Epson 386-25 User Manual

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference ln 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 or television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio and 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:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver

Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

WARNING

The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Epson America, Inc., could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

FOR CANADIAN USERS

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans le règlement sur le brouillage radioélectriques édicté par le Ministère des Communications du Canada.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication, Epson America assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Further, this publication and features described herein are subject to change without notice.

TRADEMARKS

Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. Equity is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc. General notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only

and may be trademarks of their respective companies.

Y70799100100

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference.

Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for

cleaning. Do not use this product near water.

Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table.

The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.

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. The openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface. This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat register. This product should not be placed in a built-in

installation unless proper ventilation is provided.

This product should be operated from the type of power source

indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of

power available, consult your dealer or local power company.

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 your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the purpose of the

grounding-type plug.

Do not locate this product where the cord will be walked on.

10. If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total of the ampere ratings on the products plugged into the extension cord do not exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.

. . .

111

11. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a risk of fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Manual, do not attempt to service this product yourself. Opening or removing those covers that are marked “Do Not Remove” may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing in those compartments to service personnel.

13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

A. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.

If liquid has been spilled into the product.

If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

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 operation.

If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been

damaged. If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance,

indicating a need for service.

Introduction

Optional Equipment Operating Systems and Other Software VGA Utilities How to Use This Manual Where to Get Help

Chapter 1

1 Choosing a Location 2 Removing the Protector Card.

3 Connecting a Monitor

Using the VGA Interface Using a Display Adapter Card

4 Connecting a Printer or Other Device.

Using the Parallel Interface

Using the Serial Interface. 5 Connecting the Keyboard. 6 Connecting the Mouse 7 Connecting the Power Cord 8 Turning On the Computer

Turning Off the Computer.

Setting Up Your System

.................................

......................................

.............................

..................................

...............................

.......................

.............................

.........................

.....................

.......................

........................

..........................

.............................

..........................

.......................

..................

................

2 3 3 5

1-1 1-3

1-4 1-4 1-7 1-8 1-8

1-11 1-12 1-13 1-15 1-16 1-18

Chapter 2

Automatic Configuration

Starting the Setup Program.

Continuing From an Error Message

Moving the Cursor Block

Running the Setup Program

.............................

...........................

.................

.........................

2-2 2-2 2-4 2-6

Setting the Display Adapter Type. Setting the Power-on Password Setting the Extended Memory Caching Setting the Processor Speed Setting the Keyboard and Speaker Options Setting the Real-time Clock Setting the Hard Disk Drive Configuration

Hard Disk Drive Types ...........................

Setting the Diskette Drive Type(s). Setting the Serial/Parallel Interfaces.

Reviewing Your Settings. .............................

Leaving the Setup Menu ..............................

......................

.........................

..................

...........................

...............

...........................

...............

.....................

....................

2-7 2-9 2-12 2-14 2-15 2-17 2-20 2-24 2-26 2-27

2-29 2-31

Chapter 3

Installing MS-DOS or Another Operating System

Copying the Reference and Utility Files.

Special Keys on the Keyboard. Stopping a Command or Program.

Resetting the Computer

Using a Power-on Password.

Changing a Power-on Password Deleting a Power-on Password

Using Disks and Disk Drives

How Disks Store Data

Types of Diskette Drives. .........................

Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives Write-protecting Diskettes. Using a Single Diskette Drive System

Inserting and Removing Diskettes

Formatting Diskettes.............................

Making Backup Copies ...........................

Using a Hard Disk Drive..........................

Using Your Computer

.................

.........................

......................

..............................

...........................

....................

.....................

...........................

............................

.............

.......................

...............

..................

.........

3-1 3-2 3-3 3-5 3-5 3-7 3-8 3-9 3-10 3-10

3-12 3-14 3-16 3-18 3-19 3-21 3-21 3-22

Chapter 4

Enhancing System Operations

Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and Other Batch Files. Changing the Processor Speed

Entering Keyboard Commands. Using the ESPEED Program.

Reassigning the Diskette Drives

Using the AFDD Program

Using Your Computer as a Network Server ...............

Using a Password in Network Server Mode Using Expanded Memory Beyond 640KB. Using Special VGA Features.

Chapter 5

Removing the Cover. ................................

Changing the Jumper Settings

Setting the Jumpers. Installing an Option Card Removing an Option Card Adding Memory Modules

Installing Memory Modules

Removing Memory Modules. Installing a Math Coprocessor. Removing a Math Coprocessor.

Replacing the Cover .................................

Post-installation Setup ...............................

Installing and Removing Options

.........................

....................

......................

........................

................

..........................

.........................

.............................

............................

.............................

.......................

......................

.........................

........................

..........

...........

4-1 4-2 4-4 4-5 4-7 4-8 4-9 4-11 4-12 4-13

5-2 5-6 5-7 5-10 5-15 5-16 5-17 5-22 5-25 5-30 5-30 5-32

Appendix A

Preparing to Install Drivers or Utilities Using the VGA Driver Setup Program

Microsoft Windows/286, Versions 2.03, 2.10, and 2.11 Microsoft Windows/386, Versions 2.03, 2.10, and 2.11 Microsoft Windows, Version 3.0.

Using the VGA Utilities

...................

.......................

A-4

...... A-8

...... A-10

A-l 1

vii

Microsoft/IBM OS/2 Presentation Manager,

Versions 1.1 and 1.2

Microsoft Word,Version 5.0

...............................

...........................

Autodesk AutoCAD, Version 2.62. .....................

Autodesk AutoCAD, Version 9.00. .....................

Autodesk AutoCAD, Version 10.0. .....................

Autodesk AutoCAD 386, Version 10.0 Autodesk AutoCAD, Version 10.0 (Fast Display List) Digital Research GEM, Version 2.2

..................

......

.....................

Digital Research GEM, Version 3.0 .....................

Ventura Publisher, Versions 1.0 and 1.1 ..................

Ventura Publisher, Version 2.0 .........................

Lotus 1-2-3, Release 2.0 and Lotus Symphony,

Releases 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0 ...........................

Ashton-Tate Framework II, Release 1.0 ..................

WordStar, Version 3.3.

...............................

WordStar, Versions 4.0 and 5.0 ........................

WordPerfect, Versions 4.0 and 4.1

......................

WordPerfect, Version 5.0 .............................

VersaCAD Design, Version 5.4. ........................

VersaCAD 386, Version 5.4 CADVANCE, Version 3.50 OrCAD, Version 3.22 Generic CADD, Version 1.1, Level 3. VESA Driver, Version 1.0.

Using SETVESA Using VTEST

Utility Programs

..................................

....................................

VGAMODE Utility SETVGA Utility MODETEST Utility. WS33INST Utility SNOOZE Utility.

...........................

................................

...................

............................

...............................

.............................

...............................

............................

..............................

...............................

A-13 A-15 A-16 A-18 A-20 A-23 A-25 A-27 A-29 A-31 A-33

A-34 A-37 A-39 A-41 A-43 A-44 A-46 A-48 A-49 A-51 A-52 A-54 A-55 A-56 A-57 A-57 A-59 A-62 A-63 A-63

VIII

*..

Appendix B

Installing and Removing Disk Drives

Using the Correct Drive Bay. How to Use This Appendix Setting the Hard Disk Drive Jumpers

Setting the Jumpers for Two Hard Disk Drives Changing the Jumper Settings

Installing a Hard Disk in the Vertical Position. ............

Removing the Mounting Frames From the Drive Removing and Attaching the Mounting Plate Installing the Drive.

Connecting the Hard Disk Drive Cables

Removing a Hard Disk From the Vertical Position .........

Installing or Removing a Disk Drive in the

Horizontal Position

Removing the Subassembly .......................

Installing a Disk Drive in the Horizontal Position.

Replacing the Drive on the Subassembly.

Removing a Disk Drive From the Horizontal Position . .

Replacing the Subassembly.

Appendix C

Choosing the Type of Format

Reformatting a Used Disk.

Formatting a New Disk.

Selecting an Option

Starting the Formatting Process ....................

Option 1, Format

Modifying the Defective Track Table

Formatting the Disk .............................

Option 2, Destructive Surface Analysis .................. C-10

Option 3, Non-destructive Surface Analysis .............. C-12

Exiting the Hard Disk Format Menu.

Physically Formatting a Hard Disk

................................

....................................

..........................

...........................

....................

........

.....................

......

........

.............................

.............

.....

............

.......................

..........................

........................

..........................

.............................

...............

....................

B-2 B-3 B-4 B-4 B-5 B-8 B-8 B-10 B-13 B-18 B-24

B-27 B-28 B-34 B-42 B-44 B-47

C-2 C-3 C-4 C-4 C-4 C-5 C-7 C-9

C-13

Appendix D Troubleshooting

Identifying Your System Error Messages

......................................

The Computer Won’t Start.

..............................

...........................

The Computer Does Not Respond Password Problems.

Removing a Password

Setting a New Password Keyboard Problems Monitor Problems

Diskette Problems Diskette Drive Problems Hard Disk Problems. Software Problems. Printer Problems Option Card Problems. Mouse Problems.

..................................

............................

..........................

..................................

...................................

..............................

.................................

..................................

....................................

...............................

....................................

Using the MOUSE7PT.EXE Program

Memory Module Problems

Math Coprocessor Problems

Appendix E

Performing System Diagnostics

............................

...........................

......................

...............

D-l D-2 D-5 D-6 D-8 D-9 D-11

D- 12

D-13

D-15

D-18

D-19

D-22

D-23

D-25 D-26 D-27 D-28 D-29

Starting System Diagnostics Selecting an Option

.................................

Modifying the Device List. Selecting a Test

.....................................

Resuming From an Error.

Error Codes and Messages

...........................

............................

.........................

.............................

E-2 E-4

E-5 E-6 E-8 E-l2

Appendix F Specifications

CPU and Memory Controllers.

Interfaces ..........................................

Power Supply. Mass Storage Keyboard..

Environmental Requirements

Physical Characteristics.

Glossary

Index

...................................

........................................

......................................

.......................................

........................................

..........................

..............................

F-l F-2 F-2 F-3 F-3 F-4 F-4 F-5

xii

Introduction

The Epson® Equity® 386/25 PLUS is a high-performance personal computer which offers exceptional speed and convenience in a compact design. The computer’s 25 MHz 80386 microprocessor makes all your programs run extremely fast, even when supporting multitasking operations.

Your system includes 2MB of internal memory, a built-in ‘VGA

(video graphics array) display adapter, built-in parallel and serial interfaces, an IBM® PS/2™ compatible mouse port, and four

standard option slots (three 16.bit and one B-bit). These

interfaces allow you to connect most of your peripheral devices directly to the computer, so you do not have to install option cards. You can use the option slots to install additional devices, such as a modem or a networking card.

Your computer can support up to three internal drives: either

two diskette drives and one hard disk drive, or one diskette drive

and two hard disk drives.

The Equity 386/25 PLUS offers several other features to

enhance the speed and versatility of your computer:

❏ Memory caching. Portions of your system memory are

copied to a high-speed cache buffer so your computer can access programs and data very quickly.

❏

Shadow RAM. Your system ROM (read-only memory) and video ROM are copied into the computer’s 32-bit RAM

(random access memory) to further accelerate system

performance.

❏

Extended and super-extended VGA modes. The built-in VGA adapter and VGA drivers (included) provide graphics resolutions up to 1024 x 768 in 16 colors or 640 x 480 in

256 colors on compatible VGA monitors.

Introduction 1

Optional Equipment

You can easily upgrade your computer by installing additional

memory and adding optional devices compatible with the IBM Personal Computer, PC XT,™ or PC AT.“’

By adding memory modules to the main system board, you can expand the computer’s memory up to 16MB. Memory modules are efficient because they eliminate the need to use an option slot to add memory to your system. Your computer can also access memory on modules faster than memory on an option card.

You may also want to install a math coprocessor in your computer to speed up calculations in certain application programs. You can add an Intel ® 80387 (25MHz) or a Weitek®3167 (25MHz) math by installing a Weitek dual-coprocessor adapter. Check with your authorized Epson dealer to see which options are available.

coprocessor; or you can add both

Operating Systems and Other Software

You probably have a version of MS-DOS@’ to use with your computer. Epson has enhanced MS-DOS by adding two timesaving utilities-HELP and MENU-that make it easier to use. The HELP program lets you display information on the screen about any MS-DOS command. MENU provides an easy way to run many of these commands.

2 Introduction

You can use virtually any application program designed for the

IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, or compatible computers on your

Equity 386/25 PLUS. You may also use powerful 32-bit

software-such as Microsoft Windows/386™-with your

computer.

VGA Utilities

Epson has provided special VGA utilities and device drivers

that you can use with certain standard VGA monitors and

multi-frequency monitors. Using these drivers, you can take

advantage of extended and super-extended VGA features such

as 16-color graphics mode resolutions up to 1024 x 768,256-color

resolutions up to 640 x 480, and 132-column text mode.

How to Use This Manual

This manual explains how to set up and operate your

computer, install options, and run diagnostics checks. Although the illustrations show a computer with a 5¼-inch diskette drive, instructions are included for using a 3½-inch drive.

You do not need to read everything in this book; see the following chapter summaries.

Chapter 1 provides simple step-by-step instructions for setting up your system. On the back cover foldout are illustrations showing the different parts of your computer; refer to these as you set up your system.

Introduction 3

Chapter 2 describes how to run the Setup program to define your computer’s configuration. Do this before you use your computer. You may need to do it again later if you change the configuration.

Chapter 3 provides instructions for important operating procedures, such as using and caring for disks and disk drives.

Chapter 4 describes specialized features you can use to enhance your system’s performance.

Chapter 5 describes some of the options you can use in your computer and contains instructions for removing the cover, setting jumpers, and installing options.

Appendix A provides instructions for using the VGA device drivers and utilities.

Appendix B explains how to install and remove a hard disk or diskette drive.

Appendix C describes how to perform a hardware-level format on a hard disk. You need to do this only if you have installed a new hard disk that has never received this type of low-level format, or if you are having serious problems with the disk.

Appendix D contains troubleshooting tips.

Appendix E outlines the system diagnostics checks. If you are having trouble with any part of the hardware, you may want to run some of these.

Appendix F gives the technical specifications for the computer.

At the end of the manual, you’ll find a glossary and an index.

4 Introduction

Where to Get Help

Customer support and service for Epson products are provided by a network of authorized Epson dealers and Customer Care Centers throughout the United States. Epson America provides product information and support to its dealers and Customer Care Centers.

Therefore, we ask that you contact the business where you purchased your Epson product to request assistance. If the people there do not have the answer to your question, they can obtain it through our toll-free dealer support program. Epson is confident that this policy will provide you with the assistance you need.

Call the Epson Consumer Information Center at (213) 782-2600 for the following:

❏ Your nearest Epson dealer ❏

The nearest Customer Care Center.

To locate or purchase accessories or supplies, contact your nearest Epson dealer.

6 lntroduction

Chapter

Setting Up Your System

Setting up your Equity 386/25 PLUS personal computer is easy.

Just follow the eight steps in this chapter. As you set up your

computer, you may want to leave this manual’s back cover foldout open so you can refer to the illustrations identifying the different parts.

Choosing a Location

Setting Up Your System

1-1

Before you set up your computer, it’s important to choose a safe, convenient location that provides the following:

❏ A large, sturdy desk or table. The surface should be strong

enough to support the weight of your system and all of its

components. Select a location that allows plenty of space so you can work comfortably.

❏ A flat, hard surface. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted

floors attract static electricity, which can erase data on your disks and damage the computer’s circuitry. Soft surfaces also prevent proper ventilation.

❏ Good air circulation. Air must be able to move freely under

the system and behind it. Leave several inches of space

around the computer. Moderate environmental conditions. Protect your computer

❏

from extremes in temperature, humidity, dust, and smoke. Avoid direct sunlight or any other source of heat. High humidity also hinders operation, so select a cool, dry area.

Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges,

❏

connect all your equipment to three-prong, 120-volt

grounded outlets. You need one outlet for the computer, one

for the monitor, and additional outlets for a printer and any

other peripherals.

No electromagnetic interference. Locate your system away

❏

from any electrical device, such as a telephone, which generates an electromagnetic field.

Setting Up Your System

1-2

Removing the Protector Card

If you have a 5¼-inch diskette drive, there is a protector card in

the diskette slot. This card is inserted at the factory to protect the read/write heads in the drive. To remove it, flip the latch up to pop the card out part way, then pull it out, as shown below.

(If you have a second 5¼-inch diskette drive, be sure to remove

the protector card from that drive as well.) Save the protector card. If you transport your computer, you may

want to insert the card into your diskette drive prior to shipping. This will protect the read/write heads during the shipping process.

Setting Up Your System

1-3

Connecting a Monitor

The procedure you use to connect your monitor to the computer depends on the type of monitor you have. If you have a VGA monitor (or a multi-frequency monitor with an analog connector), you can connect it to the computer’s built-in VGA port. See “Using the VGA Interface” below. If you have any other type of monitor, see “Using a Display Adapter Card”

below.

Using the VGA Interface

Follow these steps to connect your VGA monitor to the VGA port on the computer:

Make sure your monitor is turned off.

Place your monitor on top of or near the computer. For easy access, turn the monitor and computer around so the backs

of both components are facing you.

If necessary, connect the monitor cable to the monitor. (Your monitor may have a permanently attached cable.)

Setting Up Your System

1-4

Examine the connector end of the monitor cable, and position the plug to match the orientation of the monitor interface (marked with a monitor icon). Then insert the plug into the port (the connector should fit in easily when

properly oriented), as shown below.

To avoid damaging the connector, take care not to bend the pins when inserting the plug.

If the connector has retaining screws, tighten them by hand

or with a screwdriver, depending on the screw type.

Setting Up Your System

1-5

Plug the monitor power cord into the monitor’s power inlet, as shown below.

Plug the other end of the power cord into an electrical outlet.

l-6

Setting Up Your System

Using a Display Adapter Card

If you are using a non-VGA monitor, you’ll need to install a display adapter (video) card in one of the computer’s option slots before you can connect the monitor. (Your dealer may have

already installed the video card for you.)

If the video card has not yet been installed, you’ll need to follow the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 5 to install an option card. But first, check the following table to make sure your display adapter card and monitor are properly matched.

Monitor/video card compatibility

Monitor

Monochrome

Color or EGA

* Color monitors do not support EGA cards.

Video card

Monochrome display adapter (MDA) Multi-mode graphics adapter (MGA) Enhanced graphics adapter (EGA) Hercules® graphics card

Color graphics adapter (CGA)

Multi-mode graphics adapter (MGA) Enhanced graphics adapter (EGA)

When you are installing the video card, check to make sure any switches or jumpers on the card are set properly. For example, you may need to change a switch setting to select color or monochrome. See the documentation that came with your monitor or video card for instructions.

Setting Up Your System

1-7

Once you have installed your video card, return to this section

to connect your monitor to the computer. If your monitor came with its own manual, follow the instructions there. Otherwise, you can follow the steps in “Using the VGA Interface” above; just insert your monitor connector into the video card port

instead of the built-in VGA port.

Connecting a Printer or Other Device

Your computer has both parallel and serial interfaces. To connect a printer or other peripheral device to one of these

interfaces, follow the instructions below. Of course, Epson offers

a full range of printers; ask your dealer for more information.

Using the Parallel Interface

The parallel interface on your computer is Centronics® compatible and uses a DB-25S connector.

To connect your printer and computer, you need an IBM

compatible printer cable. If you are not sure which one you need, check with your Epson dealer.

1-8

Setting Up Your System

Once you have the correct printer cable, follow these steps:

Place the printer next to the computer with the back panels of both components facing you.

One end of the printer cable has a 25pin, D-shell connector. Position the plug to match the orientation of the parallel interface (marked with a special icon). Then

insert the connector into the port, as shown below. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them by hand or with a screwdriver, depending on the screw type.

Setting Up Your System

1-9

Connect the other end of the cable to the printer, as shown below. To secure the cable, squeeze the clips at each side of the printer port and push them into place.

1-10

Plug the printer’s power cord into a three-prong, 120-volt, grounded electrical outlet.

Setting Up Your System

Using the Serial Interface

If you have a printer, a modem, or other peripheral with a serial interface, you can connect it to the serial (RS-232C) port on

the back of the computer. The serial port uses a DB-9P connector, so be sure you have a

compatible cable. To connect a serial device, follow the same steps as above for connecting a parallel device but insert the connector into the serial port, marked with a special icon, as shown below.

Setting Up Your System

1-11

Connecting the Keyboard

Follow these steps to connect the keyboard:

Hold the keyboard cable connector so the arrow indicator on the housing faces up. Insert the plug into the appropriate socket, marked with a keyboard icon, as shown below.

Caution

1-12 Setting Up Your System

arrow indicator

You can raise the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. To change the angle of the keyboard, turn it over and flip each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown below.

Connecting the Mouse

Your computer has an auxiliary port for an IBM PS/2 compatible

mouse that uses a miniature DIN (6-pin) connector.

If you have purchased a mouse with this type of connector, you can connect it to the built-in port on your computer. If you have another kind of mouse that requires a different interface port, you need to install an option card to provide the interface. You also need to change the settings of jumpers JP10 and JP11 inside the computer. See Chapter 5 for instructions, or ask your dealer for assistance.

To connect a mouse to the built-in mouse port, hold the mouse plug so it is oriented properly with the computer socket. Insert the plug into the appropriate socket, marked with a mouse icon, as shown in the following illustration.

Setting Up Your System

1-13

mouse connector

Once you have connected a mouse, you may need to add commands to your MS-DOS CONFIG.SYS file to enable your computer to use a mouse. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual and the manual that came with your mouse for instructions.

1-14 Setting Up Your System

Connecting the Power Cord

Follow these steps to connect the power cord:

Plug the power cord into the AC power inlet on the back

panel, as shown below.

WARNING

avoid an electric shock, be sure to plug the cord into

the computer before plugging it into the wall socket.

Plug the other end of the power cord into a three-prong, 12O-volt, grounded electrical outlet.

Setting Up Your System

1-15

Turning On the Computer

After you set up your system, you’re ready to turn on the power.

But first, read the following safety rules to avoid accidentally

damaging your computer or injuring yourself:

0 Do not unplug cables from the computer when the power is

on.

❏

Never turn on the computer with a protector card in the diskette drive.

❏

Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk drive

light is on. This can destroy data stored on disk or make an

entire disk unusable.

❏

Always wait at least five seconds after you turn off the power before you turn it on again. Turning the power off and on rapidly can damage the computer’s circuitry.

❏

Do not leave a beverage on top of or next to your system or any of its components. Spilled liquid can damage the circuitry of your equipment.

❏

Always turn off the power, disconnect the computer’s power

cord, and wait five seconds before you remove the cover. Only remove the cover to access optional devices or change jumper settings.

Follow these steps to turn on your system:

Make sure the power cord is plugged into the AC power

inlet on the back panel of the computer and into a three-

prong, 120-volt, grounded electrical outlet.

Turn your computer around so the front panel faces you and place your other system components in an arrangement that suits you. (See step 1, “Choosing a Location,” for a typical arrangement.)

1-16

Setting Up Your System

Turn on the monitor, printer, and any other peripheral

3. devices connected to the computer.

To turn on the computer, press the power button located on

4. the right side of the front panel, as shown below.

The power indicator below the button lights up. After a few seconds, the computer starts to perform a diagnostic self test-a series of checks it completes each time you turn it on to make sure everything is working correctly.

Note

If you or your dealer have made a major change to your

system, such as adding a disk drive, you may need to wait as

long as five minutes for your computer to complete power-on

diagnostics the first time you turn it on. The more extensive

the changes are, the longer the diagnostics take.

Setting Up Your System

1-17

When the system has successfully completed its self test, you see a prompt to insert a system diskette. (Do not insert a diskette at this point.)

If necessary, use the controls on your monitor to adjust the brightness and contrast until characters on the screen are clear and at a comfortable level of intensity. If your monitor has horizontal and vertical hold controls, you may need to use them to stabilize the display.

Turning

Off the

When you are ready to turn off your system, reverse the sequence of steps you followed to turn it on. Turn off the computer first, then turn off the monitor and any peripherals.

Now go on to Chapter 2 and follow the instructions to run the Setup program.

Computer

1-18

Setting Up Your System

Chapter 2

Running the Setup Program

The first time you use your Equity 386/25 PLUS, you need to

run the Setup program on the Reference diskette to define the computer’s configuration. This is a simple procedure you must

do at least once. (You may need to do it again later, if you

change the configuration.)

The Setup program automatically configures parts of your system and lets you set (or change) the following for your computer:

❏ Display adapter type ❏ Power-on password

❏ Extended memory caching ❏ Processor speed

❏

Keyboard and speaker options

❏ Real-time clock’s time and date ❏

Hard disk drive configuration

❏ Diskette drive type(s) ❏

Serial and parallel port settings.

The configuration you define with the Setup program is stored

in the computer’s CMOS RAM, which is backed up by a battery. Whenever you turn on the computer, it searches the

CMOS RAM for the correct installation information. If the

computer discovers a difference between the information in the CMOS RAM and its actual configuration, it prompts you to run the Setup program.

Running the Setup Program

2-1

Automatic Configuration

The Equity 386/25 PLUS automatically defines your system’s

memory configuration and recognizes a math coprocessor, if you have installed one. It also detects and configures most of the

devices you have installed in your system. For this reason, you may not need to change any of the default settings in the Setup program. However, you should check each of the options on the

Setup menu to verify that the settings are correct for your

configuration.

The computer automatically configures the 2MB of memory that

comes with your system as 640KB of base memory and 1024KB of extended memory. If you install even more memory, Setup

configures it as extended memory also.

Starting the Setup Program

Follow these steps to start the Setup program:

Make sure your computer is turned off.

Insert the Reference diskette in drive A as shown in the following illustration. Make sure the label is facing up and the read/write slot is pointed toward the drive.

2-2

Running the Setup Program

Slide the diskette into the drive until it is in all the way. Then turn the latch down to lock it in a vertical position.

(For more instructions on inserting and removing diskettes, including 3½-inch diskettes, see Chapter 3.)

Turn on your system. (Remember to turn on your monitor and any peripherals before you turn on the computer.) The screen displays the Operation Menu:

If an error message appears when you turn on the computer, see “Continuing From an Error Message,” below.

Running the Setup Program

2-3

The Setup option is highlighted. To select it, press

Enter. The screen displays the main Setup menu:

Exit

Display

Password

Cache memory

Processor speed

Keyboard / Sound

Real-time clock Hard disk drive Diskette drive

Serial/Parallel

Continuing From an Error Message

If your computer has never been set up, you may see an error message, such as the following:

162 - System options not set

(Run SETUP in REFERENCE DISK)

(Resume = "Fl" key)

If you see an error message like this one, follow these steps:

Press F1. The computer beeps and the screen displays a message, such as the following:

2-4 Running the Setup Program

The error message beside the diamond indicates the condition causing the error. There may be more than one error listed in the message. Here are some of the error messages you may see:

Time is invalid HDD and/or HDC failed initialization Memory size is incorrect, correction made Cacheable range is adjusted Incorrect configuration Checksum is incorrect HDD is incorrect

Some errors, such as Time is invalid, do not allow you to set a default value, so the screen does not display the

Set default value prompt.Ifyou see one of these

errors, press ESC; the screen displays the main Setup menu

so you can enter a new setting.

Be sure Y is highlighted and press changes the setting that caused the error to a setting that is

more likely to match your configuration. The screen displays

the main Setup menu:

Enter.

The Setup program

Exit

Display

Password

Cache memory

Processor speed

Keyboard / Sound

Real-time clock Hard disk drive

Diskette

drive

Serial/Parallel

Running the Setup Program

2-5

You should check all the settings in the Setup program to

make sure they are correct for your system. The default value for the setting that caused the error may not be the correct one for your configuration.

Moving the Cursor Block

Use and to move the cursor block (the highlighted bar) through the options on the main Setup menu. After you highlight the option you want, press Enter to select it.

Follow the instructions in the rest of this chapter to use the Setup program to define your computer’s configuration.

2-6

Running the Setup Program

Setting the Display Adapter Type

The Setup program can usually detect the exact type of display

adapter you are using with your computer. If you have connected a VGA monitor to the built-in VGA port, the Setup program automatically sets the display adapter type. (With this option you select the type of display adapter you are using-not the type of monitor.) If you have installed a display adapter card-or you just want to check the display adapter setting-follow these steps.

At the main Setup menu, highlight Display. A submenu appears identifying the current display adapter type, such as

the following:

VGA

If the display adapter type is correct for your system, you can skip this section.

Running the Setup Program

2-7

To change the display adapter setting, press Enter. The cursor block moves into the submenu and you see an additional menu on the right side:

CGA CGA

40 column 80 column

Monochrome 80 column EGA,MCGA,VGA or other

Press Enter to move the cursor block into this submenu and then use or to highlight the option that matches your display adapter type. If you are not sure which one to choose, follow these guidelines:

If you are using the built-in VGA adapter or have

❏

installed a VGA, EGA, or MCGA card, select EGA,

MCGA,VGA or other.

If you have a color graphics adapter (CGA) or a multi-

❏

mode graphics adapter (MGA) attached to an RGB

(color) monitor, select CGA 80 column. (Also set the color/mono switch on the MGA card to color.)

If you have a composite color monitor, such as a color

❏

television with a video input, try selecting CGA 80

column. If the resulting resolution is poor, run Setup

again and select CGA 40 column.

If you have a monochrome display adapter (MDA), an

❏

MGA, or a Hercules MGA attached to a monochrome monitor, choose Monochrome 80 column.

(Also set the color/mono switch on the MGA card to

mono.)

If you have any other combination of monitor and

❏

display adapter card, select

o t he r. In addition, consult the documentation

supplied with your display adapter card.

2-8 Running the Setup Program

EGA, MCGA, VGA or

Note

After you highlight the appropriate display adapter type, press Enter. The screen displays your new setting.

5. Highlight to return to the main Setup menu.

* * * SAVE SETTING

* * * and

Setting the Power-on Password

A power-on password is a feature that lets you control who can

access your system. However, you do not need to set a power-on password to use your computer. If you do not want to set a password, skip this section.

Once you set a power-on password, you must enter it at the key prompt ( ) every time you turn on or reset your computer.

If you cannot enter it correctly, the computer does not respond to your keyboard entries. Therefore, if you set a power-on password, be sure to remember it or write it down and keep it in

a safe place.

If you want to use your computer as a network server, you can

set your password to operate in network server mode. (See

“Using Your Computer as a Network Server” in Chapter 4 for

more information.)

press

Enter

Running the Setup Program

2-9

Follow these steps to set a power-on password and turn on network server mode (if necessary):

At the main Setup menu, highlight Password. This

1. submenu appears:

Power-on password

Network server mode OFF

Press Enter. The cursor block moves to power-on

password.

Press Enter. The cursor block moves to an empty box:

2- 10

To enter a password, type any combination of characters

(including letters, numbers, and blank spaces) up to a total

of seven characters. You can use the backspace key to delete

mistakes. Do not use characters requiring the Shift key, such as

$, @ , or *

recognize the Shift key when you use your password to access the system.

Running the Setup Program

in your password. The computer does not

If you want to return to the password submenu without saving any changes, press Esc.

After you enter a password, press Enter to return to the password submenu.

If you want to change the network server mode setting,

highlight Network server mode . To turn network server mode on or

You must set a power-on password to turn on network server

mode. If you did not yet enter a password, this message appears:

off,

press

Enter.

Set a power-on password first

To enter a password, highlight Power-on password and follow steps 3 through 5 above.

After you enter a power-on password and turn network server mode on or off, highlight

SETTINGS

Setup menu.

* * * * and press Enter to return to the main

* * * *

SAVE

Running the Setup Program

2-11

Setting the Extended Memory Caching

Extended memory caching allows your system to work much faster. When you cache portions of memory, the computer copies information from that memory into a high-speed cache buffer. Your system can find information more quickly in the cache buffer than when it looks for it in the system memory. This greatly improves the speed at which your system performs.

Note

Caching is active

25 MHz (high) speed.

The Equity 386/25 PLUS automatically enables memory caching for the 640KB of base memory in your system. For the memory above 1MB, the Setup program allows you to turn extended memory caching on or off. The default setting is ON

for all the extended memory currently installed in your system

from 1MB up to the maximum.

Most of the time, you should cache all of your extended memory to maximize the performance of your 32-bit computer. However, if you install an optional memory card that “shares” memory

with any of your other system memory, you should turn caching off in memory areas that are shared. See the manual that came with your memory card to see if this is necessary.

only when your computer is operating at

To check or change the extended memory cache setting, follow these steps:

1. At the main Setup menu, highlight Cache memory.

You see the following cache memory table:

2-12

Running the Setup Program

The table indicates the range of extended memory currently installed in your system. You see ON or OFF area because your system comes with 2MB of memory and the extended memory area from 1MB to 2MB can be cached. If you installed additional memory, you see ON or

OFF for

installed. The shaded areas indicate ranges of memory that are not installed.

If your extended memory cache setting is correct, you can skip the rest of this section.

To change the setting, press Enter. The cursor block moves

each additional megabyte of memory you have

to Extended memory caching.

Press Enter again. The cursor block moves to the first range in the cache table. To change the setting for from

OFF

or vice versa, press

If you installed memory above 2MB, press to move the cursor block to the next range. Press Enter to change the setting from

Then press or to move to the other ranges and press

OFF,

if necessary.

the first range

Enter.

Enter, as necessary, to change the settings.

the first

When you are finished, press to move the cursor block to the submenu.

6. Highlight * * * SAVE SETTING * * * and press Enter

to return to the Setup menu.

Running the Setup Program

2-13

Setting the Processor Speed

Your computer’s processor can operate at two speeds: high or

low. High speed is 25 MHz and low speed simulates 8 MHz. The processor is set to operate at high speed (where it can access memory faster) unless you change it to low or set the speed to change automatically (when necessary).

When the computer is running at high speed, the TURBO

indicator on the front panel is illuminated.

You should use high speed for almost everything you do since your programs work faster on high speed. However, certain application programs have specific timing requirements for diskette access and can run only at a slower speed; check your application program manual.

When you set the processor to change speed automatically, the computer switches to low whenever it needs to access a diskette drive and runs at high for all other operations.

This section describes how to set the processor speed in the

Setup program. You can also change the speed using keyboard commands or by running the ESPEED program. See “Changing the Processor Speed” in Chapter 4 for more details.

Follow these steps to set your processor speed:

At the main Setup menu, highlight Processor

speed

. The current status appears:

Speed: High

2- 14

Running the Setup Program

If the displayed setting is correct, skip this section,

To change the processor speed, press Enter. The cursor moves into the submenu and you see another menu:

(High is

25 MHz,

Low simulates

8 MHz, and

Automat i c tells the computer to switch from high to

low when accessing a diskette drive.)

Press Enter to move the cursor block into the option menu.

Use or to highlight the speed you want and press Enter.

5. Highlight ** SAVE SETTING * * and press Enter

to return to the main Setup menu.

Setting the Keyboard and Speaker Options

The Keyboard/Sound option lets you control these three features

in your computer:

❏ Speaker ❏

Initial num lock mode

❏ Keyboard repeat rate.

Your computer has a built-in speaker that beeps when you

perform certain operations. The default

(on) since it serves a useful purpose in many applications;

however, you may prefer to disable the speaker.

setting is Enabled

Running the Setup Program

2-15

When num lock mode is on, you can use the numeric keys on

the keypad to enter numbers. The initial num lock option in the Setup program determines whether num lock is on or off when you turn on your computer.

To turn num lock mode off, just press Num Lock. The

Num Lock light (on the keyboard) goes out and num lock is

disabled until you turn the computer off or until you press

Num Lock again. The next time you turn on your computer,

num lock returns to the setting you selected in the Setup program.

Note If you are using the keyboard that came with your computer (or another IBM AT compatible keyboard), the default for the initial num lock setting is

ON. If

you are using a keyboard

that has 83 or 84 keys, the initial num lock default setting is

OFF.

The keyboard repeat rate option lets you change the speed at which your keyboard repeats a character when you hold down a key. The default setting faster or slower.

is Normal,

but you can make the rate

Follow these steps to check or change the keyboard and speaker options:

At the main Setup menu, highlight Keyboard/ Sound.

The current settings appear:

Speaker

Enabled

Initial num lock

Normal

2- 16

KB repeat rate

If the displayed settings are appropriate for you, skip this section.

Running the Setup Program

To change any of the settings, press moves into the submenu and the Speaker option is highlighted.

To enable or disable the speaker (turn it on or off), press

Enter.

The cursor

Enter.

To turn the initial num lock setting on or off, highlight

Initial num lock and press

To change the keyboard repeat rate, highlight

KB repeat rate.

Press Enter to move the cursor block into the menu.

Use or to highlight the speed you want and press Enter.

Highlight

*** SAVE SETTINGS * * * and press

You

see the following option menu:

Enter.

Enter to return to the main Setup menu.

block

Setting the Real-time Clock

The real-time clock in your computer continuously tracks the

time and date-even when the computer is turned off. The first time you run Setup, use

set

the time and date for your computer. You may need to use

this option

time. The computer automatically changes the date for leap years.

the Real-time

again later to adjust your clock for daylight savings

Running the Setup Program

clock option to

2-17

Follow these steps to set the real-time clock:

1. At the main menu, highlight Real-time the time and date have been previously set, the current settings appear:

Time 09:16:52

Date

If the time and date are correct, you can skip the rest of this

section.

If the time and date are incorrect, go to step 2 below. If the time and date have never been set, the submenu

contains a template for you to fill in:

Time xx:xx:xx

Date xx-xx-xxxx

Press Enter to move the cursor block into the submenu.

To set or change the time, press Enter again. You see this

box:

12-29-1990

clock. If

2-18

(“hh” stands for hours, “mm” stands for minutes, and “ss”

stands for seconds.)

Running the Setup Program

Using a 24-hour clock, enter the time in the exact format shown in the box. Type two digits for each part; the Setup program automatically inserts the colons ( : ). For example,

to set the time to 1:30 p.m., you would type the following:

133000

You can use the backspace key to make corrections. When

the time is correct, press Enter. If you enter an invalid

time-for example, a number greater than 23 for the hours or greater than 59 for the minutes or seconds-the computer

ignores your entry. Try again.

To set or change the date, highlight Date and press

Enter. You

(“mm” stands for month, “dd” stands for day, and “yyyy”

stands for year.)

see this box:

Enter the date in the exact format shown in the box. Use

two digits for the month and day, and four digits for the

year; the Setup program automatically inserts the hyphens.

For example, to set the date for December 29,1990, you

would type the following:

12291990

You can use the backspace key to make corrections. When

the date is correct, press Enter. If you enter an invalid

date-for example, a number greater than 12 for the month

or greater than the number of days in that month-the

computer ignores your entry. Try again.

Press once or twice to return to the main Setup menu.

Running the Setup Program

2-19

Note The Setup program automatically saves the time and date when

you

press

Enter

after typing each one. If you then exit the Setup program without saving your changes, the new time and date still take effect.

Setting the Hard Disk Drive Configuration

If your computer came with a factory-installed hard disk, your

hard disk configuration has already been set and you can skip

this section. If you installed or removed a hard disk, follow these steps to set

the computer’s hard disk configuration:

1. At the main menu, highlight Hard disk drive.

Your current settings appear, such as the following:

2-20

The Type number indicates the type of hard disk

installed in your computer. See your hard disk documentation for the correct drive type number. (If that documentation does not give the drive type number, it may list the drive’s parameters which you can use to identify the drive type number.) Then consult the Hard Disk Drive Types table on page 2-24 for a list of the types you can use in your computer.

The None after Drive 2 indicates that there is no second hard disk.

If the displayed settings match your hard disk configuration, skip the rest of this section.

Running the Setup Program

If a setting is incorrect, or if you want to see more details about your hard disk configuration, go to step 2.

Press

Enter. You

The submenu lists the settings you can change for each drive: the number of cylinders, the number of read/write heads, the number of sectors, the precompensation cylinder, and the landing zone (the cylinder on which you park the heads when moving the computer). It also displays the total storage capacity in megabytes.

If you want to change the settings for drive 1 (which is drive C on most computers), press Enter to highlight Drive 1:. press Enter and then to highlight Drive

see a menu such as the following:

If you want to change the settings for drive 2,

2:.

Press

Enter

again. You see this submenu:

Running the Setup Program

2-21

If you have disconnected the drive or if the drive does not

exist, highlight None and press Enter. All the drive

settings become 0. Go to step 8.

If your hard disk matches one of the drive types listed in the

Hard Disk Drive Types table, go to step 6.

If your hard disk does not match one of the drive types listed

in the Hard Disk Drive Types table, go to step 7.

Highlight Type and press Enter. The current type

number appears:

Now select the drive type number that matches your hard

disk configuration in the Hard Disk Drive Types table.

You can enter the drive type in one of two ways:

❏

You can type the drive type number and press Enter. The screen displays the new number and settings.

2-22

❏

You can use the cursor keys to scan through the drive type numbers. This is a handy way to verify new hard disk settings before you press Enter because the settings list is updated as you display each new type.

After you select the appropriate drive type number, press

Enter. The screen displays the new number and hard disk

settings. Go to step 8.

If the configuration of the hard disk does not match one of

the drive types listed in the Hard Disk Drive Types table, highlight User defined and press Enter. You see the

following:

Running the Setup Program

The same parameter is highlighted on the submenu above. Enter the correct number of cylinders and press Enter.

The information for Number of cylinders is automatically updated on the submenu above and you see the next parameter, Number of heads. Enter the correct number of read/write heads for the hard disk and press

Enter.

Follow this same procedure for each remaining item in the settings list (the number of sectors, the precompensation cylinder, and the landing zone).

If you enter a parameter incorrectly, press or to highlight the parameter and then enter it again.

The Setup program does not allow you to enter the total

storage capacity; it calculates the storage capacity for you

based on what you enter for the number of cylinders, heads,

and sectors. After you type the landing zone number and press Enter,

the cursor block returns to the Drive submenu heading.

If you want to change the hard disk type for another drive,

press or and return to step 4.

When the hard disk drive settings are correct, press to

move the cursor block into the top submenu. Highlight

** SAVE SETTINGS

hard disk drive configuration.

* * and press Enter to save your

Running the Setup Program

2-23

Hard Disk Drive Types

The following table lists the types of hard disk drives you can use in your computer. Check this table and the documentation supplied with your hard disk to find the correct number for the type of hard disk drive(s) installed in your computer. You need to enter this number when you set the hard disk drive configuration in the Setup program.

Hard disk drive type

2-24

Running the Setup Program

Hard disk drive types (continued)

Running the Setup Program

2-25

Setting the Diskette Drive Type(s)

Your Equity 386/25 PLUS probably came with one factory-

installed diskette drive. If you added a second diskette drive or removed one, you may need to change the diskette drive settings to match your configuration. If you haven’t made any changes, you can verify your drive type settings. Follow these steps:

1. At the main menu, highlight Diskette drive.The

current settings appear:

Drive A: 1.2 MB Drive B:

If the diskette drive types on the screen match your diskette drive configuration, you can skip the rest of this section.

To change a setting, press Enter. The cursor block moves

into the diskette drive submenu and you see the following:

None

2-26

Not

installed 360 KB drive 720 KB drive (3.5")

1.2 MB drive

1.44 MB drive (3.5")

You also see the

is ON. This tells you that the light on the diskette drive

currently selected is on.

If you want to change the drive A settings, be sure

message

Selected drive light

Drive A: is highlighted and press Enter. If you want to

change the drive B settings, highlight Drive B : and press Enter. The cursor block moves into the submenu.

Running the Setup Program

Use or to highlight th drive and press Enter. The screen displays the type you selected.

If you want to enter the type for another diskette drive, return to step 3.

When the diskette drive settings are correct, highlight

** SAVE SETTINGS

block returns to the main Setup menu and you see the updated information for drives A and B.

correct capacity for your diskette

* * and press Enter. The cursor

Setting the Serial/Parallel Interfaces

The serial and parallel interfaces in your computer are set to act as the primary ports. If you have not added any additional serial or parallel port, you can skip this section.

If you install an option card with its own serial or parallel port, you may want to designate the built-in port as secondary and the additional port as primary. The Setup program lets you choose which port is primary and which is secondary so there is no

conflict between the built-in port and the additional port. Here

are some guidelines:

If you install an option card with a port preset as primary by the manufacturer, you must designate it as the primary port and make the computer’s built-in port the secondary port.

If you install an option card or peripheral with a port that is not pre-set, you can designate it as the primary or secondary

port. If you install two option cards with ports, designate one as

the primary port and the other as the secondary port and disable the built-in port.

Running the Setup Program

2-27

Follow these steps to change your built-in serial and parallel interface settings:

1. At the main menu, highlight Serial/Parallel.The

current settings for each port appear:

Serial

Parallel

Press Enter to move the cursor block into the submenu. You see this additional option menu:

Primary Primary

Disabled Primary

Secondary

3. If you want to change the serial port setting, be sure

Serial

change the parallel port setting, highlight and press Enter. The cursor block moves into the submenu.

Use or to highlight the appropriate setting for the port you selected and press Enter. The screen displays the new setting.

Note If you add an option card highlight

is highlighted and press Enter. If you want to

para11e1

with a parallel or serial port and

a setting that causes a conflict between your built-in port and the port on the option card, you see- this message:

2-28

Conflict with option card

Highlight a setting that is appropriate for your system configuration

Running the Setup Program

and

press

Enter.

If you want to change the setting for the other port, return to step 3.

When the serial and parallel port settings are correct, highlight ** * SAVE SETTINGS *** and press

Enter. The cursor block returns to the main Setup menu

and you see your updated serial and parallel interface settings.

Reviewing Your Settings

When you finish using the Setup program to define your

computer’s configuration, use to highlight Setup menu and press Enter. The following Setup summary appears on the screen:

Exit at

the

main

Running the Setup Program

2-29

There are two more Setup summary screens you need to check. To display the next screen, press PgDn. You see the following:

Real-time clock

coprocessor not installed

Diskette drive

Speaker Enabled

Initial num lock

Keyboard repeat rate

Serial Primary Parallel Primary

Time Date

Drive A: Drive B:

13:40:38

12-29-1990

1.2 MB

None

Normal

If you have never set the real-time clock, the entry at the top of

the screen flashes to remind you to set the time and date. See

“Setting the Real-time Clock,” above, for instructions.

To view the last Setup summary screen, press

PgDn. You

see

your hard disk drive configuration(s):

Hard disk drive

Drive 1:

Number of cylinders Number of heads Number of sectors Precomp. cylinder None Landing zone Total capacity (MB)

Type 60

716 8 33

775 100

2-30 Running the Setup Program

Drive 2:

Number of cylinders 0 Number of heads Number of sectors Precomp. cylinder Landing zone Total capacity (MB) .0

None

0 0 0 0

Check each Setup summary screen to see if all the information is correct. You can press PgUp to display the previous screen or

PgDn to display the next screen. If anything is incorrect, be sure

Change

main Setup menu appears and you can change the appropriate settings.

settings

is highlighted and press

Enter.

Leaving the Setup Menu

If you did not change any settings or you want to cancel the changes you made, highlight Exit without saving at a Setup summary screen and press Enter. The Operation Menu appears. (If you changed the time or date, the new setting takes effect even if you exit the Setup program without saving your changes.)

If you want to save the settings you entered, highlight

** EXIT AND SAVE * * and press Enter at a Setup

summary screen. The Setup program stores the new settings and resets the computer using the new configuration. If you have set a password, you need to enter it at the key prompt. (See “Using a Power-on Password” in Chapter 3 for instructions.) The

Operation Menu appears.

The

If you have just run Setup for the first time, remove the

Reference diskette from the drive and turn off your system. Then

follow the instructions in your MS-DOS Installation Guide to install MS-DOS. (If you are using a different operating system,

follow the installation instructions in that manual.)

Once you have installed MS-DOS, you should always boot the computer from the hard disk or the MS-DOS Startup diskette when you are finished running Setup. First remove the

Reference diskette from drive A. If you do not have a hard disk,

insert the Startup diskette. Then reset your computer to make sure it performs all the commands in the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

Running the Setup Program.

2-31

If the computer displays an error message while it is starting up, run the Setup program again and check the setting the error

message indicates. If the computer still displays an error message after you check your Setup program settings, see Appendix D or E, or ask your dealer for assistance.

Note

Be sure to make a backup copy of your Reference diskette after you run the Setup program and install MS-DOS. See

your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on how to

copy diskettes.

2-32

Running the Setup Program

Chapter 3

Using Your Computer

This chapter briefly describes the following procedures for using

your computer:

❏

Installing MS-DOS or another operating system

❏

Copying the Reference and Utility diskette files

❏

Using special keys on the keyboard

❏

Stopping a command or program

❏ Resetting the computer ❏

Using a power-on password

❏

Using disks and disk drives.

Installing MS-DOS or Another Operating

System

After you connect the components of your system and run the Setup program, you must install the operating system on your computer. If you are installing MS-DOS, follow the instructions in your MS-DOS Installation Guide. If you are installing another operating system, such as MS OS/2 or UNIX, see the manual that comes with that system for instructions on

installing and using it. The instructions in this manual assume

that you are using MS-DOS with your computer.

Note

Be sure to make backup copies of your original operating system diskettes.

Using Your Computer

3-1

Copying the Reference and Utility Files

If you have a hard disk, you’ll probably want to copy some of the files on your Reference and Utility diskettes to the hard disk.

This allows you to run the programs directly from your hard disk

instead of having to insert a diskette. Use the COPY command (described in your MS-DOS Reference Manual) to copy the

following files from the Reference diskette to your hard disk:

AFDD.EXE

HDSIT.VER

The Reference diskette also contains files for the Setup program and the System diagnostics program. However, you should always run these programs from the Reference diskette in drive A; so do not copy these files to your hard disk.

The Utility diskettes contain VGA drivers that allow you to display graphics in certain high-resolution modes. If you want to use any of these extended modes on your VGA monitor, you’ll need to copy any VGA files you need to your hard disk as well. See Appendix A for a list of the VGA drivers and utilities and

instructions for using them.

ESPEED.EXE ROMBIOS.COM

HDSIT.COM

Note

Be sure to make backup copies of your Reference and Utility

diskettes. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for

instructions.

3-2

Using Your Computer

Special Keys on the Keyboard

Certain keys on your keyboard serve special functions when your computer is running MS-DOS or application programs. The keyboard layout is shown below, and special keys are described in the table.

function keys

main character keys

Key functions

Key

Caps Lock

Shift

Ctrl

cursor

keys

Purpose Moves the cursor one tab to the right in normal

mode and one tab to the left in Shift mode. Changes the letter keys from lower- to

uppercase; changes back to lowercase when pressed again. The numeric/symbol keys on the top row of the keyboard and the symbol keys in the main part of the keyboard are not affected.

Produces uppercase characters or the top symbols on the keys when used with the main character keys. Produces lowercase characters when the Caps Lock function is on.

Works with other keys to perform special (control) functions, such as editing operations in MS-DOS and various application programs.

numeric

keypad

Using Your Computer

3-3

Key functions (continued)

Key Alt

+-Backspace

J Enter

insert (Ins) Turns the Insert function on and off. Delete (Del) Deletes the character marked by the cursor. Home, End

Page UP (PgUp) Page Down (PgDn)

Num Lock

Esc

F1-F12

Print Screen (PrtSc)

Purpose Works with other keys to enter alternate

character codes or functions. Moves the cursor back one space, deleting

the character to the left of the cursor. Ends a line of keyboard input or executes a

command.

Control cursor location.

Changes the function of the numeric/cursor

keys from entering numbers to positioning the

cursor; changes back when pressed again. Cancels the current command line or

operation.

Perform special functions within application

programs. Prints the screen display on a line printer.

SYS Rq (Req)

Scroll Lock Pause Break

The

Caps

Lock,

Num Lock,

toggles; press the key once to turn on a function and again to turn it off. When the function is enabled, the corresponding light in the upper right comer of the keyboard is on.

3-4 Using Your Computer

Generates the System Request function in some application programs (used with Aft).

Controls scrolling in some applications. Suspends the current operation. Terminates the current operation (when used

with Ctrl).

and

Scroll

Lock

keys work as

Stopping a Command or Program

You may sometimes need to stop a command or program while

it is running. Many programs provide a command you can use to cancel or even undo an operation. If you have entered an

MS-DOS command that you want to stop, try one of the

following commands:

❏

Hold down the Ctrl key and press C.

❏

Hold down the Ctrl key and press Break.

These methods may also work in your application program.

If not, you may need to reset the computer as described below.

Caution

It is best not to turn off the computer to stop a program or command. If you created new data and have not yet stored it, the data will be erased if you turn off the computer. The computer stores your data in its memory area (RAM) until

you save it; but the data is erased each time you turn off or

reset the computer.

Resetting the Computer

Occasionally, you may want to clear the computer’s current settings or its memory without turning it off. You can do this by resetting the computer.

For example, if an error occurs and the computer does not respond to your keyboard entries, you can reset it to reload MS-DOS and try again. However, resetting erases any data in memory that you have not saved; so reset only if necessary.

Using Your Computer

3-5

Caution

Do not reset the computer as a means to exit a program.

Some programs classify program in the normal manner.

without properly exiting a

To reset the computer, MS-DOS must be either on the hard disk or on a diskette in drive A; so if you do not have a hard disk, insert the Startup diskette in drive A.

There are two ways to reset the computer:

❏

If you are using MS-DOS, hold down Ctrl and Alt and press the Del key. The screen goes blank for a moment and then the computer should reload MS-DOS. If it doesn’t, try the

next method.

❏

Press the RESET button on the front panel. This method works even when the computer does not respond to your keyboard entries.

If resetting the computer does not correct the problem, you probably need to turn it off and reboot it. Remove any diskette(s) from the diskette drive(s). Turn off the computer and wait five seconds. If you do not have a hard disk, insert the Startup diskette in drive A. Then turn on the computer.

and

store new data when you

If you reset the computer

program, you may lose data.

exit a

3-6

Using Your Computer

Using a Power-on Password

If you set a power-on password when you ran the Setup program, you must enter it every time you turn on or reset the computer. Follow these steps to use your password:

If you do not have a hard disk, insert your Startup diskette in drive A.

Turn on or reset the computer. The screen displays a key prompt:

At the key prompt, type your power-on password. The key turns when you type a character, but the screen does not display the characters you type. Then press Enter.

After you type the password correctly and press Enter, a happy face character appears. Then the computer loads MS-DOS and displays the MS-DOS command prompt. (If you installed the Shell program when you installed MS-DOS, you see the Shell

Start Programs menu instead of the command prompt.)

Note

If you turned

Setup program, your password. See “Using Your

Server” in Chapter 4.

You have three chances to enter the correct password. If you do not enter the correct password at the key prompt, another key prompt appears. If you do not enter the correct password at the third key prompt, the screen displays a zero, the keyboard locks up, and you cannot use the computer. Reset the computer and try to enter the correct password again. (See “Resetting the Computer,” above, for instructions.)

on network server mode when you ran the

you need to use a different

Computer as a Network

Using Your Computer

procedure to enter

3-7

Note If you do not know the correct password, see “Password Problems” in Appendix D.

Changing a Power-on Password

To change your power-on password, follow these steps:

If you do not have a hard disk, insert your Startup diskette

1. in drive A.

Turn on or reset the computer. At the key prompt, enter

2. your current power-on password followed by a forward slash

(/). After the slash, enter the new password you want to use. For example, if your current password is 123 and you want to change it to ABC, type:

123/ABC

Do not use characters requiring the Shift key, such as

$, @, or *, recognize the Shift key when you use your password to access the system.

in your new password. The computer does not

3-8

The screen does not display what you type.

Caution

Be sure to remember the new power-on password you

enter or write it down and keep it in a safe place. If you

cannot remember the password you enter now, you will

not be able

turn it

Press Enter. A happy face character appears and then the

computer loads MS-DOS.

Using Your Computer

on.

access your computer the next time you

Next time you turn on or reset the computer, use the new password.

Deleting a Power-on Password

To delete your power-on password, follow these steps:

If you do not have a hard disk, insert your Startup diskette in drive A.

Turn on or reset the computer. At the key prompt, enter your current password followed by a forward slash. For example, if your password is 123, type:

123/

Press Enter. A happy face character appears and then the computer loads MS-DOS.

The next time you turn on or reset the computer, it does not request a password and loads MS-DOS immediately.

Note You need to know the password in order to delete it using this

method. If you do not know the password, see “Password Problems” in Appendix D.

Using Your

Computer

3-9

Using Disks and Disk Drives

The disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk, and then retrieve and use your stored data. This section explains how disks work and tells you how to:

❏ Use different types of diskettes and diskette drives ❏

Care for your diskettes and diskette drives

❏ Write-protect diskettes ❏ Use a single diskette drive system

❏

Insert and remove diskettes

❏ Format diskettes ❏ Make backup copies ❏

Use a hard disk drive.

How Disks Store Data

Diskettes are made of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material. This plastic is enclosed in a square jacket that is either slightly flexible (5¼-inch diskette), or hard (3½-inch diskette).

Unlike a diskette, a hard disk is rigid and fixed in place. It is sealed in a protective case to keep it free of dust and dirt. A hard disk stores data the same way that a diskette does, but it works

much faster and has a much larger storage capacity.

All disks are divided into data storage compartments by sides,

tracks, and sectors. Double-sided diskettes store data on both sides. On each side are concentric rings, called tracks, on which the computer stores your data.

3-10

Using Your Computer

A disk is further divided by sectors, which are similar in shape to pie slices. The figure below provides a simple representation of tracks and sectors.

Double-sided, double-density diskettes have either 40 or 80 tracks on each side, and double-sided, high-density diskettes have 80 tracks on each side. Diskettes can have 8,9,15, or 18 sectors per track.

A hard disk consists of two or more platters stacked on top of one another and thus has four or more sides. In addition, a hard disk has many more tracks per side than a diskette, but the number of tracks depends on the capacity of the hard disk. The

number of sectors depends on the type of hard disk.

Using Your Computer

3-11

Your computer uses the read/write heads in a disk drive to store and retrieve data on a disk. To write to a disk, the computer spins it in the drive to position the disk so that the area where

the data is to be written is under the read/write head. A diskette has an exposed area where the read/write head can access it.

Because data is stored magnetically, you can retrieve it, record over it, and erase it-just as you play, record, and erase music on a cassette tape.

Types of Diskette Drives

The following list describes the four types of diskette drives you

can use in your computer and which diskettes to use with them:

❏

1.2MB drive–Use 5¼-inch, double-sided, high-density, 96 TPI (tracks per inch), 1.2MB diskettes. These diskettes

contain 80 tracks per side, 15 sectors per track, and hold up

to 1.2MB of information, which is approximately 500 pages

of text.

Note MB

stands for megabyte, which

1,048,576 bytes). KB stands for kilobyte,

equals 1024KB (or

which equals

1024 bytes. Each byte represents a single character, such

asA,$,or3.

❏

1.44MB drive–Use 3½-inch, double-sided, high-density,

135 TPI, 1.44MB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 18 sectors per track, and hold up to 1.44MB of information, which is approximately 600 pages of text.

3-12 Using Your Computer

❏

360KB drive–Use 5¼-inch, double-sided, double-density, 48 TPI, 360KB diskettes. (You can also use single-sided,

160KB or 180KB diskettes.) These diskettes contain 40 tracks per side and 8 or 9 sectors per track. With 8 sectors per track, a diskette holds up to 320KB. With 9 sectors per track, a diskette holds up to 360KB of information, which is approximately 150 pages of text.

❏

720KB drive–Use 3½-inch, double-sided, double-density,

135 TPI, 720KB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 9 sectors per track, and hold up to 720KB of information, which is approximately 300 pages of text.

Note You must

it. See “Formatting Diskettes,”

format a new diskette before you can store data on

later

in this section.

Drive and diskette incompatibilities

If your computer has more than one type of diskette drive, or if you use different types of diskettes, you need to be aware of certain incompatibilities between the drives and diskettes.

Because of the type and size differences, you cannot use a

3½-inch diskette in a 5¼-inch drive or vice versa. There are

also limitations on using diskettes that are the same size as the drive but have different capacities. The following tables summarize the possibilities and limitations.

5¼-inch drive/diskette compatibility

Drive type 360KB

1.2MB

* If you write to this diskette in a 1.2MB drive, you may not be able

to read it or write to it in a 360KB drive later.

Diskette types it can read from and write to 360KB, 320KB, 180KB, 160KB

1.2MB, 360KB: 320KB; 180KB: 160KB*

Using Your Computer

3-13

3½-inch drive/diskette compatibility

Drive type Diskette types it can read from and write to 720KB 720KB

1.44MB 1.44MB, 720KB

Because of these incompatibilities, always indicate the diskette type and density when you label your diskettes. (Usually this information appears on the manufacturer’s label.)

If you have any combination of the above drives (1.44 MB,

1.2MB, 720KB, or 360KB),

you can copy files from one drive to

another-using COPY or XCOPY–as long as the correct

diskette type is in each drive. You can also use these commands to copy files between a hard disk and any type of diskette. However, you cannot use the MS-DOS DISKCOPY command

to copy from one diskette drive to another if the two drives are not the same type. For more about copying files and diskettes, see your MS-DOS Reference Manual.

Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives

Follow these basic precautions to protect your diskettes and avoid losing data:

If you have a diskette that contains data you don’t want to

❏

accidentally write over or erase, be sure you write-protect it. This is especially important for your operating system and application program diskettes. See “Write-protecting

Diskettes,” below, for more details.

Do not remove a diskette from the diskette drive or reset or

❏

turn off the computer while the drive light is on. This light

indicates that the computer is copying data to or from a

diskette. If you interrupt this process, you can destroy data. Remove all diskettes before you turn off the computer.

❏

3-14

Using Your Computer

❏

Keep diskettes away from dust and dirt. Small particles of dust or dirt can scratch the magnetic surface, destroy data,

and ruin the read/write heads in a diskette drive.

❏

Never wipe, brush, or try to clean diskettes in any way.

❏

Keep diskettes in a moderate environment. They work best

at normal room temperature and in normal humidity. Don’t leave diskettes sitting in the sun, or in extreme cold or heat.

❏

Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields. (Remember that diskettes store information magnetically.) There are many magnetic sources in your home or office, such as electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers.

❏

Do not place diskettes on top of your monitor or near an external hard disk drive.

❏

Always hold a 5¼-inch diskette by its protective jacket and

never touch the magnetic surface exposed by the read/write slot. The oils on your fingertips can damage it.

❏

Do not place anything on top of your diskettes, and be sure they do not get bent.

❏

Carefully label your diskettes and indicate the type and density. Attach the label only along the top of a diskette

(next to the manufacturer’s label). Do not stick several labels on top of one another; too many labels can make it

difficult to insert and remove the diskette in the drive.

❏

Write on a diskette label before you attach it to the diskette.

If you need to write on a label that is already on the diskette, use only a soft-tip pen-not a ballpoint pen or a pencil.

❏

Store diskettes in their protective envelopes and in a proper location, such as a diskette container. Do not store diskettes flat or stack them on top of each other.

Using Your Computer

3-15

Write-protecting Diskettes

You can write-protect a diskette to prevent its data from being

altered. When a diskette is write-protected, you can read it and copy data from it, but you cannot store new data on it or delete any files it contains. If you try to change data stored on a writeprotected diskette, MS-DOS displays an error message.

To write-protect a S/t-inch diskette, cover the small, rectangular notch (shown below) with an adhesive write-protect tab. Write-protect tabs usually are included in a new package of

blank 5¼-inch diskettes.

To remove the write protection, peel off the write-protect tab.

3-16

Using Your Computer

On a 3½-inch diskette, the write-protect device is a small

switch on the back of the diskette in the lower right comer, shown below. To write-protect a 3½-inch diskette, slide the switch toward the edge of the diskette until it clicks into position, exposing a hole in the comer.

To remove the write protection, slide the switch toward the center of the diskette until it clicks into position and the hole is covered.

Note

Some program diskettes have no notch or switch so they are

permanently

write-protected. This protects them from being

accidentally erased or altered.

Using Your Computer

3-27

Using a Single Diskette Drive System

MS-DOS expects the computer to have at least two diskette

drives and displays prompts and messages accordingly. Usually,

MS-DOS recognizes the first diskette drive (the top drive) as A and a second diskette drive as B. If you have only one diskette

drive, MS-DOS can treat it as both A and B when you need to

perform operations that normally require two diskette drives. For example, if you enter a command to copy data from A to B,

MS-DOS copies the data from the first diskette you place in the drive (which would be drive A) to the computer’s memory.

Then MS-DOS prompts you to insert another diskette (for drive

B) and copies the data from memory to the new diskette. When copying is complete, you see a prompt to insert the original diskette (A).

Because you may often swap diskettes this way, it is important to remember which diskette is which. It is also a good idea to writeprotect your original diskette. See “Write-protecting Diskettes,” above.

If you have a hard disk and one diskette drive, you can load the operating system and application programs from the hard disk, create and store your data there, and use the diskette drive just for copying data to or from diskettes.

However, if you have only one diskette drive and no hard disk, you need to use that drive to load the operating system as well as any application program you are using. First, insert the operating system diskette (the Startup diskette, for example) in drive A and load the operating system; this copies it to the computer’s memory (RAM) so you do not need to leave the system diskette

in the drive. Then remove the system diskette and insert your application program diskette to load that data into memory, too. See your application program manual for detailed instructions.

3-18

Using Your Computer

Note

You can bad MS-DOS from an application program diskette if that diskette contains the operating system. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for information about creating a system diskette.

Inserting and Removing Diskettes

If you have a 5¼-inch diskette drive, insert a diskette as follows: hold the diskette with the label facing up and the read/write slot leading into the drive, as shown below.

Slide the diskette into the slot until it is in all the way. Then

turn the latch down to lock it in a vertical position. This keeps the diskette in place and allows the read/write heads in the

diskette drive to access the diskette.

When you want to remove a diskette, first make sure the disk drive light is off. Then flip up the latch and carefully pull out the diskette. Place it in its protective envelope and store it in a proper location, such as a diskette container.

Using Your Computer

3-19

If you have a 3¼-inch diskette drive, insert the diskette with the label facing up and the metal shutter leading into the drive, as shown in the following illustration. Slide the diskette into the

drive until it clicks into place.

When you want to remove the diskette, make sure the drive light is off; then press the release button. When the diskette pops out, remove it and store it properly.

Caution

Never remove a diskette or reset or turn off the computer while a diskette drive light is on. You could lose your data. Also, be sure to remove all diskettes before you turn off the computer.

3-20 Using Your Computer

Formatting Diskettes

Before you can store data on a new diskette, you must format it using the FORMAT command. Formatting prepares the diskette so that MS-DOS can write data on it. You need to do this only

once, before you use the diskette for the first time.

You can also reformat previously used diskettes to store new data. This process erases all the data on the diskette, so be sure you do not want to save any of the files on a diskette before you format it. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on using the FORMAT command.

Making Backup Copies

It is important to make copies of all your data and system diskettes. Make backup (or working) copies of all diskettes that contain programs, such as your MS-DOS diskettes and the

original Reference and Utility diskettes that came with your

computer. Then use only the copies. Store the original diskettes in a safe place away from your working diskettes. Also, copy your data diskettes regularly, whenever you revise them (to keep them up-to-date) and store them away from your originals.

If you have a hard disk, you’ll probably use it to store the programs and data files you use regularly. Keep backup copies of all your files on diskettes.

You can copy your data in several ways:

❏

You can use the COPY or XCOPY command to copy

individual files or groups of files.

❏

You can use the DISKCOPY command to make an exact duplicate of a diskette.

Using Your Computer

3-21

❏

You can use the BACKUP command to back up hard disk files to diskettes. Because BACKUP can split large files across two or more diskettes, it makes more efficient use of diskette space than COPY or XCOPY. It also allows you to back up files that are larger than the capacity of your diskettes.

See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on using

these commands.

Using a Hard Disk Drive

Using a hard disk is similar to using a diskette. However, the hard disk provides several advantages:

❏

A 100MB hard disk can store as much data as approximately eighty-two 1.2MB diskettes.

❏

Your computer can perform all disk-related operations faster.

❏

You can store frequently used programs and data files on the hard disk, eliminating the inconvenience of swapping diskettes to access different files.

The added storage capacity makes it easy to move back and forth between different programs and data files. However, because it is so easy to add programs and files to your hard disk, you may find yourself trying to organize hundreds of files.

MS-DOS lets you keep related files together in directories and subdirectories so they are easy to find and use. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on managing your

files and directories. A hard disk must be partitioned and formatted before you can

use it. Be sure you have performed the procedures in your

MS-DOS Installation Guide to prepare your hard disk for use.

3-22

Using Your Computer

Backing up the hard disk

While the hard disk is very reliable, it is essential to back up

your hard disk files to diskettes in case you lose some data accidentally. Make copies of all your system and application program diskettes before copying the programs to the hard disk. After you create data files on the hard disk, be sure to copy them to diskettes whenever you revise them to keep your backup diskettes up-to-date.

Caring for your hard disk drive

Follow these precautions to protect your hard disk drive from damage and to avoid losing data:

Never turn off or reset the computer when the hard disk

❏

access light is on. This light indicates that the computer is copying data to or from the hard disk. If you interrupt this process, you can lose data.

Never attempt to open the hard disk drive. The disk itself is

❏

enclosed in a sealed container to protect it from dust. Before you move your computer even a short distance, you

❏

need to run the HDSIT program to prepare the hard disk for moving, as described below.

Preparing the hard disk for moving

If you need to move your computer to a new location-whether

it is across the country or just across the room-you should run the HDSIT program to protect the hard disk during the move.

The HDSIT program moves the disk drive’s read/write heads to

a region on the disk surface that does not contain data, and locks them securely in position. This protects the hard disk from being damaged if the computer is bumped accidentally.

Using Your Computer

3-23

Follow these steps to run HDSIT:

Exit any program you are using and make sure the MS-DOS

1. command prompt appears on the screen.

If you copied HDSIT to your hard disk (as described at the

beginning of this chapter), type C : onto the root directory of the hard disk.

If you do not have a hard disk or you did not copy HDSIT to

drive C, insert the Reference diskette in drive A. Then type

and press Enter to log onto that drive.

Type the following and press Enter:

and press

Enter

to log

HDSIT

You see a message on the screen that tells you the disk drive’s read/write heads will remain locked until you reset the computer or turn the power off and on again. The computer locks the heads and disables the keyboard. Remove any diskettes and turn off the computer. You are now ready to move it to the new

location.

Note If your computer

came with a 5¼-inch diskette drive and you still have the original diskette drive protector card, you may want to insert it into the drive prior to shipping your computer to protect the read/write heads.

3-24

Using Your Computer

Chapter 4

Enhancing System Operations

This chapter tells you how to use the following procedures to

enhance the operation of your computer:

❏

Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and other batch files

❏

Changing the processor speed

❏

Reassigning the diskette drives

❏

Using your computer as a network server

❏

Using expanded memory beyond 640KB

❏

Using special VGA features.

Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and Other Batch Files

As you get used to using MS-DOS and your application

programs, you may find that there are commands you need to run frequently. You can automate the execution of these commands by listing them in a special file called a “batch” file.

When you type the name of the batch file and press Enter,

MS-DOS executes the commands in the file just as if you had typed each command from the keyboard.

If you have a word processing program that can save a file as a text-only file (sometimes called an ASCII file), you can use that program to create a batch file. You can also use the MS-DOS

COPY or EDLIN command to create the file. See your

MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions on creating and using batch files.

Enhancing System Operations 4-1

One batch file that you may find particularly useful is called AUTOEXEC.BAT. Every time you turn on your computer,

MS-DOS looks for the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and automatically executes each of the commands.

When you install MS-DOS, it automatically creates an AUTOEXECBAT file for you. To create or modify the file, you can use the same programs that you use to create any other batch file (COPY, EDLIN, or a word processing program that can save a file as a text-only file). However, be sure to name the file AUTOEXEC.BAT and store it in the root directory of the hard disk or diskette from which you load MS-DOS.

See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information about your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Changing the Processor Speed

Your computer’s processor can operate at two speeds: high and

low. High speed is 25 MHz and low speed simulates an 8 MHz processor speed. On high, the computer can access memory faster than on low. Your processor is set to operate at high speed unless you change the speed to low or set the speed to change automatically.

Note

When your computer is operating at high speed, the TURBO

light on the front panel is illuminated. The TURBO light is

off when your computer is operating at low speed.

You should use high speed for almost everything you do since your programs will work faster. However, certain application programs have specific timing requirements for diskette access and can run only at the slower speed. See the manual for your program to determine if this is the case.

4-2

Enhancing System Operations

Some copy-protected programs require the computer to run at low speed while accessing the program on a diskette. These programs also usually require you to leave a key disk-the diskette that contains the copy protection-in the diskette drive. If you use a copy-protected program often, you may want

to set your processor speed to change automatically to low speed when accessing the diskette and return to high speed when it is finished.

There are different types of copy-protected programs. Depending

on the type you have, you may or may not want to set the

processor to automatic speed. Follow these guidelines:

❏

If you are using a copy-protected program that can run only

on a diskette or that requires a key disk, try to load the

program on high speed. If this works, you do not need to set the speed to change automatically. If you can’t load the program on high, set the speed to change automatically.

❏

If you are using a copy-protected program that does not require a key disk but requires a special procedure to install the program on a hard disk, set the speed to low while you are installing the program. Once it is installed, set the speed to high, where you should be able to leave it while you load and run the program.

If this does not work, try installing and loading the program at low speed and then change to high speed to run it. Do not set the speed to change automatically.

There are three ways to change the processor speed:

❏

Run the Setup program on your Reference diskette

❏

Enter a keyboard command

❏ Run the ESPEED program.

Enhancing System Operations 4-3

If you frequently use programs that require the processor to operate at low speed or require the automatic speed change when your computer is accessing a diskette, use Setup to change

the processor speed. See Chapter 2 for instructions. If you use these programs only occasionally, you should use the

keyboard commands or the ESPEED program (described below)

to change the processor speed.

Entering Keyboard Commands

You can change the processor speed by entering one of the

following commands at the MS-DOS prompt:

Ctrl Alt +

Ctrl Alt Ctrl Alt *

For the +, -, keypad. The commands do not work if you use the characters on the main keyboard.

Changes the speed to high (25 MHz). Changes the speed to low (simulated 8 MHz). Tells the computer to change to low speed when

it is accessing a diskette.

and * characters, press the keys on the numeric

Note You can use the commands listed above while you are

running a program.

However,

if you are running a program

that uses one of the same commands for another function,

you cannot use that command to change the processor speed.

For example, if you are running a program that uses the

Ctrl Alt - command to move the cursor, you cannot enter Ctrl

Alt - to change the processor speed to low. When you exit the program, you can enter these commands at the MS-DOS prompt. Another alternative is to use the ESPEED program, described below.

4-4

Enhancing System Operations

To enter these commands, hold down the Ctrl key and the Alt key and press the +, -, The speed setting remains in effect until you press the RESET

button or turn off the computer, or until you change it again using the Setup program, another keyboard command, or the ESPEED program, described below.

or * key located cm the numeric keypad.

Using the ESPEED Program

The ESPEED program allows you to change the processor speed to high or low, or set the speed to change automatically. This method is convenient if your application program does not

recognize the Ctrl keyboard commands or if you want to include

the program command in a batch file.

The ESPEED program is provided with your system on the Reference diskette. If you do not have a hard disk, insert your Reference diskette in drive A and log onto drive A before you enter the command to start the program.

If you have a hard disk drive, copy the file ESPEED.EXE from your Reference diskette onto your hard disk-if you have not already done so-and run the program from there. (See Chapter 3 for more information.)

To run the ESPEED program, type the following at the

MS-DOS command prompt: and press Enter:

ESPEED

You see the following message:

Usage: ESPEED [/H][/L][/Al

/High /Low /Auto

set High speed (no auto) set Low speed (no auto) set Auto speed

Enhancing System Operations

4-5

The message tells you the switches you should use to set the

speed to high, low, or automatic speed. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the ESPEED command again and include the appropriate switch, such as the following:

ESPEED /A

This command sets the processor speed to change to low speed automatically when the computer accesses a diskette.

If you include the switch when you type the initial ESPEED command, the program changes the speed without: displaying the command options.

The processor speed you set remains in effect until you press the

RESET button or turn off the computer, or until you change it

using the Setup program, a keyboard command, or the ESPEED program again.

Entering the ESPEED command in a batch file

You may want to run the ESPEED program by including the

command in a batch file. For example, if you have a program called SAMPLE which requires an 8 MHz processor speed when the program is running on a diskette, you could include the

following commands in a batch file to start the SAMPLE

program:

ESPEED /A

SAMPLE

You could name the batch file SAMP.BAT. Whenever you need to run the SAMPLE program, insert the program diskette

into drive A. Then type SAMP and press Enter.

The computer changes the processor speed to automatic and starts the SAMPLE program. When you access the program on the diskette, the speed changes to low and then returns to high when you are finished.

4-6

Enhancing System Operations

Epson 386-25 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Connecting the Hard Disk Drive Cables

Installing a Disk Drive in the Horizontal Position.

Replacing the Drive on the Subassembly.

Introduction

Optional Equipment

Operating Systems and Other Software

VGA Utilities

How to Use This Manual

Where to Get Help

Choosing a Location

Connecting a Monitor

Using the VGA Interface

Using a Display Adapter Card

Using the Parallel Interface

Connecting the Mouse

Connecting the Power Cord

Turning On the Computer

Automatic Configuration

Continuing From an Error Message

Moving the Cursor Block

Setting the Power-on Password

Setting the Extended Memory Caching

Setting the Processor Speed

Setting the Keyboard and Speaker Options

Setting the Real-time Clock

Setting the Hard Disk Drive Configuration

Hard Disk Drive Types

Leaving the Setup Menu

Installing MS-DOS or another operating system

Resetting the Computer

Changing a Power-on Password

Deleting a Power-on Password

Using Disks and Disk Drives

How Disks Store Data

Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives

Using a Single Diskette Drive System

Inserting and Removing Diskettes

Formatting Diskettes

Making Backup Copies

Using a Hard Disk Drive

Changing the Processor Speed