Epson Equity III+ User Manual

EPSON

Equity™ III+

User’s Guide

Y12699112300

IMPORTANT NOTICE

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

Seiko Epson Corporation makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, not

allow

the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages,

shall

not be

liable

for any implied warranties of merchantability

special or

consequential damages. Some states do

this exclusion may not apply to you.

without the prior written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the preparation of this publication, Seiko Epson Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or sions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the herein. Further, this publication and features described herein are subject to change without notice.

use of

information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken the

use of

retrieval system, or

omis-

the information contained

TRADEMARKS

Centronics is a

Epson is Equity is

IBM is a MS and

registered trademark of

registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

trademark of Epson America,

registered trademark and AT and

are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

Centronics

Inc XT

are trademarks of International

Data Computer

Corp

Business

Machines Corp.

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 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 or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

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 computer and receiver are on

different branch circuits.

If necessary, the user should consult- the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. The user 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.

ru es,1which are designed to provide

Note: If the interference stops, it was probably caused by the computer or its periph-

eral 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 I/O cables. For Epson peripheral devices, you can obtain the proper shielded cable from your dealer. For nonEpson peripheral devices contact the manufacturer or dealer for assistance.

WARNING

This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class B computing 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 nonshielded 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.

Introduction

How to Use this Manual

Setting Up Your System

Unpacking

Removing the disk drive protector sheet

Choosing a Location

Arranging the Components

The front panel

The back panel Connecting the Power Cord Connecting a Video Monitor Connecting the Keyboard

Connecting a Printer

Parallel interface Serial interface The Equity III+ character set

Turning On the Computer

Safety rules Turning on the power switch Initial setup procedure Initial screen display

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Intro-1 Intro-2

1-1 1-1 1-2 1-2

1-3 1-4

1-5 1-6 1-7

1-9 1-11 1-11 1-12 1-12

1-13 1-13 1-13 1-14 1-15

Using the Equity III+

Locking the Computer Inserting and Removing Diskettes Special Keys on the Equity III+ Keyboard Controlling the Volume Selecting Execution Speed

Resetting the Computer

Turning Off the Computer

Using Disks and Disk Drives

How Disks Work

Choosing Diskettes for the Equity III+

Drive and diskette incompatibilities Caring for your Disks and Disk Drives Protecting your Data

Making backup copies Write-protecting diskettes

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2-1 2-1 2-2

2-3 2-5 2-5 2-6 2-7

3-1 3-1 3-2 3-2 3-4 3-5

3-5 3-5

Using a Single Floppy Disk Drive

Using a Hard Disk Drive

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3-7 3-7

Installing Option Cards

Removing the Cover Installing an Option Card Removing an Option Card Replacing the Cover Post-installation Setup

Troubleshooting

The Computer Fails to Start Up The Video Display Does Not Appear The Computer Locks Up or Freezes Floppy Disk Problems

Hard Disk Problems Software Problems Printer Problems Option Card Problems

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Appendixes

Jumper Settings

Changing a Jumper Setting Memory Card Jumpers Main Circuit Board Jumpers Multi-function Card Jumpers

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4-1 4-1

4-3 4-6 4-7 4-8

5-1 5-1 5-2

5-2 5-3 5-4 5-4 5-4 5-5

A-1 A-2 A-2

A-4 A-9

Equity III+ Specifications

CPU and Memory Controllers Interfaces Power Supply Mass Storage

Keyboard Environmental Requirements Physical Characteristics (CPU Only) Power Requirements

Options

Glossary.. Index

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B-1 B-1 B-1 B-1 B-2

B-2 B-3 B-3 B-3 B-3 B-4

C-l

Index-1

Figures

1-1

System arrangement

1-2

Front panel

1-3

Backpanel

1-4

Connecting the power cord

1-5

Connecting the monitor

1-6

Connecting the cable to the keyboard

1-7

Opening the keyboard connector cover .

Plugging the keyboard cable into the main unit

1-8

Adjusting the keyboard legs

1-9 1-10

Connecting the printer cable to the parallel port

1-11

Connecting the printer

1-12

Turning on the power Locking the computer

2-1

Inserting a diskette

2-2

Standard keyboard

2-3

Volume control knob and CPU speed switch

2-4

Write-protect notch

3-1

Write-protect switch

3-2

Back panel screws

4-1

Sliding back the cover

4-2

Removing the cover

4-3

Option slots

4-4

16-bit and 8-bit option cards

4-5

Removing an option slot cover

4-6

Inserting an option card

4-7

Replacing the cover

4-8

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1-3 1-4 1-5 1-7

1-8 1-9

1-9 1-10 1-10 1-11 1-12 1-14

2-1

2-2

2-3 2-5

3-6 3-6

4-2 4-2 4-3

4-3 4-4 4-5 4-6 4-7

A-1

Location of cards

A-2

Jumper positions

Removing memory card retaining screw

A-3 A-4 Memory card jumpers A-5

Removing circuit board screws

A-6 Unplugging connector CN6 from hard disk controller

card

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A-7 Removing circuit board

A-8 Unplugging connectors CN6 and CN3 from the circuit

board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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A-1 A-2 A-3

A-4 A-6

A-6 A-7

A-7

vii

A-9 Main circuit board jumpers .......................

A-10 Disconnecting disk drive cable from multi-function card . A-11 Removing multi-function card retaining screw A-12 Multi-function card jumpers

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Tables

A-8

A-10

A-11

1-1

Monitor/video card compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-1

Special keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-1

Drive/diskette compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A-1 Memory card jumper settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A-2 Main circuit board jumper settings

A-3 Multi-function card jumper settings for parallel port . . .

A-4 Multi-function card jumper settings for serial port . . . . .

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1-8 2-4 3-3

A-3

A-5 A-9

A-10

Introduction

Your Epson Equity

III+ personal computer is a versatile, high-

performance system which offers you a wide variety of choices. First you

choose between two models of the Equity III+ main unit, then select the monitor and peripherals you want to use with it to assemble the configuration that does the most for you.

The Equity III+ main unit is available in these models:

One 1.2MB (megabyte) high-density floppy disk drive

l One 1.2MB floppy disk drive and one 40MB internal hard disk drive.

Both models include 640KB (kilobytes) of memory. You can install additional drives in your Equity III+ to increase its storage capacity: another floppy disk drive (360KB, 720KB, or 1.2MB)

andone or more hard disks (10MB, 20MB,

40MB, etc.).

Optional cards and external devices further expand the capabilities of your Equity III+. Its serial and parallel interfaces let you connect almost any peripheral device you choose. Here are some options you can use with your system:

Monochrome monitor (green or amber)

Monochrome video card

RGB (red, green, blue) color monitor or RGB enhanced color monitor

Composite color monitor

l Color/graphics video card

Graphics or enhanced graphics video card

l Memory expansion card l 80287 Math coprocessor

An Epson printer or plotter.

You can also use most cards for the IBM® Personal Computer, PC XT™, and PC AT™ on the Equity III+. Check with your Epson dealer from time to time to find out which peripherals and option cards are

available.

Intro-1

The Equity III+ comes with the MS™-DOS operating system and the GW™-BASIC programming language. If you have used MS-DOS before on another computer, you will find that it works the same on the Equity III+. Be sure to refer to your Equity MS-DOS manual, however, for descriptions of the special utility programs added by Epson.

You may have purchased other software; you can use most software products designed for the IBM PC, PC XT, and PC AT on your Equity III+. Refer to your software program documentation for information on using the software.

Additionally, the Equity III+ supports multiple users and multiple tasking with the appropriate operating system. Consult your Epson dealer for more information.

How to Use this Manual

This user’s guide explains how to set up and care for your Equity III+. It also describes how to start using your system and install optional devices. You may not need to read everything in this book; some sections may describe a particular option or accessory you do not have.

Follow the instructions in Chapter 1 to set up and turn on your system. Chapter 2 describes some general operational procedures. Chapter 3 explains how disks and disk drives work and shows how to use them. Chapter 4 describes how to install and remove option cards. If you encounter a problem, refer to Chapter 5 for troubleshooting guidelines.

Appendix A describes how to change jumper settings inside the main unit when you install certain optional devices, Appendix B presents the Equity III+ hardware specifications, and Appendix C is a glossary of computer terms used in this manual. Refer to the glossary whenever you come

across an unfamiliar word.

Intro-2

Chapter

Setting Up Your System

Setting up your Epson Equity III+ personal computer is easy. Just follow

the steps in this chapter.

Unpacking

As you remove your system components from their cartons, be sure to inspect each piece. If anything is missing, looks damaged, or seems wrong, consult your Epson dealer.

Once you have unpacked your Equity III+ computer components and

documentation, you should have the following:

The main unit and power cord

The keyboard with detachable cable Keys for locking the computer An MS-DOS operating system diskette (version 3.2) and a GW-BASIC

programming language diskette with supplemental MS-DOS utilities An MS-DOS manual and a GW-BASIC manual A diagnostics and system-dependent utilities diskette and a Diagnostics

manual This Equity III+ User’s Guide.

In addition to these items, you probably bought a compatible video monitor and video card.

You’ll also find a registration card with the main unit. Fill this card out now and mail it to Epson. With your registration card on file, Epson can send you update information.

Be sure to keep your packing materials. They provide the best protection possible for your computer if you need to move or ship it later.

1-1

Removing the disk drive protector sheet

A cardboard sheet occupies the diskette slot in the floppy disk drive. This sheet is inserted at the factory to protect the read/write heads. Be sure to remove it before you connect any cables. Turn the latch that covers the disk slot counterclockwise until it is horizontal. Carefully pull out the sheet.

rive

If you have an optional 360KB or 720KB d button to release the protector sheet.

Save the protector sheet and reinsert it whenever you move the computer, even if you just move it to another part of the room. If you don’t plan to use your computer for a week or more, such as when you go on vacation, reinsert the protector sheet to help prevent dust from entering the disk drive.

as well, press the disk drive

Choosing a Location

Whether you use your computer at home or in the office, you need to find a

comfortable, convenient location where it can run properly.

Before you set up your new system, choose an appropriate place.

Choose a location that provides the following:

A large, sturdy desk or table. Make sure it can easily support the weight

of your system, including all its components.

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

static electricity, which erases data on your disks and can damage the

computer’s circuitry. Soft surfaces also prevent proper ventilation.

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

as well as behind it. Leave several inches of space around the computer to allow ventilation.

Moderate environmental conditions. You need to protect your com-

puter 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. Because you can’t risk losing data

stored on disk, do not expose your computer to dust and smoke which can damage disks and disk drives.

Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges, connect all your equipment to 3-prong, 120-volt grounded outlets. You need one outlet for the main unit, one for the monitor, and additional outlets for a printer and any other peripherals. The auxiliary power outlet on the rear panel of the Equity III+ reduces the number of wall outlets you need.

1-2

No electromagnetic interference. Locate your system away from any electrical device that generates an electromagnetic field. Even a telephone can cause trouble, especially if you keep diskettes right next to it.

Arranging the Components

system. Figure 1-1 shows a typical setup.

First decide how you want to arrange the different parts of your

Figure 1-1.

If you have special computer furniture or want to customize your setup,

you can arrange your system components to suit your own needs.

Before you connect the cables, take a look at the front and back panels

of the main unit.

System

arrangement

1-3

The front panel

Figure 1-2 identifies the various components on the front panel.

P;;;r Ha;;v$sk

lamp LED lamp LED lamp

~/-!~j

Keyboard VOLUME MONITOR

cable

socket

control

knob

SELECT SPEED

switch switch

Figure

Floppy disk

drive

\:j<g

RESET button

1-2. Front panel

Disk lock/

release latch

Optional

disk drive

slots

Floppy disk drive. The top drive is a floppy disk drive that uses high-

density (1.2MB) diskettes.

Disk lock/release latch. To lock a diskette in place, turn this latch clockwise until it is vertical. To release a diskette, turn it counterclockwise until it is horizontal.

Floppy disk drive LED lamp. A red light indicates that the drive is being accessed. To avoid losing data, never remove a diskette or turn off the computer’s power when this light is on.

Slots for optional disk drives. You can add another floppy disk drive (1.2MB, 720KB, or 360KB) and/or hard disk drive in these slots. All Equity III+ units come with at least one 1.2MB floppy disk drive.

Hard disk drive LED lamp. A red light indicates that the drive is being

accessed. To avoid losing data, do not turn off the computer’s power

when this light is on.

Power LED lamp. When the light is on, the power is on. The light is red if the CPU (central processing unit) speed is 6 MHz, orange for 8 MHz, and green for 10 MHz.

1-4

Key Lock. Use the key to lock the main unit and keyboard. Turn the key clockwise to lock the computer and counterclockwise to unlock it. You can remove the key in either position. (Locking the computer disables

RESET button.)

the

RESET

button. Press this button to reset the computer. When an operat-

ing system is running and the computer is unlocked, you can press the

RESET button to reboot the system.

CPU SPEED

switch. Use this switch to select the CPU’s execution speed: 6 MHz, 8 MHz, or 12 MHz, from left to right. Do nor change the speed while you are running a program.

MONITOR SELECT

switch. Slide this switch to the left if you are using a

monochrome monitor or to the right if you are using a color monitor.

VOLUME control. Turn the knob clockwise to make the computer’s

speaker louder, or counterclockwise to make it quieter.

Keyboard cable socket. Plug in the keyboard cable here.

The back panel

Now look at the back panel to identify the input/output ports. Figure

1-3 shows where you connect your peripherals.

Voltage

switch

Option card

access slots

AC power

AC power AC power Printer

inlet

outlet

parallel

port

Figure 1-3. Back

panel

RS-232C

serial

port

1-3

WARNING: Connect all your peripherals before you plug in the power

cable. After you plug in the power cable, always turn off the power switch before you connect or disconnect any

peripheral.

Voltage switch. Leave this switch at 115V for USA and Canadian use. Slide the switch to the right to select 230V for use in other countries (as necessary).

AC Power outlet. Auxiliary power outlet. Some monitors (and other types of peripherals) can be plugged into the main unit here, instead of a wall outlet. The main unit’s power switch controls the monitor or peripheral connected to this outlet.

AC Power inlet. Plug the power cord into the main unit here. Be sure the power switch is off when you plug the power cord into an outlet.

Printer parallel port. Allows you to connect a peripheral with a paral-

lel interface, such as a printer or a plotter.

RS-232C serial port. Allows you to connect a peripheral with a serial

interface, such as a modem, another computer, or a printer. Option card access slots. The Equity III+ has nine slots to hold up to

nine option cards. Option cards allow your computer to control your peripherals or enhance your computer’s performance. One option card slot holds the hard disk controller card and another contains the parallel and serial interfaces as well as the floppy disk controller. You also need to use one or more slots for the video card(s) you purchased for your monitor. You can use the other slots to install additional options, such as a memory expansion card.

Connecting the Power Cord

back panel, as shown in Figure 1-4. To avoid an electric shock, be sure to plug this end into the main unit before plugging the other end into the wall socket.

For now, do not plug the power cord into an electrical outlet.

1-6

Insert the power cord into the AC power inlet on the left side of the

Figure 1-4. Connecting the power cord

Connecting a Video Monitor

The procedure you use to connect your monitor to the main unit

depends on the type of monitor you have. Refer to your monitor manual for

detailed instructions or follow the general guidelines below.

Note: Your dealer may have installed a video card in your main unit to control

your monitor. If not, you need to install it before you can connect your monitor. See Chapter 4 for instructions on how to remove the main unit’s cover and install an option card.

Place your monitor on top of or near the Equity III+ main unit. It is easiest to connect the monitor cable if the backs of the monitor and

main unit face you.

If necessary, connect the monitor cable to the monitor. (Some monitors come with permanently attached cables.)

Connect the appropriate end of the monitor cable to your monochrome or color/graphics card connector at the back of the main unit, as shown

in Figure 1-5. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them with a screw-

driver.

1-7

Figure 1-5. Connecting

the monitor

The monitor type must match the video card in the main unit. If you have a color card, you can use one of two connectors: a nine-pin, female D-connector for RGB monitors or an RCA connector for composite video monitors. Consult Table 1-1 to make sure your card and monitor match.

Table 1-1. Monitor/video card compatibility

Monitor Video card

Monochrome

Color or enhanced Graphics or color graphics or One 9-pin RGB output, or

color enhanced graphics

Note: Be sure to set the switches on the video card to match your monitor.

Plug the monitor’s power cable first into the power inlet on the monitor

Monochrome or graphics or enhanced graphics

Output type

One 9-pin output (TTL compatible)

one RCA-type jack for composite video

and then into an electrical outlet.

1-8

Note: If a monochrome monitor has the proper type of plug, you can

plug it into the auxiliary outlet next to the power inlet at the back of the Equity III+ main unit.

Set the monitor switch on the front panel of the main unit for the type of monitor you are using. (See Figure 1-2.) Slide the switch to the left for a monochrome monitor or to the right for a color monitor.

Connecting the Keyboard

Follow these steps to connect the keyboard:

Connect the cable to the keyboard as shown in Figure 1-6. If there is a plastic band around the connector, remove it first.

Figure 1-6. Connecting the cable to the keyboard

Open the cover on the lower left corner on the front panel of the main unit, as shown in Figure 1-7.

Figure 1-7. Opening the keyboard connector cover

1-9

3. Plug the other end of the cable into the keyboard socket, as shown in Figure 1-8. Do not force the connector, but be sure to insert it all the way.

Figure

1-8. Plugging the keyboard cable into the main unit

You can tilt the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. To adjust the legs, turn the keyboard over and lift each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown in Figure 1-9. You can adjust the legs to two different positions, or leave them flat.

1-10

Figure 1-9. Adjusting the keyboard legs

Connecting a Printer

The Equity III+ has both parallel and serial interfaces. You can easily

connect a printer or plotter that has either type of interface-just follow the

instructions below. Epson offers a full range of printer products. Consult your dealer for more information.

Parallel interface

The Equity III+ parallel interface is Centronics®-compatible and uses a

DB-25S connector. Most Epson printers have parallel interfaces.

To connect a printer to the main unit, you need an IBM-compatible printer cable. If you are not sure which one you need, consult your Epson dealer. Once you have a printer cable, follow these steps to connect your printer to the parallel interface on the main unit:

Place the printer next to your system.

Before you connect the printer, be sure the power switches on both the

main unit and the monitor are off.

One end of the printer cable has a 25-pin male D-connector. (Refer to

your printer manual to determine which end this is.) Connect this end

to the parallel port on the back panel of the main unit, as shown in Figure 1-10. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them with a small screwdriver.

Figure 1-10. Connecting the printer cable to the parallel port

1-11

Connect the other end of the cable to the printer as shown in Figure

1-11. To secure the cable, tighten the squeeze locks at each side of the printer port and push them into the connectors on each side of the cable.

Figure 1-11. Connecting the printer

Plug the printer’s power cable into an electrical outlet.

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 at the back of the main unit. The Equity III+ uses a DB-9P connector, so be sure you have a compatible cable (or an adapting cable that converts the 9-pin output to the standard 25pin output). To connect a serial device, follow the same steps above for connecting a parallel device.

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 manual for instructions.

The Equity III+ character set

The Equity III+ uses a special character set that assigns graphics and

international characters to some of the ASCII codes. In most cases, if you try to print these characters on a standard printer, you get italic characters

1-12

instead. Some Epson printers support the IBM character set (the character

set the Equity III+ uses) as a standard feature, and others can be adapted. In addition, some application programs can print the special graphic characters

on a standard printer when you use a special printer driver program. Ask

your Epson dealer for more information.

Turning On the Computer

start using your Equity III+ computer. But before you turn it on, read the following safety rules.

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

Safety rules

Follow these rules to avoid accidentally damaging your computer or

injuring yourself:

Never turn the computer on or off with a protector sheet in the disk drive. Do not attempt to dismantle any part of the computer. Only remove the

top cover to install and remove option cards. If there is a hardware

problem you cannot solve after reading Chapter 5 on troubleshooting,

or if you want to install an optional 80287 math coprocessor, consult your Epson dealer.

Always turn off the power, disconnect the computer’s power cord, and wait a few minutes before you remove the computer’s cover.

Do not unplug cables from the computer when the power switch is on. Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk drive light is on. This

can destroy data stored on disk or make a whole disk unusable. Always wait at least five seconds after you switch the power off before

you switch 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 components.

Turning on the power switch

Now you are ready to turn on your system. It is a good idea to turn on

the monitor and any peripheral devices before you turn on the main unit.

1-13

First, make sure the power cord is plugged into the power inlet on the

back panel of the main unit. Then plug the power cable into a 3-prong,

120-volt, grounded electrical outlet. Turn on the monitor so you can see the messages that appear as your computer starts up. If you have a printer or other peripheral device, turn it on next.

You can turn on your computer with or without a system diskette in the top disk drive. For now, leave the drive empty. To turn on the computer, flip up the power switch on the right side of the main unit, as shown in Figure

1-12. The power indicator on the front panel lights up and the cooling fan inside the main unit starts. After a few seconds, the computer begins to perform an internal self test.

Power switch

Figure

1-12. Turning on the power

If you cannot see the screen display clearly, use the controls on your monitor to adjust the brightness and contrast until characters on the screen are clear and bright. If the display is not stable, check your monitor’s horizontal and vertical hold controls.

Initial setup procedure

If this is the first time your Equity III+ has been used, you need to use the diagnostics diskette to perform an initial setup. This is a simple procedure which you must do at least once. You may need to do it again if you change your system configuration-by adding a disk drive, for example-or to change the system date or time. See your Diagnostics manual for instructions.

1-14

Initial screen display

After the computer completes its self test, a message tells you how much

RAM (random access memory) is available, for example:

640 KB 0K

Then the following message displays:

Non-System disk or disk error Replace and strike any key when ready

This tells you the computer can now load an operating system from a diskette in the top drive. The Equity III+ needs a disk operating system (DOS) to function. It comes with MS-DOS version 3.2. If you want to use another operating system, consult your dealer.

To load an operating system, insert the system diskette you want to use (see “Inserting and Removing Diskettes” in Chapter 2). Refer to your MS-DOS (or other operating system) manual for details on how to use the system.

Note: Use only a backup copy of the system diskette for daily use and keep

the original in a safe place. See your MS-DOS manual to find out

how to make a backup copy.

If your system has a hard disk, you need to prepare it before you can run

an operating system on it. Refer to “Using a Hard Disk Drive” in Chapter 3

(

and to your MS-DOS how to prepare a hard disk for use.

If your hard disk has been properly prepared and set boot MS-DOS, the message above does not appear. Instead, the operating

system loads when you turn on the computer. The date and time prompts display and then the system prompt:

This indicates the hard disk has been assigned as drive C.

or other operating system) manual for instructions on

to automatically

1-15

+ 56 hidden pages

Epson Equity III+ User Manual

Contents

Introduction

How to Use this Manual

Unpacking

Removing the disk drive protector sheet

Choosing a Location

Arranging the Components

The front panel

The back panel

Connecting the Power Cord

Connecting a Video Monitor

Connecting the Keyboard

Connecting a Printer

Parallel interface

Serial interface

The Equity III+ character set

Turning On the Computer

Safety rules

Turning on the power switch

Initial setup procedure

Initial screen display