Epson U11, U12 User Manual

Epson® Progression™ User’s Guide

Update

Please note that the memory configuration table shown on pages 3-12 and

3-13

of your

User’s Guide

is incorrect. Please

replace it with the following table.

SIMM configuration

Socket U11

1MB 1MB

4MB 4MB

14MB 16MB

64MB**

* Standard soldered memory **

Check with your dealer to see if this SIMM is available

With this memory configuration, the 4MB of soldered memory is disabled-

Socket U12

64MB**

Total memory

4MB* 6MB

12MB

36MB

128 MB t

Epson is a registered trademark and Progression is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

1992 by Epson America, Inc.

m02184 400183400

EPSON® PROGRESSION™

User’s Guide

l%is

manual is printed on recycled paper and is 100% recyclable

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 in 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 and television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installations 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 that exceed the limits established by the KC 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 the manufacturer 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.

L.e p&sent appareil num&que

n&net

pas de bnits

radio&&iques d+assant

les limites applicables aux appareik num&riques de Chsse B prescrites dans le rhgkment sur le brouillageradioe]ectriqw~ct~parle~~des~~~ti~duCaMda

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

system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying. recording, or otherwise, America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein. 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.

Epson is a registered trademark and Epson Progression is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

VirtualCache is a trademark of Epson Portland, Inc. General notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and

may be trademarks of their respective companies.

reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

without the prior written permission of Epson

TRADEMARKS

Important Safety Instructions

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

Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the computer.

Unplug the computer from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning; do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

Do not spill liquid of any kind on the computer.

Do not place the computer on an unstable cart, stand, or table.

Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are provided for ventilation; do not block or cover these openings. Do not place the computer near or over a radiator or heat register.

Operate the computer using the type of power source indicated on its label. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult your dealer or local power company.

If you plan to operate the computer in Germany, observe the

following safety precaution: To provide adequate short-circuit protection and overcurrent

protection for this computer, the building installation must be protected by a 16 Amp circuit breaker.

Connect all equipment to properly grounded (earthed) power outlets. If you are unable to insert the plug into an outlet, contact your electrician to replace your outlet. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off.

10.

Do not allow the computer’s cord to become damaged or frayed.

iii

11.

If you use an extension cord with the computer, make sure the total of the ampere ratings of the devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the ampere rating for the extension cord. Also, make sure the total of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.

12.

Do not insert objects of any kind into this product through the cabinet slots.

13.

Except as specifically explained in this User’s Guide, do not attempt to service the computer yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

14.

Unplug the computer from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personal under the following conditions:

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

If liquid has entered the computer.

C. If the computer does not operate normally when the

operating instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions. Improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and often requires extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the computer to normal operation.

If the computer has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.

E. If the computer exhibits a distinct change in performance.

Instructions Importantes de Sécurité

Lire compMtement les instructions qui suivant et les conserver

pour references futures.

Bien suivre tous les avertissements et les instructions indiquks l’ordinateur.

Wbrancher l’ordinateur de toute sortie murale avant le nettoyage.

Utiliser un chiffon humide; ne jamais utiliser un nettoyeur

liquide ou une bonbonne aerosol.

Ne jamais renverser un liquide d’aucune sorte sur l’ordinateur.

Ne pas placer l’ordinateur sur un chariot, un support, ou une table instable.

Les events dans le meubles, a l’arriere et en dessous sont concus pour Yakration; on ne doit jamais les bloquer. Ne pas placer l’ordinateur pres d’une source de chaleur dire&e.

Le fonctionnement de l’ordinateur doit s’effectuer conformement au type de source d’aiimentation indiqu&e sur l’etiquette. Dans le cas d’un doute de la source disponible, on doit communiquer avec le concessionaire ou la compagnie d’&ctriciM.

sur

Lorsqu’on desire utiliser l’ordinateur en Allemagne, on doit observer les normes s&uitaires qui suivent:

Afin d’assurer une protection adequate a l’ordinateur contre les court-circuits et le survoltage, l’installation de l’&difice doit comprendre un disjoncteur de 16 amp.

On doit brancher tout l’+ipement darts une sortie reli4e a la masse. Lorsqu’il est impossible d’inserer la fiche dans la prise,

on doit retenir les services d’un electricien ou remplacer la prise.

Ne jamais utiliser une prise sur le m&ne circuit qu’un appareil a photocopie ou un syst&me de contrble d’aeration avec

commutation marche-arr&.

10. S’assurer que le cordon d’alimentation de l’ordinateur n’est pas

effrs.

11. Dans le cas ou on utilise un cordon de rallonge avec l’ordinateur,

on doit s’assurer que la valeur totale d’amperes branches dans le cordon n’excede en aucun temps les amperes du cordon de rallonge. La quantit6 totale des appareils branches dam la prise murale ne doit jamais

exckkr 15

amperes.

12.Ne

13. Sauf tel que spkifie dans la notice d’utilisation, on ne doit jamais

14. Debrancher l’ordinateur de la prise murale et confier le service au

jamais ins&w un objet de quelque sorte que ce soit dans les

cavites de cet appareil.

tenter d’effectuer une reparation de I’ordinateur. On doit r&!rer le service de cet appareil a un technicien qualifie.

personnel de service qualifie selon les conditions qui suivent:

A. Lorsque le cordon d’alimentation ou la prise sont

endommagk

Lorsqu’un liquide s’est infib& dans l’ordinateur.

C. Lorsque I’ordinateur refuse de fonctionner normalement

meme en suivant les instructions. N’ajuster que les commandes qui sont ~num&!es clans les instructions de fonctionnement. Tout ajustement inad6quat de tout autre contr6le peut provoquer un dommage et souvent nkcessiter des rkparations &labor&s par un technicien qua&S afin de remettre l’appareil en service.

Lorsqu’on a

le boitier.

&hap@

l’ordinateur ou que l’on a endommage

Lorsque l’ordinateur demontre un changement note au niveau de sa performance.

Optional Equipment

Memory.. Drives

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

CPU Card OverDrive Module Math Coprocessor

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

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

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

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

Video Daughterboard

VGA UtiIities How to Use This Manual

Where to Get Help

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

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

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

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

2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 6

Chapter

Turning On the Computer Turning Off the Computer Using Disks and Disk Drives

Using Your Computer

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

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

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

How Disks Store Data Types of Diskette Drives

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

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

Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives Write-protecting Diskettes Inserting and Removing Diskettes

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

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

Using a Single Diskette Drive System Formatting Diskettes Making Backup Copies Using a Hard Disk Drive

Special Keys on the Keyboard Stopping a

Command or Program

Resetting the Computer

Locking the Computer’s Cover

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

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

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

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

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

.........

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

1-2 1-4 1-5 1-6 1-7 1-10 1-12 1-14 1-16

1-17 1-17 1-18 1-20 1-21 1-22

1-23

vii

Using a Password

Changing a Password Deleting a Password

Using Your Computer as a Network Server

Using a Password in Network Server Mode

Changing the Processor Speed

Entering Keyboard Commands Using the ESPEED Program

Changing the Speaker Volume

Preparing the Hard Disk for Moving Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and Other Batch Files

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

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

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

...........

........

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

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

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

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

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.........

Chapter 2 Accessing Internal Components

1-24 1-25 1-26 1-27 1-28 1-29 1-31 1-32

1-34 1-36 1-37

Special Precautions Removing the Cover Removing the Front Panel Removing the Subassembly Replacing the Subassembly

Replacing the Front Panel Replacing the Cover

Chapter 3

Main System Board Map Jumper Settings

Setting the Jumpers

Option Cards

Installing an Option Card

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

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

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

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

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

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

Installing and Removing Options

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

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

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

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

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

Removing an Option Card

Memory Modules (SIMMs)

Installing SIMMs Removing SIMMs

Replacing the CPU Card

Removing the CPU Card

Installing the CPU Card

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

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

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

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

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

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

2-2 2-3 2-5

2-7 2-9 2-11 2-12

3-3 3-4

3-5 3-6

3-8 3-10

3-11 3-14 3-16 3-17 3-18

3-19

Viii

Installing an OverDrive Module Installing a Math Coprocessor

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

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

Installing the Intel 487SX/25 Microprocessor Installing a Weitek 4167 Coprocessor

Replacing the Video Daughterboard Using the VGA Feature Connector

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

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

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

.......

3-22 3-24 3-26 3-27 3-29

3-34

Chapter 4

Choosing the Correct Drive Bay Installation/Removal Sequence Checking the IDE Hard Disk Drive Jumpers

Where to Go Next

Installing a Drive in the External Bay

Connecting the Cables

Removing a Drive From the External Bay

Installing a Hard Disk Drive in the Internal Bay

connecting the Cables Removing a Hard Disk Drive From the Internal Bay Post-installation Procedures

Chapter 5

Starting the Program

Deleting Tests. Adding Tests

Running Tests

Resuming From an Error System Diagnostic Tests Error Messages

Installing and Removing Drives

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

...........

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

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

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

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

.........

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

......

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

Running System Diagnostics

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

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

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

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

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

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4-2 4-3 4-4

4-5 4-6 4-9 4-14 4-16 4-20 4-25 4-27

5-2 5-3 5-4 5-5 5-6 5-7 5-8

Chapter 6

Formatting a Hard Disk

Starting the Program

Formatting a New Disk Reformatting a Used Disk Selecting an Option Selecting a Drive

Option 1, Format

Modifying the Defective Track Table Formatting the Disk

Option 2, Destructive Surface Analysis

Option 3,

Nondestructive Surface Analysis

Exiting the Program

Chapter 7

Troubleshooting

Identifying Your System Error Messages The Computer Won’t Start The Computer Does Not Respond

Restoring the Power Supply

Password Problems

Accessing Your System Keyboard Problems Monitor Problems Diskette Problems

Diskette Drive Problems Hard Disk Problems

Installing the Drive

Preparing the Drive

Accessing Data on the Drive

Software Problems Printer Problems Option Card Problems Mouse Problems Memory Module Problems

Math Coprocessor Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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6-2 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-7

6-8

6-9 6-11 6-12

7-1 7-2 7-5

7-6

7-8

7-9

7-10

7-11

7-12

7-13

7-15 7-16

7-17

7-18

7-18 7-19 7-20

7-22 7-23 7-23

7-24

Appendix A Specifications

CPU and Memory Controllers Interfaces

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

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

Mass Storage Keyboard

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

Power Supply

Environmental Requirements

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

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

Physical Characteristics

Power Source Requirements System Memory Map Extended VGA modes Wingine Modes

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

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

Index

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

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

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

A-1 A-4 A-4 A-5 A-5 A-4 A-7 A-7

A-8 A-9 A-10 A-11

Introduction

Your new Epson® Progression™ computer is a very fast,

high-performance system offering flexibility and expandability

in a compact design. It provides the following features:

4MB of internal memory, expandable to 128MB System and video BIOS shadow RAM 8KB of internal cache VirtualCache™ -the Epson proprietary memory

architecture which allows the system to use all its system memory as a virtual cache pool

Integrated VGA (video graphics array) controller with Wingine™ video technology developed by Chips and Technologies® for Microsoft® Windows™ users

Built-in serial and parallel ports Built-in IBM® PS/2™ compatible keyboard and mouse ports Six 16-bit option slots Support for up to five mass storage drives: two internal and

three externally-accessible Upgradable CPU (central processing unit) card with sockets

for a math coprocessor and an Intel Upgradable video interface daughterboard Password security Lockable case.

OverDrive™ module

Introduction 1

Your computer’s video and memory features work together to make it extremely fast. The advanced system architecture allows the CPU to communicate directly with the Wingine video controller, providing direct throughput from the system memory to the display. Combined with the speed and graphics capabilities of the Wingine VGA controller, this technology produces screen refresh rates that are ten tunes faster than

standard super VGA systems and up to five tunes faster than systems that employ “local bus” technology.

Additionally, your computer can use all of its memory as a virtual cache pool. Unlike most systems that provide only a 64KB or 128KB cache buffer-which typically fills up with the

first or second memory access command-your computer uses

all the RAM as a “virtual” cache buffer. You’ll notice the

improved performance especially when running

memory-consuming graphics programs such as Windows

applications or draw programs.

Using the built-in interfaces, you can connect your peripheral

devices directly to the computer so you don’t have to install

option cards. You can use the option slots to enhance your

system with extra functions such as a modem card, network

card, or additional interface ports.

Optional Equipment

You can easily upgrade your computer by installing additional

memory and a wide variety of options, as described below.

Memory

By adding 1MB, 4MB, 16MB, or 64MB SIMMs (single inline memory modules) to the main system board, you can expand the computer’s memory up to 128MB.

2 Introduction

Your system can support up to five mass storage devices, such

as hard disk drives, diskette drives, a tape drive, or a CD-ROM drive. As your storage needs expand, you can install these drives to provide the necessary space for all your data.

Because the CPU card is replaceable, you can easily upgrade your system without having to purchase a new computer. The CPU card is available in three models: 486SX/25, 486DX/33, and 486DX2/66. In addition to the system speed and performance enhancements that come with a faster CPU, the Wingine VGA controller speeds up your video performance to match the capability of your CPU card.

OverDrive Module

You can also enhance your system-without replacing the CPU card-by installing an Intel OverDrive module on the CPU card. This doubles the internal clock speed of the microprocessor so your system runs much faster.

Math Coprocessor

You may want to install a math coprocessor to enhance the

speed and performance of mathematical calculations in certain application programs. Roth the 486DX/33 and the 486DX2/66 cards have a math coprocessor built into the CPU and also have a socket for an optional Weitek® math coprocessor chip. On the 486SX/25 card you can install an Intel 487SX/25 microprocessor chip, which has a built-in math coprocessor.

Introduction 3

Video Daughterboard

While the Wingine super VGA controller is soldered on the computer’s main system board, the video interface is supplied on a small, upgradable daughterboard which you can replace with an enhanced daughterboard. The standard board provides resolutions up to 1024 x 768 and the enhanced board supports resolutions up to 1280 x 1024, as well as “true color.” The 24-bit,

true color technology allows your compatible monitor to

display in millions of colors, instead of just 16 or 256.

Check with your authorized Epson dealer for information on

optional equipment. For installation instructions, see

Chapters 2,3, and 4 of this manual.

VGA Utilities

Your computer comes with special MS-DOS VGA device

drivers and utilities for use with the integrated VGA interface.

With these utilities, you can take advantage of extended VGA

features such as high resolutions and 132-column text mode

when you run popular application programs. The Wingine

controller works with the display drivers to provide sharp, clear resolutions of up to 1280 x 1024 for the Windows environment. See the instructions.

VGA Utilities Guide

for installation

4 Introduction

This manual contains the information you need to get the best results from your computer. You don’t have to read everything in this book; check the following summary.

Chapter 1 covers general operating procedures, such as turning

the computer on and off, using disks and disk drives, entering a password, and changing the processor speed.

Chapter 2 provides instructions for removing and replacing the computer’s cover, front panel, and subassembly so you can access components inside the computer.

Chapter 3 describes how to change jumper settings and install optional equipment such as option cards, memory modules, a CPU card, an OverDrive module, a math coprocessor, and a video daughter-board.

Chapter 4 explains how to install and remove disk drives. Chapter 5 provides instructions for running system diagnostics. Chapter 6 gives the procedure for formatting a hard disk. Chapter 7 contains troubleshooting tips. Appendix A lists the specifications of your computer.

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

Note

Please see the

Setup Guide

for instructions on setting up your

system and running the SETUP program.

Where to Get Help

If you purchased your computer in the United States, Epson America provides local customer support and service through a nationwide network of authorized Epson dealers and Service Centers. Epson also provides the following support services through the Epson Customer Support Center at (800) 922-8911:

Technical assistance with the installation, configuration, and operation of Epson products

Assistance in locating your nearest Authorized Epson Reseller or Service Center

Sales of ribbons, supplies, parts, documentation, and

accessories for your Epson product

Customer Relations

Epson technical information library fax service-also available directly by calling the toll number (310) 782-4214

Product literature with technical specifications on our current and new products

User group information.

If you purchased your computer outside the United States,

please contact your dealer or the marketing location nearest

you for customer support and service. International marketing

locations are listed on the inside back cover.

If you need help with any software application programs you are using, see the manuals that came with the programs for information about the technical support offered by the manufacturer.

introduction

Chapter 1

Using Your Computer

This chapter gives you a brief overview of some basic computer operations that you’ll use on a daily basis, such as how to turn your system on and off, use diskettes and disk drives, and reset the computer.

If you are familiar with these aspects of operating a computer,

you may want to skip the first few sections of this chapter. However, be sure to read the later sections which describe system operations specific to your computer, such as using a

password, changing the processor speed, and preparing the

hard disk for moving.

Using Your Computer

1-1

Turning On the Computer

Before turning on your computer, check the following safety rules to avoid accidentally damaging your computer or injuring yourself:

Do not connect or disconnect any power cables or peripheral device cables (including the mouse or keyboard) when the computer’s power is on.

Never turn on the computer with a protective card in a

5.25-inch diskette drive.

Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk drive light is on. This can destroy data stored on the disk.

Always wait at least 10 seconds after you turn off the power before you turn it on again. This prevents possible damage to the computer’s electrical circuitry.

Follow these steps to turn on your system:

Turn on the monitor, printer, and any other peripheral devices connected to the computer.

1-2

If you do not have a hard disk (or if you have not installed the operating system on the hard disk), insert your main operating system diskette in drive A.

Note

If you do not have a hard disk, you need to insert the operating system diskette each time you turn on your system so the computer can copy the operating system to its memory. See your operating system manual for more information.

Using Your Computer

To turn on the computer, press the power button located on the right side of the front panel, as shown below.

button

power indicator

hard disk

access light

The power indicator below the button lights up. After a few

seconds, the computer displays a count of its system memory, and then performs its power-on diagnostics. This is a series of checks the computer runs each time you turn it on to make sure everything is working correctly. (If necessary, use the controls on your monitor to adjust the screen display.)

Note

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

system, such as adding a disk drive, you may need to wait a few minutes for your computer to complete power-on diagnostics the first time you turn it on.

When the system has successfully completed its diagnostics, you see the following prompt:

Press

<F2>

run

SETUP

Using Your Computer

1-3

Note

If your computer’s configuration does not match the information stored in the computer’s CMOS RAM (defined through the SETUP pro a prompt to press the

am), you see an error message and

key. Press

[F21

to run the

SETUP program to correct the information. (See Chapter 2 of

the

Setup Guide

for instructions.)

If you do not want to run SETUP, ignore the prompt. Your computer then loads the operating system from the hard disk or the diskette in drive A. (If the operating system has not been installed on the hard disk or is not on the diskette you inserted, the computer displays an error message. See your operating system manuals for installation instructions.)

What happens next depends on how your computer is set up. If it is configured to automatically load a program (such as Windows or a word processing program), you see the first menu or screen display of that program. If not, you may see the operating system prompt, such as

: \ B or

A>.

See your

application program manuals for further instructions.

Turning Off the Computer

Whenever you turn off your system, follow these steps:

Save your data and exit any program you are using.

Check the hard disk access light and the diskette drive light(s)

to make sure they are not on. (See the illustration on page

1-3 to locate these lights.) Do not turn off the computer if a

drive light is on, because you can damage the drive or lose data.

1-4

Using Your Computer

Remove any diskette(s) from the diskette drive(s).

4. Press the power button to turn off the computer and then turn off any peripheral devices (monitor, printer, etc.).

If you need to move your computer, always wait at least

seconds after turning it off before you move it. This allows your hard disk drive’s read/write heads to move away from the disk to a safe location. If you move your computer before this happens, you could damage your hard disk drives.

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

Insert and remove diskettes

Use a single diskette drive system

Format diskettes

Make backup copies

Use a hard disk drive.

Using Your Computer

1-5

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 (5.25-inch diskette) or hard (3.5-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 a disk can store data.

A disk is further divided by sectors, which can be visualized as

pie slices. The illustration below provides a simple

representation of tracks and sectors.

1-6

Using Your Computer

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.

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 to the position under the read/write head where the data is to be written. 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:

l.44MB drive-use 3.5-inch, double-sided, high-density,

135 TPI (tracks per inch), l.44MB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 18 sectors per track, and hold up to 1.44MB of information (approximately 600 pages of text).

Note

MB stands for megabyte, which equals 1024KB (or 1,048,576 bytes). KB stands for kilobyte, which equals 1024 bytes. Each byte represents a single character, such as A, $, or 3.

Using Your Computer

1-7

1.2MB drive-Use 5.25-inch, double-sided, high-density, 96 TPI, 1.2MB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 15 sectors per track, and hold up to 1.2MB of information (approximately 500 pages of text).

720KB drive-Use 3.5-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 (approximately 300 pages of text).

360KB drive-use 5.25-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

(approximately 150 pages of text).

Note

You

must format a new diskette before you can store data on

it. See “Formatting Diskettes,” 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

3.5-inch diskette in a 5.25-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.

1-8

Using Your Computer

5.25-inch drive/diskette compatibility

Drive type Diskette types it can read from and write to

360KB

1.2MB 1.2MB, 36OKB,* 32OKB,* 18OKB,* 160KB*

* 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.

3.5-inch drive/diskette compatibility

Drive type

720KB

1.44MB

360KB, 320KB, 180KB, 160KB

Diskette types it can read from and write to

720KB

1.44MB, 720KB

Because of possible incompatibilities, always indicate the diskette type and density when you label your diskettes.

(Usually this information appears on the manufacturer’s label.)

Note

If you want to format a 720KB diskette in a 1.44MB drive or format a 360KB diskette in a 1.2MB drive, make sure you include the correct parameter in your format command. See your operating system manuals for instructions.

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

1.2MB, 720KB, or 360KB) and you are using MS-DOS, 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 or other operating system manuals.

Using Your Computer

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Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives

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

Remove all diskettes before you turn off the computer.

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 ‘Writeprotecting 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.

Keep diskettes in a moderate environment.

Don’t leave them sitting in the sun or in

extreme cold or heat because this can destroy

the data.

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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.

Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields, such as those generated by electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers. (Diskettes store information magnetically.)

Using Your Computer

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

Always hold a 5.25-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.

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

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.

Carefully label your diskettes and indicate the type and

density. Do not stick several labels on top of one another; this can make it difficult to insert and remove the diskette in the drive.

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.

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

Using Your Computer

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