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EPSON AMERICA, INC.
Product Support Bulletin
EPSON
Subject:
Date: 04/06/94
Page(s): 1 of 2
This bulletin announces the availability of enhanced display drivers for the Epson EL
4S/33+ and EL 486UC+ computers running IBM’s OS/2 2.0 or 2.1. The 32-bit
Service Pack for version 2.0 from IBM must be installed before installing the new
display drivers. Also, the current system configuration must be VGA or SVGA.
These drivers can be downloaded from the Epson Bulletin Board System (BBS) that
can be reached at (310) 782-4531. They are located in one self-extracting file
(OS2_20.EXE for Version 2.0) or
DRIVERS.
by entering the command:
OS2_20 A:
OS2_21 A:
depending on which disk drive is being used. The diskette must have the volume
label OS2
EL 4S/33+ and EL 486UC+ OS/2 2.0 and 2.1 Display Drivers
PSB No: S-0173
Originator: JAM
(OS2_21.EXE
Once downloaded, extract the files to a high-density diskette (1.44MB)
or OS2_20
or OS2_21
DRVS.
B:
B:
for Version 2.1) in file library
To install a driver, place the Display Drivers diskette into drive A:. Open an OS/2
session, either full-screen or window, and enter the following command:
A:INSTALL A: C:
INSTALL.CMD on the driver diskette copies files to the hard drive and starts the
OS/2 Display Driver Install utility DSPINSTL, which prompts the user.
When the Display Driver Install main panel appears, the Primary Display should
indicate Video Graphics Array. If so, click OK and proceed. If VGA is not selected,
select Primary Display and click OK.
Highlight the Driver/Resolution desired and click OK.
When the Source Directory panel appears, choose the floppy drive ( A: ) which
contains the Driver diskette and click on Install.
When the main panel appears again, click on Cancel.
The new driver has been installed. You must shutdown and then re-boot your
system for the changes to take effect.
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PSB No: S-0173
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For any future driver changes, INSTALL.CMD on the driver diskette is not required.
To change to a new driver, or return to VGA driver, simply type DSPINSTL on the
command line in an OS/2 full-screen or window session.
If you are selecting a different resolution, make sure that the Display Driver diskette
is in the floppy drive.
Finally, only the beta version of OS/2 2.1 was tested. According to IBM the 32-bit
graphics engine is the same as in the Service Pack, so these drivers should work
correctly.
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EPSON AMERICA, INC.
Product Support Bulletin
Subject:
Common Questions and Answers for the Epson EL 486UC Computer
Date: 10/8/93
Page(s): 1 of 9
GENERAL
Q1. What is the Epson EL 486UC computer?
A.
The EL 486UC is Epson’s new entry-level computer sold exclusively through Epson
Direct (800-374-7300). Along with an affordable price, the new EL 486UC offers Intel’”
i486SX/25™ processing power and upgrade solutions for a wide range of computing
applications. In addition to the performance that this system offers, users will
appreciate the convenience of a small footprint and complete system integration. Key
features include:
l Intel i486SX/25 processor upgradable to i486SX/33, i486DX/33, i486DX2/50 or
i486DX2/66
PSB No: S-0168
Originator: SLS
l Intel OverDrive
l 8KB internal cache (built-in CPU)
l OK external cache; upgradeable to either 32KB or 128KB
l Small-footprint case incorporates
TM
CPU Support (i486DX2/50 or i486DX2/66)
- Five ISA option slots; three 16-bit full-length and two 8-bit half-length
- two externally accessible drive bays and one internal drive bay
- built-in Super VGA video adapter
- built-in parallel, PS/2 keyboard, game and two serial ports
- built-in floppy and IDE hard drive controller/interface
l 4MB of system RAM; upgradeable to 32MB via SlMMs
l 512KB video memory; upgradeable to 1 MB providing 1024 x 768 with 256 color
support
l ROM based system “SETUP” program
l Password security
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PSB No: S-0168
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Q1. What is the Epson EL 486UC computer? (continued)
A.
l System and video BIOS can be relocated in shadow RAM for increased
system performance
l Built-in rechargeable NiCad battery to maintain CMOS settings
l 3.5” 1.44MB (High density) Floppy disk drive
l 120MB IDE Hard disk drive
l Bundled with MS-DOS® 6.0, Microsoft® Windows
the hard disk drive and a serial mouse
Q2. What is the target market for this computer?
A.
The Epson Equity EL 486UC computer is targeted at the following markets.
l Home office and small-business users seeking maximum performance
at today’s low prices.
l Work at home users who need an efficient and cost-effective system
that’s compatible with all their business software.
TM
3.1 pre-loaded on
l Businesses in search of a low-cost network node that can handle
current and future applications.
Q3. What interfaces and controllers are integrated on the motherboard?
A.
The Epson EL 486UC computer comes standard with a built-in IDE hard
disk drive interface, a floppy disk drive controller, a super VGA video
adapter, two serial interfaces, a uni-directional parallel interface, a PS/2
style keyboard port and a game port all integrated on the main system
board (motherboard).
Q4. What type of password security does the Epson EL 486UC computer
provide?
A.
The EL 486UC computer provides system access security that may be
enabled via the computer’s SETUP program. This feature is helpful by
essentially limiting unauthorized access to the computer.
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PSB No: S-0168
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CPU
Q5. What microprocessor comes standard with the Epson EL 486UC
computer?
A.
Q6. What microprocessor upgrades are available for the Epson EL 486UC
A.
The EL 486UC comes standard with an Intel i486SX microprocessor (CPU)
running at 25MHz. This microprocessor provides backward compatibility
with the Intel 8088, 8086, 80286, and 80386 CPUs and includes a built-in
8KB cache. For system flexibility, the built-in CPU cache can be disabled
via SETUP.
computer?
The Intel i486SX/25 microprocessor that comes standard with the
EL 486UC computer may be upgraded to an Intel i486SX/33, i486DX/33,
Overdrive i486DX2/50 or Overdrive i486DX2/66.
The DX and DX2 CPUs contain an on-chip numeric coprocessor to
increase the speed of floating point operations. This coprocessor is
backward compatible with the 387DX and 387SX math coprocessors and
complies to ANSI/IEEE standard 754-1985.
The Intel Overdrive DX2 CPUs also increase system performance by
doubling the microprocessor’s internal speed.
Please note that the EL 486UC computer does not support the Weitek
math co-processor.
BIOS
Q7. What BIOS comes with the Epson EL 486UC computer?
A.
The EL 486UC computer incorporates a Phoenix/Seiko Epson BIOS that
contains both the system and video BIOS. This BIOS is contained in a
single EPROM device that is installed in a pluggable socket on the
computer’s main system board.
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PSB No: S-0168
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Q8. How is the computer’s SETUP program accessed and what information
is contained in setup?
A.
To access the computer’s SETUP program, press CTRL, ALT and “S” while
at a DOS prompt or during the computer’s boot process. There are two
pages of setup information.
STANDARD SYSTEM PARAMETERS
- System Time and Date
- Floppy Drive Type Selection A: B:
(5.25” 360KB, 5.25” 1.2MB, 3.5” 720KB, 3.5” 1.44MB and Not Installed)
-
HDD Drive Type Selection 1: 2: (Type Number or User-Defined)
- Base Memory
- Extended Memory
- Video Type (VGA/EGA, CGA40, CGA80, Mono and Not Installed)
- Keyboard (Installed/Not Installed)
- CPU Speed (Fast/Slow)
- NumLock on at Boot (Yes/No)
CHIPSET FEATURE CONTROL
- Password (Set/Not Set)
-
Boot Sequence (A: > C: or C: > A:)
- External Cache (Enabled/Disabled)
-
Shadow BIOS ROM (WP-Shadow, Cacheable or Disabled)
-
Shadow Video ROM (WP-Shadow, Cacheable or Disabled)
- Memory Remapping (Enabled/Disabled)
- Shadow 16K at C0000h: (Disabled/Enabled)
- Shadow 16K at C4000h: (Disabled/Enabled)
- Shadow 16K at C8000h: (Disabled/Enabled)
- Shadow 16K at CC000h: (Disabled/Enabled)
- Shadow 16K at D0000h: (Disabled/Enabled)
- Shadow 16K at D4000h: (Disabled/Enabled)
- Shadow 16K at D8000h: (Disabled/Enabled)
- Shadow 16K at DC000h: (Disabled/Enabled)
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VIDEO
PSB No: S-0168
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Q9. What video adapter comes standard (built-in) with the Epson
486UC computer?
A.
Q10.
A.
Q11.
The EL 486UC computer utilizes a Trident TVGA8900C SVGA graphics
controller as its built-in video adapter. This system includes 512KB of
video memory which may be upgraded to a full 1 MB of memory by
installing four (4) pluggable DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)
chips.
The Trident SVGA graphics controller is 100% hardware and BIOS-
compatible with IBM® VGA display standards.
What type of RAM chips are used to upgrade the video memory to a
full 1MB on the EL 486UC computer?
To increase the EL 486 computer’s video memory requires four pieces of a
256KB x 4 bit, 70 or 80ns, DRAM in a 20-pin DIP (Dual In-line Package)
package. These chips install on the computer’s main logic board in
sockets U25, U31, U47 and U53.
What video modes are supported by the Epson EL 486UC computer?
List below is a table that shows the Epson EL 486UC computer’s
supported video modes and the memory requirements to obtain each
mode:
EL
Mode
VGA
Resolution
640 x 480
640 x 480 256
800 x 600
800 x 600 256
1024
x 768
1024
x 768 256
Colors
16
16
16
Memory
Required
512KB
512KB
512KB
512KB
512KB
1MB
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PSB No: S-0168
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Q12.
What software video drivers are provided with the Epson EL 486UC
computer?
There are three diskettes included that feature video drivers for many
popular software programs and also include video utilities. The key drivers
included are:
AutoCAD/AutoShade Rel 9/Rel 10, P-CAD 4.01, Framework II, Framework
III 1 .x,
10/Rel
WordPerfect 5.1, Quattro Pro 2.x, MS Windows 3.x, GEM 3.xx, Lotus 1-2-3
2.xx, Symphony 2.xx, Ventura 2.x/3.x and PM 2.0.
The VGA video utilities included are:
MODETEST, SMONITOR, RIXFIX, PMFIX and TVGACRTC. These
utilities are useful when customizing system settings such as video modes
or to correct problems with application programs. (See the “README” file
on driver diskette #1 for more detailed information)
MEMORY
CADKEY 3.0,
11, WordStar 3.3 and above, WordPerfect 4.0, WordPerfect 5.0,
VersaCAD/286 5.4, MS Word 5.0, AutoCAD/386 Rel
TVGABIO, TANSI, VESA, SVM,
Q13.
A.
What is the standard memory configuration and maximum amount of
system memory that can be used in the Epson EL 486UC computer?
The Epson EL 486UC computer comes standard with 4MB of system
memory. This memory is provided by a 4MB (1 MB x 32-bit) SIMM installed
in SIMM socket U46 on the main system board.
There is a total of two SIMM sockets on the main system board. These
sockets accept 1 MB (256KB x 32 or 36-bit), 4MB (1 MB x 32 or 36-bit), 8MB
(2MB x 32 or 36-bit) or 16MB (4MB x 32 or 36-bit) SIMMs. Optional SlMMs
may be purchased to increase the computer’s memory up to a maximum of
32MB.
NOTE: The SlMMs used must be tin-plated, 70ns or faster, 32 or 36-bit, 72-
pin, fast page mode type.
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PSB No: S-0168
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Q14.
A.
Q15.
A.
What are the valid system memory configurations for the Epson
EL 486UC computer?
Listed in the table below shows all valid system memory configurations for
the Epson EL 486UC computer:
SOCKET U46
4MB
1MB
4MB
8MB
8MB
16MB
” * ” = Factory default memory configuration
Note
Does the Epson EL 486UC computer provide parity checking for the
main system memory?
To keep the system cost as low as possible, the EL 486UC computer was
designed not to perform parity checking on the main system memory.
SOCKET U45
4MB
4MB
4MB
8MB
16MB
Total Memory
4MB *
5MB
8MB
12MB
16MB
32MB
This decision was also made due to the fact that the SlMMs available today
are much more reliable then they were in the past and that the lack of
parity checking on this system should not be a major concern to the
majority of users.
CACHE MEMORY
Q16.
A.
Can the Epson EL 486UC computer be upgraded to support an
optional external secondary cache?
Yes, the Epson EL 486UC computer can be upgraded to support an
optional external secondary cache of either 32KB or 128KB. This cache is
provided by installing optional Static RAM (SRAM) memory chips on the
computer’s main system board. A external secondary cache is a good
method to increase system performance.
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PSB No: S-0168
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Q17.
A.
What type of SRAM chips and how many do I need to upgrade the
Epson EL 486UC computer’s optional external secondary cache?
To upgrade the Epson EL 486UC computer’s external secondary cache to
32KB requires five pieces of a 8KB x 8 Bit, 20ns SRAM in a 28 Pin DIP
package.
or
To upgrade the Epson EL 486UC computer’s external secondary cache to
128KB requires five pieces of a 32KB x 8 Bit, 20ns SRAM in a 28 Pin DIP
package.
These SRAM chips are installed in locations U34, U44, U51, U59 and U63
on the computer’s main system board. In addition to adding the SRAM
chips, jumpers J7, J10, J11, J13 and J14 on the computer’s main system
board must be set as shown below*.
Cache size
J7
J10
J11
J13 J14
32KB Off
128KB
* If you have not installed optional SRAM memory chips, the position of
these jumpers does not matter.
MASS STORAGE
Q18.
A.
What factory floppy and hard disk drive configurations are offered
with the EL 486UC computer?
The Epson EL 486UC computer is shipped in a single configuration that
includes a 3.5” 1.44MB (high density) floppy disk drive and a 120MB IDE
hard disk drive.
On
1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2
2-3 2-3 2-3 2-3
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PROBLEM SOLVING
PSB No: S-0168
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Q19.
A.
Q20.
When using my joystick with the computer’s built-in game port, some
of my games do not allow movement to the right or in a downward
motion?
Some joysticks may not calibrate (function) properly with certain game
software applications that accept joystick input. If you connect a joystick to
the computer’s built-in game port and you find that it does not work with the
game software you are using, try the following:
1.
Reposition the trim knobs on the joystick. (See the manual that came
with it for instructions.) Then try it again.
2.
If adjusting the joystick’s trim knobs does not solve the problem, you
may want to purchase a joystick option card. Install the card as
described in Chapter 3 of the EL 486UC’s User’s Guide; then set
jumper J5 on the computer’s main logic board to the 2-3 position to
disable the built-in game port. (See page 3-9 of the EL 486UC’s User’s
manual for instructions.)
When the computer is powered-on, it completes the power-on self-
test, starts to boot off the hard disk drive but then locks-up. What
may be causing this problem?
A.
This problem may be due to an improper setting in the computer’s SETUP
program. To insure proper system operation, always set the Shadow BIOS
ROM and Shadow Video ROM setup options to WP-Shadow.
The computer’s SETUP program may be accessed by pressing CTRL, ALT
and “S” while at a DOS prompt or during the computer’s boot process.
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