Epson Apex 100 User Manual

Formatting Diskettes... 3-25Formatting Diskettes on the Apex 100... 3-26Formatting Diskettes on the Apex 100\

DISK StatisticsSummarizes information about the fileson the disk.Files windowLists the names of all the files in thecurrent directory.DIR COMMANDS Dis

Function keys control XTREE itself. Press F1 to quit XTREE,F2 to display a screen of help information, or F3 to cancel acommand. XTREE displays the av

Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT FileYou may find that there are some commands you want to runevery time you turn on your computer. To run a command or aseries o

Creating an AUTOEXEC.BAT FileYou can create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file using any commandor program that lets you create a text-only file. If you have aword

3.Now enter the commands you want to include in the file.Type them exactly as you want MS-DOS to execute them,and in the order you want to perform the

Chapter 4Installing Option CardsOption cards are accessories you can add to your computer toprovide extra system capabilities. For example, you may wa

Removing the CoverBefore you install an option card in your computer, you need toremove the cover.WARNINGNever open the case of the computer while it

3.The top cover is secured by two screws on each side of thecomputer. The two screws on the left side of the unit arecovered by small plastic inserts,

Inserting an Option CardMost option cards can be placed into any of the option slots.Some cards, however, must be installed in a specific slot.Check t

2.Put the option slot cover in a safe place in case you laterremove the option card. Keep the screw and washer. Youwill use them to secure the option

Software Problems...5-11Printer Problems...5-12Option Card Problems...

4.Grip the card firmly by the top comers. Hold it so theconnector pins are pointing down and the componentsfacing the inside of the computer, as shown

Removing an Access Slot CoverSome option cards, such as the video card, have an outlet forconnecting an external device. If you install an option card

Removing an Option CardIf you later need to remove an option card, simply reverse thesteps you followed to install it. Remove the screw securing theca

3.Secure the cover by replacing the screws on both sides ofthe computer. Snap the plastic inserts into the side feet.4.Replace the back panel and the

When you finish installing an option card and reconfiguringthe system, you should test the option if possible. Some optioncards come with their own di

Installing the Optional ControllerFirst remove the cover of the computer as described earlier inthis chapter. Then see the documentation supplied with

Changing the Jumper SettingTo disable the built-in diskette drive controller, you need tochange the setting of Jumper J1 on the main system board. See

Chapter 5TroubleshootingYou should not encounter any difficulties as you set up and useyour computer, but if anything out of the ordinary happens,refe

2.3.Replace the system (Startup) diskette, if necessary, andturn the computer on again.If the computer’s power light still does not come on, checkthe

4.If your computer still does not respond, you can reset it withthe RESET button. Follow the instructions in Chapter 2. 5.If resetting the computer do

Appendix CPower-on DiagnosticsSystem Device Check...C-1Timer and CMOS RAM Check...C-2RAM Check...

2.If the power switch is on but the power light is not, turn offthe monitor’s power, wait five seconds, and turn the powerback on. Wait a few seconds

NoteIf your application program requires a monitor thatsupports graphics but you have a monochrome monitor,the results will be unpredictable.7.If you

If you have the optional 720KB drive, use 3 1/2-inchdouble-sided, double-density diskettes. You cannot use3 1/2-inch diskettes that were formatted for

NoteRECOVER renames all files on the diskette, so use itonly after you have copied as many files as possible withthe MS-DOS COPY command.6.If you are

The CHKDSK program can recover data that has beeninadvertently lost on the diskette. It makes changes to thediskette if you use the /F switch in the c

Hard Disk ProblemsIf you are having problems with the hard disk in yourApex 100\20, try the following steps:1.If this is the first time you have used

3.If you can boot from a diskette but cannot access datastored on your hard disk, you may have accidentallyrepartitioned or reformatted part or all of

Follow the instructions in Appendix E to perform alow-level (Conditional) format.Follow the instructions in Appendix F to prepare thehard disk for use

To interrupt an MS-DOS command while it is executing,try one of the following commands:Hold down the Ctrl key and press CHold down the Ctrl key and pr

4.If your printer is properly set up but is still not functioning,test it from the MS-DOS level. When the MS-DOScommand prompt (such as A> or C>

Floppy Disk Drives and Controller Check...D-22Formatting a Diskette ...D-22Starting the Floppy Disk Drive Check..

3.If you changed the configuration of your computer-forexample, if you added a disk drive, serial or parallel port, ordisplay adapter card-did you cha

Appendix AChanging DIP Switches and Using SetupThis Appendix describes how to change the DIP switches onthe front panel of your computer and how to ru

NoteSet the DIP switches only while your computer is off.Because softwareprograms check the settings each time youcum on the system, do not change the

Switch 1 (keyboard type)—tells your computer what kind ofkeyboard you are using. If you are using the keyboard chat camewith your computer, this swit

DIP Switch Set 2 (Parallel and Serial Port Operations)The following cable lists the parallel and serial port functionscontrolled by DIP switch set 2.D

If you install two option cards with parallel ports, designateone as the primary port and the other as the secondaryport. In this ease, you need co se

Running the Setup ProgramYou can use the Setup program on your Reference diskette toset (or change) the following for your computer:Time and date stor

2.Turn on or reset the computer. You see the followingOperation menu:OPERATIONMENU1 - Setup2 - Format hard disk3 - Format diskette4 - System diagnosti

If you do not want to change anything in the Setup menu or ifyou have finished making changes, press to highlight theE x i t option. See “Leaving th

If you enter an invalid time-for example, a numbergreater than 23 for the hours or greater than 59 for theminutes or seconds-the computer keeps and ig

Appendix FPreparing a Hard Disk for UseCreating the MS-DOS Partition...F-2Formatting the MS-DOS Partition...F-4

NoteAnother way to change the real-time clock's time and dateis with the MS-DOS (version 3.3 or later) TIME and DATEcommands. See your MS-DOS Ref

To verify or change the primary serial port parameters,highlight Primary serial port and press Enter. Tochange the secondary serial port parameters, h

Use the arrow keys to highlight the desired communicationspeed and then press Enter.ParityTo set the type of parity check, highlight Parity and pressE

Leaving the Setup ProgramWhen you finish setting the options in the Setup menu,highlight the Exit option and press Enter. You see a summarysuch as thi

2.If you have the Apex 100, insert the Startup diskette indrive A. If you have the Apex 100\20, leave the diskettedrive empty.3. Highlight ** EXIT AND

Appendix BSpecificationsMain Unit16-bit CPUMain memoryCoprocessorRead Only Memory(ROM)Direct MemoryAccess (DMA)Interrupt (8259)Timer/counter(8253-S)Cl

Speaker interfaceInternal, controlled by timer/counterOption slotsFive, B-bit IBM-compatible input-output expansion slots; one slot isoccupied by a di

Power SupplySwitching type,fan-cooledOutput voltage:-5 VDC, +5 VDC,-12 VDC, +12 VDCAuxiliary ACPower Requirements: 115/230 VAC(switch selectable)Power

Video and Display OptionsStandardMulti-graphics adapter card; color ormonochrome, switch-selectable;installed in option slotSupports Epson- and IBM-co

ActionPrinters™ by EpsonT-1000T-750L-1000L-7509-pin, 80-column, dot-matrixprinter; 180 cps draft/30 cps nearletter quality (CO1 8011)Black ribbon (875

IntroductionYour Apex” personal computer is powerful, versatile, and easyto use. After setting up your system with the simple instructionsin this manu

ActionPrinteraccessoriesComputeraccessoriesL-1000/L-750 Replacement ribbon(7753)T-1000/T-750 Replacement ribbon(8758)Universal printer stand(CPD-552-B

Parallel Port Pin AssignmentsPin no.Signal nameDirection Description1-STROBE2DATA0 3DATA 14DATA 25DATA 36 DATA 47DATA 58 DATA 69DATA 710-ACK11BUSY12PE

Serial Port Pin AssignmentsPin no.Signal name1NC2TX3RX4RTS5CTS6DSR7GND8DCD9-19NC20DTR21NC22RI23-25 NCDirection Description—No connectionOTransmitted d

Keyboard Connector Pin AssignmentsPin no.Signal nameDirection Description1KBD CLKI/OKeyboard clock2KBD DATAl/OKeyboard data3-KBD RESETO-Keyboard reset

Appendix CPower-on DiagnosticsThe built-in memory (ROM) of your computer contains aseries of diagnostics programs, which your computer runsautomatical

If the computer finds a fault in the main board, it stops anddisplays an error message such as this:10n-System board errorwhere n is a number from 1 t

RAM CheckThe computer now begins to check the RAM installed on themain system board and any option cards. During the check, yousee this message:nnn KB

Floppy Disk Drive Seek CheckFinally, the computer checks its diskette drive(s) by searchingthe read/write heads for any malfunction. If it finds any s

Appendix DPerforming System DiagnosticsThis appendix describes how to check the operation of themain unit and peripheral devices of your computer. You

To start the system diagnostics program, follow these steps:1.Insert the Reference diskette in drive A.2.Turn on or reset the computer. The OPERATION

As your needs grow, so can your computer; you can expand yoursystem by adding a wide variety of options. You can install mostoption cards compatible w

If the list correctly describes your system, press Y and thenEnter. If a device is missing from this list, or if you wish tochange the list, press N a

To add a device to the list, press 1 and then Enter. Theprogram displays a list of other devices that are not currentlyincluded in the DEVICE LIST. Yo

When you have finished adding or deleting devices and areback to the Modify DEVICE LIST menu, press 0 and thenEnter again. The screen displays the mod

To perform the test multiple times, press 2 and Enter. You seethis prompt:Terminate checking if an errordetected (Y/N)?Press Y and Enter to terminate

After printing the error message, the program displays thisprompt:Printout is finished. Press ENTER toreturn to the menu.The program continues after a

The checks made on the 8088 CPU chip are extremelycomprehensive. They ensure that the CPU instruction set isfunctioning correctly.If an error is repor

Keyboard CheckUse this option to check the operation of the keyboard. Theprogram first checks the keyboard controller; during this check,you see the g

The status of the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lockindicators is shown on the upper right side of the keyboardlayout.These messages appear on the s

Youcan select the individual checks from this menu:MONOCHROME ADAPTER AND CRT CHECK MENU1 -Monochrome adapter check2- Attribute check3- Character set

Attribute CheckTo check the display attributes of the adapter card, press 2 andthen Enter. A series of messages are displayed showingexamples of all t

Appendix C provides information on the power-on diagnostics.Appendix D outlines the system diagnostic checks you canperform on your computer. If you a

After checking the characters, respond to the prompt:Is the display correct(Y/N) ?If the characters displayed match the illustration, press Y andEnter

Color Graphics Adapter and CRT CheckUse this option to check the operation of a color graphicsdisplay adapter and monitor. This test includes several

Color Graphics Adapter CheckTo check the color graphics adapter, press 1 and then Enter.The computer checks the video RAM (display memory) on thedispl

Character Set CheckTo check your 80-column character set, press 3 and Enter.The characters that are included in the internal charactergenerator are di

40-column Character Set CheckTo check your 40-column character set, press 4 and thenEnter. The character fonts that are included in the internalcharac

The same pattern is displayed again; this time the squares arecyan, white, and magenta, and the background is red. Thesecolors are called Color Set 1.

If any pattern is not displayed clearly, check the adjustment ofyour monitor and make sure it is connected properly. If aproblem still exists, press N

If all eight pages are correct, press Y and Enter. If any page isfilled with an incorrect number, press N and Enter co displaythe error message.Light

Color Video CheckOption 9, Color video check, displays 16 different screens,each a different color, and a message indicating the color. Thescreens sho

Floppy Disk Drives and Controller CheckUse this option to test the performance of the diskette (floppydisk) drives inside or connected to your compute

Chapter 1Setting Up Your SystemSetting up your Apex personal computer is easy. Just follow thenine steps in this chapter. You may want to leave the ba

4.Insert the diskette to be formatted in the drive you selectedand press Enter. The screen displays the head and cylindernumbers as the diskette is fo

Before it performs any checks, the program determines thenumber of diskette drives installed in your computer. If youhave more than one drive, you see

Write, Read CheckThis test checks the ability of the selected disk drive to readand write data from a diskette. The test writes to and reads fromeach

The computer spins the diskette for a few seconds then displaysa message like this:The disk rotation speed is now 300.0 rpm.NoteThe speed for a 360KB

Before running any tests, the computer checks DIP switch 1-Zon the front panel to ensure that a coprocessor is installed. Ifthe coprocessor is missing

The computer checks the port by writing and reading data andcontrol information, and reports errors for any pins that arefaulty. Note that if you conn

Insert the loop-back connector. Then press Y and Enter tostart the check.First, the computer checks the serial port control lines to seethat they are

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

When you continue the test, the computer checks that theprinter is responding correctly. This test detects whether theprinter is off-line or whether a

When you select option 17 from the DEVICE LIST, you seethis menu:HARD DISK DRIVE(S) AND CONTROLLER CHECK MENU1- Seek check2 - Write, read check3 - Err

Besides this manual, you should have the following:The computer and power cordThe keyboard with attached cableFour diskettes: three that contain the M

Write, Read CheckThis check tests the ability of the hard disk drive to read andwrite data. The test writes to and reads from each sector of theinnerm

Error Detection and Correction CheckThis test checks the ability of the hard disk drive to detect aread/write error and to correct the data accordingl

At the end of the test, you see a table of the results of the test.For example, for a 20MB hard disk with no bad tracks, you see:BAD TRACKS...

Error Codes and MessagesThis table lists all the error codes and messages that may appearduring diagnostics checks.Error codeMessageSystem board101808

Error codeMessageFloppy disk drives and controller601FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER ERROR602SEOUENTIAL SEEK ERROR603RANDOM SEEK ERROR604WRITE ERROR605READ ERR

Error code MessageHard disk drives and controller1701 SEEK ERROR1702WRITE ERROR1703READ ERROR1705ERROR DETECTION ERROR1706 ERROR CORRECTION ERRORD-38P

Appendix EPhysically Formatting a Hard DiskThis appendix describes how to physically format a hard disk.Sometimes called a low-level or hard format, t

new disk or reformatting a used disk, after physically formattingit, you need to run FDISK and SELECT to prepare the harddisk for use. Follow the inst

Destructive surface analysis tests a formatted hard disk forbad tracks and updates the bad track table. Because thisoption writes and reads data on th

Formatting a New DiskMany hard disk drives are supplied with a list of bad tracks butwithout the bad tracks flagged on the disk. Other hard disks ares

Attention Apex™ OwnersThe MGA card in your computer includes a game port, such asthe one shown below. You can easily connect a joystick, trackball, or

Save the protector card and reinsert it whenever you move thecomputer. If you don’t plan to use your computer for a week ormore, reinsert the card to

NoteIf you have more than one hard disk drive, you see thisprompt:Enter drive letter (C/D)?Press C or D and then Enter.Conditional Format (Normal)Use

The program then displays a warning about the consequencesof proceeding with formatting:WARNING! ALL DATA WILL BE DESTROYED INALL PARTITIONS OF HARD D

Flagged tracks are identified by xxxx and yy. At this point,press Enter to return to the HARD DISK FORMAT MENU.If there are any tracks with other erro

If you are formatting a disk that has never been formatted,check the list of bad tracks that came with the disk. This listidentifies each defect by th

Some of the messages change if the table is full or empty.However, the way that you add a bad track or make acorrection is the same.To add a bad track

Destructive Surface AnalysisUse this option to accurately locate any bad tracks on a harddisk, and to flag any bad tracks that are not flagged.WARNING

If the program finds one bad track that is not flagged, thesummary would show one track with a write, read error. Thereport is then followed by a tabl

When ‘the analysis is complete, the program displays a summaryof the status of the disk. This summary lists the following: Flagged bad tracksTracks

Appendix FPreparing a Hard Disk for UseIf you have the Apex 100\20, your hard disk has already beenphysically formatted, partitioned, and formatted fo

The hard disk you are using has been producing numerousread/write errors.See Appendix E for instructions on performing a low-levelformat. If you need

Moderate environmental conditions. Protect yourcomputer from extremes in temperature, direct sunlight, orany other source of heat. High humidity also

3.4.5.6.7.8.9.Type A : and press Enter to log onto drive A.At the A> prompt, type FD I SK and press Enter. Thescreen displays the FDISK options men

Formatting the MS-DOS PartitionOnce you have created the MS-DOS partition, you mustformat it for MS-DOS. Use the MS-DOS SELECT commandto format the ne

The screen displays this message and prompt:SELECT is used to install DOS thefirst time.SELECT erases everything on thespecified target and then insta

SELECT copies the rest of the files from the Startupdiskette to the hard disk. When all the files are copied, theA> prompt reappears. The partition

NoteThe procedure described above copies all the files on theMS-DOS and Reference diskettes to the /DOS subdirectoryon drive C. You may, however, pref

2.Type the following and press Enter:COPY CON AUTOEXEC.BAT3.Type the following, pressing Enter after each line:ECHO OFFCLSPROMPT = SPSGPATH = C:\DOS4.

GlossaryAbsolute pathnameA pathname that begins with the backslash character. Anabsolute pathname tells MS-DOS how to find its way to agiven directory

Batch fileA type of file that lets you execute a series of MS-DOScommands by typing one command. Batch files are text fileswith the filename extension

CMOSComplementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. A method ofmaking low power silicon chips.CommandAn instruction you enter (usually on a keyboard) to dire

The procedure you use to connect your monitor to thecomputer depends on the type of monitor you have. See yourmonitor manual for detailed instructions

Current directoryThe directory you are logged onto and working in. Also knownas the default directory.CursorThe highlighted marker that shows your pos

Default driveThe disk drive from which MS-DOS executes your nextcommand, unless you tell it to do otherwise (by including adrive designator with the c

Disk driveThe physical device that allows the computer to read from andwrite to a disk. A diskette drive has a disk slot into which youinsert a disket

Executable fileA file containing program instructions, as opposed to datacreated with an application program. An executable file hasthe extension .BAT

Floppy diskSee Diskette.FormatTo prepare a new disk (or an old one you want to reuse) so thatit can store information. Formatting divides a disk into

Internal commandAn MS-DOScommand that is stored in the commandprocessor of the operating system; it is not a separate programfile. This means that you

MemoryThe area where your computer stores data. Memory contentscan be permanent and inalterable (ROM) or temporary(RAM).MGAMulti-graphics Adapter. The

MS-DOSMicrosoft Disk Operating System. The operating system thatcomes with your computer. See Operating system.Numeric keypadThe number keys grouped t

ParityData signals sent during communications to detect errors intransmitting or receiving data.PartitionThe area defined on a hard disk for use by an

PromptA message displayed on the screen that tells you what actionyou need to perform next.RAMRandom Access Memory. The portion of the computer’smemor

5.NoteIf the monitor has the proper type of plug, you can plugat into the auxiliary power outlet next to the AC powerinlet on the back of the computer

RGB Red Green Blue. A type of color monitor.ROMRead Only Memory. A portion of memory that can only beread and cannot be used for temporary storage. R

Source disketteThe diskette that you are reading or copying data from during acopy or backup operation.Stop bitA signal sent in serial communications

TracksAddressable, concentric circles on a disk, resembling thegrooves on a record, which help to divide the disk intoseparate accessible areas. There

IndexAAbsolute pathname, 3-18Access slot cover, removing, 4-7Alternate serial port check, D-30APPEND, 3-21Application program, starting, 3-2AUTOEXEC.B

DIP switches, A-1–5coprocessor, A-3keyboard, A-3monitor and adapter, A-3number of diskette drives, A-3parallel port, A-4–5RAM size, A-3serial port, A-

FFDISK, F-1–3Files,backing up, 3-29–33batch, 3-9COMMAND.COM, 5-9, F-7copying, 3-10–12deleting, 3-13–14executable, 3-9naming, 3-9printing, 3-14–15renam

MGA card, Intro-1, 1-2, 1-4–6, 4-4,4-8, 5-4MKDIR (MD), 3-21MODE, 1-10Modem, connecting, 1-9–10Monitor,connecting, 1-4–6problems, 5-3–5selecting type,

Power,connecting, 1-10cord, 1-10source, 1-4supply, B-3Power-on diagnostics, C-1–4Primary partition, F-2–3PRINT, 3-14–15Printer,connecting, 1-7–8interf

UUnconditional format, E-2, E-7–9Unpacking the computer, 1-1–2VVideo cards,Color Graphics Adapter andCRT Check, D-14–21compatibility, 1-4DIP switches,

4Connecting a Peripheral DeviceThe computer has a parallel interface and a serial interface onthe back panel; so you can easily connect a printer or o

3.Connect the other end of the cable to the printer as shownbelow. If the printer has retaining clips on each side of theprinter port, squeeze them to

Using the Serial InterfaceIf you have a printer, modem, mouse, or any other peripheralwith a serial interface, you can connect it to the serial(RS-232

The Setup program on your Reference diskette lets you definethe baud rate, parity, data length, and number of stop bits for aprimary and a secondary s

6Connecting the KeyboardFollow these steps to connect the keyboard:1.Facing the front of the computer, open the cover on thelower right comer; use the

2.Plug the keyboard cable into the socket, as shown below.Do not force the connector, but be sure to insert it all theway.3.Push the cable into the no

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.Read all of these instructions and save them for lacer reference.Follow all warnings and instructions m

Adjusting the Keyboard AngleYou can change the angle of the keyboard by adjusting the legson the bottom. Follow these steps:1. Turn the keyboard over.

7Turning On the ComputerBefore you turn on your computer, read the following safetyrules to avoid accidentally damaging the computer or injuringyourse

2.To turn on the computer, press the powerswitch.The power indicator on the front panel lights up. After a fewseconds, the computer starts to perform

If you have the Apex 100 (no hard disk), the computer doesnot load MS-DOS, but instead displays the following:Non-system disk or disk errorInsert syst

2.When the diskette is in all the way, turn the latch down(clockwise) to lock the diskette in place. (For detailedinstructions on inserting diskettes,

You need to set the date and time this way only once; thecomputer’s real-time clock keeps track of the date and timeeven when the computer is off. The

If you load MS-DOS from the hard disk, the command promptlooks like this:C:\>The hard disk prompt is different because the Apex 100\20 hasbeen set

2.If the date is correct, press Enter to leave it unchanged. Tochange the date, type the appropriate numbers for themonth, day, and year, as shown. Fo

9Copying System DiskettesNow that you have set up your system and loaded MS-DOS, itis important that you make copies of your MS-DOS andReference diske

3.Insert a blank 5 1/4-inch 360KB diskette in drive B (thebottom drive) and turn the latch down to secure thediskette.4.Type the following and press E

11. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinetslots, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short outparts that could res

8.Repeat the procedure for the Startup diskette and theReference diskette.9.When you finish copying the last system diskette and theCopy another diske

Then press any key. The DISKCOPY program copies thecontents of the Startup diskette to the computer’s memory,and then you see the following:Insert TAR

Chapter 2Using Your ComputerThis chapter covers the following basic procedures for usingyour computer:Changing the operating speedUsing special keys o

WARNINGYou can change the speed while the computer is on, but donot change it while you are running a program. Completeyour current operation, exit th

KeyPurposeBackspaceEnterCaps LockEscNum LockScroll LockBreakPrtScHome, EndPgUp. PgDnInsDelMoves the cursor back one space, deleting thecharacter to th

Stopping a Command or ProgramYou may sometimes need to stop a command or program whileit is running. Many application programs provide a commandyou ca

WARNINGDo not reset the computer to extra Do not the program unless you haveto Same application progress classify and store new datawhen you exit the

Using Disks and Disk DrivesThe disk drives in your computer allow you to store data ondisk, and then retrieve and use it when you like. The Apex 100ha

stored. Double-density diskettes have either 40 or 80 tracks,and high-density diskettes have 80 tracks. The double-density,360KB diskettes you use in

Your computer uses the read/write heads in a disk drive to storeand retrieve data on a disk. There is one head above thediskette and one below, so the

If you have an optional 720KB drive, use 3 l/2-inch, double-sided, double-density, 135 TPI, 720KB diskettes with this drive.These diskettes contain 80

Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields. (Remember thatdiskettes store information magnetically.) There are manysources of magnetism in your home or

If you have the Apex 100\20, follow these additionalprecautions to protect your hard disk drive and its data:Never turn off the computer when the hard

If a diskette is in the drive but the latch is up (horizontal) andyou enter a command for that drive, the computer cannot tellthere is a diskette in t

To remove a 3 1/2-inch diskette, press the release button torelease it. When the edge pops out of the drive, pull out thediskette and store it properl

Note Some program diskettes, such as your MS-DOS diskettes,have no notch so they are permanently write-protected. Thisprotects them from being acciden

Chapter 1 describes how to use DISKCOPY to copy yourMS-DOS and Reference diskettes. To make backups of otherdiskettes, use the DISKCOPY command or the

On the Apex 100\20, you can load the operating system andapplication programs from the hard disk, create and store yourdata there, and use the diskett

MS-DOS lets you keep related files together in directories andsubdirectories so they are easier to find and use. See Chapter 3for instructions on how

Preparing the hard disk for movingIf you need to move your Apex 100\20 to a new location-whether it is across the country or just across the room-ther

IMPORTANT NOTICEDISCLAIMER OF WARRANTYEpson America makes no representations or warranties, either express orimplied, by or with respect to anything i

Chapter 3Using MS-DOS With Your ComputerYour computer comes with version 3.3 of MS-DOS. Thisoperating system manages your computer by organizing theco

Starting and Exiting MS-DOSBefore you can run an MS-DOS application program, MS-DOSmust be running in memory. Chapter 1 describes how to loadMS-DOS on

Using Drive DesignatorsMS-DOS uses letters to identify the disk drives in your system.If you have one diskette drive, it is known as drive A. If youha

Changing the default driveTo change the default drive, type the letter of the drive youwant to change to, followed by a colon. Then press Enter. Forex

Startup disketteANSI.SYSCOMMAND.COMCOUNTRY.SYSDISPLAY.SYSDRIVER.SYSEGA.CPIFASTOPEN.EXEOperating 1 disketteAPPEND.EXEASSIGN.COMATTRIB.EXEBACKUP.COMCHKD

To run an external command, MS-DOS must be able to locatethe file containing the command’s instructions. If it cannotfind the file, MS-DOS gives you a

The MS-DOS command format consists of the command name,parameters, and delimiters. The command name tells MS-DOSthe task you want the computer to perf

You can enter an MS-DOS command whenever you see theMS-DOS command prompt. Type the command name and anynecessary parameters and delimiters and then p

Naming FilesEach file must have a unique filename so you can retrieve itwhen you need to. The filename consists of two parts: the nameand the extensio

Copying FilesYou can use the COPY command to copy individual files orgroups of files. COPY is an internal command; you can use itany time you see the

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERSThis equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed andused properly, hat is, in

To copy the file named REPORT to the same diskette andname the copy FACTS, type the following and press Enter:COPY REPORT FACTSNow you have two files

To copy REPORT, FACTS,and MEMO from drive A to a filenamed DATA on drive B, type the following and press Enter:COPY A:REPORT + A:FACTS + A:MEMO B:DATA

You can shorten the RENAME command to REN. To changethe name of a file from HAMMERS to WRENCHES,therefore, you can type the following and press Enter:

You can use wildcards to delete groups of files. For example, todelete all files on the diskette in drive A (in the currentdirectory), you could type

3.Type the name of the device, such as LPT1, and pressEnter. MS-DOS prints the file on your printer.See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more informat

As the number of files in your WORDPROC and SPDSHEETdirectories grows, you can create additional directoriessubordinate to those two-like this, for ex

The following sections discuss the basics of creating and usingdirectories.Note:The XTREE utility provides a simple way to see and organizeyour direct

To change from PERSONAL back to WORDPROC, you canuse the special symbol . .(two periods) or you can use anabsolute pathname. (The . .symbol always des

Relative pathnames can tell MS-DOS to move upward in thedirectory tree as well as downward. The symbol . . (two periods)in a pathname tells MS-DOS to

For example, suppose you are logged onto the root directory ofdrive A, and you want to delete the file JEAN1204.DOC,which is stored in the directory \

ContentsIntroduction...1How to Use This Manual...2Where to Get Help...

NoteMS-DOS provides several commands that make usingpathnames easy:APPEND lets you set a search path for date files andexecutable files so MS-DOS kno

In this case, you do not need to specify the path to theLEDGER directory because it is the default directory.Listing the Contents of a DirectoryYou ca

This switch causes MS-DOS to pause after displaying eachscreenful of information. To see the next screenful, press anykey.Another way to view a long d

The screen displays a report for every directory on the drive, forexample:Path:C:\LEDGERSub-directories:RECEIVPAYABLSALESIf you would also like to see

To delete an empty directory from a disk, use the RMDIRcommand, or its shorthand equivalent, RD. For example, toremove the directory ACCOUNTS, which i

NoteBesides the method described below, you can also formatdiskettes using the Epson MENU utility. This program iseasy to use because it lets you sele

The formatted diskette is now ready to store data. See theMS-DOS Reference Manual for information about options youcan use with the FORMAT command.For

Formatting Diskettes With One Diskette Drive(No Hard Disk)If your computer has only one diskette drive and no hard disk,follow this procedure to forma

Backing Up DataIt is very important to keep backup diskettes containing copiesof the files you create. You can copy data and program filesseveral ways

If the diskette you are copying to has not been formatted,DISKCOPY formats it automatically before copying the data.The procedure for copying diskette

Using Disks and Disk Drives... 2-6How Disks Store Data... 2-6Choosing Diskettes...

Using DISKCOPY with the Apex 100\201.Make sure the diskette you want to copy is write-protected.(See Chapter 2 for instructions.)2.If necessary, type

Using DISKCOPY with one drive onlyIf your computer has only one diskette drive and no hard disk,follow these steps to copy a diskette:1.Make sure the

Using the BACKUP CommandUse the BACKUP command to back up the data on your harddisk. It provides a convenient and efficient way to copy thefiles on yo

Special Epson UtilitiesEpson has included several time-saving utilities to makeMS-DOS easier for you to use:HELP lets you display information on the s

To use the HELP menu, follow these steps:1.2.3.4.Type HELP at the MS-DOS command prompt and pressEnter.The screen displays a menu of MS-DOS commands.

You can also request help information for more than onecommand. Follow these steps:1.At the command prompt, type HELP followed by thenames of the comm

2.Type MENU at the command prompt and press Enter. Yousee this main menu:EXITFile UtilitiesDisk UtilitiesMode SettingsHelpEnter DOS Command3.To select

MENU program optionsFollowing is a description of each option. For step-by-stepinstructions on using each MENU option, see your MS-DOSReference Manual

Using XTREEEpson has included the XTREE program with MS-DOS tomake it easier for you to manage files and run other MS-DOSprograms. XTREE is especially

This menu provides the following information:Path:Shows the pathname for the currentdirectory. A single backslash identifiesthe root directory.PILEDIS