Epson 20, 386 How to Use This Manual

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 version 3.2 of the GW-BASIC® programming language. You’ll find reference manuals for both MS-DOS and GW-BASIC packed in the box with the computer. You probably also purchased other software; you can use virtually any application program designed for the IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, and 386 machines on your Equity 386.

As a supplement to MS-DOS, Epson has included several time-saving utilities that make MS-DOS easier to use: HELP MENU, and XTREE®. The HELP program 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.

MS-DOS is not the only operating system you can use with your computer. If you have a hard disk, for example, you also may want to use the more powerful MS® OS/2. Among other capabilities, MS OS/2 provides multitasking, dual mode processing, and online help. With Epson’s version of MS OS/2, you can have both MS-DOS and MS OS/2 on your Equity 386; this way, you can select which operating system to load each time you turn on the computer. Ask your Epson dealer for more information. (In particular, be sure to check the amount of RAM required to run MS OS/2.)

How to Use This Manual

This manual explains how to set up and care for your Equity 386. It also describes how to use your computer and run diagnostic checks. You probably do not need to read everything in this book; see the following chapter summaries.

2 Introduction

Contents

Page IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY COPYRIGHT NOTICE TRADEMARKS Copyright 0 1989 by Epson America, Inc Note: W A R N I N G Page Contents 4 Using the Equity 386 Turning Off the Computer 5 Using MS-DOSwith Your Equity 386 Changing the Default Drive The MS-DOSCommand Format Including Drive Letters With Pathnames and Listing the Contents of a Directory Changing the Default Directory Formatting Diskettes With a Hard Disk Formatting Diskettes With Two Diskette Drives Appendixes B Power-onDiagnostics Clock and CMOS RAM Check Keyboard Controller and Keyboard Check Hard Disk Controller and Hard Disk Check D Physically Formatting a Hard Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1 Formatting and Checking Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2 Conditional Format (Normal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3 Non-destructiveSurface Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-9 E-1 F-1 F-2 F-3 1 Introduction Introduction How to Use This Manual Page Where to Get Help 1 Unpacking Removing the Diskette Drive Protector Card 1-2Setting Up Your System 2 Choosing a Location 3 Connecting a Monitor Page 4 Connecting a Printer Using the Parallel Interface Setting Up Your System Using the Serial Interface 1-8Setting Up Your System 5 Connecting the Power Cord 6 Connecting the Keyboard Page 7 Setting the Monitor Type 8 Turning On the Computer Page 9 Loading MS-DOS 10 Copying System Diskettes Enter: Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A: Press any key when ready Insert TARGET diskette in drive A: Copy another diskette (Y/N) Running the Setup Program Starting the Setup Program Setting the Amount of Memory Memory Expansion SAVE SETTINGS 2-4Running the Setup Program Setting the Display Type Setting the Auto Speed Function Auto speedenabled ** SAVE SETTINGS Setting the Shadow RAM Function Setting the Coprocessor Function Setting the Mass Storage Drive B Setting the Real-timeClock 2-12Running the Setup Program Leaving the Setup Menu EXIT AND SAVE Preparing a Hard Disk for Use Checking the Hard Disk Alt Del Partitioning the Hard Disk Creating the Primary Partition The screen System will now restart Insert DOS diskette in drive A: A Creating the Extended Partition on a 40MB Disk FDISK and press Enter partition size . . . . . . . . . . [252] Extended DOS partition created No logical drives defined Creating the Extended Partition on a 90MB Disk Enter partition size . . . . . . . . . . [657] EsC Enter logical drive size . . . . . . [364] Enter logical drive size . . . . [293] Disk for Formatting the Primary Partition WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLEDISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST Proceed with Format (Y/N) Format complete System Copying the Remaining Files to the Hard Disk COPY *.* C:\DOS Formatting the Extended Partition Booting From the Hard Disk Using the Equity Locking the Computer Selecting Execution Speed Selecting the Monitor Type Controlling the Volume Resetting the Computer Special Keys on the Equity 386 Keyboard Key functions Purpose Tab I+ Key Num Lock, Scroll Lock Caps Lock Using Disks and Disk Drives Page Types of Diskette Drives 4-10Using the Equity Note diskette Drive and diskette incompatibilities 5¼-inchdrive/diskette compatibility WARNING Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives Inserting and Removing Diskettes 4-14 Using the Equity Write-protectingDiskettes Making Backup Copies Using a Single Diskette Drive Using Two Diskette Drives Using a Hard Disk Drive Page Backing up the hard disk Preparing the hard disk for moving Turning Off the Computer Using MS-DOSwith Your Equity Starting and Exiting MS-DOS Drive Designators The Default Drive The MS-DOSCommand Format Entering MS-DOSCommands Creating and Managing Files Copying Files wildcard Your Page Renaming Files REN B:*.NEW *.OLD REN MEMOS? MEMOS?.OLD Deleting Files DEL B:REPORT.AUG DEL B:WRENCHES You DEL A: Using Directories subdirectories The Default Directory Using Pathnames \WORDPROC\PERSONAL SALES Including Filenames With Pathnames TYPE\WORDPROC\PERSONAL\JEANl204.DOC Including Drive Letters With Pathnames and Filenames TYPE D:JEAN1204.DOC TYPE D:\WORDPROC\PERSONAL\JEANl204.DOC Listing the Contents of a Directory Creating Directories Removing Directories Changing the Default Directory Formatting Diskettes Formatting Diskettes With a Hard Disk FORMAT A: Insert new diskette for drive A: and strike ENTER when ready 1213952 bytes total disk space 1213952 bytes available on disk Format another (Y/N) Formatting Diskettes With One Diskette Drive (No Hard Disk) total disk Backing Up DISKCOPY A: A: Using DISKCOPY with two diskette drives Using the Epson HELP Program PgUp ESC Your Equity Using the Epson MENU Program SETPRINT.EXE not on the current disk Press any key to continue MENU Program Options 5-26Using MS-DOS with Your Equity Using the XTREE Utility Running XTREE Ctrl D Cautions F3 Ctrl A Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT File PATH C:\; C:\DOS PROMPT $P COPY CON: d:\AUTOEXEC.BAT Using Memory Beyond 640KB 3.Type DEVICE=EEMM386.EXE and press Enter 4.Press the F6 key, and then press Enter 5.Reboot your computer About EEMM386.EXE The full syntax for the command line that activates EEMM386.EXE is as follows: DEVICE=[path]EEMM386.EXE[size][/F] The items in brackets are optional. Their meanings are as follows: DEVICE=C:\DOS\EEMM386.EXE Using HDCACHE and EEMM386.EXE 5-34Using MS-DOSwith Your Equity Installing Options Adding Memory Modules 6-2Installing Options Installing Option Cards Page Page Installing an Option Card 6-6Installing Options Page 6-8Installing Options Page Changing Jumpers on the SPF Card AAA SPF card jumper settings for serial port SPF card jumper settings for parallel port •Remove the hard disk drive controller card (if you have one) •Remove the SPF card •Change the jumper settings Removing the hard disk drive controller card Removing the SPF card 6-14Installing Options Changing the jumper settings Replacing the SPF card Replacing the hard disk drive controller card Replacing the Cover 3.Replace the five screws on the back panel to secure the cover 6-18Installing Options Post-InstallationSetup Troubleshooting Error Messages The Computer Won’t Start The Computer Locks Up Monitor Problems Diskette Problems Hard Disk Problems Software Problems Printer Problems Option Card Problems Page Power-onDiagnostics System Device Check Clock and CMOS RAM Check RAM Check Keyboard Controller and Keyboard Check Display Card Check Optional RAM Check Floppy Disk Drive Seek Check Hard Disk Controller and Hard Disk Check Performing System Diagnostics Starting System Diagnostics System diagnostics The following devices have been installed DEVICE LIST 1 - System board 2 - Memory Modifying the DEVICE LIST Additional DEVICE LIST 4 - Monochrome display adapter and CRT 7 - Math coprocessor 12 - Alternate serial port 21 - Alternate parallel port Selecting a Test How many times (1-9999): Resuming From an Error Do you want a printout of the error message(s) (Y/N) Printer is not installed correctly Install correctly and enter Y, or Enter N to cancel printing System Board Check Memory Check 000640 KB OK Keyboard Check KEYBOARD CHECK End Monochrome Display Adapter and CRT Check MONOCHROME DISPLAY ADAPTER AND CRT CHECK MENU Attribute check Character Monochrome Adapter Check Attribute Check Is the display correct (Y/N) Character Set Check After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt: Is the display correct (Y/N) Video Check Sync Check Color Graphics Adapter and CRT Check Character Set Check Color Graphics Adapter Check Attribute Check Is the display correct (Y/N) 40-columnCharacter Set Check 40-COLUMNCHARACTER SET CHECK Is the display correct (Y/N) 320x200 Graphics Mode Check 640x200 Graphics Mode Check 640X200 GRAPHICS MODE CHECK Is the display correct (Y/H) Screen Paging Check Light Pen Check Enter Y to start light pen check Enter N to return to the menu PLACE LIGHT PEN ON CENTER OF WHITE BLOCK Color Video Check C-18Performing System Diagnostics Floppy Disk Drives and Controller Check FLOPPY DISK DRIVE(S) AND CONTROLLER CHECK MENU 1 - Sequential seek check - Random seek check 4 - Run all above checks Check which drive (A/B) Sequential Seek Check Current track is Random Seek Check Write, Read Check If using drive A, remove your Diagnostics Disk Enter Y to start this check Math Coprocessor Check Parallel Port (Printer Interface) Check Alternate Parallel Port Check Parallel Port (on Video Adapter) Check Serial Port (RS-232C)Check When you select option 11 from the DEVICE LIST, you see these prompts: Insert the loop-backconnector. Then press Y and Enter to start the check RS232C echo back check - at various baud rates Current baud rate is Current test data is parity - NONE Alternate Serial Port Check Dot-matrixPrinter Check Hard Disk Drives and Controller Check Check which drive (C/D) Seek Check Current cylinder is nnn Read, Verify Check nnn C-28Performing System Diagnostics BAD TRACKS READ Run All Above Tests The data on the highest physical cylinder may be destroyed by this check Error Codes and Messages Page Error codes and messages (continued) signal control Physically Formatting a Hard Disk Formatting and Checking Options Conditional Format (Normal) =nnnn Format finished Flagging bad tracks Cylinder is xxxx, head is yy Format completed Scanning cancelled Unconditional Format Enter cylinder number (1 - xxxx): Enter head number (0 - yy): Hard Disk D-7 Destructive Surface Analysis Non-destructiveSurface Analysis Press ENTER to Hard Disk Drive Types Page Specifications CPU and Memory Controllers Interfaces Mass Storage Keyboard Environmental Requirements Physical Characteristics Glossary Absolute pathname Application program ASCII Asynchronous Base memory Batch file Baud rate BIOS Bit CMOS Code Command Command prompt Configuration Current directory Cursor Cylinders See Tracks Data Delimiter Device Diagnostics DIP switch Directory DOS Double-density Drive identifier EGA Executable file Extended partition Extension External command File Filename Hard disk Hardware Hexadecimal High-density Input/output (I/O) port Key disk Kilobyte (KB) LIM EMS Logical disk drive Main memory Megahertz (MHz) Memory Memory module MGA Microprocessor MS-DOS Numeric keypad Operating speed Operating system Option card Partition Pathname Peripheral Port Power-ondiagnostics Read Read/write head Real-timeclock Relative pathname Reset Sector Self test Serial Shadow RAM Software Switch System diagnostics System diskette Target diskette Tracks Wildcard Write Write-protect Page Page Index 4 Index Page 6 Index Index 8 Index Page 10 Index