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Apex by Epson User’s Guide
for the Apex Plus and Apex Plus 20
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IMPORTANT NOTICE
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or
implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable
for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do
not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this
exclusion may not apply to you.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All rights reserved. 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
Apex is a trademark of Epson America, Inc.
Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Hercules is a registered trademark of Hercules Computer Technology, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp.
Kraft is a registered trademark of Kraft Systems, Inc.
MS-DOS, GW-BASIC, and Microsoft are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corp.
XTREE is a registered trademark of Executive Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 1988 by Epson America, Inc.
Torrance, California
ii
(250188021
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
FOR AMERICAN USERS
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not
installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television
reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J
of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection
against such interference in a residential installation. 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, you are encouraged
to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
l Reorient the receiving antenna
l Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver
l Move the computer away from the receiver
l Plug the computer into a different outlet so that the computer and
receiver are on different branch circuits.
If necessary, consult your dealer or an experienced radio/television
technician for additional suggestions. You may find the following booklet
prepared by the Federal Communications Commission helpful:
“Television interference Handbook”
This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington DC 20402. Stock No. 004-000-00450-7
Note: If the interference stops, it was probably caused by the computer or
its peripheral devices. To further isolate the problem:
Disconnect the peripheral devices and their input/output cables one
at a time. If the interference stops, it is caused by either the
peripheral device or its I/O cable. These devices usually require
shielded l/O cables. For Epson peripheral devices, you can obtain
the proper shielded cable from your dealer. For non-Epson peripheral devices contact the manufacturer or dealer for assistance.
WARNING:
This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class B
computer device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules. Only
peripherals (computer input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.)
certified to comply with the Class B limits may be attached to this
computer. Operation with non-certified peripherals is likely to result in
interference to radio and TV reception.
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 that exceed the limits established by the FCC for
this equipment.
iii
iv
Contents
Introduction
How to Use This Manual.
Where to Get Help
Chapter 1
Setting Up your System
l Unpacking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removing the disk drive protector cards.
2 Choosing a Location
Arranging the components
The front panel
The back panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
3 Connecting the Monitor
4 Connecting the Keyboard
5 Connecting a Printer
Parallel interface
Serial interface
6 Connecting the Power Cord
7 Turning On the Computer and Loading MS-DOS
Safety rules
System startup
Initial screen display.
Loading MS-DOS on the Apex Plus
The command prompt
8 Copying System Diskettes
Copying diskettes on the Apex Plus
Copying diskettes on the Apex Plus 20
9 Setting the Real Time Clock.
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1
3
4
1-1
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-9
1-12
1-13
1 - 13
1-15
1-15
1-16
1-16
1-17
1-18
1-21
1-22
1-22
1-24
1-25
Contents v
Chapter 2
Using Your Apex.
.....................................
Special Keys on the Apex Keyboard
Selecting Execution Speed
Stopping a Command or Program
Resetting the Computer
Turning Off the Computer.
...............................
.........................
.................................
..............................
Using Diskettes and Diskette Drives
How diskettes work
................................
Choosing diskettes for the Apex
Caring for your diskettes and diskette drives.
Inserting and removing diskettes.
Write-protecting diskettes
Making backup copies
Using Your Hard Disk.
.................................
..........................
..............................
Using a single diskette drive system
Preparing the hard disk for moving
Chapter 3
Using MS-DOS with Your Apex
Introducing MS-DOS
...................................
Starting and Exiting MS-DOS
Changing the Default Drive.
Entering MS-DOS Commands.
Creating Files
Naming a File
.........................................
........................................
Creating and Using Directories
Creating directories
Changing directories
Using pathnames
................................
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..................................
Other directory commands
.........................
............................
............................. 3-3
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...........................
.........................
Copying from one directory to another.
Displaying a list of directories
Removing a directory
Formatting Diskettes.
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..................................
.......................
Formatting diskettes with an Apex Plus
Formatting diskettes with an Apex Plus 20
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............ 2-9
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............... 3-13
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2-1
2-1
2-4
2-5
2-5
2-6
2-7
2-7
2-8
2-10
2-12
2-12
2-13
2-14
2-15
3-1
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-8
3-8
3-9
3-10
3-11
3-12
3-13
3-13
3-14
vi Contents
Copying Data
........................................
Using the DISKCOPY command
Using DISKCOPY with an Apex Plus
Using DISKCOPY with an Apex Plus 20
Using the COPY command
.........................
Using the BACKUP command
The HELP Utility
Examples
Messares
The XTREE Utility.
What XTREE does
Using XTREE
Cautions
Example
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Starting your Application Program
Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT File
Creating an AUTOEXEC.BAT file
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3-15
3-16
3-16
3-18
3-19
3-21
3-22
3-23
3-24
3-24
3-24
3-25
3-28
3-28
3-32
3-32
3-33
Chapter 4
Installing Option Cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Removing the Cover
..................................
Inserting the Option Card
Replacing the Cover
Post-installation Setup
...................................
..................................
Removing Option Cards
...............................
................................
4-2
4-3
4-7
4-8
4-8
Chapter 5
Troubleshooting
The Computer Fails to Start Up
......................................
..........................
The Video Display Does Not Appear
The Computer Locks Up
Diskette Problems.
Hard Disk Problems
Software Problems.
Printer Problems
.......................................
Option Card Problems
Expanding Your System
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Cnntents vii
5-1
5-2
5-2
5-3
5-4
5-5
5-6
5-7
5-7
5-8
Appendixes
Appendix A
Setting the DIP Switches.
Switch 1 (serial port)
Switch 2 (parallel port)
Switches 3 and 4 (monitor and adapter type).
Appendix B
Preparing a Hard Disk for Use
Using HDFMTALL
Formatting and checking options
Conditional format (normal)
Unconditional format
Destructive surface analysis
Non-destructive surface analysis
Using FDISK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-11
Using SELECT
Finishing Your Installation
.................................... B-2
....................................... B-13
..............................
.................................. A-2
................................. A-3
...............
..........................
..................... B-2
........................ B-4
.............................. B-7
.......................... B-9
.....................
............................. B-14
A-1
A-3
B-1
B-10
Appendix C
Specifications.
Main Unit
Interfaces ..........................................
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
Mass Storage.
Power Requirements ................................... C-2
Environmental Requirements ............................ C-2
Physical Characteristics (CPU Only) ...................... C-2
Video and Display Options .............................. C-3
Other Apex Options ................................... C-3
Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glossary 1
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index 1
viii Contents
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...........................................
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C-1
C-1
C-1
C-2
Introduction
Your ApexTMby Epson® personal computer comes in two versions: the Apex Plus with two 360 KB (kilobyte) diskette drives,
and the Apex Plus 20 with one 360 KB diskette drive and one
20 MB (megabyte) hard disk drive.
Both versions have 512 KB of internal memory, called random
access memory or RAM. RAM determines the size of software
programs you can run and the data files you can create. With
512 KB of RAM, you can run most large programs and create
large data files.
Most software programs expect a computer to have two diskette
drives, one for the program diskette and one for a data diskette.
The Apex Plus provides two diskette drives so you do not have
to spend time switching diskettes. The Apex Plus 20 hard disk
drive and diskette drive provide the same convenience and let
you take advantage of the hard disk’s large storage capacity and
faster performance.
Depending on your needs, you can use either a TTL monochrome monitor or an RGB (red-green-blue) color graphics
monitor with your computer. The Apex monochrome monitor
is a good choice if you are using word processing and spreadsheet programs. The Apex color monitor is an excellent choice
if you use software designed for color graphics.
Your Apex comes with a multi-graphics adapter (MGA) card so
you can display color or monochrome graphics on your monitor.
The card is already installed in one of the five
computer. The MGA card also includes a game port so you can
easily connect a joystick to your computer. You can replace the
MGA card to use another type of monitor, such as an enhanced
graphics adapter (EGA)monitor or a video graphics array
(VGA) monitor.
option slots
Introduction 1
in the
Your Apex includes built-in parallel and
you connect almost any peripheral device to the computer. A
peripheral device is one that you attach to your computer, such
as a printer, mouse, or modem. You can use the parallel interface
to connect an Epson printer or plotter or any other parallel
printer. You can use the serial interface to connect a serial
printer or a mouse.
Your computer comes with version 3.2 of the MS-DOS’ disk
operating system and the GW-BASIC® programming language.
An operating system controls how programs run on the computer and supervises all input and output. MS-DOS is one of
the most commonly used operating systems. It supports most
popular software programs available, including those designed
for the IBM” personal computer.
GW-BASIC is simple to learn and provides advanced features
for the experienced programmer.
If you have used MS-DOS or GW-BASIC before, you’ll find
these programs work the same way on the Apex. Check
your Apex MS-DOS or GW-BASIC reference manuals for
descriptions of special features added by Epson.
serial
interfaces that let
You can add more devices by installing an option curd in one of
the computer’s five option slots. An option card is an installable
circuit board containing a device, such as a modem, or provid-
ing an additional interface to connect other devices. You can
use most of the option cards designed for the IBM PC on your
Apex.
You can also install an optional 8087 math coprocessor to speed
up the computer’s ability to perform calculations. You may want
to add a coprocessor if you frequently use your computer for
spreadsheet or other calculation-intensive applications.
2 Introduction
How to Use This Manual
This manual describes how to set up and care for your computer.
It also introduces the basics of using MS-DOS and shows you
how to install option cards so you can connect optional devices.
You may not need to read everything in this manual; some
sections may describe a particular option or accessory you don’t
have.
The information in this manual applies to both the Apex Plus
and the Apex Plus 20 computers unless indicated otherwise.
Chapter 1 provides instructions on setting up and using
your Apex computer.
Chapter 2 describes general operating procedures for
using the computer.
Chapter 3 explains how to use MS-DOS with your Apex.
It also introduces the XTREE® utility provided by Epson
and describes how you can use XTREE to perform many
file operations.
Chapter 4 provides the steps for installing option cards.
Chapter 5 contains troubleshooting information and a
question and answer section about expanding your system.
Appendix A shows how to change the DIP switch
settings in your computer. You can use DIP switches to set
or change the configuration of your system. You do not
need to change the DIP switches unless you add or remove
hardware from your system.
Introduction 3
Appendix B describes how to prepare an unformatted
hard disk for use.
Appendix C lists the hardware specifications, operating
requirements, and options of your computer.
The glossary defines the computer terms used in this
manual.
Where to Get Help
For warranty repairs and technical assistance for your Apex
computer, call toll-free 1-800-922-8911 (24 hours a day, seven
days a week) for the location of your nearest Epson Customer
Care Center.
To purchase accessories such as printer ribbons and option
cards, check with the store where you purchased your computer
or call toll-free 1-800-922-891 1 for the location of your nearest
Epson Customer Care Center.
4 Introduction
Chapter 1
Setting Up Your System
Setting up your Apex personal computer is easy - just follow
the steps in this chapter and you’ll be on your way. You can also
check the “Read This First” sheet included with your computer.
Unpacking
1
Inspect each component as you remove it from its carton. If you
discover any missing or damaged items, contact the place of
purchase to obtain the missing items or an exchange. If you are
unable to obtain an exchange, please call 1-800-922-891 1 for
the location of your nearest Authorized Epson Customer Care
Center. When you call, please have the serial number of your
computer available.
Be sure to keep your packing materials. They provide the best
possible protection for your computer if you need to move or
ship it later. When you unpack your Apex, you’ll find the
following:
The main unit and power cord
The keyboard with an attached cable
An MS-DOS operating system diskette (version 3.2)
A diskette containing supplemental MS-DOS utilities, the
GW-BASIC programming language (version 3.2), and the
XTREE utility
An MS-DOS reference manual and a GW-BASIC
reference manual.
Setting Up Your System
1-1
You’ll also find a registration card with your Apex; fill out this
card now and mail it to Epson. With this registration card on
file, Epson can send you update information.
Removing the disk drive protector cards
A protector card occupies each diskette drive in your computer.
This card is inserted at the factory to protect the disk drive
heads that read from and write to diskettes,
Be sure to remove the card from each diskette drive before you
turn on the computer. Turn the latch that covers the disk slot
until it is horizontal and carefully pull out the card.
1-2 Setting Up Your System
Save these cards to use whenever you move the computer. Also,
if you don’t intend to use your computer for a week or more,
insert the cards to help prevent dust from entering the drives.
Choosing a Location
2
Before you set up your Apex, it’s important to choose the right
location. Make sure it provides the following:
A large, sturdy area and surface, such as a desk or table,
that can easily support the weight of your Apex and all its
components.
A flat, hard surface. Don’t set the Apex on a soft surface
like a bed or a carpeted floor. Soft surfaces attract static
electricity, which may erase data on your diskettes and
damage the computer’s circuitry. Soft surfaces can also
prevent proper ventilation.
Good air circulation. Your Apex needs air to circulate freely
under it as well as behind it. Leave several inches of space
around the computer for proper ventilation.
Moderate environmental conditions. Avoid extremes in
temperature and humidity; also avoid direct sunlight or
other heat sources. High humidity also hinders operation, so
it’s best to select a cool, dry area for operation. Dust and
smoke, which can cause damage to diskettes and disk drives,
could cause you to lose valuable data.
Appropriate power sources. Static charges can be damaging.
Connect all equipment to three-prong, 120-volt, grounded
outlets. You need at least three outlets, one for the main
unit, one for the monitor, and one for your printer. If you
need more outlets, you may want to buy a power strip.
Available at any electronics store, a power strip provides
four to eight additional outlets. A power strip with surge
suppression is recommended.
Setting Up Your System
1-3
No electromagnetic interference. Choose a spot for your
computer away from any device that generates an electromagnetic field (like a telephone).
Arranging the components
Decide how you want to arrange your system components. The
illustration below shows a typical setup. The monitor is on top of
the main unit and the keyboard is directly in front. This leaves
enough space for you to insert diskettes into the disk drives.
If you have special computer furniture, you can arrange your
Apex components to suit your own particular needs.
Before you begin to connect the cables, take a look at the front
and back panels of the main unit.
1-4 Setting Up Your System
The front panel
On the front panel you see the power light, the power switch,
and the keyboard cable socket. If you are using an Apex Plus,
your computer has two diskette drives. If you are using an
Apex Plus 20, your computer has one diskette drive and one
hard disk drive.
Here’s how the front panel components work:
Power switch. Press this switch to turn the main unit on
and off.
Power light. This light is on when the power is on. Your
Apex computer can operate at two different speeds. The
light is orange when the system is running at 4.77MHz
(megahertz). The light is green when the system is running
at 9.54MHz. Do not change the operating speed while you
are running a program. See Chapter 2 for more information.
Keyboard cable socket. Use this socket to plug the keyboard
into the computer.
Setting Up Your System 1-5
Diskette drives. In the Apex Plus, both the top and bottom
1-6 Setting U
Your System
diskette drives use 5 l/4-inch, 360 KB diskettes. In the
Apex Plus 20, the diskette drive also uses 5 l/4-inch,
360 KB diskettes.
Disk lock/release latch. After you insert a diskette, turn this
latch down until it is vertical. To remove a diskette, turn it
up until it is horizontal.
Diskette drive light. This green light is on when the drive is
in use. To avoid losing data, never remove a diskette or turn
off the computer’s power when this light is on.
Hard disk drive. In the Apex Plus 20 (shown below), the
hard disk drive is the bottom drive. The green light on the
hard disk drive panel is on whenever the computer is
writing to or reading from the drive.
P
The back panel
Take a look at the back panel and note the power inlet,
the universal power supply, the DIP switches, the built-in
input/output ports, and the option card access slots.
WARNING
Do not connect the power cord until you have connected the
printer and any other optional devices. Always check to see that
the power switch is off before you connect or disconnect the
printer.
The back panel components are:
AC input. This inlet supplies electrical power to your
computer when you plug in the power cord. Always turn
the power switch off before you plug the power cord from
this inlet into an electrical outlet.
DIP switches. These switches give the computer information about its video card type, and parallel and serial
interfaces. The switches are preset to match your system
Setting Up Your System
1-7
configuration. Do not change them unless you are adding
option cards that require different settings. Appendix A
describes how to set these switches if you change your
system configuration.
Parallel port. Lets you connect any printer or plotter with a
parallel interface.
Serial port. Lets you connect any serial device, such as a
serial printer or a mouse.
Option card access slots. The Apex has space for five option
cards to control any peripheral devices you add. The
multi-graphics adapter (MGA) card, which allows you to
use either a monochrome or color monitor, occupies one of
these slots. If you have an Apex Plus 20, the hard disk
controller card occupies another slot. You can use the other
slots to add special devices, such as an internal modem, to
your Apex system.
Monitor port. Lets you connect an RGB color graphics
monitor or a TTL monochrome monitor.
Color/mono switch. Set this switch to color or mono,
depending on the type of monitor you are using.
Game port. Lets you connect a joystick, track ball, or other
pointing device.
1-8 Setting Up Your System
Connecting the Monitor
3
It is easiest to connect the monitor cable if the backs of the
monitor and the main unit are facing you.
Your Apex comes with an installed multi-graphics adapter
(MGA) card. You can connect an RGB color graphics monitor
or a TTL monochrome monitor to the port on this card.
The way you connect your monitor depends on the type you
have, so check your monitor manual for instructions, or follow
these guidelines:
1.
If necessary, connect the monitor cable to your monitor.
Some monitors have permanently attached cables.
2.
Connect the monitor cable to the connector at the back
of the main unit.
Setting Up Your System
1-9
3.
Tighten the screws (if any) on the plug with a screwdriver.
4. Plug the monitor’s power cable into an electrical outlet.
5.
Set the color/mono switch on the back panel for the type of
monitor you are using.
1-10 Setting Up Your System
Make sure the DIP switch settings are correct for the type
6.
of monitor you are using. The Apex computer is set at the
factory to 80x25 color, for a color graphics monitor. If
you are connecting a monochrome monitor, you need to
change the DIP switch settings. See Appendix A for more
information.
If you are using a monitor other than a color graphics or
TTL monochrome unit, you’ll need to install another video
card in your computer. See Chapter 4, “Installing Option
Cards,” for instructions. You’ll also need to check the DIP
switch settings (defined in Appendix A) to be sure they are
set correctly for the type of video card you are installing.
Setting Up Your System
1-11
Connecting the Keyboard
4
Follow these steps to connect the keyboard:
1.
Insert the keyboard connector into the keyboard socket
on the front panel of your Apex.
Do not force the connector, but make sure you completely
insert it.
2.
If you would like to adjust the angle of the keyboard, turn
the keyboard over and lift each leg upward until it locks
into place.
1-12 Setting Up Your System
You can lock each leg in a 15 degree position or an 11
degree position. To lock a leg into the 11 degree position,
lift up the entire leg and then push the portion marked
15” back until it snaps into the keyboard.
Connecting a Printer
5
Follow the steps in this section to connect your printer to either
the parallel or serial interface.
Parallel interface
Your Apex computer has a parallel interface to which you can
connect a printer. Of course, Epson offers a full range of printer
products for you to choose from. Check with the store where
you purchased your computer or call 1-800-922-891 1 for the lo-
cation of your nearest Authorized Epson Dealer.
To connect a printer to your Apex, make sure you have an IBM
PC-compatible printer cable. Then follow these steps to connect
your printer to the parallel interface on the main unit:
1.
Place the printer next to your system.
2.
Before you connect the printer, make sure the power
switches on the main unit, monitor, and printer
are off.
Setting Up Your System
1-13
3.
Connect the printer cable connector to the parallel port
on the back panel of the main unit. If the connector has
retaining screws, tighten them with a small screwdriver.
4.
Connect the other cable connector to the printer. Secure
the cable by pressing together the squeeze locks from the
printer port and pushing them into each side of the
connector.
5.
Plug the printer’s power cord into an electrical outlet.
1-14 Setting Up Your System
Serial interface
If you have a printer (or another peripheral such as a modem)
with a serial interface, connect it to the serial (RS-232C) port
on the back panel. The Apex uses a DB-25P connector, so be
sure you have an XT-compatible cable. To connect a serial
device, follow the same steps as for connecting a parallel
printer.
You need to ensure the serial port is set up so it functions
properly. If you are using the port for a serial printer, you must
also redirect printer output to the serial instead of the parallel
port. Use the MS-DOS SETMODE program (or the MODE
command) to make these changes. See your MS-DOS reference
manual for instructions.
Connecting the Power Cord
6
To avoid an electric shock, first insert the power cord into the
AC input connector on the back panel as shown below, then
plug the other end into the wall socket.
Setting Up Your System
1-15
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