M U L T I M E D I A

5 MULTIMEDIA

This chapter is designed to give you basic information on a few of the multimedia features that may be fitted to your computer. It is a catch-all term that covers audio, CD-ROM, communications, education, fax, games, Internet, modem, movies, networking, photo- editing, publishing, radio, scanners. television, voice-mail and more, as it is an area under continuous development.

This Apricot computer is supplied fitted with on board audio in the form of a Soundblaster 16 bit sound system (with an integral Yamaha OPL3 synthesiser) and a Quad speed CD-ROM drive. In addition there is also an installed multipurpose Infra-red receiver interface for the remote control handset.

Software and Drivers

All of the Multimedia aspects are controlled by software drivers that are loaded by the operating system, Windows 95 and its internal control files. These files are read by your computer when it boots up on switch on and the software initialises the CD-ROM drive, the Sound system, plus any other devices that may be installed.

All of the software should have been installed, either by our factory or your supplier. You should not initially attempt to reinstall any of the device drivers as it may lead to conflicts in the computer as it tries to boot up, causing the software to believe, for example, that there may be two CD drives, when it can only physically detect one. If you have any difficulties contact your supplier or authorised maintainer. If you are making changes or adding expansion cards yourself, some useful information is in the chapter ‘System Expansion’.

The CD-ROM drive

The drive specification is detailed in appendix A ‘The system unit’ and its basic operation in the chapter ‘System drives’. There are few controls for the CD-ROM drive, the most important being on the bottom right - the ‘open drive’ or eject button.

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