NEC PowerMate SPB-Boston User Guide

PROPRIETARY NOTICE AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related materials, is the valuable proper ty of NEC Computer Systems Division, Packard Bell NEC, Inc. (hereinafter “NECCSD”) and/or its licensors. NECCSD and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reser ve all patent, copyright and other proprietar y 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 NECCSD product(s) discussed in this document ar e warranted in accordan ce with the terms of the War ranty Statement accompanyin g each product. However, actual performance of each such product is dependent upon factor s 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 NECCSD.

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 NECCSD is prohibited.

FaxFlash is a service mark of NEC CSD, Packard Bell NEC, Inc. Direction is a trademark of Packard Bell NEC, Inc. NEC and MultiSync are registered trademarks of NEC Corporation, used under license. All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or registered

trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

First Printing — October 1998

NEC Computer Systems Division

Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

1 Packard Bell Way

Sacramento, CA 95828-0903

Using This Guide

Text Conventions...................................................... xiii

Related Documents ................................................... xiv

Introducing Your Computer

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

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

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

CD-ROM Reader/DVD Drive.............................. 1-5

Back Features........................................................... 1-7

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

Power Supply Features ............................................. 1-12

Zip Drive.................................................................. 1-12

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

Mouse ...................................................................... 1-14

Using Your Computer

System Operation ..................................................... 2-1

Starting Up.......................................................... 2-2

Shutting Down..................................................... 2-3

Setting the Date and Time.................................... 2-4

Using Diskettes.................................................... 2-4

Using CDs........................................................... 2-5

Handling Compact Discs................................. 2-6

Loading a CD................................................. 2-7

Removing a CD .............................................. 2-8

Using Your System’s Audio Functions ................. 2-8

Setting Power Management.................................. 2-8

Protecting Your System ....................................... 2-9

Setting a Password.......................................... 2-9

Using a Password ........................................... 2-10

Productivity.............................................................. 2-11

Contents iii

Saving Your Work............................................... 2-11

Backing Up Your Work ....................................... 2-12

Printing a Document ............................................ 2-12

Display Properties .................................................... 2-13

System Care ............................................................. 2-15

Protecting Your System from Damage.................. 2-15

Keeping Your System in Good Condition ............. 2-16

Moving or Shipping Your System ........................ 2-17

Online Documentation............................................... 2-18

Where to Go from Here............................................. 2-18

Understanding System Features

Standard Features ..................................................... 3-1

System Chassis......................................................... 3-2

System Board Components ....................................... 3-2

Processor............................................................. 3-2

Drive Interfaces ................................................... 3-2

Ports.................................................................... 3-3

System Memory................................................... 3-3

Intel Xcelerator Multifunction Controller.............. 3-3

Flash ROM.......................................................... 3-3

Plug and Play ...................................................... 3-4

Graphics and Multimedia Features....................... 3-4

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) Interface .... 3-4

Video Support ................................................ 3-5

Audio ............................................................. 3-5

Super I/O Controller ............................................ 3-5

USB Ports ........................................................... 3-6

Dual IDE Channels.............................................. 3-6

Power-Saving Feature.......................................... 3-6

Options and Upgrades............................................... 3-7

Network Interface Card........................................ 3-7

Modem................................................................ 3-7

Removable Storage.............................................. 3-7

Keyboard............................................................. 3-8

Video................................................................... 3-8

Audio .................................................................. 3-8

iv Contents

System BIOS and Utilities

System BIOS and the Setup Utility............................ 4-1

The Setup Utility ................................................. 4-2

When to Use Setup ......................................... 4-2

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

How to Use Setup........................................... 4-3

Maintenance Menu .............................................. 4-4

Main Menu.......................................................... 4-4

Advanced Menu................................................... 4-7

Peripheral Configuration Submenu.................. 4-8

IDE Configuration Submenu........................... 4-10

Floppy Options Submenu................................ 4-13

DMI Event Logging Submenu......................... 4-14

Video Configuration Submenu ........................ 4-15

Resource Configuration Submenu ................... 4-15

Security Menu ..................................................... 4-17

How to Set a Password ................................... 4-18

How to Disable Password Protection............... 4-19

Power Menu ........................................................ 4-20

Boot Menu........................................................... 4-22

Hard Drive Submenu ...................................... 4-24

Removable Devices Submenu.......................... 4-24

Removable Format Submenu .......................... 4-24

Exit Menu ........................................................... 4-24

BIOS Flash Utility.................................................... 4-26

Video Drivers ........................................................... 4-27

Installing Options

Option Installation .................................................... 5-1

Safety Precautions ............................................... 5-2

Cover Removal and Replacement .............................. 5-3

Removing the Access Cover................................. 5-4

Replacing the Access Cover ................................. 5-6

Expansion Boards..................................................... 5-7

Installing an Expansion Board.............................. 5-9

Removing an Expansion Board ............................ 5-12

Contents v

Memory Upgrade...................................................... 5-13

Removing a DIMM.............................................. 5-16

Installing a DIMM............................................... 5-17

Video Upgrade.......................................................... 5-18

Data Storage Devices................................................ 5-19

Locating Device Slots .......................................... 5-19

Preparing the Device............................................ 5-20

Identifying Device Cables .................................... 5-21

Diskette Drive Signal Cable ............................ 5-22

IDE Signal Cables .......................................... 5-23

System Power Cables...................................... 5-24

Cabling Storage Devices ...................................... 5-24

Cabling an IDE Device ................................... 5-25

Cabling an Accessible 5 1/4-Inch Device......... 5-26

Installing Storage Devices.................................... 5-27

Removing the Front Panel ............................... 5-28

Installing a 3 1/2-Inch Device.......................... 5-29

Installing the 5 1/4-Inch Device....................... 5-34

Accessing the CD-ROM Reader/DVD Drive... 5-36

Replacing the Front Panel ............................... 5-36

External Options....................................................... 5-37

Connecting a Parallel Printer................................ 5-37

Connecting a Serial Device .................................. 5-38

Setting System Board Jumpers

Locating the Jumper.................................................. 6-1

Clearing Your Password ........................................... 6-2

Recovering the BIOS ................................................ 6-4

24-Hour Information Services

NECCSD Web Site .................................................. 7-2

NECCSD FTP Site................................................... 7-3

NECCSD FaxFlash Service ...................................... 7-3

NECCSD Bulletin Board Service.............................. 7-5

E-Mail/Fax Technical Support Service...................... 7-7

NECCSD Technical Support Services....................... 7-8

vi Contents

8 If You Have a Problem

Problem Checklist..................................................... 8-2

Solutions to Common Problems................................. 8-3

System Problems ................................................. 8-3

Diskette Drive Problems ...................................... 8-5

Monitor Problems................................................ 8-6

Keyboard/Mouse Problems .................................. 8-7

CD-ROM Reader/DVD Drive Problems............... 8-7

Speaker Problems ................................................ 8-8

Microphone Problems .......................................... 8-8

Getting Help ............................................................. 8-8

Getting Help from Your Company........................ 8-9

Getting Help from Your NECCSD Dealer............ 8-9

Getting Help from NECCSD Technical Support... 8-9 NECCSD Warranty/Non-Warranty

Repair Service.................................................. 8-10

Battery Replacement................................................. 8-10

Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment

Making Your Computer Work for You...................... A-1

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

Preexisting Conditions and Psychosocial Factors....... A-11

Checking Your Comfort: How Do You Measure Up? A-12

Checking Your Chair ........................................... A-12

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

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

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

Checking You...................................................... A-13

System Specifications

Standard Features ..................................................... B-1

Processor............................................................. B-1

Contents vii

Second Level Cache............................................. B-2

Memory............................................................... B-2

Chipset................................................................ B-5

Intel 82443BX PCI/AGP Controller (PAC)..... B-5

Intel 82371EB PCI ISa IDE

Xccelerator (PIIX4E).................................... B-6

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP).................... B-8

Universal Serial Bus (USB) Support .................... B-8

IDE Support ........................................................ B-9

Super I/O Controller ............................................ B-9

Serial Ports.......................................................... B-9

Parallel Port......................................................... B-10

Diskette Drive Controller ..................................... B-10

Keyboard and Mouse........................................... B-10

Interrupt Requests (IRQs).................................... B-11

Audio Support ..................................................... B-12

Crystal Audio Subsystem................................ B-12

Wavetable Synthesizer.................................... B-12

Audio Connectors ........................................... B-12

CD-ROM Audio Connector ............................ B-12

Expansion Slots................................................... B-13

BIOS................................................................... B-13

Video Support and Monitor.................................. B-13

Power Supply ...................................................... B-13

Power Consumption........................................ B-14

DC Voltage .................................................... B-15

Environmental Specifications .................................... B-15

Ambient Temperature .......................................... B-15

Humidity ............................................................. B-15

System Board, Connectors, and Error Messages

System Board ........................................................... C-1

Connectors ............................................................... C-2

Rear Panel Connectors......................................... C-3

Internal Connectors.............................................. C-4

Error Messages......................................................... C-6

Beep Codes............................................................... C-10

viii Contents

List of Tables

Quick Reference to Information About

Your Computer....................................................... 2-19

Sample Memory Configurations................................ 5-15

System Board Jumper Settings .................................. 6-2

Acceptable DIMM Options....................................... B-3

Sample Memory Configurations................................ B-4

Interrupt Assignments............................................... B-11

Input Requirements................................................... B-13

Output DC Load Requirements................................. B-14

System Board External Connectors ........................... C-3

System Board Internal Connectors............................. C-4

Beep Codes............................................................... C-11

Contents ix

Using This Guide

The NEC Direction SP B-Series User’s Guide provides a quick reference to information about your computer.

This guide contains the following information:

Chapter 1, Introducing Your Computer, provides a look



at system components. See this chapter to familiarize yourself with your system.

Chapter 2, Using Your Computer, explains how to start



up and shut down your system, use your system components, and care for your system.

Chapter 3, Understanding System Features, provides a



quick overview of the various features of your system.



Chapter 4, System BIOS and Utilities, describes the system BIOS Setup utility program and other utilities you can use to configure your system. This chapter provides detailed information about BIOS settings, including security and power management parameters.

Chapter 5, Installing Options, provides installation



instructions and in some cases, removal procedures for the options.



Chapter 6, Setting System Board Jumpers, provides information on changing jumper settings when reconfiguring your system.



Chapter 7, 24-Hour Information Services, lists the services available to you for information and help, and describes how to access the services.

Using This Guide xi

Chapter 8, If You Have a Problem, contains



troubleshooting tips for solving simple problems and provides information on where you can find help when you cannot solve a problem yourself.

Appendix A, Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment,



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.

Prolonged or improper use of a computer 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.

WARNING



xii Using This Guide

Appendix B, System Specifications, provides a technical description of your computer and its components.

Appendix C, System Board, Connectors, and Error Messages provides a technical description of the system board and connectors. This appendix also describes system error messages.

TEXT CONVENTIONS

This guide uses the following text conventions.

Warnings, cautions, and notes have the following



meanings:

W arnings alert you t o situations that coul d result in serious personal injury or loss of life.

Cautions indicate situations that can damage the hardware or software.

WARNING

CAUTION

NOTE

Notes give important information about the

material being described.



Names of keyboard keys are printed as they appear on the keyboard, for example,

Text or keystrokes that you enter appear in boldface



type. For example, press Filenames are printed in uppercase letters.



Ctrl, Alt

Enter

, or

Using This Guide xiii

Using Your Computer

This chapter provides the information you need to start using your computer. Information includes:

System operation



Productivity Video display properties



System care



Moving or shipping your system



Online documentation.

NOTE

Check the additional documentation that comes with your computer for information about using your monitor, speakers, graphics board, and any other devices that you purchased (such as a fax/data/voice modem).

Read Windows Help files for information about using your mouse and customizing the settings.

SYSTEM OPERATION

In this section, you can find the following information:



starting up and shutting down your system



setting the date and time

Using Your Computer 2-1

Starting Up

using system features such as the CD-ROM



reader/DVD drive using power management and security features.



Press the power button to start up your system. The power lamp lights green to indicate that the system is on.

Several configuration messages appear on the screen at startup. These messages are part of your system’s Power-On Self-Test (POST). Your computer is checking your hardware for any changes since the last startup. One beep indicates that the system has successfully completed the power-on test.

NOTE

You can bypass the POST memory test by

pressing the space bar.

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 8. This chapter provides some helpful hints on obvious system problems.

NOTE

that system sett ings have changed, run Setup (see Chapter 4).

On models loaded with the Windows NT® operating system, press so. The log-on box appears for entering a password.

2-2 Using Your Computer

If the system displays a message indicating

Ctrl-Alt-Del

when prompted on-screen to do

Shutting Down

Follow these steps to shut down (power off) your computer.

Save your work. See the documentation that comes with your application.

Exit the application program. Close any open applications. If you have programs in

the taskbar, click on them and close them. Make sure that the hard drive and diskette drives are off.

If the hard drive light or diskette drive light is lit, it indicates that the drive is in use.

To protect the i ntegrity of your data, shut down all applications before turning off the power. Unless absolutely necessary, never power off the system:

• without exiting properly

CAUTION

• when the hard drive light or diskette drive

light is lit.

Click the Start button on the Windows® taskbar, then highlight and click “Shut Down.” Selecting Shut Down gives you several choices in the pop-up submenu. Click

Yes

“Shut down the computer,” then click the

Enter

press

Windows displays the message “It’s now safe to turn off

to shut down the computer.

button or

your computer.”

Turn off power to your monitor.

Using Your Computer 2-3

NOTE

If you are unable to exit using the Windows Start button, you can use the power button on the front of t he system to power off. Pr ess and hol d in the power button f or about ten seconds to shut down the system manually.

Setting the Date and Time

Use the following steps to set the system date and time from the Windows desktop.

Double click the system clock on the taskbar.

Set the time by entering the current hour, minutes, and

seconds in the appropriate fields, hh:mm:ss. Move from field to field with the Tab key or Shift-tab to move from right to left.

Set the date by entering the month and year in

appropriate fields. To select the day, click on the numeric day of the calendar.

Using Diskettes

Follow these steps to insert a 3.5-inch diskette in the standard diskette drive.

Holding the diskette at its top edge, insert it into the

diskette drive:



Insert the diskette all the way into the drive until you

hear a click.

2-4 Using Your Computer

label side facing right in desktop systems. label side up in minitower systems.

NOTE

If your diskette did not come formatted, you must f ormat it bef ore storing inf ormati on on it. See your operating system documentation for information about formatting a diskette.

Do not f ormat your hard dr ive. F ormatti ng the hard drive erases all preinstalled applications.

CAUTION

To remove a diskette from the diskette drive, press the release button on the 3.5-inch diskette drive.

Do not remove a diskette from the drive when the



diskette drive lamp is lit. To do so can damage both the data on the diskette and the drive.

Using CDs



Do not turn off the system power while the diskette is being accessed.



Do not reset the system (except as a last resort) when the diskette drive is in use.

See the following sections for information about handling, loading, and removing CDs.

Using Your Computer 2-5

Handling Compact Discs

To protect your CDs from damage, use the following guidelines when you handle them.

Always pick up the disc by its edges.



Do not touch the surfaces of the disc. Handle it by the



edges and, if necessary, by putting your finger through the hole.



Do not write on or apply labels to either side of the disc.



Keep the disc away from direct sunlight or high temperatures. Clean fingerprints or dust from the disc by wiping it with a soft dry cloth.



Gently, brush the cloth from the center of the disc toward the edge.

2-6 Using Your Computer

Handling a CD

Cleaning a CD

Do NOT use benzene, paint thi nner, recor d cleaner, static repellent, or any other chem ical on the disc. Chemicals and cleaners can damage the disc.

CAUTION

Loading a CD

To insert a CD into the CD-ROM reader/DVD drive, follow these steps:

Press the open/close button. A CD tray slides out from the reader/drive.

Remove the CD from its protective case. Hold the CD by its center hole and outer edges to avoid touching its surface.

Place the CD, printed side up, into the circular area of the tray.

Press the open/close button again. The reader/drive automatically slides into the tray.

Using Your Computer 2-7

Removing a CD

To remove a CD, simply press the open/close button and remove the CD when the tray slides out. Press the open/close button again to close the tray.

Using Your System’s Audio Functions

Multimedia systems come with all the audio functions and components you need to produce fine stereo output. See the separate documentation included with these devices.

The integrated audio components in multimedia systems provide support for industry sound standards including Sound Blaster™ , Windows Sound System™, and MPU-401 to provide all the functionality required for your multimedia applications.

Setting Power Management

Your system provides an energy-saving Advanced Power Management feature, which reduces power consumption when your computer is idle. You can set the length of this idle time in your system’s Setup utility.

Enter the Setup utility by pressing F2 when the

following bootup message appears.

The Main menu appears. Use your right arrow key to

select the Power menu. The Power Management option is factory set to “Enabled.”

Press

box appears. Follow the on-screen prompts to change the options.

You can set the Inactivity Timer for up to a 16-minute delay.

Use the up and right arrow keys to select Exit.

2-8 Using Your Computer

Press <F2> to enter SETUP

to select Power Management. A submenu

Enter

Select “Exit Saving Changes.” Press

At the prompt, to confirm exiting setup, press

Exit the Setup utility.

NOTE

When you want to resume work after your computer has entered power-saving mode, just move your mouse or press a key, and your computer is active again.

Protecting Your System

Your system’s security features provide protection against unauthorized access to your system and data. This protection includes a user and supervisor password.

Dual password security provides two levels of password security. A “Supervisor password” allows access to the system’s Setup utility for system configuration. A “User password” allows system bootup only after the entry of a password.

Enter

When you start up your system for the first time, you are asked to enter a system password. The following section explains the password procedure.

Setting a Password

Use the following procedure to set a password.

Turn on or reboot your system. Setup displays the

following message:

Press F2. Setup’s Main menu appears.

Using your arrow keys, select Security from the menu

bar. The Security menu appears.

Press <F2> to enter SETUP

Using Your Computer 2-9

Select “Set Supervisor Password” or “Set User

Password” with the arrow keys and press

NOTE

Enabling the Supervisor Password feature requires that a password be entered before ent ering the Setup Utility.

Enter

Setup displays a dialog box with the following prompts:

Enter new password: [ ] Confirm new password: [ ]

Type your password and press

case-sensitive. Reenter your password and press again.

Use the arrow keys to select Exit.

Select “Exit Saving Changes.” Press

At the prompt, to confirm exiting setup, press

Your password takes effect the next time you power on the system. You must enter a password the next time you power on.

Using a Password

After you set your password in Setup and reboot the system, a password prompt appears each time you power on the system.

To use your password, type the password at the password prompt and press

Enter

. Passwords are not

Enter

2-10 Using Your Computer

NOTE

appear on your screen. Enter your password carefully.

If you enter the password incorrectly, your system does not boot. You have three chances to enter the correct password. After the third unsuccessful attempt, you must reboot your system and try again.

PRODUCTIVITY

The following sections explain how to use your system to maximize your productivity.

Saving Your Work

Save your work often! The time you take to periodically save your data file as you work can save you time in the end! By doing so, you can avoid losing a whole day’s work or more when the unexpected happens, such as losing power due to a power outage.

For security, characters you enter do not

Some applications provide automatic save options for specified intervals of time as you work. For example, you might want to save your work every 10 minutes. This reduces the amount of lost information should you lose power or experience some other problem.

In Windows programs, you can select a Save option from the File menu. If you are creating a new file, you’ll need to specify a name for your file and a location to store it (drive and directory).

Always save your work before you exit an application. See the application’s documentation for available save options.

Using Your Computer 2-11

Backing Up Your Work

Back up your work on a regular basis! Backup procedures are important for the efficient and effective use of your computer. Protect your program and data files with regular backup procedures.

Make backup copies of your program and data files that are on diskette and on the hard drive.

The standard practice for diskette backup is to copy each diskette, store the original in a safe place, and use the copy as your working diskette. See your operating system documentation for information about copying diskettes. Use your Zip drive or Ditto tape backup unit (if installed) to back up your files.

Printing a Document

Before you can print out a document, you must



connect a printer to your computer



set up the printer.

If you have not connected a printer, see “Connecting a Parallel Printer” in Chapter 5.

If you did not choose a printer when you initially set up your computer, you’ll need to do that before you can print (see your Windows documentation). If you are using a non-Windows program, you’ll need to set up a printer driver for that program. See your printer documentation for printer setup information.

Once your program is set up to work with your printer, printing a file within a Windows application is easy:

Turn on your printer power.

2-12 Using Your Computer

Be sure you have paper in your printer. See your printer

documentation to load paper. Check that the printer is “online” or “selected.” See your

printer documentation for information about choosing the online mode.

Select “Print” from the File menu of your Windows

application. A Print dialog box appears. Select how many print copies you want and the range of

pages. To print one copy of all the pages, simply click “OK.”

DISPLAY PROPERTIES

The following procedure describes how to load video drivers to change the properties of your display. The display properties that you can set include the screen resolution, the number of colors displayed, and the video refresh rate.

For information about the resolutions, colors, and refresh rates supported by your video drivers, see the separate documentation that describes your video adapter.

NOTE

If your monitor is flickering or you change your moni tor, check that the Moni t or ty pe param eter is set correctly for your monitor.

From the Windows desktop, press the right mouse

button and click on Properties. The Display Properties window appears. Select the

Settings tab.

Using Your Computer 2-13

NOTE

The appearance of your desktop may vary

slightly from the one shown.

NOTE

palette were set at the factory for optimum perform ance. Before you change t hese settings, be sure that your monitor and video adapter support the new settings.

2-14 Using Your Computer

Display Properties Window

Both the screen resolution and the color

SYSTEM CARE

Your system is a durable, dependable computer 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 computer.

Use the slide bar in the Display Area section of the screen to select the screen resolution.

Select the number of colors you want to display from the Color Palette section of the screen.

NOTE

If you are using Windows NT, you can click on List All Modes. You get a list of all the modes available for your video board.

Click “Apply” to test the new display settings. If you are sure that the settings are correct, click “OK.”

Protecting Your System from Damage

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



Connect a surge suppressor between your computer 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 protector. The surge protector should be the only device that you plug into the wall outlet.

Using Your Computer 2-15

Avoid repeated power-on cycles. These subject the



system components to temperature variations and stress. Disconnect your system from telephone 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. Lightning can also travel in on power lines and damage 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. To do so could damage your system and its peripherals.



Use Setup options to limit access to your computer (see “Security Menu” in Chapter 4). Use appropriate virus detection software regularly to protect your system from computer viruses.



Keep your computer away from direct sunlight and extreme hot and cold temperatures.

You can find the operating and non-operating (storage) temperatures in Appendix B.

After turning off the power, wait about fifteen to thirty



seconds for the hard drive to spin down before you power on again.



Be sure that nothing is placed on top of your monitor’s ventilation vents or the system’s 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 following the general procedures listed next.

2-16 Using Your Computer

For safety, turn off and unplug your system, monitor, and any external dev ices before cleaning them.



Clean the outside of the computer 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 computer. 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 may use wet/dry cleaning pads manufactured for monitor screens.

WARNING

Moving or Shipping Your System

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

Back up your hard drive files onto diskettes, Zip disks, or tape cartridges.

Be sure to take precautions for storing and transporting diskettes or cartridges so that they are not exposed to magnetic fields or electrical impulses.

Using Your Computer 2-17

Remove any diskette from the diskette drive. If you have

a CD in the CD-ROM reader/DVD drive, remove the CD. If you have a Zip disk in a Zip drive, remove the disk.

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 itself. 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.

ONLINE DOCUMENTATION

Most of your application programs include online help at the touch of a button (usually the Help button). Many programs also incorporate separate, complete online user’s guides.

Windows provides extensive online help and “wizards” to guide you through procedures.

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

Once you have your system up and running, we suggest that you install your applications and study the documentation that comes with them.

See the following quick reference chart to find information about some of the things you might want to do.

2-18 Using Your Computer

Quick Reference to Information About Your Computer

WHAT YOU WANT TO FIND WHERE TO FIND IT

Basic information about my computer

Setting a password “Setting a Password” in this chapter Loading a CD “Loading a CD” in this chapter Adding options Chapter 5, “Installing Options” Understanding power

management Accessing the World Wide

Web Protecting my system from

viruses Changing video drivers “Display Properties” in this chapter. Using support services “24-Hour Information Services,” Chapter 7 Taking care of my system “System Care” in this chapter Troubleshooting tips “If You Have a Problem,” Chapter 8

“Introducing Your Computer,” Chapter 1

“Power Saving Feature,” Chapter 3, and “Power Menu,” Chapter 4

“Microsoft Internet Explorer” under Programs in the Start menu

“VirusScan” and “WebScan” under Programs in the Start menu

Using Your Computer 2-19

Understanding System

STANDARD FEATURES

Features

Your Direction SP B-Series computer is a 350- or 400-MHz Intel

technology and 512 KB of burst pipelined synchronous cache memory.

All models come with the following features:



3.5-inch, 1.44-MB diskette drive Memory — 32 to 384 MB of Synchronized Dynamic



Random Access Memory (SDRAM) using Dual In-line Memory Modules (DIMMs)



A hard disk drive: 4.3-gigabyte (GB), 6.4-GB, 8.4-GB,

9.1-GB, 11.5-GB Ultra DMA/33, or a 9-GB ultra-wide SCSI

CD-ROM reader or DVD drive



Pentium® II-based system with MMX

Crystal™ audio subsystem



Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) video port



NEC palmrest keyboard



Microsoft® IntelliMouse®.

Understanding System Features 3-1

Software installed on the hard disk includes:

Microsoft® Windows NT® or Windows® 95 or



Windows 98 MS Office 97 Small Business Edition

 

Internet Explorer Appropriate drivers for your hardware



McAfee® VirusScan®, McAfee WebScan™ Adobe® Acrobat® reader.



SYSTEM CHASSIS

The chassis provides an enclosure for the system board, power supply, three PCI, one ISA expansion slot, one set of shared PCI/ISA slots, one specialized slot for the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), and seven storage device slots (two for hard drives).

SYSTEM BOARD COMPONENTS

Your computer’s system board has the following components.

Processor

Processing for your system is provided by the Intel Pentium II microprocessor at speeds of 350 or 400 MHz.

Drive Interfaces



PCI IDE

 IDE/ATA (hard disk drives)  ATAPI (CD-ROM readers, DVD drives, tape

backup units, Zip drives)



SCSI (Adaptec)  Fast SCSI, Ultra Wide SCSI

3-2 Understanding System Features

Ports

Your computer’s system board includes the following connectors on the rear panel:

PS/2-style keyboard and mouse ports



Two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports Two serial ports (9-pin “D” style)



One parallel port



Audio — microphone in, line in, line out, MIDI/game



port.

System Memory

Your system’s standard memory configuration is 32 MB to 384 MB, depending upon the model you purchased. You can expand the memory to a maximum of 384 MB. See Appendix B for memory upgrade options.

Intel Xcelerator Multifunction Controller

Your computer uses an Intel PIIX4E, which incorporates the PC-to-ISA bridge, a USB controller, a dual-channel IDE interface, an enhanced DMA controller, an interrupt controller, power management, and a real-time clock.

Flash ROM

See Appendix B for the interrupt level assignments (IRQ) table.

With Flash ROM, a ROM BIOS change:



is fast and easily done using a Flash utility



eliminates the expensive replacement of ROM BIOS chips, and reduces system maintenance costs



reduces inadvertent system board damage that can take place when replacing ROMs

Understanding System Features 3-3

facilitates adopting new technology while maintaining



corporate standards gives network administrators company-wide control of



BIOS revisions.

Information on how to use the Flash utility is provided in Chapter 4, System BIOS and Utilities.

Plug and Play

The BIOS is Plug and Play. It automatically configures both PCI and Plug and Play devices. This autoconfiguration feature allows you to insert or remove a PCI or Plug and Play ISA add-in card and power up your computer without complicated setting changes. The system automatically configures interrupts, I/O space, and other parameters. Any interrupts set to “Available” in the system Setup can be used by the Plug and Play board.

Graphics and Multimedia Features

The system provides the following multimedia features.

Accelerated Graphics Port interface (AGP)

The Intel 82443BX PCI/AGP Controller(PAC) supports



3.3 V AGP devices



processor host bus frequencies of 100 MHz and 66 MHz



symmetrical and asymmetrical DRAM addressing



concurrent host, AGP, and PCI transactions to main memory



System Management Mode (SMM).

3-4 Understanding System Features

Video Support

Audio

Your system comes with an Accelerated Graphics Port video board installed. For more information about your video board see its documentation.

Your system’s integrated audio chips, the Crystal Semiconductor CS4611 3D with CS4236B wavetable, and optionally the Creative Labs AWE64D Wavetable Synthesizer, integrates an enhanced stereo controller and a game port. It provides:



all the digital and analog mixing functions you need to record and play sound

line, microphone, and monoaural inputs



Plug and Play compatibility Sound Blaster® and Windows Sound System™



compatibility.

The Wavetable Synthesizer, available on some models, integrates all the features of the CS4236B with a general MIDI processor and wavetable ROM, able to generate up to 64 voices simultaneously.

Super I/O Controller

As standard equipment, your system provides the SMC FDC37C777 Super I/O Controller, an ISA Plug and Play multifunction I/O device that incorporates:



Two serial ports with  Two UARTS, software compatible with the

NS16C550

 Data transfer speeds up to 115.2 Kbits/sec

Understanding System Features 3-5

USB Ports

Multimode bidirectional parallel port with



 Standard mode compatibility  Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) mode with driver

support

 High-speed Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) mode



Diskette drive controller Keyboard and mouse controller.



The two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports allow you to add serial devices without opening up the system; simply plug them into the port.

The ports are hot-pluggable: You can plug in a



peripheral without shutting down the computer; the USB determines system resources for each peripheral and assigns them automatically.

If you attach an external USB hub, up to 127 devices



can be connected to a single PC.

Dual IDE Channels

The system board provides two independent bus-mastering PCI IDE interfaces. They support such ATAPI devices as a CD-ROM reader and Ultra DMA/33 hard drives. Up to four IDE devices may be connected at a time.

Power-Saving Feature

An Advanced Power Management (APM) feature in the BIOS can put the system into a power reduction mode of operation. This feature reduces energy consumption, but still allows the system to respond to requests from external devices, such as modems or a network.

3-6 Understanding System Features

In Setup, you can adjust how long a period of inactivity will elapse before the energy-saving Standby mode takes effect. This is a convenient way to save power when you need to be away from your computer for a short period of time.

Press a key or move the mouse and your system quickly returns to full power and to where you left off.

OPTIONS AND UPGRADES

Your system supports a variety of options.

Network Interface Card

You can select any of the following cards to add networking functions to your computer:

3COM® 3C509B Combo card — 10Base T, ISA bus



Plug & Play, with RJ45, BNC, and AUI connectors



3COM 3C905-TX Fast Etherlink® card — 10BASE T, 100BASE-TX, 100BASE-T4, PCI bus, with an RJ45 connector.

Modem



U. S. Robotics® 56Kbps x2-capable data/fax Winmodem



U. S. Robotics 56Kbps x2-capable data/fax/voice Sportster

Removable Storage

DVD drive



Iomega Zip drive Iomega Jaz drive



Understanding System Features 3-7

Keyboard

Video

Audio



Windows 95 104-key enhanced NEC keyboard Optional Microsoft Natural Keyboard



Diamond Viper® V330 AGP



Voodoo2 gaming board



Altec Lansing ACS-90 speakers



Altec Lansing ACS-45 speakers with subwoofer



Altec Lansing ACS-410 Dolby® Surround Sound Stereo speaker system with ACS-251 subwoofer

3-8 Understanding System Features

System BIOS and

SYSTEM BIOS AND THE SETUP UTILITY

Utilities

Your NEC Direction SP B-Series computer system is made up of many different components that work together to keep the system operating normally. This chapter provides information on the NECCSD utilities available for your system:

Setup utility



BIOS flash utility



Video drivers.

Configuration information is stored in a nonvolatile memory chip, a device that retains its data when system power is turned off. This chip is called a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip, and it is 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.

The system BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is a set of configuration instructions burned into the CMOS chip. Your system ships from the factory with the BIOS set correctly for your configuration. Unless you add optional hardware, you do not need to run the Setup utility to operate your system. However, you might wish to run Setup to set features that customize your system, such as to add or adjust security features.

System BIOS and Utilities 4-1

The Setup Utility

The Setup utility program allows you to enter system configuration information in the BIOS and control special features of the system.

NOTE

down your current 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.

When to Use Setup

The Setup utility lets you view and set system parameters. Use the Setup utility program to:



set the time and date



update or check system parameters when you add or remove expansion options

We recommend that you print out or write



change or set power management features



correct a hardware discrepancy when the Power-On Self-Test (POST) displays an error message and prompts you to run Setup



check the installation of optional memory by comparing the amount of memory installed with the amount of memory displayed by Setup



change certain system operating parameters, such as boot device sequence and keyboard parameters



configure system connections for peripherals such as a diskette drive, hard disks, and devices connected to the printer port and serial ports

4-2 System BIOS and Utilities

customize your system with security features such as



passwords set system parameters in the event that you need to



replace the CMOS battery.

How to Start Setup

To start the Setup utility, follow these steps:

Turn on or reboot the system.

Press

up, to start the memory test. You have about five seconds to press

Setup’s Main Menu appears.

How to Use Setup

The bottom of all menus show the specific keys used to navigate around the menus. Pressing the Help screen. The right-hand side of the menu is pop-up item-sensitive help.

Use the left and right arrow keys (or cursor keys) to select one of the menus (Main, Advanced, Security, etc.) and the up and down arrows to move to an option within a menu. Press value either with the arrows or with the plus and minus (+ or –) keys.

Some entries cannot be changed; their function is to report the status of a system parameter. Other entries, when marked with an arrow () symbol, lead to submenus when you press

after POST begins, but before the system boots

before system boot continues.

key brings up a

to select an option or submenu. Change the

Enter

System BIOS and Utilities 4-3

Use the from the Setup program without changing any settings. When exiting and the menu asks if you want to discard configuration changes and exit now, be sure the menu’s “Yes” field is highlighted.

If you make a mistake changing settings and you need to change them again, press Setup program. When the Setup Confirmation menu asks you if you want to discard configuration changes and exit now, press the Tab key or the right arrow key to highlight the menu’s “No” field. With this choice, you remain in the Setup program, and you can continue to change settings, if necessary. Press

Maintenance Menu

This menu allows you to set the processor speed and clear the Setup passwords. Setup displays this menu only when the system is in configure mode. See Chapter 6 for information on putting the system in configure mode. There are two options available.



Processor Speed This field specifies your processor’s speed. Options are

350 and 400.

key to return to a previous menu or to “escape”

Esc

from anywhere within the

Esc

to confirm.

Enter



Clear All Passwords This field lets you clear the user and administrator

passwords.

Main Menu

The Main Menu options are described in the following sections.

4-4 System BIOS and Utilities

Main Menu

Various menu options are available; others cannot be changed. Brief explanations of each menu entry follow.

BIOS Version



This field displays your system’s BIOS version number.



Processor Type This field displays your computer’s processor type.



Processor Speed This field displays your processor’s speed.



Cache RAM This field displays the size of your system’s L2 cache.

System BIOS and Utilities 4-5

System Memory and Memory Banks 0 - 2



This field displays the total amount of memory installed on your system board and in which banks the memory is installed.

Language



This field displays the current default language used by the BIOS.

 English (US) — (default)  Italiano  Français  Deutsche  Español



L2 Cache ECC Support This option allows error checking on data accessed from

the L2 cache.

System Time and Date



These two fields specify the correct time and date. To change them, press the Tab key to highlight the field you want to change, then press the + or – keys to change the setting.

NOTE

report the year 2000 and beyond.

4-6 System BIOS and Utilities

Your comput er has been designed t o c or r ec tly

Advanced Menu

This menu features the following information fields or options:

Advanced Menu

Plug & Play O/S



This option lets you specify whether a Plug and Play-compatible operating system is being used in your system. Choose “Yes” or “No” (default).



Reset Configuration Data This option clears the BIOS configuration data on the

next boot. The options include “No” (default) or “Yes.”

System BIOS and Utilities 4-7

NumLock



This option controls whether the NumLock key on the keyboard is on or off at boot-up. The choices are “Auto” (default), “On,” or “Off.”

Peripheral Configuration Submenu

This submenu can be used to configure your system’s ports or peripheral devices. To enter the submenu, highlight this field, then press

Serial Port A/Serial Port B



. The following options appear:

Enter

These options let you configure your system’s Serial Port A or Serial Port B. You can choose “Auto,” “Enabled,” (default) or “Disabled.” The “Enabled” setting assigns Serial Port A to 2F8h, IRQ3. Note that if you set a specific serial port address, it does not appear in the list of options for the other serial port. Serial Port B is “Disabled.”

An asterisk symbol appearing next to an option indicates that the selected IRQ is set to conf lict with another device.

NOTE

additional opt ions that al low you to specify the Base I/O address and IRQs for the port you're configuring.

4-8 System BIOS and Utilities

If you select the Enabled option, you’ll see

CAUTION

Parallel Port



This option configures the system’s parallel port. Choose “Auto,” “Enabled,” (default) or “Disabled.” The “Enabled” setting assigns bidirectional, 378h, IRQ7.

NOTE

If you select the Enabled option, you’ll see additional opt ions that al low you to specify the Base I/O address and IRQs for the port you’re configuring.



Mode (Parallel Port) This option sets the mode for the parallel port. The

options include “Output Only” (AT-compatible mode), “Bidirectional” (PS/2-compatible mode), “EPP” (Extended Parallel Port – high speed bidirectional), and “ECP” (Enhanced Capabilities Port – high speed bidirectional).

An asterisk symbol appearing next to an option indicates that the selected IRQ is set to conf lict with another device.

CAUTION

System BIOS and Utilities 4-9

Audio



This option configures the onboard audio subsystem. Select “Enabled” (default) or “Disabled.”

Legacy USB Support



This option configures support for legacy USB devices. Select “Enabled” or “Disabled” (default).

To return to the Advanced Menu, press

IDE Configuration Submenu

This submenu can be used to auto-configure or manually configure the IDE devices, usually hard drives or CD-ROM drives. Depending on the system you purchased, the available options may include “User,” “Auto” (default), “CD-ROM,” “ATAPI Removable,” or “None.”

The standard hard drive (drive C) shipped with the system is configured as “Primary IDE Master.” The standard CD-ROM reader is configured as “Secondary IDE Master.”

NOTE

Jumpers on the IDE device must be set to the master or slav e dev i ce ( see the doc umentat ion that comes with the device).



IDE Controller This option configures the system’s integrated IDE

controller. Select from “Primary,” “Secondary,” “Both” (default), or “Disabled.”

Esc

4-10 System BIOS and Utilities

Hard Disk Pre-Delay



This option sets the time delay to allow the hard disk to spin up. The choices in seconds are “3,” “6,” “9,” “12,” “15,” “21,” and “30.”

These entries let you check or change the following hard disk drive parameters. They are not available if “Auto” is selected.

Maximum Capacity — This field displays the maximum



capacity of your hard disk drive, a value based on the number of cylinders, heads and sectors.

Multi Sector Transfers



This option determines the number of sectors per block for multiple sector transfers. You cannot access this option if the configuration type is set to “Auto.” If necessary, check the specification for your disk drive to determine the best setting for optimum drive performance. The options include:

 2 Sectors  4 Sectors  8 Sectors  16 Sectors  Disabled (default).

System BIOS and Utilities 4-11

LBA Mode Control



This option specifies the IDE translation mode. LBA causes Logical Block Addressing to be used in place of Cylinders/Heads/Sectors. You can enable or disable (default) this option. This option cannot be changed when “Auto” is selected.

Do not change the translat ion m ode sett i ng f rom t he option select ed when the hard driv e was f ormatt ed. Changing the opti on after f ormatti ng could result i n corrupted data!

Transfer Mode



This option specifies the method for transferring data between the hard drive and system memory. This option cannot be changed when “Auto” is selected. The options include:

CAUTION

 Standard (default)  Fast PIO 1  Fast PIO 2  Fast PIO 3  Fast PIO 4  FPIO 3 and Bus Mastering  FPIO 4 and Bus Mastering.

4-12 System BIOS and Utilities

Ultra DMA



This option sets the Ultra DMA Mode for the hard drive. This option cannot be changed when “Auto” is selected. The options include:

 Mode 0  Mode 1  Mode 2  Disabled (default).

To return to the Advanced Menu, press

Floppy Options Submenu

This submenu can be used to configure your system’s diskette drive. To enter the submenu, highlight the Floppy Options field, then press Controller, Diskette A:, and Floppy Write Protect options.



Floppy Disk Controller This option configures the system’s diskette drive

controller. Select “Enabled” (default) or “Disabled.”



Diskette A These fields specify the capacity and physical size of

Diskette Drive A. To change a setting, highlight the field for the drive, press options:

 Disabled  360KB, 5.25 inch  1.2MB, 5.25 inch

Esc

. Select Floppy Disk

Enter

, and select from the following

Enter

 720KB, 3.5 inch  1.44/1.25 MB, 3.5 inch (default)  2.88 MB, 3.5 inch.

System BIOS and Utilities 4-13

Floppy Write Protect



This option enables or disables write protection for the diskette drive(s). Choose the desired setting to enable or disable (default) this option.

To return to the Advanced Menu, press

DMI Event Logging Submenu

This submenu can be used to view and modify DMI Event Logs. To enter the submenu, highlight the DMI Event Logging field, then press the

The following options appear:

Event Log Capacity/Event Log Validity



These fields indicate whether space is available in the Event Log, and whether the contents of the log are valid.



View DMI Event Log If there are no event logs stored, you cannot access this

log.



Clear All DMI Event Logs This option clears the DMI Event Log after rebooting

the system. Choose “No” (default) or “Yes.”

Event Logging



This option enables logging of DMI events. Choose “Disabled” or “Enabled” (default).

Esc

key on your keyboard.

Enter



Mark DMI Events as Read This option is used to mark off all DMI Events as read.

If necessary, press the Confirmation dialog box and confirm your preference.

To return to the Advanced Menu, press the

4-14 System BIOS and Utilities

key to access the

Enter

Esc

key.

Video Configuration Submenu

This submenu can be used to configure specific video features. To enter the submenu, highlight the field, then press the

key on your keyboard. The following option

Enter

appears:

Palette Snooping



This option controls the ability of a primary PCI graphics controller to share a common palette with an ISA add-in video board. Select “Enabled” or “Disabled” (default).

AGP Aperture



This option specifies the aperture size for the AGP video controller. The choices are 64 MB (default) and 256 MB.

To return to the Advanced Menu, press the

Resource Configuration Submenu

This option allows you to reserve specific resources for use by legacy ISA devices. To enter the submenu, highlight this field, then press



Memory Reservation

Enter

This option lets you configure memory blocks for use by legacy ISA devices. When selected, the submenu displays a list of addresses from which specific addresses can be selected.

Use the arrow (cursor) keys to highlight an upper memory block, then press (default) or “Reserved” with the cursor keys, then press

to change the setting.

Enter

To return to the Resource Configuration submenu, press

Esc

key.

Esc

. Select “Available”

Enter

System BIOS and Utilities 4-15

IRQ Reservation



This option lets you reserve specific IRQs (interrupt requests) for use by legacy ISA devices. To do so, highlight this field, then press

. Use the arrow

Enter

(cursor) keys to highlight the specified IRQ, then press

. Select “Available” (default) or “Reserved” with

Enter

the arrow keys, then press

An asterisk symbol appearing next to an option indicates that the selected IRQ is set to conf lict with another device.

CAUTION

to change the setting.

Enter

To return to the Advanced Menu, press

Esc

. Then press

the right arrow (cursor) key to move to the Security Menu.

4-16 System BIOS and Utilities

Security Menu

The Security Menu can be used to set a user password and/or an administrator password.

Security Menu

A User Password controls access to the system and Setup Utility Program at boot up. If the User Password feature has been enabled, you’ll need to enter your User password correctly whenever you boot the system before you’ll be able to use it.

An Administrator Password controls access to the BIOS and Setup Utility Program. If the Administrator Password feature has been enabled, an Administrator password must be entered correctly before all options in the Setup Utility Program are available (for example, to disable password protection).

System BIOS and Utilities 4-17

When an Administrator Password is enabled, access to many features in the Setup utility program is restricted.

How to Set a Password

Use the following steps to select the password feature you want to set.

Highlight the “Set User Password” or “Set Administrator Password” field, then press Set User Password or Set Administrator Password dialog box appears on your monitor.

Type a password (up to seven alphanumeric characters) in the Enter New Password field, then press password should be easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess.

CAUTION

Enter

. The

. Your

Be caref ul when typi ng your password, because you won’t be able to see any of the characters you type.

Retype your password in the Confirm New Password field, then press

If the message “User Password Is Set” (or “Administrator Password Is Set”) appears in the Security Menu, the password has been set up successfully.

4-18 System BIOS and Utilities

CAUTION

Enter

If the User Password Is Clear f ield ( or Admi nistrat or Password Is Clear) appears in the Security Menu, the corresponding password feature is disabled. (Your system is not password protected.)

CAUTION

How to Disable Password Protection

From the Security Menu, highlight the “Set User Password” or “Set Administrator Password” field (depending on which password you disable).

Type your password in the Enter Current Password

Enter

field, then press

Don’t type anything in the Enter New Password field — just press

Again, don’t type anything in the Confirm New

Enter

Password field — just press

Enter

If the message “User Password Is Clear” (or “Administrator Password Is Clear”) appears in the Security Menu, the User (or Administrator) password feature is disabled.



Clear User Password This clears the user password.



User Setup Access This option allows the user to have access to the BIOS

Setup utility. The choices are “Enabled” (default) or “Disabled.”

System BIOS and Utilities 4-19

Power Menu

Unattended Start



By enabling this feature and the User Password feature, the system boots up and runs, but the keyboard and mouse are locked and your keyboard LEDs flash on and off. To use the keyboard and mouse, you need to enter the User Password first. (A password is also required to boot from a floppy disk.)

Press the right arrow (cursor) key to move to the Power Menu.

The Power Menu can be used to enable or disable the system’s power management features. When the power management option is enabled, the Power Menu displays the options shown in the following screen.

4-20 System BIOS and Utilities

Power Menu

Power Management



This feature lets you enable or disable BIOS power management.

Inactivity Timer



The Inactivity Timer lets you set the length of time that the system needs to be inactive before entering its lowpower or Standby mode. The low-power mode powers down various devices in the system until you resume using it. You can select from “1,” “5,” “10,” “20,” “30,” “60,” or “120 minutes.” A setting of 1 minute achieves maximum power savings, while a setting of 120 minutes allows maximum performance.

Hard Drive



This option controls whether or not a spin down command is issued to the hard drives when the system goes into a low-power mode. Your choices are “Enabled” (default) or “Disabled.”



VESA Video Power Down This option controls power to the monitor during the

low-power modes. Your choices are “Disabled,” “Standby” (default), “Suspend,” or “Sleep.”

Press the right arrow (cursor) key to move to the Boot Menu.

System BIOS and Utilities 4-21

Boot Menu

The Boot Menu can be used to adjust the system’s boot features. The following information describes Boot Menu options.

Sett ing some i tem s in any menu to incorrec t v al ues can cause your system to malfunction.

CAUTION



QuickBoot Mode This option configures the system to boot without

running certain POST tests. The choices are “Enabled” and “Disabled” (default).

4-22 System BIOS and Utilities

Boot Menu

Scan User Flash Area



This option configures the BIOS to scan the flash memory for user binary files that are executed at boot time. The choices are “Enabled” and “Disabled” (default).

After Power Failure



This option specifies whether or not to restore power to the system if it is turned on and there is a power failure. The options are “Stay Off” which keeps the power off, “Power On” which restores the system’s power, and “Last State” which restores the previous power state.

On Modem Ring



This option specifies how the system responds when power is off and the modem detects an incoming call. The options are “Stay Off” and “Power On” (default).



On LAN This option controls how the system responds to a LAN

wake-up call when power is off. The options are “Stay Off” and “Power On” (default).



On PME This option controls how the system responds to a PCI

power management enable event when power is off. The options are “Stay Off” and “Power On” (default).

First/Second/Third/Fourth Boot Device



You can select the sequence of boot devices by type. Pressing your keyboard’s + (plus) or – (minus) keys allows you to select the order. For maximum system accessibility, Removable Device should always be set as the First Boot Device.

System BIOS and Utilities 4-23

Hard Drive Submenu

This submenu lists the system’s available hard drives. Your computer tries to boot to the operating system on the first device listed on the Hard Drive submenu. If no operating system is found, the system continues trying the drives in the order they are listed until an operating system is located.

To see a list of available drives, highlight this field and press

. You can select the boot device by pressing

Enter

your keyboard’s + or – keys. To exit from the Hard Drive submenu, press

Esc

Removable Devices Submenu

This submenu lists any available removable devices (if included). One common option is Legacy Floppy Drives. The operating system assigns drive letters to these devices in the order listed. You can change the sequence (and drive lettering) by highlighting this field and pressing press your keyboard’s + or – keys to move a device up or down the list. To exit from the Removable Devices submenu, press

Esc

. Then

Enter

Removable Format Submenu

This submenu provides the format of any any available removable devices.

Exit Menu

The Exit Menu allows you to choose how to exit the Setup program. Press the arrow (cursor) keys to select the desired option, then press arrow key to select another one).

4-24 System BIOS and Utilities

to make your choice (or use the

Enter

Exit Menu



Exit Saving Changes This option exits the Setup program and saves your

changes to the BIOS.



Exit Discarding Changes This option exits the Setup program without saving your

changes to the BIOS.



Load Setup Defaults This option loads the Setup program’s default values.



Load Custom Defaults This option loads Custom default settings.

System BIOS and Utilities 4-25

Save Custom Defaults



This option saves your changes to Custom default settings.



Discard Changes This option loads previous values from CMOS RAM for

all BIOS settings.

NOTE

If your system’s CMOS f ails, the BIOS l oads custom default settings (if you saved them) or factory default settings.

Finally, press program.

BIOS FLASH UTILITY

From time to time, changes are made to a computer system’s BIOS. While not essential, it is usually beneficial to upgrade if there is a new BIOS for your system. Check the NECCSD Bulletin Board Service (BBS) for information regarding an update to your system’s BIOS. If there is one available, the BBS will have both the BIOS itself and instructions for downloading it.

Update the BIOS from the BIOS flash diskette as follows.

Write down the setup parameters currently set on your

system. Turn off the system.

Insert the flash upgrade diskette in drive A and turn on

the system.

again to confirm and exit the Setup

Enter

4-26 System BIOS and Utilities

When the flash upgrade menu appears, choose “Update

Flash 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 a confirmation that you want to load

Enter

the new flash upgrade into memory. Select “Continue with Programming.”

After the upgrade completes, remove the upgrade disk.

Reboot the system and start the Setup program. Press

to reset the BIOS defaults. Then, use the copy of the Setup selections you made at the beginning of this procedure to set the options.

NOTE

If the flash BIOS process is corrupted, for example, by a power failure, see Chapter 6 for BIOS recovery information.

See “NECCSD Bulletin Board Service” in Chapter 7 for information about using the bulletin board (available in the U.S. and Canada).

VIDEO DRIVERS

Video drivers let you take advantage of your computer’s video hardware and extended graphics modes.

Your system ships with the appropriate video drivers for the Windows operating system loaded on your hard disk.

You can change the default video resolution in Windows Setup. You can also change the video resolution and other video features such as refresh rates in Windows. See “Display Properties,” in Chapter 2.

System BIOS and Utilities 4-27

Additional VGA drivers are available for a variety of software applications through the NECCSD BBS (see “NECCSD Bulletin Board Service” in Chapter 7).

NOTE

A multifrequency monitor, such as an NEC

MultiSync® monitor, is required to access the extended graphics mode.

4-28 System BIOS and Utilities

Installing Options

Your Direction SP B-Series system supports a variety of industry-standard and NEC expansion options. You can customize your computer with:

Monitors − your system supports the connection of a



VGA-compatible monitor such as the MultiSync XE and XP series and NEC CS and C series.

DIMM memory − your system comes with 32 MB to



384 MB of RAM. The system supports a maximum of 384 MB of memory.



Video memory − your system comes with a 4-MB or 8-MB video board in the Accelerated Graphics Port slot. Its video memory may be upgradeable; see the documentation for your video board.



Drives − your system supports a total of seven storage devices. In addition to the standard 3 1/2-inch, 1.44-MB diskette drive, internal hard disk drive, and CD-ROM reader/DVD drive, four other storage device slots are available.

OPTION INSTALLATION

Installation instructions for the following options are provided in this chapter:



expansion boards



memory upgrade

Installing Options 5-1

video memory upgrade — see the documentation for



your video board data storage devices



external options.



Installation of all options (except external options) requires access cover removal. Procedures for removing the cover are explained in this chapter.

Safety Precautions

Before opening your computer, see the grounding instructions in Appendix C.

Take care when working inside the system and when handling computer components. Avoid electric shock or personal injury by observing the following warning.

Before remov ing the system access cover, turn off the power and unplug any attached peripherals. Disconnect the system power cord from the system.

WARNING

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



5-2 Installing Options

Avoid carpets in cool, dry areas. Leave an option, such as a board or chip, in its anti-static packaging until ready to install it.

Dissipate static electricity before handling any system components (boards, chips, and so on) by touching a grounded metal object, such as the system’s unpainted metal chassis.

If possible, use anti-static devices, such as wrist straps and floor mats.

Always hold a chip or board by its edges. 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. Misaligned connector pins can cause damage to system components at power-on.

When installing a cable, route the cable so it is not



pinched by other components and is out of the path of the system covers. Prevent damage to the connectors by aligning connector pins before you connect the cable.

When disconnecting a cable, always pull on the cable



connector or strain-relief loop; do not pull on the cable itself.

COVER REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT

The following sections explain how to remove and to replace the access cover from your computer.

Note that the access cover is on the top of the desktop model and on the right side of the minitower model.

NOTE

It is recommended that you place the mini tower m odel on its side with the base ov er the edge of a tabl e to rem ov e/repl ace the access cov er and add options. In this position, the following figures apply to the minitower as well as the desktop.

Installing Options 5-3

Removing the Access Cover

The following procedure describes how to remove the system access cover.

Turn off the computer.

Disconnect the keyboard, mouse, monitor, and any other

external options (such as a printer) from the rear of the computer.

Label all cables to make reinstallation easier.

Electrostatic discharge can damage computer components. Discharge stat ic el ectri cit y by touchi ng a metal object before rem oving the sy st em access cover.

Loosen the thumb screw at the rear of the system by turning it counterclockwise. If you installed a lock on the back of the system, unlock the lock and remove it.

CAUTION

5-4 Installing Options

Press in the release tabs located at the sides of the access cover.

Loosening the screw and pressing the tabs

Slide the cover toward the rear until it stops. (If it is very

tight, you can also carefully insert a screwdriver into the slot adjacent to the fans at the back side of the cover, and very gently rock the cover loose, taking care not to scratch the system).

Lift the cover away from the system.

Sliding off the cover

Installing Options 5-5

Replacing the Access Cover

Gently set the access cover inside the edge of the case,

taking care not to bend the metal tabs as follows.

Align the tabs on the access cover with their



corresponding slots on the system. Insert the tabs on the edge of the access cover into



their slots on the system.

5-6 Installing Options

Aligning the tabs

Slide the access cover forward to meet the front panel. Tighten the thumb screw.

NOTE

The cover fits tightly. If it does not slide all the way to the front panel, pl ace one hand on the front of the unit while you slide the cover forward from the rear.

Reconnect all external peripherals.

EXPANSION BOARDS

Your computer’s system board features several expansion slots that can accommodate accessory adapter boards, such as a SCSI board or TV board. Depending on the system you purchased, some of these devices may be installed in your system.

The Direction SP B-Series supports ISA Plug and Play expansion boards, which allow you to install a board in an expansion slot without changing the hardware settings. There are no system resource conflicts to resolve. Plug and Play automatically configures the board for the system.

Industry-standard 8-bit and 16-bit ISA, and 32-bit PCI expansion boards are supported in the system unit. ISA expansion boards can be Plug and Play or non-Plug and Play boards.

PCI expansion boards run at one half the system host’s bus speed. The PCI bus handles 32 bits of data at a time, being wider as well as faster than the standard ISA bus. PCI boards can send and receive data much faster, thereby boosting system performance.

Your system has six expansion slots:



one ISA slot



three PCI slots one set of shared ISA and PCI slots



one AGP slot.



Installing Options 5-7

The option board slot configuration accommodates the following devices:

NOTE

The furt hest-ri ght slot ( as seen from the f r ont) on the desktop model or highest slot on the minitower is not used.

Slot 1 — Not used.



Slot 2 — Accommodates a video board.



Slot 3 — Accommodates an optional PCI board. Slot 4 — Accommodates an optional PCI board.



Slots 5 — Accommodate an optional PCI board.



Slot 6 — Accommodates an optional PCI or ISA board.



Slot 7 (lowest slot on minitower, furthest-left slot on desktop model) — Accommodates an optional ISA board.

5-8 Installing Options

Installing an Expansion Board

Although Plug and Play boards are detected by the system, and potential conflicts are resolved automatically, boards which are not Plug and Play may require you to change settings. Before installing the new board, check its documentation and the Interrupt Request (IRQ) assignments in Appendix B. This information ensures that your new board does not conflict with any installed components.

Locating expansion slots

Follow these steps to install an expansion board.

Remove the access cover (see “Removing the Access

Cover”). Follow any preinstallation instructions that come with

the expansion board (such as setting switches or jumpers on the board).

Installing Options 5-9

Remove the screw securing an expansion slot cover and

remove the cover.

Removing the slot cover

5-10 Installing Options

Save the screw for installing the expansion board. Be sure to save the slot cover for future use.

A slot c over can damage the syst em board or any option board i f it fall s into the system . Take car e to keep the slot cover from f alling when rem oving the screw.

If the slot cover does fall into the unit, remove it before replacing the cover.

CAUTION

Hold the board by its edges and insert it into the

expansion slot. Press the board firmly into the expansion slot connector.

Gently rock the board from side-to-side to seat it into the connector.

Installing the board

Insert the screw removed in step 3 to secure the

expansion board to the support bracket. Attach any cables required by the expansion board.

Replace the access cover (see “Replacing the Access

Cover”).

Installing Options 5-11

Removing an Expansion Board

Follow these steps to remove a board.

Remove the access cover (see “Removing the Access

Cover). Label and remove any cables connected to the board.

Remove the screw that secures the board to the support

bracket. Pull the board out of the connector. Gently rock the

board from side-to-side to release it from its connector.

5-12 Installing Options

Removing the board

Replace the access cover (see “Replacing the Access Cover).

MEMORY UPGRADE

Your system comes with 32 MB to 384 MB of main system memory factory-installed in up to three 168-pin sockets on the system board. The sockets support Dual In-line Memory Modules (DIMMs).

You can install memory in one, two, or three sockets. The size and speed of the DIMMs can vary between sockets. Single- and double-sided DIMMs are supported.

Before installing memory, read the detailed explanation of memory types and configuration options in Appendix B.

Depending on product upgrade availability, your system memory can be upgraded to a total of 384 MB. When upgrading your system memory, note the following conditions:

Be sure to use 168-pin 3.3V DIMMs with gold-plated



contacts.



Bus speed of 100 MHz only is supported. Non-Error Correcting and Checking (64-bit) and ECC



(72-bit) DIMMs are both supported. When ECC memory is installed, the BIOS automatically detects its presence, and offers the Setup option to enable ECC mode.

NOTE

Although memory size and type m ay vary, the SDRAM DIMMs must meet the Intel 4-clock, 100-MHz, unbuffered SDRAM DIMM specification for either 64-bit or 72-bit SDRAM.

Use the following procedure to:



Check the memory installed in the system

Installing Options 5-13

Determine the DIMM configuration needed to increase



memory Identify DIMM sockets.



NOTE

If any cables block access to the DIMM sockets, label and disconnect them. If any boards block access to the sockets, remove them.

Locate the three DIMM sockets: J7J1–Bank 0,

J6J2–Bank 1, and J6J1–Bank 2. See Appendix C to identify the sockets.

Any approved size DIMM can be installed in any socket.

The following table shows some example configurations.

5-14 Installing Options

Sample Memory Configurations

BANK 0 BANK 1 BANK 2 TOTAL RAM

1 Mx64 (8) Empty (0) Empty (0) 8 MB

Empty (0) 4 Mx64 (32) 8 Mx64 (64) 96 MB 16 Mx64 (128) Empty (0) 2 Mx64 (16) 144 MB 2 Mx72 (16) 2 Mx72 (16) 4 Mx72 (16) 64 MB (ECC) 2 Mx64 (16) Empty (0) 2 Mx64 (16) 32 MB 4 Mx64 (32) 4 Mx64 (32) 8 Mx64 (64) 128 MB 8 Mx64 (64) 1 Mx64 (8) 4 Mx64 (32) 104 MB 2 Mx64 (16) 4 Mx64 (32) 1 Mx64 (8) 56 MB 4 Mx64 (32) 8 Mx64 (64) 2 Mx64 (16) 112 MB Empty (0) 16 Mx72 (128) 16 Mx72 (128) 256 MB (ECC) 16 Mx64 (128) 2 Mx64 (16) 8 Mx64 (64) 210 MB 16 Mx64 (128) 4 Mx64 (32) 8 Mx64 (64) 224 MB 16 Mx72 (128) 8 Mx72 (64) 1 Mx72 (8) 200 MB (ECC) 16 Mx64 (128) 16 Mx64 (128) 16 Mx64 (128) 384 MB 16 Mx72 (128) 16 Mx72 (128) 16 Mx72 (128) 384 MB (ECC)

Note: The number in parentheses is the memory in megabytes configuration.

(minimum)

Installing Options 5-15

Removing a DIMM

Use the following procedure to remove a DIMM.

Reduce static discharge by touching the system’s metal chassis.

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

Locate the DIMM sockets.

To remove a DIMM from its socket, press the plastic clips at the outer edges of the socket away from the DIMM.

Carefully rock the DIMM to pull it from the socket.

CAUTION

5-16 Installing Options

Removing a DIMM

Store the module in an antistatic bag (available at electronic supply stores) or a cardboard box.

Installing a DIMM

Use the following procedure to install a DIMM.

Remove the access cover (see “Removing the Access

Cover”). Locate the DIMM sockets.

Remove any currently-installed DIMMs that are not

needed. See the previous section, “Removing a DIMM.”

Bef ore instal l ing a DIMM, r educe stati c di scharge by touching the system's metal chassis.

To install a DIMM, align the module with an empty socket. Make sure that the notches on the DIMM line up with the keys in the sockets.

CAUTION

Installing Options 5-17

Insert the DIMM into the socket. Close the plastic clips

at both ends of the socket.

Installing a DIMM

Replace any cables or boards that may have been

removed. Replace the access cover (see “Replacing the Access

Cover”).

Your system automatically detects the memory at bootup.

VIDEO UPGRADE

Your computer comes with an AGP video board. See your video board’s documentation for information on

upgrade capabilities.

5-18 Installing Options

NEC PowerMate SPB-Boston User Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Using This Guide

Using Your Computer

Understanding System

Installing Options