Micronics M7S-Hi User Manual

M7S-Hi PCI/ISA

System Board Manual

Document Number: 06-00273-04, Rev 1D

May 1997

45365 Northport Loop West, Fremont, CA. 94538-6417

Copyright Notices

Copyright  1996, 1997 Micronics Computers, Inc. The information

2

contained in the M7S-Hi PCI/ISA system board manual has been carefully
checked and is believed to be accurate. Micronics assumes no responsibil­ity for any inaccuracies that may be contained in this document. Micronics
makes no commitments to update or to keep the information in this
manual at a current level when changes are made to the product.

Micronics reserves the right to make improvements to this document
and/or product at any time and without notice. All Rights Reserved. No
part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, translated, or
reduced to any medium or machine form without prior, written consent
from Micronics.

Portions of the Manual

Portions of this manual were copied (with permission) from Phoenix
Technologies, Ltd. and Micro Computer Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Trademarks

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines. Mi­crosoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Intel and PCI are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. All other
product names mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only
and may be the trademarks of their respective companies.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Table of Contents

Introduction 5

Features 6
Software Compatibility 7
Before You Begin 8

Chapter 1 - Quick Installation 9

Installing the M7S-Hi 9

Chapter 2 - Configuring the M7S-Hi 11

Static Electricity 11
Office Environment 11
M7S-Hi System Board 12
M7S-Hi Back Panel Connections 12
Jumper Settings 13

Chapter 3 - Installing the M7S-Hi 17

Introduction 17
System Memory Support 17
Installing the M7S-Hi 18

Tools Required 18
Equipment Required 18

System Memory 19

SIMMs Supported 19

Adding Memory 19
Memory Configurations 21
Installing the SIMMs 22

Removing SIMMs 22
Installing a CPU 23
Installing a PCI Peripheral Card 24
Installing an ISA Peripheral Card 25

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

1

Installing a CD-ROM Drive 26
The M7S-Hi Sound Option 27

Connecting Sound Devices 27
Connecting the Telephony Option 28

Chapter 4 - The BIOS Setup Utility 29

Configuration 29
Initial Bootup 29
Setup 29
Running the Setup Procedure 31
Setting the Main Screen 31

Setting the Advanced Screen 36
Security Screen 39
Power Screen 42
Boot Screen 44
Exit Screen 45

Chapter 5 - Installing Sound Device Drivers 47

About Device Drivers 47
Installing the Sound Drivers 48

Appendix A - Technical Information 49

Specifications 49
Environmental Specifications 50

Temperature Range 50

Relative Humidity 50
Battery Disposal 51
Support and Information Services 52

Technical Support 52

2

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix B - Post Messages 55

Appendix C - Beep and POST Codes 59

Appendix D - Hard Disk Drive Types 63

Appendix E - Updating the System BIOS 65

Appendix F - Warranties and Notices 67

Limited Warranty 67
FCC Statement 69
Declaration of Conformity 70

Glossary 71

Index 75

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

3

List of Figures

Figure 1.1: Power-Up Screen 10
Figure 2.1: M7S-Hi System Board 12
Figure 2.2: M7S-Hi Back Panel Connections 12
Figure 3.1: Installing a 72-Pin SIMM 22
Figure 3.2: Installing a PCI Card 24
Figure 3.3: Installing an ISA Peripheral Card 25
Figure 3.4: Connecting External Sound Devices 27
Figure 4.1: Power-Up Screen 30
Figure 4.2: CMOS Main Screen 31
Figure 4.3: IDE Device Submenu 34
Figure 4.4: Advanced Screen 36
Figure 4.5: Security Setup Screen 39
Figure 4.6: Supervisor Password Submenu 40
Figure 4.7: Power Screen 42
Figure 4.8: Boot Screen 45
Figure 4.9: Exit Screen 46

List of Tables

Table 2.1: CPU Speed Selection 13
Table 2.2: AT Bus Clock Selection 13
Table 2.3: System Power Down Selection 14
Table 2.4: Clear CMOS Selection 14
Table 2.5: Cache DRAM Range Selection 14
Table 2.6: CPU Voltage Selection 15
Table 2.7: Case and Peripheral Connections 15
Table 3.1: Memory Configurations 21
Table A.1: Support and Information Services 52

4

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Introduction

Introduction

Thank you for choosing the M7S-Hi system board. The
high-performance M7S-Hi provides the latest enhance­ments in system board technology for the world’s most
advanced workstation applications.

Based on the Intel 430HX (Triton II) chipset, the M7S­Hi provides enhanced PCI throughput and performance
as well as support of Universal Serial Bus (USB). The
USB interface has a maximum bandwidth of 12Mbps and
can connect as many as 127 devices to a host system. USB
supports both standard devices that operate at the full
12Mbps rate and low-end devices that use only a 1.5Mbps
subchannel.

The M7S-Hi is designed to fit into the most modern ATX
form factor. The ATX form factor allows critical compo­nents such as floppy and IDE connectors, chassis fan,
CPU and memory to be strategically located so that full
length cards can be used in all slots. The M7S-Hi com­bined with the Intel 430HX chipset makes this system
board the ultimate desktop workstation solution.

The M7S-Hi comes with many features. These include
support for Extended Data Out (EDO) and Fast Page
Mode (FPM) DRAM memory, Error Checking and Cor­rection (ECC), the Phoenix Plug and Play BIOS and an
optional feature for integrated 16-bit sound.

Micronics builds all products to exacting standards, using
the highest quality components available. We are proud
to provide this system board and believe you will be
pleased with your purchase.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

5

Introduction

Features

The M7S-Hi includes the following features:
▲ Single ZIF socket 7



Intel Pentium

90, 100, 120, 133, 150, 166 and 200MHz

processors.

▲ Intel Pentium 166 and 200MHz processors w/ MMX

Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) required

▲ AMD-K5
▲ AMD-K6



PR75 to PR133 processors



166 to 200MHz processors

Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) required

▲ Intel 430HX chipset

Intel PIIX 3

SMC FDC37C93X

▲ Voltage Regulated Extension (VRE) and Voltage Regu-

lated (VR) support

▲ Three 32-bit PCI slots

Three 16-bit ISA slots

(One shared (PCI or ISA) slot)

▲ Up to 512K pipelined burst external Level 2 cache
▲ Maximum memory - 256MB



▲ Four 32/36-bit 72-pin SIMM Sockets

Supports FPM and EDO memory

ECC support via chipset (36-bit SIMM)

▲ Creative Labs VIBRA 16C Sound (optional)
▲ Telephony header for desktop video conferencing (op-

tional)

▲ Two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports for desktop

peripheral expansion (optional)

M7S-Hi System Board Manual6

Introduction

Software Compatibility

The M7S-Hi system board has been thoroughly tested for
compatibility with a variety of operating systems and envi­ronments, including:

▲ Microsoft

DOS 5.0
DOS 6.2
Windows 95
Windows NT 3.51
Windows NT 4.0

▲ IBM

OS/2 Warp 3.0
OS/2 Warp 4.0

▲ SCO

UNIXWare 2.1.1
Open Server 5.02
UNIX 3.2, 4.2

▲ Novell NetWare 3.12

Novell NetWare 4.11

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

7

Introduction

This manual will familiarize you with the features, installa­tion and use of your M7S-Hi. There are several symbols and
conventions used throughout this manual to help draw your
attention to a feature or to focus on important information:

Common Names

DRAM Dynamic Random Access Memory
ECC Error Checking and Correction
ECP Extended Capabilities Port
EDO Extended Data Out
EPP Enhanced Parallel Port
FPM Fast Page Mode
IDE Integrated Drive Electronics
PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect
SIMM Single Inline Memory Module
USB Universal Serial Bus
VR Voltage Regulated
VRE Voltage Regulated Extension
VRM Voltage Regulated Module

Before You Begin

When you see the Magnifying Glass, it refers
to something you should take a closer look at
before proceeding further.

When you see the Exclamation Mark, it gives
important information on avoiding damage.

8

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter

1

STATIC!

Before
handling the
M7S-Hi, be
properly
grounded by
using a
special wrist
or ankle
strap, or
touch a
safely
grounded
object.

Chapter 1: Quick Installation

Quick Installation

We know that many experienced people prefer to read as
little of the documentation as possible. If this sounds like
you, here’s the short form to get up and running quickly.

Installing the M7S-Hi

1. Make backup copies of your installation and configu­ration diskettes.

2. Ground yourself to prevent damaging static dis­charge, then remove the M7S-Hi from its packaging.

3. Configure and verify the system board’s jumper set­tings (refer to Jumper Settings in Chapter 2).

4. Install the CPU and the system memory (refer to
Chapter 3).

5. Install the system board into the chassis and make all
necessary case connections.

6. Install any ISA and/or PCI add-on peripherals (refer
to Chapter 3).

7. Now you can connect any optional devices (refer to
Chapter 3).

8. Turn the computer on and press the <F2> key
when you see the screen in Figure 1.1.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

9

Chapter 1: Quick Installation

Figure 1.1: Power-Up Screen

9. Set the time and date. Adjust the BIOS settings to
match your configuration. If installing an IDE drive,
select the IDE device you wish to configure. Press
ENTER with Autotype Fixed Disk selected and the
BIOS will automatically configure the drive for you
(refer to Chapter 4).

10. After you have configured the Main Setup menu,
make any desired setting configurations in the Ad­vanced and Security menu. When finished, go to the
exit screen, select “Save Changes and Exit” and you
are finished with the BIOS configuration (see Chap­ter 4).

11. Install your IDE CD-ROM drive and its device
drivers (optional). Refer to Chapter 3.

12. Install the sound controller device drivers (optional).
Refer to Chapter 5.

10

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 2: Configuring the M7S-Hi

Chapter

2

Configuring the M7S-Hi

Although the M7S-Hi system board is packaged in
protective materials, it is important to use care while
unpacking and setting up.

Static Electricity

The M7S-Hi is shipped from the factory in an antistatic
bag. To reduce the possibility of damage, it is important
to neutralize any accumulated static charges on your
body before handling the board. The best way to do this
is to ground yourself using a special wrist or ankle strap.
If you do not have a strap, you should touch both of your
hands to a safely grounded object. After you have
grounded yourself, ground the M7S-Hi via the solder
pads surrounding one of its mounting holes.

Once the M7S-Hi is removed from its packaging, place
it on top of the antistatic bag. Carefully inspect the board
for damage which may have occurred during shipment.

Environment Considerations

Make sure the finished computer system is in an area
with good ventilation. The system should not be in direct
sunlight, near heaters, or exposed to moisture, dust or
dirt.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

11

Chapter 2: Configuring the M7S-Hi

M7S-Hi System Board

Figure 2.1: M7S-Hi System Board

M7S-Hi Back Panel Connections

Figure 2.2: M7S-Hi Back Panel Connections

12

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 2: Configuring the M7S-Hi

Jumper Settings

This chapter gives you the jumper settings used for the M7S-Hi
system board.

Table 2-1: Jumper settings to select the speed of the CPU. NOTE:
A VRM module is required for Pentium processors that support
MMX and for the AMD-K6 processors.

CPU

Speed

Bus

Speed

W1 W2 W4 W5 W6

90MHz 60 x 1.5 Close Open Close Open Open
100MHz 66 x 1.5 Open Close Open Open Open
120MHz 60 x 2.0 Close Open Close Open Close
133MHz 66 x 2.0 Open Close Open Open Close
150MHz 60 x 2.5 Close Open Close Close Close
166MHz 66 x 2.5 Open Close Open Close Close
200MHz 66 x 3.0 Open Close Open Close Open

Table 2-1: CPU Speed Selection

Table 2-2: Jumper settings for the AT Bus clock selection.

Jumper Function Settings

W13 1/4 (default)

1/3

Close
Open

T a ble 2-2: AT Bus Clock Selection

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

13

Chapter 2: Configuring the M7S-Hi

Table 2-3: Jumper settings for the system soft power down.

Jumper Function Settings

W14 Enable (default)

Disable

Table 2-3: System Power Down Selection

Open
Close

Table 2-4: Jumper settings to clear the BIOS CMOS
settings. With your computer's power off, close pins 2-3,
then turn the power on for about five seconds. Turn the
power off and place the jumper back on pins 1-2. (The
jumper must be placed back on pins 1-2 for the system to
function properly.)

NOTE: This will reset all BIOS default settings. Any changes
you have made will be lost.

Jumper Function Settings

W10 Normal (default)

Clear CMOS

1-2
2-3

Table 2-4: Clear CMOS Selection

Table 2-5: Jumper settings to configure the cacheable
DRAM range (optional).

Jumper Function Settings

14

W12 Normal (default)

Extended

Table 2-5: Cache DRAM Range Selection

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Open
Close

Chapter 2: Configuring the M7S-Hi

Table 2-6: Jumper settings to select the CPU Voltage
Regulated Extension (VRE) support.

Jumper Function Settings

W7 VRE (default)

Standard/VR

Table 2-6: CPU V oltage Selection

Close
Open

Table 2-7: Case and peripheral connections.

Connector Function Notes

BZ1 Buzzer Integrated PC Speaker

J5 Game Port Top connector

" MIC-In Connector Bottom connector - right
" Line-In Connector Bottom connector - middle
" Line-Out Connector Bottom connector - left

J6 USB Connector
J8 Keyboard/Mouse

Connector

J9-J12 ISA Bus Expansion Slots

J13 CD-In
J14 Wavetable
J15 Modem Optional Telephony

J17 Parallel Port Connector Can be disabled at the

T ab le 2-7: Case & P eripheral Connections

PS/2

header

CMOS configuration
screen

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

15

Chapter 2: Configuring the M7S-Hi

Connector Function Notes

J18 Serial Port (COM 2) Can be disabled at the CMOS

configuration screen

J19 Serial Port (COM1) Can be disabled at the CMOS

configuration screen
J25 Secondary IDE
J26 Power Connector ATX standard

J27 Primary IDE
J28 Floppy Connector

U13-U16 PCI Bus Expansion Slots

U17-U19;

U21

DRAM (72-pin SIMM
sockets)

U50 Infrared Connector 6 - +5V DC; 8- Receive Data;

9 - Ground; 10 - Transmit Data;

7, 11 - NC

" System Power On/Off 1 - Power; 2 - Ground
" Reset 23 - Reset; 22 - Ground
" Hard Disk LED 13 or 16 - Positive;15 - Negative
" Power LED 20 - Power; 22 - Ground
" Speaker

27 - Speaker; 24 - +5V DC

Note: When using the
onboard buzzer, close
pins 26 & 27

" Green Power

3 - Green; 4 - +5V

(power management)

W3 Case Fan
W9 CPU Fan

Table 2-7B: Case & Peripher al Connections

16

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Chapter

3

Installing the M7S-Hi

Introduction

This Chapter explains how to install the M7S-Hi system
board, memory, CPU and peripherals.

WARNING: Before installing or removing any peripherals
or components, make sure you have a clear work space and
that you adhere to all anti-static precautions described in
Chapter 1. Micronics recommends only trained technicians
install and configure the system board.

Damage which occurs to the board while adding or removing
peripherals or components may void the warranty. If prob­lems arise while installing peripherals, contact the computer
dealer where you purchased the peripheral or Micronics’
Technical Support Department.

System Memory Support

The flexibility of the M7S-Hi is augmented by its sup­port for Error Checking and Correction (ECC), Ex­tended Data Out (EDO) DRAM memory and Fast Page
Mode (FPM) DRAM memory. The M7S-Hi supports
Error Checking and Correction via the chipset.

EDO memory is designed to keep data available to the
processor for an extended period of time. The EDO
memory support extends the performance of conven­tional DRAM memory. The result is an improvement in
memory-access performance on the M7S-Hi system
board.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

17

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Installing the M7S-Hi

Installation of the M7S-Hi system board depends on the
type of case you use. The M7S-Hi is designed for the ATX
form factor and must be installed in an ATX chassis.

NOTE: If you are unfamiliar with installing a system board,
Micronics highly recommends that you read the computer
user’s manual or contact your dealer’s technical support
department.

Tools Required

Micronics recommends using the following tools to in­stall the M7S-Hi:

❏ Small Phillips screwdriver
❏ Tweezers or a pair of needle-nose pliers
❏ Tray (to hold loose screws)

Equipment Required

Micronics recommends using the following equipment
with the M7S-Hi for a typical configuration:

❏ ATX chassis with standard hardware.
❏ A high-quality ATX power supply capable of provid-

ing continuous power within a 3 volt range. A power
filter may be used with a noisy AC power source.

❏ PS/2 mouse and compatible keyboard.
❏ Eight ohm speaker.
❏ Standard ribbon cables for internal connections.
❏ Standard power cord (grounded).
❏ Heat sink with cooling fan for CPU (required).

18

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

System Memory

System memory is necessary to operate the M7S-Hi
system board. The M7S-Hi has four 32/36-bit SIMM
sockets for a maximum of 256 Megabytes of RAM.
Support is provided for Extended Data Out (EDO)
DRAM memory and Fast Page Mode (FPM) DRAM
memory.

This chapter will explain the type of SIMMs supported,
list the rules for adding memory to the M7S-Hi, give some
examples of common memory configurations and show
how to physically install the new SIMMs.

For long
term
reliability,
Micronics
recommends
using SIMMs
with tin­plated
contacts.
The use of
gold-plated
contacts
may conflict
with the tin­alloy on the
SIMM
socket.

SIMMs Supported

The M7S-Hi supports the following types of 60 or 70ns
SIMMs:

4MB (1MBx32/36)
8MB (2MBx32/36)
16MB (4MBx32/36)
32MB (8MBx32/36)
64MB (16MBx32/36)

Adding Memory

The following is a list of rules to follow when upgrading
SIMMs. If you follow these rules, your upgrade should be
trouble-free:

❏ Use 70ns or faster SIMMs.
❏ Upgrade SIMMs one bank at a time. Each bank must

contain two SIMMs of the same size and preferably
from the same manufacturer. For example, to add
16MB of memory to the system board, install two
8MB SIMMs into the same bank.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

19

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

❏ When installing SIMMs, fill bank 0, then bank 1.
❏ Install the two types of memory in separate banks.

The memory will default to the speed of the slowest
RAM installed.

20

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Memory Configurations

There is no
need to set
any jumpers.
When you
reboot, the
size and
type of
memory are
automatically
detected.

The table below lists the most common memory configu­rations. The memory available depends on the number of
SIMMs installed.

Memory Bank 0 Bank 1

8MB (2) 1MBx32/36
16MB (2) 1MBx32/36 (2) 1MBx32/36
16MB (2) 2MBx32/36
24MB (2) 2MBx32/36 (2) 1MBx32/36
32MB (2) 4MBx32/36
32MB (2) 2MBx32/36 (2) 2MBx32/36
40MB (2) 4MBx32/36 (2) 1MBx32/36
48MB (2) 4MBx32/36 (2) 2MBx32/36
64MB (2) 8MBx32/36
64MB (2) 4MBx32/36 (2) 4MBx32/36
72MB (2) 8MBx32/36 (2) 1MBx32/36
80MB (2) 8MBx32/36 (2) 2MBx32/36
96MB (2) 8MBx32/36 (2) 4MBx32/36

128MB (2) 8MBx32/36 (2) 8MBx32/36
128MB (2) 16MBx32/36
256MB (2) 16MBx32/36 (2) 16MBx32/36

T able 3-1: Memory Configurations

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

21

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Installing the SIMMs

To install the SIMMs, locate the memory banks on the
system board and perform the following steps:

1. Hold the SIMM so that the notched edge is aligned
with the notch on the SIMM socket (Figure 3-1).

2. Insert the SIMM at a 45 degree angle.

3. Gently push the SIMM into an upright position until
it locks into place (past the release tabs).

Figure 3-1: Installing a 72-Pin SIMM

Removing SIMMs

To remove SIMMs, follow the steps below:

1. With both thumbs (or fingers), press the release tabs
away from the socket.

2. With the SIMM free from the release tabs, lift the
module up and place in an anti-static bag or package.

22

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Installing a CPU

The M7S-Hi is designed to support Intel Pentium and
AMD processors. Follow the steps below to install a
processor:

1. Turn off the computer and remove its cover.

2. Locate the ZIF socket illustrated in Figure 2-1.

3. Lift the lever of the socket.

4. Locate pin 1 on the processor and pin 1 on the socket
(refer to Figure 2-1). Gently place the processor into
the socket, making sure pin 1 on the processor and
pin 1 on the socket are aligned.

5. Push the lever down until it locks into place.

6. Make sure the speed selection jumpers are set cor­rectly (refer to Chapter 2 - Jumper Settings).

NOTE: A VRM module is required for Pentium processors
that support MMX and for the AMD processors.

WARNING: Pentium processors require a heat-sink with a
cooling fan. Failure to provide adequate cooling of the proces­sor may seriously affect system performance or cause perma­nent damage to the processor.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

23

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Installing a PCI Peripheral Card

Micronics PCI slots accommodate all PCI peripherals
that meet the PCI 2.1 specifications. Follow the steps
below to install a PCI card:

1. Turn the computer system off and remove its cover.

2. Choose an unused PCI slot and remove the slot
cover.

3. Insert the card with the bottom edge level to the slot.

NOTE: Never insert the card at an angle.

4. Carefully push the card straight down, making sure
the card is fully inserted.

5. Replace the screw which holds the card into place.

6. Replace the computer cover.

7. Refer to the PCI card’s documentation additional
instructions regarding installation and software driv­ers.

24

Figure 3-2: Installing a PCI Card

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Installing an ISA Peripheral Card

Micronics ISA slots accommodate all standard ISA pe­ripherals. Follow the steps below to install a PCI card:

1. Turn the computer system off and remove its cover.

2. Choose an unused ISA slot and remove the slot
cover.

3. Insert the card with the bottom edge level to the slot.

NOTE: Never insert the card at an angle.

4. Carefully push the card straight down, making sure
the card is inserted fully.

5. Replace the screw that holds the card into place.

6. Replace the computer cover.

7. Refer to the ISA card’s documentation for addi­tional instructions regarding installation and soft­ware drivers.

Figure 3-3: Installing an ISA P eripheral Card

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

25

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Installing a CD-ROM Drive

If you are installing a CD-ROM drive, Micronics recom­mends the installation of an IDE CD-ROM drive. The

instructions below will help you with the installation, but also
refer to the documentation that accompanied your CD-ROM
drive.

Before starting the setup and installation, make sure your
computer is off and the power cord is disconnected from
the wall outlet. Your CD-ROM drive kit should contain
the following items for a successful installation:

❏ CD-ROM Drive with installation hardware
❏ Interface Cable
❏ CD Audio Cable

1. Connect the ribbon cable as described in the CD­ROM’s documentation, making sure the red stripe on
the cable is aligned with pin 1 of the connectors.

2. Connect the audio cable to the CD-ROM drive's
audio connector.

3. Connect the other end of the audio cable to the
MPC-2 compatible CD-ROM audio connector on
the M7S-Hi system board (see Figure 2.1).

4. Connect the power supply cable to the CD-ROM
drive's power connector.

Try to avoid
excessive
twists or
bends in the
cables that
might
damage
them or
interfere with
other
peripherals
in your
computer.

5. Install the CD-ROM device drivers. CD-ROM drives
require device drivers to access the drive and are
generally provided by the manufacturer of the CD­ROM drive. Usually one device driver is added to the
CONFIG.SYS file and one to the AUTOEXEC.BAT
file.

6. If you are using the CD-ROM drive in an MS-DOS
environment, the utility MSCDEX.EXE must also be
added to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Consult your
DOS manual for more information.

26

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

The M7S-Hi Sound Option

You can connect external sound devices to your M7S-Hi
system board to take advantage of the optional sound
support (refer to Figure 2.2). The sound option includes
16-bit stereo sound, a game and MIDI port, a telephony
header and additional front speaker and
microphone headers. See Chapter 5 for information on
installing sound device drivers.

Connecting Sound Devices

Figure 3-4: Connecting External Sound Devices

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

27

Chapter 3: Installing the M7S-Hi

Game Port

You can use the Game Port connector to connect an IBM
PC compatible joystick or MIDI instrument.

Line Out

The Line Out jack allows you to connect the audio output
of the audio controller to your home stereo, VCR, or
amplified speakers. You may also connect 4 or 8 ohm
external speakers or headphones to the audio controller.
Additional front speaker and microphone headers are
available.

Line In

You may connect an external mono or stereo audio source
to the audio controller, such as a tape player or radio. Use
the appropriate converter cable to interface to your
external equipment.

MIC IN

The MIC IN jack will accommodate a 300-600 ohm
microphone.

Connecting the Telephony Option

The M7S-Hi system board can be upgraded to include a
header for computer telephony (pronounced teh - leh' ­fuh - nee) support. Telephony allows you to increase your
communications productivity. You can integrate fac­simile technology, sound and desktop video conferencing.
The telephony option is enabled by connecting your
modem cable to header J15.

28

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Chapter

4

The BIOS Setup Utility

Configuration

After the M7S-Hi system board and all hardware is
installed, the system is ready for configuration. Before
turning on the computer, make sure all cables are cor­rectly connected and all jumpers are correctly set.

It is recommended you keep the computer cover off the
first time you boot the system. This will make it easier to
correct any difficulties that might arise.

Initial Boot Up

Power up the M7S-Hi. If the system does not properly
boot, check all your cables and peripherals for bad
connections. You may also get beep codes or error
messages. If this occurs, consult Appendices B and/or C
for a guide to possible solutions.

After the system properly boots, it is ready to be config­ured. The following information explains the proper
procedures for BIOS configuration.

Setup

The Setup program is used to configure the computer’s
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The computer’s
BIOS is responsible for configuring the system board and
providing hardware information to the operating system.
In order for the computer to run properly, run the Setup
procedure after first installing the system board and
whenever you make a hardware change to the system.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

29

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

After the system is turned on and goes through a memory
test, the Power-Up screen (Figure 4-1) will appear on
your monitor:

Figure 4-1: Power-Up Screen

When “Press <F2> to enter SETUP” appears at the
bottom of the screen, press the <F2> key to begin the
Setup procedure. The CMOS Main Screen (Figure 4-2)
should appear and the prompt should be on the time
line. The Setup procedure can only be activated during
the boot sequence.

30

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Running the Setup Procedure

The M7S-Hi system board has six primary CMOS con­figuration screens: the Main Screen, the Advanced Screen,
the Security Screen, Power Screen, Boot Screen and Exit
Screen. To toggle between the screens, press the right
arrow <→> and the left arrow < ←> keys.

Setting the Main Screen

The CMOS Main screen (Figure 4-2) is used to set the
time and date, to set the floppy drive types, to configure
the hard disks and to configure the video. This Chapter
explains how to configure each of these categories. To
move between the categories, use the up and down arrow
<↑/↓> keys.

Figure 4-2: CMOS Main Screen

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

31

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

System Time and Date

To set the time, use the <-> key to decrease the number
and the <+> key to increase the number. To move the
prompt forward, use the <Tab> key; to move the
prompt backward, use the <Shift-Tab> key. To set the
date, use the up and down arrows<↑/↓> to highlight the
System Date and follow the same procedure used to set
the time.

Diskette A or B

To configure a floppy drive added to or removed from
your computer, use the up and down arrow keys <↑/↓>
to select the desired drive. Use the <+/-> keys to
change the setting until it matches the floppy drive you
installed. The BIOS supports 2.88MB, 1.44MB, 1.2MB,
720KB, and 360KB floppy drives.

Primary and Secondary IDE Devices

If you are setting up a SCSI hard disk, select None in the
IDE Device parameters (see your SCSI card manual for
more details). To install an IDE device, select the device
to configure and press ENTER. An IDE Device submenu
will appear (see Figure 4-3).

Numlock

Setting this to ON activates Numlock upon boot. Setting
this to Auto (default) activates Numlock if the BIOS
detects a numeric keyboard. It may also be set to OFF.

External Cache

This selection allows you to enable the external memory
cache. For optimal performance, select Enabled.

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M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Video BIOS

The Video BIOS category allows you to Shadow or
Shadow & Cache the video BIOS. Choosing Shadowed
& Cached (default) caches the shadowed video BIOS for
even higher performance. Choosing Shadowed copies
the video BIOS into RAM for faster execution. To
disable the Video BIOS category, select Disabled.

System BIOS

The System BIOS category allows you to Shadow or
Shadow & Cache the system BIOS. Choosing Shadowed
& Cached (default) caches the shadowed system BIOS
for even higher performance. Choosing Shadowed copies
the system BIOS into RAM for faster execution. To
disable the System BIOS category, select Disabled.

System Memory

The System Memory category identifies the size of the
base memory. It cannot be changed.

Extended Memory

The Extended Memory category automatically detects
the amount of memory installed above the amount in the
System Memory category. Because the BIOS automati­cally calculates the amount of memory installed in your
system, you cannot change this category without adding
or removing memory.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

33

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Figure 4-3: IDE Device Submen u

Type

This category selects the drive type installed in the
system. The options are Auto (default), 1-39, User and
None. If Autotype Fixed Disk does not find your drive’s
parameters, fill this information in manually under the
User category. This information may be in the manual
which came with your system. If not, contact your dealer
or the hard drive manufacturer to fill in this category. If
you are using a SCSI hard drive, select None and refer to
the documentation which came with the SCSI adapter.

Multiple-Sector Transfers

This category determines the number of sectors per
block for multiple sector transfers. The options are
Disabled (default), 2 Sectors, 4 Sectors, 8 Sectors and 16
Sectors.

34

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

LBA Mode Control

Enabling this selection causes LBA (Logical Block Ad­dressing) to be used in place of Cylinders, Heads and
Sectors. The default setting is Disabled.

32-Bit I/O

This category allows you to enable the 32-bit I/O function
of the PCI IDE controller. Select Disabled if your drive
will not run at this speed. The default setting is Disabled.

Transfer Mode

This category sets the transfer speeds for IDE devices.
The Standard option is the default setting. The Fast PIO
1, Fast PIO 2, Fast PIO 3 and Fast PIO 4 options are for
higher speed devices.

Smart Monitoring

This feature will monitor your hard drive and report any
problems detected. The default setting cannot be changed.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

35

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Setting the Advanced Screen

To move to the Advanced screen, use the left and right
arrow keys <←/→> keys until you see the screen below.

Figure 4-4: Advanced Screen

Serial Port A

Serial Port A may be configured using the following
options: Disabled (No configuration), Enabled (User
configuration), Auto (BIOS configuration) and PnP
O/S (O/S configuration).

Serial Port B

Serial Port B may be configured using the following
options: Disabled (No configuration), Enabled (User
configuration), Auto (BIOS configuration) and PnP
O/S (O/S configuration).

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M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Parallel Port

The parallel port may be configured using the following
options: Disabled (No configuration), Enabled (User
configuration), Auto (BIOS configuration) and PnP
O/S (O/S configuration).

Floppy Disk Controller

The selection allows you to enable or disable the floppy
disk controller.

Integrated PCI IDE

Enables or disables the integrated Local Bus IDE adapter.
The IDE controller may be set for Primary, Both (default)
or Disabled.

Integrated Sound

Enables or disables the integrated sound interface. The
default setting is Enabled.

Plug & Play O/S

This selection, when set to Yes, allows the system to work
with a Plug and Play operating system such as Windows

95. The default setting is No.

Reset Configuration Data

Select Yes to reset Extended System Configuration Data
(ESCD) when you exit Setup. This selection allows the
PnP BIOS to detect your PCI and ISA PnP devices and
reallocate resources to them. The default setting is No.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

37

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

PCI Configuration

Use this selection for additional setup menus to configure
PCI devices.

PS/2 Mouse

When disabled, this selection prevents the PS/2 mouse
from functioning and frees up IRQ12. Selecting Enabled
(default) allows the operating system to determine
whether to enable or disable the mouse.

Secured Setup Configuration

Select Yes if you want the system settings to be secured
from change by a Plug and Play operating system. The
default setting is No.

Large Disk Access Mode

If you are using a DOS operating system (MS-DOS,
Novell DOS or PC-DOS), set to DOS (default). If you
are using anything else, set to OTHER.

38

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Security Screen

The Security screen (Figure 4-5) controls access to the
computer. The security screen allows for settings of two
passwords. The Supervisor Password allows access to the
system and Setup. The User Password allows access to the
system, but not to all Setup features.

Figure 4-5: Security Setup Screen

Set Supervisor Password

This selection controls access to the Setup utility. Press
the ENTER key to enter the Supervisor Password
submenu. The screen on the following page appears.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

39

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Figure 4-6: Supervisor Password Submenu

Type the password and press the ENTER key. Retype
the password and press the ENTER key again. Write
down the password somewhere safe so it will not be
forgotten. The password may be disabled by setting the
new password to nothing (pressing the ENTER key
without first typing a password).

WARNING: If you forget the Supervisor Password, it
cannot be disabled without discharging the CMOS.

Set User Password

This selection controls access to the Setup utility.
Follow the same procedure used to set the Supervisor
Password.

NOTE: After a password is entered, it is saved immedi­ately. All other changes may still be discarded (see Exit
Screen).

40

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Password on Boot

When enabled, the system requires a password upon
power up. Either the Supervisor or User Password may
be entered.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

41

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Power Screen

The Power screen controls the power management func­tions of the system. To move to the Power Screen, use the
left and right arrow <←/→> keys until it appears
(Figure 4-7). To move between the categories, use the up
and down arrow keys <↑/↓>.

Figure 4-7: P ower Screen

Power Management

This selection allows you to change the system power
management settings. Maximum Power Savings con­serves the greatest amount of system power. Maximum
Performance conserves power but allows greatest system
performance. To alter these settings, choose Customize.
To turn off power management, choose Disabled (de­fault).

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M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Standby Timeout

The Standby Timeout selection sets the amount of time
that elapses for the system to enter Standby Mode.
Standby Mode turns off various devices in the system,
including the display screen, until you start using the
system again. The options are Off (default), 1 min., 2
min., 4 min., 6 min., 80 min., 12 min. or 16 min.

Auto Suspend Timeout

The Standby Timeout selection sets the amount of time
that elapses for the system to enter Suspend Mode. The
options are Off (default), 5 min., 10 min., 15 min., 20
min., 30 min., 40 min. or 60 min. Before making changes,
"Customized" must be selected in the Power Management
Mode selection.

Interrupts (IRQ 1-15)

Setting an IRQ category to Enabled causes the system to
“wakeup” from a power savings mode if any activity
occurs at that IRQ. For example, if you have a modem on
IRQ3 and you set IRQ3 to enabled, the system automati­cally wakes up every time the modem gets a phone call.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

43

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Boot Screen

The Boot screen allows you to configure the power-up
system configuration settings.

Figure 4-8: Boot Screen

Boot Sequence

This selection will read the diskette drive (default) and
the hard drive in sequence on boot.

44

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

Exit Screen

After you complete configuring the BIOS, select the Exit
screen.

Figure 4-9: Exit Screen

Choose “Save Changes and Exit” and reboot the com­puter. Your computer is ready for use.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

45

Chapter 4: The BIOS Setup Utility

46

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Chapter 5: Installing Sound Device Drivers

Chapter

5

Installing Sound Device Drivers

This Chapter explains how to install the sound drivers
necessary to utilize the onboard sound support. Prior to
installing any drivers, follow the instructions in Chapter
3 on how to install a CD-ROM drive and how to connect
external sound devices.

About Device Drivers

Device drivers are necessary for the computer system to
communicate with devices such as CD-ROM drives,
sound controllers, graphics adapters or devices that are
not natively supported by the system BIOS. Once started,
device drivers remain active in the background of the
computer system. Usually a device driver is added to the
CONFIG.SYS file, the AUTOEXEC.BAT file or both.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

47

Chapter 5: Installing Sound Device Drivers

Installing the Sound Drivers

Once you have connected your external sound devices, you
can install the sound drivers. NOTE: If you are installing a
CD-ROM drive, it is recommended you install it before
setting up the sound devices. See Installing a CD-ROM
Drive in Chapter 3.

1. Follow the instructions in Chapter 3 on connecting
external sound devices.

2. If you previously installed another sound card, remove
it and all associated files from your AUTOEXEC.BAT
and CONFIG.SYS files. If you are using Windows 3.1x,
you must also remove all associated files from the
WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI files. (For more informa­tion, please contact the sound driver manufacturer.)

3. Start your computer system.

4. Insert the sound driver disk into your floppy drive.

5. If you are using Windows 3.1x, go to the Program Man­ager File menu, click on Run and type A:\SETUP.
Follow the instructions to complete the installation.

6. If you are using Windows 95, refer to the Windows 95
user’s manual for instructions on how to install sound
drivers.

7. If you are using OS/2, refer to the README file on
the OS/2 disk for instructions on how to install sound
drivers.

8. Once the software is copied, the install program
automatically updates the system files.

48

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix A: Technical Information

Appendix

A

Specifications

Part Number: 09-00273

Processor: Intel Pentium

120MHz, 133MHz, 150MHz, 166MHz
and 200MHz processors.
VR and VRE Support
Intel Pentium
processors w/ MMX
AMD-K5
AMD-K6
VRM required.

Chipset: Intel 430HX PCI chipset

Intel PIIX 3
SMC FDC37C93X Ultra I/O chip

CPU Clock Frequency synthesizer chip. Jumper
Select: selectable CPU speed.

Form Factor: ATX footprint (12" x 9.6")



90MHz, 100MHz,



166 and 200MHz





PR75 to PR133 processors



166 to 200MHz processors,

, VRM required.

Expansion: Three 32-bit PCI slots

Three 16-bit ISA slots
(One shared PCI/ISA slot)

BIOS: Phoenix 4.0X Plug and Play BIOS on

2MB Flash EPROM.
Auto-detection of memory size
Auto-detection and display of ECC
and EDO memory.
Auto-configuration of IDE hard disk
drives.
Instant on and quick boot SMI and
DMI.

RAM Capacity: 4MB to 256MB (SIMMs)

Supports EDO memory
ECC support via chipset (36-bit SIMM)

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

49

Appendix A: Technical Information

Keyboard: PS/2 compatible

Onboard Sound: 16-bit sound controller based on
(optional) Creative Labs Vibra 16C chipset.

Sound Blaster Compatible 16-bit stereo

Internal Cache: 16K on-chip Level 1 write back

Up to 512K pipelined burst external
Level 2 cache.

I/O Ports: Two high speed serial ports (16550 compatible)

Enhanced Parallel Port with EPP and ECP support
Support for IrDA, HP-SIR and ASK-IR
Two USB ports (optional)

Floppy Port: Supports two floppy drives

(2.88MB, 1.44MB, 1.2MB, 720KB, 360KB).

PCI IDE Ports: Supports up to four IDE devices

Mode 4 Enhanced IDE with Bus Mastering
Multiple sector transfer support
Auto detection of add-in IDE board

Environmental Specifications

The environment in which the M7S-Hi is located is critical. Micronics
recommends the following environmental specifications:

Temperature Range

Operating: 50 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 40 degrees Celsius).
Non -Operating: 50 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 60 degrees
Celsius). Shipping: -22 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 to 60 degrees
Celsius).

Relative Humidity

Operating: 20% to 80%.
Non-Operating: 5% to 90%.

50

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix A: Technical Information

Battery Disposal

WARNING:

Please do not open battery, dispose of in fire, recharge, put in backwards
or mix with used or other battery types. The battery may explode or leak
and cause personal injury.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

51

Appendix A: Technical Information

Support and Information Services

Micronics offers a variety of support and information
services to help you get the most from your product. The
following services are available:

▲ Technical Support
▲ Electronic Bulletin Board Service (BBS)
▲ Return Materials Authorization (RMA)
▲ Fax-On-Demand
▲ World Wide Web
▲ Customer Service

Refer to Table A-1 for details on these services.

Technical Support

If you need technical assistance, our Technical Support
Engineers will be glad to help you. You can contact us via
telephone, fax or BBS. Before calling Technical Support
please have the following information ready:

❏ The model name and 09 part number of your Micronics

product.

❏ Your computer information such as CPU type, operat-

ing system, amount of installed memory and other
peripherals installed in your computer.

❏ Try to call from the location of your computer.

NOTE: For Return Material Authorization purposes, please
keep a copy of your product receipt.

52

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix A: Technical Information

Service Hours Country Telephone Number

Technical Support - Live phone help
from Technical Support Engineers

Electronic Bulletin Board Service
(BBS) - Information on software
upgrades, new releases and other
helpful information

RMA (Return Materials
Authorization) - Return products for
repair

Fax-On-Demand - Automated
system for product literature,
technical bulletins and other helpful
information

World Wide Web - Product
information, technical support, press
releases and other helpful
information

Customer Service - Order Micronics
and Orchid products

M-F: 7:00am to

5:00pm (PST)

24 hours a day

7 days a week

M-F: 8:00am to

4:45pm (PST)

24 hours a day

7 days a week

24 hours a day

7 days a week

M-F: 8:00am to

5:00pm (PST)

USA

France

USAUK(510) 651-6837

"

USA [phone]

USA [phone]

USA

"

Europe

USA

France

Germany

Taiwan

[phone]
[phone] (Fax)
[phone]
[phone] (Fax)

UK

[phone]
[phone] (Fax)

14400 baud rate, Parity=N,
Data Bits=8, Stop Bits=1
YMODEM and ZMODEM
(recommended file transfer
protocols)
[phone]

[phone] (Fax)

http://www.micronics.com

http://www.mcrni.com
[phone]

[phone] (Fax)
[phone]
[phone] (Fax)

UK

[phone]
[phone] (Fax)
[phone]
[phone] (Fax)
[phone]
[phone] (Fax)

T ab le A-1: Support and Information Services

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

53

Appendix A: Technical Information

54

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix B: POST Messages

Appendix

B

POST Messages

The following table lists the Power On Self Test (POST)
messages, possible causes and solutions.

Message Possible Cause Solution

CPU FAN FAILED
DURING
PREVIOUS
OPERATION

DISKETTE DRIVE
A FAILURE

DISKETTE DRIVE
B FAILURE

EXTENDED RAM
FAILED AT
OFFSET: nnnn

FAILING BITS:
nnnn

FIXED DISK X
FAILURE (where X
=0 or 1)

FIXED DISK
CONTROLLER
FAILURE

INCORRECT
DRIVE A TYPE

INCORRECT
DRIVE B TYPE

INVALID NVRAM
MEDIA TYPE

KEYBOARD
ERROR, or
KEYBOARD
CONTROLLER
ERROR

Fan failed due to a
fan electrical problem,
or the option enabled
with incorrect fan
used.

Drive A failed or is
missing.

Drive B failed or is
missing.

Extended memory not
working or configured
properly.

Memory failure in
System, Extended, or
Shadow memory.

The hard disk is not
configured or working
properly.

The controller card
has failed.

Floppy drive A: not
set correctly in Setup.

Floppy drive B: not
set correctly in Setup.

NVRAM chip is bad. Requires repair of

The keyboard or
keyboard controller
failed.

Replace bad fan.
You must use a fan
with a power
connector that
connects to the
system board.

Check Setup and
cable connections.

Check Setup and
cable connections.

Replace defective
memory.

Replace defective
memory.

Rerun SETUP and
check connections,
or replace hard disk.

Check configuration
and connections, or
replace controller
card.

Run Setup.

Run Setup.

system board.
Check connections.

You may have to
replace the keyboard
or controller.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

55

Appendix B: POST Messages

Message Possible Cause Solution

KEYBOARD
ERROR nn

A key is jammed or
was held down during
boot.

Make sure the keys
are not jammed or
dirty.

KEYBOARD
LOCKED

MONITOR TYPE
DOES NOT
MATCH CMOS

OPERATING
SYSTEM NOT
FOUND

PARITY CHECK 1
nnnn

PARITY CHECK 2
nnnn

PREVIOUS BOOT
INCOMPLETE ­DEFAULT
CONFIGURATION
USED

REAL TIME
CLOCK ERROR

Keyswitch on the
front of the case is
locked.

Monitor type not
correctly identified in
Setup.

Operating system
cannot be located on
Drive C: or Drive A:

Parity error found in
the system bus.

Parity error found in
the I/O bus.

Previous POST did
not complete
successfully.

Real-time clock failed
BIOS test.

Unlock the
keyswitch.

Run Setup and enter
correct monitor type.

Check Setup to see
if Drive A: and C: are
properly configured,
or put a bootable
disk in Drive A:

Check Setup. Board
repair may be
required.

Check Setup. Board
repair may be
required.

Run Setup, load
default BIOS
settings, make any
necessary
adjustments, and
save the changes.

May require battery
replacement or board
repair.

SHADOW RAM
FAILED AT
OFFSET

SYSTEM
BATTERY IS DEAD

56

Shadow RAM failed. May require repair of

system board.

System battery died. Replace the system

battery and run
Setup to reconfigure
the system.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix B: POST Messages

Message Possible Cause Solution

SYSTEM CACHE
ERROR - CACHE
DISABLED

External (L2) cache
failed BIOS test.

System will still run,
but slower. Replace
cache at
convenience.

SYSTEM CMOS
CHECKSUM BAD ­RUN SETUP

SYSTEM RAM
FAILED AT
OFFSET: nnnn

SYSTEM TIMER
ERROR

System CMOS has
been corrupted or
modified incorrectly.

System RAM failed. Replace defective

Timer test failed. Requires repair of

Run Setup and
reconfigure the
system.

RAM.

system board.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

57

Appendix B: POST Messages

58

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix C: Beep and POST Codes

Appendix

C

Beep and POST Codes

Beep codes are a series of beeps sent through the
speaker which indicate a problem during the Power On
Self Test (POST). If text appears on the video screen,
the M7S-Hi has completed POST; any other tone from
the speaker indicates something other than a POST
error. These tones are not described in the tables on the
following pages.

The beep error codes are a series of beeps. The duration
of the beep tones are constant, but the length of the
pauses between the beeps varies. For example: a 1-3­3 beep code will sound like one beep, a pause; three
beeps consecutively, another pause and then three
more beeps.

One beep code is often misunderstood. If a video card
is not installed or is failing, the system board will
generate a long-short-long-short beep code. This is
often interpreted as a 1-2-1 beep code. But POST
errors always vary in the length of the pause and not the
duration of the beep tone.

Another way of identifying a POST error is to use a
device called a POST card. This peripheral card is
inserted into one of the ISA slots and has an LED (or
LCD) read out showing the contents of port 80h.

The following tables list all beep codes and POST
routines.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

59

Appendix C: Beep and POST Codes

Code Beeps POST Routine Descriptio n

02 Verify Real Mode.
04 Get CPU type.
06 Initialize system hardware.
08 Initialize chipset registers with initial POST values.
09 Get in POST Reg.

0A Initialize CPU registers.

0C Initialize cache initial POST values.
OE Initialize I/O.
OF Initialize the localbus IDE.

10 Initialize Power Management.

11 Load alternate registers with initial POST values.

12 Jump to UserPatch0.

14 Initializ e keyboa rd contr oll er .

16 2-2-3 BIOS ROM checksum.

18 8254 timer initialization.

1A 8237 DMA controller initialization.

1C Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller.

20 3-1-1 Test DRAM refresh.

22 3-1-3 Test 8742 Keyboard Controller.

24 Set ES segment register to 4 GB.

28 Autosize DRAM.

2A Clear 512K base RAM.

2C 3-4-1 Test 512K base address lines.

2E 3-4-3 Test 512K base memory.

32 Test CPU bus-clock frequency.

34 Test CMOS RAM.

35 Initialize alternate chipset registers.

37 Reinitialize the chipset (MB only).

38 Shadow system BIOS ROM.

39 Reiniti aliz e the cache (M B only).

3A Autosize cache.

3C Configure advanced chipset registers.

3D Load alternate registers with CMOS values.

40 Set initial CPU speed.

42 Initialize interrupt vectors.

44 Initialize BIOS interrupts.

46 2-1-2-3 Check ROM copyright notice.

47 Initiali ze man ager for PCI Opti on ROMs.

48 Check video confi gur ation agains t CMOS.

49 Initiali ze PCI bus and devices.

60

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix C: Beep and POST Codes

Code Beeps POST Routine Description

4A Initialize all video adapters in system.
4C Shadow video BIOS ROM.
4E Display copyright notice.
50 Display CPU type and speed.
51 Ini tial ize EISA board.
52 Tes t keyboard.
54 Set key click if enabled.
56 Enable keyboard.
58 2-2-3-1 Test for unexpected interrupts.
5A Display prompt “Press F2 to enter SETUP”.
5C Test RAM between 512 and 640k.
60 Tes t extended memory.
62 Test extended memory address lines.
64 Jump to UserPatch1.
66 Configure advanced cache registers.
68 Enable external and CPU caches.
6A Display external cache size.
6C Display shadow message.
6E Display non-disposable segments.
70 D is play error messag es.
72 Check for configuration errors.
74 Test real- time clock.
76 Check for keyboard errors.
7C Set up hardware interrupt vectors.
7E Test coprocessor if present.
80 Disable onboard I/O ports.
82 Detect and install external RS232 ports.
84 Detect and install external parallel ports.
86 Re-initialize on-board I/O ports.
88 Initialize BIOSData Area.
8A Initialize Extended BIOS Data Area.
8C Initialize floppy controller.
90 Initialize hard-disk controller.
91 Ini tial ize lo calbus hard-di sk controller .
92 Jump to UserPatch2.
93 Build MPTABLE for multi-processor boards.
94 Disable A20 address line.
96 Clear huge ES segment register.
98 Search for option ROMs.
9A Shadow option ROMs.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

61

Appendix C: Beep and POST Codes

Code Beeps POST Routine Description

9C Set up Power Management.
9E Enable hardware interrupts.
A0 Set time of day.
A2 Check key lock.
A4 Initialize typematic rate.
A8 Erase F2 prompt.
AA Scan for F2 keystroke.
AC Enter SETUP.
AE Clear in-POST flag.
B0 Check for errors.
B2 POST done - prepare to boot operating system.
B4 One beep.
B6 Check password (optional).
B8 Clear global descriptor table.
BC Clear parity checkers.
BE Clear screen (optional ) .
BF Check virus and backup reminders.
C0 Try to boot with INT 19.
D0 Interrupt handler error.
D2 Unknown interrupt error.
D4 Pending Interrupt.
D6 Initialize option ROM error.
D8 Shutdown error.
DA Extended Block Move.

DC Shutdown 10 error.

The following are for boot block in Flash ROM:
E2 Initialize the chipset.
E3 Initialize refresh counter.
E4 Check for Forced Flash.
E5 Check HW status of ROM.
E6 BIOS ROM is OK.
E7 Do a complete RAM test.
E8 Do OEM initialization.
E9 Initialize interrupt controller.

EA Read in the bootstrap code.
EB Initialize all vectors.
EC Boot the Flash program.
ED Initialize the boot device.
EE Boot code was read OK.

62

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix D: Hard Disk Drive Types

Appendix

D

Hard Disk Drive Types

The following table lists the hard disk types supported by
the M7S-Hi.

Type C ylinders Heads Write

Precomp

1 306 4 128 17 10
2 615 4 300 17 21
3 615 6 300 17 32
4 940 8 512 17 65
5 940 6 512 17 99
6 615 4 none 17 21
7 462 8 256 17 32
8 733 5 none 17 31

9 900 15 none 17 117
10 820 3 none 17 21
11 855 5 none 17 37
12 855 7 none 17 52
13 306 8 128 17 21
14 733 7 none 17 44
15 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
16 612 4 0 17 21
17 977 5 300 17 42
18 977 7 none 17 59
19 1024 7 512 17 62
20 733 5 300 17 31
21 733 7 300 17 94
22 733 5 300 17 31
23 306 4 0 17 10
24 612 4 305 17 21
25 612 2 300 17 10
26 614 4 none 17 21
27 820 6 none 17 42
28 977 5 none 17 42
29 1218 15 none 36 336
30 1224 15 none 17 159

Sectors Size

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

63

Appendix D: Hard Disk Drive Types

Type C ylinders Heads Write

Precomp

31 823 10 512 17 71
32 809 6 128 17 42
33 830 7 none 17 50
34 830 10 none 17 72
35 1024 5 none 17 44
36 1024 8 none 17 71
37 615 8 128 17 42
38 1024 8 none 26 109
39 925 9 none 17 72

Sectors Size

64

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix E: Updating the System BIOS

Appendix

E

If you
encounter
any
problems
during this
process, or
if you have
questions
about the
procedure,
please call
Technical
Support.

Updating the System BIOS

The Micronics system boards are designed so that the
BIOS can be reprogrammed using a BIOS file. You can
easily FLASH a BIOS by following the steps below:

1) After downloading the appropriate BIOS file from
our BBS or Website, extract it to a bootable MS­DOS 6.X or Windows 95 diskette.

2) If you are using MS-DOS 6.X, reboot your system
with the bootable diskette in the A: drive. To make
sure a clean DOS environment is loaded, press the
F5 key while "Starting MS-DOS" is displayed. After
the system has rebooted, the cursor will appear at
the A:\> prompt.

3) If you are using Windows 95, press F8 when you see
"Starting MS Windows 95." Select the option "Safe
Mode Command Prompt."

4) Now you can run the FLASH utility. The filename
will be either "FSH" (or FSH20, FSH20G, etc.) or
"PHLASH." Type this filename at the A:\> prompt
(but don’t include its extension), followed by a space
and the BIOS ROM image’s filename. This file will
be included in the download and has a file length of
about 131K or 262K. For example, to update the
M7S-Hi to BIOS version 02, you would type:

PHLASH M7S-Hi.02P [ENTER]

5) After the update process is completed, turn off the
system.

6) Turn the system back on and verify that the new
BIOS version appears on the screen.

NOTE: If the BIOS is somehow erased or does not seem
to accept the upgrade, you can purchase a new BIOS
from MicroNiche Information Systems (800-733-9188).
There is a $30.00 fee plus shipping charges for this
service. (Price and availability subject to change.)

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

65

Appendix E: Updating the System BIOS

If you prefer to send your system board in for the upgrade,
the RMA department offers this service free of charge if
your system board is under warranty.

66

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix F: Warranties and Notices

Appendix

F

Limited Warranty

Except as described below, Micronics warrants the prod­ucts to be free from defects in material and workmanship
in normal use for a period of one (1) year from date of
purchase. Should any product fail to perform according
to this warranty at any time during the warranty period,
except as provided below, Micronics or its authorized
service centers will, at Micronics’ option, repair or re­place the product at no additional charge.

The warranty does not cover loss or damage which occurs
in shipment or which is due to: (1) improper installation
or maintenance, misuse, neglect or any cause other than
ordinary commercial application, including without limi­tation, accidents or acts of God; (2) adjustment, repair, or
modification by other than a Micronics authorized ser­vice center; (3) improper environment, excessive or
inadequate heating or air conditioning, or electrical
power failures, surges or other irregularities; (4) any
statement about the product other than those set forth in
this warranty; or (5) nonconformity to models or samples
shown to the purchaser. Any models or samples were for
the sole purpose of suggesting the character of the prod­uct and are not intended to form the basis of the bargain.

A receipt or copy of the invoice with the date of purchase
from a Micronics reseller is required before any warranty
service can be rendered. Service can be obtained by
calling Micronics for a Return Merchandise Authoriza­tion (RMA) Number.

The RMA Number should be prominently displayed on
the outside of the shipping carton of the returned prod­uct. Returned product should be shipped prepaid or hand
carried to Micronics. The purchaser assumes risk of loss
or damage in transit, and unless otherwise agreed to in
writing by Micronics, will pay inbound shipping charges.

The exclusive remedy of the purchaser under this war­ranty above will be repair or replace at Micronics’ option,

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

67

Appendix F: Warranties and Notices

but if for any reason that remedy should fail of its essential
purpose, the exclusive remedy of the purchaser shall then
be actual damages up to amounts paid for the defective
product by the purchaser. This limited warranty shall be
deemed to “fail of its essential purpose” if, after repeated
efforts, Micronics is unable to make the product operate
as warranted. Micronics’ liability for damages to the
purchaser for any cause whatsoever; regardless of the
form of action and whether in contract or in tort, shall be
limited to the purchase price in effect when the cause of
action arose for the product that is the basis of the claim.

Micronics will not be liable for any lost profits or any
indirect, special incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the product, even if Micronics has been
advised of the possibility of such damages.

Micronics makes no warranties or representations as to
performance of products or as to service to distributor or
to any person, except as set forth in Micronics; limited
warranty accompanying delivery of product.

Micronics disclaims all other warranties whether oral,
written, expressed, or implied, including without limita­tion, the warranties of design, merchantability, or fitness
for a particular purpose, if applicable, or arising from a
course of dealing, usage or trade practice.

Non-Warranty Service

After the one year warranty service is no longer in effect,
repair service is still available for Micronics products. For
more information, contact Micronics’ RMA department
at [phone]. The RMA department is open be­tween 8:30 A.M. and 4:45 P.M. Pacific Standard Time.

68

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Appendix F: Warranties and Notices

FCC Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply
within 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 used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Interfer­ence to radio or television reception can be determined
by turning the equipment off and on. You are encouraged
to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:

▲ Reorient the receiving antenna.
▲ Increase the separation between the equipment

and the receiver.

▲ Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit

different from that to which the receiver is con­nected.

▲ Consult your dealer or an experienced radio/TV

technician for help.

To meet FCC requirements, shielded cables are required.

NOTE: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
Micronics could void your authority to operate the equipment.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

69

Declaration of Conformity

Declaration of Conformity

Application of Council Directives 89/336/EEC. Standards to
which the conformity is declared:

EN50082-1

Manufacturer's Name: Micronics Computers, Inc.

Manufacturers Address: 221 Warren Avenue

Fremont, California 94539
USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Type of Equipment: Motherboard (ATX form factor)

Mid Tower Personal Computer

Model Name: M7S-Hi

Tested by: Rockford Engineering Services, Inc.

9959 Calaveras Road
P.O. Box 543
Sunol, CA. 94586-0543
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Test Engineers John Y. Chan /Micronics

(EN50082-1)
Paramjeet Singh /RES (EN50082-1)

I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the specified equipment
conforms to the directives and standards listed above.

Ming Ming Hsu
Vice President of Engineering
June 4, 1996

70

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Glossary

Glossary

16550 UART - A high speed chip for
controlling serial ports. Although un­necessary for a mouse, it is required
for modems that are 14,400 baud or
faster.

ATX - A system board size measuring
approximately 12” x 9.6”.

Asynchronous - Operations that do
not require the clocks of communi­cating devices to be coordinated. See
Synchronous.

Bidirectional Parallel Port - A type of
parallel port that can send and receive
information.

BIOS - An Acronym for Basic Input/
Output System. Configures the sys­tem board and provides hardware in­formation to the operating system.

Bit - A contraction of Binary digit.
The smallest unit of information in a
binary number system. A bit repre­sents a choice between either zero or
one.

Boot - To start up the computer and
load the operating system software.
See cold boot and warm boot.

Byte - A group of adjacent bits treated
as a unit. Eight bits are typically con­sidered one byte. Also called a char­acter.

Cache - A process where information
is copied from the slower memory
(DRAM) to the faster memory
(SRAM). Information that is likely to
be read or edited is stored in the cache
providing significant performance in­creases.

Cache Hit - The percentage of re­quest for data from memory that can
be served from the cache.

Cache Miss - A memory access which
cannot be supplied from cache.

Cold Boot - Starting the computer by
turning on the power or pressing the
RESET button. A cold boot makes the
processor execute all of the diagnos­tics. See boot and warm boot.

CPU - An acronym for Central Pro­cessing Unit. A CPU performs arith­metic calculations, makes logical de­cisions, and directs the operation of
the computer in conjunction with the
operating system.

Bus - A group of electronic paths used
to send data between parts of the sys­tem. On a system board, the bus con­nects the peripheral cards with the
microprocessor via the expansion
slots.

Bus Mastering - The ability of a
peripheral card to control the bus
without requiring intervention of the
CPU.

Disk Drive - A hardware device
which provides for the storage of data
on diskettes or hard metal disks that
have a magnetic coating. A disk drive
functions by spinning at high speed
while moving a device called the read/
write head across the disk’s surface in
order to read or write data in magnetic
code.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

71

Glossary

DRAM - An acronym for Dynamic
Random Access Memory. A type of
memory chip that only keeps its
memory if supplied with regular clock
pulses and a chance to regularly re­fresh its data. It is slower and more
cost effective than SRAM. See
SRAM.

ECC - An acronym for Error Check­ing and Correction. ECC enables par­ity checking and can detect and cor­rect memory errors on the system
board.

ECP - An acronym for Extended Ca­pabilities Port. A standard set by
Hewlett Packard and Microsoft Cor­poration to expand the capabilities of
the parallel port.

EDO Memory - An acronym for Ex­tended Data Out. A type of DRAM
with built-in cache for enhanced per­formance.

EPP - An acronym for Enhanced Par­allel Port. A standard which increases
the capabilities of the parallel port.

EPROM - Acronym for Erasable Pro­grammable Read Only Memory. A
type of ROM chip that can be pro­grammed with relatively simple tools
that will retain its data until erased.
It can only be erased by exposing the
circuitry in the chip to ultraviolet
light. See also Flash ROM.

Flash ROM - A type of ROM chip
that will retain its data until erased.
It can be erased or reprogrammed by
supplying it with +12V of voltage. See
ROM and EPROM.

Gigabyte - A disk storage capacity
measurement. Approximately one
thousand megabytes or 1,073,741,824
bytes.

IDE - An acronym for Integrated De­vice Electronics. A standard for com­municating between a hard drive and
a computer.

Internal Cache - Cache which is built
into the CPU. See Cache.

ISA - An acronym for Industry Stan­dard Architecture. A well-established
bus standard that originated with the
IBM AT. See PCI, VESA Local Bus

and EISA.

Parallel - A form of data transmission
in which the data is sent one byte at a
time over several wires that each carry
one byte. In parallel transmission, all
the bytes arrive simultaneously, as op­posed to serial transmission in which
bits arrive one by one.

Parallel Port - A connection for a
printer or similar peripheral. Gener­ally, parallel ports are output only. See
Bidirectional Parallel Port and ECP.

PCI - An acronym for Peripheral
Component Interconnect. A high per­formance 32-bit or 64-bit bus devel­oped by Intel Corporation. PCI is de­signed to be independent of the hard­ware architecture to ensure compat­ibility with future computer systems.
See EISA, VESA Local Bus and ISA.

72

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Glossary

Pentium - A high performance 64-bit
CISC processor designed and manu­factured by Intel Corporation. As of
this writing, Pentium is the highest
performing X86 processor available.

Plug and Play - A standard developed
to ensure easy installation of periph­erals. Theoretically, a newly installed
card will automatically configure itself
and work properly without requiring
jumper configuration or device driv­ers.

POST - An acronym for Power On
Self Test. A diagnostic program that
is run whenever the system is cold
booted.

RAM - An acronym for Random Ac­cess Memory. A type of memory that
is used as the “working memory” of a
computer system. See DRAM and
SRAM.

ROM - An acronym for Read Only
Memory. A type of memory that re­tains its data without requiring power.
Once written, it cannot be modified.
See EPROM and Flash ROM.

Serial - A type of data transmission
in which the data is sent one bit at a
time over a single wire. See Parallel.

Serial Port - A communications port
used to connect peripherals such as
modems and mice.

Setup - A program that allows you to
make changes to the system configu­ration.

Shadow RAM - A technique used to
load a duplicate copy of BIOS from
slower ROM into faster RAM. This
enhances system performance be­cause it provides higher access speed
to the BIOS.

SIMM - An acronym for Standard
Inline Memory Module. A small
printed circuit board containing
memory chips.

SRAM - An acronym for Static Ran­dom Access Memory. A type of
memory that can retain data without
requiring a regular clock signal. Al­though they are faster than DRAM,
they hold less data and are more ex­pensive.

Synchronous - Protocols that require
the clocks of communicating ma­chines or devices to be coordinated.

Synchronous Cache - A type of cache
that uses a clock signal to latch the
inputs and the data output. This struc­ture spreads the cache access across
two or three cycles while maintaining
a bandwidth of one access per cycle.
Improves performance by 5-10%.

Terabyte - A measurement for very
large storage capacity. One Terabyte
is equivalent one-thousand gigabytes,
one-million megabytes, or
1,099,511,627,766 bytes.

VESA - An acronym for Video Elec­tronics and Standards Association.

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

73

Glossary

VESA Local Bus (VL-Bus) - A high
performance bus designed by VESA.
A 32-bit version of the ISA bus which
operates at the speed of the
computer’s CPU. See PCI, EISA and

ISA.

VGA - An acronym for Video Graph­ics Array. A standard for monitor dis­plays.

VR - Pentium CPU voltage ranging
from 3.300 - 3.465 Volts.

VRE - Pentium CPU voltage ranging
from 3.400 - 3.600 Volts.

Warm Boot - Restarting the system
by simultaneously pressing the
<Ctrl>, <Alt> and <Delete> keys.

Write-Back Cache - Upon a cache
hit, the cache is updated and the main
memory is not affected. Upon a cache
miss, only the main memory is up­dated.

Write-Through Cache - Upon a
cache hit, the cache and the main
memory are updated. Upon a cache
miss, only the main memory is up­dated.

74

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Index

A

ATX

Chassis - 18
Form Factor - 5
Power Supply - 18

B

Back Panel Connections - 12
Battery Disposal - 51
Beep and POST Codes - 59
BIOS

Configuration - 29
Setup - 29, 31

Bulletin Board System (BBS) - 53

Index

C

Configuring the M7S-Hi - 11

D

Diagram (M7S-Hi) - 12

E

Extended Data Out (EDO) Memory - 17, 19
Environmental Specifications - 50
Error Checking (ECC) - 17

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

75

Index

F

Fast Page Mode (FPM) Memory - 17, 19

H

Hard Disk Drive Types - 63
Help

Bulletin Board System (BBS) - 53
Telephone Numbers - 53
Troubleshooting - 55

I

Installation

CD-ROM Drive - 26
CPU - 23
Installing your M7S-Hi - 18
ISA Peripheral Card - 25
PCI Peripheral Card - 24
Quick Installation - 9
Sound Drivers - 47

J

Jumper Settings - 13

M

M7S-Hi Back Panel Connections - 12
M7S-Hi System Board Diagram - 12
Memory

Adding - 19
Configurations - 21

76

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

Installing - 22
Removing - 22
Supported - 17, 19

O

Online Services - 53

P

POST Messages - 55

S

Sound Option - 27
Specifications - 49
System BIOS - 65

Index

T

Technical Specifications - 49
Technical Support - 52, 53
Telephony Option - 28
Troubleshooting - 55

U

Updating the System BIOS - 65
Utility Programs

Advanced Screen - 36
BIOS Setup - 29
Boot Screen - 44
Exit Screen - 45
IDE Device Submenu - 34

M7S-Hi System Board Manual

77

Index

W

Main Screen - 31
Power Screen - 42
Security Screen - 39

World Wide Web - 53

78

M7S-Hi System Board Manual