Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product 386/33 PLUS Epson
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EPSON ® EQUITY® 386/33 PLUS User’s Guide.
IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages.
Important Safety Instructions 1. 2. 3. Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning, not liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners.
12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Guide, do not attempt to service this product yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. 13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: A.
Contents Introduction Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Chapter 1 Using Your Computer Copying the Reference and Utility Files .............. 1-1 Special Keys on the Keyboard ................... 1-2 Stopping a Command or Program .
Chapter 3 Accessing Internal Components Removing the Cover ......................... 3-2 Removing the Subassembly ..................... 3-5 Replacing the Subassembly ..................... 3-9 Replacing the Cover .......................... 3-17 Chapter 4 lnstalling and Removing Options Main System Board .
Installing or Removing a Drive in the Horizontal Position . . . 5-19 Installing a Drive in the Horizontal Position . . . . . . . . 5-19 Removing a Drive From the HorizontaI Position . . . . . 5-26 Appendix A Specifications CPU and Memory .............
Floppy Disk Diagnostics ...................... B-20 Performing the Tests ..................... B-21 Floppy Disk Error Messages ................. B-22 Miscellaneous Diagnostics ..................... B-23 Printer Adapter Test. ..................... B-23 Communication Adapter Test .
Introduction This Equity® 386/33 PLUS User’s Guide contains the information you need to get the best results from your computer. You’ll find instructions for adding options to your system such as.
Where to Get Help If you purchased your computer in the United States, Epson America provides local customer support and service through a nationwide network of authorized Epson dealers and Service Centers.
Chapter 1 Using Your Computer This chapter briefly describes the following procedures for using your computer: Q Copying the Reference and Utility diskette files CI Using special keys on the keyboard LI Stopping a command or program 0 Resetting the computer Q Using a password 0 Using disks and disk drives LI Preparing a hard disk for moving.
The Reference diskette also contains files for the System diagnostics program. Because you should always run this program from the Reference diskette, do not copy these files to your hard disk. The Utility diskettes contain VGA drivers that allow you to display graphics in certain high-resolution modes.
Special key functions (continued) Key Purpose [wl Works with other keys to perform special (control) functions, such as editing operations in MS-DOS and various application programs. [ul Works with other keys to enter alternate character codes or functions.
The [Qpllodrl, [=I, and [s#d] keys work as toggles; press the key once to turn on a function and again to turn it off. When the function is enabled, the corresponding light in the upper right comer of the keyboard is on. Stopping a Command or Program You may sometimes need to stop a command or program while it is running.
Caution Do not reset the computer as a means to exit a program. Some programs classify and store new data when you exit them in the normal manner. If you reset the computer without properly exiting a program, you may lose data.
Using a Power-on Password If you set a power-on password when you ran the SETUP program, you must enter it every time you turn on or reset the computer. Follow these steps to use your password: 1. If you do not have a hard disk, insert your system diskette in drive A.
Using Disks and Disk Drives The disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk, and then retrieve and use your stored data. This section explains how disks work and tells you how to: Use.
A disk is further divided by sectors, which can be visualized as pie slices. The figure below provides a simple representation of tracks and sectors. Double-sided, double-density diskettes have either 40 or 80 tracks on each side, and double-sided, high-density diskettes have 80 tracks on each side.
Your computer uses the read/write heads in a disk drive to store and retrieve data on a disk. To write to a disk, the computer spins it in the drive to position the disk so that the area where the data is to be written is under the read/write head. A diskette has an exposed area where the read/write head can access it.
0 720KB drive-Use 3½-inch, double-sided, doubledensity, 135 TPI, 720KB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 9 sectors per track, and hold up to 720KB of information (approximately 300 pages of text). Cl 360KB drive-Use 5¼-inch, double-sided, doubledensity, 48 TPI, 360KB diskettes.
5¼-inch drive/diskette compatibility Drive type Diskette types it can read from and write to 360KB 360KB, 320KB. 180KB. 160KB 1.2MB 1.2MB, 360KB,* 320KB,* 180KB,* 160KB* It you write to this diskette in a 1.2MB drive, you may not be able to read it or write to it in a 360KB drive later.
Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives Follow these basic precautions to protect your diskettes and avoid losing data: a a cl a a a a a cl If you have a diskette that contains data you don’t want to accidentally write over or erase, be sure you write-protect it.
Q Do not place anything on top of your diskettes, and be sure they do not get bent. D Carefully label your diskettes and indicate the type and density.
Write-protecting Diskettes You can write-protect a diskette to prevent its data from being altered. When a diskette is write-protected, you can read it and copy data from it, but you cannot store new data on it or delete any files it contains.
On a 3½-inch diskette, the write-protect device is a small switch on the back of the diskette in the lower right corner, shown below. To write-protect a 3½-inch diskette, slide the switch toward the edge of the diskette until it clicks into position, exposing a hole in the comer.
Using a Single Diskette Drive System Most operating systems expect the computer to have at least two diskette drives and display prompts and messages accordingly. MS-DOS, for example, recognizes the first diskette drive (the top drive) as drive A and a second diskette drive as drive B.
Inserting and Removing Diskettes If you have a 5¼-inch diskette drive, insert a diskette as follows: hold the diskette with the label facing up and the read/write slot leading into the drive, as shown below. Slide the diskette all the way into the slot.
If you have a 3½-inch diskette drive, insert the diskette with the label facing up and the metal shutter leading into the drive, as shown in the following illustration. Slide the diskette into the drive until it clicks into place. When you want to remove the diskette, make sure the drive light is off; then press the release button.
Formatting Diskettes Before you can store data on a new diskette, you must format it. Formatting prepares the diskette so that the operating system can write data on it. You need to do this only once, before you use the diskette for the first time. You can also reformat previously used diskettes to store new data.
Using a Hard Disk Drive Using a hard disk is similar to using a diskette. However, the hard disk provides several advantages: a a a A 40MB hard disk can store as much data as approximately thirty-three 1.2MB diskettes, and a 100MB hard disk can store as much data as approximately eighty-two 1.
Backing up the hard disk While the hard disk is very reliable, it is essential to back up your hard disk files to diskettes or tapes in case you lose some data accidentally. Make copies of alI your system and application program diskettes before copying the programs to the hard disk.
Many hard disk drives, including all Epson drives, automatically park their heads when you turn off the computer. If your hard disk drive does not do this, or if you are not sure that it does, be sure to run HDSIT. Follow these steps to run HDSIT: 1. If you copied the HDSIT.
Chapter 2 Enhancing System Operations This chapter tells you how to use the following procedures to enhance the operation of your computer: Q Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and other batch files 0 Changing the processor speed 0 Using your computer as a network server 0 Using special VGA features.
When you install MS-DOS, it creates an AUTOEXEC.BAT file for you, which you can modify or replace as described above. Be sure to name the file AUTOEXEC.BAT and store it in the root directory of the hard disk or diskette from which you load MS-DOS. See your MS-DOS manuals for more information about creating and using batch files.
Depending on the type of program you have, you may or may not want to set the processor to auto speed. Follow these guidelines: 0 If you are using a copy-protected program that can run only on a diskette or that requires a key disk, try to load the program at fast speed.
Entering Keyboard Commands You can change the processor speed by entering one of the commands shown in the following table. Speed setting commands Numeric keypad commands Speed setting I 33 MHz I To enter these commands, hold down the [key and the [lutl key simultaneously and then press the m or m key.
Using the ESPEED Program ESPEED provides an easy way to change the processor speed if your application program does not recognize the [ctrll key commands or if you want to include the program command in a batch file. The ESPEED program is provided on the Reference diskette.
To display the current CPU speed, type ESPEED only and press m. You see the following: 33.0 MHZ <+> : Speed Up <-> : Speed Down <Esc> : Exit To change the speed when you see this display, press the a or $ key; then press & to exit.
Using Your Computer as a Network Server A network sever is the master computer in a network and provides storage space for the other computers connected to it.
Note If your hard disk drive has a partition larger than 32MB and you are using MS-DOS, you must use the MS-DOS SHARE command to install file sharing and locking protection in a network environment.
Note You cannot change or delete a power-on password in network server mode. You must run SETUP and turn off network server mode first. See Chapter 2 of the Setup Guide for instructions. Then you can change or delete the password as described in Chapter 1 of this manual.
To use graphic display drivers in 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768 resolutions, you must have a multifrequency monitor capable of displaying these resolutions. Standard VGA monitors cannot display them. You can use the VGA utilities (also provided on the Utility diskettes) to take advantage of other special features of your VGA adapter.
Chapter 3 Accessing Internal Components To reach your computer’s internal components, you need to remove the cover. In some cases, you may also need to remove the front panel and the subassembly (the metal case that holds the drive bays and the power supply).
Removing the Cover To access any internal components, you need to remove the computer’s cover. Follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Turn off the computer and then any peripheral devices (including the monitor and printer). Disconnect the computer’s power cable from the electrical outlet and from the back panel.
5. The cover is also secured by two latches on the back, near the comers. Press both latches inward and then lift up the cover from the back panel. You might meet some resistance from the grounding tabs along the inside of the cover. 6. Pull the cover away from the front of the computer to completely remove it.
7. Before you touch any of the components, touch the inside of the computer’s back panel, as shown below, to ground yourself and avoid an electric shock. WARNING Be sure to ground yourself to the inside back panel of the computer every time you remove the cover.
Removing the Subassembly You need to remove the subassembly to install or remove disk drives, or to access the SIMM or math coprocessor sockets on your computer’s main system board. The subassembly is the large metal casing that holds the horizontal drive bays and the power supply, as shown below.
Follow these steps to remove the subassembly: 1. Remove the front panel from the computer by gently releasing the three tabs at the top of the panel and tilting it toward you.
3. 4. Grasp the hard disk connector and pull it straight up to remove it from the socket. Do not pull only on the cable. The diskette drive cable is connected to the socket above the hard disk drive socket; disconnect it in the same manner.
5. Reach back underneath the subassembly and disconnect the two power supply cables (labelled P4 and P5) connected to the right side of the main system board, as shown below. Pull each connector straight up. Do not pull only on the cables. power supply cable 6.
Replacing the Subassembly Follow these steps to replace the subassembly: 1. Notice that there are four mounting slots on the back of the subassembly: two in the upper corners and two in the lower comers.
There are four corresponding tabs on the inside back panel of the computer which fit into the subassembly slots. tabs Lift up the subassembly from your work surface and lower the back end into the computer, guiding the tabs on the computer into the top slots.
2. Hold up the front of the subassembly at a slight angle and arrange the ribbon cables so they curve underneath the subassembly and extend out its left side. Then grasp the two power supply cables, labelled P4 and P5. Each connector has six pin holes and a large tab on one side, as shown below.
3. Position power supply connector P4 so the large tab on the connector faces the right side of the computer. Beginning with the six pins toward the back of the computer, carefully line up the holes in the connector with the pins in the socket and then push in the connector.
5. Carefully lower the front of the subassembly onto the computer. Make sure that all four tabs on the back of the computer are inserted into the slots on the subassembly.
Guide the front of the subassembly over the opening in the front of the computer so the two small tabs sit behind the opening and the large tab with the curved lip extends over the opening. If necessary, press on the large tab until the subassembly snaps into place.
Both the diskette drive and hard disk drive sockets are located on the main system board on the left side of the subassembly, as shown below. diskette drive Both sockets have a notch on one side. As shown below, there is a tab on one side of the connector.
Align the connector with the socket so the tab on the connector lines up with the notch in the socket. Make sure the holes in the connector fit over all the pins in the socket and then push in the connector. align the holes with the pins, you your computer when you push 7.
Replacing the Cover Follow these steps to replace the computer’s cover: 1. Facing the back of the computer, hold the cover so that the side with three tabs on the edge faces away from you, as shown below. 2. Insert the three tabs into the three notches behind the front panel of the computer.
3. Lower the cover onto the computer and press it down firmly to form a tight seal. 4. Turn the large screw on the back panel clockwise to secure the cover to the computer. 5. Reconnect the computer to the monitor, printer, keyboard, and any other peripheral devices you have.
Chapter 4 Installing and Removing Options You can enhance the performance of your computer by adding a variety of options, including the following: 0 Option cards Cl Memory modules LJ A math coprocessor. An option card is a circuit board you install in your computer to add a particular function.
A math coprocessor speeds up the numeric calculations your computer performs when using certain application software. If you purchase a math coprocessor, it is a good idea to ask your dealer to install it for you, because it can be damaged easily. If you decide to install it yourself, follow the appropriate steps in this chapter.
Main System Board As you follow the instructions in this chapter and Chapter 5, use the illustration below to locate the necessary components on your main system board.
Changing the Jumper Settings A jumper is a small electrical connector that controls one of the computer’s functions. The jumper settings in your computer are preset at the factory; however, you can .
A jumper’s setting is determined by where the jumper is placed on the pins. It connects either pin A and the middle pin (position A) or pin B and the middle pin (position B), as shown below.
The following table lists the jumper settings and their functions. Main system board jumper settings Jumper Jumper number setting Function J1 A’ Enables the built-in VGA display adapter B Disables t.
Replacing the Battery Your computer comes with a 3.6 volt lithium battery that provides power for the real-time clock and the CMOS RAM. The real-time clock keeps track of the time for your computer, and the CMOS RAM stores the information about your system configuration that was saved by the SETUP program.
Follow these steps to replace the battery: 1. Remove the computer’s cover as described in Chapter 3. 2. The battery is attached to the bottom of the computer case, just behind the front panel, as shown below. battery To disconnect the battery from the main system board, pull up the connector plugged into socket CN1, as shown below.
3. The battery is attached to the computer with Velcro.@ Remove the battery by pulling it up from the bottom of the computer case, as shown below. Then set it aside. 4. Remove the new battery from its package and position it so the Velcro faces down and the cable faces connector CN1.
5. Connect the battery cable to connector CN1. battery cable connector CN1 6. Follow the steps in Chapter 3 to replace the computer’s cover. Then run the SETUP program to reconfigure your system and reset the time for the real-time clock. See Chapter 2 of the Setup Guide for instructions.
Installing an Option Card Your computer has four standard option slots: three 16-bit slots and one 8-bit slot. Each slot can accommodate an option card. You can buy option cards from authorized Epson dealers as well as other vendors. This section explains how to install option cards in your computer.
Slots 1 through 3 are designed for 16-bit option cards and slot 4 is designed for an 8-bit card. As you can see below, a 16-bit card has an extra connector along the bottom. M-bit card 8-bit card Usually it does not matter which slot an option card occupies as long as the card fits in the slot.
Follow these steps to install an option card: 1. Remove the computer’s cover as described in Chapter 3. 2. If you are installing an option card that controls a mouse, you need to change the setting of jumper J2 on the main system board before you install the card.
4. Unpack the option card and adjust any switches or jumpers on it, if necessary. (Check the option card instructions.) When you handle the card, be careful not to touch any of the components on the circuit board or the gold-edged connectors.
7. Secure the end of the card to the back of the computer with the retaining screw. 8. Follow the instructions in Chapter 3 to replace the cover. Then see “Post-installation Setup” at the end of this chapter. If you installed a high-resolution graphics adapter card, see “Using the Alternate VGA Connector,” below, for instructions.
4. If you are removing an option card that controls a mouse, you need to change the setting of jumper J2 on the main system board. If you are removing a display adapter card, you may need to change the settings of jumpers J1 and J4. See page 4-4 for instructions.
4. Locate the VGA feature cable that came with your system. (See the main system board map on page 4-3.) Attach one end of the cable to the alternate VGA interface on the main system board, as shown below. VGA interface 5. Connect the other end of the cable to the appropriate interface on the adapter card.
Adding Memory Modules Your computer comes with 4MB of memory soldered directly onto the main system board. By installing 4MB SIMMs (single inline memory modules), you can increase the memory in your computer up to 16MB. Caution It is best to have your dealer install memory modules for you because they can be damaged easily if installed incorrectly.
Installing Memory Modules There are three SIMM sockets on the main system board. You can install one 4MB SIMM in each of these sockets. The following table shows all the possible SIMM configurations for your computer. Do not install SIMMs in any configuration that is not listed below.
Follow these steps to instaIl SIMMs: 1. Remove the computer’s cover and subassembly as described in Chapter 3. 2. The SIMM sockets are located on the front of the main system board near the math coprocessor socket, as shown on page 4-3. 3. Install the first SIMM in the socket marked SIMM 1.
4. To insert the SIMM into the socket, press it down firmly into the slot. At the same time, raise the SIMM to stand upright, as shown below. The SIMM should snap into place between the metal tabs, and the posts should extend through the holes at both ends.
Removing Memory Modules If you need to remove memory modules from your computer, have your dealer do it for you or follow the steps below. If you remove them yourself, check the table on page 4-19 to be sure you remove SIMMs from the correct sockets.
As you pull away the tabs, the SIMM falls to the side. When the SIMM is at an angle, carefully remove it from the socket. 3. Repeat step 2 for each SIMM you need to remove.
Carefully follow these steps to install a math coprocessor: 1. Remove the computer’s cover and subassembly as described in Chapter 3. 2. Remove the math coprocessor from its package and set it aside. 3. The math coprocessor socket on the main system board is square and has three rows of pins on each side.
Align the notched comer of the coprocessor with the notched comer of its socket. The notched sides must be aligned for the coprocessor to operate properly, so be sure its position is correct before you go to the next step.
Removing a Math Coprocessor If you need to remove a math coprocessor from your computer, contact your dealer for assistance. You need a special extracting tool to remove the coprocessor without damaging it. Do not attempt to remove it without this tool; you can easily damage it.
Using the CORFIX Program To configure your computer for use with the RampagePlus 286+ memory card, you need to run CORFIX, a utility program on your Reference diskette; and then run SMART, the RampagePlus 286+ setup program. Follow these steps to run CORFIX: 1.
Post-installation Setup After you install or remove options such as memory modules, a math coprocessor, or a disk drive, you must run SETUP to update the computer’s configuration. For example, if you add a hard disk, you need to let the computer know the type of drive it is.
Chapter 5 Installing and Removing Drives The instructions in this chapter describe how to install and remove optional Epson drives in your computer. You can use these instructions to install a variety of devices, including diskette drives, hard disk drives, and tape drives.
Choosing the Correct Drive Buy Your computer has two horizontal drive bays and one vertical mounting position which hold up to three drives, as shown below. vertical mounting horizontal drive bays Your computer may have come with a hard disk drive already installed in the vertical mounting position.
The upper horizontal drive bay probably contains the diskette drive that came with your system. This drive bay can accommodate one of the following types of devices: 0 5¼-inch diskette drive 0 3Winch diskette drive with 5¼-inch mounting frames installed on it.
Setting the Hard Disk Drive Jumpers You may need to change the hard disk drive jumper settings if you install or remove a hard disk drive. The jumpers tell the computer whether you are using one hard disk drive or two. Note You do not need to set these jumpers if you are removing your only hard disk drive.
Changing the Jumper Settings The hard disk drive jumpers are usually located on the drive’s circuit board, near the large cable connector. jumpers The instructions in this section describe setting the jumpers on the standard Epson 120MB hard disk drive.
The following table lists the jumper settings for all the possible 120MB hard disk drive configurations. Hard disk drive jumper settings Jumper One hard positions disk drive SP - DS X CS - X = jumper .
Note If you are removing one hard disk drive and leaving one in your computer, be sure to set the jumpers on the remaining drive to indicate that you have only one hard disk drive.
Removing the Mounting Frames from the Drive Your hard disk drive comes with 5¼-inch mounting frames attached to each side of the hard disk drive, as shown below.
On one side, there may also be a plastic guiderail. Follow these steps to remove the mounting frames (and guiderail) from the drive: 1. If necessary, remove the screws securing the plastic guiderail and the metal grounding plate to one of the mounting frames, as shown below.
Removing and Attaching the Mounting Plate If you are installing the first hard disk drive in your computer, you need to attach a hard disk drive mounting plate to the drive. This mounting plate is currently attached to the right side of the subassembly.
Then place the flat side of the mounting plate on the hard disk drive and align the four holes on the plate with the four holes on the drive, as shown below. mounting plate holes 3. Use the four screws that came in your hard disk drive kit to secure the mounting plate to the drive.
Follow these steps to install the hard disk drive in the vertical mounting position: 1. Place the hard disk drive on the right side of the subassembly with the mounting plate facing up and the ribbon cable and power supply sockets facing the back of the subassembly.
The connector at one end of the cable has two rows of holes, one of which is blocked with a plug, as shown below. blocked hole The ribbon cable socket on the back of the drive has two rows of pins.
3. Align the connector with the socket so that the row in the connector with the blocked hole lines up with the row in the socket with the missing pin, as shown below. Make sure the holes fit over all the pins and then push in the Connector. 4. Locate one of the power supply cables that lead from the power supply (behind the horizontal drive bays).
5. The power supply socket is on the back of the hard disk drive, next to the cable you just connected. Pull the power supply cable through the lower opening in the right side of the subassembly so it reaches the drive socket easily. Align the connector with the socket so that the notched comers line up, as shown below.
Guide the tabs into the slots and tilt the top of the drive toward the subassembly. Then align the retaining screw hole on the mounting plate with the hole in the subassembly bracket. bracket 7. Secure the drive to the bracket with the retaining screw.
Removing a Hard Disk From the Vertical Position You need to remove the hard disk drive from the vertical position in the following cases: Q You are replacing the drive 0 You are adding a second drive (either another hard disk drive or a diskette drive) in the lower horizontal position.
3. Disconnect the power supply connector and the ribbon cable connector from the sockets on the back of the hard disk drive, as shown below. Firmly pull the connnectors straight out from the sockets so you do not bend the pins. Do not pull on the cables; pull on the plastic connector.
Installing or Removing a Drive in the Horizontal Position This section describes how to install or remove a drive in a horizontal drive bay. Although the illustrations show a diskette drive in the lower bay, you can use these same instructions if you need to install a different drive in the upper drive bay.
2. There are two or three holes on each side of the disk drive. When you insert the drive, align the appropriate round holes in the drive with the two oval holes on each side of the drive bay, as shown below. oval holes 3. Slide the drive into the lower drive bay, toward the back of the subassembly.
4. Locate the four retaining screws that came with your disk drive. Insert two screws into the oval holes on each side of the drive bay and tighten them with a screwdriver, as shown below. If you are installing a diskette drive, go to step 5. If you are installing a hard disk drive, go to step 6.
The interface that protrudes from the back of the drive has gold contacts on both sides. Align the connector with the interface so that the plastic divider on the connector lines up with the gap in the interface, as shown below. Make sure the cable connector fits properly onto the drive interface and then push it onto the interface.
6. Locate the hard disk drive ribbon cable that you removed from the drive in the vertical mounting position. Follow the instructions below to attach the connector in the middle of this cable to the horizontal hard disk drive. As shown below, there are two rows of holes in the connector.
7. Align the connector with the socket so that the row in the connector with the blocked hole lines up with the row in the socket with the missing pin, as shown below.
The power supply socket on the back of the drive is next to the ribbon cable connector. Position the power supply cable connector so that the notched comers on the connector line up with the notched comers of the power supply socket on your drive. Make sure the holes fit over all the pins and then push in the connector.
Removing a Drive From the Horizontal Position Follow these steps to remove a drive from a horizontal drive bay: 1. Remove the disk drive ribbon cable from the back of the drive, as shown below. power supply cable disk drive cable 2. Then remove the power supply cable from the back of the drive.
3. Remove the screws securing the drive to the drive bay. There are two screws on each side. 4. Grasp the disk drive from the front of the drive bay, pull it completely out, and set it aside.
5-28 Installing and Removing Drives.
Appendix A Specifications CPU and Memory 32-bit CPU System memory Cache memory ROM Shadow RAM Math coprocessor (optional) Clock/calendar Battery 80386DX microprocessor, 33 MHz system clock speed, 33 M.
Controllers Diskette Hard disk Interfaces Monitor Serial Parallel Mouse Keyboard Option slots Speaker VGA feature connector Supports two drives in any of four formats: 5¼-inch, highdensity, 1.2MB; 5¼-inch, doubledensity, 360KB; 3Winch, high- density, 1.
Power Supply Type 145W, fan-cooled, automatic input voltage sensing Input ranges 100VAC to 125VAC and 200 to 240 VAC Maximum +5 VDC at 18 Amps, +12 VDC at 4.
Keyboard Layout Detachable, two position; 101 sculpted keys 58-key QWERTY main keyboard; 17-key numeric/cursor pad; 10 cursor keys; additional 4-key cursor pad; 16 function keys (userdefinable) Functi.
System Memory Map 000FFFFFFh 00FF0000h 000FE0000h 00100000h 000F0000h 000C8000h 000A0000h 00000000h System BIOS ROM: 64KB Duplicated from 0F0000h Reserved for system board: 64KB Duplicated from 0E0000.
A-6 Specifications.
Appendix B Performing System Diagnostics This appendix describes how to use the System diagnostics program to test the condition of your computer’s main unit and peripheral devices.
Starting the Diagnostics Program To start the diagnostics program, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Reference diskette in drive A and turn on or reset the computer. 2. When you see the following prompt, press the laktr key: Press <Del> to start SETUP 3.
When you select a test category from the option line at the top of the menu, you see a submenu of the available diagnostic tests. For example, the submenu for the System board category appears when you first see the main menu because the System board option is selected.
Setting the Run Time Parameters The tests you select will run in the following manner unless you change the run time parameters: Q Each test is performed one time (passbound) Q The program waits if an error occurs Q No errors are recorded to the printer, disk, or other device.
Press [Nl and [Enal if you want the diagnostics program to continue when an error occurs. The next option is: Error logging (Y/N) ? N Press [VI and m to record the errors that may occur during the test. See “Error Logging,” below, for details. Press [Nl and [M#l if you do not want to create the error log.
If you selected Passbound testing, you see this prompt: No. of passes : 00001 Specify the number of times (from 1 to 65535) you want to run the test(s), or press [Enl#l without entering a number to select the default of one pass. You can use the backspace key to make corrections.
If you select Log errors on disk, the program displays this submenu: Floppy disk A: Floppy disk B: Hard disk C: Hard disk D: (You do not see drive D unless you have a second hard disk drive.) Press [Ll or [tl to highlight the disk on which you want to log the error messages and press [Mwl.
Selecting Diagnostic Tests To start a single test, press a or [t) to highlight the test category on the main menu. Then press [11 or $7 -r to highlight the particular test in the submenu and press m to run it. When a test has been completed, you see this prompt: Press <Enter> to return to Main menu.
You can stop testing at any time and return to the main menu by holding down El cbl and pressing m. The program completes the current test before it stops. You must enter certain parameters to run the hard disk and diskette drive tests. If you use [F3) to select these tests, the program prompts you for the parameters immediately.
Running the Tests The table below lists all of the available System diagnostic tests and may refer you to other sections in this chapter for additional information.
System diagnostic tests (continued) Component Tests Memory Walking 0 (continued) Address Refresh Hard disk drives Hard disk format Media analysis Performance Seek Read/verify Check test cylinder Force.
System diagnostic tests (continued) Component Video Page selection* Tests the paging function of (continued) the adapter Color’ Tests the background and border color mapping 640 x 350 graphics* Tests the 640 x 350 graphics display 640 x 480 graphics’ Tests the 640 x 480 graphics display I I Printer adapter See ‘Miscellaneous Comm.
Hard Disk Diagnostics Hard disk diagnostic tests fall into two categories: destructive or nondestructive. Destructive diagnostics destroy data on the hard disk, but nondestructive diagnostics do not. Be sure to back up any data on your hard disk before performing any destructive tests.
Hard Disk Parameters The hard disk diagnostic program may ask for the following parameters: Disk drive identifier Disk drive type Interleave factor Bad track list Start cylinder number End cylinder number Start head number End head number Each parameter is described below.
If you select the User defined option (type 47), the program prompts you for the following information: Number of cylinders Number of heads Number of sectors per track Write precompensation presence Write precompensation cylinder number Landing zone. lnterleave factor The interleave factor affects the performance of your hard disk.
Use m or Ir] to highlight a menu option and press m. Then enter the correct track information. When the bad track list is correct, highlight Save and Exit and press [Enlwl. Note When you run the Media analysis test, the program automatically marks the bad tracks when it formats the disk.
Hard Disk Format The Hard disk format program performs a low-level format on your hard disk. If your computer came with a factory-installed hard disk or if you have installed an optional Epson hard disk, it has already been formatted for you.
Media Analysis This test identifies the bad tracks on the hard disk by analyzing the surface of the disk to find them. The program uses three different bit patterns; formatting the disk, marking the bad tracks, and displaying the bad track list. Caution The Media analysis test destroys any data on your hard disk.
Read/Verify Test This test checks the read and verify capability of the hard disk on the specified range of cylinders and heads. The program performs both sequential and random read and verify operations and reports any errors. Check Test Cylinder This test checks the test cylinder, which is the last cylinder on the hard disk.
The controller displays one of the following messages when an error occurs during a diagnostics procedure: Address mark not found Attachment failed to respond Bad ECC on disk read Bad sector flag dete.
Performing the Tests The Diskette format test checks the format capability of the diskette drive and its controller. In order to run the test, you need a blank diskette that has been formatted using the MS-DOS FORMAT command and that is not write-protected.
Note Be sure to insert a blank diskette that has been formatted before you run the Diskette format test. Then use that diskette when you run any of the other destructive tests. Check that you have inserted the correct diskette before you press [vl at the Proceed prompt.
You may see the following message if you attempt to run the Change line test on a drive that does not support a change line, such as a 360KB or 720KB drive: Change line not available The controller di.
Before running the test, be sure that the printer is on-line, paper is loaded, and all connections are secure, or you may see one of the following error messages: Error - Printer out of pager Error - .
If you see one of the following errors, there may be a problem with the controller or the test cable: Error - Break detected Error - Framing error Error - Overrun error Error - Parity error Error - Time out! Check to make sure that the test connector is securely connected to the port.
B-26 Performing System Diagnostics.
Appendix C Troubleshooting You should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and use your computer, but if anything out of the ordinary happens, refer to this appendix. You can correct most problems by adjusting a cable connection, repeating a software procedure, or resetting the computer.
3. When the computer performs the power-on memory test, the version number of your system ROM BIOS appears at the bottom of the screen. Quickly write down the version number. If you do not have enough time to write down the entire number, press RESET and try again.
The following tables list error codes and messages that may appear during power-on diagnostic checks. If you receive an error message, look it up in the tables below; they direct you to the proper troubleshooting section in this appendix or offer a solution.
Power-on diagnostics error messages (continued) Keyboard is locked .,, Write down message, contact dealer ROM BIOS checksum Write down message, contact dealer C-4 Troubleshooting.
Other error conditions Beeps 1 long; then 3 short 1 long; then 8 short Cause Action Error with conventional See ‘Memory Module or extended memory Problems” Failure in video RAM; or Write down mess.
4. If the electrical outlet is working and all the connections are secure but your computer still won’t start, call your dealer. Note If the computer starts but you can’t see anything on the screen, see “Monitor Problems,” on page C-10.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Did you enter the correct password? See “Password Problems,” below. Could your software be causing the problem? If you are running an application program, see “Software Problems,” later in this appendix. The problem could be caused by your keyboard.
Password Problems If you set a password using the SETUP program, you must enter it before you can use the system. When you turn on the computer, it runs a memory test. Then the screen displays the Enter Password prompt. If you do not enter the correct password, you cannot use the computer.
3. When the Press <Del> to start SETUP prompt appears, press @@. 4. Highlight fun SETUP and press [En(wl. You see the SETUP menu. Follow the instructions in Chapter 2 of the Setup Guide to either set a new password or select Not Installed (if you do not want to set a new password).
Keyboard Problems If you are having trouble with the keyboard, check the following: 1. If the screen displays a keyboard error when you turn on or reset the computer, make sure the keyboard is securely connected to its port. See “Connecting the Keyboard” in Chapter 1 of the Setup Guide for instructions.
3. If the monitor’s power light still does not come on, check the electrical outlet for power. Turn off your monitor and unplug it from the wall outlet. Plug a lamp into the outlet and turn it on to see if the outlet supplies power. 4. If you still do not see anything on the screen, make sure your monitor is connected to the computer properly.
8. If you installed a display adapter card in your computer, and you want to use that adapter as your primary display adapter, you need to change the setting of jumper J1 on the main system board to disable the built-in VGA adapter. Otherwise, you will not see any display on the screen.
4. If your diskette is the right type for your drive, see if it is write-protected. On a 5¼-inch diskette, there may be a write-protect tab over the notch on its side or there may be no notch. On a 3Winch diskette, the write-protect switch may be set to the write-protect position or there may be no switch.
8. If you see no error messages but there is something wrong with the data in a file, the operating system or an application program may have updated the storage information on the diskette incorrectly.
4. If you are still having trouble with the drive, run the Floppy disk system diagnostic tests, described in Appendix B. If the diagnostics program indicates an error, consult your Epson dealer. 5. If the diskette drive is making loud or unusual noises, contact your Epson dealer.
Installing the Drive If you are having problems with a newly-installed drive, check the following: 1. If your dealer installed the drive, consult that person about the problem.
5. If you installed a hard disk drive with its controller on an option card, did you disable the built-in hard disk drive controller and select the correct drive type through SETUP? See Chapter 2 of the Setup Guide for instructions.
Accessing Data on the Drive If you have been using your hard disk drive successfully for some time and notice a reduction in performance, the data on the disk may have become fragmented. You may want to back up all your data and then use a disk compaction utility to reorganize the files on your disk.
2. 3. 4. 5. Your computer can run at either fast speed (33 MHz) or slow speed (11 MHz). While almost all programs work properly at the faster speed, some must run at the slower speed. Check your software manual to see if this is the case, and change the CPU operating speed if necessary.
Printer Problems Below are some general steps to follow if you are having difficulty with your printer. If the problem persists and you need more detailed information, check your printer manual. 1. If your printer does not work at all, check that the printer has power and is properly connected to the computer.
6. If you are using an application program that requires a printer driver, make sure the driver is installed properly. See your application program manual for instructions. Also see your printer manual for additional instructions on using your printer with application programs.
6. If you installed a high-resolution graphics adapter card, did you connect it to the alternate VGA interface with the feature cable? See Chapter 4. 7. Did you perform the correct setup procedures for the software you are using with the option card? If necessary, see your software manual for instructions.
Memory Module Problems If you added extra memory to your system by installing SIMMs and that memory is not operating properly, check the following: 1. If the memory count displayed by the power-on diagnostics program is incorrect, you or your dealer may not have installed the SIMMs correctly.
Math Coprocessor Problems If your math coprocessor does not seem to be operating properly, check the following: 1. Run the SETUP program and check to make sure that the math coprocessor is listed as Installed on the SETUP display. If it is Listed as Not installed, you or your dealer may have installed the coprocessor incorrectly.
Glossary Address A number or name that identifies the location where information is stored in a computer’s memory. Analog monitor A monitor that generates, responds to, or acts upon analog data. Analog data is transmitted by varying the voltage levels in a continuous current.
Automatic speed The feature that enables the computer to switch automatically from fast speed (33 MHz) to slow speed (11 MHz) when accessing a diskette drive. Backup An extra copy of a program, data file, or disk, that is created in the event your working copy is damaged or lost.
A sequence or group of eight bits that represents one character. CGA Color Graphics Adapter. A type of display adapter card that can generate up to 25 lines of text with 80 characters on each line, monochrome graphics at 640 x 200 resolution, or four-color graphics at 320 x 200 resolution.
Configuration The particular setup of a group of components. A typical system configuration consists of a computer with one diskette drive and one hard disk drive connected to a monitor and a printer.
Cylinders The vertical alignment of tracks in a hard disk that can be lined up under one read/write head. The number of tracks on a disk is equal to the number of cylinders times the number of heads. Data Information such as text or graphics stored or processed by a computer.
DIP switch Dual Inline Package switch. A small switch on a computer, option card, or printer that controls a particular function. Directory A list of files stored in a particular area on a disk; part of a structure for organizing files into groups. A directory listing shows the name, location, and size of the files in the directory.
DOS Disk Operating System. A commonly used operating system that controls the computer’s input and output functions. See also Operating system. Double-density A type of diskette format that allows you to store twice as much data as the standard-density format.
Extension A suffix of up to three characters which you can add to a filename to better identify it. File A group of related pieces of information called records, or entries, stored together on a disk. Text files consist of words and sentences. Program files consist of codes and are used by computers to interpret and carry out instructions.
Hardware Any physical component of a computer system, such as a monitor, printer, keyboard, or CPU. Hexadecimal A numbering system with a base of 16, frequently used by programmers. Any decimal number between 0 and 255 can be expressed by a two-digit hexadecimal number.
Kilobyte (KB) A unit used to measure storage space in a computer’s memory or on a disk. One kilobyte equals 1024 bytes. LIM 4.0 EMS Version 4.0 of the Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded Memory Specification-a protocol that allows certain application programs to use memory that MS-DOS cannot use.
Megahertz (MHz) A unit used to measure oscillation frequency (of a computer’s internal timing clock). A megahertz is one million cycles per second. The Equity 386/33 PLUS operates at 33 MHz or simulates 11 MHz. Memory The area where your computer stores data.
Modem A device that allows a computer to transmit signals over telephone lines so it can send and receive data. Modem stands for Modulator/DEModulator.
Operating speed The speed at which the central processing unit can execute commands. The Equity 386/33 PLUS can run at 33 MHz or simulated 11 MHz. Operating system A collection of programs (such as MS-DOS, OS/2, or UNIX) that manages a computer’s operations.
Parity A method used to verify the accuracy of data transmissions by adding a bit that makes the total of the byte odd for odd parity or even for even parity. Partition (1) The area defined on a hard disk for use by an operating system; (2) to divide a hard disk into separate sections or logical drives.
Processor speed See Operating speed. Program A file that contains coded instructions and tells a computer what to do and how to do it. Prompt A message the screen displays to request information or tell you what action you need to perform next. See also Command prompt.
Reset To reload a computer’s operating system. Resetting erases all information in RAM. RGB Red Green Blue. A type of color monitor. ROM Read Only Memory. A portion of memory that can only be read and cannot be used for temporary storage. ROM retains its contents even when you turn off the power.
Shadow RAM The feature provided by the Equity 386/33 PLUS that enables the computer to copy the system ROM BIOS and video ROM into the RAM area of memory to speed up processing. SIMM See Memory module. Software The programs that enable your computer to perform the tasks and functions you indicate.
Tracks Addressable, concentric circles on a disk, resembling the grooves on a record, which help to divide the disk into separate accessible areas. UNIX An operating system that supports multitasking and is suited to multi-user environments. UNIX is compatible with a range of computers, from personal computers to mainframes.
Index A Alternate VGA interface, 2-9, 4-12, 4-16-17 AUTOEXEC.BAT, 2-1 -2 Auto speed, 2-2 -3 B Backing up data, from diskettes, 1-11, 1-19 on hard disk, 1-21 with DISKCOPY, 1-11 Base memory, A-5 Batch files, 2-1 -2, 2-6 AUTOEXEC.
Diskette drive, compatibility, 1-9-11 configuring, 4-28 controller, A-2 diagnostics, B-20 -23 inserting diskettes, 1-16 -18 installing, 5-1 -28 problems, C-14 -15 removing, 5-1 -28 removing diskettes,.
H Hard disk, see also Diskette drive backing up, 1-21 caring for, 1-21 configuring, 4-28 controller, A-2 diagnostics, B-13 -20 drive cable, 3-6, 3-15 -16, 5-12 -14, 5-18, 5-23 formatting, 1-20, B-17, .
Monitor, diagnostics, B-11 -12 interface, A-2 jumper, 4-4 -6 multifrequency, 2-9 problems, C-10 -12 tests, B-11 -12 Mounting frames, hard disk, 5-7 -9 Mounting plate, hard disk, 5-10 -11 Mouse, port s.
Removing disk drives, 5-1 -27 Removing diskettes, 1-16 -18 Replacing cover, 3-17 -18 RESET button, 1-5, 2-4, C-6 -7 Resetting computer, 1-4 -5 ROM, A-1, A-5, C-2 ROM BIOS, version, C-1 -2 Run time par.
W Write-protecting diskettes, 1-12, 1-14 -15 Write-protect notch, 1-14 Write-protect switch, 1-15 Write-protect tab, 1-14 X XCOPY, 1-11 6 index.
An important point after buying a device Epson 386/33 PLUS (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Epson 386/33 PLUS yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Epson 386/33 PLUS - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Epson 386/33 PLUS you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Epson 386/33 PLUS will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Epson 386/33 PLUS, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Epson 386/33 PLUS.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Epson 386/33 PLUS. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Epson 386/33 PLUS along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
