Nec POWERMATE CT 815 user Manual

Proprietary Notice and Liability Disclaimer

The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related materials, is the valuable property of NEC Computers Inc. (hereinafter “NECC”) and/or its licensors. NECC and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reserve all patent, copyright and other proprietary rights to this document, including all design, manufacturing, reproduction, use, and sales rights thereto, except to the extent said rights are expressly granted to others.

The NECC product(s) discussed in this document are warranted in accordance with the terms of the Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However, actual performance of each such product is dependent upon factors such as system configuration, customer data, and operator control. Since implementation by customers of each product may vary, the suitability of specific product configurations and applications must be determined by the customer and is not warranted by NECC.

To allow for design and specification improvements, the information in this document is subject to change at any time, without notice. Reproduction of this document or portions thereof without prior written approval of NECC is prohibited.

NEC, PowerMate, and MultiSync are registered trademarks and AccuSync is a trademark of

NEC Corporation or one of its subsidiaries. All are used under license.

Intel, Pentium, and LANDesk are registered t rademarks and Celeron is a trademark of Intel

Corporation. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective

trademark owners.

First Printing — February 2001

NEC Computers Inc.

15 Business Park Way

Sacramento, CA 95828

Contents

Using This Guide

Text Conventions........................................................................................... x

Related Documents ....................................................................................... xi

1 Reviewing System Features

Front Features..............................................................................................1-2

System Controls and Lamps...............................................................1-3

Diskette Drive..................................................................................... 1-4

Universal Serial Bus Port ...................................................................1-4

CD-ROM Drive.................................................................................. 1-5

DVD-ROM Drive............................................................................... 1-5

CD-RW Drive.....................................................................................1-5

Zip Drive ............................................................................................ 1-5

Rear Features...............................................................................................1-6

External Connectors ........................................................................... 1-9

Power Supply Features..................................................................... 1-10

Inside Features .......................................................................................... 1-11

System Board....................................................................................1-12

Power Management.......................................................................... 1-12

Hard Drive........................................................................................ 1-13

Network Board ................................................................................. 1-13

Fax/Modem Board............................................................................ 1-13

AGP Video Board.............................................................................1-14

Chassis ...................................................................................................... 1-14

Speakers....................................................................................................1-14

System Overview......................................................................................1-15

Hardware ..........................................................................................1-15

Software............................................................................................1-16

Preloaded Software..................................................................1-16

NEC OS Restore CD................................................................ 1-17

NEC Application and Driver CD.............................................1-17

Security............................................................................................. 1-17

Contents iii

2 Setting Up the System

Chassis Orientation......................................................................................2-2

Cable Connections.......................................................................................2-2

Startup .........................................................................................................2-3

Shutdown.....................................................................................................2-4

Power-Saving Operation..............................................................................2-5

System Care................................................................................................. 2-5

Protecting Your System From Damage ..............................................2-6

Keeping Your System in Good Condition ..........................................2-7

Moving or Shipping Your System......................................................2-7

More Information........................................................................................2-8

3 Configuring the System

Configuration Tools and Utilities................................................................3-2

BIOS Setup Utility......................................................................................3-4

How to Start BIOS Setup....................................................................3-4

How to Use Setup...............................................................................3-5

Main Menu..........................................................................................3-6

Advanced Menu................................................................................3-10

Security Menu...................................................................................3-19

Exit Menu .........................................................................................3-21

Hard Drive Security...................................................................................3-21

Establishing Hard Disk Drive Passwords .........................................3-21

Changing Hard Disk Drive Passwords..............................................3-22

Using Hard Disk Drive Password Protection....................................3-23

Moving the Hard Drive.....................................................................3-24

FLASH Utility...........................................................................................3-24

NEC INFO Center.....................................................................................3-25

NEC Application and Driver CD............................................................... 3-26

NEC OS Restore CD.................................................................................3-28

System Board Jumper Settings..................................................................3-29

Intel Processor Serial Number Control Utility ..........................................3-34

System Requirements........................................................................3-34

Installation ........................................................................................3-34

Processor Serial Number...................................................................3-35

Frequently Asked Questions.............................................................3-35

Technical Support.............................................................................3-36

iv Contents

4 Installing Options

General Rules..............................................................................................4-2

Safety Precautions.......................................................................................4-3

System Unit Covers.....................................................................................4-4

Removing the Cover...........................................................................4-4

Replacing the Cover ........................................................................... 4-6

Removing the Front Panel..................................................................4-7

Replacing the Front Panel...................................................................4-9

Expansion Boards......................................................................................4-10

Removing the Expansion Board Retainer Bar..................................4-11

Installing an Expansion Board.......................................................... 4-12

Removing an Expansion Board........................................................4-14

Installing the Expansion Board Retainer Bar....................................4-15

System Board Options...............................................................................4-16

Memory Upgrade..............................................................................4-17

Checking System Memory.......................................................4-18

Installing a DIMM Module......................................................4-18

Removing a DIMM Module.....................................................4-20

Processor Upgrade............................................................................ 4-21

Removing the Processor...........................................................4-21

Installing an Upgrade Processor...............................................4-23

Data Storage Devices................................................................................4-25

Device Bays...................................................................................... 4-25

Device Preparation ........................................................................... 4-26

5 1/4-Inch Accessible Device Upgrade ............................................ 4-29

Installing a 5 1/4-Inch Accessible Device................................4-29

Removing a 5 1/4-Inch Accessible Device .............................. 4-32

3 1/2-Inch Accessible Device Upgrade ............................................ 4-35

Installing a 3 1/2-Inch Accessible Device................................4-35

Removing a 3 1/2-Inch Accessible Device .............................. 4-38

Internal Hard Drive Upgrade............................................................ 4-39

Installing a 3 1/2-Inch Internal Hard Drive ..............................4-39

Removing a 3 1/2-Inch Internal Hard Drive ............................4-42

Minitower and Desktop Setup Options.....................................................4-43

Converting from Minitower to Desktop ........................................... 4-43

Converting from Desktop to Minitower...........................................4-45

Contents v

5 Solving System Problems

Solutions to Common Problems..................................................................5-2

System Problems.................................................................................5-2

Diskette Drive Problems.....................................................................5-4

Monitor Problems...............................................................................5-5

Keyboard/Mouse Problems.................................................................5-6

CD-ROM Drive Problems ..................................................................5-6

Speaker Problems................................................................................5-7

How to Clean the Mouse.............................................................................5-8

How to Replace the CMOS Battery...........................................................5-10

6 Getting Services and Support

NECC Website............................................................................................6-2

NECC FTP Site ...........................................................................................6-3

Email/Fax Technical Support Service .........................................................6-3

NECC Technical Support Services..............................................................6-4

A Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment

Making Your Computer Work for You......................................................A-2

Arrange Your Equipment...........................................................................A-3

Adjust Your Chair......................................................................................A-4

Adjust Your Input Devices.........................................................................A-6

Adjust Your Monitor..................................................................................A-8

Vary Your Workday.................................................................................A-10

Pre-existing Conditions and Psychosocial Factors...................................A-11

Checking Your Comfort: How Do You Measure Up? .............................A-11

Checking Your Chair.......................................................................A-11

Checking Your Keyboard................................................................A-12

Checking Your Mouse.....................................................................A-12

Checking Your Monitor...................................................................A-12

Checking You..................................................................................A-12

vi Contents

B System Specifications

Models........................................................................................................ B-2

System Board............................................................................................. B-2

Storage Devices.......................................................................................... B-3

Input/Output Devices................................................................................. B-4

Expansion................................................................................................... B-4

Power Management.................................................................................... B-5

System Management.................................................................................. B-5

Operating System Software........................................................................ B-5

Operating Environment.............................................................................. B-5

Compliance ................................................................................................ B-6

Index

Regulatory Statements

Contents vii

Using This Guide

The PowerMate® CT 815 User’s Guide provides a co mprehensive reference to information about your system.

The guide contains the following information:

! Chapter 1, Reviewing System Features, provides a look at the front,

back, and inside features of the system. It also gives a summary of the system’s hardware, software, and securi ty features.

! Chapter 2, Setting Up the System, briefly describes how to set up, start

up, and shut down the system. The chapter also provides information on installing applications, and tips on caring for the system.

! Chapter 3, Configuring the System, describes how to use the software

shipped with your system, including the BIOS Setup Utility, the FLASH Utility, the NEC INFO Center, the NEC Application and Driver CD, and the NEC OS Restore CD. The chapter also includes information for setting system jumpers.

! Chapter 4, Installing Options, provides installation proced ures for

processor and memory upgrades, expansion boards, and storage devices.

! Chapter 5, Solving System Problems, contains troubleshooting tips for

solving simple problems. The chapter also includes procedures for cleaning the mouse and replacing the system battery.

! Chapter 6, Getting Services and Support, describes the services

available to you for information and help, and describes how to access the services.

! Appendix A, Setting Up a Healthy Work Envi ronment, contains

guidelines to help you use your computer productively and safely. This appendix also instructs you on how to set up and use your computer to reduce your risk of developing nerve, muscle, or tendon disorders.

! Appendix B, System Specifications, provides technical specifications

for your system and its components.

Using This Guide ix

workstation may pose a risk of serious injury. To reduce your risk of injury, set up and use your computer in the manner described in Appendix A, Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment.

Text Conventions

This guide uses the following text conventions.

! Warnings, cautions, and notes have the following meanings:

in serious personal injury or loss of life.

hardware or software.

Prolonged or improper use of a computer

Warnings alert you to situations tha t could res ult

Cautions indicate situations that can damage the

Note

described.

! Names of keyboard keys are print ed as they appear on the keyboard,

Notes give important information about the material being

for example,

! Text or keystrokes that you enter appear in boldface type. For

example, type

x Using This Guide

Ctrl, Alt

abc123

Enter

, or

and press

Enter

Related Documents

In addition to this guide, the following printed documentation ships with your syst em.

! NEC PowerMate CT 815 Quick Setup/Quick Reference

The Quick Setup shows how to quickly get the system connected and powered on.

The Quick Reference briefly describes the documentation, NEC utilities, software applications, and services available with the NEC PowerMate CT 815 system.

! How Does Your Workplace Measure Up?

This brochure provides information for setting up and using the computer productively and safely. Information includes guidelines to reduce the r isk of injury associated w ith using a comp uter.

! NEC PowerMate CT 815 Release Notes

Release Notes provide additional information about the computer that was not available at the time the user’s guide was printed. Information in the Release Notes is the result of extensive product testing.

Your system also comes with the NEC INFO Center online documentation on your hard drive. The NEC INFO Center is an online guide to your PowerMate system. It provides information about the system through the follow i ng online modules: Tour, User’s Guide, Questions, Solutions, and Services.

In addition to the documentation that ships with the system, documentation is available from the NECC website.

! NEC PowerMate CT 815 Service and Reference Manual

This manual provides information for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing the system. This manual also includes hardware and interface information for programmers, engineers, and others who need to know how the system is designed.

Service and reference manuals are available on the Internet at the Service and Support area of the NECC website (see Chapter 6 for access information).

! NEC PowerMate CT 815 User’s Guide

Check the NECC webs ite fo r the mos t curr ent o nli ne vers io n of yo ur printed user’s guide.

Using This Guide xi

Reviewing System Features

Front Features

Rear Features

Inside Features

Chassis

Speakers

System Overview

workstation may pose a risk of serious injury. To reduce your risk of injury, set up and use the computer in the manner described in Appendix A, “Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment.”

This chapter highlights system hardware and software features, and describes the security features of the system.

Front Features

You can use your PowerMate CT 815 system as a minitower or as a desktop system. The following figures show the features on the front of the system for both configurations. Brief descriptions follow the figures.

PowerMate CT 815 minitower front features

Prolonged or improper use of a computer

– USB Port

B – CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive G – Power/Sleep Lamp C – 5 1/4-Inch Bay H – Disk Activity Lamp D – Diskette Drive I – 3 1/2-Inch Accessible Device E – 3 1/2-Inch Accessible

Device Bay

1-2 Reviewing System Features

– Power/Sleep Button

Bracket

PowerMate CT 815 desktop front features

A – Power/Sleep Button F – 3 1/2-Inch Accessible Device Bracket B – CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive G – 3 1/2-Inch Accessible Device Bay C – 5 1/4-Inch Bay H – Diskette Drive D – Power/Sleep Lamp I – USB Port E – Disk Activity Lamp

System Controls and Lamps

System controls and lamps are identical for the minitower and desktop systems. The controls and lamps include a power/sleep button, power/sleep lamp, and hard drive activity lamp. The previous figures show the controls and lamps on the front of the systems.

! Power/sleep button

Press this button to turn on system power. To turn off power, close all applications, and shut down Windo ws. If you have Windows Windows 2000, the system automatically powers down. If you have Windows NT

, close all applications, shut down Windows NT, and

press in the button until the system powers down (about four seconds). Press and immediately release the power/sleep button to suspend

system operation and go into a power sa ving mode. If you have a VESA-compliant monitor, your monitor also goes into a power-saving mode.

Press any key or move your mouse to resu me syste m oper a tio n at the point where you stopped it.

Reviewing System Features 1-3

98 or

! Power/sleep lamp

The power/sleep lamp indicates whether system power is on or off. It also lets you know if the system is operat ing in a power-saving mode.

A steady green lamp indicates that the power is on to all system components. An unlit lamp indicates that power is not on.

A steady amber lamp and a blank monitor (VESA-compliant) screen indicates that the system is in a power-saving (sleep) mode, with full-power reduction.

! Hard drive lamp

A blinking lamp indicates that the hard drive is active. The blinking lamp tells you that the hard drive is reading or writing data.

necessary while the hard drive lamp is lit. To do so can damage your hard drive or data.

Diskette Drive

Use the diskette drive to copy data files to and from a diskette. You can also use the diskette drive as a bootable drive for loading and starting programs from a diskette.

Do not turn off the system unless absolutely

To prevent damage to your diskette drive and data, do not turn off the system or remove a diskette while the diskette drive busy lamp is lit.

Universal Serial Bus Port

The universal serial bus (USB) port on the front of the system allows you to easily and conveniently add plug and play USB devices without opening up the system. You simply plug the USB device into the port. You can connect up to 127 devices including a mouse, monitor, keyboard, printer, scanner, speakers, and more. Two additional USB ports are on the rear of the system.

1-4 Reviewing System Features

CD-ROM Drive

Systems come with a 48X Max or higher variable speed compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive. Use the CD-ROM drive to load and start programs from a CD. You can also use the CD-ROM drive to play your audio CDs.

The CD-ROM drive operates at different speeds depending on whether the CD you are using contains data or music. This allows you to get your data faster and to see smoother animation and video.

DVD-ROM Drive

Some systems come with a 16X or higher digital video disc (DVD)-ROM drive. The drive offers many improvements over the standard CD-ROM technology, including superior video and audio playback, faster data access, and greater storage capacities.

The DVD-ROM drive uses DVD technology to read DVD discs as well as standard audio and video CDs.

CD-RW Drive

Some systems come with an 8X (record) 4X (rewrite) 32X (read) compact disk-rewritable (CD-RW) drive. Use the drive to record your data on a CD-RW disc, just like you would on a diskette, Zip

disc, or hard drive.

With a CD-RW drive, you can erase what you have recorded o n th e CD-RW disc and rewrite or record new data numerous times. CD-RW discs are available that hold up to 650 MB of data (74 minutes of audio) and up to 700 MB of data (80 minutes of audio).

You can read CD and DVD discs on the CD-RW drive. CD-RW discs can be read on CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives that support the MultiRead Standard.

Zip Drive

Some systems come with a 250-MB capacity Zip drive. Use the Zip drive with 3 1/2-inch Zip disks to back up work, archiv e ol d files , and transport your work. The Zip drive supports 250-MB and 100- MB Zip disks .

Reviewing System Features 1-5

Rear Features

On the rear of your system, you’ll find the power supply socket, a monitor power socket, a voltage switch, external connectors, and expansion board slots. The following figures show these features.

PowerMate CT 815 minitower rear features

– AC Power Connector

– Power Supply

– Keyboard/Mouse Anti-Theft Bracket

– Cover Locking Tab

1-6 Reviewing System Features

– Expansion Slots

– System Board Connectors

– Monitor Power Socket

– Voltage Switch

PowerMate CT 815 minitower rear connector locations

A – Keyboard Port G – Line In B – Mouse Port H – Line Out C – USB Port I – VGA Connector D – Parallel Port J – Serial Port 1 E – MIDI/Game Port K – USB Port F – Microphone In

Reviewing System Features 1-7

PowerMate CT 815 desktop rear features

– Power Supply

– Keyboard/Mouse Anti-theft Bracket

– Cover Locking Tab

– Expansion Slots

– System Board Connectors

– Monitor Power Socket

– Voltage Switch

– AC Power Connector

PowerMate CT 815 desktop rear connector locations

– Mouse Port

B – USB Port H – VGA Connector C – Parallel Port I – Line Out D

– MIDI/Game Port

– Keyboard Port

– USB Port

– Serial Port 1

– Line In

– Microphone In

1-8 Reviewing System Features

External Connectors

External connectors let you attach peripheral devices, such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and printer to your system. Your system has the following external connect ors .

! Mouse port

Attach the mouse that comes with your system to this port. The mouse port supports a personal system/2-compatible (PS/2 mouse.

! Keyboard port

Attach the keyboard that comes with your system to the keyboard port.

The keyboard port supports a PS/2-compatible 101-key or 104-key keyboard (in the U.S. and Canada) or a 102-key keyboard (in the United Kingdom and Germany) with a 6-pin mini DIN connector.

! Universal Serial Bus ports

Two USB ports add USB capability at the rear of the system. A third USB port is on the front of the system.

! Serial port 1 (COM A)

Attach a serial device with a 9-pin connect or to this serial port. Serial devices include a pointing device, serial printer, or a modem. Some systems might ship with a second serial port (serial port 2, COM B) installed in an expansion slot.

-compatible)

! Printer port

Use this port to connect a parallel printer with a 25-pin connector to the system.

! VGA monitor connector

Attach the signal cable from your monitor to the VGA connector on the rear of the system. Use this port to connect an NEC MultiSync monitor, NEC AccuSync™ monitor, or o ther VGA-compatib le monitor with a 15-pin conn ect or.

! MIDI/game port

Use this port to attach a musical MIDI device or a gaming device to your syst em.

Reviewing System Features 1-9

! Audio connectors

The system co me s with sound integrated on the system board. The following audio connectors are at the rear of the system (see the preceding figure for locations).

— Microphone in jack

Use this jack to connect a microphone for recording audio information in your data system files.

— Line in jack

Use this jack to connect a stereo audio device such as a stereo amplifier or a cassette or minidisc player for playback or recording.

— Line out jack

Use this jack to connect an amplified output device, such as powered speakers or headset, a stereo tape recorder, or an external amplifier for audio output.

! Fax/modem port

Some systems come with a V.90 rated 56-kilobits per second (Kbps) PCI fax/modem board. The board allows the connection of a phone line to the system for data communications functions.

! LAN port

Some systems come with a local area network (LAN) board or a Communications and Networking Riser (CNR) board. Use the RJ-45 compatible LAN port on the board for connecting the system to an Ethernet LAN.

Power Supply Features

Your system has the following power supply features:

! Power socket

Connect your power cable to this socket.

! Monitor power socket

If you have a plug adapter, plug the monitor power cable into this socket instead of a wall outlet.

! Power supply fan

The power supply fan cools the power supply and other system components to keep them from overheating. Keep the area near the fan clear for proper ventilation.

1-10 Reviewing System Features

! Voltage switch

Sets the voltage for your system to 115 volts or 230 volts.

area. Most wall outlets in the United States and Canada are 115 volts. Outlets in Europe are 230 volts.

Inside Features

See the following figure for the location of major features within the system. Feature descriptions follow.

Set the switch correctly for the voltage in your

Inside the syste m

A – Power Supply D – Internal Drive Bracket B – System Board E – Expansion Board Slots C – Accessible Device Cage

Reviewing System Features 1-11

System Board

The system processor, memory, system battery, internal connectors, and most external connectors are on the system board. For information on the external connectors, see “External Connectors” earlier in this chapter.

Internal connectors on the system board include:

! diskette drive connector ! primary and secondary IDE connectors that support up to four IDE

drives

! processor Socket 370 that supports Pentium III and Celeron processors ! three DIMM sockets ! three PCI connectors and one CNR connector for expansion boards

(expansion slots support up to three PCI boards or up to two PCI boards and one CNR board)

! AGP board connector for AGP video and graphics boards ! CD audio connector for a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive ! digital flat panel/TV Out (DFP/TV) header for connecting an optional

DFP/TV board

! front panel connectors for system lamps and USB ! power connectors ! additional connectors, including Modem In (MDM), Auxiliary In

(AUX), Wake-On LAN (WOL), Wake-On Ring (WOR), case op en, and CPU fan.

Power Management

Your system comes with Advanced Power Management (APM) a nd Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI). Included as a subset to ACPI is Instantly Available Technology.

APM features Soft Power Off, which automatically powers down your system when you exit Windows 98 or Windows 2000 (not available for Windows NT). This feature is enabled or disabled through your system’s BIOS (see Chapter 3, “Configuring the System,” for Power Management BIOS settings).

1-12 Reviewing System Features

Instantly Available Technology features the ACPI sleep mode which maximizes power savings. When i n the sleep mode, your system appears to be off. The power supply and fans are off and the power lamp is amber. Pressing a key or moving the mo use ins t antl y wa ke s up your sys te m and returns it to where you were before placing the system in the sleep mode. This feature is enabled or disabled by setting jumpers on the system board (see Chapter 3, “Configuring the System” for information on setting system board jumpers).

If you have an optional internal or external modem installed, you can use the Wake On Ring (WOR) and Resume On Ring (ROR) features of your system. With WOR, your system can be powered up through the modem from either the Soft Power Off or ACPI modes. The first call through the modem powers on the system and a second call allows access to your system.

The ROR feature allows a single call on your modem to resume system operation and allow you system access. The ROR feature can be used while the system is in the sleep mode or the ACPI power on state.

See Chapter 3, “Configuring the System,” for information on setting the WOR and ROR features through the system’s BIOS. In addition, for the WOR feature, a cable must be connected to the modem and to the WOR connector on the system board.

Hard Drive

All systems come standard with a 10-GB or higher Ultra DMA 66/100 hard drive.

Network Board

Some systems come with an Intel® Ethernet 10/100 network PCI board, a

10/100 3C905C TX-M Ethernet network PCI board, or a CNR

3Com network board.

Fax/Modem Board

Some systems come with a V.90 PCI fax/modem board installed in a PCI slot. Connect your telephone line to this board.

Reviewing System Features 1-13

AGP Video Board

Some systems come with an AG P 4X video board. Conne c t your monitor to the VGA connector on this board.

Chassis

The NEC convertible chassis conforms to the Intel ATX form factor specification. The chassis has the following features:

! standardized chassis size and dimensions ! standardized system board size and dimensions ! standardized ATX 235-watt power supply with WOL capabilities ! switchable drive cage so system can be used in a minitower or desktop

orientation.

Note

Choose the position that best suits your space. See Chapter 4 for procedures on converting your system to a different orientation.

Speakers

Some systems come with two high-quality stereo speakers. If the speaker set has a volume control, a djust the speaker volume by using this control. You can also use the Windows To launch the Windows sound software, double click the speaker icon on the taskbar (nex t to the system clock). Use the software to control speaker volume or to balance the sound between the left and right speakers.

The system can be placed in the minitower or desktop position.

sound softwar e to control the speak ers.

1-14 Reviewing System Features

System Overview

Your system hardware and software deliver the performance and technologies you need for all your challenging tasks today and into the future. See the following sections for information about your system’s hardware, software, and security features.

Hardware

The PowerMate CT 815 system includes the following hardware features:

! PC99 compliance

All the hardware in the system has been certified by Microsoft PC99 compliant.

! Processor

The system comes with an Intel

Pentium® III 600-MHz or higher processor with a 133-MHz or higher FSB. Processor speed and FSB depends on the system configuration.

! Flashable ROM BIOS

The system’s ROM BIOS features system setup configuration, plug and play support, and flash support for easy and economical BIOS upgrades.

! System memo r y

Your system comes with at le as t 64 MB of non-E CC synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM). The system supports up to 512 MB.

! Power management opti ons

The system comes with power management features that help you conserve energy and reduce power costs (see “Power Management Features” earlier in this chapter).

to be

Reviewing System Features 1-15

Software

NECC provides a variety of applications and hardware utilities with your system to let you take advantage of your hardware capabilities.

Preloaded Software

Your system comes preloaded with the Microsoft® Windows® 98 operating system or th e Windows 2000/Windows N T

operating system

configuration. If you have a Windows 2000/Windows NT configuration, you must

choose the operating system you want to load. The operating system you choose is your only operating system and is the one that the NEC OS Restore program restores.

NECC-provided applications, drivers, and utilities come loaded on the hard drive. You can install some of your applications from icons on the Windows desktop. Software available on your system includes the following applications:

! Microsoft

Internet Explorer Internet Explorer provides a top- notch browser with preloaded link s for easy access to the world wide web. Also use Internet Explorer to access one of the many new browser-based utilities.

! Norton AntiVirus™ 2000 Software

Protect your system from viruses by running Norton’s virus scan software.

! Adobe

Acrobat® Reader Use the Adobe Acrobat Reader to read and print portable document format (PDF) files found on the Internet and PDF documents included with various software applications.

! NEC INFO Center

Get quick access to information about your system in the online NEC INFO Center. NEC INFO Center modules include Tour, User’s Guide, Questions, Solutions, and Services. See “NEC INFO Center” in Chapter 3 for a description of the modules and how to use the INFO Center.

! Intel LANDesk

Client Manager Use LANDesk software to track system information such as serial number, BIOS version, memory capacity, disk capacity, expansion board settings, and applications. Use LANDesk software for remote starts from a server system using Wake-On LAN and remote reboot.

1-16 Reviewing System Features

NEC OS Restore CD

Your system comes with an NEC OS Restore CD and bootable diskette. Should a problem occur that causes data loss or corruption, you can use the NEC OS Restore CD to restore your system to its original factory state or you can restore just the operating system and drivers. A full system restore loads the operating system and all the factory-supplied software that comes on your hard drive. See “NEC OS Restore CD” in Chapter 3 for information about using the restore options.

NEC Application and Driver CD

Use the NEC Application and Driver CD to install driver s for NEC system options that are not part of the factory configuration. Also use the NEC Application and Driver CD to reinstall NECC-supplied so ft ware. See “NEC Application and Driver CD” in Chapter 3 for information about installing software from the CD.

Security

The system has hardware, software, and mechanical security features that offer protection against unauthorized access to your system and data. The following security features are available with the system.

! Password securit y

The BIOS Setup Utility includes a feature that lets you set up a user password, a supervisor password, or both.

The user password controls booting of the system and controls access to the Setup Utility and the keyboard. (User access to the BIOS Setup Utility is limited to a subset of all BIOS Setup parameters when a supervisor password has been set.)

The supervisor password allows full access to the system and the BIOS.

! Windows networ k se cur it y fea tur e s

To learn more about the network security features available through the Windows operating system, refer to your Windows documentation or consult yo ur system admini strator.

Reviewing System Features 1-17

! Keyboard/mouse anti-theft bracket

Secure the mo use and keyboard cables within the anti-theft bracket to make it difficult to remove them from your system. See “Cover Removal” in Chapter 4 for procedures on securing the cables in the anti-theft bracket.

! Cover locki ng tab

The system also has a cover locking tab on the rear of the chassis. The tab fits through a slot on the rear edge of the chassis cover when the cover is on. When a padlock is used in the tab, th e syst em cover cannot be removed and is physically protected from chassis intrusion.

! Chassis intrusion notification

Whenever the chassis cover is removed, a hidden switch sends a signal to LANDesk Client Manager (LDCM). LDCM logs the incident and then reports it on screen the next time the system is rebooted.

! Hard drive security

Your system supports password protection for the hard drive. Hard drive password protection restricts access to the drive if the drive is removed and installed in another system. The system does not prompt for hard drive passwords while the drive remains in the current system.

The passwords are written to the system BIOS and to the hard drive to ensure that the password protection travels with the drive if it is moved to another system. See Chapter 3, “Configuring the System,” for additional information on using hard drive security.

1-18 Reviewing System Features

Setting Up the System

Chassis Orientation

Cable Connections

Startup

Shutdown

Power-Saving Operation

System Care

More Information

This chapter provides the basic information you need to set up and use your system. This includes cable connections, system startup procedures, system shutdown procedures, and system care. The chapter also includes a chart showing where to find additional information about the system.

Chassis Orientation

The NEC PowerMate CT 815 system can be used either as a minitower or as a desktop system. The accessible drives in the system can be positioned to accommodate either orientation. Rubber feet on the system allow it to rest securely at your work area when the system is in either position.

The system ships ready for use as a minitower system. You can easily convert the system for use as a desktop. See “Minitower and Desktop Setup Options” in Chapter 4 for instructions on convertin g to a desktop orientation, or back to a minitower orientation.

Cable Connections

After unpacking the system, converting the system to the desktop orientation (if desired), and pos itioning the system unit in your work area, connect the system components using your Quick Setup poster and the following tips.

! Use the icons on the rear of the system unit to ident ify the keyboard,

mouse, printer, USB, and monitor connectors.

! If the system comes with an optional LAN board, connect the LAN

cable to the RJ-45 connector on the board. See your network administrat or for guid elines on configuring the system for network access.

! If the system comes with an optional fax/modem board, connect it to

the telephone line as follows: — Unplug the telephone from the telephone jack on the wall. — Plug the telephone cable that comes with the system into the line

jack on the rear of the system and into the telephone jack on the wall.

— Plug the cable on the telephone into the phone jack on the rear of

the system.

2-2 Setting Up the System

! For all other boards (CNR, DVI, AGP, sound), see the documentation

! Set the voltage switch correctly for your area. The correct setting for

! Connect system power cables to a surge protector (recommended) or a

to a surge protector.

Startup

Press the power button to start up your system. The power lamp lights green to indicate that the system is on. The system performs its Power-On Self-Test (POST). Several messages appear indicating that your system is checking its subsystems. To see the messages, press during POST.

provided with the board.

the U.S. and Canada is 115V.

Set the voltage switch correctly for your area.

properly grounded wall outlet.

NECC recommends connecting the power cable

Esc

At the bottom of the NEC startup screen, the following message appears:

Press F2 to enter BIOS Setup

If you want to enter the BIOS Setup, immediately press F2 while the startup screen displays.

One beep indicates that the system has successfully completed the power-on test.

After a short delay, Windows starts up. If a problem occurs, a series of beeps may sound. If this happens

repeatedly after powering on, power off the system and turn to Chapter 5, “Solving System Problems.” The chapter provides helpful hints for solving system prob lems.

Setting Up the System 2-3

Note

have changed, run the BIOS Setup Utility (see Chapter 3, “Configuring the System”).

On systems with Win dows 2000, enter your password at the log- on box. On systems loaded with the Windows NT 4.0 operating system, press

Ctrl Alt Del

for entering a password.

Shutdown

Follow these steps to power off your system.

If the system is in sleep mode (power lamp is amber and screen is blank), press a key or move the mouse to take it out of sleep mode (see “Power Saving Operation” in the next section).

Save your work and exit all open application programs.

Make sure that the hard drive, diskette drive, and any other drives are not in use. A lit device lamp indicates that the device is in use.

before using the Windows shut down procedures in step 4. Unless absolutely necessary, never power off the system if the system

power lamp is amber (sleep mode), if the hard drive lamp, diskette drive, or other device lamp is flashing, or if any applications are open. Information on the device might be lost or damaged.

If the system displays a message indica tin g that syst em setti ng s

when prompted on-screen to do so. The log-on box appears

Wait until all applications are saved and closed

Start

Click

Shut down the computer

on the taskbar, then point to and click

down.

! If the system is configured with Windows 98 or Windows 2000,

the system shuts down automatically after a short interval.

! If your system is configure d with Windows NT, perform a

Windows shutdown, then power off the system by pressing and holding in the power button for four seconds or longer.

Turn off power to your monitor.

2-4 Setting Up the System

, then click

Yes

or press

Shut Down

Enter

for shut

. Select

Power-Saving Operation

If the system is running Windows 98 or Windows 2000, you can put it in sleep mode (a power-saving state) by pressing and immediately releasing the power button on the front of the system unit. The sleep mode is a way of conserving energy if you are away from your system for a short period of time. (See “Power Management” in Chapter 1 for additional information on saving power.)

Take care to press and immediately release the power button to enter the sleep mode. Avoid pressing and holding in the power button longer than three seconds. If you do so, you might turn off power and lose data from any open applicatio n.

The system also goes into sleep mode when it has been inactive, if the power management has been enabled, and an inactivity timeout has been enabled. To see if power management is enabled, click

Settings,

Click the setting other power management functions.)

When the system goes into sleep mode, it saves data and system status and then shuts of f power to all possible components. S l eep mode lets you save power without first saving your work.

Control Panel

click

Power

tab and check the settings. (Also see Chapter 3 for

, and double click

Start

, point to

Power Management

An amber power lamp and a blank screen indicates that the system is in sleep mode. Press a key or move the mouse to resume system operation where you left o ff.

System Care

Your system is a durable, dependable system built for heavy use. With protective measures and proper care, you can prevent problems and promote the successful operation and long life span of your system.

Setting Up the System 2-5

Protecting Your System From Damage

There are several ways that you can protect your system from possible damage. NECC strongly recommends the following protective measures.

! Connect a surge suppressor between your system and a grounded wall

outlet. A surge suppressor protects your system from sudden transient increases and decreases in electrical power.

Be sure to connect all peripherals, such as your monitor and printer, to the surge suppressor. T he surge protec t or should be the only device that you plug into the wall outlet.

! Avoid repeated power-on cycles. These sub j ect the system

components to temperature variations and stress.

! Disconnect your system from tel ephone and power lines when an

electrical storm threatens. If you have a fax/modem, lightning can travel in on the phone line and damage both the fax/modem and the system unit. L ightning can also trav el in on power lin es and damag e your monitor and system unit.

! Be sure that system power is off before you connect or disconnect a

cable. Never make cable changes when the system power is on. Doing so can damage the system and its peripherals.

! Use your Norton AntiVirus 2000 detection software regularly to

protect your system from system viruses. If you plan to load software programs other than the ones NECC

supplied on the Application and Driver CD, NECC strongly recommends that you take the necessary steps, such as virus checks, to protect your system.

! Position your system away from direct sunlight and extreme hot and

cold temperatures. The recommended operating environment is from 41°F to 95°F (0°C

to 35°C). The recommended non-operating env ironment (shipping or storage) is

from 14°F to 158°F (-10°C to 70°C).

! After turning off power, wait about five seconds for the hard drive to

spin down before you power on again .

2-6 Setting Up the System

! Be sure that nothing is placed on top of your system power cables. ! Prevent dust from entering your system by covering it when it is not in

use.

Keeping Your System in Good Condition

Maintain the condition of your system by periodically using the following procedures.

For safety, power off and unplug your system,

monitor, and any external devices before cle aning them.

! Clean the outside of the system with a soft clean cloth.

You can remove stubborn stains with a cloth slightly dampened with a mild detergent. Never use a strong cleaner or solvent on any part of the system.

! Keep food and liquids away from your system. ! Periodically clean the keyboard with a vacuum cleaner brush

attachment. Do not use any liquid cleaners on the keyboard as they can damage the keyboard.

If an object, such as a paper clip, falls into the keyboard, turn the keyboard over and gently shake it.

! Clean the monitor screen with a glass cleaner and wipe it with a clean,

lint-free cloth. You can use wet/dry clean ing pads manufactured for monitor screens.

Moving or Shipping Your System

Use these steps to prepare your system for moving or shipping.

Back up the files on the hard drive to diskettes, Zip disks, CD-RW discs, tape cartri dges, server hard drives, or other backup devices.

Take precautions for storing and transporting diskettes, Zip disks, CD-RW discs, or tape cartridges so that they are not exposed to magnetic fields or electr ica l impu lses .

Setting Up the System 2-7

Remove all removable media from your drives, including CDs, DVDs, CD-RW discs, diskettes, Zip disks, and tape cartridges.

Turn off the system unit and any external options connected to it.

Unplug the system unit power cable from the wall outlet or surge suppressor, then from the unit its elf.

Unplug any external options from the wall outlets or surge suppressor, then disconnect them from the system unit.

Pack the system components in the original shipping materials and cartons. If these are not available, be sure to use adequate packing materials to protect the components.

To set up your system, fo llow the steps on the PowerMate CT 815 Quick Setup poster that comes with the system.

More Information

Once you have your system up and running, we suggest that you do the following:

! Install applications provided by NECC. ! See “Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment” in Appendix A. ! Install any of your own applications. See the documentation that

comes with the application.

See the following quick reference chart to find information about using the system.

2-8 Setting Up the System

Quick Reference to Information About Your System

Information Where to Find It

Accessing the world wide web Chapter 6 Adding system upgrades Chapter 4 Configuring your system Chapter 3 Converting the system to a desktop

configuration Converting the system to a minitower

configuration Installing the NEC INFO Center online

documentation Protecting the system from viruses Chapter 1, Chapter 3 Reinstalling the applications prov ide d

by NECC Setting a password Chapter 3 Setting up your system Chapter 2 Taking care of the system “System Care” in Chapter 2 Troubleshooting tips Chapter 5

Using support services Chapter 6

“Converting from Minitower to Desktop” in Chapter 4

“Converting from Desktop to Minitower” in Chapter 4

“NEC INFO Center” in Chapter 3

“NEC Application and Driver CD” in Chapter 3

Setting Up the System 2-9

Configuring the System

Configuration Tools and Utilities

BIOS Setup Utility

Hard Drive Security

Flash Utility

NEC INFO Center

NEC Application and Driver CD

NEC OS Restore CD

System Board Jumper Settings

Intel Processor Serial Number Control Utility

This chapter provides information on configuring your system. The chapter includes information on:

! Americ an Megat rends Inc. (AMI) BIOS Setup Utility for configuring

your syst em

! hard drive security for password protection of the internal hard drive ! FLASH Utility for BIOS updates ! NEC INFO Center for quick access to information about your system ! NEC Applications and Driver CD for installing the NECC-supplied

applications and installing optional drivers

! NEC OS Restore CD for resto ring the operating syst em ! jumper settings for setting various system configurations. ! Intel Processor Serial Number Control Utility for controlling the

reading of the processor serial number.

See the following table for a quick guide to the utilities, tools, or procedures required for configuring the system. For detailed information about these and other tools, see the sections following the table.

Configuration Tools and Utilities

The following table lists ways you can configure the system, and the utility, tool, or procedure to use for the configuration.

Configuration Tools and Utilities

Configuration Method, Tool, or Utility

BIOS, updating FLASH Utility Boot devices, determining BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) Boot order, changing BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) Clearing CMOS Jumper Settings

Configuring jumpers on syst em board Jumper Settings Diskette drive, enabling BIOS Setup (Main Menu)

3-2 Configuring the System

Configuration Tools and Utilities

Configuration Method, Tool, or Utility

Drivers for NECC hardware, installing NEC Application and Driver CD Hard drive, setting a pre-delay BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) Hard drive, setting password protection BIOS Setup (Security Menu) Inactivity timeout, setting BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) NEC INFO Center, installing NEC INFO Center NEC INFO Center, uninstalling NEC INFO Center Operating system, restoring NEC OS Restore CD Parallel port, enabling, configuring BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) Password, setting or clearing (user,

supervisor, or both) Plug and Play, enabling BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) Power management, enabling,

configuring Serial ports, enabling BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) Software, reinstalling (NECC provided) NEC Application and Driver CD Sound, enabling BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) Time and date, setting BIOS Setup (Main Menu) USB functions BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu) Windows 98, Windows NT,

Windows 2000, restoring

BIOS Setup (Security Menu)

BIOS Setup (Advanced Menu)

NEC OS Restore CD

Configuring the System 3-3

BIOS Setup Utility

The AMI BIOS Setup Utility program is used to configure the main components of your sy stem.

Your system ships from the factory with the correct system parameters for your configuration. Unless you add optional hardware, you do not need to run the BIOS Setup Utility to operate the system. However, you might wish to run the Setup Utility to set features that customize the system, such as security features.

System configuration information is stored in nonvolatile memory. A nonvolatile memory device retains its data when system power is turned off. Nonvolatile memory in your system is stored in a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory chip backed up by a battery on the system board. The battery supplies continuous power to CMOS memory and maintains configuration information when system power is off.

NECC recommends that you print out or write down your current BIOS Setup parameters and store the information in a safe place. This lets you restore your system to the current parameters if you ever need to replace the battery (see “How to Replace the CMOS Battery” in Chapter 5).

How to Start BIOS Setup

To start the BIOS Setup Utility, follow these steps.

Turn on or reboot the system.

Press F2 as soon as you see th e following message at th e bottom of the NEC startup screen.

You have about five seconds to pr e ss F2 before the system boot continues.

Setup’s Main Menu appears.

3-4 Configuring the System

How to Use Setup

The Setup Utility has a Main Menu window and four top-level menus with submenus. The menu bar at the top of the Main Menu window lists the following top-level menus.

! Main  Use the Main Menu for basic system configuration. For

example, select Main to set the system date, set diskette and hard disk parameters, or set the hard drive auto-detect feature.

! Advanced  Use the Advanced Menu to set up the system for

advanced CMOS, advanced chipset, power management, Plug and Play, serial and parallel peripherals, and hardware monitor.

! Security  Use this menu to set User and Supervisor Passwords and

password check.

! Exit  Exits the Setup Utility with various save or discard o p tions.

Use the keys listed in the lege nd bar on the bo ttom of the menu screen to make the selections or exit the current menu. Help Setup information is displayed on the right side of the menu screen.

The following table describes the lege nd keys.

Navigation Keys

Key Function

Esc Exits the menu. Enter Executes Command or brings up a

submenu. F1 Press this key on any menu for help. F5 Loads default values. F6 Loads setup original values. F10 Saves changes and Exits the BIOS Setup

Utility. Up or down arrow keys Moves cursor up and down in the menu.

Configuring the System 3-5

Navigation Keys

Key Function

Left or right arrow keys Selects next menu.

/PgUp

–/PgDn

To select one of the four menus from the menu bar, use the left and right arrow keys. Use the up or down arrow keys to select an item under the menu.

Menu items preceded by a > contain a submenu of selectable fields for setting system parameters. Display a submenu by using the up or down arrow keys to move the cursor to the desired submenu, then press

An Item Specific Help window on the right side of each menu displays the help text for the currently selected Setup option. It updates as the cursor moves to each new field.

Pressing describes the legend keys and their functions.

Press The following subsections describe the four top-level menus and their

submenus.

Main Menu

Increases numeric values or makes changes.

Decreases numeric values or make s changes.

on any menu brings up the General Help window that

Esc

to exit the current window.

Enter

Choose the Main Menu by selecting Main in the legend bar on the Main Menu screen. Other Main Menu options are available by selecting submenus.

Use the arrow keys to select one of the Main Menu options and press

Enter

to select a submenu. Items with grayed-out text are not available.

Explanations of each Main Menu item are in the following table.

3-6 Configuring the System

Setting items on this menu to incorrect values

can cause your system to malfunction.

Main Menu Items

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

System Date

System Time

Floppy Drive A Not Installed

Floppy Drive B

Set system date in this field. Press Tab or Enter to move between month, date, and year fields.

Example: 10/20/2000 Set system time in this field. Press Tab or Enter

to move between hour, minute, and second fields.

Example: 09:30:50

360 KB 5 1/4"

1.2 MB 5 1/4" 720 KB 3 1/2"

1.44 MB 3 1/2"

2.88 MB 3 1/2"

Not Installed

360 KB 5 1/4"

1.2 MB 5 1/4" 720 KB 3 1/2"

1.44 MB 3 1/2"

2.88 MB 3 1/2"

Configuring the System 3-7

Main Menu Items

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Primary IDE Master Primary IDE Slave Secondary IDE Master Secondary IDE Slave

Type

Auto, User Type, Not Installed Auto, User Type, Not Installed Auto, User Type, Not Installed Auto, User Type, Not Installed

Each device menu item displ ay s the hard driv e or CD-ROM identifier if a device is installed.

If you install a hard drive that does not feature auto IDE type detection or your IDE hard drive was formatted on another system with parameters different from those reported by the drive, enter a parameter for each of the fields in the device submenu.

Bring up a device submenu by pressing Enter. Each is briefly described in the following.

Auto, User, CD-ROM, Floptical, Not Installed, 1-46

When set to Auto, the BIOS sets the correct values for the device, including Cylinders, Heads, Write Precompens ation, Sectors, Maximum Capacity, Fast Programmed I/O Mode, 32 Bit Transfer Mode, LBA Mode, and Block Mode. Selecting User allows you to configure the BIOS for the device selected. The Not Installed setting indicates that there is no IDE device present in the system.

Depending on the option selected, one of the following submenus displays .

Cylinders When Type is Auto, value in the cylinders field is

auto-detected and field is read only.

Heads

When Type is Auto, value in the Heads field is auto-detected and field is read only.

3-8 Configuring the System

Main Menu Items

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Write Precompensation

Sectors When Type is Auto, value in the Sectors field is

Maximum Capacity When Type is Auto, value in the Maximum

Fast Programmed I/O Modes

32 Bit Transfer Mode

LBA Mode

Block Mode

When Type is Auto, value in the Write Precompensation field is auto-detected and field is read only.

auto-detected and field is read only.

Capacity field is auto-detected and field is read only.

Auto, 0 -5 Use these settings to configure the Advanced

PIO Mode. On, Off

When On, allows 32 bit IDE data transfers. Should only be On if supported by a chipset controller.

On, Off When On is selected, it causes logical block

addressing to be used in place of cylinders, heads, and sectors.

On, Off When On is selected, it allows block mode data

transfers.

Auto Detect Hard Drives

CPU Speed xxx MHz

Press Enter Auto detects all hard drive parameters.

Not selectable, displays information only.

Configuring the System 3-9

Main Menu Items

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Front Side Bus Speed xxx MHz

Not selectable, displays information only.

Memory Size xxx MB

Not selectable, displays information only.

Memory Speed xxx MHz

Not selectable, displays information only.

BIOS Version

Advanced Menu

Choose the Advanced Menu by selecting Advanced in the legend bar on the Main Menu screen. Other Advanced Menu options are available by selecting submenus.

Use the arrow keys to select an Advanced Menu option. Press display the submenu. Items with grayed-out text are not available. Explanations of each Advanced Menu item are in the following table.

can cause your system to malfunction.

Axxxxxx Not selectable, displays information only.

Setting items on this menu to incorrect values

Enter

3-10 Configuring the System

Advanced Menu - Advanced CMOS Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

View DMI Event Log Clear all DMI Events

Logs

Event Logging

Mark DMI Events as Read

Status only. Press Enter to view. No, Yes

Selecting No prevents clearing out the DMI events logs.

Enabled, Disabled Selecting Enabled permits event loggin g.

Press Enter (Yes/No) Press Enter to mark DMI event log as read.

Advanced Menu - Advanced Configuration

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Quick Boot

Delay for Hard Drive (seconds)

Enabled, Disabled When Enabled, the BIOS does not test system

memory above 1 MB or wait for ready signals, allowing a quick boot.

3, Disabled, 1 -10 Selects the amount of time for hard drive delay.

1st Boot Device

2nd Boot Device

3rd Boot Device

Floppy, Disabled, IDE-0, IDE-1, IDE-2, IDE-3, LS-120/Zip, ATAPI Zip, CDROM, SCSI, Network

Sets the floppy drive as the first boot device.

IDE-0

Sets the hard drive as the second boot device.

CDROM

Sets the CD-ROM drive as the third boot device.

Configuring the System 3-11

Advanced Menu - Advanced Configuration

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Try Other Boot Devices

Floppy Access Control

S.M.A.R.T. for Hard Disks

Boot-up Num-Lock

Boot to OS/2>64 MB

CPU Serial Number

Yes, No Select Yes to cause the system to try to boot from

other boot devices if there is a boot failure. Selecting No causes the boot to be carried out from selected devices.

Read-write, Read-only Select Read-write to allow the diskette drive to have

read-write capabilities. Disabled, Enabled

Select Enabled to use the Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) for reporting a possible problem with an IDE device. After receiving the warning, the BIOS alerts you to the problem.

Off, On Select On to lock the numeric keypad on boot up.

No, Yes Select Yes to enable a boot to OS/2 if RAM is greater

than 64 MB. Disabled, Enabled

Controls detection of the processor serial number.

3-12 Configuring the System

Advanced Menu - Advanced Chipset Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

USB Function

USB Keyboard/Mouse Legacy Support

Memory Hole

ClkGen Spread Spectrum

ClkGen for PCI Slot/DIMM

Enabled, Disabled Select Enabled to enable use of USB functions for

USB devices. Enabled, Disabled,

Select Enabled to enable the USB functions for a USB keyboard and mouse.

15MB-16MB, Disabled Select 15MB-16MB to reserve a space in the

memory, between 15 and 16 MB, for certain ISA boards.

Disabled, Enabled Select Enabled to enable the Clock Generator

Spectrum and limit the risk of electromagnetic emissions.

Disabled, Enabled Select Enabled to enable the Clock Generator for PCI

and DIMM slots.

Configuring the System 3-13

Advanced Menu - Power Management Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

ACPI Standby State S1/POS, S3/STR

Select S1/POS for a low wake-up latency sleeping state. In the S3/STR mode, the CPU, cache, and chipset contexts are lost.

USB Keyboard Wakeup From S3

Power Management/APM

Suspend Time Out (Minutes)

Power Button Function

Restore on AC/Power Loss

Disabled, Enabled Select Enabled to allow the system to wake up fr om a

keyboard input when in S3 mode. Enabled, Disabled

Select Enabled to enable Power Management and Advanced Power Management (APM).

Disabled, 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 Specifies duration of system inactivity while in

Standby state before entering Suspend power state. Suspend, On/Off

Suspend sets the power switch for Suspend (Sleep) mode. With power on, pressing the switch once places the system in sleep mode. Pressing and holding the switch in for 4 seconds turns power off.

Last State, Power Off, Power On The Power On setting automatically turns power on

after a power loss. The Power Off setting requires the user to restart the system with the power button. The Last State setting restores the system to the state where it was on power loss.

Resume on Ring

Disabled, Enabled The Enabled setting automatically reboots the system

when a signal is sent through a modem.

3-14 Configuring the System

Advanced Menu - Power Management Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Resume on LAN

Resume on RTC Alarm

RTC Alarm Date 15, Every Date

RTC Alarm Hour 12, 1-00

RTC Alarm Minute 30, 0-59

RTC Alarm Second 30, 0-59

Disabled, Enabled The Enabled setting automatically reboots the system

when a signal is sent through a LAN. Disabled, Enabled

When Enabled, you can choose the time the system boots up (see the following time setting s).

Sets the day that the system boots up (when Resume on RTC Alarm is Enabled).

Sets real time clock alarm hour (when Resume on RTC Alarm is Enabled).

Sets real time clock alarm minute (when Resume on RTC Alarm is Enabled).

Sets real time clock alarm second (when Resume on RTC Alarm is Enabled).

Configuring the System 3-15

Advanced Menu - Plug and Play Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Plug and Play Aware O/S

Clear NVRam

Primary Graphics Adapter

PCI VGA Palette Snoop

DMA Channel 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7

IRQ 3, 4, 5, ,7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15

No, Yes Select No to allow the BIOS to initialize any add-on

boards. Select Yes to allow the operating system to initialize any add-on boards.

No, Yes Select No to prohibit clearing of NVRam.

Auto, Internal, External AGP, External PCI Allows selection of the Primary Graphics Adapter as

an add-on board or onboard. Disabled, Enabled

Set to Enabled to enable PCI VGA palette snooping. PCI/PnP, ISA Permits configuring the DMA channels either by

PCI/Plug and Play or by ISA. PCI/PnP, ISA

Permits configuring the interrupt requests either by PCI/Plug and Play or by ISA.

3-16 Configuring the System

Advanced Menu - Peripheral Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

AC’97 Audio Controller

AC’97 Modem Controller

Onboard Serial Port A

Serial Port A Mode

Onboard Serial Port B

Serial Port B Mode

Onboard Parallel Port

Enabled, Disabled The Enabled setting allows use of onboard sound.

Enabled, Disabled The Enabled setting allows use of onboard telephony.

Auto, 3F8/COM1, 2F8/COM 2, 3E8/COM3, 2E8/COM4, Disabled

Defines serial port A base I/O address. Normal, IrDA, ASKIR

Select Normal to set the port for normal use. Auto, 3F8/COM1, 2F8/COM2, 3E8/COM3,

2E8/COM4, Disabled If serial port B is installed, select 2F8/COM2 as the

serial port B base I/O address. Normal, IrDA, ASKIR

Select Normal to set the port for normal use. 378, 278, 3BC, Auto, Disabled

Select Auto to allow the BIOS to automatically assign the parallel port to an available parallel port IRQ.

Parallel Port Mode

Parallel Port IRQ

EPP, ECP, Normal Use this mode to choose the operating mode of the

onboard parallel port. 7, 5, Auto

Allows setting of the interrupt request (IRQ) for the parallel port.

Configuring the System 3-17

Advanced Menu - Peripheral Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Parallel Port Mode DMA Channel

OnBoard MIDI Port

MIDI IRQ Select

OnBoard Game Port

0, 1, 3, Auto Allows you to choose DMA channel for the onboard

parallel port in ECP mode. Displays only when parallel port is enabled and in ECP mode.

Disabled, 300, 330 Allows you to configure or disable onboard MIDI port.

IRQ 9, IRQ 5, IRQ 7, IRQ 10 This allows you to select the IRQ for the MIDI port.

201, 209, Disabled This allows you to configure or disable the onboard

game port.

Advanced Menu - Hardware Monitor Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

ACPI Shut Down Temperature

Disabled

60°C/140°F

F/149°F 70°F/158°F 75°F/167°F

ACPI gives the operating system direct control over the power management and Plug and Play functions of a computer. The system shuts down at the temperature indicated.

Reset Case Open Status

Reset, Disabled, Enabled Case status is reset.

3-18 Configuring the System

Advanced Menu - Hardware Monitor Setup

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Case Status Opened, Closed CPU Temperature

CPU Fan Speed Chassis Fan Speed Power Fan Speed CPU VID Vcore Vtt Vcc3 +5.000V +12.000V

-12.000V

-5.000V Battery +5V SB

Security Menu

Choose the Security Menu by selecting Security in the legend bar on the Main Menu screen. Other Security Menu options are available by selecting submenus.

Use the arrow keys to select one of the Security Menu options and press

Enter

to select a submenu. Items with a grayed-out text are not available.

Explanations of each Security Menu item are in the following table.

The BIOS detects the value for each of these categories automatically and monitors them accordingly.

Configuring the System 3-19

Security Menu Items

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Set Supervisor Password

Set User Password [Enter]

Password Check Setup, System

Assign HDD Password

[Enter] Use this field to set or change the supervisor

password. Press Enter to bring up a dialog box where the password can be entered and confirmed.

Use this field to set or change the user password. Press Enter to bring up a dialog box where the password can be entered and confirmed.

Allows the user to determine when a password is needed. Selecting Setup requires a password for entering the BIOS Setup Menu. Selecting System requires a password every time the system is turned on.

Press Enter to access the Assign HDD Password Mode.

Controls access to the system’s hard driv e by assigning master and user passwords. See “Hard Drive Security” later in this chapter for information and procedures for using the HDD password mode.

CAUTION: If the master and user password are set on a hard drive, they can never be removed. If the master password is forgotten and the hard drive is installed in another system, data cannot be accessed on the hard drive.

Once these passwords are set, NEC Computers Inc. has no capability to remove them.

3-20 Configuring the System

Exit Menu

Choose the Exit Menu by selecting Exit in the legend bar on the Main Menu. Other Exit Menu options are available by selecting submenus.

Use the arrow keys to select one of the Exit Menu options and press to display the submenu. Explanations of each Exit Menu item are in the following table.

Exit Menu Items

Menu Item Settings (default is bold)

Exit Saving Changes Implements the changes just made, and exits BIOS. Exit Discarding

Changes Load Default Settings Reverts to the factory set default settings.

Load Original Values Reverts to the factory set original settings.

Reverts to the settings from before the BIOS session.

Hard Drive Security

Your NEC PowerMate CT 815 system allows establishing password protection for the internal hard drive. Hard disk drive (HDD) password protection restricts access to the drive only if the drive is removed from the PowerMate CT 815 system and installed in another system. The system does not prompt you to enter your HDD passwords while the drive remains in the current system.

Enter

The HDD passwords are written to the system BIOS and to the hard drive to ensure that the password protection travels with the drive if it is moved to another system.

Establishing Hard Disk Drive Passwords

To establish password protection for the system’s hard drive, you must establish a master password, establish a user password, and enable the established passwords for the internal hard drive. Use the following procedure to establish HDD passwords and to enable HDD password protection.

Configuring the System 3-21

If you set the master and user password on a hard drive, you can never remove the passwords. You can change the passwords. If you forget the master password and install the drive in another system, you cannot access the data on the hard drive.

Once you set these passwords, NEC Computers Inc. has no capability of removing them.

If you install the hard drive in another PowerMate system with hard disk drive security enabled, you must enter the password to allow access to the hard drive. If this PowerMate system does not support hard disk drive

security, you cannot access the data on the hard drive.

Boot your system. Press F2 when prompted to enter BIOS Setup. The Main Menu screen appears.

Using the arrow keys, select the Sec urity Menu.

Use the down arrow key to highlight

Enter

press

Enter a master HDD password and press

. The system prompts you to enter a master password.

Assign HDD Password

you to reenter the password to verify.

Reenter the master HDD password and press confirms the creation of the master password and prompts you to enter a user password.

Enter a user password and press

Enter

reenter the password to verify.

Reenter the user pa ssword and press

Highlight and select

Primary Master HDD Password

Enter

+ (plus) and – (minus) keys to enable the selection. (This enables password protection for the internal HDD.)

Changing Hard Disk Drive Passwords

Use the following procedure to change hard disk drive passwords.

Boot your system. Press F2 when prompted to enter BIOS Setup.

At the Ma in Menu s creen, se lect the S e curity Men u.

and

Enter

. The system prompts

Enter

. The system

. The system prompts you to

. Use the

3-22 Configuring the System

Highlight

! If you enter the current master password, you are prompted to

Assign HDD Password

and press

Enter

enter a new master password.

! If you enter the current user password, you are prompted to enter

the new user password.

! If you do not want to establish a new master or user password,

Esc

press

Save the changes and exit BIOS Setup.

instead of entering a new password.

Using Hard Disk Drive Password Protection

To facilitate the transfer of one or more HDDs between systems, establish a single master password (and store the password in a secure place). Forgetting the master password results in the inability to access the data on the hard drive. Establish different user passwords to limit access to specific systems.

Once you set these passwords, NEC Computers Inc. has no capability of removing them.

security, you cannot access the data on the hard drive.

With hard disk drive security enabled on the original NEC PowerMate CT 815 system, the system boots normally.

If you install the hard drive in another NEC PowerMate system with security enabled, you must enter the master password to access the hard drive. If the hard drive is installed in another NEC PowerMate CT 815 system with security disabled, the system prompts you to enter the master password and then a new user password.

Configuring the System 3-23

Moving the Hard Drive

When a password protected hard drive is moved from its original system and installed in another system, error messages appear indicating that the drive is locked. Next, the Security Setup screen appears requiring the user to enter the master password to unlock the drive. Enter the master password, when prompted.

To take advantage of HDD password protection in another system, the system must be equipped with the same HDD password protection feature. To de termine if the system has HDD password pr otection, check the Security Menu in the BIOS Setup to see if there are provisions for establishing HDD passwords.

FLASH Utility

The system BIOS resides on a flash read only memory (ROM) chip in your system. The flash ROM can be updated using the following procedure. Before starting the BIOS update, NECC recommends that you first contact NECC for assistance (see Chapter 6 for contact information).

Update the FLASH ROM with a BIOS FLASH diskette. The diskette contains the latest version of the BIOS code. You can get the diskette from NECC or download the BIOS from the NECC website. See Chapter 6 for download and website information.

Update the BIOS from the BIOS FLASH diskette as follows.

Write down the BIOS Setup parameters currently set on your system.

Turn off the system.

Put the FLASH diskette in drive A, and turn on the system.

When the flash upgrade menu appears, choose

Memory Area from a file

When the menu asks you to enter a path/filename, use the arrow keys to select the “.bio” file and press

The utility asks for confirmation to load the new flash into memory.

Continue with Programming

Select

After the upgrade completes, remove the diskette.

3-24 Configuring the System

Update Flash

Enter

Reboot the system and start the Setup program. Press F9 to reset the BIOS defaults. Use the recorded Setup selections you made at the beginning of this procedure to set the parameters.

NEC INFO Center

The online NEC INFO Center provides quick access to information about your system. The INFO Center includes the following modules.

! Tour

Use Tour to find information about easy-to-use NECC printed and online documentation, software installation tools, and many support services.

! User’s Guide

Use this module to get quick access to basic information about your system.

! Questions

Look in this module to get answers to frequently asked questions about your system.

! Solutions

Go to this module to find solutions to common system problems.

! Services

Check this module for a quick reference to the many NECC support services available to you.

To install the NEC INFO Center, double click the NEC OnLine Docs icon on the Windows desktop. Once the NEC INFO Center is installed, an NEC INFO Center icon appears on t he Windows desktop. Double click on this icon to start the NEC INFO Center. The INFO Center opening screen appears (see the following figure).

Click on an NEC INFO Center m odul e of your choice, depen ding on the information you want to see. We suggest you start with the Tour module.

Configuring the System 3-25

NEC INFO Center opening screen

To uninstall the NEC INFO Center, use these steps:

Access the C:\NEC INFO directory on your system.

Double click the NEC INFO Center and the

Alternately, you can click

Panel

. At the Control Panel, double click

Double click

Unwise.exe

NEC INFO Center

icon to remove all files related to the

C:\NEC INFO

Start

directory.

, point to

Settings

Add/Remove Programs

and follow the prompts.

To reinstall the NEC INFO Center, use the NEC Application and Driver CD (see the following section, “NEC Application and Driver CD”).

NEC Application and Driver CD

Use the NEC Application and Driver CD to reinstall NECC-provided software, including

! applications ! utilities and device drivers ! the NEC INFO Center (online documentation).

3-26 Configuring the System

, and click

Control

You can also use the NEC Application and Driver CD at any time to restore an application, driver, or utility.

Note

CD, the full restore process loads all the factory-installed software that came with your system.

If you perform a full system restore using the NEC OS Restore

If you add NECC hardware options specified for your system, you can use the NEC Application and Driver CD to install the drivers for the options.

Install the software from the NEC Applicatio n and Driver CD as follows.

Power on your system.

Insert the auto-start Application and Driver CD into the CD-ROM drive. The Selective Restore screen appears, prompting you to select an application or driver from the list.

Click on an application, driver, or utility in the “Applications/Drivers:” wind ow.

Read the information given in the “Important Setup Information:” window.

Click

Install

to install your selection. Follow any on-screen

instructions to install your selection.

Exit

Click

to close the Application and Driver program.

Remove the CD from the CD-ROM drive when the installation is complete.

Configuring the System 3-27

NEC OS Restore CD

Use the NEC OS Restore CD to restore your system to its original factory state if a problem occurs that causes data loss or corruption. The NEC OS Restore CD provides options for a full system restore with factoryinstalled software or for a restore with only the operating system and drivers. A full restore loads all the factory-installed software.

If you select to restore only the operating system and drivers, you can use the NEC Application and Driver CD to select the software you want to load on your system. See the previous section, “NEC Applica tion and Driver CD,” for information on using the Application and Driver CD.

Before starting, we recommend that you first contact NECC for assistance (see Chapter 6 for contact information).

Use the following steps to perform the OS Restore with the bootable Master Restore diskette and the OS Restore CD.

The NEC OS Restore program deletes all the data on your hard drive. If possible, back up your data before performing an OS restore.

If possible, back up all your critical data files onto storage media (such as diskettes, Zip disks, or CD-RW discs) or t o an exte rn al storage device such as a server hard drive.

Remove any diskette or CD-ROM disc from your system.

Power down your system. Insert the bootable Master Restore diskette into the diskette drive and the NEC OS Restore CD into the CD-ROM drive. Power on the system.

The system boots and the NEC Computers Inc. Restore screen appears.

At the Restore screen, click Y to continue (or N to exit the program). A warning screen appears, with a prompt that continuing the restore

will destroy all data on your primary drive.

3-28 Configuring the System

At the warning screen, click C to continue (or X to exit the program). A restore selection screen appears, with a prompt asking if you want

a full restore or an operating system and driver restore.

At the restore selection screen, click F for full restore or O for an

operating system and driver restore. (Or click

to exit the program.)

A series of restoring screens appear, advising you that the restore process is continuing. The restore process takes a few minutes to do.

At the completion of the restore, a Restore Complete screen is displayed, with a prompt to either do s ystem updates (see step 8) or reboot the system (see step 9).

If you are updating your system, do the following procedure at the system update prompt.

! Remove the Master Restore bootable diskette and restore CD

from their drives.

! Insert the NEC Application and Driver CD or other CD into the

drive. If you are using the NEC Application and Driver CD, go to

“NEC Application and Driver CD” earlier in this chapter to complete the update.

If you are not updating yo ur sys te m, remove the Master Restor e bootable diskette and restore CD from their drives. Press any key to reboot your system and open the Windows desktop.

System Board Jumper Settings

System board jumpers enable you to configure your system for a particular system requirement. Conditions that might require changing jumper settings include the following situations.

! You need to restore the CMOS setting to the factory state. ! Your BIOS is corrupted and you need to restore the BIOS. ! You need to wake your system from a USB device.

Before starting, we recommend that you first contact NECC for assistance (see Chapter 6 for contact information).

Configuring the System 3-29

Use the following figure to locate the jumpers on the system board.

Locating the system board jumpers

A – CMOS Clear (JP18) D – PS/2 Keyboard Power On (JP3) B – BIOS Recovery (JP15) E – Front USB Keyboard Wake Up (JP31) C – Rear USB Device Wake Up (JP1) F – Save to RAM (JP4)

Jumpers are set correctly at the factory for y our configuration. Only change the appropriate jumper setting for your application. Otherwise, keep the jumpers at their factory settings.

3-30 Configuring the System

Set the jumpers as follows.

Power off and unp lug the system and any external optio ns. Remove the system cover (see “Removing the Cover” in Chapter 4).

Locate the appropriate jumper on the system board (see the previous figure “Locating the System Board Jumpers”).

Move the appropriate jumpers for your application as shown in the following table, “Setting system board jumpers.”

Before setting jumpers, we recommend that you

first contact NECC for assistance (see Chapter 6 for contact information).

The system power must be off before changing

a jumper setting.

Check your settings to be sure that they are correct for your application.

Replace the system cover (see “Replacing the Cover” in Chapter 4). Connect system power cables and external options.

Power on the system and launch the BIOS Setup Utility before POST and recustomize your BIOS settings as necessary.

Configuring the System 3-31

Setting System Board Jumpers

Function Jumper Setting Description

CMOS Clear JP18 1-2

2-3

BIOS Recovery

Rear USB Device Wakeup

JP15 1-2

2-3

JP1 2-3

1-2

Factory setting. Maintains sy stem board configuration in CMOS RAM with onboard battery.

To clear CMOS, turn off the system, remove the jumper from pins 1-2, and place the jumper on pins 2-3. Wait 10 seconds. Replace the jumper on pins 1 and 2 and power on the system.

CAUTION: To prevent damage to the system board, avoid clearing CMOS while power is on.

Factory setting. Sets the system for normal operation. The BIOS uses current configuration information and passwords at power on.

To enable BIOS recovery for a corrupted system, remove the jumper from the block. Wait 10 seconds. Replace the jumper on pins 1 and 2.

Restores Safe BIOS settings as the default BIOS settings and loads the BIOS Setup at power on.

Factory setting. Enables system wakeup via input from a rear USB port.

Disables system wakeup via input from the rear USB port.

PS/2 Keyboard at Power On

JP3 2-3

1-2

3-32 Configuring the System

Factory setting. Disables the keyboard at power on.

Enables the keyboard at power on.

Setting System Board Jumpers

Function Jumper Setting Description

Front USB Keyboard Wakeup

Save to RAM JP4 Jumpered

JP31 2-3

1-2

Open

Factory setting. Disables system wakeup from the USB keyboard connected to the front USB port.

Enables system wakeup from the USB keyboard connected to the front USB port.

Factory setting. Enables Save to RAM (STR) function. In STR mode, the system saves to memory al l configuration information and all running programs. When the system leaves Suspend mode, it restores everything from memory.

Disables Save to RAM function.

Configuring the System 3-33

Intel Processor Serial Number Control Utility

The Intel Processor Serial Number Control Utility is a Windows program that enables or disables the reading of the Pentium III processor serial number by software. This function lets you control which software programs or websit es h av e perm ission to read the processor serial number. When enabled, the utility runs automatically each time the system powers on.

The utility places an icon in the Windows system tray. The icon provides a visual status of the processor serial number. You have the option of hiding the system tray icon. You can enable or disable the processor serial number at any time. However, enabling the serial number requires restarting the system.

The following information describes:

! system requirements ! installation procedures ! processor serial number features ! FAQs ! technical support.

System Requirements

The Intel Processor Serial Number Control Utility requires:

! Pentium III processor-based system ! Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 (or later) ! 2 megabytes of hard drive space.

Installation

The Intel Processor Serial Number Control Utility (version 1.0) comes already installed on your system. The system ships with the processor serial number turned off (disabled).

3-34 Configuring the System

Processor Serial Number

The Intel processor serial number, a feature of the Pentium III processor, is an identifier for the processor. The processor serial number is unique, and when used in conjunction with other identification methods, can be used to identify the system or user. This number can be used in a wide variety of applications that benefit from stronger forms of system and user identification.

The processor serial number is analogous to a conventional serial number, with these important differences:

! A software application can read the processor serial number. ! You can enable or disable the reading of the serial number via utility

programs such as this one, or via the BIOS, depending on the system configuration.

For additional information about the Pentium III processor and the processor serial number, visit

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the processor serial number?

You can use the processor serial number in applications that benefit from stronger forms of system and user identification.

www.intel.com/pentiumiii

Why would I want to turn off my processor serial number?

Intel believes the processor serial number can provide compelling benefits to users. They are developing features in conjunction with the processor serial number to allow responsible service providers to provide services that maintain your privacy. However, if you are concerned that a given application/service using your pr ocessor number might impact your privacy, you can turn off the processor serial number using the utility.

What is the default state of the processor serial number?

The default state of the processor serial number is on, until the Pr ocessor Serial Number Control Utility is installed. Once the Processor Serial Number Control Utility is installed, it turns the processor serial number off by default. You can use the utility to turn on the processor serial number.

Configuring the System 3-35

Can a website read my serial number without my knowledge?

No, generally not. Websites cannot read serial numbers unless you allow them to download a program that can read the processor serial number. Almost all browsers are configured to warn users whenever they download executable software. Unless you disable the warning in the browser, you should receive a notification.

Does Intel track serial numbers?

Generally not, other than related to the manufacturing process. Intel does not, in the absences of advance and express consent of a user, collect serial number data that is otherwise identified with a user.

Which programs and/or websites currently use the processor serial number?

You can find a complete list of programs that can take advantage of the processor serial number and other new capabilities of the Pentium III processor at

http://www.intel.com/pentiumiii/utility.htm

How can I tell if my processor serial number is turned on?

The vast majority of Pentium III pr oc esso r-b ase d syste ms ship with the processor serial number enabled. The control utility allows you to check the status by:

! Viewing the icon itself. The disabled icon shows a red circle with a

white “x.”

! Clicking the task tray icon and selecting the “Status” menu item. Or

you can select the menu from the tool tip shown when you position the mouse over the task tray icon.

Technical Support

For world wide 7 days a week, 24 hours a day technical support, please visit the Intel support website at

support@intel.com

Email: In the United States, call

Pacific Standard Time. For world wide phone contacts, please see

http://support.intel.com/support/feedback.htm

3-36 Configuring the System

http://support.intel.com

800-628-8686

from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Installing Options

General Rules

Safety Precautions

System Unit Covers

Expansion Boards

System Board Options

Data Storage Devices

Minitower and Desktop Setup Options

This chapter provides installation instructions for a variety of industrystandard and NECC expansion options that you can add to your system.

Included in the chapter are procedures for

! expansion board installation ! memory module upgrade ! processor upgrade ! data storage device upgrades.

Most procedures require removal of the system’s cover. Some procedures also require removing the front panel. Procedures for removing the cover and front panel are included in this chapter.

In addition, the chapter includes procedures for setting up the system as a desktop or as a minitower.

General Rules

Follow these general rules when installing system options.

! Turn off system power and unplug t h e power cable. ! Turn off and disconnect all peripherals from the front or rear of the

system.

! When handling boards or chips, touch the system metal frame to

discharge static.

! Do not disassemble parts other than those specified in the procedure. ! All screws are Phillips-head unless otherwise specified. ! Label any cable connector before disconnecting it. Note where the

connector goes and in what position it was installed.

4-2 Installing Options

Safety Precautions

Observe safety rules when working ins i de the system and when handling computer components. A void electr i c shock or pe rsonal injury by observing the fo llowing warnin g.

power and unplug the system power cable. Power is removed only when the power cable is unplugged.

Static electricity and improper installation procedures can damage computer components. Protect computer components by following these safety instruct ions.

computer components. Discharge static electricity by touching a metal object before removing the system cover.

! Avoid carpets in cool, dry areas. Leave boards and chips in their

anti-static packaging until ready to be installed.

! Dissipate static electricity before handling any system components

(boards, chips, memory modules) by touching a grounded metal object, such as the system’s unpainted metal chassis.

Before removing system covers, turn off the

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) ca n damage

If possible, use antistatic devices, such as wrist straps and floor mats.

! Always hold a ch ip or board by its edge s. Avoid touching the

components on the chip or board.

! Take care when connecting or disconnecting cables. A damaged cable

can cause a short in the electrical circuit.

! When installing a cable, route the cable so it is not pinched by other

components and is out of th e path of the system cover.

! Prevent damage to the connectors by aligning connector pins before

you connect the cable. Misaligned connector pins can cause damage to system components at

power-on.

! When disconnecting a cable, always pull on the cable connector or

strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself.

Installing Options 4-3

System Unit Covers

The following sections describe how to remove and replace the system cover and the front panel. Remove the system cover to access the interior of the system (see “Removing the Cover,” next).

Remove the front panel to install or replace a 3 1/2-inch accessible device, a 5 1/4-inch accessible device, or a 3 1/2-inch internal device (see “Removing the Front Panel” later in this section).

Removing the Cover

Remove the cover as follows.

Before removing the cover, turn off system power and unplug the system power cable. Power is removed only when the power cable is unplugged.

Turn off the system and any peripherals, and unplug the system power cord.

Disconnect any external options (such as a keyboard and monitor) from the front or rear of the system unit.

components. Discharge static ele ctri city by touching a metal object before removing the cover.

If the system unit is in the minitower configuration, place it on its right side (the side wit h fo ur rubb e r feet) .

If you have a padlock in the locking tab on the rear o f the chassis, remove it.

4-4 Installing Options

Electrostatic discharge can damage computer

Remove the two thumbscr ews holding the cover to the rear of the chassis.

Locating the cover screws

A – Cover C – Locking Tab B – Cover Screws

6. Grasp the indent on the cover and slide the cover towards the rear of

the chassis about an inch.

Lift the cover off the system and set aside.

Removing the cover

Installing Options 4-5

Replacing the Cover

Replace the cover as follows.

positioned to prevent crimping, abrasion, or cutting while installing the cover. Check that the ribbon cables are folded along their fold lines and out of the direct path of the cover.

Position the cover over the side of the chassis so that the back edge of the cover is abou t an inch beyond the back edge of the chassis (see the following figure).

Align the tabs and slots on the cover with those along the edges of the chassis.

Align the locking tab slot at the bottom rear of the cover with the locking tab.

Ensure that all cables inside the cha ss is are

Replacing the cover

A – Side Slots and Tabs C – Front Slots and Tabs B – Locking Tab (hidden)

4-6 Installing Options

Firmly press the cover against the chassis and slide the cover towards the front of the chassis until it locks in place.

Note

check that the cover tabs at the front of the cover are properly inserted into their slots in the chassis. Also check that the locking tab is inserted into its slot on the back edge of the chassis.

If the cover does not slide all the way to the front of the chassis,

Replace the two previously removed thumbscrews. If you have a padlock for the lock i n g tab on the rear edge of the

chassis, install it.

If your system is set up for use as a minitower, place the system upright.

Reconnect all external peripherals.

Plug in the power cables.

Removing the Front Panel

Remove the front panel if you are installing an internal 3 1/2-inch hard drive or installing a device in one of the accessible device bays.

Remove the front panel as follows.

Remove the cover (see “Removing the Cover” earlier in this chapter).

Position the system on its side on your work table, with the front panel over the edge of the table.

Working from inside the chassis, press up on the two front panel locking tabs to release them from their slots on the edge of the chassis (see the following figure for tab location).

Installing Options 4-7

Removing the front panel

A – Chassis Slots B – Locking Tabs

On the right side of the front panel, at the top corner, press in on the panel to release the top.

Pull out the top of the front panel while pulling up on the panel to release it from the chassis. Set the panel aside.

If you are installing a device, see one of the following sections.

! “Installing a 5 1/4-Inch Accessible Device” ! “Installing a 3 1/2-Inch Accessible Device” ! “Installing a 3 1/2-Inch Internal Hard Drive.”

To install the front panel, see the following section.

4-8 Installing Options

Replacing the Front Panel

Replace the front panel as follows.

Align the three tabs on the inside edge of the front panel with their corresponding slots on the lower edge of the chassis (see the followin g fig ur e ) .

Insert the tabs into their slots and press the front panel up against the chassis until the front panel locks in place.

Replacing the front panel

A – Chassis Slots (3) C – Front Panel B – Front Panel Tabs (3) D – Chassis Front

3. Replace the cover (see “Replacing the Cover” earlier in this chapter).

Installing Options 4-9

Expansion Boards

Your system supports 32-bit PCI Plug and Play expansion boards, an AGP expansion board, a DVI-capable expansion board, and a CNR expansion board.

With Plug and Play expansi on boards, you can install a board wit hout changing the hardware settings. There are no system resource conflicts to resolve. Plug and Play automatically configures the board for the system.

The PCI connectors support bus mastering and accept PCI expansion boards that run at half the system board’s bus speed. The PCI bus handles 32 bits of data at a time, boosting system performance.

The following figure shows the locations of the expansion board connectors on the system board.

The following sections include procedures for installing and re moving the expansion board retainer bar and expansion boards.

Locating expansion board connectors

A – PCI Expansion Board Connectors C – CNR Board Connector B – AGP Board Connector

4-10 Installing Options

Removing the Expansion Board Retainer Bar

Expansion boards and slot covers are held in place by an expansion board retainer bar. Remove the retainer bar as follows.

Remove the cover (see “Removing the Cover” earlier in this chapter).

Press down on the two tabs on the retainer bar to release the tabs from their slots. Carefully remove the bar from the chassis.

Removing the expansion board retainer bar

A – Retainer Bar Tabs B – Tab Slots

If you are adding an expa n s ion board, s ee “In st a ll ing an Expansion Board.”

If you are removing an expansion board, see “Removing an Expansion Board.”

To replace the bar, see “Installing the Expansion Board Retainer Bar” later in this chapter.

Installing Options 4-11

Installing an Expansion Board

You can install up to three optional PCI expansion boards or up to two optional PCI boards and one optional CNR board.

Install an expansion board in the system as follows.

Remove the cover (see “Removing the Cover”).

Follow any preinstallation instructions that come with the board.

Remove the retainer bar that secures the expansion boards (see “Removing the Expansion Board Retainer Bar”).

If you need to remove an old expansion board from the connector designated for the new board, see “Removing an Expansion Board.”

If a slot cover is in its slot, remove it by sliding the cover up to free it from the chassis. Save the slot cover for future use.

Removing the slot cover

4-12 Installing Options

A – Slot Cover

Hold the new expansion board by its edges or its bracket and insert it into the expansion slot.

Installing an expansion board

A – Expansion Board

Firmly press the board into the expansion slot connector on the system board.

If you installed a network board with Wake-On LAN (WOL):

! Connect the WOL cable to the WOL connector on the system

board and to the network board. See the documentation supplied with the board for connector location. The WOL connector is between the PCI 1 and PCI 2 connectors on the system board.

! Enable Wake-On LAN through the BIOS (see Chapter 3 for

information).

Secure the expansion board in place with the retainer bar (see “Installing the Expansion Board Retainer Bar”).

10.

Attach any signal cables required by the expansion board.

11.

Replace the cover (see “Replacing th e Cover”).

Installing Options 4-13

Removing an Expansion Board

Use the following steps to remove an expansion board.

Remove the cover (see “Removing the Cover”).

Label and unplug any cables connected to the board.

Remove the retainer bar (see “Re moving the Expansion Board Retainer Bar”).

Pull the board out of the connector and expansion slot. Store the board in an antistatic bag.

Removing an expansion board

If installing a new board, see “Installing an Expansion Board.”

If you are not installing a new board, slide a slot cover back into the expansion board slot (see the figure “Removing a Slot Cover”).

Replace the expansion board retainer bar (see “Replacing the Retainer Bar”).

Replace the cover (see “Replacing th e Cover”).

4-14 Installing Options

A – Expansion Board

Installing the Expansion Board Retainer Bar

Install the expansion board retainer bar as follows.

Hold the retainer bar at an angle and insert the ends into the slots in the chassis (see the following figure).

Push the bar into the slots and under the edge of the chassis.

Press down on the lock tabs and firmly push the bar in until the tabs slide into their slots. Check that the raised portion on each tab locks into its slot.

Replace the cover (see “Replacing th e Cover”).

Installing the expansion board retainer bar

A – Retainer Bar End C – Lock Tab B – Retainer Bar Slot D – Lo ck Tab Slot

Installing Options 4-15

System Board Options

This section describes how to install upgrade options on the system board. Procedures described in this section include:

! adding memory modules ! upgrading the processor.

The following figure shows the locations of the DIMM and processor sockets on the system board.

Locating the DIMM and processor sockets

– Processor Socket 370

– DIMM 1 Socket

4-16 Installing Options

– DIMM 2 Socket

– DIMM 3 Socket

Memory Upgrade

Memory upgrades are installed into three DIMM sockets on the system board. The sockets support up to 512 MB of high-speed SDRAM memory. The system supports SDRAM DIMM modules in 32-, 64-, 128-, 256-, and 512-MB (when available) memory configurations.

Use the following guidelines in selecting DIMM modules:

! DIMM modules can be installed in one, two, or three sock ets ! single- and double-sided DIMMs are supported ! the size and speed of the DIMM modules can vary between sockets

but the memory operates at the speed of the slowest module.

For sample memory configurations, see the table “Sample DIMM Upgrade Paths.”

To locate memory module sockets on the system board, see the previous figure, “Locating the DIMM and processor sockets.”

To determine the memory you need to purchase for a memory upgrade, see “Checking System Memory.”

Total Memory* DIMM 1 DIMM 2 DIMM 3

Sample DIMM Upgrade Paths

64 MB 32 MB 32 MB Empty 64 MB 64 MB Empty Empty 96 MB 32 MB 32 MB 32 MB 128 MB 32 MB 32 MB 64 MB 128 MB 64 MB 64 MB Empty 128 MB 128 MB Empty Empty 192 MB 64 MB 64 MB 64 MB 256 MB 64 MB 64 MB 128 MB 256 MB 128 MB 128 MB Empty

256 MB 256 MB Empty Empty

Installing Options 4-17

Sample DIMM Upgrade Paths

Total Memory* DIMM 1 DIMM 2 DIMM 3

512 MB 256 MB 128 MB 128 MB 512 MB 256 MB 256 MB Empty 512 MB 512 MB Empty Empty

*The information in this table shows sample DIMM upgrade paths. It does not represent every combination of DIMMs supported in the system.

Checking System Memory

If you do not know how much memory is installed in your system, check the amount by using the following procedure.

On the Windows desktop, point to mouse button.

With the left mouse button, click the random access memory (RAM). This is the amount of memory in your syst em.

In Windows 98 or Windows 2000, you can also find the amount of memory by pointing to clicking

Properties

, and clicking the

Installing a DIMM Module

Use the following steps to install a DIMM module.

Remove the cover (see “Removing the Cover”).

If you need to remove a currently installed DIMM module, see “Removing a DIMM Module” later in this section.

discharge by touching the chassis.

My Computer

Properties

My Computer

Before you install a module, reduce static

, clicking the right mouse button,

Performance

, and click the right

General

. The

tab.

tab shows

4-18 Installing Options

Grasp the new module in the mi ddle and align the notches on the new module with the keys in an empty DIMM socket.

Installing a DIMM module

A – Plastic Clip (2) B – Notches

Press the module firmly into the socket.

Make sure the plastic clips at both ends of the module click closed.

Replace the cover (see “Replacing th e Cover”).

Note

the Power-On Self-Test or in Windows with the amount of memory that you installed, check that you installed the module(s) correctly.

If you find a discrepancy in the amount of memory displayed at

Installing Options 4-19

Removing a DIMM Module

If your memory configuration requires the removal of a DIMM module, use the following steps.

boards or DIMM modules, reduce static dischar ge by touchin g the c ha ssi s.

Remove the cover (see “Removing the Cover”).

Locate the DIMM sockets on the system board (see the figure “Locating the DIMM and processor sockets” earlier in this section).

Eject a DIMM module by pressing the plastic clips at the outer edges of the socket away from the module.

Removing a DIMM module

Before opening the system and before handling

Grasp the center of the modu le and pull it out of the socket.

Store the module in an anti-static bag.

If you are installing a DIMM, see “Installing a DIMM Module” in the previous section.

If you are not installing a DIMM module, replace the system cover (see “Replacing the Cover”).

4-20 Installing Options

– Plastic Clip (2)

Processor Upgrade

The system board has a Socket 370 for mounting the Pentium III processor.

service center for assistance in upgrading your processor. Incorrect installation of the processo r, fan, and heat sink can damage the

processor, system board, or both. Carefully follow the installation instructions provided with the upgrade processor and the procedures in the following sections.

Ensure that you have the correct heat sink for the processor being installed. Do not use the heat sink from the remov ed processor.

Removing the Processor

Remove the pr ocessor from its socket on the system board as follows.

discharge by touching the chassis.

Remove the cover (see “Removing the Cover”).

NECC recommends that you contact your NECC

Before handling components, reduce static

Locate the processor socket on the system board (see the figure “Locating the DIMM and processor sockets” earlier in this chapter).

If the system was just running, the processor and heat sink on the system board are hot. To avoid a burn, let the components cool before co ntinu ing.

Tag and unplug the cooling fan cable from its connector (CPU Fan) on the system board.

Installing Options 4-21

Remove the fan, heat sink, and retention clip from the processor.

! Simultaneously press down on the flange on the end of the

retention clip while carefully pulling out the end to unhook it from the tab on the processor socket.

! Unhook the retention clip from the tab on the opposite side of the

processor socket.

! Remove the fan, heat sink, and retention clip from the processor.

Removing the fan, heat sink, and processor

A – Heat Sink D – Processor B – Retention Clip E – Retention Clip Flange C – Lock Lever

Remove the processor.

! Pull out on the processor socket lock lever just enough to release

the lever from the socket, then pivot the lever up to release the processor.

! Carefully lift up on the processor and remove it from the socket.

Store the processor in a static-free bag.

Install the upgrade processor (see “Installing an Upgrade Processor” in the next section).

4-22 Installing Options

Installing an Upgrade Processor

Install the upgrade processor as follows.

Remove the processor from your system (see “Removing the Processor” in the previous section).

Before picking up the processor, reduce static

discharge by touching the metal chassis.

Align the notch on the corner of the processor with the notch on the socket.

Carefully align the processor pins with the socket pin holes and set the processor into the socket.

! If aligned correctly and the pins are not bent, the processor seats

in the socket without forcing.

! If the processor does not seat, check for correct alignment and

bent pins.

Pivot the lever down and press it in towards the socket until it locks in place.

Using the wrong heat sink or no heat sink can damage the processor, system board, or both. Ensure that the update processor has the correct heat sink (refer to the documentation that comes with the kit).

Additional information can be obtained from NECC (see Chapter 6, “Getting Services and Support” for information on contacting NECC).

Installing Options 4-23

Install a replacement heat sink and fan as follows and in accordance with any procedures contained in the heat sink kit.

! If the kit includes a thermal pad, center it on top of the processor. ! Align the heat sink and fan assembly with the processor and set

it down on the processor (see the previo u s fig ure for alignment).

! Attach the heat sink retention clip by hooking the non-flange end

of the clip over the socket tab.

! Press the opposite end of the clip over the tab on the socket until

it snaps in place.

Plug the cooling fan cable into its connector (CPU Fan) on the system board.

Replace the cover (see “Replacing th e Cover”).

Connect any peripherals and power cords, and power up the system.

4-24 Installing Options

Data Storage Devices

The system board supports the following storage devices:

! one diskette drive ! up to four IDE drives, such as an IDE hard d ri ve, IDE CD-R O M

drive, DVD-ROM drive, CD-RW drive, and IDE Zip drive.

In addition, the system can support other storage devices (SCSI or PCMCIA-based, for example) with the installation of a compatible controller board.

Device Bays

The system has seven storage devic e bays (see the following figure):

! two 3 1/2-inch accessible device bays, one containin g the standard

1.44-MB diskette drive

! two 5 1/4-inch accessible device bays (1 .6-inch high, half-height), one

containing the standard CD-ROM drive

! three 3 1/2- inch internal drive bays, one containi ng the standard h ard

drive.

Locating device bays

A – 3 1/2-Inch Internal Bays C – 5 1/4-Inch Accessible Bays B – 3 1/2-Inch Accessible Bays

Installing Options 4-25

Depending on your system configuration, the accessible device bays might contain a CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, CD-RW drive, Zip drive, or other storage device.

The accessible bays are not limited to devices with removable media. For example, you can install a hard drive with a 5 1/4-inch frame in one of these bays.

A 5 1/4-inch bay can also accommodate a 3 1/2-inch device if the device is installed in a 5 1/4-inch frame.

Device Preparation

Before installing a storage device in the system, follow any preinstallation instructions that come with the device. For example, check the following:

! IDE hard drive — check the jumper settings on the device before

installing it. See the documentation that comes with the device for jumper setting information. Cable correctly as the first (master) device or second (slave) device on the primary IDE channel, depending on your system configuration (see the table “IDE Connec t or Configuration” later in this section).

! CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, CD-RW drive — check the

jumper settings on the device before installing it. See the documentation that comes with the device for jumper setting information. Cable correctly as the first (master) or second (slave) device on the secondary IDE channel (see the table “IDE Connector Configuration” later in this section).

The cables used for installing storage devices include:

! one, two-connector signal cable for the diskette drive ! one, two-connector Ultra ATA/66/100 signal cable for the hard drive ! one, three-connector IDE signal cable for the CD-ROM drive,

DVD-ROM drive, CD-RW drive, or Zip drive

! five system power cables in va rious lengths c ome from the power

supply to accommodate a variety of supported storage configurations.

4-26 Installing Options

Use the following figure and table to determine IDE device cabling configurations for the primary and secondary IDE connectors on the system board.

Locating system board cable connectors

A – CD Audio In C – Secondary IDE Connector (IDE2) B – Primary IDE Connector (IDE1) D – Diskette Drive Connector

Installing Options 4-27

IDE Connector Configurations

Configuration Primary connector Secondary connector

1 device (hard drive) Master - hard drive

Slave - none

2 devices (hard drive, CD-ROM)

2 devices (hard drive, DVDROM drive)

2 devices (hard drive, Zip drive)

3 devices (hard drive, CD-ROM, Zip drive)

3 devices (hard drive, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM drive)

3 devices (hard drive, hard drive, CD-ROM)

3 devices (hard drive, hard drive, DVD-ROM drive)

3 devices (hard drive, hard drive, Zip drive)

4 devices (hard drive, hard drive, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM drive)

Master - hard drive Slave - none

Master - hard drive Slave - hard drive

Master - none Slave - none

Master - CD-ROM Slave - none

Master - DVD-ROM drive Slave - none

Master - Zip drive Slave - none

Master - CD-ROM Slave - Zip drive

Master - CD-ROM Slave - DVD-ROM drive

Master - CD-ROM Slave - none

Master - DVD-ROM drive Slave - none

Master - Zip drive Slave - none

Master - CD-ROM Slave - DVD-ROM drive

4 devices (hard drive, hard drive, CD-ROM, Zip drive)

4 devices (hard drive, hard drive, Zip drive, DVD-ROM drive)

4-28 Installing Options

Master - hard drive Slave - hard drive

Master - CD-ROM Slave - Zip drive

Master - Zip drive Slave - DVD-ROM drive

Nec POWERMATE CT 815 user Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual