Epson Equity II User Manual

EQUITY™II+User's GuideEPSON®

IntroductionYour Epson® Equity™ II+ personal computer is a versatile, high-performance system that offers you a wide variety of choices. First youchoo

The program starts to scan the disk to find all tracks flagged as bad,starting from the innermost cylinder of the disk. During the scan, you see thenu

If you continue with formatting, you see:Format started.Current cylinder is xxxxWhen formatting is complete, any bad tracks are flagged, and you see a

Unconditional FormatUse this option to format your hard disk when you want to enter thelist of bad tracks before formatting begins. The main differenc

Some of the messages change if the table is full or empty. However, theway that you add a bad track or make a correction is the same.1.2.3.To cancel t

WARNING: If any errors occur during this check, all data on thetrack that produces the error is destroyed. For thisreason, if you think that an unflag

To flag the error tracks as bad, press Y and Enter. You then see a list ofthe tracks as they are flagged. You see these messages:Flagging bad tracks..

Chapter 3Formatting a DisketteThis chapter briefly describes how, you format a diskette. Normally, youformat a diskette using the MS-DOS FORMAT comman

If drive A is a 1.2MB drive and you format a double-density diskette,you see this warning message:WARNING! This disk is not suitable for testing a360,

Chapter 4Performing System DiagnosticsThis chapter describes how to check the operation of the main unit andperipheral devices of your system. You che

Using the System Diagnostics ProgramWhen you start the System diagnostics, the computer checks:l The setting of the monitor switch (for monochrome or

You can add memory expansion option cards to increase the amount ofinternal memory in your Equity II+, and you can add an 80287 math copro-cessor (whi

Modifying the DEVICE LISTIf an installed device is missing from the DEVICE LIST, it is importantthat you add it to the list and test it carefully. In

Type the number of the item you wish to add and press Enter. You can addas many devices as necessary. When the DEVICE LIST is complete, press 0followe

reliability testing of essential functions only; in most cases, running a testonly once is sufficient.To perform the test once, press 1 and Enter. The

The program continues after an error in one of the following ways:l It returns to the DEVICE LIST, orlIf you are running multiple tests and are not te

For this check, the program writes specific data into memory and thenreads it back. The data is written and read in blocks of 64KB. A parity checkis a

After you select a keyboard layout, the program displays the layout onthe screen. When you press a key on the keyboard, the corresponding char-acter d

You can select the individual checks from this menu:MONOCHROME ADAPTER AND CRT CHECK MENU1- Monochrome adapter check3’- Attribute check- Character set

If the display attributes are not correct, adjust the brightness andcontrast on your display monitor. If they are still incorrect, press N andEnter.Ch

Sync checkThis test is provided for service purposes only. If you accidentally selectthis option, press any key to end the test.Run all above checksTo

If an error occurs during any of these tests, record the error code andmessage, or print them out. Then contact your dealer or Epson for customerservi

The last section of this manual describes the diagnostics programs foryour Equity II+. You run these diagnostics programs the first time you set upyou

After checking the character fonts, respond to the prompt:Is the display correct (Y/N)?If the characters match the illustration, press Y and then Ente

320x200 graphics mode checkTo check your 320x200 graphics mode, press 5 and then Enter.The screen displays three colored squares-light green, brown, a

Screen paging checkTo check the screen paging of your monitor, press 7 and Enter.The video RAM on the color graphics adapter is divided into eightinde

If you do not have a light pen attached, press N and Enter. To begin the test,press Y and Enter. You see this prompt:PLACE LIGHT PEN ON CENTER OF WHIT

Run all above checksTo run all the tests on the menu in sequence, press 11 and Enter.When you choose this option, all checks for the color adapter and

Before any checks are performed, the program determines the numberof floppy disk drives installed in your computer. If you have more than onedrive, yo

If you have only one floppy disk drive, you see a prompt to remove thediagnostics diskette and insert a blank diskette before running the test. Yousee

Select option 5 from the menu to start this test. First the program checksthe selected drive type; if the drive is a 360KB drive, you see these messag

Parallel Port (Printer Interface) CheckUse this option to test the operation of the primary parallel printer port.To perform the test, you must insert

When you select option 11 from the DEVICE LIST, you see theseprompts:Attach loop-back connector to serial port.Enter Y to start this check when connec

Chapter 1Setting Up Your SystemSetting up your Epson Equity II+ personal computer is easy. Just followthe steps in this chapter- You’ll find a quick g

Alternate Serial Port CheckUse this option to test the functions of an additional serial communica-tions (RS-232C) port. To perform the test you must

care with certain software. The bit-image data is sent to the printer using acommand (ESCK) compatible with Epson and IBM® printers. If this patternis

Seek checkThis test checks the ability of the read/write heads to locate any part ofthe hard disk. This action by a read/write head is called a seek.

1.2.3.4.If this analysis shows no other problems with the disk, follow these steps:Back up all the files on your hard disk.Re-format the disk using op

Read, verify checkThis test reads and verifies data from all tracks of the disk, checking eachcylinder and using both heads.Select option 5 from the m

Diagnostics

Chapter 5Moving the Hard DiskThis chapter describes the procedure you use when you plan to moveyour computer. Even if you are moving the computer only

Diagnostics

Appendix AError Codes and MessagesThis appendix lists all the error codes and messages that may appearduring diagnostics checks.Table A-1. Error a&

Table A-l. Error codes and messages (continued)Error code MessageFloppy disk drives and controller601FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER ERROR602 SEQUENTIAL SEEK E

Be sure to keep your packing materials. They provide the best protectionpossible for your computer if you need to move or ship it later.Removing the d

Appendix BTypes of Hard Disk DrivesThis appendix lists the numbers you need to identify a hard disk drive.Refer to this table and the documentation su

B-2Diagnostics

Appendix CPower-on DiagnosticsThe built-in memory (ROM) of your computer contains a series of diag-nostics programs. These programs are run automatica

where x is a number from 1 to 8 that represents the specific LSI circuit inwhich the error is found. Your service dealer needs this information to fin

first 64KB area, an error message displays and the computer halts with nofurther information.If there are faulty RAM chips in your system, you see one

Optional RAM CheckIf any additional memory (expansion RAM) is installed, the computerthen checks that RAM for any malfunction.Floppy Disk Drive Seek C

IndexThis index references items in the Diagnostics section of your manual.AAdapter,Color graphics, 4-11Monochrome display, 4-8Alternate serial port c

FFDISK, 4-26Flagged tracks, 2-2Floppy disk,Controller check, 4-17Disk change check, 4-19Drive check, 4-17, C-4Formatting, 3-1Random seek check, 4-18Se

PPaging, screen check, 4-15Parallel port check, 4-21Power-on diagnostics (self test),Intro-2, C-l -4Printer interface check, 4-21Printer, dot-matrix,

8Steps to Setting Up the Equity II+1Unpacking YourComputerI\2ChoosingIa LocationI\3Arranging the4Connecting theIComponentsPower Cord5Connecting a Vide

lAppropriate power sources. To prevent static charges, connect all yourequipment to 3-prong, 120-volt grounded outlets. You need one outlet forthe mai

EQUITY™lI+EPSON®

If you have special computer furniture or want to customize your setup,you can arrange your system components to suit your own needs.Before you connec

Slots for optional disk drives. You can add another floppy disk drive(1.44MB, 1.2MB, 720KB,or 360KB) and/or hard disk drive in theseslots. All Equity

WARNING: Connect all your peripherals before you plug in thepower cable. After you plug in the power cable,always turn off the power switch before you

Figure 1-4. Connecting the power cord5Connecting a Video MonitorThe procedure you use to connect your monitor to the main unitdepends on the type of m

EPSON®Equity™ II+User’s GuideY16299110300

Figure 1-5. Connecting the monitorThe monitor type must match the video card in the main unit. If youhave a color card, you can use one of two connect

4.5.Plug the monitor’s power cable first into the power inlet on the monitorand then into an electrical outlet.Note: If a monochrome monitor has the p

You can tilt the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legs on the bot-tom. To adjust the legs, turn the keyboard over and lift each leg upward until

7Connecting a PrinterThe Equity II+ has both parallel and serial interfaces. You can easilyconnect a printer or plotter that has either type of interf

.4.Connect the other end of the cable to the printer as shown in Figure 1-9.To secure the cable, tighten the squeeze locks at each side of the printer

The Equity II+ character setThe Equity II+ uses a special character set that assigns graphics andinternational characters to some of the ASCII codes.

Turning on the power switchNow you are ready to turn on your system. It is a good idea to turn onthe monitor and any peripheral devices before you tur

do it again if you change your system configuration-by adding a disk drive,for example-or to change the system date or time. See the Diagnostics sec-t

1-16User’s Guide

Chapter 2Using the Equity II+This chapter covers some basic procedures for using your Equity II+computer and keyboard.Inserting and Removing Diskettes

IMPORTANT NOTICEDISCLAIMER OF WARRANTYSeiko Epson Corporation makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or withrespect to

To remove the diskette, turn the latch up until it is horizontal and thediskette pops out. Carefully pull out the diskette, place it in its protective

Table 2-1. Special keysEscCancels the current command line or operation.F1- F12Perform special functions within application programs.Print ScreenPrint

To change the speed, move the CPU SPEED switch on the front panel.See Figure 2-3.Figure 2-3. CPU speed switchWhen the computer is running at 8 MHz, th

There are three ways to reset. Because each is more powerful than thelast, try them in the order listed here:If you are using MS-DOS, hold down Ctrl a

User’s Guide

Chapter 3Using Disks and Disk DrivesThe disk drives in your computer allow you to store data on disk, andretrieve and use stored data when you like. A

Choosing Diskette Drives for the Equity II+Your computer has one or more of the following types of drives:360KB drive-Uses S&inch, double-sided, d

Table 3-2. 3Xhch drive/diskette compatibilityDrive typeDiskette types it can read from and write to720KB720KB1.44MB 720KB, 1.44MBIf you have any combi

Never touch a diskette’s magnetic surface. The oils on your fingertips candamage it. Always hold a diskette by its protective jacket. On a 3%inchdiske

Protecting your DataThere are two ways to avoid losing data you store on disk: you can makebackup copies and you tan write-protect your diskettes.You

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENTFOR AMERICAN USERSThis equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed andused properly, that is, in

00‘Write-protectnotchFigure 3-1. Write-protect notchOn a 3Sinch diskette, the write-protect device is a small switch on thelower-right corner on the b

Using Two Diskette DrivesOperating systems usually expect the computer to have at least twophysical disk drives. Normally, MS-DOS recognizes drives A

Although it has a lot of storage space, keep only files you use regularly onthe hard disk, to ensure you always have plenty of space available. Storey

Chapter 4Installing Option CardsOption cards are accessories that you can install in your Equity II+ toprovide extra capabilities. For example, you ca

Figure 4-1. Back and side panel screws3.Turn the main unit around so the front panel faces you. Hold on to thetwo sides of the cover and carefully pul

4.You can separate the sides of the cover from the bottom ledge of thecomputer by pulling them outward slightly, as shown in Figure 4-3.Figure 4-3. Re

Figure 4-4. Option slots16-bit optioncarFigure 4-5. 16-bit and &bit option cards4-4User’s Guide

Except for the video card, it does not matter which slot an option cardoccupies, as long as the card fits in the slot. For example, you can place some

2.Unpack the option card and adjust any switches or jumper connectionson it if necessary. (For example, a memory expansion card usuallycontains DIP sw

5.Once the connector pins are sitting in the connector slot, push the carddownward firmly (but carefully) to fully insert it. If the card does not goi

ivUser’s Guide

Post-installation SetupAfter you install an option card (and replace the main unit’s cover andreconnect the power cord and peripherals), you may need

Chapter 5TroubleshootingYou should not encounter any serious difficulties as you set up and useyour Equity II+. But if anything out of the ordinary ha

Use the controls on the monitor to turn up the brightness and contrast.Remove any diskettes, then turn off the power switches on the monitorand the ma

2.Have you inserted the right type of diskette? The diskette type is nor-mally shown on the manufacturer’s label. See ‘Choosing Diskettes forthe Equit

Printer ProblemsYour printer manual describes methods to solve most printer problems.If your printer does not work correctly right after you install i

Appendix AJumper SettingsThis appendix describes how to set the jumpers inside the Equity II+ ifyou install optional devices that require different ju

WARNING:The jumpers on these cards are preset at the factoryin default positions. Do not change any of themunless you are sure the option card you are

0EPROM size. You can change the EPROM size jumper if you install adifferent size of EPROM.In all cases, make sure you need to alter the jumper setting

2.Lift the card gently out of the computer, taking care not to catch it onany cables inside the computer. Set it on a soft surface, such as a towel,wi

lMath coprocessor clock speed. If you or your dealer installs an 80287math coprocessor, you may need to set the jumpers for a different clockspeed. Th

ContentsIntroduction...How to Use this Manual...1Setting Up Your System...Un

Figure A-5. Main circuit board jumpersMulti-function Card JumpersThe jumpers on the multi-function card control the parallel port addressand the seria

Table A-4 shows the jumpers on the multi-function card that control theserial port.Table A-4. Multi-function card jumper settings for serial portJumpe

Figure A-7. Removing multi-function card retaining screw3.Remove the card from the slot (pull it straight up) and set it on a softsurface with the com

Appendix BEquity II+ SpecificationsCPU and Memory16-bit CPU80286 microprocessor; 8 or 12 MHz clock-rate, switch-selectableMain memoryROMMath coprocess

Interfaces (continued)Option slotsSix IBM-compatible input/output expan-sion slots: one occupied by parallel and serialinterface and floppy disk contr

Optional31/l-inch or 51/&inch, half-height or full-height internal hard disk drive.KeyboardDetachable, three positions, 101 sculptedkeysLayout58-k

OptionsMonochrome videocardTTL green or amber High-persistence, P-39 phosphor screen;monochrome monitoretched surface to reduce glare; 22 MHz video(12

Appendix CGlossaryASCIIAmerican Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standardizedcoding system for representing characters, such as numbers, l

CommandAn instruction you enter on the keyboard to direct your computer toperform a specific function.ConfigurationThe particular setup of a group of

Disk driveThe physical device that allows the computer to read from and write to adisk. A floppy disk drive has a disk slot on the front panel of the

4Installing Option Cards...4-1Removing the Cover...4-1Installing an Option Card...

HardwareAny physical component of a computer system, such as a monitor,printer, keyboard, or CPU.High-densityA type of diskette format that allows you

Monochrome monitorA monitor that displays in only one color, such as green or amber, asopposed to a color monitor that can display in several colors.M

Random Access Memory. The part of memory that a computer canboth read and write to. The programs you use are temporarily stored inRAM. All data stored

System disketteA diskette that contains the operating system.TracksAddressable, concentric circles on a diskette, resembling the grooves ona record, w

C-8User’s Guide

IndexAAC inlet, 1-6, 5-1AC outlet, 1-6Adjusting keyboard legs, 1-10Application program, 2-4, 5-4ASCII codes, 1-13Asynchronous, B-1Auxiliary power outl

Disk drive,caring for, 3-3compatibility, 3-2 -3, 5-3floppy, Intro-l, 1-4, 2-1, 3-1 -7,B-l, B-2hard, Intro-l, 1-5, 3-1, 3-7, B-1, B-3inserting diskette

IInitial screen display, 1-15Initial setup procedure, 1-14 -15Inlet, AC, 1-5 -6, 5-1Input/output slots, 1-5, B-2Inserting diskette, 2-1Installing opti

MS-DOS,booting, 1-15operating system, Intro-2, 1-1,1-15preparing hard disk, 3-7 -8system diskette, 1-1, 1-15Multi-function card,location, A-ljumpers,

SSELECT program, 3-8Self test, internal, 1-15Serial,cable, 1-12controller card, 4-1, 4-3,A-l, A-6interface, 1-6, 1-12, B-1port, 1-6, 1-12, A-6 -8print

Figures1-11-21-31-41-51-61-71-81-91-102-12-22-33-13-24-14-24-34-44-54-64-7A-1System arrangement...Front panel...

DiagnosticsThis section describes the diagnostics programsyou use the first time you set up your system andany time you make changes to it.

Diagnostics

ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Intro-1Starting the Diagnostics...Intro

Color Graphics Adapter and CRT Check...4-11Color graphics adapter check...4-12Attribute check...4

AppendixesAError Codes and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..A-1BTypes of Hard Disk Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-1C P

Diagnostics

IntroductionThis special section of your manual describes how to initialize yourEpson® system after it is assembled, and how to test the condition of

ROMBIOSDisplays the computer’s ROM BIOS versionnumber.SYSTATDisplays the system parameters.These commands are easy to use. The ROMBIOS command display

The OPERATION MENUAfter the power-on self test completes successfully, the diagnostics pro-grams start. Depending on the exact system you purchased, t

lIf you have run a diagnostics program, you see this selection:pl - Exit and resetIn this case, when you press 0 and Enter, the system is reset. Befor

Tables1-1Monitor/video card compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-82-1Specialkeys . . . . . ...2-33-1S%inch dr

Chapter 1Setting Up the SystemThis chapter describes how to use the Setup program to make changesto the list of equipment maintained by the computer.

You can exit a submenu in one of the following ways:l To exit the submenu without making any changes, press t until thecursor block returns to the mai

Note: If memory on an option board overlaps the computer’s mainmemory, you must disable that part of memory-either on theoption board or on the built-

Using a Different Type of DisplayUse the Display option if you change the monitor or video card you areusing with your computer. The Display setting i

l If you have a composite color monitor, such as a color televisionwith a video input, try selecting Color/graph 80. If resolution ispoor, run Setup a

Changing Disk DrivesUse the Mass storage option if you install an additional floppy or harddisk drive, or if you remove an existing drive and replace

Setting the Real-time ClockIf your system has a real-time clock, it automatically keeps track of thetime and date. This kind of clock is backed up by

3.To set the date, move the cursor to Date and press Enter. You see:Enter the date in the exact form shown in the box, using two digits for themonth a

Chapter 2Formatting a Hard DiskThis chapter describes how you use diagnostics to check or format ahard disk drive after installation. You can also use

The first two options format a hard disk. Normally you use option 1,Conditional format (Normal). This option automatically locates any tracksthat are