Epson 386 manual

EPSON ® EQUITY™386/20 User’s Guide Y18499100101[...]

IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not [...]

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computi[...]

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Contents 1 Introduction .................................... 1 How to Use This Manual ........................... 2 Where to Get Help ................................ 4 Setting Up Your System .......................... 1-1 1 Unpacking .................................... 1-1 Removing the Diskette Drive Protector Card ........ 1-2 2 Choosing a Locat[...]

Formatting the Primary Partition ..................... 3-9 Copying the Remaining Files to the Hard Disk .......... 3-11 Formatting the Extended Partition .................... 3-12 Booting From the Hard Disk ........................ 3-13 4 Using the Equity 386 4-1 ............................ Locking the Computer ............................. 4-1 Se[...]

Using Directories .................................. 5-10 The Default Directory .......................... 5-12 Using Pathnames .............................. 5-12 Including Filenames With Pathnames .............. 5-13 Including Drive Letters With Pathnames and Filenames ................................. 5-14 Listing the Contents of a Directory ...[...]

Appendixes A Troubleshooting ................................. A-1 Error Messages A-1 .................................... The Computer Won’t Start .......................... A-2 A-2 The Computer Locks Up ........................... Monitor Problems ................................. A-3 Diskette Problems ................................. A-4 Hard[...]

Color Graphics Adapter and CRT Check ............. C-12 Color Graphics Adapter Check ................... C-13 Attribute Check ............................... C-13 Character Set Check ........................... C-13 40-column Character Set Check .................. C-14 320x200 Graphics Mode Check ................... C-15 640x200 Graphics Mode Check[...]

E Hard Disk Drive Types .......................... E-1 F Specifications ................................... F-1 CPU and Memory ................................. F-1 Controllers ....................................... F-1 Interfaces F-1 ........................................ Power Supply ..................................... F-2 Mass Storage .....[...]

Introduction The Epson® Equity™ 386/20 is a versatile, high-performance personal computer. Its 80386 microprocessor and 20 MHz operation speed make this a fast machine, and you can easily upgrade it by adding memory and installing options. The Equity 386 is available in these configurations: l A single diskette drive system with one 1.2MB (megab[...]

The Equity 386 offers a shadow RAM feature which lets you speed up processing by moving the ROM BIOS and VIDEO ROM into the RAM area of memory. When the ROM data is in RAM, the computer can access information and display text and graphics on the screen faster. Your computer comes with version 3.3 of MS-DOS®-the operating system by Microsoft@-and v[...]

Chapter 1 provides simple step-by-step instructions for setting up your computer. On the inside back cover are illustrations identifying the different parts of the Equity 386; you may want to refer to this while you are setting up your system. Chapter 2 describes how to run the Setup program to define your computer’s configuration. You must do th[...]

Appendix F gives the technical specifications for the Equity 386. At the back of the manual you’ll find a glossary of the computer terms used in this manual and an index. Where to Get Help Customer support and service for Epson products are provided by a network of authorized Epson dealers and service centers throughout the United States. Epson A[...]

Chapter 1 SETTING UP YOUR SYSTEM Setting up your Epson Equity 386 personal computer is easy. Just follow the 10 steps in this chapter, which describe how to set up your computer, start MS-DOS, and make copies of your system diskettes. As you set up your computer, you may want to leave the back flap of this book open so you can refer to the two illu[...]

Besides this manual, you should have the following: l The computer and power cord l The keyboard with attached cable l Keys for locking the computer l Four diskettes: three that contain the MS-DOS operating system and the GW-BASIC programming language (Startup, Operating 1, and Operating 2), and a Reference diskette l An MS-DOS Reference Manual and[...]

(If you have a second diskette drive, be sure to remove the card from that drive too.) Save the protector card and reinsert it whenever you move the computer. If you don’t plan to use your computer for a week or more, reinsert the card to help prevent dust from entering the disk drive. 2 Choosing a Location Before you set up your Equity 386, it?[...]

l Moderate environmental conditions. Protect your computer from extremes in temperature, humidity, dust, and smoke. Avoid direct sunlight or any other source of heat. High humidity also hinders operation, so select a cool, dry area. l Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges, connect all your equipment to 3-prong, 120-volt grounded outl[...]

Monitor/video card compatibility Monitor Video card Output type Monochrome Monochrome, graphics, One 9-pin output (TTL or enhanced graphics compatible) Color or Graphics, color graphics, One 9-pin RGB output or one or enhanced color or enhanced graphics RCA-type jack for composite video VGA monochrome Video graphics array One 15-pin analog output 1[...]

4. Plug the monitor’s power cord into the monitor’s power inlet, as shown below. 5. Plug the other end of the power cord into an electrical outlet. 4 Connecting a Printer The Equity 386 has a parallel interface and a serial interface. You can easily connect a printer or other device that has either type of interface-just follow the instructions[...]

Using the Parallel Interface The Equity 386 parallel interface is Centronics®-compatible and uses a DB-25S connector. Most Epson printers have parallel interfaces. To connect a printer to the computer, you need an IBM-compatible printer cable. If you are not sure which one you need, check with your Epson dealer. Once you have the correct printer c[...]

4. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer as shown below. To secure the cable, squeeze the clips at each side of the printer port and push them into place. 5. Plug the printer’s power cord into an electrical outlet. Using the Serial Interface If you have a printer, modem, mouse, or any other peripheral with a serial interface, you can [...]

The Equity 386 uses a DB-9P male connector, so be sure you have a compatible cable (or an adapting cable that converts the 9-pin output to the standard 25-pin output). To connect a serial device, follow the same steps as above for connecting a parallel device. You need to ensure that the serial port is set up so it functions properly. If you are us[...]

6 Connecting the Keyboard Follow these steps to connect the keyboard: 1. Turn the computer around so you are facing the front. 2. Pull open the cover on the lower left corner of the computer’s front panel. You need to push down slightly on the tab as you open the cover. 3. Plug the keyboard cable into the socket, as shown below. Do not force the [...]

4. Push the cable into the notch at the left side of the computer, as shown below, so the cable leads away to the side of the computer. 5. Close the keyboard cable cover. You can change the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. Turn the keyboard over and lift each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown below. You can lo[...]

7 Setting the Monitor Type In addition to connecting the monitor, as you did in step 3, you must set the monitor switch on the front panel to match the type of monitor you are using. To access the monitor switch, open the cover to the right of the keyboard cable socket cover, as shown below. You need to push down slightly on the tab as you open the[...]

l Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk drive light is on. This can destroy data stored on disk or make a whole disk unusable. l Always wait at least five seconds after you switch off the power before you switch it on again. Turning the power off and on rapidly can damage the computer’s circuitry. l Do not leave a beverage on top of [...]

(For more instructions on inserting, removing, and caring for diskettes, see Chapter 4.) You can turn on your computer with or without the MS-DOS Startup diskette in the drive. With the Startup diskette in the top drive (A) as it is now, the computer loads MS-DOS from that drive. (If the drive is empty, the screen displays a message prompting you t[...]

This means the operating system is ready for you to enter a command. The command prompt identifies the current operating drive: A, B, or C, for example. Usually, drive A is the top diskette drive; B is the second diskette drive, C is the first hard disk drive, and D is used for a second hard disk drive. The command prompt appears on the screen when[...]

2. Type the following and press Enter: DISKCOPY A: A: You see these messages: Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 3. Drive A (the top drive) already contains a diskette you want to copy (the source diskette), so just press any key. The DISKCOPY program copies the contents of the Operating 1 diskette to the computer’s[...]

Chapter 2 Running the Setup Program The first time you use your Equity 386 after setting it up, you need to run the Setup program on the Reference diskette to define the computer’s configuration. This is a simple procedure you must do at least once. You may need to do it again later if you change something. The Setup program lets you set (or chan[...]

Starting the Setup Program Follow these steps to start the Setup program: 1. Insert the working copy of your Reference diskette into the diskette drive. 2. Press the RESET button (shown below) to reset the computer. (See Chapter 4 for more information about resetting the computer.) RESET button After the computer performs its self test, it loads th[...]

3. Press 1 and then Enter to select the Setup option. The screen displays the main Setup menu: Exit Memory Display Auto speed Shadow RAM Coprocessor Mass storage Real-time clock Use 4 and t to move the cursor block through the options on this menu. Once you highlight the option you want, press Enter to select it. Each option on the main menu (excep[...]

Follow these steps to set the amount of memory: 1. Press 1 to highlight the Memory option and press Enter. A smaller box appears beneath the main Setup menu: - If the displayed settings are correct, press t to return to the main menu. 2. To change the Main memory setting press Enter. The value changes to 256 KB. Press Enter again to change it to 51[...]

Setting the Display Type Follow the steps below to set the type of display adapter you are using with your Equity 386. Note that with this option you are selecting the type of display adapter (the video card) you are using-not the type of monitor, which may be called something different. 1. Highlight Display and press Enter. The following box appea[...]

3. Highlight the option that matches your display adapter. If you are not sure which one to choose, follow these guidelines: l If you have an EGA or VGA card, select Special options. (If you are using a compatibility mode provided by the video card, you may need to set the DIP switches on the video card, which will override the display setting in C[...]

When Auto speed is enabled, your computer automatically switches to 8 MHz whenever it needs to access a diskette drive. It runs at 20 MHz for all other operations. There are different types of copy-protected programs, and depending on the type you have, you may or may not want to enable the Auto speed function. Follow these guidelines: l If you are[...]

Setting the Shadow RAM Function A computer can access RAM (random access memory) faster than ROM (read only memory). The Equity 386 provides a shadow RAM feature that enables it to copy data from ROM areas in the computer to the RAM area so it can perform certain operations faster. If you enable the shadow RAM function through the Setup program, th[...]

Now, whenever you turn on or reset your computer, it automatically copies the system ROM BIOS and video ROM to RAM. If you later want to disable either shadow RAM function, follow the same procedure; when you select the option and press Enter, the enabled changes back to disabled. Setting the Coprocessor Function The Setup program assumes you have [...]

If the settings displayed match the configuration of disk drives in your computer, press t to return to the main menu. If one of the settings is incorrect, change it as described in the following steps. 2. To change the value for one of the diskette drives-drive B, for example-highlight Drive B : and press Enter. A second menu -- appears: 3. Highli[...]

Setting the Real-time Clock The real-time clock in your computer keeps track of the time and date at all times-even when the computer is turned off. Use the Real-time clock option to set the time and date for your computer the first time you run the Setup program. You may need to use it again later to adjust the time for daylight saving time. The E[...]

If you enter an invalid time-for example, a number greater than 23 for the hours or greater than 59 for the minutes or seconds- the computer beeps and ignores your entry. Try again. When the time is correct, press Enter. 4. To set the date, highlight Date and press Enter. You see this box: 5. Enter the date in the exact format shown in the box, usi[...]

Leaving the Setup Menu When you finish setting the options in the Setup menu, highlight the Exit option and press Enter. You see a summary such as this: Memory size Main 640 KB Expansion 3072 KB Display type Coprocessor Mass storage Drive A: Drive B: Drive C: Drive D: *Special options* 80387 not installed 1.2 MB 360 KB Type 17 None Change settings [...]

Check each list to see if all the information is correct. If any setting is incorrect, highlight Change settings and press Enter. The main Setup menu appears and you can change the setting. If you did not make any changes or you want to cancel the changes you made, highlight Exit without saving and press Enter. The Operation menu appears on the scr[...]

Chapter 3 Preparing a Hard Disk for Use If your Equity 386 has a hard disk, follow the instructions in this chapter to prepare the hard disk before using it for the first time. This chapter describes how to do the following: Use the FDISK command to create a primary partition and an extended partition on the hard disk, and then designate the extend[...]

l If you are using MS-DOS and another operating system, use MS-DOS to partition and format the space on the hard disk you want to be used by MS-DOS. Then use the other operating system to prepare the rest of the disk space. For example, if you have a 90MB hard disk and want to use 30MB for MS-DOS and 60MB for XENIX®, use MS-DOS to prepare the firs[...]

2. If MS-DOS does not start, you need to check whether the disk has been partitioned. To do this, place the MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A and hold down the Ctrl key and Alt key and press Del to start MS-DOS. 3. Press Enter twice to accept the date and time prompts. Then type FDISK and press Enter. Press 4 and Enter to select the Display Partit[...]

Partitioning the Hard Disk Partitioning is necessary because, while your hard disk can store either 40MB or 90MB of data (depending on which Equity 386 model you purchased), MS-DOS cannot manage more than 32MB at a time. The partitioning process divides the single physical disk drive into two or more logical drives. After you have followed the step[...]

Creating the Primary Partition Follow the steps below to create a primary partition on your hard disk: 1. Insert the working copy of the MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A. 2. 3. 4. Turn on the computer (if it is not on already). At the A> prompt, type FDISK and press Enter. The screen displays the FDISK Options menu. Press 1 to select the Creat[...]

Creating the Extended Partition on a 40MB Disk If you have a 40MB hard disk, follow these steps to create an 8MB extended partition and designate it as drive D. (See the instructions below if you have a 90MB hard disk.) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Insert the working copy of the MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A (if it is not there already). At the A> [...]

8. Press E SC twice. The screen displays the following message and prompts: System will now restart Insert DOS diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 9. Press any key to restart the system (the MS-DOS Startup diskette is already in drive A). Your computer reloads MS-DOS, displaying the preliminary copyright information and the date pro[...]

5. Press Enter to accept the partition size. The screen displays the following message: Extended DOS partition created and shows you information about the partitions you have created. 6. Press EsC to return to the FDISK Options menu. EDISK automatically displays the Create Logical DOS Drive(s) option and a message similar to this: No logical drives[...]

10. Press any key to restart the system (the MS-DOS Startup diskette is already in drive A). Your computer reloads MS-DOS, displaying the preliminary copyright information and the date prompt. 11. Press Enter twice to accept the date and time shown. The system now recognizes the primary partition as drive C and the extended partition as drives D an[...]

The screen displays this message and prompt: SELECT is used to install DOS the first time. SELECT erases everything on the specified target and then installs DOS. Do you want to continue (Y/N)? 3. Press Y. Formatting does not begin immediately The screen displays the following: WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST! Proceed [...]

Copying the Remaining Files to the Hard Disk Follow the instructions below to copy the files on your other MS-DOS diskettes and the Reference diskette to drive C, the primary partition on the hard disk: 1. Remove the MS-DOS Startup diskette from drive A and insert the diskette labeled Operating 1 in the drive. 2. You should still be logged onto dri[...]

Formatting the Extended Partition Once you have formatted the primary partition and copied the remaining MS-DOS files to the hard disk, follow this procedure to format the extended partition: 1. Insert the working copy of your MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A (if it is not there already). 2. At the A> prompt, type the following and press Enter[...]

Booting From the Hard Disk Now you can boot your system (load MS-DOS) from drive C on your hard disk. Be sure there is no diskette secured in drive A when you turn on or reset your computer. Otherwise, your computer tries to boot MS-DOS from the disk in drive A. If drive A is empty (or the latch is up), MS-DOS is booted from drive C. Turn off the c[...]

Chapter 4 Using the Equity 386 This chapter covers the following basic procedures for using your Equity 386 computer: l Locking the computer l Selecting execution speed l Selecting monitor type l Controlling the volume l Resetting the computer l Using special keys on the keyboard l Using disks and disk drives l Turning off the computer. Locking the[...]

notch To unlock the computer, insert the key with the notch pointing right and turn the key counterclockwise, to the U N LOCK position. You can remove the key in either a locked or unlocked position. Your Equity 386 comes with two keys; store them safely in different locations in case you misplace one. Be sure the computer is unlocked before you tr[...]

Use the CPU SPEED switch on the front panel to change the CPU speed; move it left for 8 MHz or right for 20 MHz. CPU speed switch Selecting the Monitor Type When you set up your computer, you used the switch on the front panel to select the type of monitor you are using with your Equity 386: either monochrome or color. If you sometimes use an alt[...]

Controlling the Volume Your Equity 386 has a speaker which enables it to beep when you perform certain operations. You can control the speaker’s loudness with the VOLUME knob on the front panel, shown below. Turn it to the right to make the sound louder or to the left to make it quieter. - POWER - HDD volume control knob Resetting the Computer Yo[...]

To reset the computer, MS-DOS must be either on a diskette in drive A or on the hard disk. There are three ways to reset. Because each is more powerful than the last, try them in the order listed here: 1. If you are using MS-DOS, hold down Ctrl and Alt and press the Del key on the numeric keypad at the right of the keyboard. The screen goes blank f[...]

Key functions Key Tab I+- +I Caps Lock Purpose Moves the cursor one tab to the right in normal mode and one tab to the left in shift mode. Changes the letter keys from lower- to uppercase; changes back to lowercase when pressed again. The numeric/symbol keys on the top row of the keyboard are not affected. Shift Produces uppercase characters or the[...]

Key Purpose Home, End Control cursor location. Page Up (PgUp) Page Down (PgDn) t +,l+ Num Lock Esc F1 - F12 Print Screen (Prt S C ) S YS Rq (Req) Scroll Lock Pause Changes the function of the numeric/cursor keys from numeric to cursor positioning; changes back when pressed again. Cancels the current command line or operation. Perform special functi[...]

Using Disks and Disk Drives The disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk, and then retrieve and use it when you like. All Equity 386 systems have at least one diskette drive; you may also have a hard disk drive and/or a second diskette drive in your system. This section explains how disks work and tells you how to do the followi[...]

A hard disk consists of two or more platters stacked on top of one another; so it has four or more sides with many more tracks per side than a diskette. (The number of tracks depends on the capacity of the hard disk. You do not need to know how many sides and tracks your hard disk has.) A disk is further divided by sectors. To understand what a sec[...]

Because data is stored magnetically, you can retrieve it, record over it, and erase it-just as you play, record, and erase music on a cassette tape. Types of Diskette Drives Your computer has at least one 1.2MB diskette drive. You may also have a second diskette drive, and it may be the same type or it may be different. The following list describes[...]

Note You must format new diskettes before you can use them with an operating system, Formatting erases all the data an a diskette and prepares it to receive- new data; so be sure to format only new blank diskettes or diskettes that contain data you want to erase, ‘See Chapter 5 for instructions on formatting diskettes. Drive and diskette incompat[...]

If you have any combination of the above drives (360KB, 1.2MB, 720KB, or 1.44MB), you can copy files from one drive to another- using the COPY or XCOPY command-as long as the correct diskette type is in each drive. You can use these commands to copy files between the hard disk and any type of diskette. You cannot use the DISKCOPY command to copy fr[...]

Do not place anything on top of your diskettes and be sure they do not get bent. A diskette does not rotate properly in the drive if it has been damaged. Carefully label your diskettes. Attach labels firmly but gently, and only along the top of a diskette (next to the manufacturer’s label). Do not stick several labels on top of one another; too m[...]

Slide the diskette into the slot until it is in all the way, Then turn the latch down to lock it in a vertical position. This keeps the diskette in place and enables the read/write heads in the disk drive to access the diskette. To remove the diskette, turn the latch up until it is horizontal and the edge of the diskette pops out. Carefully pull ou[...]

Write-protecting Diskettes You can write-protect a diskette to prevent its data from being altered. When a diskette is write-protected, you can read it and copy data from it, but you cannot store new data on the diskette or delete any files it contains. If you try to change data stored on a write-protected diskette, MS-DOS displays an error message[...]

On a 3½-inch diskette, the write-protect device is a small switch on the lower-right corner on the back, shown below. To write-protect a 3½-inch diskette, slide the switch toward the edge of the diskette until it clicks into position, exposing a hole in the corner. write-protect switch / To remove the write protection, slide the switch toward the[...]

Chapter 1 describes how to use DISKCOPY to copy your MS-DOS and Reference diskettes. To make backups of other diskettes, use the DISKCOPY command or the MENU program. See Chapter 5 or see your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more instructions on using DISKCOPY and MENU. If you have a hard disk, it’s best to put most of the programs and data files you[...]

If you have only one diskette drive and no hard disk, you need to use that drive to load the operating system as well as the application programs you are using. First load the operating system; this copies it to the computer’s memory (RAM) so you do not need to leave the system diskette in the drive. Then you can remove that diskette and insert t[...]

The added storage capacity makes it easy to move back and forth between different programs and data files. However, because it is so easy to add programs and files to your hard disk, you may find yourself trying to organize hundreds of files. MS-DOS lets you keep related files together in directories and subdirectories so they are easier to find an[...]

Backing up the hard disk While the hard disk is very reliable, it is essential to back up your hard disk files to diskettes in case you lose some data accidentally. Make copies of all your system and application diskettes before copying the programs to the hard disk. After you create data files on the hard disk, be sure to copy them to diskettes wh[...]

You see a screen of information reminding you that the heads will not be unlocked until you reset the computer or turn the power off and on again. Next the program moves the heads and disables the keyboard. You can now turn off the computer and prepare to move it to the new location. Turning Off the Computer Before turning off your computer, save y[...]

Chapter 5 Using MS-DOS with Your Equity 386 Your Equity 386 comes with version 3.3 of MS-DOS. This operating system manages your computer by organizing the computer’s memory, controlling the monitor display, accepting keyboard input, and directing external communications. To communicate with the operating system, you use MS-DOS commands. How much[...]

Drive Designators MS-DOS uses letters to identify the disk drives in your system. If you have one diskette drive, that device is known as drive A. If you have two diskette drives, one is called drive A, the other drive B. If you have one hard disk drive, MS-DOS identifies its primary partition as drive C, even if you have only one diskette drive. I[...]

Changing the Default Drive To change the default drive, type the letter of the drive you want to change to, followed by a colon. Then press Enter. For example, to change the default from A to C, type C : and press Enter. MS-DOS acknowledges the change by displaying the command prompt C >. Changing to a new drive is also sometimes called logging [...]

Some commands also have optional switches you can use. A switch is a type of parameter that alters the effects of a command. For example, suppose you want to format a 360KB diskette in your 1.2MB diskette drive. To do this, you need to add a switch to the FORMAT command like this: FORMAT A: /4 Without the /4 switch, FORMAT would try to format the d[...]

If you press Enter when a command line has an error in it, the screen displays an error message. Usually, the command prompt reappears so you can try again. Type the correct command and press Enter. Creating and Managing Files All your data and programs are stored in files. A data file contains information, such as words, numbers, or pictures. A pr[...]

Some application programs add extensions to the files you create. These application programs use the extension to determine whether it is a compatible data file. Avoid using the same extensions as your application programs. Also, do not use uppercase and lowercase letters to distinguish between files. MS-DOS does not recognize the difference and di[...]

A few rules apply when copying files: l You must tell MS-DOS where to find the original file and where to store the copy. l You cannot create a new file with the same name and in the same directory as an existing file. l If an existing file on the destination diskette or directory has the same name as the file you are copying from, the copy automat[...]

An easy way to copy a group of files is by using wildcard characters in the filenames. You can use two wildcard characters: * and ?. The asterisk represents any group of characters and the question mark represents any single character. For example, to copy all the files on the diskette in drive A to the diskette in drive B, type the following and p[...]

You can use wildcards to rename groups of files. For example, to change just the extensions of all files on drive B with the extension .NEW to .OLD, type the following and press Enter: REN B:*.NEW *.OLD To rename all files that begin with the same five characters “MEMOS” but end with one varying character, type the following and press Enter: RE[...]

- Printing Files If you have a printer attached to your computer, you can print files with the PRINT command. Of course, you will probably be printing files with the application programs you use with MS-DOS, but if you need to print a file from the command prompt, follow the steps below. To print a file named STATS.NBA on drive A: 1. Make sure your[...]

Whenever you format a hard disk or a diskette, MS-DOS creates one directory for you. This directory is called the root directory. Any subsequent directories you create are logically subordinate to the root directory; that is, they are subdirectories of the root directory. A simple directory structure might look like this: Root directory WORDPROC SP[...]

Here are some additional points to note about directories: l On the root directory, the total number of files and subdirectories must not exceed 512. l All directories other than the root directory can have any number of files and subdirectories. l Subdirectories are named the same way files are. The name can include as many as eight characters, an[...]

Here is an example of an absolute pathname: WORDPROCPERSONAL The backslash at the beginning of this pathname tells MS-DOS to start its journey at the root directory, proceed down the directory tree to WORDPROC, then continue down the tree to PERSONAL. Here is an example of a relative pathname: SALES Because this pathname does not begin with a bac[...]

This command tells MS-DOS to list on screen (TYPE) the contents of the file JEAN1204.DOC, which is stored in the directory WORDPROCPERSONAL. Note that the filename is connected to the pathname by a backslash character-the same character used to separate the various directories in the pathname itself. Including Drive Letters With Pathnames and Fil[...]

Listing the Contents of a Directory To list the files in the current directory, type DIR and press Enter. MS-DOS lists the names of the files in the current directory on the current drive. If the listing is too long to fit on one screen, add the /P switch to the command, like this: DIR /P This switch causes MS-DOS to pause after displaying each scr[...]

Creating Directories The MKDIR command lets you create directories. To create a LEDGER directory under your root directory, for example, type the following and press Enter: MKDIRLEDGER You can abbreviate the name of this command to MD. For example, to create a SALES directory under the LEDGER directory, type the following and press Enter: MD LED[...]

To change from ACCOUNTS back to LEDGER, you can use the special symbol . . or you can use an absolute pathname. (The . . symbol always designates the parent directory.) In other words, you can type: CD . . or CD ACCOUNTS Formatting Diskettes Before you can store data on a new diskette, you must format it. Formatting prepares the diskette so that M[...]

- Formatting Diskettes With a Hard Disk 1. If necessary, log onto drive C. If you are not in the directory where the file FORMAT.COM is stored, change to that directory. 2. When you see the C > prompt, type the following and press Enter: FORMAT A: You see this prompt: Insert new diskette for drive A: and strike ENTER when ready 3. Insert the dis[...]

4. When the diskette is formatted, you see a message similar to this: Format complete 1213952 bytes total disk space 1213952 bytes available on disk Format another (Y/N)? At this point, you can either format another diskette by pressing Y and Enter, or return to the MS-DOS command prompt by pressing N and Enter. Formatting Diskettes With One Disket[...]

Backing Up It’s very important to keep backup diskettes containing copies of the files you create. You can copy data and program files several ways: l You can use the COPY or XCOPY command to copy individual files or groups of files. l You can use the DISKCOPY command to make an exact duplicate of a diskette. l You can use the BACKUP command to b[...]

2. If you have a hard disk, make sure you are logged onto the directory that contains the DISKCOPY.COM file. If you don’t have a hard disk, make sure your working copy of the MS-DOS Operating 1 diskette is in drive A. 3. At the MS-DOS command prompt, type the following and press Enter: DISKCOPY A: A: MS-DOS displays this message: Insert SOURCE di[...]

8. When the copy is complete, you see this message: Copy another diskette (Y/N)? Press Y and Enter to copy another diskette or N and Enter to return to the MS-DOS command prompt. Using DISKCOPY with two diskette drives When you use the DISKCOPY command with two diskette drives, be sure to specify both diskette drives (A: and B:). If you don’t, MS[...]

Using the BACKUP Command The BACKUP command offers several conveniences for archival purposes. It allows you to do the following: l Split large files across two or more diskettes l Copy only those files that have been modified since the most recent backup l Copy only those files that have been created (or last modified) after a specified date l Cop[...]

To use the HELP menu, follow these steps: 1. Type HELP at the MS-DOS command prompt and press Enter. 2. The screen displays a menu of MS-DOS commands. Use the cursor keys to highlight the command you want information about and press Enter. 3. If there is more than one page of information about the command you selected, you see the prompt PgUp at th[...]

You can also request help information for more than one command. Follow these steps: 1. At the command prompt, type HELP followed by the names of the commands you want information about. Then press Enter. Separate each command name with a space. For example, to see help information for the DISKCOPY, FORMAT, and COPY commands, type the following and[...]

To select an option, use the arrow keys to highlight your selection and then press Enter. Most options contain submenus; keep highlighting your selection and pressing Enter until you have selected the desired operation. Because MENU works by calling other programs, you may see an error message similar to this when you select an option: SETPRINT.EXE[...]

Mode Settings Lets you change your configuration settings. This option also lets you select alternate code pages (character sets) and redirect data from the parallel port to the serial port. Because you can perform so many tasks from the Mode Settings submenus, this option is a simpler alternative to the MS-DOS MODE command. Help Lets you access th[...]

l Display data in both ASCII and hexadecimal format l Display how much space is available on your disks. Running XTREE To run XTREE, log onto the directory where XTREE is located or insert the Operating 1 diskette in drive A. Type XTREE at the command prompt and press Enter. A title screen appears while XTREE reads your disk’s directory, and then[...]

Alt key commands execute additional XTREE commands. Press the Alt key to display the ALT DIR COMMANDS or ALT FILE COMMANDS. These commands appear on the line where the DIR COMMANDS or FILE COMMANDS normally appear. To execute an Alt key command, hold down the Alt key and press the highlighted letter of the command name. Function keys control XTREE [...]

Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT File You may find that there are some commands you want to run every time you turn on your computer. To run a command or a series of commands automatically upon startup, you can type the commands into a special file called AUTOEXEC.BAT When you load MS-DOS, it automatically looks for this file. If MS-DOS finds an AUTOEXEC.BAT [...]

Here’s an example of an AUTOEXEC.BAT file: PATH C:; C:DOS PROMPT $P The first line tells MS-DOS to look for programs or batch files in the root directory and the DOS directory. This way you can run programs in those directories without having to specify pathnames in the commands. The second line changes the MS-DOS command prompt so that it disp[...]

Using Memory Beyond 640KB Your Equity 386 is equipped with at least 1MB of random access memory. 640KB is for use by the operating system, your application programs, and your data. The memory between 640KB and 1MB is reserved for use by the computer and is not available to application programs or the operating system. If you have more than 1MB, you[...]

3. Type DEVICE=EEMM386.EXE and press Enter. 4. Press the F6 key, and then press Enter. 5. Reboot your computer. This procedure makes the memory in your computer above 1MB available to any application program that supports the Lotus/Intel/ Microsoft Expanded Memory Specification 4.0 (LIM EMS 4.0). About EEMM386.EXE EEMM386.EXE is an expanded memory [...]

- Using HDCACHE and EEMM386.EXE The HDCACHE program (described in your MS-DOS Reference Manual) cannot use expanded memory. If you use both HDCACHE and EEMM386.EXE and you want HDCACHE to use extended memory, you must not convert all your extended memory to expanded memory with EEMM386.EXE. Instead, decide how much extended memory you want to alloc[...]

Chapter 6 Installing Options You can enhance the performance of your Equity 386 by adding a variety of options, including the following: l 80387 math coprocessor l Memory modules l Option cards. A math coprocessor speeds up numeric calculations your computer performs when using certain application software. If you want to install a math coprocessor[...]

however, add memory according to certain grouping limitations to preserve the 32-bit access capability of the Equity 386. There are basically two restrictions: the total amount of memory and the way the memory is installed. Here are the guidelines: l The total amount of memory must be one of the following: 1MB, 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, 10MB, or 16MB. You can[...]

Remember, your system already has 1MB of memory (consisting of four 256KB SIMMs) installed in bank 0; so consider this when you are deciding how much memory to add and in what configuration. You can use the EEMM386 utility to improve memory management in your Equity 386. See Chapter 5 for instructions. Installing Option Cards The Equity 386 has nin[...]

3. Disconnect the keyboard. 4. If the computer is locked, unlock it (using the key lock). Otherwise you cannot take off the cover. (See Chapter 4 for instructions on locking and unlocking the computer.) 5. If the monitor is on top of the computer, lift it off and set it to one side. 6. As shown below, the top cover is secured by five screws on the [...]

8. When the back edge of the cover has cleared the power switch, you can lift off the cover. Separate the sides from the bottom ledge of the computer by pulling them outward slightly, as shown below. Then lift off the cover and set it aside. Installing Options 6-5[...]

Installing an Option Card The illustration below shows the nine option slots inside the Equity 386. (Slot number 9 is occupied by the SPF card.) - SPF card Slots 1, 2, and 9 are designed for 8-bit option cards, and slots 3 through 8 are designed for 16-bit cards. As you can see below, a 16-bit card has a second connector. 16-bit option card 8-bit o[...]

Usually, it does not matter which slot an option card occupies as long as the card fits in the slot. For example, you can place some &bit cards in a 16-bit slot. However, it is best to leave the SPF card in slot 9 because of the cables. Likewise, an additional disk drive controller card should be installed as close as possible to the disk drive[...]

Keep the screw to secure the option card to the computer. Store the slot cover in a safe place in case you remove the option card later. 2. Unpack the option card and adjust any switches or jumpers on it if necessary. (Check the option card instructions to see if this is necessary.) When you handle the card, be careful not to touch any of the conta[...]

If the card does not go in smoothly, do not force it-pull it all the way out and try again, keeping it straight as you insert it. 5. Secure the end of the card to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. If there was a grounding tab underneath the screw when you removed the metal slot cover, replace it now. Installing Options 6-9[...]

6. See “Post-installation Setup,” below, to see if you need to make any configuration changes. Changing Jumpers on the SPF Card If you installed an additional parallel or serial port, you may need to change the jumper settings on the SPF card. Normally, the serial and parallel ports on the SPF card are addressed as the primary ports (COM1 and L[...]

SPF card jumper settings for serial port Jumper number Function 5 6 9 A A A Built-in port is primary * A B B Built-in port is secondary B Disable built-in port ** * default setting * * the setting of jumpers 6 and 9 do not matter SPF card jumper settings for parallel port Jumper number Function 3 4 10 A A A Built-in port is primary * A B B Built-in[...]

Removing the hard disk drive controller card 1. Disconnect the wire leading from the drive light on the front panel to the hard disk drive controller card. 2. Remove the retaining screw that secures the card at the back panel of the computer, taking care not to drop the screw. 6-12 Installing Options[...]

3. Without disconnecting any cables, gently pull the card straight up, out of the slot, and then turn it over and lay it on the power supply. Removing the SPF card 1. Unplug the disk drive cable from the SPF card as shown below. Pull it straight up and out, then lay it to one side, Installing Options 6-13[...]

2. Remove the retaining screw that secures the SPF card at the back panel of the computer. Be careful not to drop the screw. 3. Remove the card from the slot by pulling it straight up, as shown below, and set it on a soft surface with the components facing up. 6-14 Installing Options[...]

Changing the jumper settings Once you have removed the SPF card, you can change the necessary jumper settings. The illustration below shows the location of the jumpers on the card. Check the tables above to see which one(s) you need to change. I -1 - J I I II I III MFi -II IO III L- -,B ABA I To move a jumper from an A position to a B position, or [...]

Replacing the SPF card 1. Reinstall the SPF card in slot 9 as shown below, and secure it to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. 2. Reconnect the disk drive cable to the card. 6-16 hulling Options[...]

Replacing the hard disk drive controller card 1. Reinstall the hard disk drive controller card in the appropriate slot and secure it to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. 2. Reconnect the drive light wire to the card. Removing an Option Card If you later need to remove an option card, simply reverse the steps you followed to install[...]

Replacing the Cover After you install (or remove) an option card, follow these steps to replace the computer’s cover: 1. Facing the front of the computer, position the cover on the computer as shown in the following illustration. Pull the sides outward slightly and ease the curved edge on each side of the cover underneath the ledge on the bottom [...]

. Post-Installation Setup After you install an option card, memory modules, or a math coprocessor, you need to run the Setup program on the Reference diskette to update the configuration information. For example, if you add a hard disk, you need to let the computer know that it has the additional drive. See Chapter 2 for instructions. You may also [...]

Appendix A Troubleshooting You should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and use your Equity 386. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. If anything out of the ordinary happens, turn to this chapter for a solution. Besides trying the suggestions in this cha[...]

The Computer Won’t Start If your computer does not start up when you turn on the power switch, follow the steps below. (If you have a hard disk, also see the section on hard disk problems later in this chapter.) 1. Check that the POWER light on the front panel of the main unit is on. If it is not, remove any diskettes you have in the drives and t[...]

2. Wait a few seconds. Remember that some operations the computer performs take longer than others. For example, it takes longer to recalculate an entire spreadsheet than to record one figure. If the computer remains locked up after you’ve allowed a reasonable amount of time, follow the steps in Chapter 4 to reset the computer. Monitor Problems I[...]

Diskette Problems If you have trouble with one of your diskettes, see if any of the following questions apply: 1. Is the diskette damaged? To find out, make a copy of the diskette. Using this copy, repeat the operation that caused the problem. If the operation works using the copy diskette, the original diskette is probably damaged. Make another co[...]

3. Is the diskette write-protected? There may be a write-protect tab over the notch on the side of the diskette (5¼-inch) or the write- protect switch may be set (on a 3½-inch diskette). Before you remove the write-protection, check the directory of files for that diskette to see which files it contains; it may contain information you do not want[...]

To copy the hidden system files from your Startup/Operating 1 diskette to the root directory of the hard disk, log onto the diskette drive, type the following command, and press Enter: SYS C: 4. If you can boot from a diskette, but cannot access data stored on your hard disk, you may have accidentally repartitioned or reformatted part or all of the[...]

2. If an application routine does not work, check the program’s manual and try the routine again according to the instructions. If this does not work, reset the computer, reload the program, and try the routine again. 3. Some programs work at only one operating speed. The Equity 386 can run at either 8 or 20 MHz. Check your software manual for th[...]

3. If you used the option card to add an external device to your computer, did you use the proper cable to connect the device to the option card connector on the back panel? 4. Did you run the Setup program to redefine your computer’s configuration after installing the option card? See Chapter 2. 5. Did you perform the necessary setup procedures [...]

Appendix B Power-on Diagnostics The built-in memory (ROM) of your computer contains a series of diagnostics programs which your computer runs automatically every time you turn on the power. The diagnostics programs check the internal devices such as ROM, RAM, keyboard controller, timer, video controller, floppy disk driver, and hard disk controller[...]

If a fault in the main board is found, a number from 101 to 108 and an error message appear. This message is in the following format: l0x-System board error where x is a number from 1 to 8 that represents the specific LSI circuit in which the error is found. Your service dealer needs this information to find and correct the problem. If an I/O ROM c[...]

RAM Check The computer now begins to check the RAM installed on the main memory card and any option cards. During this check, the screen displays this message: xxxxxx KB Ok where xxxxxx indicates the amount of memory in which no malfunction is found. This value increases continuously by 64KB up to the amount of RAM installed. If the computer detect[...]

If another failure is found, you see one of these messages: ‘j$Jj-Keyboard or system unit error J&Keyboard or system unit error Display Card Check The computer checks the color or monochrome display adapter card that is installed in the computer. An error number and message appear if any faults are found. Number 401 represents an error in the[...]

Hard Disk Controller and Hard Disk Check The computer next checks the hard disk controller and drive unit. If a malfunction is found in the hard disk controller card, you see this error number and message: 1782-Disk controller failure If an error is found in the hard disk drive unit, one of these error messages appears: 178x-Disk x failure 179x-Dis[...]

Appendix C Performing System Diagnostics This appendix describes how to check the operation of the main unit and peripheral devices of your Equity 386. You check these devices using the diagnostics program on your Reference diskette. Run the diagnostics program if you are not sure whether a device is performing correctly. The table at the end of th[...]

2. Turn on or reset the computer. The OPERATION MENU appears. 3. Press 3 to select System diagnostics and then press Enter. When you start the System diagnostics, the computer checks the results of the power-on diagnostics and any peripheral devices that are connected to the system. Then you see a list of the devices available for testing. This lis[...]

Once you confirm the DEVICE LIST, you can test only those items. If you decide later that you need to add a device, you must return to the OPERATION MENU and re-select System diagnostics. Modifying the DEVICE LIST If an installed device is missing from the DEVICE LIST, it is important that you add it to the list and test it carefully. In response t[...]

To add a device to the list, press 1 and then Enter. The program displays a list of other devices that are not currently included in the DEVICE LIST You see a menu similar to this: Additional DEVICE LIST 4 - Monochrome display adapter and CRT 7 - Math coprocessor 12 - Alternate serial port 21 - Alternate parallel port 81 - Parallel port (on video a[...]

When the DEVICE LIST is correct, press 0 and then Enter. The screen displays the modified DEVICE LIST for a final check. If the list is correct, press Y and Enter. You are now ready to select a test. Selecting a Test From the DEVICE LIST, select the device you wish to test. Type the number of the device, then press Enter. Before the test begins, yo[...]

Press Y and Enter to terminate checking if the device produces an error, or press N and Enter to repeat the tests regardless of an error. You see this prompt: How many times (1-9999): Type the number of times you wish to repeat the test, then press Enter. The tests for the device now start. Resuming From an Error If an error occurs during a test, t[...]

The remainder of this chapter describes the tests you can run on the system’s internal devices and on the optional devices installed on your computer. The program displays the title of each check on the screen. For a complete list of the error codes and messages these tests may display, see the table at the end of this chapter. System Board Check[...]

For this check, the program writes specific data into memory and then reads it back. The data is written and read in blocks of 64KB. A parity check is also made on each block. A memory count displays after each block tests without error. After the program checks the last block , you see a message such as the following: 000640 KB OK If an error occu[...]

You see these messages on the screen: KEYBOARD CHECK Press ESC followed by ENTER to exit. Press END followed by ENTER if screen and keyboard do not match. If all the keys function correctly and match the characters displayed, press E SC and then Enter. If all the keys function, but the characters displayed do not match the keys, press E SC and then[...]

You can select the individual checks from this menu: MONOCHROME DISPLAY ADAPTER AND CRT CHECK MENU 1 - Monochrome adapter check 2 - Attribute check 3- Character set check 4 - Video check 5 - Sync check 6 - Run all above checks 0 - Exit Enter selection number: If an error occurs during any of these tests, record the error code and message, or print [...]

Character Set Check To check your character set, press 3 and then Enter. The character fonts that are included in the internal character generator display on your screen. Compare your screen display to this illustration: CHARACTER SET CHECK Is the display correct (Y/N)? After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display corre[...]

Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, press 6 and Enter. When you choose this option, all checks for the monochrome adapter and CRT are performed automatically in sequential order. Although you do not start each test, you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next. Press any key to[...]

If an error occurs during any of these tests, record the error code and message, or print them out. Then contact your Epson dealer or service center. Color Graphics Adapter Check To check the color graphics adapter, press 1 and then Enter. The computer checks the video RAM (display memory) on the display adapter by writing test data to memory, and [...]

Is the display correct (Y/N)? After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? If the characters match the illustration, press Y and then Enter. If you find a problem with the characters on the screen, press N and Enter to display the error message. 40-column Character Set Check To check your 40-column charac[...]

I 40-COLUMN CHARACTER SET CHECK Is the display correct (Y/N)? After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? If the characters match the illustration, press Y and Enter. If you find a problem with the characters on the screen, press N and Enter to display the error message. 320x200 Graphics Mode Check To ch[...]

640x200 Graphics Mode Check To check your 640x200 graphics mode, press 6 then Enter. The screen displays three patterned squares against a contrasting background, as shown below. 640X200 GRAPHICS MODE CHECK Is the display correct (Y/H)? I If the patterns on your screen are clear and distinct, press Y and then Enter. If any pattern is not clear, fir[...]

Once you examine this screen, press any key to display the next page. The eight pages, numbered 0 to 7, are displayed sequentially. After the eighth page appears, you see the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? If all eight pages are correct, press Y and Enter. If any page is filled with an incorrect number, press N and Enter to display the error[...]

If you do not have a light pen attached, press N and Enter. To begin the test, press Y and Enter. You see this prompt: PLACE LIGHT PEN ON CENTER OF WHITE BLOCK Touch the center of the white block on the screen with the light pen. When the light pen is correctly positioned, the block moves to another part of the screen for a second test. After three[...]

Sync Check This test is provided for service purposes only. If you accidentally select this option, press any key to end the test. Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, press 11 and Enter. When you choose this option, all checks for the color adapter and CRT are performed automatically in sequential order. Although you [...]

I FLOPPY DISK DRIVE(S) AND CONTROLLER CHECK MENU 1 - Sequential seek check ?" - Random seek check - Write, read check 4 - Run all above checks 0 - Exit Enter selection number: Before any checks are performed, the program determines the number of diskette drives installed in your computer. If you have more than one drive, you see this prompt ea[...]

Random Seek Check This test is identical to the sequential seek check, except that the seek operation is performed on each track in random order instead of sequential order. Select option 2 from the menu to start this test. Write, Read Check This test checks the ability of the selected disk drive to read and write data from a diskette. The test wri[...]

Run All Above Checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence, press 4 and then Enter. When you choose this option, all checks for the diskette drive(s) and controller are performed automatically in sequential order. Although you do not start each test, you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next. Math [...]

Insert the loop-back connector. Then press Y and Enter to start the check. The computer checks the port by writing and reading data and control information, and reports errors for any pins that are faulty. Note that if you connect a printer cable instead of a loop-back connector, you will get errors. Alternate Parallel Port Check Use this option to[...]

When you select option 11 from the DEVICE LIST, you see these prompts: Attach loop-back connector to serial port. Enter Y to start this check when connector is attached, or Enter N to return to the menu. Insert the loop-back connector. Then press Y and Enter to start the check. First, the computer checks the serial port control lines to see that th[...]

Alternate Serial Port Check Use this option to test the functions of an additional serial communications (RS-232C) port. To perform the test you must insert a special loop-back connector into the alternate serial port so that the computer can check individual pins of the port. This test is identical to the check for the primary serial port. For mor[...]

The text data includes all the characters commonly used by programs that require foreign languages or graphic characters. If your printer prints different characters than you see in the illustration, you may need to take care with certain software. The bit-image data is sent to the printer using a command (ESC K) compatible with Epson and IBM print[...]

When you select a check from this menu, the program determines the number of hard disk drives installed in your computer. If you have more than one physical drive, then each time you select a test you see this prompt: Check which drive (C/D)? Press C or D and then Enter. Seek Check This test checks the ability of the read/write heads to locate any [...]

Select option 2 from the menu to start this test. You see these messages: The data on the highest physical cylinder may be destroyed by this check. Enter Y to start this check. Enter N to return to the menu. Press Y and then Enter to continue with the test. You do not see a cylinder count during the test. If no errors occur, the program returns to [...]

The cylinder number counts down to 0. At the end of the test, you see a table of the results of the test. For example, for a hard disk with no bad tracks, you see: BAD TRACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n READ ERROR TRACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n GOOD TRACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . nnnn Press ENTER to return to t[...]

Error Codes and Messages The following table lists all the error codes and messages that may appear during diagnostics checks. Error codes and messages Error code Message System board 101 80386 CPU ERROR 102 27256 ROM CHECKSUM ERROR 103 8254 TIMER COUNTER REGISTER ERROR 104 8254 TIMER COUNTER ERROR 105 8237 DMA CONTROLLER REGISTER ERROR 105 8237 DM[...]

Error codes and messages (continued) Error code Message Color graphics adapter and CRT 501 V-RAM ERROR 503 ATTRIBUTE ERROR 504 CHARACTER SET ERROR 505 40-COLUMN CHARACTER SET ERROR 506 COLOR GRAPHICS ERROR 507 640 x 200 GRAPHICS MODE ERROR 508 SCREEN PAGING ERROR 509 LIGHT PEN ERROR 510 COLOR VIDEO ERROR Floppy disk drives and controller 601 FLOPPY[...]

Error codes and messages (continued) Error code Message Alternate serial port 1201 control signal ALWAYS LOW 1201 control signal ALWAYS HIGH 1202 TIMEOUT ERROR 1203 VERIFY ERROR Dot-matrix printer 1401 status Hard disk drives and controller 1701 SEEK ERROR 1702 WRITE ERROR 1703 READ ERROR 1704 HEAD ERROR 1705 ERROR DETECTION ERROR 1706 ERROR CORREC[...]

Appendix D Physically Formatting a Hard Disk This appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk. This operation, sometimes called low-level or hard formatting, should not be confused with the logical formatting process performed by the MS-DOS FORMAT command. The physical formatting of a hard disk is a separate step that is usually perform[...]

Formatting and Checking Options To perform a physical format or to determine if a hard disk needs to be physically reformatted, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer. The OPERATION MENU appears. 3. Press 2 to select Format hard disk, and then press Enter. The following menu of formatting a[...]

Many hard disk drives are supplied with a list of bad tracks, but without the bad tracks flagged on the disk. Other hard disks are supplied with the bad tracks already flagged. In all cases, run the Non-destructive surface analysis before formatting the disk; this routine finds all bad tracks that are not flagged. If the analysis shows that all the[...]

When the scan is complete, the program displays information about the condition of the disk. For a hard disk with no bad tracks, the display looks like this: Scanning finished. Count of tracks flagged bad = 0 Count of tracks with other errors = 0 Count of good tracks = nnnn The program then displays a warning about the consequences of proceeding wi[...]

When formatting is complete, any bad tracks are flagged, and you see a series of messages like these: Format finished. Flagging bad tracks... Cylinder is xxxx, head is yy Format completed. Press ENTER to return to the menu. Flagged tracks are identified by xxxx and yy. At this point, press Enter to return to the HARD DISK FORMAT MENU. If there are [...]

Unconditional Format Use this option to format your hard disk when you want to enter the list of bad tracks before formatting begins. The main difference between unconditional and conditional formatting is the way in which bad tracks are identified. With the unconditional format, you must enter the list of bad tracks before formatting begins. To st[...]

Some of the messages change if the table is full or empty. However, the way that you add a bad track or make a correction is the same. To add a bad track, follow these steps: 1. Press A. You see this prompt: Enter cylinder number (1 - xxxx): 2. Type the number of the cylinder containing the bad track you want to enter, and press Enter. You see this[...]

Destructive Surface Analysis Use this option to accurately locate any bad tracks on a hard disk, and to flag any bad tracks that are not flagged. This test operates by a complex process of writing, reading, and verifying information on every track of the hard disk, except for tracks that are already flagged as bad tracks. To start the test, press 3[...]

If the program finds one bad track that is not flagged, the summary would show one track with a write, read error. The report is then followed by a table like this: Write, Read Error Tracks ____-__________ -=====---_=_---------------- Cylinder Head Cylinder Head Cylinder Head Cylinder Head 237 2 Confirm to register the tracks in the Write, Read Err[...]

When the analysis is complete, the program displays a summary of the status of the disk. This summary lists these counts: l Flagged bad tracks l Tracks with read, verify errors l Good tracks. If no errors occur, you see this message: No read, verify error was detected. If errors are found, the program displays a table of the tracks that gave errors[...]

Appendix E Hard Disk Drive Types This appendix lists the types of hard disk drives you can use in your Equity 386. Check this table and the documentation supplied with your hard disk to find the correct number for the type of hard disk drive installed in your computer. You need to enter this number when you set the mass storage option for the hard [...]

[...]

Appendix F Specifications CPU and Memory 32-bit CPU Main memory ROM Math coprocessor Controllers Floppy disk Hard disk Interfaces Serial Parallel 80386 microprocessor, 8 or 20 MHz clockrate, switch-selectable Real, protected, and virtual 8086 modes 0 wait state (or 1 wait state selectable through software) 32-bit address and 32-bit data bus 1MB RAM[...]

Option slots Nine input/output expansion slots; three with B-bit bus and six with 16-bit bus; one slot occupied by the serial/parallel/floppy disk controller card, another occupied by a hard disk controller card if installed Speaker Clock/calendar RAM Internal, with volume control Real-time clock, calendar, and 104-byte CMOS RAM for configuration; [...]

Keyboard Detachable, three positions, 101 sculpted keys Layout 58-key QWERTY main keyboard; 17-key numeric/cursor pad; 10 cursor keys; 16 function keys (user-definable) Function keys Four levels (normal, shift, control, alternate); user-definable Environmental Requirements Temperature Humidity Operating range: 41° to 104° F (5° to 35° C) Storag[...]

Glossary Absolute pathname A pathname that begins with the backslash character. An absolute pathname tells MS-DOS how to find its way to a given directory, starting at the root directory. See also Relative pathname. Application program A software program designed to perform a specific task, such as a word processing or spreadsheet program. ASCII Am[...]

Base memory The amount of memory in the computer below 1MB that is available to MS-DOS and application programs-usually 640KB. Also called main memory. Batch file A type of file that lets you execute a series of MS-DOS commands by typing one command. Batch files are text files with the filename extension .BAT. In a batch file, each command is enter[...]

CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. A method of making low power silicon chips. Code A system of symbols for representing data or instructions. Also any software program or part of a program. Command An instruction you enter (usually on a keyboard) to direct your computer to perform a specific function. Command prompt The symbol or messag[...]

CPU Central Processing Unit. The primary unit of the computer that interprets instructions, performs the tasks you indicate, keeps track of stored data, and controls all input and output operations. Current directory The directory you are logged onto and working in. Also known as the default directory Cursor The highlighted marker that shows your p[...]

Delimiter A character or space used to separate different parts of an MS-DOS command. Device A piece of equipment that is part of a computer system and performs a specific task, such as a disk drive, a monitor, or a printer. Diagnostics The tests and procedures the computer performs to check its internal circuitry and set up its configuration. DIP [...]

DOS The Disk Operating System that controls the computer’s input and output functions. See Operating system. Double-density A type of diskette format that allows you to store twice as much data as the standard-density format. A 5¼-inch double-density diskette can store 360KB of data. A 3½-inch double-density diskette can store 720KB of data. Dr[...]

Extended partition An additional MS-DOS partition; you can create one primary MS-DOS partition and one extended partition. Extension A suffix of up to three characters that can be added to a file name to better identify it. External command An MS-DOS command stored in a program file with the extension .COM or .EXE. MS-DOS must be able to find the p[...]

Hard disk The enclosed unit used to store data permanently. Unlike a diskette, it is fixed in place. It can process data more rapidly and store many more files than a diskette. Hardware Any physical component of a computer system, such as a monitor, printer, keyboard, or CPU. Hexadecimal A base 16 numbering system frequently used by programmers. An[...]

Key disk A diskette containing a copy-protected program that must remain in the diskette drive while you are using the program. Kilobyte (KB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. One kilobyte equals 1024 bytes. LIM EMS 4.0 Version 4.0 of the Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded Memory Specification-a protocol that a[...]

Megahertz (MHz) A unit used to measure oscillation frequency (of a computer’s internal timing clock). A megahertz is one million cycles per second. The Equity 386 computer operates at 8 MHz or 20 MHz. Memory The area where your computer stores data. Memory contents can be permanent and inalterable (ROM) or temporary (RAM). Memory module A small c[...]

MS-DOS Microsoft Disk Operating System. The operating system that comes with your computer. See Operating system. Numeric keypad The number keys grouped to the right of the keyboard. Operating speed The speed at which the central processing unit can execute commands. Also called execution speed. The Equity 386 can run at 8 MHz or 20 MHz. Operating [...]

Partition The area defined on a hard disk for use by an operating system; to divide a hard disk into separate sections or logical drives. Pathname The list of directories and subdirectories you need to specify to locate a file. For example, the pathname for the file SALES which is located in the subdirectory BUSINESS of the root directory () is B[...]

Read To move data from one area to another. For example, when you open a text file stored on disk, the computer reads the data from the disk and displays it on the screen. Read/write head The physical device inside a disk drive that reads and records data on the magnetic surface of a disk. Real-time clock A battery-powered clock inside the computer[...]

Sector A contiguous section of a disk track that provides an address at which the computer can access data. Self test The initial diagnostics procedures a system performs to check its hardware. Serial The type of interface that transmits data one bit at a time. See Interface and Parallel. Shadow RAM The feature provided by the Equity 386 that allow[...]

Switch An option added to an MS-DOS command that modifies the way the command works. Switches are usually preceded by a / (forward slash). For example, if you add the /S switch to a FORMAT command, MS-DOS installs the operating system on a diskette as it formats it. See Parameters. System diagnostics A series of checks you can perform on the comput[...]

Wildcard A character that represents any character or group of characters. The wildcard character * (asterisk) represents a group of characters, and the wildcard character ? (question mark) represents a single character. Write To store data on a disk. Write-protect To protect the data on a diskette from being changed by placing a write-protect tab [...]

Index A Absolute pathname, 5-12 -13 Alternate parallel port check, C-23 Alternate serial port check, C-25 APPEND, 5-15 Auto speed function, 2-6-7 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 5-6, 5-30 -31 B Backing up, 5-20 -23 with BACKUP 5-23 with DISKCOPY, 5-20 -22 BACKUP 4-20, 5-20, 5-23 Base memory, 2-3 Batch files, 5-6 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 5-30 -31 Booting MS-DOS, 3-13 Break sign[...]

Conditional format, D-2, D-3 -5 CONFIG.SYS, 5-11, 5-32 Configuring the system, 2-1 -14 Connecting keyboard, 1-10 -11 modem, 1-8 -9 monitor, 1-4 -6 mouse, 1-8 -9 power cord, 1-4, 1-9 printer, 1-6 -9 Control codes CTRL ALT DEL, 4-5 CTRL C, 4-4 Controllers, F-1 COPY, 3-1, 3-11, 4-12, 5-6 -8, 5-20 Copying diskettes, 4-12, 4-16 -17 files, 4-12 system di[...]

DIR, 5-15 Directories, 5-10 -17 changing, 5-16 -17 creating, 5-16 default, 5-12 listing contents of, 5-15 naming, 5-12 on diskettes, 5-12 pathnames for, 5-12 -15 removing, 5-16 root, 5-11 -12 DISKCOPY, 4-12, 4-17, 5-20 -22 Diskette drives, see also Hard disks assignments, 4-17 -18, 5-2 caring for, 4-12 -13 compatibility, 4-11 configuring, 2-9 -10 d[...]

Display adapters, see Video cards Display screen, see Monitors Dot-matrix printer check, C-25 -26 Double-density diskettes, 4-10 -12 Double-sided diskettes, 4-10 -12 Drive assignments, 4-17 -18, 5-2 Drives, see Diskette drives see Hard disks E EEMM386.EXE, 5-32 -34, 6-3 EGA card, see Video cards Enhanced graphics adapter, see Video cards Environmen[...]

Floppy disk drives, see Diskette drives Floppy disks, see Diskettes FORMAT, 3-1, 3-12, 5-17 -19, D-1 Formatting, diskettes, 5-17 -19 extended partition, 3-12 physical, D-1 -10 primary partition, 3-9 -11 H Hard disks, see also Diskette drives assignments, 5-2 backing up, 4-20 check, 3-2-3 controller and drive check, B-5, C-26 -29 enhancing performan[...]

Keyboard, connecting, 1-10 -11 controller and keyboard check, B-3 -4, C-8 -9 layout, F-3 locking, 4-1 -2 special keys, 4-5 -7 Key lock, 4-1 -2 L LIM EMS 4.0, 5-32 -34 Loading MS-DOS, 1-14 -15 Logical disk drive, 3-4 M Main memory, 2-3, F-1 Mass storage, 2-9 -10 options, F-2 Math coprocessor, 2-9, 6-1, F-1 check, C-22 Memory, above 640K, 5-32 -34, C[...]

MS-DOS, booting, 3-13 command format, 5-3 copying files, 5-6-8 correcting commands, 5-4 default drive, 5-2-3 deleting files, 5-9 directories, 5-10 -17 entering commands, 5-4 -5 exiting, 5-1 filenames, 5-5 -6 loading, 1-14 -15 pathnames, 5-12 -15 printing files, 5-10 renaming files, 5-8 -9 starting, 5-1 starting from hard disk, 3-13 MS OS/2, Intro-2[...]

Parameters, 5-3 Partitioning, 3-1, 3-4 -8 PATH, 5-15 Pathnames, 5-12 -15 absolute and relative, 5-12 -13 including drive letters in, 5-14 including filenames in, 5-13 -14 Physical characteristics, F-3 Physical formatting, D-1 -10 formatting and checking options, D-1 -3 Power, connecting, 1-9 cord, 1-9 source, 1-4 supply, F-2 Power-on diagnostics, B[...]

RMDIR (RD), 5-16 RESET button, 4-4 -5 Resetting the computer, 4-4 -5 ROM, see Read only memory ROM BIOS, 2-8 Root directory, 5-11 -12 S Sectors, 4-9 SELECT, 3-1, 3-9 -11, D-1 Serial, see also SPF card cable, 1-9 interface, 1-8 -9 port, 1-8 -9 port check (RS-232C), C-23 -24 SETMODE, 1-9 Setting up, 1-1 -16 Setup menu, 2-3 Setup program, 2-1 -14, E-1[...]

Subdirectories, see Directories SUBST, 5-15 Switches, 5-4 System board check, C-7 device check, B-1 -2 diskettes, 1-15 -16 T Time, setting, 2-11 -12 Toll-free number, Intro-4 Tracks, 4-9 Troubleshooting, A-1 -8 Turning off computer, 4-21 Turning on computer, 1-12 -14 U Unconditional format, D-2, D-6 -7 Unpacking the system, 1-1 -3 V Video cards, co[...]

hard disk indicator light release latch control knob switch drive slot voltage switch I option card slots I I power outlet I power inlet serial port parallel port[...]