Mitsubishi Electric Apricot LS 550, Apricot VS 550 Owner's Manual
LS/VS 550
Owner’ s Handbook
NATIONAL
ACCREDITATION
OF CERTIFICATION
BODIES
OWNERS HANDBOOK
APRICOT LS/VS 550
®
Intel and Pentium
are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows® 95 and Windows® 3.11 are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the US and other countries.
Other trademarks mentioned within this document and not listed above are the
properties of their respective owners.
Information contained in this document is subject to change without notice
and does not represent a commitment on the part of Apricot Computers
Limited. Any software described in this manual is furnished under a
license agreement. The software may be used or copied only in
accordance with the terms of this agreement. It is against the law to copy
any disk supplied for any purpose other than the purchaser’s personal
use.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means electronic or mechanical including photocopying and recording, for any
purpose, without the express written permission of the publishers.
Copyright © Apricot Computers Limited 1996. All rights reserved.
Published by:
Apricot Computers Limited
3500 Parkside
Birmingham Business Park
Birmingham, England
B37 7YS
http://www.apricot.co.uk
Printed in the United Kingdom
Safety and regulatory notices
Safety and Regulatory Notices
Electrical
Battery
Laser products
The computer uses a safety ground and must be earthed.
The system unit AC power cord is its disconnect device. Ensure that the system unit
is positioned close to the AC power outlet and that the plug is easily accessible. The
power cord packed with the computer complies with the safety standards applicable
in the country in which it is first sold. Use only this power cord. Do not substitute a
power cord from any other equipment.
To prevent fire and electric shock, do not expose any part of the computer to rain or
moisture and turn off the computer and unplug all power cords before moving or
cleaning the system unit, or removing the system top cover.
This product contains a lithium battery.
Do not use a metal or other conductive implement to remove the battery. If a short-
circuit is made between its positive and negative terminals the battery may explode.
Replace a discharged configuration (CMOS) battery with one of the same type.
Dispose of the battery in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended
instructions and Do not attempt to recharge, disassemble or incinerate the discharged
battery. Keep away from children.
Any CD-ROM drive fitted in this system is classified as a CLASS 1 LASER
PRODUCT according to IEC825 Radiation Safety of Laser Products (Equipment
Classification: Requirements and User's Guide). The CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT
label is located on the under side of the system unit.
Ergonomic
It will be in high visibility colours and bear the details shown above.
Use the CD-ROM drive only as described in this manual. Failure to do so may result
in exposure to hazardous radiation.
When positioning the system unit, monitor and keyboard, take into account any
local or national regulations relating to ergonomic requirements.
I
Safety and regulatory notices
Standards
Safety
This product complies with the European safety standards EN60950 and EN41003
when applicable, will include the national deviations for the country in which it is
sold.
The computers motherboard complies with the following International safety standards:
UL1950 (USA)
Electro-magnetic Compatibility (EMC)
This product complies with the following European EMC standards:
Emissions EN55022 Class B
Immunity EN50082 Level 1
Harmonics EN61000-3-2
This product also complies with the following International EMC standards:
VCCI level 2 (Japan)
The applicable standards for the country of sale will be shown on the label fixed to
the rear of the system.
Notes
All interconnecting cables (e.g. Microphone, headphone and speaker) and
communication cables should be less than 2 metres in length. If cable extensions are
used, ensure adequate earth connections are provided and screened cables are used.
Legalities
II
This equipment complies with the relevant clauses of the following European
Directives:
Low voltage Directive 73/23/EEC
EMC Directive 89/336/EEC
Telecommunications Directive 91/263/EEC
CE marking Directive 93/668/EEC
Caution
This system has been tested to comply with CE marking and its strict legal requirements.
Use only Apricot tested and approved parts. Failure to do so may result in invalidating
both the compliance and your warranty. All expansion cards must carry CE approvals.
Power connection information
Safety and regulatory notices
Typical AC plugs
Procedure
250V
E
L N
250V
E
N L
125V
N
E
L
BS1363A SHUCO NEMA 5-15P
United Kingdom Austria Belgium Taiwan
Denmark Finland Thailand
France Germany USA
Holland Italy Canada
Norway Sweden
Note
Any ancillary equipment using an AC power supply cable should be earthed.
The power supplies in the computer and the monitor are correct for the country in
which the system is first sold. Do not alter any switch settings on the rear of the
system. If you wish to use the computer in another country it may not be suitable,
contact your supplier or an authorised Apricot dealer.
♦ Before connecting up any parts of the system, ensure that the AC supply is
switched off or disconnected.
♦ First connect up the keyboard, mouse, monitor signal cable, and audio cables
as appropriate.
♦ Connect up all AC cables. (System to supply, system to monitor, all related
peripherals.) Then switch on or connect the AC supply.
♦ Switch on the monitor first, then the computer followed by the peripherals,
such as printer or speakers.
◊ If the monitor AC lead is connected to the computer AC outlet, when you
come to switch off, the computer power button will switch off the monitor
at the same time.
III
Safety and regulatory notices
Power Cable Connections - UK ONLY
This equipment is supplied with an AC power lead that has a non-removable
moulded plug.
Always replace the fuse with one of the same type and rating which is BSI or ASTA
approved to BS1362. Always refit the fuse cover, never use the plug with the fuse
cover omitted.
IV
CONTENTS
1 Introducing your Computer
Unpacking 1/1
Pictorial guides 1/3
2 Getting Started
General advice 2/1
Connecting the components 2/2
Turning on and booting the computer 2/4
3 Using your Computer
Using the 3.5 diskette drive 3/1
Using the CD-ROM drive 3/3
Using the PD/CD-ROM drive 3/6
Using an FTD Travan tape drive 3/9
Using a SCSI DDS-2 tape drive 3/12
The sound connections 3/17
The anti-theft features of your computer 3/17
Customising your display settings 3/20
Software Backup 3/21
Using Help 3/22
Caring for your computer 3/22
Transporting your computer 3/24
Using your computer in another country 3/25
4 Expansion Cards
Configuring the card 4/2
Installing the card 4/7
5 System Upgrades
Inside the system unit 5/2
Adding more system memory 5/3
Adding more video memory 5/6
Adding a second hard disk drive 5/8
Upgrading the processor 5/9
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK I
6 Troubleshooting
Problems when starting 6/1
Troubleshooting checklist 6/5
The systems disk drives 6/7
A Inside the System Unit
Anti-static precautions A/1
Opening the system unit A/2
Board layout A/3
Changing the jumper settings A/4
System connectors A/6
Replacing the CMOS battery A/7
Replacing the Sensonic batteries A/8
B System BIOS and Setup
Entering setup B/2
If setup runs on its own B/2
Control keys B/3
Main menu screen B/4
System summary B/5
Product data B/5
Devices and I/O ports B/5
Date and time B/7
System security B/8
Start options B/10
Advanced Setup B/11
Plug and Play B/12
Error Log B/13
Power management B/13
Error messages B/15
C Technical Information
Specifications C/1
Physical characteristics C/2
Fall-back Password
II LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Introducing your computer
1 INTRODUCING YOUR
COMPUTER
This chapter gives you a quick tour of your Apricot computer. It
details the energy-efficient features of the computer and contains
pictorial guides to help you identify the various parts of the
machine. As soon as you’ve unpacked the components and
familiarised yourself with them, you should progress to the next
chapter, ‘Getting Started’.
WarningWarning
Read the power guidelines which can be found in the Safety &
Regulatory section of this manual before using the computer for the first
time.
Unpacking
On unpacking the computer, you should find:
Apricot PC system unit.
♦
System unit AC power cord, and monitor power cord,
♦
appropriate for the country of sale.
System documentation (this Owner’s Handbook, etc.)
♦
Microsoft Windows 95 or (if requested) Microsoft MS-DOS
♦
and Windows for Workgroups documentation.
More elaborate systems may include software or hardware options
with accompanying installation diskettes and additional documentation.
Some of these options may have been factory configured, or
installed by your supplier.
Keep the cartons, boxes and packaging materials; you will need
them again if you have to transport the computer elsewhere.
Make a note of the manufacturer’s data recorded on the various
components (product codes, serial numbers, etc.). A service engineer
may need this information if the computer develops a fault.
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 1/1
Introducing your computer
Energy-efficient features
All models in the range comply with the requirements of the US
Environmental Protection Agency’s “Energy Star” programme for
energy-efficient computers. These models support:
System Management Mode (SMM) of processors.
♦
Operating systems and applications that use the
♦
Intel/Microsoft Advanced Power Management (APM)
interface standard.
VESA BIOS Extensions for Power Management (VBE/PM),
♦
for use with energy-efficient monitors that support Display
Power Management Signalling (DPMS).
CautionCaution
Do not attempt to use the computer’s energy-saving features with a
monitor that does not support DPMS; the monitor may be permanently
damaged.
If the computer is left unattended for a certain amount of time
(defined in the BIOS settings) the computer will enter a low power
mode. The screen may blank, and some of the computer’s components
will slow down. Do not worry! This is meant to happen. Pressing
any of the keys on the keyboard or moving the mouse will restart
the computer in full power mode.
Further details can be found in the Power Management section of
Appendix B, “System BIOS and Setup”.
1/2 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Pictorial Guides
Front View
Introducing your computer
5
6
7
1
Power button: press to turn on or off.
2
Standby button: pressing this button switches the system
4
3
COMPACT
between normal working mode and its Standby mode. In
standby mode the system uses little power, but can be quickly
returned to normal mode.
3
Optional CD-ROM, PD/CD-ROM, or tape drive.
4
3.5” Floppy diskette drive.
5
Power LED indicator: lights when the system unit is
powered.
6
Hard disk drive activity indicator: lights when the hard disk
drive is in use.
7
Air vents.
2
1
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 1/3
Introducing your computer
1
10101
2
11
6
7
8
9
10
15
14
1
12
13
5
1
16
4
2
3
Rear View
1
Casing screws: unfasten these to remove the top cover.
2
AC power outlet: where the monitor power cord plugs in.
3
Voltage selection switch: the system unit can be set to operate
with a 100-120 V or 220-240 V AC power supply.
4
AC power inlet: where the system unit power cord plugs in.
5
Optional dual Universal Serial Ports (USB) for connection to
USB compatible interfaces.
6
Keyboard port: connect the keyboard to this port.
7
Mouse port: connect the mouse to this port.
8
Serial port 1: typically used for connecting an external modem or
a serial printer signal cable.
9
Serial port 2: as serial port 1.
10
Parallel port: typically used for a printer signal cable.
11
Monitor port: connect the monitor signal cable to this port.
12
Air vents: do not block these vents or the system will overheat.
13
Blanking plates: for the expansion card slots.
14
Optional audio daughter board.
15
Security loop: you can feed a security chain through this loop
and secure it to prevent theft of the system unit.
16
1/4 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
System unit case lock.
Getting Started
2 GETTING STARTED
This chapter provides important information to help you site,
connect, power and configure the computer.
Warning
Read the power guidelines which can be found in the Safety &
Regulatory section of this manual before using the computer for the first
time.
General advice
This computer is designed to be used in a normal home or office
environment. Here are a few hints for choosing a suitable site:
Place the system unit flat on a sturdy, level surface.
♦
Site the computer away from moisture, direct sunlight, and
♦
extremes of heat and cold. Avoid situations in which the
surrounding temperature or humidity may change rapidly.
(See Appendix C, Technical Information, for recommended
temperature and humidity ranges.)
When positioning the system unit, monitor and keyboard, take
♦
into account any local or national regulations relating to
ergonomic requirements. For example, you should ensure that
little or no ambient light is reflected off the monitor screen as
glare, and that the keyboard is placed in a comfortable position
for typing.
Give the computer plenty of room so that air can circulate on
♦
all sides. Air is drawn into the system unit through vents on
the front and on the left-hand side, and expelled through the
vent on the back. Ensure that these vents are never obstructed.
Do not allow any cables, particularly power cords, to trail across the
floor where they can be snagged by people walking past.
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/1
Getting Started
Warning
The computer uses the system unit AC power cord as its disconnect
device. Ensure that the system unit is positioned close to the AC power
outlet, and that the plug is easily accessible.
To prevent fire and electric shock, do not expose any part of the system
unit to rain or moisture.
Connecting the components
See Chapter 1, Introducing your computer, if you need help
identifying the various ports on the system unit.
Checking the AC power supply
When the computer is delivered, it is ready for the commercial AC
power supply generally available in the country in which it is first
sold. It has been set for the correct voltage range, and is supplied
with an AC power cord and plug which comply with the relevant
safety standards.
Before using the computer in a country other than that in which it
was originally sold, you must check the voltage and frequency of
that countrys AC power supply, and the type of power cord
required there. Check the power rating labels on the rear of the
computers system unit and its monitor to ensure that they are
compatible with the AC power supply.
If necessary, the AC voltage setting of the system unit can be
adjusted by the voltage selection switch on the rear of the system
unit. Refer to the section entitled Using the computer in another
country in Chapter 3, Using your computer, for instructions on
how to do this. It is likely that the monitors voltage setting will also
need adjusting; consult the Users Guide that accompanies the
monitor, or ask your supplier for help.
Installing add-on options
If the computer arrived with uninstalled add-on options, (such as
expansion cards or memory modules) refer to the relevant chapters
2/2 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
in this handbook for step-by-step installation instructions.
Expansion cards may also have their own documentation that
supplements or overrides the instructions in this manual.
Note that some options for which you have installation guides may
have already been installed for you at the factory or by your
supplier.
Connecting the components
Having assured yourself that the voltage settings, and the AC power
cords of the computer, the monitor and any other peripherals, are
correct, use the procedure below to connect these components
together. It is important that you take each step in the order
indicated.
1. If your AC power outlets have switches, set them to their Off
positions.
2. Ensure that the system unit, the monitor, and any peripherals
are turned off.
3. Connect the monitor signal cable between the monitor and the
monitor port on the rear of the system unit. (If the monitor
signal cable is connected after the computer is turned on, the
display may appear in monochrome or not at all.)
Getting Started
4. Where appropriate, connect other signal cables between your
peripherals and their respective ports on the system unit. Make
sure the signal cables are connected securely.
5. Plug the keyboard cable into the keyboard port on the system
unit. Be careful not to plug it into the mouse port by mistake.
6. Plug the mouse into the mouse port on the system unit. Never
connect either the keyboard or the mouse while the system
unit is turned on.
7. Where appropriate, connect the computer to the network.
8. Connect the monitor power cord between the monitor and the
AC power outlet on the rear of the system unit.
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/3
Getting Started
9. Connect the system unit power cord between the AC power
inlet on the rear of the system unit and a nearby, grounded AC
power outlet.
10. Where appropriate, connect power cords between your
peripherals and nearby, grounded AC power outlets.
11. If your AC power outlets have switches, set them to their On
positions.
Turning on and booting the computer
Turning the power on
To turn on the computer, simply press the P
power indicator on the front of the machine lights to green to show
that the system unit is powered. Remember that the monitor has its
own power button or switch; see the monitors Users Guide for
details.
Always make sure that the system unit is turned on before turning
on any attached peripherals.
If the computer does not start when the P
check that the system unit and monitor power cords are securely
connected and that the AC power supply is switched on.
Power-on self-test
Whenever the computer is turned on, a power-on self-test (POST)
routine test various hardware components and compares the actual
configuration of the computer with that recorded in configuration
(CMOS) memory. During this time, BIOS sign-on and POST
messages are displayed.
The boot sequence
Provided that POST succeeds without discovering any serious errors
or configuration discrepancies, the computer attempts to find an
operating system; that is, it attempts to boot.
OWER
button is pressed,
OWER
button. The
2/4 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Getting Started
By default, the computer will look first for a system diskette, then
for a bootable hard disk, but this sequence can be changed with the
BIOS Setup utility.
System diskette
A system diskette is a diskette bearing at least the rudiments of an
operating system. If the computer finds such a diskette in the
diskette drive, it boots from it. If it finds a non-system diskette, the
computer invites you to replace it. If necessary, your operating
system manuals should tell you how to create a system diskette.
Hard disk
Apricot computers fitted with a hard disk normally arrive with
either Microsoft Windows 95 or the MS-DOS/Windows operating
system already in place or pre-installed, so that its there ready for
you when you turn on the computer for the first time.
Note
A hard disk may contain more than one operating system, in different
partitions, but only one partition can be active at any one time. The
computer loads its operating system from the currently active partition.
Starting the computer for the first time
The first time you turn on your computer a message appears
explaining the legal terms and conditions that govern the use of the
software pre-installed on the computers hard disk. Once you have
read this message, you will have to press the specified key to
continue. By doing so you are acknowledging that you have read,
understood and accepted the terms and conditions.
Why your computer may seem to stop working
Your computer has a built-in energy-saving feature. If you leave it
for a while without doing anything, it goes into a special low-power
standby mode. The monitor display may go blank and the
processor slows down. The operating system and your programs
continue to run, although slowly (and of course you cant see them
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/5
Getting Started
because the monitor is blank). The computer is still working, and
you havent lost any of your files.
You can wake the computer again by pressing any keyboard key. See
Appendix B, System BIOS and Setup for more information.
Caution
The monitor supplied with your computer is designed to work with these
energy-saving features. If you want to use another monitor, make sure
that it supports the VESA standard for Display Power Management
Signalling; if it doesnt, it may be permanently damaged.
Turning the power off
Before turning off the computer, run through the following
checklist:
Quit or exit from the applications you are running; be sure to
♦
save any files you have altered.
If you are logged-in to a network, logout before turning off the
♦
computer. This gives the network operating system a chance to
free up the network resources youve been using.
Close down or quit any software that employs virtual memory
♦
or disk-caching (Windows 95 and Windows for Workgroups
do this automatically).
Always turn off any attached peripherals first. However, theres
♦
no need to turn off the monitor if its being powered from the
system unit.
Wait until all the activity indicators on the front bezel are unlit
♦
or the operating system reports that is OK to turn the system
off.
To turn off the computer, simply press the P
The power indicator on the front bezel goes out. If the monitor is
powered from the system unit, it will be turned off at the same
time.
Wait at least 5 seconds before you turn the computer on again - to
give it time to initialise properly.
2/6 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
OWER
button again.
Using your computer
3 USING YOUR COMPUTER
This chapter provides useful information on the correct operation of
the drives which may be fitted to your computer. It also provides
useful advice on caring for, and transporting your computer.
Warning
Read the power guidelines which can be found in the Safety &
Regulatory section of this manual before using the computer for the first
time.
Using the 3.5" diskette drive
The floppy disk drive is usually configured in the system BIOS as
drive A: with a capacity of 1.44 Mbytes.
The 3.5" diskette drive fitted to your computer can read and write
both 720 Kbytes disks (if marked DD or double density) and
1.44 Mbytes disks (if marked HD or high density). The HD
disks can hold twice the capacity of DD disks.
Each diskette has a rigid plastic cover with a metal shutter that
guards the disk surface. The drive automatically moves the shutter
aside to read the diskette.
Caution
Never touch the exposed surface under the shutter; you could deform the
disk or leave a fingerprint that might make it difficult to read.
The immediate physical differences between the HD and DD
floppy disks are shown in the diagram below:
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 3/1
Using your computer
The HD disks have the HD logo near the shutter and an extra
hole beside the label. This enables the drive to distinguish between
the two. The other hole which exists on both disks is the write
protect tab (on the underside). Keep diskettes well away from dust,
moisture, magnetic objects, and equipment that generates magnetic
fields. Also, avoid extremes of temperature and exposure to direct
sunlight. Otherwise, data recorded on the diskette may become
corrupted.
Inserting a diskette
A diskette is inserted into the diskette drive slot shutter-foremost,
and with its label side facing up. Some diskettes have a small arrow
on the face of the diskette; this must point towards the drive when
you insert the diskette:
Push the diskette all the way in until it engages with the drive
mechanism. When the drives eject
fully engaged.
Removing a diskette
Before attempting to remove a diskette, make sure that the drive is
not currently in use (the diskette activity indicator, opposite the
drives eject
button must be unlit). Press the eject button on the
drive. The drive mechanism disengages and the diskette is ejected
half-way out of the drive.
If a diskette becomes stuck in the drive, perhaps because its label has
peeled back, do not attempt to remove it with tweezers or any
3/2 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
button pops out, the diskette is
similar implement; you risk damaging the drive. Call an authorised
maintainer.
Write-protecting a diskette
A diskette can be write-protected by sliding a small tab towards the
edge of the diskette to expose the little hole beneath it (see
diagram). With the tab in this position, you can read, copy or print
files from the diskette, but you cannot create, rename or delete any
files.
Using your computer
The BIOS Setup utility can disable the diskette drive, or make it
read-only. See Appendix B System BIOS and Setup.
Using the CD-ROM drive
The CD-ROM drive can retrieve multimedia data from CD-ROM
discs and multi-session Photo-CD discs. It can also play commercial
audio CDs.
The software required to control the CD-ROM drive depends on
the operating environment; see the Help supplied with your
computer or ask your supplier for details.
It is important that the computer is not moved while a CD is in the
drive, especially if the CD is being played at the time.
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 3/3
Using your computer
Warning
The laser beam inside the CD-ROM drive is harmful to the eyes. Do
not attempt to disassemble the CD-ROM drive. If a fault should occur
it is advisable to contact an authorised maintainer.
The CD-ROM LED flashes amber when the CD-ROM tray is
opened, and when it is active (i.e. busy reading information) it
illuminates to amber.
The CD-ROM drive has the following features:
1
COMPACT
5
3
2
4
1 Disc drawer
2 Headphone jack and headphone volume level
3 Busy indicator
4 Emergency eject hole
5 Eject button
The headphone socket and volume control can be used whilst
listening to commercial audio or music C Ds (providing you are not
using external speakers, or feeding the output to your hi-fi). You can
still use all the other various features of your computer whilst you
are playing an audio CD.
3/4 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Inserting a compact disc
Using your computer
Press the
button on the front of the drive and place the CD face up
on the platter:
Push the button again, or gently push the front of the platter to
draw it back into the drive.
Removing a compact disc
Before attempting to remove a CD, ensure that the drive is not
currently active (the drives activity indicator should be green).
Press the eject button. The drive mechanism disengages and the
platter is ejected.
COMPACT
Note
Some software programs can temporarily override the eject button. They
do this to prevent the user from inadvertently interrupting the CD
operation.
To eject the drawer manually (for example, during a power failure)
you must ensure that the computer is turned off. Then insert a thin
metal rod (such as a unwound paper clip) into the emergency eject
hole and push, see overleaf:
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 3/5
Using your computer
COMPACT
3
5
7
1
PD/CD
BUSY
6
4
2
Keep CDs well away from dust and moisture, and avoid touching
the surface of the CD. Also, avoid extremes of temperature and
exposure to direct sunlight.
Using the PD/CD-ROM drive
The dual purpose PD/CD drive can read CD-ROM, Photo CD and
play audio CDs as well as providing re-writable optical cartridge
backup. It can be fitted as an option into any system where both a
CD-ROM drive and an efficient re-writable backup device is needed.
COMPACT
1 Disc/ cartridge drawer
2 Emergency eject hole
3 Stereo headphone socket
4 Volume control for headphones
5 CD/PD Indicator LED:
Green
Amber
6 Drive busy indicator LED:
Amber
Amber
7 Eject button
3/6 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
CD loaded
PD cartridge loaded
When CD-ROM disk is played.
Read/write to PD cartridge
Using your computer
PD/CD
BUSY
The drive control software provides two icons, each with its own
drive letter corresponding to the PD data cartridges, and the CD-
ROM.
The drive uses two LED indicators: one determines which type of
media is loaded in the drive, the other indicates the busy status of
the drive.
The drive can use any PD cartridges bearing the
cartridge is not formatted you will be prompted to format it.
Inserting a PD cartridge/ compact disc
Warning
The PD/CD drive can only accept one type of disk at any one time. Do
not try to attempt to load both a CD and PD cartridge at the same time
as this will severely damage the drive.
Press the eject button on the front of the drive and place the CD or
PD cartridge face up on the platter:
Push the button again, or gently push the front of the platter to
draw it back into the drive.
logo. If the
The indicator LED will then light up to indicate the type of disk
which has been inserted (green for CD and orange for PD
cartridge). The drive busy indicator will flash for a short while, wait
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 3/7
Using your computer
until it stops flashing before attempting to read or write information
form it.
Removing a PD cartridge/ compact disc
Before attempting to remove a CD or PD cartridge from the drive,
ensure that the drive is not currently active (wait for the drives busy
activity indicator to stop flashing ).
Press the eject button. The drive mechanism disengages and the
platter is ejected.
Caution
Do not turn the power off, or eject a PD cartridge whilst the drives
busy indicator is flashing. Your data may not be saved properly, or your
data may be corrupted.
To eject the drawer manually (for example, during a power failure)
you must ensure that the computer is turned off. Then insert a thin
metal rod (such as a unwound paper clip) into the emergency eject
hole and push (as shown for emergency eject of the CD-ROM
drive).
Write-protecting a PD cartridge
A PD cartridge can be write-protected by sliding the red switch (you
will need to use a pen) on the cartridge to the locked position
(marked with a closed padlock symbol) as shown below.
3/8 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Cleaning the PD/CD drive
It is recommended that you regularly use a specialist CD cleaning
disk to clean the lens in the drive as it may become dusty and fail to
operate.
Warning
Do not use any other instrument to clean the optical lens as you may
damage the drive.
Using an FTD Travan tape drive
The FTD Travan tape drive uses the on-board diskette/floppy disk
interface and so does not require an additional drive controller card
like most other tape drives.
The drive is designed for TR-1 or equivalent minicartridges (750 ft,
400 Mbytes). This nominal capacity can typically be doubled to
800 Mbytes by software data compression. The software required to
control the tape drive depends on your operating environment; ask
your supplier for details.
Using your computer
Note
The drive can also accept QIC-80 Wide cartridges (400 ft, 208
Mbytes) and long-length QIC-80 cartridges (307.5 ft, 124 Mbytes).
Inserting a cartridge
1. Remove the cartridge from its plastic holder.
2. Hold the cartridge so that the metal plate faces downwards, as
shown below. Slide the cartridge into the drive slot until you
feel a slight resistance.
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 3/9
Using your computer
3
3. Carefully push the cartridge in a bit further until it engages
with the drive mechanism. Once the cartridge is correctly
loaded, it protrudes about 12 mm from the drive.
Removing a cartridge
1. Check that the cartridge is not being accessed by the computer
(the drives activity indicator must be unlit).
2. Pull the cartridge carefully out of the drive slot, holding it
between thumb and forefinger.
3. Return the cartridge to its plastic holder. This protects the
cartridge and prevents dust from collecting on the surface of
the tape.
Write-protecting a cartridge
A cartridge can be write-protected by sliding the red switch on the
cartridge to the locked position (marked with a closed padlock
symbol) as shown below.
1
2
1 Activity Indicator
2 Metal plate
3 Write-protect tab
3/10 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Keep tape cartridges well away from magnetic objects, and
equipment that generates magnetic fields (for example, your
computers monitor). Avoid extremes of temperature and exposure
to direct sunlight; otherwise, the data recorded on the tape may
become corrupted.
Cleaning the drive
You should clean the read/write head and the capstan of the drive
frequently to prevent the accumulation of dust and metallic
particles.
If you notice read or write errors, or many bad blocks when using
the drive, be sure to clean the head and capstan thoroughly before
concluding that the drive or your tapes are defective.
Although it is possible to use special kits to clean the drive, we
recommend the use of 90% isopropyl alcohol and several non-
abrasive, lint free swabs, as follows:
1. Turn off the system unit and unplug all power cords.
2. The read/write head and the capstan are accessible through the
flip-up drive door.
Using your computer
3. Gently rub an alcohol-dampened swab against the surface of
the read/write head using a side-to-side motion. If the swab
becomes too discoloured, use additional swabs until there is no
further discoloration.
4. Rub another, unused, alcohol-dampened swab against the
surface of the capstan using an up-and-down motion. Gently
rotate the capstan and continue rubbing until the entire surface
is clean.
5. Wait for at least three minutes before using the tape drive.
This allows any residual alcohol to evaporate.
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 3/11
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