G e t t i n g S t a r t e d

Hard disk

Apricot computers fitted with a hard disk normally arrive with either Microsoft Windows 95 or the MS-DOS/Windows operating system already in place or pre-installed, so that it’s there ready for you when you turn on the computer for the first time.

Note

A hard disk may contain more than one operating system, in different partitions, but only one partition can be active at any one time. The computer loads its operating system from the currently active partition.

Starting the computer for the first time

The first time you turn on your computer a message appears explaining the legal terms and conditions that govern the use of the software pre-installed on the computer’s hard disk. Once you have read this message, you can press F3 to continue. By doing so you are acknowledging that you have read, understood and accepted the terms and conditions.

Why your computer may seem to stop working

Your computer has a built-in energy-saving feature. If you leave it for a while without doing anything, it goes into a special low-power standby mode. The monitor display goes blank and the processor slows down. The operating system and your programs continue to run, although slowly (and of course you can’t see them because the monitor is blank). The computer is still working, and you haven’t lost any of your files.

You can wake the computer again by pressing any keyboard key. See the chapter on “Using the BIOS Setup Utility” for more information.

Caution

The monitor supplied with your computer is designed to work with these energy-saving features. If you want to use another monitor, make sure that it supports the VESA standard for Display Power Management Signalling; if it doesn’t, it may be permanently damaged.

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