System Board........................................................2-1
2.1 Features....................................................................................................... 2-1
2.2 Major Components ....................................................................................2-2
2.3 Layout.........................................................................................................2-3
2.4 Jumpers and Connectors...........................................................................2-4
2.4.1 Jumper and Connector Locations ..................................................2-4
2.4.2 Jumper Settings ...............................................................................2-5
2.4.3 Connector Functions.......................................................................2-6
2.5 ESD Precautions.........................................................................................2-7
2.6 Memory Upgrade.......................................................................................2-7
2.6.1 Rules for Adding Memory .............................................................2-7
2.6.2 Memory Configurations .................................................................2-8
2.6.3 Installing a SIMM............................................................................2-9
2.6.4 Removing a SIMM ........................................................................2-10
2.6.5 Reconfiguring the System.............................................................2-11
2.7 Video Memory Upgrade .........................................................................2-12
2.8 PCI Slot Configuration.............................................................................2-13
2.8.1 PCI-to-PCI Bridge Feature............................................................2-13
2.8.2 Installing PCI Devices...................................................................2-13
2.9 Error Messages.........................................................................................2-14
2.9.1 Software Error Messages..............................................................2-14
2.9.2 System Error Messages.................................................................2-14
2.9.3 Correcting Error Conditions........................................................ 2-17
Chapter 3 BIOS Utility ............................................................3-1
3.1 Entering Setup............................................................................................3-2
3.2 Basic System Configuration ......................................................................3-3
3.2.1 Date and Time .................................................................................3-5
3.2.2 Diskette Drives................................................................................3-6
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3.2.3 Hard Disk Drives............................................................................3-6
3.2.4 System Memory .............................................................................. 3-8
3.2.5 Math Coprocessor................................ ........................................... 3-9
3.2.6 Video Display.................................................................................. 3-9
3.2.7 Communication Settings................................................................ 3-9
3.2.8 Enhanced IDE Features ................................................................ 3-10
3.2.9 Large Memory Support Mode.....................................................3-10
3.2.10 Num Lock After Boot................................................................... 3-11
3.2.11 Memory Test................................................................................. 3-11
3.2.12 Auto Configuration Mode ...........................................................3-11
3.2.13 Fast Boot Mode............................................................................. 3-11
3.3 Advanced System Configuration...........................................................3-12
3.3.1 Shadow RAM................................................................................3-13
3.3.2 Internal Cache (CPU Cache) ........................................................3-13
3.3.3 External Cache ..............................................................................3-13
3.3.4 ECC/Parity Mode Selection ........................................................ 3-14
3.3.5 Memory at 15MB -16MB .............................................................. 3-14
3.4 PCI System Configuration ...................................................................... 3-15
3.4.1 PCI IRQ Setting............................................................................. 3-16
3.4.2 VGA Palette Snoop....................................................................... 3-17
3.4.3 Onboard SCSI................................................................................ 3-17
3.5 Non-PnP ISA Card Configuration..........................................................3-17
3.5.1 IRQ/DMA..................................................................................... 3-19
3.5.2 Expansion ROM Region ............................................................... 3-19
3.5.3 I/O Region .................................................................................... 3-19
3.6 Power Saving Configuration ..................................................................3-20
3.6.1 Power Management Mode........................................................... 3-21
3.6.2 System/Wakeup Events............................................................... 3-21
3.7 System Security Setup............................................................................. 3-22
3.7.1 Disk Drive Control ....................................................................... 3-22
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3.7.2 Onboard Communication Ports...................................................3-24
3.7.3 Onboard PS/2 Mouse (IRQ12).....................................................3-26
3.7.4 Setup Password.............................................................................3-27
3.7.5 Power On Password .....................................................................3-28
3.8 Remote Diagnostic Configuration ..........................................................3-29
3.9 Load Setup Default Settings....................................................................3-30
3.10 Leaving Setup........................................................................................... 3-31
Chapter 4 SCSISelect Configuration Utility..........................4-1
4.1 The SCSISelect Configuration Utility........................................................ 4-1
4.1.1 Default Values .................................................................................4-1
4.1.2 When to Use the SCSI Select Utility ................................................4-2
4.1.3 Running the SCSISelect Utility........................................................4-2
4.2 SCSISelect Utility Options..........................................................................4-4
4.2.1 Configure/View Host Adapter Settings Menu ............................4-5
4.2.2 SCSI Disk Utilities .........................................................................4-19
4.3 Configuring Multiple SCSI Controllers..................................................4-22
4.4 Disk Drives Over 1 Gbyte .......................................................................4-23
4.4.1 Extended Translation....................................................................4-23
4.4.2 The DOS 1 Gbyte Limit.................................................................4-23
4.4.3 When to Use Extended Translation.............................................4-24
4.5 SCSI Troubleshooting Checklist..............................................................4-25
4.6 BIOS Startup Messages............................................................................ 4-26
4.6.1 Device connected, but not ready .................................................4-27
4.6.2 Start unit request failed ................................................................4-28
4.6.3 Disk Drive Configuration Problems............................................4-28
Chapter 5 EISA Configuration Utility (ECU) .........................5-1
5.1 EISA Configuration Utility........................................................................5-1
5.1.1 Functions..........................................................................................5-1
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5.1.2 Making Menu Selections................................................................5-2
5.1.3 Getting Help.................................................................................... 5-3
5.2 Starting the ECU........................................................................................5-4
5.3 ECU Main Menu........................................................................................ 5-5
5.3.1 Main Menu Selections ....................................................................5-6
5.4 Configuring Your Computer for the First Time.................................... 5-12
5.5 Adding or Removing Boards................................................................... 5-15
5.6 Configuring Memory .............................................................................. 5-19
5.7 Viewing or Editing Configuration Details..............................................5-22
5.8 What To Do If Your Nonvolatile Memory Is Invalid............................. 5-25
Appendix A System Resources ...............................................A-1
A.1 Memory Map............................................................................................A-1
A.2 I/O Address Map.....................................................................................A-2
A.3 Interrupt Channels ...................................................................................A-4
A.4 System Default Configuration.................................................................A-5
Appendix B Drive Tray Management System (DTMS) ...........B-1
B.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................B-1
B.1.1 Major Components.........................................................................B-2
B.2 Jumper Settings..........................................................................................B-4
B.3 Hard Disk ID Setting Options ..................................................................B-6
B.4 SCSI Channel Configurations...................................................................B-9
B.5 Installing a SCSI Hard Disk.................................................................... B-12
B.6 Using the Hot-swap Feature................................................................... B-15
Index
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List of Figures
1-1 Front Panel..................................................................................................1-1
1-2 Rear Panel...................................................................................................1-3
1-3 Extending the Chassis Legs (Bottom View).............................................1-7
1-4 Placing the System Near a Wall................................................................1-8
1-5 Moving the System ....................................................................................1-9
1-6 Connecting the Keyboard........................................................................1-10
1-7 Connecting the Mouse.............................................................................1-11
1-8 Connecting a Monitor..............................................................................1-12
1-9 Connecting a Printer................................................................................1-13
1-10 Complete System Connections ...............................................................1-15
2-1 System Board Layout.................................................................................2-3
2-2 System Board Jumper and Connector Locations.....................................2-4
2-3 Installing a SIMM.......................................................................................2-9
2-4 Removing a SIMM ...................................................................................2-10
2-5 Installing a Video Memory Chip ............................................................ 2-12
4-1 Options Menu Screen.................................................................................4-4
4-2 Configure/View Host Adapter Settings Screen......................................4-5
4-3 Host Adapter SCSI ID Selection Screen for AIC-7880 ............................4-6
4-4 SCSI Parity Checking Selection.................................................................4-7
4-5 Host Adapter SCSI Termination Selection for AIC-7880........................4-9
4-6 Boot Device Options Screen....................................................................4-10
4-7 SCSI Device Configuration Screen for AIC-7880...................................4-11
4-8 Advanced Configuration Options Screen..............................................4-16
4-9 SCSI Disk Utilities Screen for AIC-7880.................................................4-20
5-1 ECU Main Menu
5-2 Important EISA Configuration Information ............................................5-6
5-3 Add or Remove Boards............................................................................. 5-8
5-4 View or Edit Details...................................................................................5-9
5-5 Examine Switches or Print Report..........................................................5-10
5-6 Save and Exit............................................................................................5-11
Steps in Configuring Your Computer...................... 5-5
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5-7 Examine Switches or Print Report ......................................................... 5-12
5-8 Save and Exit............................................................................................ 5-14
5-9 Add or Remove Boards........................................................................... 5-16
B-1 Backplane Board Components .................................................................B-2
B-2 Hot-plug SCSI Drive Tray Components..................................................B-3
B-3 Channel Configuration Jumper Settings ..................................................B-5
B-4 ID Cable Connector Pin Definitions.........................................................B-6
B-5 Hard Disk ID Switch Settings...................................................................B-7
B-6 Channel Configuration Jumpers and Slot Number IDs .........................B-8
B-7 Single-Channel Configuration..................................................................B-9
B-8 Dual-Channel Configuration..................................................................B-11
B-9 Connecting the Drive Cables (wide SCSI drive)...................................B-12
B-10 Securing a Drive to the Hot-plug Tray ..................................................B-13
B-11 Installing the Hot-plug Drive Tray ........................................................B-14
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List of Tables
1-1 Features and Functions of the Front Panel.............................................1-2
1-2 Features and Functions of the Rear Panel .............................................. 1-4
2-1 System Board Jumper Settings................................................................ 2-5
2-2 Connector Functions..................................................................................2-6
2-3 Memory Configurations............................................................................2-8
2-4 System Error Messages............................................................................2-15
3-1 Drive Control Settings.............................................................................3-23
3-2 Serial Port 1 Settings ................................................................................3-24
3-3 Serial Port 2 Settings ................................................................................3-24
3-4 Parallel Port Settings................................................................................3-25
3-5 Parallel Port Operation Mode Settings................................................... 3-26
4-1 Default Settings for SCSI Controller and All Devices.............................4-2
5-1 Keyboard Function Keys ...........................................................................5-2
A-1 System Memory Map..............................................................................A-1
A-2 System I/O Address Map ......................................................................A-2
A-3 Interrupt Channels ..................................................................................A-4
A-4 Basic System Configuration (Page 1/2).................................................A-5
A-5 Basic System Configuration (Page 2/2).................................................A-5
A-6 Advanced System Configuration (Page 1/1) ........................................A-6
A-7 PCI System Configuration ......................................................................A-7
A-8 System Security .......................................................................................A-8
A-9 EISA Configuration Utility - ECU ..........................................................A-9
B-1 Terminator Settings for single-Channel Configuration........................ B-10
B-2 Terminator Settings for Dual-Channel Configuration......................... B-11
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Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your new AcerAltos networking server! This Intel be used as:
• a file, print, or application server;
• a communications gateway; or,
• an internet web server.
Pentium processor-based high-performance, expandable server can
The AcerAltos 9000 supports a variety of operating systems, including Novell NetWare, SCO UNIX, and Microsoft Windows NT.
The dual-processor CPU card can be upgraded with a second CPU for use as an SMP server.
The onboard PCI SCSI Host Adapter and SVGA graphics controller allow for an additional four PCI and two EISA expansion slots, and one shared EISA/PCI expansion slot.
The modular tower includes an easy-access 8-bay hot-pluggable 3.5-inch Drive Tray Management System (DTMS) and three 5.25-inch half-height drive bays.
The AcerAltos 9000 SCSI backplane is split-channel capable for those networking applications which require fault tolerant RAID configurations.
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Features
The AcerAltos 9000 server combines high performance with high expandability, and incorporates the latest advances in server technology. These features include:
• Intel Pentium processor with support for symmetrical multiprocessing
(second Intel Pentium required)
• 512 KB pipeline-burst write-back second-level cache
• 32 MB of system ECC RAM, expandable to 256 MB
• 256 KB Flash BIOS fully programmable with password security
• Onboard SVGA graphics: 64-bit PCI video controller with 1 MB DRAM
(upgradable to 2 MB)
• Onboard PCI fast/wide bus master SCSI host adapter
• One 4X SCSI CD-ROM
• Total of seven I/O expansion slots four PCI, two EISA, and one shared
EISA/PCI
• Drive Tray Management System (DTMS) eight hot-plug 3.5-inch internal
storage bays
• Three 5.25-inch half-height internal storage bays
• Two 9-pin serial ports
• One EPP/ECP parallel port 25-pin Centronics standard
• PS/2-compatible keyboard port
• PS/2-compatible mouse port
• One 3.5-inch 1.4 MB floppy diskette drive
• One 350 W switching power supply (115V/230V)
• Acer StartUp Kit
• Acer Server Manager for SCO UNIX
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Options
The AcerAltos 9000 server can be expanded with the following options:
• 5.25-inch 1.2 MB floppy diskette drive
• 3.5-inch 2.1 GB SCSI fast/wide hard disk drive
• 3.5-inch 4.3 GB SCSI fast/wide hard disk drive
• 3.5-inch 8.0 GB (compressed) SCSI DAT tray
• 3.5-inch 2.5 GB SCSI QIC tape drive
• Fast Ethernet 10/100 PCI NIC
• Adaptec PCI fast/wide bus master SCSI host adapter
• Mylex 2-channel PCI RAID Array Processor/Host Adapter
• Specialix RIO EISA host multiport controller
• Specialix Remote Terminal Adapter
• Dual Pentium Upgrade Kit
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Conventions
The following conventions are used in this manual:
a, e, s, etc. Represents the actual keys that you
have to press on the keyboard.
NOTE
Gives bits and pieces of additional information related to the current topic.
WARNING
Alerts you to any damage that might result from doing or not doing specific actions.
CAUTION
Suggests precautionary measures to avoid potential hardware or software problems.
IMPORTANT
Reminds you to take specific action relevant to the accomplishment of the procedure at hand.
TIP
Tells how to accomplish a procedure with minimum steps through little shortcuts.
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Chapter 1 System Housing

1.1 Features
1.1.1 Front Panel
1 Keylock 5 3.5-inch Drive Bay 2 Hard Disk Drive LED 6 Hard Disk Drive Trays 3 Power LED 7 Power Button 4 5.25-inch Drive Bays
Figure 1-1 Front Panel
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Table 1-1 Features and Functions of the Front Panel
Feature Function
Keylock Locks or unlocks the system housing
Hard Disk Drive LED Indicates hard disk drive activity for hard drives
Power LED Indicates that power is applied to the system
3.5-inch Diskette Drive Accommodates a 3.5-inch diskette
Drive Bays Holds the diskette drives and fixed disk drives
Power Button Turns the system on or off
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1.1.2 Rear Panel
1
2
3 4
5 6 7
8
9
1. Power Supply Fan
2. COM1
3. COM2
4. Keyboard Port
5. Mouse Port
Figure 1-2 Rear Panel
6. Video Port
7. Parallel Port
8. Expansion Slots
9. SCSI Expansion slot
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Table 1-2 Features and Functions of the Rear Panel
Feature Function
Parallel Port Connects a parallel printer
Serial Ports Connects serial peripherals
SCSI Port Connects peripheral devices for high-speed,
parallel data transfer
Expansion Slots For additional expansion boards
Keyboard Connector Connects a PS/2-compatible keyboard
Mouse Connector Connects a PS/2-compatible mouse
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1.2 Getting Started
The preinstallation process involves the following:
• Selecting a site
• Unpacking the components
• Positioning the system
• Moving the System
1.2.1 Selecting a Site
Consider the following when selecting a site for the system:
1. Find a place that is comfortable for you. Avoid dusty areas of extreme temperature and humidity.
2. Cable paths should not run near equipment that might cause electromagnetic or frequency interference such as radio transmitters, television sets, copying machines, heaters, or air conditioners.
3. Find a location close to an electrical outlet. Avoid using extension cords.
4. Leave enough space around the system for normal air circulation.
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1.2.2 Unpacking the System
Unpack the contents of the system box, following instructions found with the system unit.
The system box contains the base system with one 3.5-inch diskette drive installed, onboard video board and an accessory tray. Additional peripherals and configurations may be installed depending upon model.
The accessory tray contains the following:
• AcerAltos 9000 User's Guide - (this manual)
• Power Cord
• Keyboard and mouse
• Acer StartUp CD software bundle
• Warranty Package
• Mounting hardware for peripherals
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1.2.3 Positioning the System
Arrange the legs of the system in such a way that the system is stable. Figure 1-3 shows the correct position of the legs when they are extended.
Figure 1-3 Extending the Chassis Legs (bottom view)
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When placing the system with side fan facing a wall, leave a space of 2 - 4 inches from the wall to allow air circulation, then position the legs as in Detail A in Figure 1-4.
When standing the system with side fan facing out, place the system close to the wall and position the legs as in Detail B in Figure 1-4.
2 - 4 inches
Figure 1-4 Placing the System Near a Wall
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1.2.4 Moving the System
The system housing has a handle on top and two wheels at the base to move it easily. Figure 1-5 shows how to move the system.
Figure 1-5 Moving the System
NOTE: Be sure to re-position the legs underneath the system before moving.
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1.3 Connecting Components
CAUTION: Make sure that the system is turned off before connecting any
system components.
NOTE: Each component plug is keyed allowing it to be inserted in one
direction.
Follow these steps to connect the component:
1. Plug the keyboard into the keyboard socket.
Figure 1-6 Connecting the Keyboard
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2. Connect the mouse into the mouse connector.
Figure 1-7 Connecting the Mouse
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3. Connect the monitor cable into the video socket.
Figure 1-8 Connecting a Monitor
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4. If you have a parallel printer, connect it to the parallel port.
If you have a serial printer or other serial peripherals, connect it to a serial port (Serial 1 or Serial 2). Refer to Figure 2-1 for serial port locations.
Figure 1-9 Connecting a Printer
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5. Plug the female end of the power connector into the system power socket and the other end into a grounded electrical outlet.
6. Plug the monitor power cable into a grounded electrical outlet.
Figure 1-10 Complete System Connections
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1.4 Installing Options
This section tells you how to open the system housing and install additional components in the system.
1.4.1 ESD Precautions
Integrated circuits (ICs) on expansion boards are sensitive to static electricity. To avoid damaging the chips from electrostatic discharge (ESD), observe the following precautions:
1. Do not remove a board from its packaging until you are ready to install it.
2. Wear a wrist grounding strap before handling electronic components. Wrist grounding straps are available at most electronic component stores.
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1.5 Opening the System
CAUTION! Turn OFF the system and unplug the power cable from the wall
socket before opening the system.
1.5.1 Opening the Housing Panels
1.5.1.1 Upper Front Panel
Hold either the right or left edge of the upper front panel to open it and gain access to the CD-ROM and 1.44 MB diskette drives. The housing keys are inside the front panel.
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1.5.1.2 Lower Front Panel
Unlock the housing with the key. Press either the left or right button then pull the panel to access the drive trays.
You cannot remove the key after you have unlocked the housing. You can remove it only when you lock the housing again.
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1.5.1.3 Left Panel
Pull on the key to swing the left panel open. If necessary, you may use a screwdriver to pry open the panel.
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1.5.2 Installing Disk Drives
Turn off the power switch and unplug the power cord before installing or removing drives, unless you are utilizing a RAID controller and drives that support hot swapping.
1.5.2.1 3.5-inch Diskette Drive
1. Open the lower front panel.
2. Remove the upper panel including its frame by pressing the latch underside and pulling the panel out.
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3. Remove the screw attaching the 3.5-inch drive frame to the housing.
4. Secure a 3.5-inch drive on the frame with four screws.
5. Insert the drive into the drive bay and secure it with a screw.
6. Connect the diskette drive cables.
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1.5.2.2 5.25-inch Drive
You may install a CD-ROM, QIC tape, hard disk, diskette drive or any other 5.25­inch form factor device into the drive bay(s).
1. Open the lower front panel.
2. Remove the upper panel including its frame by pressing the latch underside and pulling the panel out.
3. Secure the drive guides on the sides of a 5.25-inch drive.
4. Insert the drive into the drive bay.
5. Connect the signal and power cables to the drive.
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1.5.2.3 3.5-inch Hard Disk
1. Slide the power switch of the drive tray to the Unlock/Power Off position.
2. Pull down the tray handle and remove the tray.
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3. Place a hard disk on the tray and secure it with four screws. Refer to Appendix B for information about connecting the drive cables.
Only fast/wide SCSI drives can be used; fast/narrow SCSI drives will not fit or work in the AcerAltos 9000 drive tray.
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4. Insert the tray back into the housing.
5. Slide the power switch of the drive tray to the Lock/Power On position.
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1.5.3 Installing An Expansion Board
1. Remove an expansion slot bracket cover. Save the screw to secure the expansion board.
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2. Align an expansion board with the open slot and insert the golden fingers into the expansion bus connector.
3. Secure the board with a screw.
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1.5.4 Installing a CPU Board
Follow these steps to re-install the CPU board after reconfiguring or adding an additional CPU.
1. Remove the support board bar, if installed.
2. Insert the board into the slot.
Make sure that the board is properly seated in the slot.
3. Re-insert the support board bar.
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4. Align the plastic support bar with the board edge.
5. Insert the right end of the bar to the hole near the hard disk drive frame and the left end to the hole on the rear panel.
Left End
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1.6 Drive Tray Management System (DTMS) Hot Plug Backplane
The BP-W8 wide SCSI backplane subsystem consists of a backplane board and drive trays that support wide SCSI hard disk drives. The BP-W8 backplane is specifically designed for a tower housing that accommodates up to eight SCSI drives.
The backplane subsystem major features are listed below:
• “Hot-swap” feature that allows replacement of a defective hard drive even
while the system is in full operation. This feature requires a RAID controller board and RAID drivers.
• Two LEDs on the SCSI drive tray front panel to indicate power and drive
failure
• Allows “split” and “combine” SCSI-channel configurations
• SCSI ID strapping that allows wide SCSI HDD ID configuration through the
backplane switches instead of configuring the individual drive IDs
• Fixed 2.85-volt termination
The DTMS hot-plug backplane is discussed in detail in Appendix B. Refer to Appendix B for information about:
• Major components
• Jumper settings
• Hard disk ID setting options
• SCSI channel configurations (single and dual channel)
• How to install a SCSI hard disk
• How to use the hot-plug feature
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Chapter 2 System Board

2.1 Features
The AcerAltos 9000 is a dual-processor capable system that supports the Intel Pentium processor. The system board contains an exclusive slot for the CPU board that carries two 321-pin zero-insertion force (ZIP) CPU sockets plus an embedded 512 KB pipeline burst second-level cache.
This high-performance 64-bit system board utilizes both EISA and PCI local bus architecture. Two EISA, four PCI bus slots, and one EISA/PCI shared slot reside on the board to allow installation of either master or slave devices.
The system board has four DRAM banks composed of eight 72-pin SIMM sockets that accommodate both fast-page mode and EDO (extended data output) SIMMs. The sockets support a total of 256-MB system memory using 32-MB SIMMs.
A 50-pin Fast SCSI interface and a 68-pin Wide SCSI interface come with the system board to connect SCSI devices. Standard external I/O interfaces include two 9-pin serial ports, one parallel port, a video port, and keyboard and mouse ports.
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2.2 Major Components
The system board has the following major components:
• Four DRAM banks composed of eight 72-pin SIMM sockets that support
single- and double-density 60/70ns SIMMs
• CPU board slot
• Four PCI and two EISA bus slots, and one EISA/PCI shared slot
• 256 KB Flash ROM for system BIOS
• System clock/calendar plus 8 KB extended CMOS RAM with battery backup
• 50-pin Fast SCSI and 68-pin Wide SCSI interfaces
• Two 24-pin RDM interfaces
• Onboard VRAM and VRAM sockets for video memory upgrade
• Power connector for 350-watt switching power supply (115/230V)
• Super I/O, SCSI, VGA, memory, and Advanced Server Management (ASM)
controller chipsets
• External ports:
• Two 9-pin serial ports
• PS/2-compatible keyboard port
• PS/2-compatible mouse port
• Parallel port
• Video port
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2.3 Layout
5
13
5
Figure 2-1 shows the locations of system board components.
2
1
3
4
E3 E2 E1
17
18
19
1 EISA slots 2 PCI slots (secondary) 3 PCI slots (primary) 4 CPU board slot 5 COM1 6 Mouse port 7 Parallel port 8 COM2 9 Keyboard port
Figure 2-1 System Board Layout
11 12
8
14 1 16
10 Video port 11 Video upgrade sockets 12 Video RAM 13 SIMM sockets 14 Fan connector 3 (FA3) 15 Fan connector 2 (FA2) 16 Fan connector 1 (FA1) 17 Buzzer 18 Flash ROM BIOS 19 Real-time clock
6 7
10
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2.4 Jumpers and Connectors
2.4.1 Jumper and Connector Locations
Figure 2-2 shows the jumper and connector locations on the system board.
Figure 2-2 System Board Jumper and Connector Locations
Jumpers are prefixed “JP”. Connectors are prefixed “CN” and “SW.
On this figure, the blackened pin of a jumper represents pin 1.
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2.4.2 Jumper Settings
Table 2-1 lists the system board jumpers with their corresponding settings and functions.
Table 2-1 System Board Jumper Settings
Jumper Setting Function
Password Security
JP1 1-2
BIOS Type
JP2 1-2*
SCSI Termination
JP3 1-2
SCSI Feature
JP4 1-2*
Hardware Reset
JP5 1-2
Sound Feature
JP6 1-2*
2-3
2-3
2-3*
2-3
2-3*
2-3
*
Check password Bypass password
Acer OEM
Terminator always set to ON Use SCSI Setup Utility to set terminator to ON or OFF
Wide SCSI Standard
Enabled Disabled
Buzzer Speaker
* Default setting
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2.4.3 Connector Functions
Table 2-2 lists the different connectors on the system board and their respective functions.
Table 2-2 Connector Functions
Connector Function
CN1 Power connector
CN2 Power connector
CN3 Backplane board HDD status connector
CN5 IDE hard disk connector
CN6 RDM connector
CN7 RDM connector
CN8 Diskette drive connector
CN11 68-pin Wide SCSI connector
CN12 50-pin Fast SCSI connector
CN13 LED board connector
CN14 Hard disk LED connector
CN15 Power LED connector
CN16 Speaker connector
SW1 NMI switch
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2.5 ESD Precautions
Always observe the following electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions before installing a system component:
1. Do not remove a component from its antistatic packaging until you are ready to install it.
2. Wear a wrist grounding strap before handling electronic components. Wrist grounding straps are available at most electronic component stores.
Do not attempt the procedures described in the following sections unless you are a qualified technician.
2.6 Memory Upgrade
The system board comes with eight 72-pin SIMM sockets that support 4-MB and 16-MB single-density SIMMs as well as 8-MB and 32-MB double-density SIMMs for a total system memory of 256-MB. The sockets support both the fast page mode and EDO 60/70 ns SIMMs.
See Table 2-3 for a list of some possible memory configurations.
2.6.1 Rules for Adding Memory
• Use only one type of SIMM in a given bank. You may combine different
types of SIMMs for a memory configuration as long as the SIMMs in each bank are of the same type.
• You may use the memory banks (Bank0 ~ Bank3) in any order.
• Always install SIMMs in pairs. For example, for a total memory of 16 MB,
install two 8-MB SIMMs in a bank. You can not use a 16-MB SIMM alone for a 16-MB memory.
• Run the EISA Configuration Utility (ECU) after changing memory capacity.
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2.6.2 Memory Configurations
Table 2-3 Memory Configurations
Bank0 Bank1 Bank2 Bank3 Total
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 Memory
8 MB 8 MB 16 MB
16 MB 16 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 64 MB
8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 32 MB
16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 64 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 128 MB
8 MB 8 MB 16 MB 16 MB 48 MB 8 MB 8 MB 32 MB 32 MB 80 MB
16 MB 16 MB 32 MB 32 MB 96 MB
8 MB 8 MB 16 MB 16 MB 48 MB 8 MB 8 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 80 MB 8 MB 8 MB 16 MB 16 MB 32 MB 32 MB 112 MB 8 MB 8 MB 16 MB 16 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 176 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 96 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 160 MB
16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 192 MB
8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 64 MB
16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 16 MB 128 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 256 MB
The above configurations are only some of the available memory combinations. You can use other combinations as long as you follow the rules for upgrading memory in section 2.6.1.
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2.6.3 Installing a SIMM
Follow these steps to install a SIMM:
1. Carefully slip a SIMM at a 45 edge indicating the pin 1 of the SIMM matches pin 1 of the socket.
A SIMM fits only in one direction. If you slip in a SIMM that does not completely fit, you may have inserted it the wrong way. Reverse the orientation of the SIMM.
2. Gently push the SIMM to a vertical position until the pegs of the socket slip into the holes on the SIMM, and the holding clips lock the SIMM into
position. The SIMM should be at a 90
° angle into a socket making sure that the curved
°
angle when installed.
1
2
Peg
Figure 2-3 Installing a SIMM
Pin 1 Indicator (curved edge)
Hole
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2.6.4 Removing a SIMM
Follow these steps to remove a SIMM:
1. Press the holding clips on both sides of the SIMM outward to release it.
2. Move the SIMM to a 45
3. Pull the SIMM out of the socket.
° angle.
1
3
2
Figure 2-4 Removing a SIMM
Holding Clip
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2.6.5 Reconfiguring the System
You must enter Setup after installing or removing SIMMs to reconfigure the system.
Follow these steps to reconfigure the system:
1. Turn the system on. A memory error message appears, indicating that the total memory does not match the value stored in CMOS.
2. Press indicating an incorrect memory configuration.
3. Press
The system boots with the new memory configuration.
5. Run the EISA Configuration Utility (ECU).
+ + to enter Setup. A warning message appears
twice to exit and reboot the system.
If you run Windows NT, NetWare, or UnixWare in the system, make sure to run the ECU every time you change the memory size. See Chapter 5 for information on the ECU.
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2.7 Video Memory Upgrade
Larger video memory allows you to display higher resolutions and more colors. The system board comes with a 1-MB video memory onboard upgradable to 2 MB.
Follow these steps to upgrade the video memory:
1. Locate the video DRAM upgrade sockets labeled U18 and U21 on the system board. See Figure 1-1.
2. Gently insert a video chip into each of the upgrade sockets.
Make sure that the pin 1 indicator on the chip matches the notched corner of the socket.
Figure 2-5 Installing a Video Memory Chip
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2.8 PCI Slot Configuration
2.8.1 PCI-to-PCI Bridge Feature
The system board carries a PCI-to-PCI bridge controller chipset that expands the capability of the PCI system by allowing all the five PCI slots in the system to be bus masters. The bridge has two interfaces. The primary interface connects directly to the PCI bus close to the host CPU. The secondary interface creates a new PCI bus that can operate independently from the primary PCI bus. Refer to Figure 2-1.
2.8.2 Installing PCI Devices
The devices you install in PCI slots 1 and 2 operate on the primary PCI bus while those in PCI slots 3, 4, and 5 operate on the secondary PCI bus.
Since the primary PCI bus has a quicker response time than the secondary PCI bus, install PCI add-on boards in PCI slots 1 and 2 first then in PCI slots 3, 4, and 5 to enhance system performance. See Figure 2-1 for the locations of the PCI slots.
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2.9 Error Messages
Do not continue using the computer if you receive an error message of any type. Note the message and take corrective action. This section explains the different types of error messages and corresponding corrective measures.
There are two general types of error messages:
• Software
• System
2.9.1 Software Error Messages
Software error messages are returned by your operating system or application. These messages typically occur after you boot the operating system or when you run your applications. If you receive this type of message, consult your application or operating system manual for help.
2.9.2 System Error Messages
A system error message indicates a problem with the computer itself. A message of this type normally appears during the power-on self-test, before the operating system prompt appears.
Table 2-4 lists the system error messages.
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Table 2-4 System Error Messages
Message Action
CMOS Battery Error Replace the RTC chip or
contact your dealer.
CMOS Checksum Error Check the RTC chip and the
necessary jumper. If the battery is still good, run Setup.
Display Card Mismatch Run Setup.
Diskette Drive Controller Error or Not Installed
Diskette Drive Error Diskette may be defective. If
Diskette Drive A Type Mismatch
Diskette Drive B Type Mismatch
Equipment Configuration Error
Hard disk Controller Error Run Setup.
Hard disk 0 Error Check all cable connections.
Hard disk 1 Error Check all cable connections.
Keyboard Error or No Keyboard Connected
Keyboard Interface Error Replace the keyboard or
Check and connect the control cable to the diskette controller.
not, replace the diskette drive.
Run Setup and select the proper drive type.
Run Setup and select the proper drive type.
Modify the memory configuration to agree with one of the options in Table 2-3.
Replace hard disk.
Replace hard disk.
Check and connect the keyboard to the system unit.
contact your dealer.
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Table 2-4 System Error Messages (continued)
Message Action
Memory Error at: MMMM:SSSS:OOO (W:XXXX, R:YYYY)
where: M: MB, S: Segment, O: Offset, X/Y: write/read pattern
Memory Size Mismatch
CPU Clock Mismatch
Onboard Serial Port 1 Conflict
Onboard Serial Port 2 Conflict
Onboard Parallel Port Conflict
Pointing Device Error Check and connect pointing
Pointing Device Interface Error
Press F1 key to continue or Ctrl-Alt-Esc for Setup
Real Time Clock Error Check the RTC chip. If it is
Check SIMMs on the system board. Contact your dealer.
Run Setup. Check if the values shown in the memory parameters are correct. If correct, exit Setup and reboot the system. If the error message reappears, seek technical assistance.
Run Setup and disable the port.
Run Setup and disable the port.
Run Setup and disable the port.
device.
Replace the pointing device or contact your dealer.
Press
Setup.
still good, run Setup. If not, replace the RTC chip.
or
+ + to enter
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2.9.3 Correcting Error Conditions
As a general rule, if an error message says "Press F1 to continue," it is caused by a configuration problem, which can be easily corrected. An equipment malfunction is more likely to cause a fatal error, i.e., an error that causes complete system failure.
Here are some corrective measures for error conditions:
1. Run Setup and ECU. You must know the correct configuration values for your system before you enter Setup, which is why you should write them down when the system is correctly configured. An incorrect configuration is a major cause of power-on error messages, especially for a new system.
2. Remove the system unit cover. Check that the jumpers on the system board and any expansion boards are set correctly.
3. If you cannot access a new disk, it may be because your disk is not properly formatted.
4. Check that all connectors and boards are securely plugged in.
If you go through the corrective steps above and still receive an error message, the cause may be an equipment malfunction.
If you are sure that your configuration values are correct and your battery is in good condition, the problem may lie in a damaged or defective chip.
In either case, contact an authorized service center for assistance.
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Chapter 3 BIOS Utility

Most systems are already configured by the manufacturer or the dealer. There is no need to run Setup when starting the computer unless you get a Run Setup message.
The Setup program loads configuration values into the battery-backed nonvolatile memory called CMOS RAM. This memory area is not part of the system RAM.
If you repeatedly receive Run Setup messages, the battery may be bad. In this case, the system cannot retain configuration values in CMOS. Ask a qualified technician for assistance.
Before running Setup, have the following information ready:
• Diskette drive type The standard type is a 3.5-inch 1.44 MB diskette drive.
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3.1 Entering Setup
To enter Setup, press the key combination b+a+^.
You must press b+a+^ while
the system is booting. This key combination does not work any other time.
The BIOS Utility main menu then appears:
BIOS Utility
Basic System Configuration
Advanced System Configuration
PCI System Configuration
Non-PnP ISA Card Configuration
Power Saving Configuration
Remote Diagnostic Configuration
System Security
Load Setup Default Settings
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, ← = Select, Esc = Exit and Reboot
The parameters on the screens show default values. These values may not be the same as those in your system.
The grayed items (denoted with asterisks) on the screens have fixed settings and are not user-configurable.
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3.2 Basic System Configuration
Select Basic System Configuration to input configuration values such as date, time, and disk types.
The following screen shows the Basic System Configuration menu.
Basic System Configuration Page 1/2
Date ..................... [MM/DD/YY]
Time ..................... [HH:MM:SS]
Diskette Drive A ......... [1.44 MB 3.5-inch]
Diskette Drive B ......... [None]
Cylinder Head Sector
Hard Disk 0 (xxx MB)..... [None] xx xx xx
Hard Disk 1 (xxx MB)..... [None] xx xx xx
*Base Memory ............. [ 640] KB
*Extended Memory ......... [ xxxx] KB
*Total Memory ............ [ xxxx] KB
*Math Coprocessor ........ [ Installed ]
*Video Display ........... [VGA/EGA]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
The command line at the bottom of the menu tells you how to highlight items, change settings, and move from one screen to another.
w or y on the cursor-edit keypad to highlight the desired parameter.
Press
Press
x or z to select the desired option for an item.
Press
}to move to the next page or {to return to the previous page.
Press
^ to exit the configuration menu.
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The following screen shows page 2 of the Basic System Configuration menu.
Basic System Configuration Page 2/2
Communication Settings
Baud Rate ..................... [9600] BPS
Parity ........................ [None]
Stop Bits ..................... [1] Bits
Data Length ................... [8] Bits
Enhanced IDE Features
Hard Disk Block Mode .......... [Disabled]
Hard Disk Size > 504MB ........ [Disabled]
Large Memory Support Mode ......... [ Normal ]
Num Lock After Boot .............. [Enabled ]
Memory Test ...................... [Disabled]
Auto Configuration Mode ........... [Disabled ]
Fast Boot Mode ................... [Disabled ]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
The following sections explain the different parameters and their settings.
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3.2.1 Date and Time
The real-time clock keeps the system date and time. After setting the date and time, you need not enter them every time you turn on the system. As long as the internal battery remains good (approximately seven clock continues to keep the date and time accurately even when the power is off.
Date
years) and connected, the
Highlight the items on the date parameter and press following the month-day-year format.
Valid values for month, day, and year are:
• Month 1 to 12
• Day 1 to 31
• Year 00 to 99
Time
Highlight the items on the time parameter and press following the hour-minute-second format.
Valid values for hour, minute, and second are:
• Hour 00 to 23
• Minute 00 to 59
• Second 00 to 59
x or z to set the date
x or z to set the time
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3.2.2 Diskette Drives
To enter the configuration value for the first diskette drive (drive A), highlight the Diskette Drive A parameter. Press the appropriate value.
Possible settings for the Diskette Drive parameters:
• [ None ]
• [360 KB, 5.25-inch]
• [1.2 MB, 5.25-inch]
• [720 KB, 3.5-inch]
• [1.44 MB, 3.5-inch]
• [2.88 MB, 3.5-inch]
Follow the same procedure for Diskette Drive B. Choose None if you do not have a second diskette drive.
x or z key to view the options and select
3.2.3 Hard Disk Drives
Move the highlight bar to the hard disk 0 parameter to configure the first hard disk (drive C). Press values. Select the type that corresponds to your hard disk drive. Follow the same procedure for the other hard disks, if any. Choose None if you do not have other drives or are booting from a SCSI hard drive. The default setting is None.
x or z to display the hard disk types with their respective
When booting from a SCSI fixed disk installation, have both of these options set to None.
The following sections, “Selecting the Auto Option” and “Selecting the User Option,” describe functions used for IDE drives only.
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Selecting the “Auto” Option
If you do not know the exact type of your IDE fixed disk, select the option Auto. During the power-on self-test (POST), when the system performs self-testing and self-initialization before loading the operating system and applications, the BIOS utility automatically determines your hard disk type. You can see the drive type and its values when you enter the BIOS Utility.
Cylinder Head Sector
Hard Disk 0 (xx MB) ... [Auto] xx xx xx
If desired, you can save the values under the option User.
Cylinder Head Sector
Hard Disk 0 (xx MB) ... [User] xx xx xx
The next time you boot the system, the BIOS utility does not have to auto­configure your hard disk as it detects the saved disk information during POST.
We recommend that you copy the IDE disk drive values and keep them in a safe place in case you have to reconfigure the disk in the future.
Follow the same procedure to auto-configure other IDE hard disks.
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Selecting the “User” Option
There are cases when you cannot use the option Auto, instead you have to select User. Choose the User option when you have installed an IDE fixed disk that
was previously formatted but does not use the disk native parameters or structure, that is, the disk type may be in the hard disk types list but the number of cylinders, heads, and sectors differ.
Follow these steps to configure a hard disk with the User option:
1. Highlight a hard disk parameter.
2. Select the option User and press
3. Type in the number of cylinders, heads, and sectors of the drive under the appropriate columns.
Be sure to have the correct hard disk information beforehand.
4. Choose Yes when asked if you want to save CMOS data.
e.
3.2.4 System Memory
The system automatically detects the total amount of onboard memory during the POST and sets the memory parameters accordingly. If you install additional memory, the system adjusts the Total Memory parameter to display the new memory size (refer to section 2.6.5). When changing your system’s memory configuration, be sure to run the ECU to add in the changes.
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3.2.5 Math Coprocessor
The CPU includes a math coprocessor so this parameter shows Installed by default.
3.2.6 Video Display
The video display is the monitor on which the operating system prompt appears when you boot the system. The system automatically detects the video mode of your primary display and sets the configuration value accordingly. Values for this parameter are:
• [Monochrome]
• [CGA 40 columns x 25 rows]
• [CGA 80 columns x 25 rows]
• [VGA/EGA]
3.2.7 Communication Settings
The Communication Settings parameters allow you to set the baud rate, parity, stop bit and data length for the first serial port (COM 1). The values for this parameter are:
• Baud rate : 110 to 9600 bits per second (BPS)
• Parity : odd, even, or none
• Stop bit : 1 or 2 stop bits
• Data length : 7- or 8-bit data word
The baud rate maximum value 9600 BPS applies only to POST under UNIX environment. The system I/O chipset SMC 37C665 supports up to 115.2K BPS.
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3.2.8 Enhanced IDE Features
Hard Disk Block Mode
This function enhances disk performance depending on the hard disk in use. If you set this parameter to Enabled, it allows data transfer in block (multiple sectors) by increasing the data transfer rate to 256 bytes per cycle. If your system does not boot after enabling this parameter, change the setting to Disabled. This parameter is normally set to Disabled.
Hard Disk Size > 504 MB
This enhanced IDE feature works only under DOS and Windows 3.x environments. If enabled, it allows you to use a hard disk with a capacity of more than 504 MB. This is made possible through the Logical Block Address (LBA) mode translation. Other operating systems require this parameter to be set to Disabled.
To prevent data loss, set this parameter set to Enabled if you are using a hard disk with more than 504 MB capacity that was previously configured through LBA mode. If you use a hard disk configured through cylinder-head-sector (CHS) mode, set this item to Disabled.
3.2.9 Large Memory Support Mode
This parameter allows the system to support an extended memory higher than 64 MB. Set this parameter to Advanced if you are working under Windows NT environment and the system memory size is greater than or equal to 64 MB, otherwise, set it to Normal. The default setting is Normal.
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3.2.10 Num Lock After Boot
This parameter allows you to activate the Num Lock function upon booting. The default setting is Enabled.
3.2.11 Memory Test
When set to Enabled, this parameter allows the system to perform a RAM test during the POST routine. When set to Disabled, the system detects only the memory size and bypasses the test routine. The default setting is Disabled.
This item is fixed to Disabled and is not user-configurable if you enabled the Auto Configuration Mode and the Fast Boot Mode parameters on page 2 of the Basic System Configuration menu. See sections 3.2.12 and 3.2.13.
3.2.12 Auto Configuration Mode
When enabled, this parameter automatically sets the system configuration values to their optimized settings. At the same time, it causes the Memory Test parameter to be fixed to Disabled and the shadow RAM regions for system and video BIOS to Enabled. See sections 3.2.11 and 3.3.1.
This parameter is Disabled by default.
3.2.13 Fast Boot Mode
When enabled, this parameter allows the system to boot faster by skipping some POST routines. It bypasses memory test, enables Shadow RAM, and enables primary- and second-level cache. This parameter is Disabled by default.
When set to Enabled, this parameter causes the Memory Test parameter to be fixed to Disabled and the shadow RAM regions for system and video BIOS to Enabled. See sections 3.2.11 and 3.3.1.
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3.3 Advanced System Configuration
The Advanced System Configuration option allows you to configure the advanced system memory functions.
To avoid damaging the system, do not change any settings in the Advanced Configuration unless you are a qualified technician.
The following screen shows page one of the Advanced System Configuration parameters.
Advanced System Configuration Page 1/1
Shadow RAM
*E0000h - FFFFFh (System BIOS) ... [Enabled ]
*C0000h - C7FFFh (Video BIOS) ..... [Enabled ]
C8000h - CBFFFh ................. [Disabled]
CC000h - CFFFFh ................. [Disabled]
D0000h - D3FFFh .................. [Disabled]
D4000h - D7FFFh ................. [Disabled]
D8000h - DBFFFh ................. [Disabled]
DC000h - DFFFFh ................. [Disabled]
Internal Cache (CPU Cache) ......... [Enabled ]
External Cache ..................... [Enabled ]
ECC/Parity Mode Selection .......... [ ECC ]
*Operation of ECC ................ [ None ]
Memory at 15MB-16MB Reserved for .... [ System ] Use
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
The grayed parameters (denoted with asterisks) are not user-configurable.
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3.3.1 Shadow RAM
The system reserves 384 KB of random access memory (RAM) for the shadow RAM function. This parameter has eight range addresses. When you set these addresses to Enabled, the system BIOS, video BIOS, and I/O ROM functions run directly from the shadow RAM for faster operation. When you set them to Disabled, the functions run normally from ROM.
The address range E0000h - FFFFFh is for shadowing the system BIOS. This item is always set to Enabled and is not user-configurable. The address range C0000h - C7FFFh is for shadowing the video BIOS. This item is fixed to Enabled and is not user-configurable if the Auto Configuration Mode and the Fast Boot Mode parameters on page 2 of the Basic System Configuration menu are enabled. Otherwise, you can choose to disable this item.
The remaining address ranges are for I/O ROM functions.
3.3.2 Internal Cache (CPU Cache)
This parameter enables or disables the internal cache memory. This item is fixed to Enabled and is not user-configurable if you enabled the Auto configuration Mode and Fast Boot Mode parameters on page 2 of the Basic System Configuration menu. Otherwise, you can choose to disable this item. The default setting is Enabled.
3.3.3 External Cache
This parameter enables or disables the external cache memory. This item is fixed to Enabled and is not user-configurable if you enabled the Auto Configuration Mode and Fast Boot Mode parameters on page 2 of the Basic System Configuration menu. Otherwise, you can choose to disable this item. The default setting is Enabled.
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3.3.4 ECC/Parity Mode Selection
This parameter allows you to enable or disable the ECC and parity check feature. Fast-page mode SIMMs support both ECC and parity mode while EDO SIMMs support only ECC mode.
You must disable this parameter if you installed SIMMs without parity.
Operation of ECC
This parameter is not user-configurable.
3.3.5 Memory at 15MB-16MB
To prevent memory address conflicts between the system and expansion boards, reserve this memory range for the use of either the system or an expansion board. Before setting this parameter, check your add-on card manual to determine if your add-on card needs this memory space. If not, the default setting is System Use.
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3.4 PCI System Configuration
The PCI System Configuration allows you to specify the settings for your PCI devices.
PCI System Configuration Page 1/1
PCI IRQ Setting ........... [ Auto ]
*PCI Slot 1 ........... [--] [--] [9 ] [11]
*PCI Slot 2 ........... [--] [9 ] [11] [--]
*PCI Slot 3 ........... [--] [--] [--] [--]
*PCI Slot 4 ........... [--] [--] [--] [--]
*PCI Slot 5 .......... [--] [--] [--] [--]
*Onboard VGA...... .... [9 ]
*Onboard SCSI..... .... [11]
VGA Palette Snoop ......... [Disabled]
Onboard SCSI .............. [Enabled ]
Boot Device ........... [Enabled]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
INTA INTB INTC INTD
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3.4.1 PCI IRQ Setting
This parameter allows for Auto or Manual configuration of PCI devices. If you use plug-and-play (PnP) devices, you can keep the default setting Auto. The system then automatically configures the PnP devices. If your PCI device is not a PnP, you can manually assign the interrupt for each device. Refer to your manual for technical information about the PCI card.
PCI Slots
These parameters allow you to specify the appropriate interrupt for each of the PCI devices. You can assign IRQ3, IRQ4, IRQ5, IRQ7, IRQ9, IRQ10, IRQ11, IRQ12, or IRQ15 to the slots.
Make sure that the interrupt you assign in any of the PCI slots are not used by other devices to avoid conflicts. Some resources may be assigned only after disabling onboard devices.
Use the w or y key to move between fields. Use the x or z key to select options.
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3.4.2 VGA Palette Snoop
PCI devices support a palette snooping technique that enables the device to control access to their palette registers. Set this parameter to Enabled to activate the palette snooping function in the PCI VGA devices installed in your system. Check your VGA card manual for more information about this function. The default setting is Disabled.
3.4.3 Onboard SCSI
This parameter allows you to enable or disable the onboard SCSI controller. The default setting is Enabled.
Boot Device
This parameter allows you to enable or disable the onboard SCSI as the boot controller. The default setting is Enabled.
3.5 Non-PnP ISA Card Configuration
The Non-PnP ISA Card Configuration parameters allow you to specify the settings for cards without plug-and-play (PnP) features.
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Non-PnP ISA Card Configuration Page 1/2
System Resources Used by Non-PnP ISA Cards
IRQ 00 ... [---]* IRQ 08 ... [---]* DMA 0 ... [No ] IRQ 01 ... [---]* IRQ 09 ... [No ] DMA 1 ... [No ] IRQ 02 ... [---]* IRQ 10 ... [No ] DMA 2 ... [---]* IRQ 03 ... [No ] IRQ 11 ... [No ] DMA 3 ... [No ] IRQ 04 ... [No ] IRQ 12 ... [No ] DMA 4 ... [---]* IRQ 05 ... [No ] IRQ 13 ... [---]* DMA 5 ... [No ] IRQ 06 ... [---]* IRQ 14 ... [---]* DMA 6 ... [No ] IRQ 07 ... [No ] IRQ 15 ... [No ] DMA 7 ... [No ]
Expansion ROM Region
C8000h - CBFFFh .... [No ] D4000h - D7FFFh .... [No ]
CC000h - CFFFFh .... [No ] D8000h - DBFFFh .... [No ]
D0000h - D3FFFh .... [No ] DC000h - DFFFFh .... [No ]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
The grayed items (denoted with asterisks) have fixed settings and are not user­configurable.
Non-PnP ISA Card Configuration Page 2/2
I/O Region
100h-10Fh .. [No ] 200h-20Fh . [No ] 300h-30Fh .. [No ] 110h-11Fh .. [No ] 210h-21Fh . [No ] 310h-31Fh .. [No ] 120h-12Fh .. [No ] 220h-22Fh . [No ] 320h-32Fh .. [No ] 130h-13Fh .. [No ] 230h-23Fh . [No ] 330h-33Fh .. [No ] 140h-14Fh .. [No ] 240h-24Fh . [No ] 340h-34Fh .. [No ] 150h-15Fh .. [No ] 250h-25Fh . [No ] 350h-35Fh .. [No ] 160h-16Fh .. [No ] 260h-26Fh . [No ] 360h-36Fh .. [No ] 170h-17Fh .. [No ] 270h-27Fh . [No ] 370h-37Fh .. [No ] 180h-18Fh .. [No ] 280h-28Fh . [No ] 380h-38Fh .. [No ] 190h-19Fh .. [No ] 290h-29Fh . [No ] 390h-39Fh .. [No ] 1A0h-1AFh .. [No ] 2A0h-2AFh . [No ] 3A0h-3AFh .. [No ] 1B0h-1BFh .. [No ] 2B0h-2BFh . [No ] 3B0h-3BFh .. [No ] 1C0h-1CFh .. [No ] 2C0h-2CFh . [No ] 3C0h-3CFh .. [No ] 1D0h-1DFh .. [No ] 2D0h-2DFh . [No ] 3D0h-3DFh .. [No ] 1E0h-1EFh .. [No ] 2E0h-2EFh . [No ] 3E0h-3EFh .. [No ] 1F0h-1FFh .. [---]* 2F0h-2FFh . [No ] 3F0h-3FFh .. [No ]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
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Refer to your non-PnP ISA card manual when setting the following parameters.
3.5.1 IRQ/DMA
This parameter allows you to assign specific IRQ and DMA channels to non-PnP ISA cards. The system will not use such IRQ and DMA channels when it automatically assigns channels to PnP cards.
3.5.2 Expansion ROM Region
This parameter specifies the memory regions available for add-on card use. It allows you to manually assign specific regions to non-PnP cards so that the system will not use those regions anymore when it automatically configures PnP cards.
3.5.3 I/O Region
The items under this parameter allow you to reserve 16-byte memory address ranges for non-PnP cards. When the system configures PnP cards, the address ranges that you marked will not be used anymore.
You can assign memory addresses to non-PnP cards at random as long as you cover the address range required by the card. For example, for a card that requires 178h-188h address, you have to set regions 170h-17Fh and 180h-18Fh to
Yes.
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3.6 Power Saving Configuration
The Power Saving Configuration parameters are configurable only if your system supports the power management feature.
Most multi-user operating systems do not support a Power Saving feature. Consult your operating system manual or call your operating system vendor for information.
The following screen shows the Power Saving Configuration parameters and their default settings:
Power Saving Configuration Page 1/1
Power Management Mode ................[Disabled]
*IDE Fixed Disk Standby Timer .....[OFF]
*System Standby Timer .............[OFF]
System/Wakeup Events
IRQ 0 ...... [Disabled]* IRQ 8 ...... [Disabled]
IRQ 1 ...... [Enabled ]* IRQ 9 ...... [Disabled]
IRQ 3 ...... [Disabled] IRQ 10 ..... [Disabled]
IRQ 4 ...... [Disabled] IRQ 11 ..... [Disabled]
IRQ 5 ...... [Disabled] IRQ 12 ..... [Enabled ]*
IRQ 6 ...... [Disabled] IRQ 13 ..... [Disabled]
IRQ 7 ...... [Disabled] IRQ 14 ..... [Disabled]
IRQ 15 ..... [Disabled]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
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3.6.1 Power Management Mode
This parameter allows you to reduce power consumption. When this parameter is set to Enabled, you can configure the system timers. Setting to Disabled deactivates the power management feature and all the timers. The default setting is Disabled.
IDE Fixed Disk Standby Timer
This parameter allows the hard disk to enter standby mode after inactivity of 1 to 15 minutes, depending on your setting. When you access the hard disk again, allow 3 to 5 seconds (depending on the hard disk) for the disk to return to the normal speed. Set this parameter to Off if your hard disk does not support this function.
System Standby Timer
This parameter sets the system to a "fast-on" power saving mode. It automatically enters the standby mode after a specified period of inactivity. Any keyboard or mouse action, or any enabled monitored activities occurring through the IRQ channels, resume system operation. See section 3.6.2.
3.6.2 System/Wakeup Events
This parameter allows you to monitor system activities occurring through the IRQ and determine whether or not to enter power saving mode.
For example, if you assign IRQ 3 to a fax/modem and you set this item to Enabled, any fax/modem activity wakes up the system from suspend mode.
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3.7 System Security Setup
The Setup program has a number of security features to prevent unauthorized access to the system and its data.
Enter the Setup program and select System Security. The following screen appears:
System Security Page 1/1
Disk Drive Control
Diskette Drive ................. [ Normal ]
Hard Disk Drive ................ [ Normal ]
System Boot Drive .............. [Drive A then C]
Onboard Communication Ports
Serial Port 1 Base Address ..... [ 3F8h ]
Serial Port 2 Base Address ..... [ 2F8h ]
Parallel Port Base Address ..... [3BC (IRQ 7]
Operation Mode .............. [Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP)] Mode
*ECP DMA Channel......... [-]
Onboard PS/2 Mouse (IRQ12) ... [Enabled ]
Setup Password ................... [ None ]
Power On Password ................ [ None ]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
3.7.1 Disk Drive Control
The disk drive control features allow you to enable or disable the read/write functions of a disk drive. These features can also control the diskette drive or the hard disk drive boot function to prevent loading operating systems or other programs from a certain drive while the other drives are operational.
Table 3-1 lists the drive control settings and their corresponding functions.
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Table 3-1 Drive Control Settings
Diskette Drive
Setting Description
Normal Diskette drive functions normally
Write Protect All Sectors Disables the write function on all sectors
Write Protect Boot Sector Disables the write function only on boot
sector
Disabled Disables all diskette functions
Hard Disk Drive
Setting Description
Normal Hard disk drive functions normally
Write Protect All Sectors Disables the write function on all sectors
Write Protect Boot Sector Disables the write function only on boot
sector
Disabled Disables all hard disk functions
System Boot Drive
Setting Description
Drive A then C System boots from drive A to C
Drive C then A System boots from drive C to A
C: System always boots from drive C
A: System always boots from drive A
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3.7.2 Onboard Communication Ports
Serial Port 1 Base Address
This parameter enables serial port 1 as COM1 and sets its base address.
Table 3-2 Serial Port 1 Settings
Setting Function
Serial 1 (3F8h) COM1 with address 3F8h
2F8h COM2 with address 2F8h
3E8h COM3 with address 3E8h
2E8h COM4 with address 2E8h
Disabled Disables serial port 1
Serial Port 2 Base Address
This parameter enables serial port 2 as COM2 and sets its base address.
Table 3-3 Serial Port 2 Settings
Setting Function
Serial 2 (2F8h) COM2 with address 2F8h
3F8h COM1 with address 3F8h
2E8h COM4 with address 2E8h
3E8h COM3 with address 3E8h
Disabled Disables serial port 2
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Parallel Port Base Address
The system has one parallel port. Table 3-4 lists the options for selecting the parallel port address. You also have the option to disable the parallel port.
Table 3-4 Parallel Port Settings
Setting Function
3BCh (IRQ 7) Corresponds to the parallel port with
address 3BCh
378h (IRQ 7) Corresponds to the parallel port with
address 378h
278h (IRQ 5) Corresponds to the parallel port with
address 278h
Disabled Disables the parallel port
To deactivate the parallel port, select the Disabled option. If you install an add­on card that has a parallel port whose address conflicts with the parallel port onboard, the system automatically disables the onboard functions.
Check the parallel port address on the add-on card and change the address to one that does not conflict. The default setting is 3BCh.
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Operation Mode
This item allows you to set the operation mode of the parallel port. Table 3-5 lists the different operation modes. The default setting is EPP.
Table 3-5 Parallel Port Operation Mode Settings
Setting Function
Standard Parallel Port (SPP) Allows normal speed one-way
operation
Standard and Bidirectional Allows normal speed operation in
a two-way mode
Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) Allows bidirectional parallel port
operation at maximum speed
Extended Capabilities Port (ECP)
Allows parallel port to operate in bidirectional mode and at a speed higher than the maximum data transfer rate
ECP DMA Channel
This item becomes active only if you select Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) as the operation mode. It allows you to select DMA channel 1 or DMA channel 3 (as required in Windows95).
3.7.3 Onboard PS/2 Mouse (IRQ12)
This parameter enables or disables the onboard PS/2 mouse. When set to Enabled, it allows you to use the onboard PS/2 mouse assigned with IRQ12. When set to Disabled, it deactivates the mouse and frees IRQ12 for the use of other devices.
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3.7.4 Setup Password
The Setup Password prevents unauthorized access to the BIOS utility.
Set jumper JP2 to pins 1-2 to enable the password function.
Setting a Password
1. Highlight the Setup Password parameter and press the left- or right-arrow key. The password prompt appears:
2. Type a password. The password may consist of up to seven characters.
Exercise caution when typing your password because the characters do not appear on the screen.
3. Press e. A prompt asks you to retype the password to verify your first entry.
4. Retype the password then press e.
After setting the password, the system automatically sets the Setup Password parameter to Present. The next time you want to enter the BIOS utility, you must key-in your Setup password.
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If You Forget the Password
If you forget your password, you must return the configuration values stored in CMOS to their default values. Should this happen, call your dealer for assistance.
3.7.5 Power On Password
The Power On Password secures your system against unauthorized use. Once you set this password, you have to type it whenever you boot the system. To set this password, follow the same procedure as in setting the Setup password.
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3.8 Remote Diagnostic Configuration
Remote Diagnostic Configuration is not supported at this time. Future applications will be available supporting this feature.
The following screens show the Remote Diagnostic Configuration parameters.
Remote Diagnostic Configuration Page 1/2
RDM Mode Number .......................[Disabled]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
Remote Diagnostic Configuration Page 2/2
RDM system critical paging no. ........[ ]
RDM remote connection phone no. .......[ ]
RDM remote connection password ........[ ]
↑↓ = Move Highlight Bar, → ← = Change Setting PgDn/PgUp = Move Screen, F1 = Help, Esc = Exit
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3.9 Load Setup Default Settings
Use this option to load the default settings for the optimized system configuration. When you load the default settings, some of the parameters are grayed-out with their fixed settings. These grayed parameters are not user­configurable. If you want to change the settings of these items, disable the Fast Boot Mode parameter in the Basic System Configuration menu.
The following dialog box appears when you select Load Setup Default Settings from the main menu.
Load Setup Default Settings Are you sure
[Yes] [No]
Select [Yes ] to load the default settings.
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3.10 Leaving Setup
Examine the system configuration values. When you are satisfied that all the values are correct, write them down. Store the recorded values in a safe place. In the future, if the battery loses power or the CMOS chip is damaged, you will know what values to enter when you rerun Setup.
^ to leave the system configuration setup. If there is any change in the
Press BIOS utility functions, the following screen appears:
Do you want to save CMOS data?
[Yes] [No]
Use the arrow keys to select your response. Select Yes to store the new data in CMOS. Select No to retain the old configuration values. Press
e.
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Chapter 4 SCSISelect Configuration
Utility
4.1 The SCSISelect Configuration Utility
The SCSISelect configuration utility allows you to change SCSI controller settings without opening the computer or changing jumpers.
4.1.1 Default Values
Table 4-1 lists the settings you can change with the SCSISelect utility and the default value for each setting. Some settings apply globally to the SCSI controller and all SCSI devices on the bus; other settings apply individually to each device on the bus.
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Table 4-1 Default Settings for SCSI Controller and All Devices
Global Settings for SCSI Controller and All Devices Default Value
Host Adapter SCSI ID 7
SCSI Parity Checking Enabled
Host Adapter SCSI Termination Enabled
Boot Device Option 0 (zero)
Host Adapter BIOS
1
Support Removable Disks Under BIOS as Fixed Disks Boot only
Extended BIOS Translation for DOS Drives > 1 Gbyte Disabled
Display <Ctrl-A> Message During BIOS Initialization Enabled
Multiple Lun Support Disabled
BIOS Support for More Than 2 Drives
1
BIOS Support for Bootable CD-ROM Enabled
BIOS Support for Int13 Extensions Enabled
Support for Ultra SCSI Speed Disabled
Individual Settings for Each SCSI Device Default Value
Initiate Sync Negotiation Yes
Maximum Sync Transfer Rate 20 MBytes/sec.
Enable Disconnection Yes
Send Start Unit SCSI Command
Initiate Wide Negotiation Yes
1
Low OFF/High ON
Enabled
Enabled
No
1
Settings are valid only if host adapter BIOS is enabled.
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