Epson Equity Ie, User Manual

Page 1: ...EQLJITYIe User s Guide EPSON ...

Page 2: ...EPSON EGlLJITYIe User s Guide Q50188015 1 ...

Page 3: ...n America Inc No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication Epson America Inc assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein Further this publication and features described herein...

Page 4: ...ditional suggestions The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Communications Commission helpful Television Interference Handbook This booklet is available from the U S Government Printing Office Washington DC 20402 Stock No 004 000 00450 7 Note If the interference stops it was probably caused by the computer or its peripheral devices To further isolate the problem Disconnect...

Page 5: ...iv ...

Page 6: ...Starting the System 1 11 Turning on the system 1 11 Initial screen display 1 12 Copying System Diskettes 1 14 Copying with two diskettes drives 1 14 Copying with one diskette drive 1 15 Preparing a Hard Disk for Use Creating the MS DOS Partition Formatting the MS DOS Partition Copying the Reference and Operating 2 Files Rooting From the Hard Disk Using the Equity Ie Special Keys on the Equity Ie K...

Page 7: ...f a directory Using pathnames Creating directories Changing directories Copying from one directory to another Deleting a directory Formatting Diskettes Formatting diskettes with a hard disk and one diskette drive Formatting diskettes with two diskette drives Formatting diskettes with one diskette drive no hard disk Copying Data Using the DISKCOPY command Using the COPY command Using the BACKUP com...

Page 8: ...1 The Computer Won t Start B 1 The Computer Locks Up B 2 Video Problems B 2 Diskette Problems B 3 Hard Disk Problems B 4 Software Problems B 5 Printer Problems B 6 Option Card Problems B 6 C Power On Diagnostics C 1 System Device Check C 1 Clock and CMOS RAM Check C 2 RAM Check C 2 Keyboard Controller and Keyboard Check C 2 Video and Video Controller Check C 2 Parallel Port Check C 3 Serial Port C...

Page 9: ...eo check D 11 Run all above checks D 12 Floppy Disk Drives and Controller Check D 12 Sequential seek check D 13 Random seek check D 14 Write read check D 14 Run all above checks D 15 Math Coprocessor 8087 Check D 15 Parallel Port Printer Interface Check D 15 Serial Port RS 232C Port Check D 16 Alternate Serial Port Check D 17 Dot Matrix Printer Check D 18 Hard Disk Drives and Controller Check D 19...

Page 10: ...nts E 2 Physical Characteristics E 2 Video Display E 2 Formatting a User installed Hard Disk F 1 Starting the Hard Disk Format F 1 Formatting and Checking Options F 2 Conditional Format Normal F 3 Unconditional Format F 6 Destructive Surface Analysis F 8 Non destructive Surface Analysis F 10 Glossary GL 1 Index IN 1 Contents ix ...

Page 11: ...card You can use just about any option card designed for the IBM Personal Computer and PC XT on the Equity Ie You may also want to install an optional 8087 math coprocessor to speed up calculations on your computer Check with your Epson dealer to find out which options you can use Besides your Equity Ie you probably also have either a color or monochrome VGA video graphics array monitor or another...

Page 12: ...s how to set up and care for your Equity Ie It also describes how to use your computer and run diagnostic checks You probably do not need to read everything in this book some sections may describe an option you do not have In fact if you are already familiar with computers you may need to read only Chapters 1 and 3 and Chapter 2 if you have the hard disk model The nine steps in Chapter 1 explain h...

Page 13: ...l is a glossary of computer terms used in this manual Check the glossary whenever you need to look up an unfamiliar word Where to Get Help Customer support and service for Epson products is provided by a network of authorized Epson dealers and service centers throughout the United States Epson America provides product information and toll free support to our dealers and service centers Therefore w...

Page 14: ...ng the front and back panels of the computer Do not turn on the computer printer or any peripherals until the instructions tell you to Otherwise you may damage some part of your equipment If you have the hard disk model go on to Chapter 2 when you complete the steps in this chapter 1 Unpacking As you remove the different components of your system from their cartons be sure to inspect each piece If...

Page 15: ...er at home or in the office you need to find a comfortable convenient location where it can run properly Choose a location that provides the following l A large sturdy desk or table Make sure it can easily support the weight of your system and its components l A flat hard surface Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted floors attract static electricity which erases data on your disks and can damage t...

Page 16: ...way from any electrical device that generates an electromagnetic field Even a telephone can cause trouble especially if you keep diskettes right next to it 3 Connecting the Keyboard Plug the keyboard cable into the keyboard socket in the back of the main unit as shown in the following illustration Since the mouse socket and the keyboard socket are the same size be sure you insert the cable into th...

Page 17: ... to the main unit depends on the type of monitor you have See your monitor manual for detailed instructions or follow the general guidelines below 1 Place your monitor on top of or near the Equity Ie main unit It is easiest to connect the monitor cable if the backs of the monitor and main unit face you 2 Make sure the power switch on the monitor is turned off 3 If necessary connect the monitor cab...

Page 18: ...unit Make sure the monitor cable has a 15 pin D shaped male connector 5 Plug the monitor s power cable into the power inlet on the monitor if it is not already attached Plug the other end into an electrical outlet 5 Connecting a Printer The Equity Ie has both parallel and serial interfaces You can easily connect a printer or plotter that has either type of interface just follow the instructions be...

Page 19: ...eps to connect your printer to the parallel interface on the main unit 1 Place the printer next to your computer 2 Before you connect the printer make sure the power switches on the main unit monitor and printer are off 3 One end of the printer cable has a 25 pin D shaped male connector See your printer manual if you are not sure which end this is Connect this end to the parallel port on the back ...

Page 20: ...ch side of the printer connector and push them into place 5 Plug the printer s power cable into an electrical outlet Connecting to the serial interface If you have a printer or another peripheral such as a modem with a serial interface connect it to the serial RS232C port at the back of the main unit serial port Setting Up Your System ...

Page 21: ... sure the serial port is set up so it functions properly If you are using the port for a serial printer you must also redirect printer output to the serial instead of the parallel port Use the MS DOS MODE command or the Epson MENU program to make these changes See your MS DOS manual for instructions 6 Connecting the Power Cord Follow these steps to connect the power cord 1 Make sure the power swit...

Page 22: ...wn in the following illustration To avoid electrical shock always plug the computer end of the cable into the computer before plugging the other end into the wall socket 3 Plug the other end of the power cord into a three prong 120 volt grounded electrical outlet Setting Up Your System 1 9 ...

Page 23: ... the printed label facing up and the a n a intO drive A as showp in tL C II 1 2 Insert the diskette in the drive so that it clicks into place When the diskette is all the way in the release button pops out r more information on inserting removing and caring for diskettes see apter 3 Fo Ch 1 10 Setting Up Your System ...

Page 24: ...ter when the power switch is on Never turn off or reset your computer while a disk drive light is on This can destroy data stored on the disk or make the whole disk unusable Always wait at least five seconds after you switch off the power before switching it back on Turning the power off and on rapidly can damage the computer s circuitry Do not leave a beverage on top of or next to your system or ...

Page 25: ...n internal self test If you cannot see the screen display clearly use the controls on your monitor to adjust the brightness and contrast until the characters on the screen are clear and bright If the display is not stable check your monitor s horizontal and vertical hold controls Initial screen display After the computer completes its self test a message tells you how much RAM is available 640 KB ...

Page 26: ...Enter new time Type the current time in the format displayed you don t need to type seconds and press Enter MS DOS uses the 24 hour format so to set the clock for 7 05 p m for example you would type 19 05 From now on whenever the time prompt appears you can simply press Enter to accept the time shown You will only need to reset the clock for daylight savings time The screen next displays the MS DO...

Page 27: ...ng diskettes Also label each copy you make right away Copying with two diskette drives 1 insert the Startup Operating 1 diskette in drive A if it is not there already 2 Insert a blank 3 inch 72OKB diskette in drive B the bottom drive 3 Type the following and press Enter DISKCOPY A B The screen displays this message Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A Insert TARGET diskette in drive B Press any key w...

Page 28: ...DISKCOPY and press Enter The screen displays this message Insert SOURCE diskette in drive A Press any key when ready 3 Drive A already contains the diskette you want to copy the source diskette so just press any key The DISKCOPY program copies the contents of the diskette to the computer s memory Note Because the 720KB MS DOS diskette holds more data than fits in the computer s 640KB of memory the...

Page 29: ...Press any key when ready Remove the Startup Operating 1 diskette from drive A and insert the copy diskette in the drive Then press any key The program copies the remaining files from the computer s memory to the copy diskette When the copy is complete you see this prompt Copy another diskette Y N Press Y so you can make a copy of the Operating 2 diskette Follow the instructions above and the promp...

Page 30: ...en you use diskettes You can do almost all your work on the hard disk and copy your files to diskettes as needed to make backups for example Although the hard disk is very reliable it is essential to back up any of your hard disk files that you cannot afford to lose Use the Epson MENU program or the MS DOS BACKUP command described in your MS DOS manual to back up your hard disk files Before you ca...

Page 31: ...apter 4 for basic information about using MS DOS or see your MS DOS manual for complete information on the operating system Creating the MS DOS Partition You need to partition the hard disk so it can run the MS DOS operating system Follow the steps below to create one partition on your hard disk for MS DOS 1 Insert your working copy of the Startup Operating 1 diskette into drive A 2 Turn on the co...

Page 32: ...S partition and the A prompt appears again Formatting the MS DOS Partition Once you have created the MS DOS partition you must format it for MS DOS You use the SELECT command which automatically does the following l Formats the MS DOS partition l Labels the root directory l Copies the MS DOS Startup Operating 1 files to the hard disk After you have done this MS DOS boots automatically from the har...

Page 33: ...d files Then press Enter MS DOS begins formatting your hard disk s DOS partition The screen continuously displays the changing head and cylinder numbers When the procedure is complete the screen displays the following Format complete System transferred Volume label 11 characters ENTER for none 5 It is a good idea to enter a name volume label for the hard disk to protect it from being accidentally ...

Page 34: ...S DOS manual Copying the Reference and Operating 2 Files Follow the instructions below to copy the files on your Operating 2 and Reference diskettes to the hard disk If you want to store the files in a separate subdirectory see Chapter 4 for instructions 1 Remove the MS DOS diskette from drive A and insert the Operating 2 diskette in the drive 2 You should still be logged on to drive A If not type...

Page 35: ...conds and then turn it back on After the computer completes the power on self test the screen displays the date prompt Press Enter twice to accept the date and time shown The C prompt then appears indicating that the system has successfully loaded MS DOS from your hard disk From now on each time you turn on or reset your computer it auto matically loads MS DOS from the hard disk Just make sure dri...

Page 36: ...ecial functions when your computer is running application programs See your software manual for instructions on how to use keys for specific software functions The Num Lock Scroll Lock and Caps Lock keys work as toggles you press them once to turn on the function and again to turn it off When the function is turned on the corresponding light on the upper right corner of the keyboard lights up When...

Page 37: ...ves the cursor back one space deleting the character to the left J Enter Ends a line of keyboard input or executes a command Insert llns1 Turns insert function on and off Delete Del Deletes characters to the right Home End Within application programs control cursor location pg fe il UP hp Num Lock Changes the function of the numeric cursor keys from numeric to cursor positioning changes back when ...

Page 38: ...ve specific timing requirements WARNING Do not change the execution speed while you are running a program Always complete your current operation and exit the program first To change the speed press the SPEED button on the front panel When the computer is running at 8 MHz the POWER light on the left of the front panel is orange and at 10 MHz the light is green fi EPSON EQUITY me POWER light SPiED b...

Page 39: ...ata you enter as magnetic patterns on these circular tracks A small read write head in the diskette drive interprets the magnetic patterns When a diskette is in a drive the metal shutter above the access area moves aside to expose the diskette surface to the read write head The head accesses this part of the diskette when you store retrieve and delete data Because data is stored magnetically you c...

Page 40: ...cles of dust or dirt can scratch the magnetic surface and destroy data Dust can also ruin the read write heads in a diskette drive Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields Remember that diskettes store data magnetically There are many sources of magnetism in your home or office such as electrical appliances telephones and loudspeakers Keep diskettes in a moderate environment They work best at room...

Page 41: ... until it clicks into place To remove a diskette press the release button on the diskette drive When the diskette pops out of the drive pull it out and store it properly in a diskette container WARNING Never remove a diskette or turn 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 3 6 Using the Equity ...

Page 42: ...Chapter 4 Write protecting diskettes You can write protect a diskette to prevent its data from being altered When a diskette is write protected you can copy data from it but you cannot store new data on the diskette or delete any files it contains If you try to change data stored on a write protected diskette an error message is displayed The write protect device is a small switch on the lower rig...

Page 43: ...e diskettes so that you know which is the original and which is the backup copy Another safeguard you should take is to write protect your source diskette so you don t accidentally copy to it Using a Hard Disk Drive Unlike a diskette a hard disk is rigid and fixed in place It is sealed in a protective environment free of dust and dirt so you cannot see it A hard disk stores data the same way as a ...

Page 44: ...elf is enclosed in an air tight container to protect it from dust l If you are going to move your computer even to another part of the room you need to prepare your hard disk for moving See Moving the Computer at the end of this chapter Protecting the data on your hard disk While the hard disk is very reliable it is essential to back up your hard disk files on diskettes in case you lose some data ...

Page 45: ...ly If you reset the computer while such a program is running you may lose data There are three ways to reset the computer Because each is more powerful than the last try them in the order listed here If you are using MS DOS hold down Ctrl and Alt while you press the Del key The screen goes blank for a moment and then MS DOS reloads MS DOS must either be on the diskette in drive A or on the hard di...

Page 46: ...nd press Enter You must be in the directory that contains the HDSITEXE file Note If you copied the Reference diskette files to the hard disk as described in Chapter 2 the HDSITEXE file should already be on your hard disk You can also run the HDSIT utility by selecting Option 3 Prepare hard disk for moving from the main menu of the diagnostics program See Appendix D for instructions on starting the...

Page 47: ...3 12 Using the Equity Ie ...

Page 48: ... description of MS DOS Starting and Exiting MS DOS Before you can run an MS DOS application program MS DOS must be running in memory If you have a hard disk that you prepared according to the procedures in Chapter 2 MS DOS loads automatically when you turn on the computer If you do not have a hard disk insert your working copy of the Startup Operating 1 diskette in drive A and turn on or reset the...

Page 49: ...ves the file named README from drive B but stays logged on to drive A The MS DOS Command Format To enter an MS DOS command you need to type the command in the correct format The command format provides MS DOS with the information needed to perform a task 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 ...

Page 50: ...ommand name and any necessary parameters and delimiters and then press Enter to execute the command You can type command names and parameters in either uppercase or lowercase letters If you make a mistake when typing a command and you notice it before you press Enter you can do one of two things l Use the backspace key to back up and correct the error l Press ESC and then Enter to cancel the comma...

Page 51: ...add extensions to the files you create These application programs use the extension to determine whether it is a compatible data file Avoid using extensions used by your application programs Also do not use uppercase and lowercase letters to distinguish between files MS DOS does not recognize the difference and displays all filenames in uppercase Using Directories MS DOS organizes files by storing...

Page 52: ...ike a filename The directory you are working in is called the current directory In general when you first load the operating system the root directory is your current directory Six basic directory operations are described on the following pages l Listing the contents of a directory l Using pathnames l Creating directories l Changing directories l Copying from one directory to another l Deleting a ...

Page 53: ...t directory the LEDGER directory Using pathnames Whenever you want to access a file that is not in the current directory you must specify the file s pathname A full path name consists of one or more directory names separated by backslashes and followed by the filename The path name tells MS DOS where your file is stored For example in the example directory shown on the last page the full path name...

Page 54: ...ss Enter MK DIR LEDGER You can abbreviate the name of this command to MD For example to create a SALES directory under the LEDGER directory you would type the following and press Enter MD LEDGER SALES To check that the LEDGER directory is in the root directory type DIR and press Enter You must be in the root directory if necessary see the next section for instructions on changing directories The s...

Page 55: ...y subdirectory type the following and press Enter CD Copying from one directory to another The COPY command lets you copy files from one directory to another To use the command you must specify the path name of the file you want to copy and specify the directory where you want to copy the file to For example if you are in the WORDPROC directory and want to copy the ROGER file from the PERSONAL sub...

Page 56: ... and press Enter RMDIR LEDGER ACCOUNTS You must give the complete path name when deleting a directory not in the current path Formatting Diskettes Before you can store data on a new diskette you must format it Formatting prepares the diskette so that MS DOS can write to it You need to do this only once before you use the diskette for the first time You can also reformat previously used diskettes T...

Page 57: ...he C prompt type the following and press Enter FORMAT A You see this prompt Insert diskette for drive A and strike ENTER when ready 3 Insert the diskette you want to format into drive A and press Enter 4 When the diskette is formatted you see this message Format complete 730112 bytes total disk space 730112 bytes available on disk Format another Y N At this point you can either format another disk...

Page 58: ...rmatting diskettes with one diskette drive no hard disk 1 Insert your working copy of the Startup Operating 1 diskette into drive A 2 Type FORMAT A at the A prompt and press Enter You see this prompt Insert diskette for drive A and strike ENTER when ready 3 Remove the Startup Operating 1 diskette and insert the diskette you want to format into drive A and press Enter 4 When the diskette is formatt...

Page 59: ...d The DISKCOPY command lets you create an exact duplicate of one diskette onto another diskette You cannot use DISKCOPY to copy to or from a hard disk The procedure for copying diskettes depends on whether you have one or two diskette drives Follow the instructions below for your computer model Using DISKCOPY with two diskette drives When you use the DISKCOPY command with two diskette drives be su...

Page 60: ...hen the copy is complete you see this message Copy another diskette Y N Press Y and Enter to copy another diskette or N and Enter to return to the MS DOS command prompt Using DISKCOPY with one diskette drive 1 Make sure your original diskette is write protected See Chapter 3 for instructions 2 If you have a hard disk make sure you are logged on to the directory that contains the DISKCOPYCOM file I...

Page 61: ...ta to the computer s memory Insert the original diskette in drive A and press any key Once DISKCOPY has copied the rest of the original diskette s files to the computer s memory the screen prompts you to insert the target diskette the copy again to copy the remaining data from memory to the diskette Insert the copy diskette and press any key When the copy is complete you see this message Copy anot...

Page 62: ...n press Enter to execute the command For example to copy a file from the diskette in drive A to the diskette in drive B using the same name for the copy as for the original file type the following and press Enter COPY A REPORT B If you want to copy a file from the diskette in drive A to the diskette in drive B using a new name for the copy type the following and press Enter COPY A REPORT B FACTS T...

Page 63: ...B type the following and press Enter COPY A REPORT A FACTS A MEMO B DATA Using the BACKUP command The BACKUP command lets you store files in a compressed format for archive purposes BACKUP is normally used to back up hard disk files however you can use BACKUP to copy files from any disk to another hard disk to diskette diskette to hard disk diskette to diskette and even hard disk to hard disk Unli...

Page 64: ... two ways l You can type HELP at the command prompt and press Enter to display the HELP menu l You can bypass the menu by typing HELP plus the name of the command you want information about Note The HELP utility requires two files HELPCOM and HELPTXT These files are located on your Operating 2 diskette To run HELP from the hard disk you must be logged on to the directory that contains these two fi...

Page 65: ...ected you see the prompt PgUp at the top of the screen Press PgUp to display the rest of the text 3 Press ESC to exit the HELP program 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 in...

Page 66: ...ENU at the command prompt and press Enter You see this main menu EXIT File Utilities Disk Utilities Mode Settings Help Enter DOS Command 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 the desired operation Note If you have a hard disk you will find it m...

Page 67: ... understand more about how the MENU utility is structured See your MS DOS manual for details l Before you run the MENU program type PATH B at the A prompt and press Enter Then when you run the MENU program the screen prompts you when to insert the diskette for drive B At that point insert the Startup Operating 1 diskette in drive A if you have only one drive or drive B if you have two drives Press...

Page 68: ...ge files and run other MS DOS programs XTREE is fast and easy to use It lets you do the work of many MS DOS commands using a convenient menu format and provides several features not available elsewhere in MS DOS XTREE lets you view your directories and subdirectories in one tree structured directory so you can quickly see the organization of your files When you highlight a filename XTREE displays ...

Page 69: ...anagement operations You use the cursor keys letter keys function keys the Ctrl key and the Alt key to perform various functions in XTREE You use cursor keys to select files and directories lb select a file or directory use the arrow keys to highlight the name of the file or directory Press Enter to move the cursor from the directory top window to the file bottom window Press Enter again to displa...

Page 70: ...n commands in progress by pressing F3 This stops any function l Use Ctrl A the attributes command to give read only status to all the files in the directories Then in order to erase a file you must first remove its protection See your MS DOS manual for details l XTREE is limited in the number of files and directories it can handle If you have more than 2800 files or 180 directories XTREE displays ...

Page 71: ...our MS DOS manual for instructions on using the PATH command the PROMPT command and any other commands you want to include in your AUTOEXEC BAT file Creating an AUTOEXEC BAT file You can create an AUTOEXEC BAT file by 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 ...

Page 72: ...s everything you typed to the AUTOEXEC BAT file From now on the AUTOEXEC BAT program will be executed every time you turn on or reset the computer If you do not have a hard disk 1 Insert the MS DOS Startup Operating 1 diskette into drive A 2 At the MS DOS command prompt type the following and press Enter COPY CON A AUTOEXEC BAT 3 Type the commands you want to include in the file exactly as you wan...

Page 73: ...4 26 Using MS DOS with Your Equity Ie ...

Page 74: ... are also available Consult your dealer for more information This chapter describes how to remove the main unit s cover and install and remove option cards Removing the Cover To install an option card you need to remove the cover from your Equity le WARNING Never open the computer s cover when the computer is plugged into an electrical outlet before you open the cover turn off the power switches f...

Page 75: ...the main unit Remove the screws and put them in a safe place back panel screws 3 Now turn the main unit around so the front panel faces you Grasp the cover and pull it toward you away from the back of the computer 4 When the cover clears the main unit lift it off and set it aside A 2 Installing Option Cards ...

Page 76: ...ay occupy one slot as in the illustration below 1 Decide which option slot you want to use You need to remove the metal option slot cover at the back of that slot Remove the retaining screw from the side of the option slot cover as shown in the next illustration Save the screw so that you can use it to secure the option card in place Lift out the option slot cover and keep it in a safe place in ca...

Page 77: ...eed to set the card down place it on top of its original packing material with the component side facing down Keep the card s packing materials in case you remove the card later 3 Position yourself or the computer so that you are on the side of the computer with the option slots You should be facing the gold connector slots inside the computer 4 Hold the card by the corners opposite the gold metal...

Page 78: ... back of the computer with the retaining screw you removed earlier Removing an Option Card If you need to remove an option card follow the steps below 1 Remove the screw holding the option card s mounting bracket and pull the card toward you out of the connector 2 Carefully wrap the card preferably with the original packing materials and place it inside its box for safe storage 3 Replace the origi...

Page 79: ...aight back until the front panel is flush with the diskette drive 3 To secure the cover replace the two screws on each side of the computer and the three screws on the back panel 4 Reconnect the main unit to the monitor the keyboard and any other peripherals you have 5 Check to be sure the power switch on the main unit is off Then reconnect the power cable to the back of the main unit and to an el...

Page 80: ...tomer Information number l 800 922 8911 for the location of your nearest Authorized Epson Customer Care Center When you contact your dealer or Customer Care Center be ready to provide the serial number of your computer its configuration including the type of disk drives monitor and option cards and the names and version numbers of any software you are using The Computer Won t Start If your compute...

Page 81: ...e figure Also GW BASIC programs involving many calculations can take several minutes or even hours to complete 2 If the computer remains locked up after you ve allowed a reasonable amount of time follow the steps in Chapter 3 to reset the computer Video Problems If your monitor screen displays strange characters or images or is blank try the steps outlined below If you have installed a video contr...

Page 82: ...e a copy of the diskette Using this copy repeat the operation that caused the problem If the operation works using the copy diskette the original diskette is probably damaged Make another copy to use as a backup If you have trouble copying the entire diskette some of the sectors may be bad Try using the COPY command to copy one file at a time Have you inserted the right type of diskette The Equity...

Page 83: ...ibed in Chapter 4 to compare the COMMAND COM disk If the files don t match use the COPY command to replace COMMAND COM on your hard disk with the COMMAND COM file on your diskette 2 If the hard disk still doesn t work the root directory of your hard disk may be missing some hidden system files Hidden files are read only files that are not displayed when you list the files in the root directory usi...

Page 84: ...r or have an Authorized Epson Customer Care Center check your hard disk Never open the airtight container that encloses the hard disk Software Problems If you are having trouble with a software program try the following solutions If a software program does not start check that you are following the correct procedure for starting the program If you have a hard disk make sure you are logged onto the...

Page 85: ... the computer You may need to make an adjustment for your configuration Option Card Problems If you install an option card and get unexpected results check the following 1 2 3 4 Is the option card installed correctly Check the setup and operation procedures in both Appendix A and in the instructions that come with the option card Did you set the necessary DIP switches or jumpers on the option card...

Page 86: ... system initialization The error message remains on the screen but the computer is inoperable If the error is not serious the computer displays an error message and waits for you to resume further checking You see this prompt Press F1 key to resume Write down the error message and code number and then press F1 to resume Report the error message and code number to your dealer when requesting repair...

Page 87: ...d which is 640KB If the computer detects an error in the first 64KB area an error message is displayed and the computer halts with no further information If there are faulty RAM chips in your system you see the following message 20x Memory error Keyboard Controller and Keyboard Check The computer checks the keyboard controller and keyboard for problems such as failure of one of the keys to release...

Page 88: ...kette error 602 Diskette error If this error occurs confirm that the system diskette is inserted into drive A If the message still appears after you insert the diskette you may then want to run the floppy disk drive and controller check using the system diagnostics program on the Reference diskette see Appendix D If the error persists consult your dealer about having the drive repaired Hard Disk C...

Page 89: ...program follow these steps 1 Insert the Reference diskette in drive A 2 Turn on or reset the computer The diagnostics program loads automatically and displays the main menu OPERATION MENU 1 System diagnostics 2 Format hard disk 3 Prepare hard disk for moving 0 Exit to DOS for more utilities Enter selection number 3 Press 1 to select System diagnostics and then press Enter When you start the system...

Page 90: ...ibes your system press Y and Enter If a device is missing from the list or if you wish to change the list press N and Enter Modifying the DEVICE LIST When you press N and Enter in response to the prompt IS the DEVICE LIST correct Y N h f 11 t e 0 owing menu appears Modify DEVICE LIST l Add devices 2 Delete devices O Exit Press 1 and Enter to add devices or 2 and Enter to delete devices A menu then...

Page 91: ...multiple times is for reliability testing of essential functions only in most cases running a test only once is sufficient To perform the test only once press 1 then Enter Depending on the device you have selected the program may then display a submenu of more detailed tests you can select To perform the test multiple times press 2 and Enter You see this prompt Terminate checking if an error is de...

Page 92: ...ect the problem and press Y and Enter to continue printing or press N and Enter to cancel printing 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 l It returns to the DEVICE LIST or l If you are running multiple tests and are not terminating on an error the pro...

Page 93: ... may violate your warranty agreement Memory Check Use this option to check the computer s built in memory Note This option does not check expanded memory above the 640KB memory limit imposed by MS DOS For this check the program writes specific data into memory and then reads it back The data is written and read in blocks of 64KB A parity check is also made on each block A count of memory is displa...

Page 94: ...key should be rectangular like the key shown on the left Press 1 and Enter If you have a keyboard for another country with an Enter key shaped like the key shown on the right press 2 and Enter The screen then displays a diagram showing the layout of your keyboard To test the keyboard input press any key on your keyboard An asterisk should appear on the corresponding key in the diagram shown on the...

Page 95: ...phics mode check Monochrome Color video check Run all above checks 0 Exit Enter selection number If you specified to run the video check multiple times only the video RAM check is performed If an error occurs during any of these tests write down the error message or print it out and then contact your Epson dealer When you are finished with the test press 0 and Enter to return to the DEVICE LIST Vi...

Page 96: ...At the bottom of the screen is the prompt Is the display correct Y N Press Y and Enter if the display is correct If the colors or shades of gray are not correct adjust the controls on your monitor If they are still incorrect or if any of the other attributes are not correct press N and Enter Contact your Epson dealer to verify any monitor problems Character set check To check your 80 column charac...

Page 97: ...enerator are displayed Check the characters displayed on your screen against this illustration I After checking the character fonts respond to the prompt Is the display correct Y N If the characters displayed match the illustration press Y and Enter If you find a problem with the characters on the screen press N and Enter to display the error message 320x200 graphics mode check To check your 320x2...

Page 98: ...y colors are incorrect check the adjustment of your monitor and then make sure that both ends of the cable are plugged in firmly If a problem still exists press N and Enter to display the error message 640x200 graphics mode check To check your 640x200 graphics mode press 6 and then Enter The screen displays three patterned squares like the ones shown below If the patterns on your screen are clear ...

Page 99: ...oth ends of the cable are plugged in firmly If a problem still exists press N and Enter to display the error message Monochrome Color video check To check your monochrome or color video press 8 and then Enter If you have a color monitor the test displays 16 different screens each with a different background color and a message indicating the color If you have a monochrome monitor the test displays...

Page 100: ...ll exists press N and Enter to display the error message Run all above checks To run all the tests on the menu in sequence press 9 and Enter When you choose this option all video checks are performed automatically in sequential order Although you do not start each test you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next Floppy Disk Drives and Controller Check Use ...

Page 101: ...ecks write down the error message and contact your Epson dealer Always have the diskette drive serviced by your Epson dealer When you finish running the checks press 0 and Enter to return to the DEVICE LIST menu Sequential seek check This test checks the ability of the read write heads to locate any part of the diskette This action by a read write head is called a seek During this test each head s...

Page 102: ...drive If you are testing drive A you need to remove your Reference diskette from the drive and replace it with a blank formatted diskette If you have only one diskette drive you are prompted to replace the Reference diskette with a blank diskette before running the test You see this message Use only a formatted blank diskette for this test Any data present may be erased If using drive A remove you...

Page 103: ...essor performs calculations and handles exceptions and reports any errors that occur Parallel Port Printer Interface Check Use this option to test the operation of the computer s primary parallel port To perform the test you must insert a special loop back connector into the parallel port so that the computer can check the individual pins of the port Contact your dealer if you need a loop back con...

Page 104: ...rallel port When you select option 11 from the DEVICE LIST menu you see this message Attach loop back connector to serial port Enter Y to start this check when connector is attached or Enter N to return to the menu 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...

Page 105: ...a formats Current data format 5 data bits 1 stop bits parity NONE Current test data is 00 Once again if any data received does not match the data sent a verify error occurs and the computer reports the transmitted and received data at the time of the error Alternate Serial Port Check Use this option to test the functions of an additional serial communications RS 232C port To perform the test you m...

Page 106: ...r whether an interface error exists If no errors occur the computer sends a repeating sequence of ASCII characters and dot graphics data to the printer until you press any key The pattern looks like this Text dnta ZOS 7FU AOIi PFU 5 0123455789 ABCDBFQSIJKLMNOPQBSTUVWXYZ l _ abcdefghijkl no pqrmtuvwxy SIk 0123456789 9ABCDBFGRI3KL NOPORS7U WX7Z I abcdefZhijklraopqratuvwxyz Bit image data OOH FPB The...

Page 107: ...er selection number Press the number corresponding to the test you want to run and press Enter When you are finished with all checks press 0 and Enter to return to the DEVICE LIST menu Seek check This test checks the ability of the read write heads to locate any part of the hard disk This action by a read write head is called a seek During this test each head seeks each cylinder of the disk in seq...

Page 108: ...message The data on the highest physical cylinder may be destroyed by this check Enter Y to start this check Enter N to return to the menu Press Y and then Enter to continue the test You do not see a cylinder count during the test If no errors occur the program returns to the menu If an error is reported consult your dealer Read verify check This test reads and verifies data from all tracks of the...

Page 109: ...ou do not start each test you must still supply the appropriate responses to progress from one test to the next When you see a prompt warning you that the data on the highest physical cylinder may be destroyed press Y and then Enter to continue with the test The cylinder is reserved for diagnostics and is never used for storage by MS DOS Therefore data created by MS DOS is not destroyed Alternate ...

Page 110: ...ress 0 and Enter to reset the computer When the OPERATION MENU appears again press 0 and Enter again this time to return to MS DOS When the MS DOS command prompt reappears remove the Reference diskette Error Codes and Messages The table below lists all the error codes and messages that may appear during diagnostic checks Error code System board 101 103 104 105 105 108 109 111 113 Memory 201 Keyboa...

Page 111: ...OLOR VIDEO ERROR FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER ERROR SEQUENTIAL SEEK ERROR RANDOM SEEK ERROR WRITE ERROR READ ERROR COPROCESSOR NOT INSTALLED COPROCESSOR INITIALIZE ERROR COPROCESSOR INVALID OPERATION MASK ERROR COPROCESSOR ST FIELD ERROR COPROCESSOR COMPARISON ERROR COPROCESSOR ZERO DIVIDE MASK ERROR COPROCESSOR ADDITION ERROR COPROCESSOR SUBTRACTION ERROR COPROCESSOR MULTIPLICATION ERROR COPROCESSOR PR...

Page 112: ...nal for use at 10 MHz Standard 8 bit parallel 25 pin D type female connector RS 232C programmable asynchronous 25 pin D type male connector Internal non adjustable Four IBM XT compatible 8 bit input output expansion slots one used by hard disk controller card if installed Detachable three positions 101 sculpred keys 58 key QWERTY main keyboard 1 key numeric cursor pad 12 function keys user definab...

Page 113: ...ply 115 230 VAC 50 60 Hz auto sensing 3VDC f 12VDC output Environmental Requirements Temperature Humidity Operating range 41 to 95 F 5 to 35 C Non operating range 4 to 140 F 20 to 60 C Operating range 20 to 80 non condensing Non operating range 10 to 90 non condensing Physical Characteristics Width 13 76 inches Depth 15 94 inches Height 4 5 inches Weight 18 8 lbs single diskette system including k...

Page 114: ...the hard disk and format it for a particular operating system Remember that formatting destroys all data on the hard disk in all partitions so use this program with extreme care Starting the Hard Disk Format To start the program that performs a hardware level format of a hard disk follow these steps 1 Insert the Reference diskette in drive A 2 Turn on or reset the computer The diagnostics program ...

Page 115: ...s test back up your disk and run the Conditional format followed by Destructive surface analysis These tests are described below Formatting and Checking Options When you select option 2 Format hard disk from the OPERATION MENU you see a menu of formatting and checking options HARD DISK FORMAT MENU l Conditional format Normal Unconditional format 4 Non destructive surface analysis 9 Exit Enter sele...

Page 116: ...se the Conditional format Normal option to format the disk If the analysis matches the list of bad tracks but they are not flagged run the Destructive surface analysis to flag the tracks before formatting the disk If the list provided by the drive manufacturer contains bad tracks that the analysis does not detect you can use the Unconditional format option to flag all the bad tracks manually When ...

Page 117: ...I Count of tracks with other errors PI Count of good tracks 246g 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 ...

Page 118: ...ted Press ENTER to return to the menu 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 the message Scanning cancelled Warning This drive has an unflagged error track s or is unformatted Press ENTER to return to the menu Press Enter This may mean that the drive has never...

Page 119: ...acks before formatting The main difference between unconditional and conditional formatting is the way in which bad tracks are identified With the unconditional format you must enter the list of bad tracks before formatting begins To start the Unconditional format routine press 2 and then Enter You are first given the option to change the interleave factor for formatting from the default value of ...

Page 120: ...g bad track and press Enter You see this prompt Enter head number yy 3 Type the head number for the bad track and press Enter The maximum valid cylinder and head numbers XXXX and yy vary according to the type of the hard disk To cancel this operation press Enter without entering a value You see this message Table unchanged If you enter an invalid cylinder or head number a reminder of the range of ...

Page 121: ... 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 Non destructive surface analysis to check the disk surface This test operates by a complex process of writing reading and verifying info...

Page 122: ...s not flagged the summary above shows one track with a write read error and only 2458 good tracks The report is then followed by a table like this Write Read Error Tracks 5 1 Cylinder Head Cylinder Head Cylinder Head Cylinder Head 237 2 Confirm to register the tracks in the Write Read Error Track Table as bad tracks Do you want to register the error tracks as bad tracks Y N To flag the error track...

Page 123: ... track is checked the current cylinder is displayed The cylinder number counts down to zero as the disk is checked When the analysis is complete the program displays a summary of the status of the disk This summary lists these counts l Flagged bad tracks l Tracks with read verify errors l Good tracks If no errors occur you see this message No read verify error was detected If errors are found the ...

Page 124: ...t a time to another without either machine preparing for the transmission Backup An extra copy of a program data file or disk kept in case your working copy is damaged or lost 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...

Page 125: ...tion you enter on a keyboard to direct the computer to perform a specific function Command prompt The message that tells you MS DOS is loaded and ready to receive instructions The MS DOS command prompt displays the current operating drive A or C for example unless you change the format using the PROMPT command See also Prompt Configuration The particular setup of your computer hardware For example...

Page 126: ...r processed by a computer Data diskette A formatted diskette used to store data files Data length The number of bits per character in serial transmissions Defaults Values or settings that take effect when the computer is turned on or reset A default value stays in effect unless you override it temporarily by changing a setting or you reset the default value itself Delimiter A character usually a s...

Page 127: ...t a diskette A hard disk is permanently fixed inside the main unit Diskette A flat piece of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material and used to store data permanently Also called floppy disk DOS The Disk Operating System that controls the computer s input and output functions See Operating system Double density A type of diskette format that allows you to store twice as much data as the sta...

Page 128: ... locations on it Graphics Lines angles curves and other non alphanumeric data GW BASIC Microsoft s extended version of the Beginner s All purpose Symbolic Instruction Code A programming language designed to be easy to use and understand Hard disk The enclosed unit used to store data permanently Unlike a diskette it is fixed in place inside the computer It can process data more rapidly and store ma...

Page 129: ... on the screen Keyboard A device resembling a typewriter keyboard that is used to enter letters and numbers to the computer Kilobyte KB A unit used to measure storage space in a computer s memory or on a disk One kilobyte equals 1024 bytes LED Light Emitting Diode A substance that is illuminated when electricity passes through it like the indicator lights above the Equity Ie keyboard Main unit The...

Page 130: ...lator DEModulator Monitor The piece of hardware that contains the screen and displays information Monochrome monitor A monitor that displays only one color as opposed to a color monitor which can display several colors Mouse A hand held pointing device usually with buttons When you slide the mouse over a flat surface in a certain direction the cursor moves in the same direction on the screen MS DO...

Page 131: ...d to a command that tells the computer what particular conditions to look for Parity Data signals sent during communications to detect errors in transmitting or receiving data Partition To divide a hard disk drive into separate sections for use by different operating systems Pathname The list of directories and subdirectories the computer must search through to locate a file For example the pathna...

Page 132: ...e disk and displays it on the screen Read write head The physical device inside a disk drive that reads and records data on the magnetic surface of a disk Real time clock A battery powered clock in the computer that keeps track of the current time and date even when the computer s power is turned off Reset To reload a computer s operating system so you can retry a task or begin using a different o...

Page 133: ...it 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 redirects the way the command works Switches must be preceded by a forward slash For example if you add the S switch to a FORMAT command MS DOS installs the operat...

Page 134: ...n See also MCGA Wildcard A character that represents an unknown character or group of characters The wildcard character asterisk represents a group of characters and the wildcard character question mark represents a single character Write To store data on a disk Write protect To prevent a diskette from being overwritten When a diskette is write protected you cannot erase change or record over its ...

Page 135: ...ting MS DOS 1 11 13 2 6 See also Resetting Brightness control monitor 1 12 B 2 Button diskette drive release 3 6 POWER 1 11 12 3 11 B 1 2 RESET 3 10 B 2 B 5 SPEED 3 3 B 5 C Cable keyboard 1 3 monitor 1 4 5 parallel 1 6 7 power 1 8 9 B 2 printer 1 5 8 serial 1 7 8 Caring for disks and disk drives 3 5 3 9 Centronics compatible interface 1 6 Choosing diskettes 3 4 5 Clock and CMOS RAM diagnostics che...

Page 136: ...d A 4 5 printer 1 5 8 slot A 4 5 Contrast control monitor 1 12 B 2 Control code Ctrl 2 4 Ctrl AH Del 3 10 Ctrl C 3 10 Controllers floppy disk D 12 15 hard disk A l D 19 21 Coprocessor math D 15 E l Copying disks 1 14 16 4 12 14 files 4 12 17 operating system 1 14 16 2 5 Cord power 1 8 9 Cover main unit removing A l 2 replacing A 6 CPU E 1 CPU speed 3 3 B 5 Ctrl Alt Del 3 10 Ctrl C 3 10 IN 2 Index ...

Page 137: ... coprocessor check D 15 memory check D 5 parallel port check C 3 D 15 16 D 21 D 22 RAM check C 2 resuming from error D 4 running D 1 selecting a test D 3 serial port C 3 D 16 17 starting program D l 3 system device check C 1 system board check D 5 video check C 2 D 7 12 DIP switches A 4 B 6 DISKCOPY 1 14 16 4 12 14 Disk drive hard See Hard disk Diskette drive caring for 3 5 diagnostics check D 12 ...

Page 138: ...rinter See Printer Double density diskettes 3 4 Double sided diskettes 3 4 Drive See Disk drive E Error codes and messages C 1 3 D 4 D 22 33 Exiting diagnostics D 22 Exiting MS DOS 4 1 External devices D 1 3 F Files copying 4 12 17 Floppy disk See Diskette Floppy disk drive See Diskette drive Format diskettes 3 5 4 9 11 hard disk 2 3 5 hardware level hard disk F 1 10 Front panel back foldout Funct...

Page 139: ... 2 3 B 5 6 preparing for use 2 l 6 problems B 4 5 D 19 21 F l 9 protecting data 3 9 4 12 4 16 17 surface analysis F 2 F 8 10 unconditional format F 2 F 6 8 using 3 8 9 Head read write 34 5 D 13 14 D 19 20 I Initial screen display 1 12 13 Inlet AC 1 9 Inserting diskette 3 6 Installing option card A 1 6 Interface keyboard 1 3 mouse 1 1 3 parallel 1 6 7 D 15 16 D 21 22 E 1 serial l 7 8 D 16 17 E 1 In...

Page 140: ... 1 11 13 2 6 M Magnetic surface of disk 34 5 3 9 Main unit cover removing A 1 2 cover replacing A 6 front panel back foldout back panel back foldout Making backup copies 1 14 16 4 12 17 Mass storage E 2 Math coprocessor 1 Memory 1 1 12 C 1 2 D 5 E l Modem 1 Monitor brightness 1 12 B 2 cable 1 4 5 connecting 14 5 contrast 1 12 B 2 controls 1 12 B 2 diagnostics check D 7 12 Monochrome See Monitor Mo...

Page 141: ... 5 connector slot A 4 5 installing A l 6 problems B 6 removing A 5 slots A 3 5 slot cover A 3 5 Outlet AC 1 3 1 5 1 9 E 2 P Panel front back foldout back back foldout Parallel cable l 6 7 diagnostics check C 3 D 15 16 D 21 22 interface l 6 7 D 15 16 D 21 22 E 1 port l 6 7 D 15 16 D 21 22 E 1 printer l 5 7 Partitioning hard disk 2 2 3 B 5 6 Performing system diagnostics D 1 Physical characteristics...

Page 142: ... 19 D 21 22 parallel 1 6 7 D 15 16 D 21 D 22 E 1 problems B 6 serial 1 7 8 D 16 17 E 1 Printing graphic characters D 18 Protecting data 3 7 4 23 R RAM Random access memory 1 1 12 C 1 2 D 5 E 1 Read only memory ROM C 1 D 5 Read write heads 3 4 5 D 13 14 D 19 20 Removing cover A l 2 Removing diskette 3 6 Removing option card A 5 Replacing cover A 6 RESET button 3 10 B 2 B 5 Resetting computer 3 10 B...

Page 143: ... using 3 8 Slots option A 3 5 Software problems B 5 programs 3 3 4 4 4 7 B 5 Special keys 3 2 Specifications Equity Ie E 1 2 SPEED button 3 3 B 5 Starting MS DOS 1 11 13 2 6 4 1 Starting system diagnostics D l 3 Storing diskettes 3 5 System configuration 1 diagnostics See Diagnostics diskette 1 14 15 moving 3 11 setting up 1 1 System board diagnostics check D 5 System device check C l T Troublesho...

Page 144: ...g diskettes 3 4 8 Using Equity Ie 3 1 11 Using hard disk drive 3 8 9 Using single diskette drive 3 8 V Video monitor See Monitor Video diagnostics check C 2 D 7 12 W Write protecting diskettes 3 7 Write protect switch 3 7 IN 10 Index ...

Page 145: ...ollowing Excellent Good Fair Poor W Organization of this manual 0 0 0 0 n khnical accuracy 0 13 0 0 n Completeness 0f instructions 0 0 0 0 n Clarity of concepts and wording 0 0 0 0 n Quality of examples and pictures 0 0 0 0 W Quantity of examples and pictures 0 0 0 0 Comments Name Title Company Address City State Please cut out and mail in Thank you EPSON Zip Printed in Korea ...

Page 146: ...EPSON America Inc 2780 Lomita Blvd Torrance CA 90505 MS 4 1 _ ____ ____ _ _ Fold here c Tape here Do not staple ...

Page 147: ...EQLJITYIe m la r ...