Epson Equity IIe Product Support Bulletin

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Proper Method for Running Benchmark and Diagnostics Programs

EPSON

Date: 06/04/93 Page(s): 1 of 1

This bulletin describes the proper method for running any benchmark or diagnostics programs. This applies to any computer system.

In most cases, the computer should be started using an MS-DOS boot diskette that’s ‘clean’ The appropriate executable can then be run, either from diskette or hard drive.

There will be some exceptions to the above rule. In attempting to benchmark or troubleshoot any add-on that requires a device driver (CD-ROM, local area network,

etc.), obviously the necessary device driver(s) must be loaded. Also, some

programs will require a minimum number of FILES or BUFFERS to be defined in the CONFIG.SYS file. Such programs will usually display this requirement if they are run without the necessary CONFIG.SYS file.

For the most consistent results, use the absolute minimal boot configuration that’s

allowed by the hardware being tested.

in other words, one with no CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

PSB No: S-0158 Originator: MWT

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Equity Series SIMM Compatibility

EPSON

Date: 12/4/91 Page(s): 1 of 1

Due to the influx of third party SlMMs on the market, there are some that are not

compatible with Epson products. This bulletin is intended to be an aid in ensuring that only compatible SlMMs are chosen for use in Epson’s Equity Series of computers.

The SlMMs in question were SEIMENS, CUMULUS and KINGSTON. Installing these

SlMMs in Epson products may cause the following errors:

Parity Check 1 18FFFE 0000 202 Memory Address Error 164 System Options Not 1500 E000 201” DOS RAM Address Error

It was thought that the chips used in these SlMMs were of poor quality.

Epson Portland evaluated the SlMMs in question and found that this was not true.

The problem is caused by the SIMM circuit boards (ITE and TECAP circuit boards)

used to manufacture the SIMM modules. The dimensions of these boards are not compatible with industry standard SIMM sockets. This may result in incomplete contact between the SIMM assembly and it’s socket. This is caused by insufficient size of the contact surfaces in these products. Also enlarged holes in the TECAP

product allow the component pin to pass entirely through the hole without making

contact.

Set

PSB No: S-0136 Originator: JAD

It is recommended that only SIMMS meeting industry standard contact surface

specifications be used in Epson Equity computer products.

Some recommended SlMMs that were tested and found Compatible are:

Toshiba

Matsushita CDC Enterprises Samsung

Aculogic

For more information contact Technical Support.

EPSON

EPSON AMERICA, INC.

INFORMATION

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Date: 02/06/91

Page(s): 1 of 1 As computing environments increase in complexity, there has been an increasing

number of instances that require the support of several printers by one computer. One common example is that of using Novell Netware’s print server capabilities to provide printer access to a large group of users with differing printer requirements.

Netware is capable of supporting three (3) parallel and two (2) serial printers on one server. Recent testing has shown that the Equity 386/25 Plus, Equity 386/25, Equity 386/20 and the Equity 386SX Plus will support three (3) parallel ports along with two

(2) serial ports. The key factor in providing support for a third parallel port is the need for a parallel interface card that can be set to the IBM Monochrome Graphics/Parallel printer I/O address at 3BCh. The computer looks for this address first and, if present, will assign the parallel port on that card as LPT1. The built-in parallel port (I/O address 378h) will then be addressed as LPT2. We also had an AST I/O Mini serial/parallel card addressed at l/O address 278h, which was then reassigned to LPT3. Each of the three parallel ports was attached to a printer. There was also a printer attached to each of the two serial ports. All five printers were then set to print simultaneously under Netware Version 2.15 Rev. C using PCONSOLE. All five printers were able to print the documents assigned to them, simultaneously. The units were then tested using WordPerfect 5.1 on the network and again were successful in printing to the five (5) printers at the same time. The last tests were run with the units booting under DOS 4.01 and screen prints being directed to each of the printers. WordPerfect 5.1 was also used to direct documents to each of the

printers. Again all five (5) printers were able to print the files that were sent to them.

Maximum Number of Printers Supported by Current Equity Computers

PSB No: S-0128 Originator: KAS

Although not all Equity computer models were tested in this situation, the Equity

models 386SX, lIe, Ill+ and II+ should work in a similar manner if the instructions

above are used as a guide. There is one item of which to be aware when using the

this setup and that is the system will complete the RAM count and lock up if using a

monochrome monitor. If you need to use three parallel ports, USE A COLOR

MONITOR.

EPSON AMERICA, INC.

INFORMATION

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Date:

Page:

The advent of Lotus 1 - 2 - 3 Release 3.0 has raised a number of questions

regarding memory management for the Epson Equity computers, specifically the Equity 386/20, Equity 386SX and Equity Ile. The purpose of this document is

to discuss the memory requirements for Lotus 1 - 2 - 3 Release 3.0 and

recommendations for installation. Because programs run significantly faster with extended memory, Lotus

recommends that you configure as memory.

When installing Lotus 1 - 2 - 3 Release 3.0 on the Equity 386/20 or the Equity 386SX, do not use the EMS managers supplied with the system software

(EEMM386.EXE for the Equity 386/20 and EMM386.SYS for the Equity 386SX). Neither of these EMS managers support the Virtual Control Program Interface

(VCPI) which is required for compatibility with

NOTE: Should you require an EMS manager for your Equity 386/20 or Equity 386SX, there are third party software packages available that are compatible with Lotus 1 - 2 - 3 Release 3.0. or later, and Quarterdeck Expanded Memory Manager (QEMM) version 4.2 or

later.

Equity Series Computers and Lotus 1 - 2 - 3 Release 3.0 12/7/89

1 of 1

PSB No: Originator:

much

Two such packages are

memory as possible as extended

Lotus

1 - 2- 3 Release 3.0.

386m

S-0108 KAS

version 4.03

d(+#

Do not use VDISK with the /E switch when running Lotus on the Equity 386/20. Though Lotus Release 3.0 will load, it will overwrite any data in the

RAMDISK. VDISK supplied for both the Equity Ile and Equity 386SX is

compatible with Lotus 1 - 2 - 3 Release 3.0 and does not have a problem with

ovewriting data in the RAMDISK. When installing Lotus 1 - 2- 3 Release 3.0 in the Equity lIe, use the EEMM286

memory manager in the hardware - emulation EMS mode. To do this, set

memory as expanded memory on the Equity lIe and do not specify the

expanded memory size.

you must select on - board memory type 5 in SETUP. When the Equity lIe

has more than 1Mb of system memory, you must select type 3, 4 or 5.

Avoid the use of HDCACHE when installing Lotus 1 - 2 - 3 Release 3.0 on any

of the Equity computer systems discussed in this document.

When the Equity lIe has only 1Mb system memory,

EPSON

EPSON AMERICA, INC.

INFORMATION

Product Support Bulletin

Subject:

Date: 10/23/89 Page: 1 of 2

The purpose of this bulletin is to clarify information on how to set up memory

configurations and use the EEMM286.sys driver with expanded memory.

Setup provides 5 types of memory configurations.

Type 1 shows the 640K base, additional expanded SIMM memory is installed above the initial 1MB of memory.

Equity lIe SIMM Memory Configuration

disables upper 384K and displays how much

Type 2 displays the base 640K, enables the upper 384K as expanded and displays additional expanded SIMM memory installed above the initial 1MB of

memory.

Type 3 displays the base 640K, disables the upper 384K and displays the additional extended SIMM memory installed above the initial 1MB of memory.

Type 4 displays the base 640K, enables the upper 384K as expanded memory and displays the additional extended SIMM memory installed above the initial

1MB of memory.

Type 5 displays the base 640K, enables the upper 384K as extended memory and displays the additional extended SIMM memory installed above the initial

1MB of memory.

The expanded memory manager, EEMM286.SYS, will not emulate extended

memory as expanded. Setup provides for expanded memory in types 1,2 or 4 and must be used with the following in CONFIG.SYS: “EEMM286.SYS /PA”. This initializes the I/O port addresses for the expanded memory and installs the EEMM286.SYS driver. This will not install if all memory is set for extended.

(Re: bottom of page 6- 39 4.01 DOS manual)

PSB No: S - 0107 Page 2 of 2

It is not possible to use the EEMM286.SYS driver in any other format or to specify size of memory to address in config.sys. (re: page 6- 37 4.01 DOS

manual).

At boot- up, EEMM286.SYS will read setup for the amount of expanded

memory selected and convert it to pages, test and install the driver.

MEMORY CONFIGURATION CHART

Setup: Base Mem. Type 1

Type 2

Type 3

Type 4 640 KB

Type 5

NOTE:

640 KB 640 KB

640 KB

Upper 384K

Disabled Enabled *

Expanded

Disabled

Enabled * Expanded

Enabled

Extended

= Requires EEMM286.SYS /PA in the config.sys file.

Ext above 1MB

e-s - - - -

--e-m-

Displayed Displayed

Displayed

Exp above 1MB

Displayed * Displayed *

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