Nec POWERMATE VP 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 Corporation (NEC) and/or its licensors. NEC 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 NEC 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 NEC.

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 NEC is prohibited.

MultiSync and PowerMate are U.S. registered trademarks of NEC Technologies, Inc. FastFacts is a U.S. trademark of NEC Technologies, Inc. All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or

registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

First Printing — March 1995

NEC Technologies, Inc. NEC Corporation

1414 Massachusetts Avenue 7-1 Shiba 5-Chome, Minato-Ku

Boxborough, MA 01719 Tokyo 108-01, Japan

Using this Guide

Text Conventions....................................................... viii

Related Documents.................................................... ix

1 1-1

Using Your Computer 1-1

SYSTEM FEATURES............................................... 1-1

Front Panel............................................................ 1-2

Power Button................................................... 1-4

Lamps ..............................................................1-4

Suspend Button................................................ 1-5

Diskette Drive.................................................. 1-5

Diskette Loading................................................... 1-7

Hard Disk......................................................... 1-9

CD-ROM Reader............................................. 1-9

CD Loading .......................................................... 1-11

Audio Support ................................................. 1-13

Rear Panel.............................................................1-13

15-Pin VGA Monitor Port............................... 1-15

Printer Port ...................................................... 1-15

Serial Ports ...................................................... 1-15

Keyboard Port.................................................. 1-16

Mouse Port ...................................................... 1-16

Expansion Slot Covers .................................... 1-16

Sound Board Jacks .......................................... 1-17

Network Connectors........................................ 1-20

Power Supply........................................................1-22

Cooling Fans.................................................... 1-24

Voltage Selector Switch.................................. 1-24

System Power Socket ...................................... 1-25

Keyboard............................................................... 1-25

Function Keys.................................................. 1-26

Contents iii

Status Lamps....................................................1-26

Numeric Keypad/Cursor Control Keys............1-26

Standard Cursor Control Keys.........................1-27

Typewriter Keys ..............................................1-27

Mouse....................................................................1-27

Speakers ................................................................1-28

Microphone...........................................................1-28

SYSTEM OPERATION.............................................1-28

Startup/Shutdown..................................................1-28

Powering On ....................................................1-30

Powering Off....................................................1-32

System Reset.........................................................1-33

INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES ...........................1-35

Processor Subsystem.............................................1-36

System Memory ....................................................1-37

System BIOS.........................................................1-37

Flash ROM............................................................1-37

Power Management...............................................1-38

Using Standby Mode........................................1-39

Using Suspend Mode.......................................1-40

Plug and Play.........................................................1-40

System I/O Controller...........................................1-42

PCI Local Bus.......................................................1-43

PCI Auto Configuration........................................1-43

Video Features ......................................................1-43

DESKTOP MANAGEMENT INTERFACE.............1-44

DMI Components..................................................1-45

Manageable Products............................................1-46

CI Module .............................................................1-46

DMI Browser ........................................................1-46

Usage.....................................................................1-48

Troubleshooting....................................................1-48

2 2-1

Setting System Parameters 2-1

THE SETUP UTILITY ..............................................2-2

iv Contents

HOW TO START SETUP......................................... 2-3

HOW TO USE SETUP.............................................. 2-4

The Menu Bar....................................................... 2-5

The Legend Bar .................................................... 2-6

Selecting a Menu Item.....................................2-7

Displaying a Submenu..................................... 2-7

The Field Help Window.......................................2-7

The General Help Window...................................2-7

Main Menu Options..............................................2-8

IDE Adapters ........................................................2-9

Memory Shadow................................................... 2-11

Boot Sequence......................................................2-12

NumLock..............................................................2-14

THE ADVANCED MENU........................................ 2-14

Integrated Peripherals Menu................................. 2-15

Parity..................................................................... 2-16

Large Disk Access Mode......................................2-17

THE SECURITY MENU........................................... 2-17

THE POWER MENU................................................ 2-20

THE EXIT MENU..................................................... 2-21

Save Changes & Exit............................................ 2-22

Discard Changes & Exit ....................................... 2-22

Get Default Values ............................................... 2-22

Load Previous Values........................................... 2-23

Save Changes........................................................2-23

3 3-1

Using NEC Utilities and Drivers 3-1

MOUSE DRIVER......................................................3-1

Changing Mouse Parameters................................ 3-2

Command Line Options........................................ 3-2

VIDEO DRIVERS.....................................................3-5

BIOS UPDATE UTILITY......................................... 3-7

Using the Flash Utility.......................................... 3-7

NEC Bulletin Board Service................................. 3-8

Contents v

4 4-1

Maintaining Your Computer 4-1

SYSTEM CARE.........................................................4-1

Protective Measures..............................................4-1

Routine Care .........................................................4-3

Backup...................................................................4-3

MOUSE CARE ..........................................................4-4

CD CARE...................................................................4-6

MOVING GUIDELINES...........................................4-7

5 5-1

Removing the System Unit Cover 5-1

DESKTOP SYSTEM UNIT COVER........................5-1

Removing the Desktop Cover...............................5-1

Replacing the Desktop Cover................................5-4

MINITOWER SYSTEM UNIT COVER...................5-6

Removing the Minitower Cover............................5-6

Removing the Minitower Bottom Access Cover ..5-9

Replacing the Minitower Cover............................5-10

Replacing the Bottom Access Cover.....................5-12

6 6-1

Adding Options 6-1

OPTIONAL HARDWARE........................................6-1

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ........................................6-3

EXPANSION BOARDS ............................................6-4

Desktop Slot Expansion Locations.......................6-5

Desktop Board Installation....................................6-7

Desktop Board Removal .......................................6-9

6 6-11

Adding Options 6-11

Desktop Inside Expansion Slot .............................6-12

vi Contents

Installing an Inside Slot Board........................6-12

Removing an Inside Slot Board.......................6-15

Minitower Slot Locations..................................... 6-17

Minitower Board Installation................................ 6-18

Minitower Board Removal...................................6-20

6 6-19

Adding Options 6-19

SIMM UPGRADE KITS ...........................................6-21

Precautions............................................................ 6-22

Checking the Memory in Your System ................ 6-23

SIMM Installation................................................. 6-26

VIDEO UPGRADE ................................................... 6-30

PROCESSOR UPGRADE......................................... 6-33

DATA STORAGE DEVICES ...................................6-37

Storage Device Support........................................ 6-37

6 6-37

Adding Options 6-37

Desktop Device Slots............................................ 6-38

Minitower Device Slots........................................ 6-39

Device Preparation ............................................... 6-40

Cables ................................................................... 6-40

System Power Cables ......................................6-42

Diskette Drive Signal Cable............................ 6-42

PCI/IDE Cable................................................. 6-43

Desktop Storage Device Installation .................... 6-44

Installing a Desktop Storage Device ............... 6-44

Cabling a Desktop Storage Device..................6-49

6 6-51

Adding Options 6-51

Minitower Storage Device Installation.................6-53

Installing an Accessible Minitower Storage Device6-53

Contents vii

Cabling a Minitower Storage Device...............6-58

Installing an Internal Minitower Storage Device6-60

EXTERNAL PERIPHERALS....................................6-62

VGA MONITOR........................................................6-62

PARALLEL PRINTER..............................................6-64

RS-232C DEVICE......................................................6-66

MULTIMEDIA COMPONENTS ..............................6-68

Connecting the Speakers.......................................6-69

Connecting the Microphone..................................6-71

7 7-1

Setting System Board Jumpers 7-1

JUMPER LOCATIONS.............................................7-2

JUMPER SETTINGS.................................................7-3

Changing Jumper Settings.....................................7-6

CMOS Jumper.......................................................7-7

8 8-1

Solving Problems 8-1

PROBLEM CHECKLIST..........................................8-1

PRODUCT INFORMATION.....................................8-5

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE..................................8-7

Getting Help from Your Company........................8-7

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

Getting Help from NEC........................................8-8

A A-1

Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment A-1

MAKING YOUR COMPUTER WORK FOR YOU.A-1

ARRANGE YOUR EQUIPMENT ............................A-3

ADJUST YOUR CHAIR ...........................................A-4

ADJUST YOUR KEYBOARD AND MOUSE.........A-6

ADJUST YOUR MONITOR.....................................A-8

VARY YOUR WORKDAY.......................................A-10

viii Contents

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND PSYCHOSOCIAL

FACTORS.................................................................. A-12

CHECKING YOUR COMFORT: HOW DO YOU

MEASURE UP?......................................................... A-13

Checking Your Chair............................................ A-13

Checking Your Keyboard..................................... A-13

Checking Your Mouse.......................................... A-13

Checking Your Monitor........................................ A-13

Checking You.......................................................A-14

B B-1

Specifications B-1

C C-1

CD-ROM Reader Configuration C-1

D D-1

Sound/Fax/Modem Board Configuration D-1

SOUND/FAX/MODEM BOARD CONFIGURATIOND-3 SOUND/FAX/MODEM BOARD CONNECTOR

JUMPER....................................................................D-5

FAX/MODEM COM JUMPERS ............................. D-6

FAX/MODEM IRQ JUMPERS................................ D-7

Glossary

Index

List of Tables

Setup Key Functions................................................. 2-6

Main Menu Parameters............................................. 2-8

IDE Hard Disk Parameters........................................ 2-11

Memory Shadow Parameters....................................2-12

Boot Parameters........................................................ 2-13

Contents ix

Keyboard Parameters ................................................2-14

Integrated Peripherals Parameters.............................2-16

Large Disk Parameters ..............................................2-17

System Security Options...........................................2-18

Power Management Parameters................................2-20

1-MB Video Resolutions...........................................3-5

2-MB Video Resolutions...........................................3-6

Single-Sided SIMM Upgrade Path............................6-25

Double-Sided SIMM Upgrade Path ..........................6-26

Troubleshooting ........................................................8-2

x Contents

Contents xi

Using This Guide

The PowerMate® VP Series User's Guide is a comprehensive source of information about your computer. Before using this guide, read and follow the instructions in the PowerMate VP Series Quick Setup sheet that comes with your system.

To get the most out of your system, read Chapters 1,2,3, and 4 in this guide. See

n Chapter 1, Using Your Computer, to familiarize your-

self with system components and system operation.

n Chapter 2, Setting System Parameters, to change your

system configuration and to customize the system with security features.

n Chapter 3, Using NEC Utilities and Drivers, for mouse,

video, and Flash utility information. This chaption includes information on the NEC Bulleting Board service.

n Chapter 4, Maintaining Your Computer, to extend the

life and optimize the condition of your computer. This chapter provides protective measures, tips for routine care, and guidelines for moving your computer.

n Chapter 5, Removing the System Unit Cover, contains

procedures for removing and replacing the system unit cover.

n Chapter 6, Adding Options, provides comprehensive

procedures for adding expansion options to the system. The chapter includes important device preparation and cabling information.

Using This Guide xi

The chapter also includes procedures for connecting external peripheral devices such as a printer, serial device, telephone line, speakers, and a microphone.

n Chapter 7, Setting System Board Jumpers, provides a

description of system board jumper settings and explains how to change jumper settings.

n Chapter 8, Solving Problems, provides a checklist of

conditions to determine and solve a problem that might occur. This chapter also describes the assistance available to you if you cannot solve the problem.

WARNING: Prolonged or improper use of a computer workstation may pose a risk of 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.

n 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.

n Appendix B, Specifications, provides a comprehensive

n Appendix C, CD-ROM Reader Configuration,

n Appendix D, Sound Board Jumper Settings, provides

xii Using This Guide

list of system specifications by component.

contains connector and jumper setting information for the system’s CD-ROM reader.

jumper and connection information for configuring the sound board.

Use this guide with the other documentation that comes with your system (see “Related Documentation” in this preface).

TEXT CONVENTIONS

This guide uses the following text conventions.

n Warnings, cautions, and notes have the following

format:

WARNING: Warnings alert you to situa- tions that could result in serious personal injury or loss of life.

CAUTION: Cautions indicate situations that can damage the hardware or software.

Notes give particularly important information about the material being described.

n Names of keyboard keys are printed as they appear on

the keyboard, for example, Ctrl, Alt, or Enter.

n Text or keystrokes that you enter appear in boldface

type. For example, type return and press Enter.

n File names are printed in uppercase letters.

Using This Guide xiii

Using Your Computer

After completing the steps on the Quick Setup sheet that comes with your PowerMate VP Series computer, your system is ready to use (hard disk models only).

NEC recommends that you perform the following procedures once your system is up and running:

n Read Appendix A, Setting Up a Healthy Work

Environment, for guidelines that help you use your computer productively and safely. Information includes how to set up and use your computer to reduce your risk of developing nerve, muscle, or tendon disorders.

n Run the system’s Setup utility to check your computer's

current time and date (see Chapter 2). Be sure that the system's clock is set for your time zone.

The following sections describes system features and procedures that you will use regularly to operate your computer. Information includes:

n system unit, keyboard, and mouse features n startup/shutdown and reset procedures n integrated system technologies.

SYSTEM FEATURES

The PowerMate VP75 system comes in a variety of configurations. Information in this manual applies to all configurations unless otherwise stated. All configurations are Energy Star compliant and are listed below.

Using Your Computer 1-1

Front Panel

n Diskette drive only configuration (no hard disk) with 8

MB of system memory

n Hard disk drive configuration; including a diskette

drive, hard disk drive, and 8 MB of system memory

n Multimedia configuration; including a diskette drive,

hard disk drive, quadruple speed CD-ROM reader, sound board, speakers, microphone, and 16 MB of system memory

n Network configuration; including a diskette drive, hard

disk drive, network board and 8 MB of system memory

Controls, lamps, and a 3 1/2-inch diskette drive are conveniently located on the front panel of the system units.

The desktop has two accessible 5 1/4-inch slots and a 3 1/2-inch hard disk drive slot behind the front panel.

Minitower configurations have three accessible 5 1/4-inch slots and two internal 3 1/2-inch hard disk drive slots.

The following figure shows the front panel features. Descriptions of these features follow the figure.

1-2 Using Your Computer

Desktop system controls and storage slots

Minitower system controls and storage slots

Using Your Computer 1-3

Power Button

Lamps

The power button controls power to the system unit. Press the button once to turn on the power and again to turn off the power. The power button is almost flush with the front panel when power is off and indented further when power is on.

See “Startup/Shutdown” later in this chapter for information about powering on and off.

The front panel contains two lamps, power and disk.

n The power lamp (green) indicates that the system unit

is powered on. When in suspend mode, the power lamp on the front panel changes from green to amber.

A green lamp indicates that the system is in a Full Power On mode of operation. An amber lamp indicates that the system is in Suspend mode with full power reduction.

See “Power Management” later in this chapter for information about power saving modes of operation.

n The disk lamp (green) indicates when a hard disk is

performing a read or write operation.

CAUTION: Do not turn off the system, unless absolutely necessary, while the disk lamp is lit or in suspend mode. To do so can damage your hard disk or data.

1-4 Using Your Computer

Suspend Button

After the system has been powered on, the suspend button lets you put your computer into an instant suspend or “Sleep” mode when it is pressed. This suspend mode is a power saving mode that shuts down all installed devices, video signal to the monitor, and processor without powering off the system.

When in suspend mode, the power lamp on the front panel changes from green to amber. Exit the suspend mode by moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard. See “Power Management” in this chapter for more information.

Diskette Drive

Your system comes with a 3 1/2-inch 1.44-MB diskette drive — which is assigned as drive A.

Desktop diskette drive controls

Using Your Computer 1-5

Minitower diskette drive controls

Diskette drive A is your primary “bootable” drive. Use this drive if you need to load and start programs from a diskette.

Diskette drive features include a release button and a drive busy lamp.

n The diskette release button lets you release an inserted

diskette from the drive. Press this button to release a diskette.

n The diskette drive busy lamp lights when the drive is

reading from or writing to a diskette.

1-6 Using Your Computer

CAUTION: 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.

Insert diskettes into the diskette drive with the label side

facing up (see “Diskette Loading” later in this chapter).

Diskette Loading

Use the following procedure to insert a 3 1/2-inch diskette in the standard diskette drive.

1. Holding the diskette by the label side, insert it, label

side up, into the diskette drive (see the following figure).

Using Your Computer 1-7

Inserting a 3 1/2-inch diskette in the desktop system

Inserting a 3 1/2-inch diskette in the minitower system

2. Insert the diskette all the way into the drive until you

hear a click.

1-8 Using Your Computer

You must format a new diskette before storing information on it. Use the MS-DOS FORMAT command. See your MS-DOS documentation for information about formatting a diskette.

CAUTION: Do not format your hard disk drive, this will erase all preinstalled applications.

To remove a diskette from the diskette drive, press the

release button on the 3 1/2-inch drive.

CAUTION: Do not remove a diskette from the diskette drive when the diskette drive lamp is lit. To do so can damage both the data on the diskette and the drive.

Hard Disk

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.

Your computer supports up to four intelligent drive

electronics (IDE) devices. A 3 1/2-inch, IDE hard disk comes standard in hard disk configurations. The hard disk is assigned as drive C in your system and is selected as the master device on the system board’s primary PCI/IDE connector.

The hard disk drive in your system is formatted and the applications have been installed for you.

Using Your Computer 1-9

CD-ROM Reader

Systems come with a CD-ROM reader. The reader is assigned as drive E in your system and is selected as the master device on the system board’s secondary PCI/IDE connector. The CD-ROM reader features quadruple speed technology.

The CD-ROM reader 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.

Use the CD-ROM reader to load and start programs from a compact disc (CD). You can also use the CD-ROM reader to play your audio CDs. The CD-ROM reader is fully compatible with Kodak Multisession Photo CDs and standard audio CDs.

CAUTION: Do not format the hard disk. Formatting the hard disk destroys all of the data on the disk.

Features for the CD-ROM reader are shown in the fol-

lowing figure. Descriptions of these features follow.

1-10 Using Your Computer

CD-ROM reader controls and indicators

The CD-ROM reader has the following features:

n A jack for connecting headphones. Use headphones

with a stereo mini-jack plug.

n A volume control knob for adjusting the headphone

volume.

The volume control has no effect on the audio outputs from the CD-ROM reader’s audio connector.

n A busy indicator that lights during read operations. n An eject/retract button to open or close the CD tray

when the power is on.

n A hole in the front panel to access the emergency eject

screw. If power is unavailable and you need to eject the CD tray, insert a jeweler's screw driver and turn the screw counterclockwise to open the CD tray. Turn the screw clockwise to close the tray again.

Using Your Computer 1-11

CD Loading

n A CD tray that ejects and retracts when the eject/retract

button is pressed.

Use the following procedure to load a CD into the CDROM reader.

1. Press the eject/retract button to eject the tray.

2. With the printed side facing up, hold the CD by its

edges and place it into the tray.

Loading a CD into the desktop system

1-12 Using Your Computer

Loading a CD into the minitower system

3. Press the eject/retract button to close the tray.

To remove the CD, press the eject/retract button to eject the tray.

Audio Support

The 16-bit sound board in multimedia systems provide stereo CD-quality sound.

The system’s audio board, stereo speakers, and microphone offer exceptional sound capabilities for multimedia applications, games, or audio CDs.

The audio board supports upgrades for Wave Blaster and Advanced Signal Processor (ASP) options. Wave Blaster is a MIDI synthesizer with capabilities for producing extremely high fidelity stereo music for computer audio systems. See your Ensemble Software User’s Guide for information on playing audio CDs.

Using Your Computer 1-13

Rear Panel

The rear panel provides connectors for setting up the system and system options. This section shows and describes these features. The following figures identify the system I/O ports.

Desktop system I/O connectors

1-14 Using Your Computer

15-Pin VGA Monitor Port

The monitor port supports a video graphics array (VGA)compatible monitor. Connect the monitor's 15-pin signal cable to this connector.

Minitower system I/O connectors

This high-performance VGA-compatible connector is integrated on the system board’s Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus.

The integrated video hardware supports standard, super, and high-resolution graphics modes. The system ships with Microsoft Windows for Workgroups video drivers preinstalled on the hard disk.

See “Integrated Technologies” in this chapter for more information about your computer's video capabilities.

Using Your Computer 1-15

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