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TRIGEM CW3S20A Operation Manual

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S X 3 8 6 E
OPERATIONS
GUIDE

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Summary of Contents for TRIGEM CW3S20A

  • Page 1 S X 3 8 6 E OPERATIONS GUIDE...
  • Page 2 GERMAN RFI DECLARATION FOR CLASS B SELF CERTIFICATION Hiermit wird bescheinigt, dass der TriGem SX386E in Übereinstimmung mit den Bestimmungen der Vfg 1046/1984 funk-entstort ist. Der Deutschen Bundespost wurde das Inverkehrbringen dieses Gerätes angezeigt und die Berechtigung zur Überprüfung der Serie auf Einhaltung der Bestimmungen eingeräumt.

  • Page 3: Important Notice

    IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY TriGem Computer, Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to this manual, and shall not be held liable for technical or editorial omissions made herein; nor incidental or consequential damages resulting from the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual.
  • Page 4 TriGem is a registered trademark of TriGem Computer, Inc. AMI BIOS is a trademark of American Megatrends Inc. IBM, PC, PC/XT, PC/AT, MDA, Monochrome Display Adaptor, EGA, Enhanced Graphics Adaptor, VGA, and Video Graphics Array are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

  • Page 5: Fcc Compliance Statement

    FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
  • Page 6 INSTRUCTIONS The following instructions pertain to the risk of fire, electric shock or bodily injury. Please read all of these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for later use. Follow all of the instructions and warnings marked on this product or included in this manual. Do not use this computer on an unstable cart, stand or table.
  • Page 7 Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this product where people will walk on the cord. If you have to use an extension cord with this computer, make sure that the total amperage rating of all equipment plugged into it does not exceed the amperage rating of the extension cord.
  • Page 8 Except as explained in Chapter 7, “Expanding Your System,” do not attempt to modify or service this product yourself. Opening or removing those covers that are marked “DO NOT REMOVE” may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing problems to qualified service personnel.
  • Page 9 Stop! If you ever have to remove the main system unit cover, observe the following precautions: The power supply cord must be unplugged before the main system unit cover is removed. (Separe le cordon d’alimentation et puis enleve le couvercle.) Once removed, the cover must be replaced and screwed in position before the power supply cord is plugged back in.
  • Page 10 Unbedingt beachten! Allgemeine Sicherheit Die nachfolgenden Anweisungen betreffen die Gefahr von Verletzungen durch elektrische Spannung, Feuer und mechanische Einwirkung. Bitte lesen Sie diese Anweisungen sorgfältig. Beachten Sie alle Hinweise, die am Gerät selbst angebracht oder in den zugehörigen Handbüchem vermerkt sind. Stelle Sie das Gerät an einem sicheren, stabilen Arbeitsplatz auf.
  • Page 11 Auf das Netzanschußkabel dürfen keine Gegenstände gestellt werden. Legen sie das Netzkabel so, daß niemand darauftreten oder darüber stolpem kann. Wenn Sie Verlängerungskabel benutzen, müßen Sie sicher sein, daß die gesamte Leistungsaufnahme incht größer ist als das Verlängerungskabel zuläßt. Der gesamte Stromverbrauch aller angeschlossenen Geräte darf nicht mehr als 15 A betragen.
  • Page 12 ACHTUNG: Wenn Sie das Gerät öffnen mößen (Abnahme der verschraubten Haube), ist unbedingt folgendes zu beachten: Das Netzkabel muß aus der Steckdose gezogen werden und zwar bevor Sie das Gerät öffnen. Die Haube muss wieder monitert und verschraubt werden. Erst dann darf das Netzkabel wieder eingesteckt werden.

  • Page 13: Table Of Contents

    Contents ......... Introduction How to Use This Manual .
  • Page 14 Changing the Operating Speed ......3-1 Special Keys on Your Keyboard ......3-2 Stopping a Command or Program .
  • Page 15 Disk Directories ........The DIR Command ......4-23 File Searches .
  • Page 16 Chapter 7 Expanding Your System Connecting Peripherals ......Serial Ports ........7-3 Parallel Ports .
  • Page 17 Connector Pinouts Appendix C I/OPorts ......... . Expansion Slot Connectors .

  • Page 18: Introduction

    Introduction Your computer is powerful, versatile, and easy to use. After setting up your system with the simple instructions in this manual, you’ll soon be using your favorite software programs. This computer is available in these configurations: The System provides one 1.2MB (megabyte) diskette drive, and an optional 1.44MB diskette drive and/or 40MB (or 80MB) hard disk drive.

  • Page 19: How To Use This Manual

    How to Use This Manual This manual explains how to set up and care for your computer. It also describes how to use your computer. The instructions in this manual apply to your system, except where otherwise indicated. You probably don’t need to read everything in this book; see the following chapter summaries.

  • Page 20: Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System

    Chapter 1 Setting Up Your System Setting up your personal computer is easy. Just follow the nine steps in this chapter. When you finish setting up your computer, go on to Chapter 2 and follow the instructions there to run the Setup program. The Setup program updates the list of equipment installed in the computer any time options are added or changed.

  • Page 21: Choosing A Location

    The computer and power cord The Keyboard with attached cable MS-DOS diskettes GW-BASIC diskette MS-DOS User’s Guides GW-BASIC User’s Guide In addition to these items, you need a compatible monitor to use with the computer. Be sure to keep your packing materials. They provide the best protection for your computer if you need to transport it later.
  • Page 22 select a cool, dry area. Avoid dust and smoke, which can damage disks and disk drives and cause you to lose valuable data. Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges, connect all your equipment to three-prong, grounded outlets. You need one outlet for the computer, one for the monitor, and additional outlets for a printer and any other peripherals.

  • Page 23: Connecting A Monitor

    Figure l-2. System Main Unit Connecting a Monitor The procedure you use to connect your monitor to the computer depends on the type of monitor you have. If you have a VGA monitor (or a multi-frequency monitor with an analog connector), you can connect it to the computer’s built-in VGA port.
  • Page 24 easy access, turn the monitor and computer around so the backs of both components are facing you. 3. If necessary, connect the monitor cable to the monitor. (Your monitor may have a permanently attached cable.) 4. Examine the connector end of the monitor cable, and position the plug to match the orientation of the monitor port.

  • Page 25: Using A Display Adapter Card

    5. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them by hand or with a screwdriver, depending on the screw type. 6. Plug the monitor power cord into the monitor’s power inlet, as shown below. Figure 1-4. Connecting a Monitor Power Cable 7.
  • Page 26 Monitor/video card compatibility Monitor Video card Monochrome Monochrome display adapter (MDA) Multi-mode graphics adapter (MGA) Enhanced graphics adapter (EGA) Hercules graphics card Color or EGA Color graphics adapter (CGA) Multi-mode graphics adapter (MGA) Enhanced graphics adapter (EGA) *EGA cards support only EGA monitors. When you are installing the video card, check to make sure any switches or jumpers on the card are set properly.

  • Page 27: Connecting A Printer, Mouse, Or Modem

    The computer has a parallel interface and two serial interfaces on the back panel, so you can easily connect a printer or other type of device with either type of interface. For example, you can use the parallel port to connect a parallel printer (most printers have a parallel interface).

  • Page 28: Using The Serial Interface

    3. Connect the other end of the cable to the printer, as shown below. If the printer has retaining clips on each side of the printer port, squeeze the clips together to secure the cable. 4. Plug the printer’s power cord into an electrical outlet. Using the Serial Interface If you have a serial printer, modem, mouse, or any other peripheral with a serial interface, you can connect it to the...
  • Page 29 To connect a serial device, follow the same steps outlined above for a parallel device, but connect the cable to the serial port, shown on figure l-4. Setting up the serial port for a printer If you are using a serial printer but your software does not support a serial printer, you must do two things before you can print: Set up the data transmission parameters for the serial port.

  • Page 30: Connecting The Power Cord

    Connecting the Power Cord Follow these steps to connect the power cord: 1. Insert the power cord into the AC inlet on the computer’s back panel, as shown below. To avoid an electric shock, be sure to plug the cord into the computer before plugging it into the wall socket.

  • Page 31: Connecting The Keyboard

    on the connector is pointing up so it plugs in easily. Connecting the Keyboard Your keyboard has only one cable to connect. This simply plugs into the keyboard connector located at the bottom of the main system unit’s rear panel. This connector is designed to prevent insertion if the pins don’t line up, so it may be necessary to rotate the cable connector until the mark on the connector is pointing up so it plugs in easily.

  • Page 32: Adjusting The Keyboard Angle

    Adjusting the Keyboard Angle You can change the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bottom. Turn the keyboard over and lift each leg upward until it locks into place, as shown below. You lock the legs into a low or high position, or leave them flat. Figure 1-9.
  • Page 33 Do not leave a beverage on top of or next to your system or any of its components. Spilled liquid can damage the circuitry of your equipment. Do not attempt to dismantle any part of the computer. Only remove the cover to install and remove optional devices.
  • Page 34 Figure 1-10. Power Switch The power indicator on the front panel lights up. After a few seconds, the computer starts to perform an internal self test. This is a series of checks the computer completes each time you turn it on to make sure everything is working correctly. If anything is wrong, an error message appears on the screen.
  • Page 35 The computer continually updates this display as it tests its memory. This test takes about 15 seconds to complete. You may see a message similar to this: This means that the computer is not yet set up for the equipment you have installed and you must run the Setup program, described in Chapter 2.

  • Page 36: The Command Prompt

    word processing program or a spreadsheet program. The Command Prompt After the computer has loaded MS-DOS from the hard disk, you see the MS-DOS command prompt on the screen: The command prompt tells you that your computer is ready to receive instructions.
  • Page 37 diskettes. Follow these steps: 1. The C:\ > prompt should be on the screen. If not, type C: and press Enter. 2. Type the following and press Enter: The screen displays this message: 3. Insert the MS-DOS diskette in drive A, as shown on the next page.
  • Page 38 Figure l- 11 Inserting a Floppy Disk 4. Press any key. The DISKCOPY program copies the contents of the MS-DOS diskette to the computer’s memory, and then you see the following: 5. Remove the MS-DOS diskette and insert a blank diskette (which is to be the target diskette) in drive A.

  • Page 39: Resetting Your Computer

    6. Press Y so you can make a copy of another MS-DOS diskette. Again, you see the prompt to insert the source diskette. 7. Remove the copy of the MS-DOS diskette which you just made and insert the another MS-DOS diskette into drive A. Then press any key.
  • Page 40 CONTROL-ALT-DEL (Keyboard Reset) Press the CONTROL key and the ALT key at the same time. While holding these keys down, press the DELETE key, then release all three keys. This will reset your computer without running the full self-test diagnostics. The POWER Switch Turn the main system POWER switch off, wait ten seconds, then turn it back on.

  • Page 41: Chapter 2 The Cmos Setup Program

    Chapter 2 The CMOS Setup Program Introduction The Setup program keeps a record of the host computer’s system parameters (such as memory amounts, disk drives, video displays, and peripheral devices). Setup resides in the Read Only Memory Basic Input/Output System (ROM BIOS) so that it is available each time the host is turned on.

  • Page 42: Using Setup

    Using setup Immediately after the memory test, you will get the following prompt on the screen depending upon the type of BIOS you have : Hit <DEL> key to get into the Setup Mode > If you hit <DEL the option to: The CMOS Setup Program a menu appears on key,...

  • Page 43: Entering Setup

    Use <Up # > and <Down $ cursor option you want the option. into This means that the SETUP program options have been set at the factory. Since there were no errors detected, the computer tried to load MS-DOS from the floppy disk drive, before you have inserted the MS-DOS main system diskette.
  • Page 44 Set the reverse video cursor on the “RUN CMOS SETUP” using <Up # > and < Down $ the screen will be replaced by the following. This screen is the SETUP MENU. This lists the parameters you can change with the SETUP program. A solid cursor bar highlights the parameter currently available to be changed.

  • Page 45: Parameters

    < ! >< " > ... moves the selection bar < PgUp > < PgDn > ... scrolls allowable settings < E S C > ... exit and save CMOS register < < Alt > <Del > ... exit without save Ctrl >...
  • Page 46 Drives C: and D: are the hard disk drives in the system, 46 drive types have been defined by AMI. If for some reason or other your particular drive is not one of the 46 pre-defined types, simply scroll down to type 47 and enter the following drive specifications: cylinders, heads, WPcom, LZone, and sectors.
  • Page 47 Low speed Select this option is to boot your system with 1OMHz CPU speed when turning the power on. Special memory This parameter is used to boost your system’s performance by loading the BIOS and/or VIDEO controller code into the RAM space between 640K and lM-byte. The options are: None Select this option is you are not going to use shadow...
  • Page 48 EXTENDED PERIPHERAL SETUP When you scroll down to this parameter, the following message will be displayed on the right size of the Setup message. Peripheral Setup IDE interface: Enabled On-B/D FDC: Enabled Mouse Serial Parallel IDE interface The system has on-board IDE that can be enabled by SETUP.

  • Page 49: Leaving The Setup Program

    Parallel The system provides one parallel port that can be selected as LPTl or LPT2 by SETUP. If enabled parallel port makes conflict with off-board parallel port, on-board parallel port is disabled and display the message for conflict. Leaving the Setup Program When you have completed the changes, press the <...

  • Page 50: Using Your Computer

    Using Your Computer This chapter covers the following basic procedure for using your computer: Changing the operating speed Using special keys on the keyboard Stopping a command or program Using disks and disk drives. Changing the Operating Speed Your computer can operate at two speeds; 8MHz or 20MHz. At 20MHz, the computer performs all tasks faster, and almost all programs may be run at 20MHz.

  • Page 51: Special Keys On Your Keyboard

    Ctrl-Alt- < + > Changing the operating speed may be performed with the TriGem Utility TGSS.COM. This program is located on the MS-DOS diskette supplied with the system. You can find the detailed description of TGSS.COM in your MS-DOS User’s Guide. Special Keys on your Keyboard Certain keys on your keyboard serve special functions when your computer is running programs.
  • Page 52 Purpose F1-F12 Perform special functions within application program (Some keys also function with MS-DOS. See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information.) Moves the cursor one tab position to the right in normal mode (and one tab position to the left in shift mode when using some application programs.) Ctrl Works with other key to perform special (control)
  • Page 53 Sys Req applications. PrtSc Home, End, PgUp, PgDn !#$" The Num Lock, Scroll Lock, and Caps Lock 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 on the top right comer of the keyboard is on.

  • Page 54: Stopping A Command Or Program

    Stopping a Command or Program You may sometimes need to stop a command or program while it is running. Many application programs provide a command you can use to stop or even cancel (undo) an operation. If you have entered an MS-DOS command that you want to stop, try one of the following commands: Hold down the Ctrl key and press C Hold down the Ctrl key and press Break...

  • Page 55: How Disks Store Data

    Care for your diskettes and diskette drives Insert and remove diskettes Write-protect diskettes Make backup copies of your diskettes Use a single diskette drive Use a hard disk drive How Disks Store Data The diskette you insert in your computer’s diskette drive is made of flexible plastic, coated with magnetic material.
  • Page 56 sector is, picture the spokes on a bicycle wheel radiating from the center of the wheel to the tire. The space between one spoke and the next is like a sector on a diskette. (See the figure below.) Each track on a 1.2MB diskette has 15 sectors, and each sector holds 512 bytes.

  • Page 57: Types Of Diskette Drives

    Your computer has at least one 1.2MB diskette drive. With this drive, use 5¼-inch, double-sided, highdensity, 96 TPI, 1.2MB diskettes. These diskettes contain 80 tracks per side, 15 sectors per track, and hold up to 1.2MB of information, which is approximately 500 pages of text.

  • Page 58: Drive And Diskette Incompatibilities

    Drive and diskette incompatibilities Because of the size difference, you cannot diskettes in a 5¼-inch drive or vice versa. There are also certain limitations on using diskettes that are the same size the drive but have different capacities. The following tables summarize the possiblities and limitations.

  • Page 59: Caring For Diskettes And Diskette Drives

    Because of these incompatibilities, you should indicate the density and diskette type when you label your diskettes. (Usually this information appears on the manufacturer’s label.) If you have any combination of the above drives (36OKB, 1.2MB, 72OKB, or 1.44MB), you can copy files from one drive to another —...
  • Page 60 Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields. (Remember that diskettes store information magnetically.) There are many sources of magnetism in your home or office, such as electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers. Do not place diskettes on top of your monitor or near an external disk drive.

  • Page 61: Inserting And Removing Diskettes

    Never turn off the computer when the hard disk drive light is on. This light indicates that the computer is copying data to or from the hard disk. If you interrupt this process, you can lose data. Never attempt to open the hard disk drive. The disk itself is enclosed in a sealed container to protect it from dust.
  • Page 62 If a diskette is in the drive but the latch is up (horizontal) and you enter a command for that drive, the computer cannot tell there is a diskette in the drive and displays an error message such as: Close the latch and press R. To remove the diskette, turn the drive latch up until it is horizontal and the edge of the diskette pops out.

  • Page 63: Write-Protecting Diskettes

    To remove a 3½-inch diskette, press the release button to release it. When the edge pops out of the drive, pull out the diskette and store it properly. Write-protecting Diskettes You can write-protect a diskette to prevent its data from being altered.

  • Page 64: Making Backup Copies

    On a 3½-inch diskette, the write-protect device is a small switch on the lower-right comer on the back, 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.

  • Page 65: Using A Single Diskette Drive

    Chapter 1 describes how to use DISKCOPY to copy your MS-DOS diskette. For more detailed information to make backups of other diskettes, refer to Chapter 4 “Using MS-DOS with your computer”. It is best to put most of the programs and data files you use regularly on the hard disk.

  • Page 66: Using The Hard Disk Drive

    Using the Hard Disk Drive You can create and revise files on a hard disk just as you can on a diskette. The hard disk, however, provides several advantages: The 20MB hard disk can store more data than 16 diskettes and the 4OMB hard disk can store twice as much. Your computer can perform all disk-related operations faster.

  • Page 67: Preparing The Hard Disk For Moving

    Backing up hard disk files While the hard disk is very reliable, it is essential to back up your hard disk files to diskettes in case you lose some data accidentally. Make copies of all your system and application program diskettes before copying the programs to the hard disk. After you create data files on the hard disk, be sure to copy them to diskettes whenever you revise them to keep your backup diskettes up-todate.
  • Page 68 You see a message on the screen that tells you the disk drive’s read/write heads will remain locked until you reset the computer or turn the power off and on again. The computer locks the heads and disables the keyboard. You can now turn off the computer and prepare to move it to the new location.

  • Page 69: Using Ms-Dos With Your Computer

    Using MS-DOS With Your Computer Once you have your computer system “up-and-running,” you may begin to work with MS-DOS. Virtually all application software available for IBM PC/XT and PC/AT-compatible computer systems runs “under” MS-DOS. Therefore, in order to use these programs, you need to learn how to use MS-DOS.

  • Page 70: Ms-Dos Diskettes

    MS-DOS Diskettes Your MS-DOS software package contains of the following items: One MS-DOS Install Diskettes One MS-DOS Select Diskette Three MS-DOS Operating Diskettes One MS-DOS Shell Diskette The MS-DOS User’s Guide & User’s Reference The MS-DOS Shell User’s Guide Begin the installation procedure by placing the MS-DOS Install diskette in the A drive and turning your computer on.
  • Page 71 To insert a diskette into the drive: Open the drive door If you haven’t already done so, remove the protective cardboard insert from the drive. Gently insert the diskette into the drive entry slot with its label facing up, and the write protect notch to the left. When the diskette is all the way in, close the drive door by turning the door latch handle down.

  • Page 72: Starting Ms-Dos

    Starting MS-DOS Skip this section if MS-DOS 4.01 has already been installed on the optional hard disk drive. To start MS-DOS 4.01 on a floppy disk-based system (that is, on without a hard disk drive), follow these steps given below. For a detailed description of how to start MS-DOS 4.01, consult the Getting Started section in your MS-DOS 4.01 User’s Guide.

  • Page 73: System Prompt

    If your computer has a hard disk drive, and MS-DOS has been installed, simply turn your system on. Your computer will its self-test diagnostics and display the DOS Shell perform menu screen. Notice that the words “Command Prompt” are highlighted by a solid bar.

  • Page 74: Cursor

    This is the system prompt. When it is displayed, it means that MS-DOS is waiting for you to tell it what to do. This is done by typing a DOS command, then pressing the ENTER key. Cursor Following the system prompt, you will see a blinking underline ( _ ) character.

  • Page 75: Case Sensitivity

    more of the MS-DOS diskettes. Hard disk system user’s can run any DOS command without diskettes because the programs are stored on the hard disk drive. Case Sensitivity MS-DOS does not differentiate between upper and lower case letters in commands and filenames. This manual will show commands in upper case for clarity, but you may enter them either way.

  • Page 76: Backspace Key

    Copies the entire buffer up to the next character you type — F3 key Copies the entire buffer to the command line — F4 key The opposite of F2, deletes all characters from the buffer up to, but not including, the next character you type —...
  • Page 77 The BACKSPACE key on your keyboard works just like a backspace key on a regular typewriter: it moves the cursor back one position. In addition, however, it erases the last character typed. Press the BACKSPACE key as many times as necessary to erase the typing mistake, then type out the command correctly.

  • Page 78: Default Drive

    Default Drive MS-DOS will only look at one disk drive at a time. Normally, this is the “default” drive. You can tell which disk drive is the current default drive by looking at the system prompt. For example: indicates that the A drive is currently the default drive. Unless you specify otherwise, MS-DOS will direct any disk activity to the A floppy disk drive.

  • Page 79: Copying Your Ms-Dos Diskettes

    From the A> prompt, try the command: The computer will respond: Press ENTER after you insert the diskette into the drive, then the system prompt will be: If you have a dual floppy disk drive system, the second, or “B” drive is now the system default drive, as indicated by the new system prompt.

  • Page 80: Copying On Single Drive Systems

    Write down the MS-DOS version number on each diskette label. This will avoid confusion later if you upgrade your operating system to a new version. As you finish copying and checking each MS-DOS master diskette, peel the correct label off of the backing paper and place it on the upper left-hand side of the front face of the new diskette.
  • Page 81 from. Insert the MS-DOS master diskette into the A drive. Press any key, such as the SPACEBAR. The floppy disk drive will be activated, and your computer will display: The contents of the disk are being read into your computer’s memory.
  • Page 82 For now, type N. The system prompt will reappear. To compare the backup diskette with the original, you will use the DISKCOMP command. Enter the command at the system prompt: The computer will respond: Remove the backup diskette from the drive, and put it in its protective jacket.
  • Page 83 drive, and put it in its protective envelope. Take out the backup copy diskette, insert it into the disk drive, and press the SPACEBAR key. The computer will read the contents of the backup diskette, and compare them with the copy of the master diskette that it has stored in memory.

  • Page 84: Copying On Dual Drive Systems

    To make backup copies of your MS-DOS diskettes on a dualdrive system, follow the instructions below: First, turn your computer on and boot up MS-DOS. Choose the Command Prompt option from the DOS shell menu. The system prompt will appear. Enter the following command: This command indicates to MS-DOS that you want to copy the contents of a diskette in the A drive to a new diskette located in the B drive.
  • Page 85 SPACEBAR. The A drive will be activated, and your computer will display: The contents of the disk are being read into your computer’s memory. After a few moments, the following message will appear: For now, type N. The system prompt will reappear. To compare the backup diskette with the original, you will use the DISKCOMP command.
  • Page 86 When the computer is finished comparing the diskettes, the drives will turn off, and the following message will appear: Type N to return to the system prompt. If there is a problem with the backup diskette or if you put the wrong diskette into the drive by mistake, the computer will respond: After you have confirmed that the backup diskette is a good...

  • Page 87: Files

    From now on, when this manual refers to the “main system diskettes,” use the backup MS-DOS diskette. In the same way that you can keep information grouped together in manila folders, MS-DOS organizes data While you may store these folders in a cabinet, your computer stores these files on disks.

  • Page 88: Filenames And Extensions

    A data file containing a written report can’t do anything by itself. On the other hand, a word processor is useless without documents to work on. Filenames and Extensions Needless to say, each file on a disk must be uniquely identifiable.
  • Page 89 (dollar sign) (percent sign) (ampersand) (parenthesis) (minus sign or hyphen) (brackets) (underline character) The following are examples of allowable filenames: JANUARY CHAPTER.001 MEMO.APR MAYSALES. %&$ $$_SALES.OCT These filenames are valid because none of them are too long, and only legal characters have been used. The following are examples of illegal filenames, along with an explanation: 3RDQUARTER.SALES This is too long.
  • Page 90 NEW EMPL.LTR This would be rejected by MS-DOS because of the space in the filename. Certain filename extensions have been set aside so that MS-DOS can recognize program files. These are: C O M (for COMMAND file) E X E (for EXECUTABLE file) B A T (for BATCH file)

  • Page 91: Disk Directories

    Disk Directories MS-DOS keeps track of the files stored on your disks by maintaining a “directory” on each disk. These directories are listings of the filenames and extensions, along with certain information about the files themselves, such as when the file was created or updated last.

  • Page 92: File Searches

    The filename & extension The file sire (in bytes) The date the file was created or last updated The time the file was created or last updated The number of files listed in the directory The number of unused bytes of space remaining on the disk See the MS-DOS User’s Guide for details.

  • Page 93: Multiple Disk Drive Systems

    Multiple Disk Drive Systems The DIR command can be used to read the directories of other drives in your system, if any are installed. For instance, to read the directory of the B drive, when you are logged onto drive A, enter the command: The computer will display the directory of the diskette inserted in the B drive.

  • Page 94: Wildcards

    The computer will display the B drive diskette’s directory, then remain logged to the B drive. Wildcards Quite often, when dealing with disk files, you may find yourself looking through directories for a particular file or group of files. MS-DOS has a way to help you sort out those files you want without having to read through the entire directory listing.

  • Page 95: Application Software

    Application Software Now that you know how to make backup copies of your diskettes and how to work with MS-DOS, you can proceed to use application software. Most software packages come with detailed instructions for their set-up and use. These instructions will often ask you to use the information in this chapter to find specific files in the disk directories, or back up the master diskettes provided with each package.

  • Page 96: Using Floppy Disks

    Using Floppy Disks Description Your computer works with a large electronic memory array called RAM. This stands for Random Access Memory. Your system’s RAM is actually an array of electronic circuits. As long as the computer is powered up, this circuit array will “remember”...

  • Page 97: How Floppy Disks Work

    Floppy disks, or diskettes, are made from a flexible plastic that is coated with a magnetic oxide. The floppy disk drive encodes this oxide with the data generated by the computer. After you turn your system off, unlike electronic RAM, the encoded oxide retains this data.

  • Page 98: Formatting Diskettes

    Formatting Diskettes When you get a new carton of diskettes, they ‘are not yet ready to be used. First, they must be prepared to accept data. This is called “formatting” the diskette. MS-DOS uses the same formatting method regardless of the computer used.

  • Page 99: The Format Command

    When you type F (for failure) the computer will automatically cancel the attempt and will return display the following message. Remove the unformatted disk from the drive. The FORMAT Command MS-DOS provides an external command program called FORMAT.COM, that will format your blank diskettes. When running this program, there are options available that allow you to format several different types of diskette.
  • Page 100 Insert the new diskette to be formatted and press the ENTER key. The computer will display: The formatting process takes a minute or two. The computer will wait until the formatting process is complete, then display: Press ENTER if you don’t want to have a label of your disk. Then the screen will display the following message.

  • Page 101: Option Switches

    Option Switches To format 180K-byte single-sided, singledensity diskettes in the computer’s high capacity disk drive, enter the FORMAT command using the /l and /4 option switch: The computer will proceed to format the diskette. Upon completion, you will see this message: The following screen will be appeared if you press ENTER.
  • Page 102 The /4 option switch is used to format 36OK-byte doublesided, doubledensity diskettes in the computer’s high capacity disk drive. To do this enter the command: The computer will proceed to format the diskette. Upon completion, you will see this message: Press ENTER not to have a label of your disk.
  • Page 103 Formatting a diskette allows you to use it by providing predetermined locations for certain files used by MS-DOS. Once formatted, the disk directory space is created, as well as additional areas reserved for use by MS-DOS. One of these areas is the File Allocation Table, or FAT. This part of the diskette contains a list of all of the files on the disk, and where they are physically stored on the diskette.
  • Page 104 If your system does not have a hard disk drive you would normally boot the system up from the MS-DOS system files. The DISKCOPY command copied these files when you created the backup copy of the master diskette. Sometimes, though, you may want to create a “boot disk”...

  • Page 105: Copying Files

    Enter N to return to the system prompt. Then enter: The directory listing should appear similar to the following: Copying Files If you have a dual drive system, it is easy to copy program and data files from one diskette to another. This involves the internal MS-DOS command, COPY.
  • Page 106 in drive B. At this time, you may want to check the directories of both diskettes in order to make sure you will not overwrite a file on the target diskette with the same name as the one you want to copy. Once you sure its safe to copy, enter the COPY command with the following format: For example, to copy the file “MAYSALES.RPT”...

  • Page 107: Wildcards

    drive to the default drive, enter the command: Note that this time, you were required to enter the source drive letter before the filename. This is because, in this example, drive B is not the default drive. However, since no drive letter was specified for the target drive, MS-DOS copied the file onto the default, or in this case, A drive.
  • Page 108 will copy all files about MAYSALES to the B drive. A final example: will copy all of the files on a diskette in the A drive to the hard disk drive. This command is useful when backing up diskettes containing data files. Using Floppy Disks 5-13...

  • Page 109: Using Your Hard Disk

    Using Your Hard Disk Depending on the model, your computer system can be expanded to include an optional hard disk drive. This chapter will give you a basic understanding of its operation and show you how to configure it. Information is also provided on how MS-DOS works with your hard disk drive.

  • Page 110: Care Of Hard Disk Drives

    diskette. The “high-capacity” diskettes used in your computer can only hold a little over one million bytes. The hard disk can hold up much more data than a floppy disk. Finally, as mentioned above, a hard disk is much faster than a floppy disk drive.
  • Page 111 explained in Chapter 4, “Using MS-DOS”. After setting the data and time, enter this command: If the computer responds with: enter: If a directory listing is displayed, even if there are no files shown, it means that your hard disk system has already been partitioned and formatted.

  • Page 112: Changing Your Setup

    Before you can partition and format your hard disk, you have to let your computer know that you have one. This is done with the SETUP program. Once you have determined that your hard disk is “clean,” that is to say neither partitioned nor formatted, you should enter the SETUP program.
  • Page 113 Move the screen cursor bar down to the Hard Disk C parameter. Using the PgUp and PgDn keys, scroll through the options to disk type number matched with your hard disk. If you select the type number 17 for 41MB RLL or MFM type hard disk, it provides the following information under the right hand headings: This should match the information provided with your hard...

  • Page 114: Partitioning Your Hard Disk

    Partitioning Your Hard Disk After the DOS Shell screen appears, select the Command Prompt option. At this point your are ready to partition your hard disk drive. To do this, enter the command: After loading the FDISK program, the computer will display information, on the hard disk drive installed in the system, as follows: Using Your Hard Disk...
  • Page 115 Press ENTER to choose the default selection, “Create a DOS Partition.” The FDISK menu will disappear, and be replaced To create a single MS-DOS partition for your entire hard disk drive, select the default option (#l) by pressing ENTER. The Create Primary DOS partition menu appears next: Disk Using Your Hard...

  • Page 116: Formatting Your Hard Disk

    FDISK now displays the following message: It is common to use FDISK to create an MS-DOS partition that takes up the entire hard disk drive and then make that partition bootable. Now that you have completed these tasks, you can restart your system using your MS-DOS Install diskette.
  • Page 117 Command Prompt option from the DOS shell. Enter the following command: The floppy disk drive indicator will come on for a few seconds, while the FORMAT command is loaded into memory. When the light goes out, the computer will display: You should already have made sure that there is no information stored on the hard disk that you want to save.

  • Page 118: Organizing Your Hard Disk

    The /S switch in the FORMAT command caused the active portions of MS-DOS to be loaded onto the system area of the hard disk. At this point you can boot the system from the hard disk. Organizing Your Hard Disk This section provides you with a sample directory structure for use with your hard disk.
  • Page 119 you are ready to begin. First, you will create several subdirectories. These will be used shortly to contain useful files. Begin by entering the command: The MD command is a short form of MKDIR. This internal DOS command creates a subdirectory under the directory you are currently in.
  • Page 120 Just as MS-DOS commands usually look at the “current” disk drive, they also look at the current directory. Since you can change the current, “logged” disk drive, you would expect to be able to change the current, logged directory. You can, using the CD (CHDIR) command.
  • Page 121 You have just moved to the DOS4 subdirectory. The two <DIR > entries indicate that you are currently logged onto a disk subdirectory. The period (.) entry represents the current directory, while the double period (..) entry represents the parent directory for the current subdirectory. These shorthand entries allow you to move up and down through a directory tree rapidly.
  • Page 122 Insert the MS-DOS Install diskette into the A drive. Close the door, then enter: This command will copy the entire contents of the MS-DOS Installdiskette into the DOS4 subdirectory on the hard disk. When the copying process is complete, your computer will display the following message: Using the DIR command, run a directory to verify that you have copied the MS-DOS Install diskette.
  • Page 123 the DOS4 subdirectory. Since the file is available in your hard disk ro directory, it is not necessary to include it in the DOS4 subdirectory. Later, as your hard disk gets filled up with application software program and data files, the disk space saved by deleting such duplicate files might become useful.

  • Page 124: Backing Up Your Hard Disk

    Backing Up Your Hard Disk It is highly recommended that you make back up copies of your valuable hard disk files regularly. Because hard disk drives are fragile, they can sometimes be damaged. It is also possible to erase some or all hard disk files through the use of incorrect FORMAT and COPY commands.

  • Page 125: How Many Diskettes

    When you back up your hard disk using BACKUP, the first thing to do is to format enough blank disks to hold the backed up files. Once you start the BACKUP routine, you won’t want to stop the program to format more diskettes. BACKUP takes time, even on a high speed computer.
  • Page 126 This file contains the BACKUP command program. As mentioned above, this file is provided on your MS-DOS Install diskette. You can run the program from the floppy disk drive or from the hard disk, if you have copied the file into a subdirectory on the hard disk.

  • Page 127: The Restore Command

    In both examples, the A: portion of the command tells MS- DOS that you want to start the backup routine with the root directory of the hard disk, and store the backup files on diskettes in drive A. The final /S switch tells MS-DOS to back up all of the subdirectories on the hard disk in addition to the root directory.
  • Page 128 enter: If a directory listing is displayed, even if there are no entries, it means that your hard disk system is ready to receive files. If the active routines of MS-DOS have been loaded on to the hard disk, you will see the COMMAND.COM file at the beginning of the directory listing.
  • Page 129 entering: The computer will respond by displaying: Make sure your MS-DOS Install diskette is inserted into the A drive. Enter the following command: The RESTORE command file will be read from the MS-DOS Install diskette. The A: C:\ in the command tells MS-DOS that you will be restoring files from diskettes in the A drive to the hat-d disk root directory.

  • Page 130: Chapter 7 Expanding Your System

    Expanding Your System As you get more familiar with your computer system, you will probably want to add hardware to it. This can include additional disk drives, printers, modems, memory expansion boards, etc. This chapter addresses the installation of some of the most common devices.
  • Page 131 Modems External disk drives Your computer is designed to communicate with peripherals by way of the connectors on the rear panel of the main system unit. The connectors are called “ports,” and allow information to be sent back and forth between the system CPU and a peripheral device.

  • Page 132: Serial Ports

    Note Your computer is referred to as a 386SX computer. This means that the micro processor can manipulate 32 bits of data at a time over the 16 parallel data lines and address over 16MB of memory. Serial Ports There are two basic kinds of general purpose I/O (Input/Output) port.

  • Page 133: Parallel Ports

    MS-DOS uses labels to refer to the various I/O ports on your computer. The RS232C serial port is assigned the “COM1” (Communications port #l). Additional serial ports can be added to your computer, which MS-DOS would label COM3, COM4, and so on. Parallel Ports Unlike serial ports, parallel ports allow your computer to communicate one entire byte at a time.

  • Page 134: Connecting External Disk Drives

    modem is used to “translate” your digital information to a signal that can be sent over the telephone lines. Internally mounted modems are attached to a circuit board that will be installed inside your main system unit. These modems can communicate directly with the system CPU through your computer’s internal circuitry.

  • Page 135: System Expansion & Upgrades

    System Expansion And Upgrades This section deals with the addition of expansion boards and products to your computer’s main system unit. Although most expansion products are provided with detailed instructions for their installation and use, it is recommended that you read through this section in order to familiarize yourself with some of the basic principles of expanding your computer.
  • Page 136 Stop! When you remove the main system unit cover, observe the following precautions: The power supply cord must be unplugged before the main system unit cover is removed. (Separe le cordon d’alimentation et puis enleve le’couvercle.) Once removed, the cover must be replaced and screwed in position before the power supply cord is plugged back in.

  • Page 137: Opening And Closing The Cabinet

    Opening and Closing the Cabinet The procedure for opening the main system unit cabinet is as follows: Unplug the video monitor AC power and signal cables from their rear panel sockets. Set the monitor safely aside. Unplug the keyboard and set it aside. Unscrew the screws on the rear panel of the unit and set them aside.
  • Page 138 Make sure all the system and expansion boards are properly seated in their connectors, and have had their mounting screws tightened down. Make sure all the internal cables have been properly connected and arranged neatly. Wires should not be pinched or caught between chassis parts or circuit boards. Carefully slide the cover back onto the main system unit, being careful not to damage the cables.

  • Page 139: Installing Circuit Boards

    Most of the expansion products you will be installing into your computer are circuit boards. Like the system boards installed at the factory, expansion boards are plugged into the main system unit’s mother board. There are expansion boards available for a wide variety of functions.
  • Page 140 jumpers on the system motherboard to match the new hardware arrangement. You will be able to do this without removing the system motherboard from the main system unit chassis, although you may need to unplug the disk drive ribbon cable from its connector to allow easy access to the jumpers. Figure 7-3.
  • Page 141 Disconnect any internal cables that may be in the way. As you do, make a note of their correct locations and orientations for later reattachment. Unscrew the retaining screw for the slot guard, and set it aside. Mount the expansion board into the slot by gently sliding the board into the slot.
  • Page 142 INCORRECT ELECTRICAL RESTRICTIONS Figure 7-4. Installing the Option Card in an Expansion Slot Check the board’s alignment to make sure it is straight and level. If necessary, move the board slightly to align the hole in the top of the mounting bracket over the screw hole in the main system unit’s rear panel flange.

  • Page 143: Disk Drive Compartments

    Disk Drive Compartments To install expansion devices such as additional floppy disk drives into the main system unit’s disk drive compartments, follow the procedure given below. First, make yourself familiar with the specific installation procedure for the expansion device by reading all of the documentation provided.

  • Page 144: Internal Hard Disk Drive

    Figure 7-5. Mounting the Floppy disk drive If you are to mount the internal hard disk drive inside the main system unit case, follow the steps below: Remove the cover from the main system unit, as described previously. Attach the hard disk drive next to the Floppy disk drive on the right side of the system.
  • Page 145 Figure 7-6. Mounting the Internal Hard Disk Drive 7-16 Expanding Your System...

  • Page 146: Appendix A Specifications

    Specifications Computer System Operating Temperature : 41° to 95°F (5° to 35°C) Storage Temperature Operating Humidity Storage Humidity Compatibility Power Supply Keyboard System Motherboard Firmware Operating System Support Bus Interface Expansion Slots : -5° to 140°F (-15° to 60°C) : 20% to 80% (no condensation) : 10% to 90% (no condensation) : IBM PC/AT : 85W.

  • Page 147: Cpu Logic

    (with parity) Floppy Disk Drive Support I/O Ports Audio Support Real Time Clock with system configuration CMOS RAM. CPU Logic Main Central Processor IC Math Coprocessor IC System Memory Memory Address Space : 24 address lines (16MB) Data Interface A-2 Specifications Motherboard (8Ons, fast page mode) 256KB SIMM (256K * 9 bit) 1MB SIMM (1M * 9 bit)
  • Page 148 Memory Bank Configurations BIOS ROM : 64K-byte (150ns) 2ea Specifications A-3...

  • Page 149: System I/O

    Memory Size 256KB (256 * 4,2ea) 512KB (256 * 4, 4ea) System I/O DMA Channels: 8-bit operations — 4 channel 16-bit operations — 3 channel Programmable Timers: 3 Vectored Interrupt Levels: 15 System Timing System Clock Speed: 20MHz (high) 1OMHz (low) Clock Cycle Time: 50ns (20MHz) 1OOns (10MHz)

  • Page 150: I/O Address Map

    I/O Address Map Device Hex range 8237A-5 DMA Controller #1 000-01 F 8259A Interrupt Controller #1 020-03F 8254-2 Timer 040-05F 8042 Keyboard Controller 060-06F 070-07F Real Time Clock NMI (Non-Maskable Interrupt) Mask 74LS612 DMA Page Register 080-09F 8259A Interrupt Controller #2 0A0-0BF 8237A-5 DMA Controller #2 0C0-0DF...

  • Page 151: System Motherboard

    Appendix B System Motherboard Figure B-l. System Motherboard This appendix provides configuration and interface information for this board. You may skip this appendix if you are not installing expansion products that require changing the motherboard’s configuration jumper settings. Hardware Settings The system motherboard provides a set of switches to set the system configuration.
  • Page 152 When you turn the system power on, the system CPU will compare these settings with the information stored in its configuration RAM as part of the diagnostic routines. If any inconsistencies are found, they will be shown on the display monitor before MS-DOS is loaded.

  • Page 153: Removing The Motherboard

    Removing The Motherboard In order to change the settings defined by these switches, it will be necessary to remove the system motherboard from the chassis. To do this, follow these steps, referring to Chapter 7, “Expanding Your System,” where necessary: Unplug all of the cables from the rear panel of the main system unit.

  • Page 154: Switches

    Switches Once the motherboard is out of the chassis, proceed to set the configuration switches to match the changes in the system hardware. The Table B-l lists the switch settings SW1-1 Color SW1-2 *COM2 *COM1 SW1-3 SW1-4 English 1-2, 5-6 2-3, 4-5 * You should select only one of both COM1 and COM2 port.

  • Page 155: Vga Display Adapter

    VGA Display Adapter Your system is capable of supporting three major types of video configurations: Using only the on-board VGA video display adapter Using only an add-on video display adapter Using both the on-board and an add-on video display adapter There is a switch selection required to properly configure the video display you are using.

  • Page 156: Connectors

    Connectors The system motherboard is provided with a number of connectors for communication with other parts of the computer system. These connectors are discussed below. For pinout information on these connectors, see Appendix C, “Connector Pinouts.” The connectors provided on the system motherboard are for signal/power in facing and the, I/O ports, as follows: 120-pin Expansion Slot- J3 Configure any option board according to the directions...
  • Page 157 Expansion Slots — J2, J4, J6, and J8 on the backplane board The system backplane board which is connected to 120pin edge connector contains four expansion slots as follows: Four 16-bit slots for PC/AT boards or 8-bit PC/XT boards Keyboard Port - J4 The keyboard connector J4, is a 5pin DIN connector for keyboards that are compatible with the IBM AT keyboard.
  • Page 158 Power Connector - J1 The system board requires four DC voltage: +12V, -12V, +5V, and -5V. The power connector respectively supplies power to the system board and to the six expansion slots. IDE Interface Connector - J8 You use this 40 pin connector with IDE type Hard disk drive.

  • Page 159: Connector Pinouts

    Connector Pinouts I/O Ports RS-232C Serial port (9-pin subminiature “D” connector): Pin # I/O Type: Carrier Detect (CD) Input Input Receive Data (RD) output Transmit Data (TxD) output Data Terminal Ready (DTR) Signal Ground (GND) Ground Input Data Set Ready (DSR) output Request to Send (RTS) Input...

  • Page 160: Keyboard Port

    (25-pin subminiature “D” connector): Pin # 18-25 Keyboard Port (S-pin mini “DIN” connector) Pin # C o n n e c t o r P i n o u t s l/O Type: -strobe Input Data Bit 0 output Data Bit 1 output Data Bit 2 output...
  • Page 161 IDE Port Pin # Signal Name -Reset Ground Data 7 Data 8 Data 6 Data 9 Data 5 Data 10 Data 4 Data 11 Data 3 Data 12 Data 2 Data 13 Data 1 Data 14 Data 0 Data 15 Ground Not Connected Ground...
  • Page 162 Power Supply Connector (12-pin post header) Pin # PS/2 Mouse connector (J10) (6-pin mini DIN PS/2-type connector) Pin # C-4 Connector Pinouts Signal Name Power Good Signal +5 Volts +12 Volts -12 Volts Ground Ground Ground Ground -5 Volts +5 Volts +5 Volts +5 Volts Signal Name...

  • Page 163: Expansion Slot Connectors

    Figure C-l. Expansion Slot Connectors Expansion Slot Connectors Your computer comes with industry standard IBM compatible expansion slots. There are five AT-style (98 pin) expansion slot connectors mounted on your system mother board. The charts below show the pin numbering on the expansion slot connectors.
  • Page 164 Expansion Slot Connector Pinouts: A-10 A-11 A-12 A-13 A-14 A-15 A-16 A-17 A-18 A-19 A-20 A-21 A-22 A-23 A-24 A-25 A-26 A-27 A-28 A-29 A-30 A-31 C-6 Connector Pinouts Signal Name: Type: -l/O CH CK Input -l/O CH RDY Input Output SA19 SA18...
  • Page 165 Expansion Slot Connector Pinouts (continued): Type: Ground output Power Input Power Input Power Input Power B-10 Ground B-11 output B-12 output B-13 B-14 B-15 output B-16 Input B-17 output B-18 Input B-19 B-20 output B-21 Input B-22 Input B-23 Input B-24 Input B-25...
  • Page 166 Expansion Slot Connector Pinouts (continued): C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13 C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 D-10 D-11 D-12 D-13 D-14 D-15 D-16 D-17 D-18 C-8 Connector Pinouts Signal Name: Type: -SBHE SA23 SA22 SA21 SA20 SA19 SA18 SA17 -MEMR -MEMW SD10 SD11 SD12 SD13...

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