Mitsubishi Electric Apricot XEN pentium Owner's Manual
OWNER'S HANDBOOK
XEN Pentium
apricot
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
OWNER'S HANDBOOK
Chapter
Microsoft, MS, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks, and Windows is a trademark, of Microsoft
Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark, and VGA and PS/2 are trademarks, of International Business
Machines Corporation.
Intel is a registered trademark, and Pentium and OverDrive are trademarks, of Intel Corporation.
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.
All rights reserved; no use or disclosure without written consent.
Copyright © Apricot Computers Limited 1994
Published by
Apricot Computers Limited
3500 Parkside
Birmingham Business Park
Birmingham B37 7YS
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
Printed in the United Kingdom
Part No. 15445731
Revision 01
Safety and Regulatory Notices
Safety and Regulatory Notices
Read the separate Power Connection Guide before using your
computer for the first time. Information in the Owner’s Handbook
relating to connection to the AC power supply may not apply
outside the United Kingdom.
Your 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.
It is imperative that the computer is set to the correct voltage
range before use. If not, the machine may be irreparably damaged.
Turn off the computer and unplug all power cords before moving
the system unit, cleaning the computer or removing the system
unit top cover.
The CD-ROM drive contains a laser system which is harmful to
the eyes, and is classified as a CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT
according to IEC 825 Radiation Safety of Laser Products (Equipment
Classification: Requirements & User's Guide). Do not attempt to
disassemble the CD-ROM drive; if a fault occurs, call an
authorized maintainer. Use the CD-ROM drive only as described
in this manual; failure to do so may result in exposure to
hazardous radiation.
Safety
To prevent fire and electric shock, do not expose any part of
the system unit to rain or moisture.
When positioning the system unit, monitor and keyboard, take
into account any local or national regulations relating to
ergonomic requirements.
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK I
Safety and Regulatory Notices
Power cord The power cord packed with the computer complies with
requirements the safety standards applicable in the country in which it is sold.
Use only this power cord; do not substitute a power cord from
any other equipment.
Safety
If you wish to use the computer in another country, you must
ensure that you use a power cord and plug which complies with
the safety standards of that country.
Plug Standard Countries
250V
E
LN
250V
E
NL
250V
N
E
125V
E
N
250V
L
L
BS1363A United Kingdom
Austria, Belgium, Finland,
SHUCO France, Germany, Holland,
Italy, Norway, Sweden
SRAF 1962/ Denmark
DB16/87
NEMA 5-15P USA, Canada
ASE 1011 Switzerland
250V
The power cord fittings must bear the certification mark of the
agency responsible for evaluation.
Refer to your authorized supplier if you ever require additional
or alternative power cables.
II XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
AS 3112-1981 Australia
Safety and Regulatory Notices
UK plug wiring instructions
IMPORTANT Power
Cable Connections
This appliance is supplied with a mains lead that
has a non-removable moulded plug. If the socket
outlets are not suitable for the plug supplied with
this appliance, it should be cut off and an
appropriate three-pin plug fitted.
Note: The plug severed from the mains lead must
be destroyed, as a plug with the bared flexible
cord is hazardous if engaged in a live socket
outlet.
The following wiring information should be
employed when adding the replacement plug.
The wires in the mains lead are coloured in
accordance with the following code:
Green and Yellow Earth
Blue Neutral
Brown Live
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of
this appliance may not correspond with the
coloured markings identifying the terminals in
your plug, proceed as follows.
The wire which is coloured green-and-yellow
must be connected to the terminal in the plug
which is marked with the letter E, or by the earth
symbol or coloured green or green-andyellow.
The wire which is coloured blue must be connected
to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or
coloured black. The wire which is coloured brown
must be connected to the terminal which is marked
with the letter L or coloured red.
Use a fuse approved by ASTA to BS1362, i.e.
ASA
carries the
Always replace the fuse cover, never use the plug
with the fuse cover omitted.
Replace with same colour fuse cover only.
Replacement fuse covers may be obtained from
your dealer.
WARNING THIS APPLIANCE MUST BE
EARTHED
This diagram
shows the wiring
inside the moulded
plug. Use it as a
guideline if you
need to re-fit a plug
of a similar type to
the mains lead.
mark.
E
N
Safety
L
Noise levels German Acoustic Noise Regulation
Sound power level is less than 70 dB(A) according to DIN
45635 Part 19 (ISO 7779).
Die Deutsche Akoustische Lärm-Regulierung
Der Grad der Klangstärke ist weniger als 70 dB(A) je nach DIN
45635 Teil 19 (ISO 7779).
CLASS 1
LASER PRODUCT TO IEC 825
LASER KLASSE 1
PRODUKT NACH IEC 825
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK III
The CD-ROM drive is
classified as a CLASS 1
LASER PRODUCT.
The CLASS 1 LASER
PRODUCT label is
located on the under
side of the system unit.
Safety and Regulatory Notices
Refer to the labels on the rear of your computer to establish which of the following warnings
apply.
FCC Class A
Warning - this equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
computing device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules. Only peripherals (computer
input/output devices, terminals, printer, etc.) certified to comply with the Class A limits may be
Safety
attached to this computer. Operation of this equipment in a residential area may cause
unacceptable interference to radio and television reception requiring the operator to take
whatever steps are necessary to correct the interference.
FCC Class B
Warning - this equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class B computing
device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules. Only peripherals (computer input/output
devices, terminals, printer, etc.) certified to comply with the Class B limits may be attached to this
computer. Operation with non-certified peripherals is likely to result in interference with radio
and TV reception.
Radio and television interference
The computer described in this manual generates and uses radio frequency energy for its
operation. If it is not installed and used properly, in strict accordance with the manual, it may
cause interference with radio and television reception.
The computer has been tested and found to comply with the RF emission limits for an FCC Class
B computing device which is intended to provide reasonable protection against such interference
in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation.
If this equipment does cause interference with radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Move the computer away from the receiver being interfered with.
• Turn the computer with respect to the receiver.
• Turn the receiver with respect to the computer.
• Plug the computer into an outlet that is on a different branch circuit from the receiver.
• Disconnect and remove any I/O cables that are not being used.
• Unplug and remove any expansion cards that are not being used, and replace the relevant
blanking plates.
• Make sure that the computer is plugged into a grounded outlet.
If you need additional help, consult your supplier. You may find the following booklet helpful: How
to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems. This booklet is available from the US
Government Printing Office: Washington DC 20402 - Stock No. 004-000-000345-4.
DOC Class A
The computer described in this manual complies with: Canadian DOC radio interference
regulations CRCc 1374 governing Class A digital devices.
DOC Class B
The computer described in this manual complies with: Canadian DOC radio interference
regulations CRCc 1374 governing Class B digital devices.
IV XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
CONTENTS
Chapter
CONTENTS
1 Introducing your computer
2 Getting started with your computer
Contents
General advice 2/2
Connecting the components 2/3
Turning on and booting the computer 2/4
Preparing a second hard disk 2/6
The software on your computer 2/7
Using the SETUP utility 2/8
Using Help 2/9
3 Operating your computer
Using the front panel controls 3/2
Using the 3.5" diskette drive 3/3
Using the 5.25" floppy disk drive 3/4
Using a CD-ROM drive 3/6
Using the FTD tape drive 3/11
Using the SCSI QIC tape drive 3/13
Using the SCSI DDS-DC tape drive 3/16
Using your computer abroad 3/21
4 SETUP
Introduction 4/1
Invoking SETUP 4/1
The opening screen 4/2
Using SETUP 4/4
SETUP runs automatically 4/5
System summary 4/5
Devices and I/O ports 4/6
Date and time setup 4/10
System security 4/10
Start options 4/13
Contents
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK I
Contents
Advanced SETUP 4/15
ISA Legacy Resources 4/17
Power management 4/18
Error messages 4/20
5 Expanding the system
Expansion cards 5/2
Memory upgrades 5/6
Processor upgrades 5/10
Installing additional video RAM 5/13
5.25" drives 5/15
Contents
3.5" hard disk drive 5/21
6 Caring for your computer
Cleaning your computer 6/2
Transporting your computer 6/6
7 Troubleshooting
Problems when starting 7/2
Checklist 7/4
A Appendix - Inside your computer
Anti-static precautions A/2
Removing the top cover A/3
Configuring expansion cards A/4
Motherboard jumper settings A/14
B Appendix - Technical Information
Specifications B/2
Physical characteristics B/6
Electrical characteristics B/6
Port characteristics B/8
II XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
INTRODUCING YOUR COMPUTER
Chapter 1
Chapter
Introducing your computer
1 INTRODUCING YOUR
COMPUTER
The Apricot XEN Pentium range is ideally suited for use as
a general-purpose personal computer, networked business
workstation or workgroup server.
Read the separate Power Connection Guide before
using your computer for the first time.
Chapter 1
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 1/1
Introducing your computer
Standard features
Standard features of the range include:
• Intel Pentium system processor.
• Standard 8 Mbytes of motherboard random access
• Second level system memory cache (at least
• On-board high performance PCI bus video based on
• PCI Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard disk drive
• Fast graphic boot option with SETUP configuration
• Full power management.
memory (RAM), upgradable to 128 Mbytes by the use
of single in-line memory modules (SIMMs).
256kbytes).
a Cirrus Logic GD543X controller, equipped with at
least 1 Mbyte of video RAM, upgradeable to 2 Mbytes.
interface.
utility in read-only memory (ROM).
Chapter 1
1/2 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
• Two full-length, one half length 16-bit Industry
Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion card slots and
one full length PCI slot.
• ISA IDE drive interface for use with an ATA-PI CD-
ROM drive.
• Extended keyboard with microphone mount; two-
button mouse, parallel and dual serial ports.
• 1.44 Mbyte 3.5" diskette drive; 3.5" hard disk drive
bay with room for two one-inch drives; one 5.25"
removable media drive bay.
These standard features can be enhanced by more memory,
various hard disk and removable media drives, adapter
cards, and so on. For an outline of these options, see
Chapter 5, “Expanding the system”.
Unpacking
Introducing your computer
On unpacking the computer, you should find:
• System unit.
• Monitor and accompanying User’s Guide.
• Extended keyboard and two-button mouse.
• System unit AC power cord and monitor power cord
appropriate for the country of sale.
• System documentation (Owner’s Handbook, Warranty
Pack, and so on).
• Microsoft MS-DOS pack.
• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups pack (if the system
has a hard disk).
• Two caselock keys.
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.
Chapter 1
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.).
You may need this information if the computer develops a
fault. In particular, note the serial number stamped onto the
caselock keys, in case they get lost and need to be replaced.
Instructions for removing the top cover are given in
Appendix A, “Inside your computer”.
Turn off the computer and unplug all power cords
before removing the top cover.
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 1/3
Introducing your computer
5
4
Chapter 1
1/4 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
3
1
2
Introducing your computer
1 POWER button: press to turn the system on or off.
The green indicator on the button lights when the
system unit is powered.
2 activity indicators, from left to right:
lights when a diskette, floppy disk or floppy tape
drive is accessed (depending on the operating system).
lights when a hard disk drive or SCSI tape drive
is accessed (depending on the operating system).
3 door (shown closed): hinges down to reveal the
removable-media drive bay.
4 3.5" diskette drive: fitted as standard.
5 top cover caselock: the caselock secures the system
unit top cover; keep the keys for this lock in a secure
place.
Chapter 1
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 1/5
Introducing your computer
11
12
10
1
3
9
10
2
4
5
6
7
8
13
Chapter 1
1/6 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
Introducing your computer
1 AC power outlet: where the monitor power cord
can plug in. Only manufacturer-approved monitors
should be powered from this outlet.
2 voltage selection switch: the computer can be
set to operate with a 100-120 volt or 220-240 volt
AC power supply.
3 AC power inlet: where the system unit AC power
cord plugs in.
4 keyboard port: connect the keyboard to this port.
5 mouse port: connect the mouse to this port.
6 serial port 1 (50 baud to 19,200 baud): typically
used for connecting an external modem or a serial
printer signal cable.
7 serial port 2 (50 baud to 19,200 baud): typically
used for connecting an external modem or a serial
printer signal cable.
8 parallel port: typically used for a printer signal
cable. Supports ECP and EPP.
Chapter 1
9 monitor port: connect the monitor signal cable to
this port.
10 casing screws: loosen these to remove the top
cover.
11 security loop: you can feed a security chain or cable
through this loop and secure it to prevent theft of
the system unit.
12 blanking plates: for expansion card slots.
13 air vent: do not block this vent or the system will
overheat.
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 1/7
Introducing your computer
1
2
3
6
4
Chapter 1
5
7
1 motherboard: see the label inside the system unit
top cover for up-to-date information on the layout
of the motherboard.
2 expansion card slots: Three expansion slots, one
half length and one full length ISA, and one full length
slot which can be used by either an ISA or PCI card.
3 SIMM sockets: every system is fitted with at least 8
Mbytes of memory which can be upgraded to 128
Mbytes by the use of single in-line memory modules.
5 processor socket: replace the existing processor
with a suitable OverDrive processor here to upgrade
the processing power of your computer.
4 5.25" removable-media drive bay: may be
occupied by a removable media drive.
6 3.5" hard-disk drive bay: this bay has room for two
one-inch high IDE hard disk drives.
7 3.5" diskette drive: fitted as standard.
1/8 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR COMPUTER
Chapter
Chapter 2
Getting started with your computer
2 GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR
COMPUTER
You should read this chapter even if you do not read any
other. It provides important information to help you site,
connect, power and configure your computer.
If you are familiar with the operation of personal computers,
this chapter will probably tell you all you need to know in
order to start working with your computer. Chapter 3,
“Operating your computer”, has more information about the
use of the various disk and tape drives which may be fitted
in the system.
Read the separate Power Connection Guide before
using the computer for the first time.
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 2/1
Chapter 2
Getting started with your computer
General advice
The computer is designed to be used in a normal office
environment. Here are a few hints for choosing a suitable
site:
• Place the system unit flat on a sturdy, level surface.
Unlike some other computers, the system unit is not
designed to be stood on its side.
• Site the system 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 B, “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.
Chapter 2
2/2 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
• Give the system plenty of room so that air can
circulate on all sides. Air is drawn into the system unit
through the vent on the left-hand side. Ensure that
this vent is never obstructed.
• Do not allow any cables, particularly power cords, to
trail across the floor where they can be snagged by
people walking past.
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.
Getting started with your computer
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 your computer is delivered, it is ready for the
commercial AC power supply generally available in the
country in which it is 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 your computer in a country other than the one
in which it was originally sold, you must check the voltage
and frequency of that country’s AC power supply, and the
type of power cord required there.
If necessary, the AC voltage setting of the system can be
adjusted by the voltage selection switch on the rear of the
system unit (see the section on “Using the computer abroad”
in Chapter 3, “Operating your computer”). Note that the
monitor’s voltage setting will probably also need adjusting;
consult the User’s Guide that accompanies the monitor, or
ask your supplier for help.
Chapter 2
The “Safety and Regulatory Notices” section at the start of
this manual includes advice about suitable power cords.
Installing add-on options
If your computer arrived with uninstalled add-on options,
(such as expansion cards or memory modules) consult
Chapter 5 “Expanding the system” for step-by-step
instructions for installing them. Expansion cards may also
have their own documentation.
Note that some options for which you have installation
guides may have already been installed for you at the factory
or by your supplier.
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 2/3
Getting started with your computer
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:
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 signal cables and power cords (in that
order) to their respective ports and inlets on the
system unit, the monitor, and any peripherals. Make
sure the cables are connected securely.
When you plug the keyboard cable into the rear of
the system, be careful not to plug it into the mouse
port by mistake.
4. Connect the system unit and peripheral power
cords to nearby, grounded AC power outlets.
5. If your AC power outlets have switches, set them
to their On positions.
Your computer is now ready to use. The rest of this chapter
tells you how to turn your computer on and off, and how
to configure it using the built-in SETUP utility.
Turning on and booting the computer
Chapter 2
Turning the power on
To turn on the computer, simply press the POWER button.
The green indicator on the POWER button lights to show that
the system unit is powered. Remember that the monitor
has its own power control; see the monitor’s User’s Guide
for details.
Always make sure that the system is turned on before
turning on any attached peripherals.
2/4 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
Power-on self-test
Whenever the computer is turned on, the power-on selftest (POST) routine tests various hardware components,
including memory, and checks the computer’s configuration.
During this time, various BIOS sign-on and POST messages
are displayed, and you have the opportunity of invoking the
built-in SETUP utility to reconfigure the computer
(described later in this chapter).
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. By default, it will first look for a system diskette,
then for a bootable hard disk partition.
Turning the power off
When you have finished using the system and want to turn
it off, be sure that any information you want to keep is
stored on a diskette or on a hard disk. Any information held
in the computer’s system memory will be lost when you
turn off the computer.
Always turn off any attached peripherals first.
Getting started with your computer
Chapter 2
If you are logged-in to a network, log out before turning off
the computer. Similarly, close down or exit from any
software which employs virtual memory or disk-caching (for
example, Microsoft Windows v3.1x with SMARTDrive).
Do not turn off the computer if any of the activity indicators
on the front panel are lit; this means that the computer is
accessing a drive. Wait until that operation is completed
before turning off the computer.
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 2/5
Getting started with your computer
To turn off the computer, simply press the POWER button again.
The green indicator on the button goes out. (Remember that
the monitor is powered from the system unit.)
After you turn the computer off, wait at least 5 seconds before
turning it on again. The computer may not initialize itself
properly if you turn it off then on again in quick succession.
Preparing a second hard disk
Some computers have two hard disk drives, known as
master and slave.
The master drive is partitioned, formatted and has Microsoft
MS-DOS installed at the factory. The drive is given a single
primary DOS partition, which is the active partition. When
you turn the computer on, it will boot (load its operating
system) from the master drive, which will appear as MS-DOS
drive C.
The slave drive is not partitioned or formatted. You must
partition the slave drive with the MS-DOS Fdisk program,
and format the partitions with the Format command. Until
you do this, you will be unable to use the slave drive. See
your MS-DOS manual for instructions on using Fdisk and
Format.
Chapter 2
2/6 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
Caution: When you run Fdisk, it assumes you want to
work with the first, or master, drive (it says the “Current
fixed disk drive” is “1”). To switch attention to the slave
drive, choose Select next fixed disk drive (option 5) from
the main menu.
Of course, you may also want to use Fdisk to repartition
the master drive. If you decide to do this, be sure to make
a back up copy of all the information on the drive first,
including MS-DOS itself, as repartitioning will cause the
master drive’s existing contents to be lost.
Getting started with your computer
The software on your computer
All computers with a hard disk arrive with Microsoft MSDOS and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups pre-installed.
Other software may be pre-installed at the factory or by your
supplier.
Hard disks also contain a copy of the Windows display driver
for the video subsystem, but Windows is factory configured
to use the standard VGA driver. For instructions on changing
the Windows display setup refer to the CL543X help file
within Windows.
In addition to a working copy of MS-DOS, Windows and the
Windows display driver, your hard disk will contain images
of the DOS and Windows installation diskettes, and any
drivers diskettes for your computer. A Windows utility is
provided to allow you to create copies of these diskettes.
This utility is run whenever you start Windows.
You will need a copy of the display driver diskettes should you
wish to install a display driver for a non-Windows
application. Refer to the CL543X help file in Windows for
information on the drivers and utilities supplied.
Chapter 2
Copies of the DOS and Windows diskettes will safeguard
against hard disk failure, or accidental overwriting or
deletion of files. It is recommended that you use the utility
to create copies of the diskettes soon after setting up your
system.
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 2/7
Getting started with your computer
Using the SETUP utility
What is SETUP?
SETUP is a configuration utility programmed into the
motherboard’s read-only memory (ROM). Because it is
permanently kept in ROM, SETUP does not need an
operating system to function and can be invoked whenever
you turn on or reboot your computer.
SETUP’s purpose is to allow you to view and alter your
computer’s configuration. To configure a computer means
to declare its hardware components, such as the amount
of memory it has or the type of monitor, and to say how
you want them to be used. Configuring your computer is
often necessary to ensure that the software you use can
recognise and exploit the system’s capabilities.
The configuration data is kept in a special part of the
computer’s memory, known as configuration memory or
CMOS memory. This memory is sustained by a small
battery, so its contents are preserved while the computer
is turned off.
Chapter 2
Invoking SETUP
2/8 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
Your computer arrives preconfigured, but may need to be
reconfigured after you add or remove add-on options such
as memory modules or expansion cards. Refer to Chapter
4 “SETUP” for more information.
Each time the computer is turned on or rebooted, it runs
through a power-on self-test (POST) routine. During this,
the SETUP utility can be invoked by pressing the F1 key.
Once you have pressed F1, the SETUP utility usually starts as
soon as POST is completed (if your computer has a lot of
memory to test, this may take several seconds). However, if
the power-on password feature is enabled, you must enter
the password correctly before SETUP will start.
Getting started with your computer
Using Help
Along with the diskettes provided with your computer, or
the software preinstalled on its hard disk, you will often find
one or more Help files. These will explain any special features
of the system, and tell you how to install the software needed
to exploit those features.
Help may be supplied in various forms, depending on the
intended operating system; in the MS-DOS/Windows
application environment they are usually windows help files
or ASCII text files.
Viewing Windows help files
Windows help files can be displayed only by the Microsoft
Windows Help program (v3.1 or later). Windows help files
may be identified by their .HLP file extensions, although this
is not an infallible guide as some other help formats use the
.HLP extension. Windows help files are often accompanied
by .ICO icon files of the same name.
If your computer has a hard disk on which the Microsoft
Windows application environment has been pre-installed,
copies of some Windows help files may already be available
as icons in Windows. To view a help file, simply double-click
on its icon, or select the icon and press ENTER. For more
information about using Help, see your Windows
documentation.
If the Windows help file you want to view is not already
installed, or if for any other reason you need to view a
Windows help file directly from a diskette:
1. Insert the diskette into a suitable drive.
2. Use Windows File Manager to view the contents of
the diskette.
XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 2/9
Chapter 2
Getting started with your computer
3. Choose the .HLP file you want, either by doubleclicking on its filename or by selecting the filename
with the cursor and then pressing ENTER.
The Windows Help program starts, displaying the
first topic in the help file. For more information
about using Help, see your Windows
documentation.
Alternatively, you can copy the Windows help file from the
diskette to a hard disk or network drive, and create a
program item for it using Program Manager. The help file can
then be viewed at any time simply by double-clicking on its
icon. To do this:
1. Insert the diskette into a suitable drive. Copy the
.HLP file, and its associated .ICO icon file if it has one,
from the diskette to a hard disk or network drive.
2. Choose New from the File menu in Program
Manager. Select the Program Item option in the New
Program Object dialog box, then choose OK. The
Program Item Properties dialog box appears.
Chapter 2
Viewing text files
2/10 XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK
3. In the Description text box, type the title of the
diskette from which the help file was copied.
4. In the Command Line text box, type the path and
filename of the help file (including its .HLP
extension).
5. Choose Change Icon. The Change Icon dialog box
appears. In the File Name text box, type the path
and filename of the .ICO file. Choose OK.
6. In the Program Item Properties dialog box, choose
OK.
ASCII text files, identified by their .TXT file extensions, can
be read by most text editors and wordprocessing programs.
Alternatively they can be displayed, one screenful at a time,
using the DOS commands type and more; for example:
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