6.If you have been using your hard disk for a long time and begin to see numerous read/write errors, the magnetic signals on the disk may be getting weak. If this is the case, you may need to reformat the hard disk. If you decide to do this, follow these steps:

Ll Back up all the data on the disk using the BACKUP

command (described in the MS-DOS Reference Manual).

Li Follow the instructions in Appendix D to perform a low-level (physical) format.

Ll Follow the instructions in the MS-DOS Installation Guide to install MS-DOS on the hard disk.

7.If you have installed a hard disk drive made by another company in your computer, you need to install MS-DOS. See the MS-DOS Installation Guide for instructions. If the hard disk needs a low-level format, do that before you install MS-DOS. (See Appendix D for instructions.)

8.If you have installed a hard disk drive that has its controller on an option card, you may need to change the position of jumper J3 on the main system board. See “Changing Jumper Settings” in Chapter 5. Also, if your Equity 386SX came with a hard disk drive that you are no longer using, be sure the cable leading from that drive to the main system board is disconnected.

A-16 Troubleshooting