Epson 10020 manual

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Attention Apex™ Owners The MGA card in your computer includes a game port, such as the one shown below. You can easily connect a joystick, track ball, or other pointing device to this port. Apex is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. Copyright © 1989 by Epson America, inc. Torrance, California QA50189001[...]

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Read all of these instructions and save them for lacer reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. Do not use this product near w[...]

11. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a risk of fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product. 12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Manual, do not attempt to service this product yourself. [...]

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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, hat is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference co radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found co comply with the limits for a Class B computin[...]

Contents Introduction.. .................................... . 1 How to Use This Manual ............................ . 2 Where to Get Help ................................. . 3 Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System 1 Unpacking ...................................... . 1-1 Removing the Diskette Drive Protector Card ........ . 1-2 2 Choosing a Location ...[...]

Using Disks and Disk Drives. ......................... . 2-6 How Disks Store Data .......................... . 2-6 Choosing Diskettes. ............................ . 2-8 Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives ............ . 2-9 Inserting and Removing Diskettes ................. . 2-11 Write-protecting Diskettes ....................... . 2-13 Maki[...]

Formatting Diskettes ................................ . 3-25 Formatting Diskettes on the Apex 100 ............. . 3-26 Formatting Diskettes on the Apex 10020 .......... . 3-27 Formatting Diskettes With One Diskette Drive (No Hard Disk) ............................ . 3-28 Backing Up Dat a ................................... . 3-29 Using the DISKCOP[...]

Software Problems .................................. . 5-11 Printer Problems ................................... . 5-12 Option Card Problems ............................... . 5-13 Appendix A Changing DIP Switches and Using Setup Changing the DIP Switches .......................... . A-1 DIP Switch Set 1 (Internal Operations) ............ . A-2 DIP [...]

Appendix C Power-on Diagnostics System Device Check ............................... . C-1 Timer and CMOS RAM Check. ...................... . C-2 RAM Check ...................................... . C-3 Keyboard Controller and Keyboard Check. .............. . C-3 Floppy Disk Drive Seek Check. ....................... . C-4 Appendix D Performing System [...]

Floppy Disk Drives and Controller Check ............... . D-22 Formatting a Diskette .......................... . D-22 Starting the Floppy Disk Drive Check ............. . D-23 Sequential Seek Check ......................... . D-24 Random Seek Check ........................... . D-24 Write, Read Check ............................. . D-25 Speed Chec[...]

Appendix F Preparing a Hard Disk for Use Creating the MS-DOS Partition ...................... . F-2 Formatting the MS-DOS Partition ..................... . F-4 Copying the Remaining Files to the Hard Disk ........... . F-6 Creating the AUTOEXEC.BAT File ......................... . F-7 Booting From the Hard Disk. ......................... . F-8 Glos[...]

Introduction Your Apex” personal computer is powerful, versatile, and easy to use. After setting up your system with the simple instructions in this manual, you’ll soon be using your favorite software programs. The Apex computer is available in these configurations: The Apex 100 provides two 360KB (kilobyte) diskette drives The Apex 10020 prov[...]

As your needs grow, so can your computer; you can expand your system by adding a wide variety of options. You can install most option cards compatible with the IBM” Personal Computer. For example, you can add an internal modem card to provide data communications. If you use software that executes lengthy mathematical calculations, you may want to[...]

Appendix C provides information on the power-on diagnostics. Appendix D outlines the system diagnostic checks you can perform on your computer. If you are having trouble with any part of the hardware, you may want to run some of these diagnostic checks. Appendix E describes how to perform a hardware-level format on the hard disk. You need to do thi[...]

Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System Setting up your Apex personal computer is easy. Just follow the nine steps in this chapter. You may want to leave the back cover foldout open so you can refer to the two illustrations identifying the different parts of the computer. Note: If you have experience setting up computers, you may prefer to follow the brie[...]

Besides this manual, you should have the following: The computer and power cord The keyboard with attached cable Four diskettes: three that contain the MS-DOS operating system (Startup, Operating 1, and Operating 2), and a Reference diskette An MS-DOS Reference Manual. In addition to these items, you need a compatible video monitor to use with the [...]

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 computer, it is important to choose the right location. Select a spot that provides the following: A la[...]

Moderate environmental conditions. Protect your computer from extremes in temperature, direct sunlight, or any other source of heat. High humidity also hinders operation, so select a cool, dry area. Avoid dust and smoke, which can damage disks and disk drives and cause you to lose valuable data. Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges,[...]

The procedure you use to connect your monitor to the computer depends on the type of monitor you have. See your monitor manual for detailed instructions or follow these general guidelines: 1. Place your monitor on top of or near the computer. It is easiest to connect the monitor cable if the backs of the monitor and the computer are facing you. 2. [...]

5. Note If the monitor has the proper type of plug, you can plug at into the auxiliary power outlet next to the AC power inlet on the back of the computer. 6. 7. Plug the other end of the power cord into an electrical outlet. If you connected the monitor to the MGA card in the computer, set the color/mono monitor switch on the card to match the typ[...]

4 Connecting a Peripheral Device The computer has a parallel interface and a serial interface on the back panel; so you can easily connect a printer or other device with either type of interface. For example, you can use the parallel port to connect a parallel printer; most printers have a parallel interface. You can use the serial port to connect [...]

3. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer as shown below. If the printer has retaining clips on each side of the printer port, squeeze them together to secure the cable. 4. Plug the printer’s power cord into an electrical outlet. 1-8 Setting Up Your System[...]

Using the Serial Interface If you have a printer, modem, mouse, or any other peripheral with a serial interface, you can connect it to the serial (RS-232C) port on the back of the computer. The Apex uses a 25-pin male connector, so be sure you have the proper cable. If you are not sure, check with the store where you bought the computer and printer[...]

The Setup program on your Reference diskette lets you define the baud rate, parity, data length, and number of stop bits for a primary and a secondary serial port. See “Running the Setup Program” in Appendix A for instructions. To redirect the printer data you can use either the MS-DOS MODE command or the Epson MENU utility. (MENU provides an e[...]

6 Connecting the Keyboard Follow these steps to connect the keyboard: 1. Facing the front of the computer, open the cover on the lower right comer; use the tip of your finger to pull it open from the right side. Setting Up Your System 1-11[...]

2. Plug the keyboard cable into the socket, as shown below. Do not force the connector, but be sure to insert it all the way. 3. Push the cable into the notch at the right side of the computer, as shown below, so the cable leads away to the right side of the computer. 4. Close the keyboard cable cover. 1-12 Setting Up Your System[...]

Adjusting the Keyboard Angle You can change the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. Follow these steps: 1. Turn the keyboard over. 2. Press down on the front part of each leg, as shown below, and then use your thumbs to lift up the legs until they lock into place. 3. Turn the keyboard right-side up. Setting Up Your System 1-1[...]

7 Turning On the Computer Before you turn on your computer, read the following safety rules to avoid accidentally damaging the computer or injuring yourself: Never turn the computer on with a protector card in the diskette drive. Do not unplug cables from the computer when the power switch is on. Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk d[...]

2. To turn on the computer, press the power switch. The power indicator on the front panel lights up. After a few seconds, the computer starts to perform an internal self test. This is a series of checks the computer completes each time you turn it on to make sure everything is working correctly. If anything is wrong, an error message appears on th[...]

If you have the Apex 100 (no hard disk), the computer does not load MS-DOS, but instead displays the following: Non-system disk or disk error Insert system diskette in drive A and strike any key when ready These messages tell you that you need to insert the MS-DOS Startup (system) diskette in the top drive, drive A, so the computer can load the ope[...]

2. When the diskette is in all the way, turn the latch down (clockwise) to lock the diskette in place. (For detailed instructions on inserting diskettes, see Chapter 2.) 3. Press any key. The computer loads MS-DOS into its memory where it will remain until you turn off the computer. Once MS-DOS is loaded, you see a date prompt, such as the followin[...]

You need to set the date and time this way only once; the computer’s real-time clock keeps track of the date and time even when the computer is off. The next time you load MS-DOS, you can just press Enter when you see each of these prompts to accept the displayed date and time. MS-DOS updates months and years correctly-whether the month has 31, 3[...]

If you load MS-DOS from the hard disk, the command prompt looks like this: C:> The hard disk prompt is different because the Apex 10020 has been set up with a special command that changes the command prompt to show the current directory. (A directory consists of a group of files stored together under an identifying name. See Chapter 3 for a co[...]

2. If the date is correct, press Enter to leave it unchanged. To change the date, type the appropriate numbers for the month, day, and year, as shown. For example, to set the date for August 30, 1989, type the following and press Enter: 8-30-8 9 3. Next type TIME and press Enter. The screen displays the following: Current time is 09:32:21.0 Enter n[...]

9 Copying System Diskettes Now that you have set up your system and loaded MS-DOS, it is important that you make copies of your MS-DOS and Reference diskettes right away. Use only the copies (usually called “working copies”) for daily use and store the originals in a safe place. The procedure for copying diskettes depends on the number of diske[...]

3. Insert a blank 5 1/4-inch 360KB diskette in drive B (the bottom drive) and turn the latch down to secure the diskette. 4. Type the following and press Enter. DISKCOPY A: B: The screen displays these prompts: Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A: Insert TARGET diskette in drive B: Press any key when ready ... 5. Drive A (the top drive) already conta[...]

8. Repeat the procedure for the Startup diskette and the Reference diskette. 9. When you finish copying the last system diskette and the Copy another diskette (Y/N)? prompt appears, press N to return to the MS-DOS command prompt. Copying Diskettes on the Apex l0020 1. The C> prompt should be on the screen; if it is not, type C : and press Enter[...]

Then press any key. The DISKCOPY program copies the contents of the Startup diskette to the computer’s memory, and then you see the following: Insert TARGET diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . . 4. Remove the Startup diskette and insert a blank diskette (which is to be the target) in the drive. Then press any key. If the diskette is[...]

Chapter 2 Using Your Computer This chapter covers the following basic procedures for using your computer: Changing the operating speed Using special keys on the keyboard Interrupting a command or program Resetting and turning off the computer Using disks and disk drives. Changing the Operating Speed Your computer can operate at two speeds: 4.77 MHz[...]

WARNING You can change the speed while the computer is on, but do not change it while you are running a program. Complete your current operation, exit the program to the MS-DOS command prompt, and then change the speed. Using Special Keys Certain keys on your keyboard serve special functions when your computer is running application programs. The f[...]

Key Purpose Backspace Enter Caps Lock Esc Num Lock Scroll Lock Break PrtSc Home, End PgUp. PgDn Ins Del Moves the cursor back one space, deleting the character to the left of the cursor. Ends a line of keyboard input or executes a command (may be called the Return key in some application program manuals). Changes the letter keys from lower- to uppe[...]

Stopping a Command or Program You may sometimes need to stop a command or program while it is running. Many application programs provide a command you can use to cancel or even undo an operation. If you have entered an MS-DOS command that you want to stop, try one of the following commands: Hold down the Ctrl key and press C Hold down the Ctrl key [...]

WARNING Do not reset the computer to extra Do not the program unless you have to Same application progress classify and store new data when you exit the program. If you reset the computer without properly exiting the program, you may lose data To reset the computer, MS-DOS must be either on the hard disk or on a diskette in drive A; so if you have [...]

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. The Apex 100 has two 360KB diskette drives and the Apex 10020 has one 360KB diskette drive and one 20MB hard disk. This section explains how disks work and tells you how to do the following: Choose diskettes Car[...]

stored. Double-density diskettes have either 40 or 80 tracks, and high-density diskettes have 80 tracks. The double-density, 360KB diskettes you use in your Apex have 40 tracks. 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. A disk is further d[...]

Your computer uses the read/write heads in a disk drive to store and retrieve data on a disk. There is one head above the diskette and one below, so the drive can write to both sides of the diskette. To write to a disk, the computer spins it in the drive to a position where one of the read/write heads can access the diskette through the read/write [...]

If you have an optional 720KB drive, use 3 l/2-inch, double- sided, double-density, 135 TPI, 720KB diskettes with this drive. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 9 sectors per track, and hold up to 720KB of information-approximately 300 pages of text. Note You cannot use 3 1/2-inch diskettes that have been formed for 1.44MB in a 720KB diske[...]

Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields. (Remember that diskettes store information magnetically.) There are many sources of magnetism in your home or office, such as electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers. Do not place diskettes on top of your monitor or near an external disk drive. Never touch a diskette’s magnetic surface. The oi[...]

If you have the Apex 10020, follow these additional precautions to protect your hard disk drive and its data: Never turn off the computer when the hard disk drive light is on. This light indicates that the computer is copying data to or from the hard disk. If you interrupt this process, you can lose data. Never attempt to open the hard disk drive.[...]

If a diskette is in the drive but the latch is up (horizontal) and you enter a command for that drive, the computer cannot tell there is a diskette in the drive and displays an error message such as this: Drive A: not ready Make sure a diskette is inserted into the drive and the door is closed Press any key when ready . . . Close the latch and pres[...]

To remove a 3 1/2-inch diskette, press the release button to release it. When the edge pops out of the drive, pull out the diskette and store it properly. WARNING Never remove a diskette or num off the computer while the drive indicator light is on. You could lose data. Also, be sure to remove all diskettes before you turn off the computer. Write-p[...]

Note Some program diskettes, such as you r MS-DOS diskettes, have no notch so they are permanently write-protected. This protects them from being accidentally erased or altered. On a 3 1/2-inch diskette, the write-protect device is a small switch on the lower right comer on the back, shown below. To write-protect a 3 1/2-inch diskette, slide the sw[...]

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 3 for more instructions on using DISKCOPY and MENU. If you have the Apex 10020, it is best to put most of the programs and data files you use regularly on the hard disk. [...]

On the Apex 10020, you can load the operating system and application programs from the hard disk, create and store your data there, and use the diskette drive just for copying data to or from diskettes. Note 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 prog[...]

MS-DOS lets you keep related files together in directories and subdirectories so they are easier to find and use. See Chapter 3 for instructions on how to use directories. Epson also includes the XTREE utility with MS-DOS. XTREE provides simple menus that allow you to move, create, delete, and rename files and directories. This program is especiall[...]

Preparing the hard disk for moving If you need to move your Apex 10020 to a new location- whether it is across the country or just across the room-there is a program you should run to protect the hard disk before you turn off the computer. The HDSIT program moves the disk drive’s read/write heads to a region on the disk surface that does not con[...]

Chapter 3 Using MS-DOS With Your Computer Your computer comes with version 3.3 of MS-DOS. This operating system manages your computer by organizing the computer’s memory, controlling the monitor display, receiving keyboard input, and accessing data. To communicate with the operating system, you use MS-DOS commands. How much you need to know about[...]

Starting and Exiting MS-DOS Before you can run an MS-DOS application program, MS-DOS must be running in memory. Chapter 1 describes how to load MS-DOS on your computer. If you have the Apex 10020, the computer loads MS-DOS from the hard disk automatically when you turn on the computer. If you do not have a hard disk, you need to insert your workin[...]

Using Drive Designators MS-DOS uses letters to identify the disk drives in your system. If you have one diskette drive, it is known as drive A. If you have two diskette drives, the top one is called drive A and the bottom drive is B. If you have a hard disk drive, MS-DOS identifies it as drive C, even if you have only one diskette drive. The Defaul[...]

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 the following and press Enter: C: MS-DOS acknowledges the change by displaying the command prompt C>. Changing to a new drive is also called loggin[...]

Startup diskette ANSI.SYS COMMAND.COM COUNTRY.SYS DISPLAY.SYS DRIVER.SYS EGA.CPI FASTOPEN.EXE Operating 1 diskette APPEND.EXE ASSIGN.COM ATTRIB.EXE BACKUP.COM CHKDSK.COM COMMAND.COM COMP.COM DEBUG.COM DISKCOMP.COM DISKCOPY.COM Operating 2 diskette DU.EXE EPSON.TXT HELP.COM HELP.TXT GRAPH24.COM Reference diskette ALTPTST.DIG ALTSTST.DIG AUTOEXEC.BAT[...]

To run an external command, MS-DOS must be able to locate the file containing the command’s instructions. If it cannot find the file, MS-DOS gives you an error message. If you have the Apex 10020, all the external files are on your hard disk (drive C) in a directory named DOS; so MS-DOS can find any external command you need. If you have the Ap[...]

The MS-DOS command format consists of the command name, parameters, and delimiters. The command name tells MS-DOS the task you want the computer to perform. Parameters specify details such as what data you want co process and where to locate or store a file. Delimiters are characters such as spaces or commas that separate command names and paramete[...]

You can enter an MS-DOS command whenever you see the MS-DOS command prompt. Type the command name and any necessary parameters and delimiters and then press Enter to execute the command. MS-DOS does not execute your command until you press Enter. You can type command names and parameters in either uppercase or lowercase letters. If you make a mista[...]

Naming Files Each file must have a unique filename so you can retrieve it when you need to. The filename consists of two parts: the name and the extension (which is optional). You can choose a name up to eight characters long. Create a name that identifies the information the file contains. The name can contain any characters or numbers except for [...]

Copying Files You can use the COPY command to copy individual files or groups of files. COPY is an internal command; you can use it any time you see the MS-DOS command prompt. You can use the COPY command to copy files in several ways: You can copy individual files from one disk to another You can copy a group of files using wildcard characters You[...]

To copy the file named REPORT to the same diskette and name the copy FACTS, type the following and press Enter: COPY REPORT FACTS Now you have two files on the default drive that have the same contents but different names. In this example, you can omit the drive designators because the original file and the copy are both on the current drive. Using[...]

To copy REPORT, FACTS, and MEMO from drive A to a file named DATA on drive B, type the following and press Enter: COPY A:REPORT + A:FACTS + A:MEMO B:DATA Remember these rules when copying files: You must tell MS-DOS where to find the original file and where to store the copy; that is, you need to specify the drive (and directory, if necessary) for [...]

You can shorten the RENAME command to REN. To change the name of a file from HAMMERS to WRENCHES, therefore, you can type the following and press Enter: REN HAMMERS WRENCHES 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 pres[...]

You can use wildcards to delete groups of files. For example, to delete all files on the diskette in drive A (in the current directory), you could type the following and press Enter: DEL A:*.* Because deleting all files is a serious procedure, MS-DOS prompts you to confirm the command when you use the *.* wildcard combination with the DEL command. [...]

3. Type the name of the device, such as LPT1, and press Enter. MS-DOS prints the file on your printer. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information on the PRINT command. Using Directories You can create many files on a diskette, and a hard disk can store thousands of files. To help you organize this much information, MS-DOS lets you subdiv[...]

As the number of files in your WORDPROC and SPDSHEET directories grows, you can create additional directories subordinate to those two-like this, for example: This structure would let you segregate your business word processing files from your personal word processing files, and your sales spreadsheets from spreadsheet files used for financial proj[...]

The following sections discuss the basics of creating and using directories. Note: The XTREE utility provides a simple way to see and organize your directories. See the description of XTREE later in this chapter. The Default Directory MS-DOS always recognizes one directory as the &fault or current directory, just as it always recognizes one dri[...]

To change from PERSONAL back to WORDPROC, you can use the special symbol . . (two periods) or you can use an absolute pathname. (The . . symbol always designates the parent directory, which is the level above the current directory.) In other words, you can type: CD . . or CD WORDPROC Using Pathnames A pathname tells MS-DOS how to find its way to t[...]

Relative pathnames can tell MS-DOS to move upward in the directory tree as well as downward. The symbol . . (two periods) in a pathname tells MS-DOS to move upward one level in the tree. Thus, if the default directory were WORDPROC (in the above example), the pathname . . DOS would tell MS-DOS to move up one level from WORDPROC (in this case to t[...]

For example, suppose you are logged onto the root directory of drive A, and you want to delete the file JEAN1204.DOC, which is stored in the directory WORDPROC PERSONAL of drive C. Enter the command as follows: DEL C : WORDPROCPERSONALJEAN1204.DOC Note that if you change from one drive to another and then try to access a file on the previous [...]

Note MS-DOS provides several commands that make using pathnames easy: APPEND lets you set a search path for date files and executable files so MS-DOS known where to find them even if you don' specify the drive and directory. PATH lets you specify a search path for commands and programs files; so you don't have to type a full pathname ever[...]

In this case, you do not need to specify the path to the LEDGER directory because it is the default directory. Listing the Contents of a Directory You can use the DIR command to list all the files in a particular directory. For example, to list the files in the current directory, type the following and press Enter: DIR MS-DOS lists the names of the[...]

This switch causes MS-DOS to pause after displaying each screenful of information. To see the next screenful, press any key. Another way to view a long directory listing is to use the /W switch: DIR /W This displays the directory listing in a wide format, as follows: Directory of C:WORDPROCPERSONAL . . . LETTER.713 RESUME BOOKRPRT 5 File(s) 16013[...]

The screen displays a report for every directory on the drive, for example: Path: C:LEDGER Sub-directories:RECEIV PAYABL SALES If you would also like to see a list of all the files in the directories, add the /F switch to the command: TREE /F The screen displays the directory information shown above plus the names of all files in each subdirectory[...]

To delete an empty directory from a disk, use the RMDIR command, or its shorthand equivalent, RD. For example, to remove the directory ACCOUNTS, which is a subdirectory in the LEDGER directory, type the following and press Enter: RD LEDGERACCOUNTS If you are currently in the LEDGER directory, you can enter the command as follows: RD ACCOUNTS Form[...]

Note Besides the method described below, you can also format diskettes using the Epson MENU utility. This program is easy to use because it lets you select options from a Menu. For more information, see the section on MENU later in this chapter or see your MS-DOS Reference Manual. Formatting Diskettes on the Apex 100 1. Make sure you are logged ont[...]

The formatted diskette is now ready to store data. See the MS-DOS Reference Manual for information about options you can use with the FORMAT command. Formatting Diskettes on the Apex 10020 1. If necessary, type C : to log onto drive C. 2. When you see the C> prompt, type the following and press Enter: FORMAT A: You see this prompt: Insert new d[...]

Formatting Diskettes With One Diskette Drive (No Hard Disk) If your computer has only one diskette drive and no hard disk, follow this procedure to format a diskette: 1. Insert the working copy of your MS-DOS Startup diskette in drive A. 2. When you see the A> prompt, type the following and press Enter: FORMAT A: You see this prompt: Insert new [...]

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

If the diskette you are copying to has not been formatted, DISKCOPY formats it automatically before copying the data. The procedure for copying diskettes depends on whether you have one or two diskette drives. Follow the instructions below for your model. Using DISKCOPY with the Apex 100 1. Make sure the diskette you want to copy is write-protected[...]

Using DISKCOPY with the Apex 10020 1. Make sure the diskette you want to copy is write-protected. (See Chapter 2 for instructions.) 2. If necessary, type C : to log onto drive C. 3. At the C> prompt, type the following and press Enter: DISKCOPY A: A: MS-DOS displays this message: Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready . . .[...]

Using DISKCOPY with one drive only If your computer has only one diskette drive and no hard disk, follow these steps to copy a diskette: 1. Make sure the diskette you want to copy is write-protected. (See Chapter 2 for instructions.) 2. Insert the Operating 1 diskette in the diskette drive. 3. At A> prompt, type the following and press Enter: DI[...]

Using the BACKUP Command Use the BACKUP command to back up the data on your hard disk. It provides a convenient and efficient way to copy the files on your hard disk. BACKUP allows you to do the following: Split large files across two or more diskettes Copy only those files chat have been modified since the most recent backup Copy only those files [...]

Special Epson Utilities Epson has included several time-saving utilities to make MS-DOS easier for you to use: HELP lets you display information on the screen about any MS-DOS command. MENU provides an easier way to run many of the most common MS-DOS commands. XTREE is a file management utility that simplifies all file and directory operations, and[...]

To use the HELP menu, follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Type HELP at the MS-DOS command prompt and press Enter. The screen displays a menu of MS-DOS commands. Use the cursor keys to highlight the command you want information about and press Enter. If there is more than one screen of information about the command you selected, you see the prompt PgUp [...]

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[...]

2. Type MENU at the command prompt and press Enter. You see this main menu: EXIT File Utilities Disk Utilities Mode Settings Help Enter DOS Command 3. 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 th[...]

MENU program options Following is a description of each option. For step-by-step instructions on using each MENU option, see your MS-DOS Reference Manual. File Utilities Lets you back up and restore files, replace files, compare files, change file attributes, copy files, and copy directories. This option does the work of the MS-DOS commands BACKUP,[...]

Using XTREE Epson has included the XTREE program with MS-DOS to make it easier for you to manage files and run other MS-DOS programs. XTREE is especially useful for managing the data on a hard disk, where you may have hundreds of files. XTREE lets you do the work of many MS-DOS commands through a convenient menu, and provides several features not a[...]

This menu provides the following information: Path: Shows the pathname for the current directory. A single backslash identifies the root directory. PILE DISK The directory structure illustrated under this backslash reflects the organization of the directories on the disk. In this case, there is one subdirectory called DOS. If there are no directori[...]

DISK Statistics Summarizes information about the files on the disk. Files window Lists the names of all the files in the current directory. DIR COMMANDS Displays all the key commands you can use while this display is on the screen. Just press the uppercase letter in the command name to perform the function. You use the cursor keys, letter keys, fun[...]

Function keys control XTREE itself. Press F1 to quit XTREE, F2 to display a screen of help information, or F3 to cancel a command. XTREE displays the available commands and the key that executes each command on the lower right comer of your screen. There are many ways you can put XTREE to work. All disk setup and maintenance functions can benefit f[...]

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 in a special file called AUTOEXEC.BAT. When you load MS-DOS, it always looks for this file. If MS-DOS finds an AUTOEXEC.BAT file in [...]

Creating an AUTOEXEC.BAT File You can create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file using any command or program that lets you create a text-only file. If you have a word processing program that can save a file as a text-only file (sometimes called an ASCII text file), you can use that program to create your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Here’s an example of an AUTOEXEC.BAT [...]

3. Now enter the commands you want to include in the file. Type them exactly as you want MS-DOS to execute them, and in the order you want to perform them. Press Enter at the end of each line. After you type the last command, press Enter to move the cursor to the next blank line. 4. Now press F6 and then Enter. MS-DOS copies everything you typed to[...]

Chapter 4 Installing Option Cards Option cards are accessories you can add to your computer to provide extra system capabilities. For example, you may want to install an auto-dial modem or a different display adapter card. You can install up to five 8-bit option cards in the computer at one time, but one slot is occupied by the video card that oper[...]

Removing the Cover Before you install an option card in your computer, you need to remove the cover. WARNING Never open the case of the computer while it is plugged into an electrical outlet. Turn off the power switch of the computer and any other peripheral devices connected to it; then unplug the power cable before removing the case. 1 If the mon[...]

3. The top cover is secured by two screws on each side of the computer. The two screws on the left side of the unit are covered by small plastic inserts, as shown below. Gently remove the inserts with a small screwdriver; then remove the screws on both sides of the computer. Put the screws and inserts safely aside. 4. Tilt the cover up slightly fro[...]

Inserting an Option Card Most option cards can be placed into any of the option slots. Some cards, however, must be installed in a specific slot. Check the option card manual to see if your option card must go in a specific slot. If you are installing a new video card, you must remove the MGA card that comes installed in your computer. Even though [...]

2. Put the option slot cover in a safe place in case you later remove the option card. Keep the screw and washer. You will use them to secure the option card to the computer. If you select one of the two slots that has a grounding tab attached, be sure to replace it in step 6. 3. Unpack the option card and read all instructions that come with it. I[...]

4. Grip the card firmly by the top comers. Hold it so the connector pins are pointing down and the components facing the inside of the computer, as shown below. are 5. 6. Insert the card straight down into the slot. Once the connector pins are in the connector slot, push down firmly (but carefully) to fully insert the card. If the connector pins do[...]

Removing an Access Slot Cover Some option cards, such as the video card, have an outlet for connecting an external device. If you install an option card that has an external connector for other equipment (such as a monitor), you need to remove the plastic access slot cover on the computer’s back panel that corresponds to the option card slot. Fol[...]

Removing an Option Card If you later need to remove an option card, simply reverse the steps you followed to install it. Remove the screw securing the card to the back of the computer and pull the card straight up and out of the slot. Then carefully wrap the card, preferably in the original packing materials, and place it inside its box for safe st[...]

3. Secure the cover by replacing the screws on both sides of the computer. Snap the plastic inserts into the side feet. 4. Replace the back panel and the three screws along the top edge. 5. Return the computer to its original position and reconnect it to the monitor, the keyboard, and any peripherals you have. 6. Check to make sure the power switch[...]

When you finish installing an option card and reconfiguring the system, you should test the option if possible. Some option cards come with their own diagnostics programs, and you can test others with the diagnostics programs on your Reference diskette. The options you can test with the Reference diskette include the following: Expansion memory 808[...]

Installing the Optional Controller First remove the cover of the computer as described earlier in this chapter. Then see the documentation supplied with the optional disk drive controller card for detailed instructions on how to connect the drives to the option card. The drive cables for drives A and B are normally connected to connector CN5 on the[...]

Changing the Jumper Setting To disable the built-in diskette drive controller, you need to change the setting of Jumper J1 on the main system board. See the illustration above for the location of this jumper, near the option slots. If an option card is installed in slot number five, you may need to remove the card to reach the jumper. A jumper is a[...]

Chapter 5 Troubleshooting You should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and use your computer, but if anything out of the ordinary happens, refer to this chapter. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer. If you still have a problem after trying the solution r[...]

2. 3. Replace the system (Startup) diskette, if necessary, and turn the computer on again. If the computer’s power light still does not come on, check the electrical outlet for power. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet. Plug a lamp into the wall outlet, and turn it on to see if the outlet supplies power. If the [...]

4. If your computer still does not respond, you can reset it with the RESET button. Follow the instructions in Chapter 2. 5. If resetting the computer does not work, turn off the computer, wait at least five seconds, and turn it on again. If you have the Apex 100, insert the Startup diskette in drive A. The computer should load MS-DOS and display t[...]

2. If the power switch is on but the power light is not, turn off the monitor’s power, wait five seconds, and turn the power back on. Wait a few seconds to see if the screen displays any text. 3. If the monitor’s power light still does not come on, check the electrical outlet for power. Turn off your monitor and unplug it from the wall outlet. [...]

Note If your application program requires a monitor that supports graphics but you have a monochrome monitor, the results will be unpredictable. 7. If you are still having difficulty with your monitor, try running either the Monochrome Display Adapter and CRT Check or the Color Graphics Display Adapter and CRT Check, both of which are described in [...]

If you have the optional 720KB drive, use 3 1/2-inch double-sided, double-density diskettes. You cannot use 3 1/2-inch diskettes that were formatted for 1.44MB in this drive. 4. If your diskette is the right type for your drive, check to see if the diskette is write-protected. There may be a write- protect tab over the notch on the side of the disk[...]

Note RECOVER renames all files on the diskette, so use it only after you have copied as many files as possible with the MS-DOS COPY command. 6. If you are not able to copy all the files from the defective diskette, copy as many as you can and then use the MS-DOS program RECOVER. This program recovers all the data that it can read on the diskette. I[...]

The CHKDSK program can recover data that has been inadvertently lost on the diskette. It makes changes to the diskette if you use the /F switch in the command like this: CHKDSK A: /F See the description of CHKDSK in your MS-DOS Reference Manual before making corrections to the diskette. Diskette Drive Problems Follow these steps if you are having d[...]

Hard Disk Problems If you are having problems with the hard disk in your Apex 10020, try the following steps: 1. If this is the first time you have used the computer after setting it up and the hard disk does not load MS-DOS when you turn it on, it may be missing one of the MS-DOS system files. Turn off your computer and insert your working copy o[...]

3. 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 disk. Use the Display Partition Information option of the FDlSK program to see if your hard disk has an active (bootable) DOS partition on it. If it does not, back up all your files and then u[...]

Follow the instructions in Appendix E to perform a low-level (Conditional) format. Follow the instructions in Appendix F to prepare the hard disk for use. 6. If you have installed a hard disk drive made by another company in your computer, it may need to be partitioned and formatted. If this is the case, see Appendix F for instructions. If it needs[...]

To interrupt an MS-DOS command while it is executing, try one of the following commands: Hold down the Ctrl key and press C Hold down the Ctrl key and press Break. 4. An application program can occasionally lock the computer, making it unresponsive to the keyboard. If your computer does not respond when you type on the keyboard, you can reset it. F[...]

4. If your printer is properly set up but is still not functioning, test it from the MS-DOS level. When the MS-DOS command prompt (such as A> or C>) is showing on the screen, press Shift PrtSc. This should print the contents of the screen on your printer. If it does not, you may need to change the internal setting of the computer’s parallel[...]

3. If you changed the configuration of your computer-for example, if you added a disk drive, serial or parallel port, or display adapter card-did you change the necessary DIP switches on the computer? See Appendix A for more information. 4. If you used the option card to add an external device to your computer, did you use the proper cable to conne[...]

Appendix A Changing DIP Switches and Using Setup This Appendix describes how to change the DIP switches on the front panel of your computer and how to run the Setup program on your Reference diskette. You may need this information if you have changed the physical configuration of your computer or you want to set the parameters for a serial port. Ch[...]

Note Set the DIP switches only while your computer is off. Because software programs check the settings each time you cum on the system, do not change the settings while a program is running. Your computer has two sets of DIP switches; set 1 contains eight switches which control the computer’s internal operations, and set 2 contains four switches[...]

Switch 1 (keyboard type)—tells your computer what kind of keyboard you are using. If you are using the keyboard chat came with your computer, this switch should be ON to select the standard keyboard. If you have purchased an enhanced (101 - key) keyboard co use with the computer, set this switch OFF. Switch 2 (coprocessor&cells your computer [...]

DIP Switch Set 2 (Parallel and Serial Port Operations) The following cable lists the parallel and serial port functions controlled by DIP switch set 2. DIP switch set 2. 1 2 3 4 Parallel Serial Primary OFF ON Secondary Off OF F Disable ON ON Primary OFF OFF Secondary ON OFF Disable ON These switches cell the computer how to access the built-in para[...]

If you install two option cards with parallel ports, designate one as the primary port and the other as the secondary port. In this ease, you need co set switches 1 and 2 ON to disable the built-in port. Note If MS-DOS searches the system for a parallel port and finds only one, it names it LPT1. If there are two parallel ports, it names the primary[...]

Running the Setup Program You can use the Setup program on your Reference diskette to set (or change) the following for your computer: Time and date stored in the real-time clock Primary serial port settings Secondary serial port settings. The information you define with the Setup program is scored in the computer’s CMOS RAM, which is a permanent[...]

2. Turn on or reset the computer. You see the following Operation menu: OPERATIONMENU 1 - Setup 2 - Format hard disk 3 - Format diskette 4 - System diagnostics 5 - Prepare hard disk formoving 0 - Exit to DOS for more utilities Enter selection number:_ This is the menu for the setup and diagnostics programs on the Reference diskette. 3. Press 1 and [...]

If you do not want to change anything in the Setup menu or if you have finished making changes, press to highlight the E x i t option. See “Leaving the Setup Program,” below, for instructions. See the appropriate section below for the Setup option you want to use. Setting the Real-time Clock The real-time clock in your computer keeps track of t[...]

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 keeps and ignores your entry. Try again. You can use the backspace key, if necessary, to correct mistakes. When the time is correct, press Enter. 4. To set the date, highlight Date and press Enter. You see this[...]

Note Another way to change the real-time clock's time and date is with the MS-DOS (version 3.3 or later) TIME and DATE commands. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for instructions. Changing Serial Port Settings The primary and secondary serial port settings let you change the default values for the serial port(s) in your computer. If you are us[...]

To verify or change the primary serial port parameters, highlight Primary serial port and press Enter. T o change the secondary serial port parameters, highlight Secondary serial port and press Enter. Foreither option, you see a menu similar to this: Baud rate 1200 bps Parity None Data length 7 bits Stop bits 1 bit(s) *** SAVE SETTINGS *** The proc[...]

Use the arrow keys to highlight the desired communication speed and then press Enter. Parity To set the type of parity check, highlight Parity and press Enter. You see the following choices: None Odd Even Highlight the desired type of parity check and press Enter. Data length To change the data length value, highlight Data length and press Enter. T[...]

Leaving the Setup Program When you finish setting the options in the Setup menu, highlight the Exit option and press Enter. You see a summary such as this: Real-timeclock Time 13:35:31 Date 08-30-1989 Primary serial port Baud rate 1200 bps Parity None Data length 7 bits Stop bits 1 bit(s) Secondary serial port Baud rate 1200 bps Parity None Data le[...]

2. If you have the Apex 100, insert the Startup diskette in drive A. If you have the Apex 10020, leave the diskette drive empty. 3. Highlight ** EXIT AND SAVE ** and press Enter. The program stores the new settings and resets the computer using the new configuration. 4. If you have the Apex 10020, the C> prompt appears on the screen. If you ha[...]

Appendix B Specifications Main Unit 16-bit CPU Main memory Coprocessor Read Only Memory (ROM) Direct Memory Access (DMA) Interrupt (8259) Timer/counter (8253-S) Clock/calendar/RAM Parallel interface Serial interface 8088-1 microprocessor; 4.77 or 10 MHz clockrate; switch selectable 640KB 8087-1, 10 MHz microprocessor (optional) 16KB (ROM BIOS) Prog[...]

Speaker interface Internal, controlled by timer/ counter Option slots Five, B-bit IBM-compatible input- output expansion slots; one slot is occupied by a display adapter card and on the Apex 10020, another contains the hard disk drive controller card Keyboard Detachable, three positions, 84 sculpted keys Layout 56-key QWERTY main keyboard, l&k[...]

Power Supply Switching type, fan-cooled Output voltage:-5 VDC, +5 VDC, -12 VDC, +12 VDC Auxiliary AC Power Requirements: 115/230 VAC (switch selectable) Power Rating: 83W average, 102W peak Environmental Requirements Temperature Operating range: 40° to 95°F (5” to 35°C) Non-operating range: 5° to 140°F (-15” to 60°C) Humidity Operating ra[...]

Video and Display Options Standard Multi-graphics adapter card; color or monochrome, switch-selectable; installed in option slot Supports Epson- and IBM- compatible monochrome monitor: monochrome text, 80-character x 25-line display, 9 x 14 character block; Hercules ® monochrome text/ graphics, 720 x 348 Supports Epson- and IBM- compatible color m[...]

ActionPrinters ™ by Epson T-1000 T-750 L-1000 L-750 9-pin, 80-column, dot-matrix printer; 180 cps draft/30 cps near letter quality (CO1 8011) Black ribbon (8750) Single bin cut sheet feeder (7341A) 9-pin, 136-column, dot-matrix printer; 240 cps draft/48 cps near letter quality (C020011) Black ribbon (8755) Single bin cut sheet feeder (8348) 24-pi[...]

ActionPrinter accessories Computer accessories L-1000/L-750 Replacement ribbon (7753) T-1000/T-750 Replacement ribbon (8758) Universal printer stand (CPD-552-B) Printer cable (C1-9E-B) Serial interface board (8143) Intelligent serial interface board (8148) Intelligent IEEE-488 interface board (8165) Internal 300/1200 baud modem card (C203A-B) Exter[...]

Parallel Port Pin Assignments Pin no. Signal name Direction Description 1 -STROBE 2 DATA0 3 DATA 1 4 DATA 2 5 DATA 3 6 DATA 4 7 DATA 5 8 DATA 6 9 DATA 7 10 -ACK 11 BUSY 12 PE 13 SLCT 14 -AUTO FD 15 -ERROR 16 -INlT 17 -SELECTIN 18-25 GND O O O O O O O O O I I I I O I O O -STROBE Data Bit 0 Data Bit 1 Data Bit 2 Data Bit 3 Data Bit 4 Data Bit 5 Data [...]

Serial Port Pin Assignments Pin no. Signal name 1 NC 2 TX 3 RX 4 RTS 5 CTS 6 DSR 7 GND 8 DCD 9-19 NC 20 DTR 21 NC 22 RI 23-25 NC Direction Description — No connection O Transmitted data I O Received data Request to send I Clear to send I Data set ready — Signal ground I Data carrier detect — No connection O Data transmit ready — No connecti[...]

Keyboard Connector Pin Assignments Pin no. Signal name Direction Description 1 KBD CLK I/O Keyboard clock 2 KBD DATA l/O Keyboard data 3 -KBD RESET O -Keyboard reset 4 GND — Ground 5 +5V — Power 6-8 NC — No connection Parallel Port Loop-back Connector Pin Assignments Signal name Pin no. Pin no. Signal name Strobe 1 — 13 Select Data bit 0 2 [...]

Appendix C 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. These programs check internal devices such as ROM, RAM, the timer, the keyboard controller, and the diskette drives. When you turn on the power, the computer p[...]

If the computer finds a fault in the main board, it stops and displays an error message such as this: 10n-System board error where n is a number from 1 to 8 that represents the specific LSI circuit causing the error. Give this error number and message to your Customer Care Center. If an I/O ROM checksum error occurs, you see this message: nnnn0 ROM[...]

RAM Check The computer now begins to check the RAM installed on the main system board and any option cards. During the check, you see this message: nnn KB OK where nnn indicates the amount of memory in which no malfunction is found. This value increases continuously by 64KB up to the amount of RAM installed on the main board, which is 640KB. If the[...]

Floppy Disk Drive Seek Check Finally, the computer checks its diskette drive(s) by searching the read/write heads for any malfunction. If it finds any seek errors, you see this message: 601-Diskette error If this error occurs, make sure you have inserted the system diskette into drive A. If this message still appears after you insert the diskette, [...]

Appendix D Performing System Diagnostics This appendix describes how to check the operation of the main unit and peripheral devices of your computer. 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 this[...]

To start the system diagnostics program, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer. The OPERATION MENU appears. 3. Press 4 to select Systemdiagnostics and then press Enter. When you start the system diagnostics, the computer checks the following: The setting of the DIP switches on the front pa[...]

If the list correctly describes your system, press Y and then Enter. If a device is missing from this list, or if you wish to change the list, press N and Enter. Note If your system uses an EGA or VGA with a color monitor, your device list should include item 5, "Color graphics adapter and CRT." If your system uses an EGA or VGA with a mo[...]

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 (8087) 12 - Alternate serial port 0 - Exit Enter the number of the item to add: Type [...]

When you have finished adding or deleting devices and are back to the Modify DEVICE LIST menu, press 0 and then Enter again. The screen displays the modified DEVICE LIST for a final check. If the list is correct, press Y and Enter. Do not press 0 to exit to the OPERATION MENU. You are now ready to select a test. Selecting a Test Prom the DEVICE LIS[...]

To perform the test multiple times, press 2 and Enter. You see this prompt: Terminate checking if an error detected (Y/N)? Press Y and Enter to terminate checking if the device produces an error, or press N and Enter to repeat the test regardless of an error. You see this prompt: How many times (1-9999): Type the number of times you wish to repeat [...]

After printing the error message, the program displays this prompt: Printout is finished. Press ENTER to return to the menu. The program continues after an error in one of the following ways: It returns to the DEVICE LIST, or If you are running multiple tests and are not terminating on an error, the program repeats the test that caused the error. T[...]

The checks made on the 8088 CPU chip are extremely comprehensive. They ensure that the CPU instruction set is functioning correctly. If an error is reported, write down the error code and message, or print them out, and contact your Customer Care Center. Attempting to correct system board errors yourself may violate your warranty agreement. Memory [...]

Keyboard Check Use this option to check the operation of the keyboard. The program first checks the keyboard controller; during this check, you see the green indicator lights on the keyboard flash. If no errors are detected, you can then choose the correct keyboard layout. If you run the keyboard check multiple times, the KEYBOARD SELECT MENU does [...]

The status of the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock indicators is shown on the upper right side of the keyboard layout. These messages appear on the screen: KEYBOARD CHECK Press Y followed by ENTER to exit. Press N followed by ENTER if screen and keyboard do not match. If all the keys function correctly and match the characters displayed, press [...]

You can select the individual checks from this menu: MONOCHROME 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 you run the monochrome adapter check multiple times, this menu of checks does not appear and o[...]

Attribute Check To check the display attributes of the adapter card, press 2 and then Enter. A series of messages are displayed showing examples of all the possible display attributes (normal intensity, high intensity, blinking, reversed characters, and underlining). Check the information displayed on your screen, and then respond to the prompt: Is[...]

After checking the characters, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N) ? If the characters displayed match the illustration, press Y and Enter. If they do not match the illustration, press N and then Enter to display the error message. Video Check To check the video output of your monochrome adapter, press 4 followed by Enter. This chec[...]

Color Graphics Adapter and CRT Check Use this option to check the operation of a color graphics display adapter and monitor. This test includes several checks that allow you to identify particular problems related to the color display. To run this check, DIP switches 1-5 and 1-6 must be set correctly for a color monitor. You can select the individu[...]

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 then reading it back and comparing it to the written data. It also tests the video enable signal of the display controller chip. Attribute Check To ch[...]

Character Set Check To check your 80-column character set, press 3 and Enter. The characters that are included in the internal character generator are displayed. Check the characters displayed on your screen against this illustration: After checking the characters, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N) ? If the characters displayed ma[...]

40-column Character Set Check To check your 40-column character set, press 4 and then Enter. The character fonts that are included in the internal character generator are displayed. Check the characters displayed on your screen against this illustration: After checking the characters, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N)? If the char[...]

The same pattern is displayed again; this time the squares are cyan, white, and magenta, and the background is red. These colors are called Color Set 1. If these are also correct, press Y and then Enter to end the test. If any colors are displayed incorrectly, check the adjustment of your monitor and make sure that both ends of the cable are plugge[...]

If any pattern is not displayed clearly, check the adjustment of your monitor and make sure it is connected properly. If a problem still exists, press N and Enter to display the error message. Screen Paging Check To check the screen paging of your monitor, press 7 and Enter. The video RAM on the color graphics adapter is divided into eight independ[...]

If all eight pages are correct, press Y and Enter. If any page is filled with an incorrect number, press N and Enter co display the error message. Light Pen Check To check the function of a light pen connected to the color graphics adapter card, press 8 and then Enter. This test checks that a light pen connected to the color graphics adapter is per[...]

Color Video Check Option 9, Color video check, displays 16 different screens, each a different color, and a message indicating the color. The screens show the following colors in the order specified below: 1 - Black 2 - Blue 3 - Green 4 - Cyan 5 - Red 6 - Magenta 7 - Brown 8 - White 9 - Gray 10 - Light blue 11 - Light green 12 - Light cyan 13 - Lig[...]

Floppy Disk Drives and Controller Check Use this option to test the performance of the diskette (floppy disk) drives inside or connected to your computer. This test includes several checks that allow you to identify particular problems related to your diskette drives. To run these tests, you need a formatted diskette so the tests can write data on [...]

4. Insert the diskette to be formatted in the drive you selected and press Enter. The screen displays the head and cylinder numbers as the diskette is formatted. When the format is complete, you see these messages (for a 360KB diskette): Format complete 362496 bytes total disk space 362496 bytes available on disk Format another (Y/N)? You can forma[...]

Before it performs any checks, the program determines the number of diskette drives installed in your computer. If you have more than one drive, you see this prompt each time you select a test: Check which drive (A/B)? Press A or B and then Enter. If any errors occur, record the error code and message and contact your Customer Care Center. Sequenti[...]

Write, Read Check This test checks the ability of the selected disk drive to read and write data from a diskette. The test writes to and reads from each cylinder on the diskette, starting at the center. Select option 3 from the menu to start this test. If you have only one diskette drive, you are prompted to exchange the Diagnostics (Reference) Dis[...]

The computer spins the diskette for a few seconds then displays a message like this: The disk rotation speed is now 300.0 rpm. Note The speed for a 360KB or 720KB drive should be 300 rpm. This check permits a tolerance of ±2%. The diskette continues to spin, and the display is updated every few seconds. To stop the test, press any key; the program[...]

Before running any tests, the computer checks DIP switch 1-Z on the front panel to ensure that a coprocessor is installed. If the coprocessor is missing, or if you have not set DIP switch 1-2 correctly, an error occurs and the test ends. The program then runs a series of checks to test the precision with which the coprocessor performs calculations [...]

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 get errors. Parallel Port (on Video Adapter) Check Use the Parallel port (on video adapter) check to test the functions of the primary port.[...]

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 they are able to change from high to low and vice versa. No messages are displayed during this part of the test unless an error occurs. The second test is an echo back check during which the port sends data[...]

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 the individual pins of the port. This test is identical to the check for the primary serial port. For[...]

When you continue the test, the computer checks that the printer is responding correctly. This test detects whether the printer is off-line or whether an interface error exists. If no errors occur, the computer sends a repeating sequence of characters and bit-image data to the printer until you press any key. The pattern looks like this: The text d[...]

When you select option 17 from the DEVICE LIST, you see this menu: HARD DISK DRIVE(S) AND CONTROLLER CHECK MENU 1 - Seek check 2 - Write, read check 3 - Error detection and correction check 4 - Read, verify check 5 - Run all above checks 0 - Exit Enter selection number: If you specify to run the hard disk drive check multiple times, this menu does [...]

Write, Read Check This check tests the ability of the hard disk drive to read and write data. The test writes to and reads from each sector of the innermost cylinder of the disk, using each head. Note This test destroys all data on the innermost cylinder of the selected hard disk drive. This cylinder is reserved for diagnostics, and is never used f[...]

Error Detection and Correction Check This test checks the ability of the hard disk drive to detect a read/write error and to correct the data accordingly. Note This test destroys some data on the innermost cylinder of the selected hard disk drive. This cylinder is reserved for diagnostics, and is never used for storage by MS-DOS. Therefore, data cr[...]

At the end of the test, you see a table of the results of the test. For example, for a 20MB hard disk with no bad tracks, you see: BAD TRACKS .............. 0 READ ERROR TRACKS ....... 0 GOOD TRACKS ............. 2460 Press ENTER to return to the menu Press Enter when you have viewed the table. If the results show BAD TRACKS on your disk, it is all[...]

Error Codes and Messages This table lists all the error codes and messages that may appear during diagnostics checks. Error code Message System board 101 8088 CPU ERROR 102 27128 ROM CHECKSUM ERROR 103 8254 TIMER COUNTER REGISTER ERROR 104 8254 TIMER COUNTER ERROR 105 8237 DMA CONTROLLER REGISTER ERROR 105 8237 DMA REFRESH ERROR 108 8048 SELF DIAGN[...]

Error code Message Floppy disk drives and controller 601 FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER ERROR 602 SEOUENTIAL SEEK ERROR 603 RANDOM SEEK ERROR 604 WRITE ERROR 605 READ ERROR Math coprocessor (8087-1) 701 COPROCESSOR NOT INSTALLED 702 COPROCESSOR INITIALIZE ERROR 703 COPROCESSOR INVALID OPERATION MASK ERROR 704 COPROCESSOR ST FIELD ERROR 705 COPROCESSOR COMP[...]

Error code Message Hard disk drives and controller 1701 SEEK ERROR 1702 WRITE ERROR 1703 READ ERROR 1705 ERROR DETECTION ERROR 1706 ERROR CORRECTION ERROR D-38 Performing System Diagnostics[...]

Appendix E Physically Formatting a Hard Disk This appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk. Sometimes called a low-level or hard format, this procedure should not be confused with the logical format performed by the MS-DOS FORMAT command. The physical formatting of a hard disk is a separate step that is usually done at the factory by[...]

new disk or reformatting a used disk, after physically formatting it, you need to run FDISK and SELECT to prepare the hard disk for use. Follow the instructions in Appendix F. 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 di[...]

Destructive surface analysis tests a formatted hard disk for bad tracks and updates the bad track table. Because this option writes and reads data on the disk, it destroys all data on any track that produces an error. You cannot run the Destructive surface analysis on a disk that has never been formatted. Non-destructive surface analysis checks a f[...]

Formatting a New Disk 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. If you are formatting a new hard disk that may not have been formatted, follow these steps: 1. Run the Conditional format to see if the disk has been fo[...]

Note If you have more than one hard disk drive, you see this prompt: Enter drive letter (C/D) ? Press C or D and then Enter. Conditional Format (Normal) Use this option to format the hard disk. All flagged tracks are marked so that they are never used. To start the Conditional format, press 1 and then Enter. The program starts to scan the disk to f[...]

The program then displays a warning about the consequences of proceeding with formatting: WARNING! ALL DATA WILL BE DESTROYED IN ALL PARTITIONS OF HARD DISK, NOT JUST IN MS-DOS PARTITION! Do you want to start formatting (Y/N)? if there are no tracks with other errors, and you are absolutely sure that you want to format the hard disk, press Y and En[...]

Flagged tracks are identified by xxxx and yy. At this point, press Enter to return to the HARD DISK FORMAT MENU. If there are any tracks with other errors, scanning stops and you see this message: Scanning cancelled. Warning: This drive has an unflagged error(s), or is unformatted. Press ENTER to return to the menu. Press Enter. This may mean that [...]

If you are formatting a disk that has never been formatted, check the list of bad tracks that came with the disk. This list identifies each defect by the head and cylinder number, which are required for the Unconditional format. To start the Unconditional format routine, press 2 and then Enter. You are first given the option to change the interleav[...]

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. WARNING If any errors occur during this check, all data on the track that produces the error is destroyed. For this reason, if you think that an unflagged bad track is causing trouble, first run option 4,[...]

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: To flag the error tracks as bad, press Y and Enter. You then see a list of the tracks as they are flagged and then these messages: Flagging bad tracks... Cylinder is 237, head is 2 Pres[...]

When ‘the analysis is complete, the program displays a summary of the status of the disk. This summary lists the following: Flagged bad tracks Tracks with read, verify errors 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 F Preparing a Hard Disk for Use If you have the Apex 10020, your hard disk has already been physically formatted, partitioned, and formatted for MS-DOS; so you should not need to do anything to prepare it for use. However, if you have installed a new hard disk in your computer or you need to repartition or reformat the disk you have been [...]

The hard disk you are using has been producing numerous read/write errors. See Appendix E for instructions on performing a low-level format. If you need to format the disk, be sure to do it before completing the steps in this appendix. WARNING The procedures described in this appendix destroy any data on the hard disk. If your disk contains data, u[...]

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Type A : and press Enter to log onto drive A. At the A> prompt, type FD I SK and press Enter. The screen displays the FDISK options menu. Press 1 to select the Create DOS partition option and press Enter. Press 1 to select the Create Primary DOS partition option and press Enter. The screen displays the following prompt: Do y[...]

Formatting the MS-DOS Partition Once you have created the MS-DOS partition, you must format it for MS-DOS. Use the MS-DOS SELECT command to format the new partition, drive C. SELECT automatically does the following: Formats the partition Labels the partition Copies the MS-DOS system files to the hard disk. After you have done this, MS-DOS boots aut[...]

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 message: WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST![...]

SELECT copies the rest of the files from the Startup diskette to the hard disk. When all the files are copied, the A> prompt reappears. The partition on the hard disk is now formatted. Note The SELECT procedure described above copies all the files from your Startup diskette to a directory it created on drive C named /DOS. This enables you to sta[...]

Note The procedure described above copies all the files on the MS-DOS and Reference diskettes to the /DOS subdirectory on drive C. You may, however, prefer to store some of these commands in other subdirectories. For information of creating subdirectories, see Chapter 3 or see your MS-DOS Reference Manual. The file COMMAND.COM (which is included on[...]

2. Type the following and press Enter: COPY CON AUTOEXEC.BAT 3. Type the following, pressing Enter after each line: ECHO OFF CLS PROMPT = SPSG PATH = C:DOS 4. Then hold down the Ctrl key and press Z. Then press Enter. Booting From the Hard Disk Now you can load MS-DOS from drive C on your hard disk. Be sure there is no diskette in drive A when you[...]

[...]

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[...]

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 entered on a separate line. When you type the filename, all the commands in that file are executed sequentially. Baud rate A measure of the speed of data tra[...]

CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. A method of making low power silicon chips. Command An instruction you enter (usually on a keyboard) to direct your computer to perform a specific function. Command prompt The symbol or message that tells you MS-DOS is loaded and ready to receive instructions. The default command prompt in MS-DOS also d[...]

Current directory The directory you are logged onto and working in. Also known as the default directory. Cursor The highlighted marker that shows your position on the screen. Cylinders See Tracks. Data Information such as text or graphics stored or processed by a computer. Data diskette A formatted diskette on which you store data files (as opposed[...]

Default drive The disk drive from which MS-DOS executes your next command, unless you tell it to do otherwise (by including a drive designator with the command). Also known as the current drive. 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 per[...]

Disk driv e The physical device that allows the computer to read from and write to a disk. A diskette drive has a disk slot into which you insert a diskette. A hard disk is sealed inside a protective unit. Diskette A flat piece of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material and used to store data permanently. Also called floppy disk. Display ada[...]

Executable file A file containing program instructions, as opposed to data created with an application program. An executable file has the extension .BAT, .COM, or .EXE. Execution speed The speed at which the central processing unit can execute commands. Also called operating speed. The Apex can run at 4.77 MHz or 10 MHz. Extended partition An addi[...]

Floppy disk See Diskette. Format To prepare a new disk (or an old one you want to reuse) so that it can store information. Formatting divides a disk into tracks and sectors and creates addressable locations on it. Graphics Lines, angles, curves, and other nonalphanumeric data. Hard disk The enclosed unit used to store data permanently. Unlike a dis[...]

Internal command An MS-DOS command that is stored in the command processor of the operating system; it is not a separate program file. This means that you can execute an internal command without specifying a pathname. Examples include COPY, DEL, RENAME, and DIR. Unlike external commands, internal commands can be executed from any drive or directory[...]

Memor y The area where your computer stores data. Memory contents can be permanent and inalterable (ROM) or temporary (RAM). MGA Multi-graphics Adapter. The type of display adapter that can display monochrome or color text and graphics on the screen. Microprocessor A small version of a CPU contained on one semiconductor chip. Modem A device that al[...]

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 Apex can run at 4.77 MHz or 10 MHz. operating sys[...]

Parit y Data signals sent during communications to detect errors in transmitting or receiving data. 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 pathn[...]

Prompt A message displayed on the screen that tells you what action you need to perform next. RAM Random Access Memory. The portion of the computer’s memory used to run programs and store data while you work. All data stored in RAM is erased when you turn off the computer; so you must store any data you want to keep on a diskette or hard disk. Re[...]

RGB Red Green Blue. A type of color monitor. ROM Read Only Memory. A portion of memory that can only be read and cannot be used for temporary storage. ROM retains its contents even when you turn off the power. Root directory The top level directory in MS-DOS, designated by a (backslash). All other directories are subdirectories of the root direct[...]

Source diskette The diskette that you are reading or copying data from during a copy or backup operation. Stop bit A signal sent in serial communications to mark the end of a character. Subdirectory A directory or group of files that branches down from another subdirectory or from the root directory. Switch An option added to an MS-DOS command that[...]

Tracks Addressable, concentric circles on a disk, resembling the grooves on a record, which help to divide the disk into separate accessible areas. There are 40 tracks on each side of a double-sided 360KB diskette and 80 tracks on each side of a double-sided 720KB diskette. The 20MB hard disk in the Apex 10020 has 2460 data tracks. VGA Video Graph[...]

Index A Absolute pathname, 3-18 Access slot cover, removing, 4-7 Alternate serial port check, D-30 APPEND, 3-21 Application program, starting, 3-2 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 3-43–45, F-7–8 B Backing up, 3-29–33 with BACKUP, 2-17, 3-33 with DISKCOPY, 3-29–32 BACKUP, 2-17, 3-33 Baud rate, A-11–12 Batch files, 3-9 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 3-43–45 Booting MS-DOS, [...]

DIP switches, A-1–5 coprocessor, A-3 keyboard, A-3 monitor and adapter, A-3 number of diskette drives, A-3 parallel port, A-4–5 RAM size, A-3 serial port, A-4–5 DIR, 3-22–23 Directories, 3-15–25 changing, 3-17–18 creating, 3-2–22 default, 3-17 displaying list of, 3-23–24 listing contents of, 3-22 naming, 3-16 on diskettes, 3-16 path[...]

F FDISK, F-1–3 Files, backing up, 3-29–33 batch, 3-9 COMMAND.COM, 5-9, F-7 copying, 3-10–12 deleting, 3-13–14 executable, 3-9 naming, 3-9 printing, 3-14–15 renaming, 3-12–13 Floppy disk drive, see Diskette drive Floppy disks, see Diskettes FORMAT, 3-6, 3-26–28, 3-38 Formatting, diskettes, 3-26–28 extended partition, F-2 logical, E-1[...]

MGA card, Intro-1, 1-2, 1-4–6, 4-4, 4-8, 5-4 MKDIR (MD), 3-21 MODE, 1-10 Modem, connecting, 1-9–10 Monitor, connecting, 1-4–6 problems, 5-3–5 selecting type, 1-4–6, A-3 DIP switches, 1-6, A-3 Monochrome Display Adapter and CRT Check, D-10–13 Monochrome graphics adapter card, see MGA card Mouse, connecting, 1-9 MS-DOS, booting, F-8 comma[...]

Power, connecting, 1-10 cord, 1-10 source, 1-4 supply, B-3 Power-on diagnostics, C-1–4 Primary partition, F-2–3 PRINT, 3-14–15 Printer, connecting, 1-7–8 interface check, D-27–28 options, B-5–6 parallel interface, 1-7–8 problems, 5-12–13 serial interface, 1-9–10, A-10–12 Processor speed, 2-1–2 R RAM check, C-3 Read only memory[...]

U Unconditional format, E-2, E-7–9 Unpacking the computer, 1-1–2 V Video cards, Color Graphics Adapter and CRT Check, D-14–21 compatibility, 1-4 DIP switches, A-3 EGA/VGA, 1-4, A-3, D-3 MGA, Intro-1, 1-2, 1-4–6, 4-4, 4-8, 5-4 Monochrome Display Adapter and CRT Check, D-10–13 Video graphics array (VGA) card, see Video cards Video monitors,[...]