Altos 986T User instructions

~-- ALTOS -:
586 T/986 T
SETTiNG Up

5861/9861
Setting Up Guide

Federal Communication
Commission Notice
WARNING
This equipment can radiate radio frequency and energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions manual,
may cause interference to radio communications. It has been
tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
computing device pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules,
which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such
interference when operated in a commercial environment. Operation
of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause inter-
ference in which case the user, at the user's own expense, will
be required to take whatever measures may be required to correct
the interference.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ALTOS is a registered trademark and WorkNet is a trademark of
Altos Computer Systems.
XENIX is a trademark of Microsoft.
Concurrent CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research.
CAUTION
If you have to send your system for repair,
procedure erases the data on the hard disk.
the contents of the disk.
SAFETY WARNING
part of the test
Therefore, copy all
Disconnect the AC power cord before installing any option boards
and before replacing the fuse.
Do not attempt to service any parts of the 586T/986T system.

Introduction
This guide introduces you to the Altos 586T and 986T
computer systems. It shows you how to choose an
appropriate site for your system, connect the various
parts, and start it up. You will also run confidence
tests that will confirm that your system is running
properly.
Should you experience any difficulty with the instal-
lation, a checklist helps you locate the source of
the problem and suggests possible remedies. After you
have finished setting up your system, you are directed
you where to go next.
A 586T/986T system is shown below.
DISK
SELECT
INDICATOR
TAPE UNIT
Figure 1. Altos 586T/986T System
iii
FLOPPY
DRIVE

Contents
Chapter 1 Choosing a Location. • •
1-1
Chapter 2 Setting Up Your System • • 2-1
Before You Begin • • • • • • •• • • • 2-1
Connecting a Terminal to the System. • • • 2-2
Connecting a Power Cord to the System. • • 2-3
Chapter 3 Starting Your System •
Before You Begin • • • • •
Turning the Terminal On. • • • •
Turning the System On. • • • •
Problem Checkl ist. • • • • • • •
• 3-1
• • 3-1
• • • 3-1
3-1
• 3-2
Chapter 4 Using and Backing Up Diskettes • • 4-1
Handling Diskettes • • • • •• •••• 4-1
Protecting Data on Diskettes • • 4-2
Inserting a Diskette • • • • • 4-3
Copying Original Diskettes • • • • 4-4
Chapter 5 Running the System Confidence
Tests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
How to Begin • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5-2
Running the Tests. • • • • • • • • • 5-3
Chapter 6 Using the Utility Programs •
The Floppy Disk Format Program • •
6-1
• • 6-2
The Floppy Copy Program. • • • •
The Display Hard Disk Bad Sector
The Flag Bad Sector Program. • •
Leaving the Utilities Program.
• • 6-3
Program • 6-6
. . . . • 6-7
• • • 6-8
Chapter 7 Where Do You Go Next? ••• 7-1
Operating Systems. • • • • • • • • • • • • 7-1
Related Altos Manuals ••••••••••• 7-1
Chapter 8 Using Tape Cartridges. •••• 8-1
Handling Tape Cartridges • • • • • • 8-1
Protecting Your Data • • • • • • • • • • • 8-1
Inserting and Removing a Tape Cartridge •• 8-2
Chapter 9 Preventive Maintenance •
Cleaning the Head Assembly • • •
Chapter IS Connecting a Printer.
v
• • • 9-1
• 9-1
• • • 1"'-1

Appendix A - Physical Specifications.
Index • • • •
Illustrations
Figure
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Title
Altos 586T/986T System
Choosing a Location. • •
The 586T Backpanel • • •
The 986T Backpanel • • • •
A Write-Protected Diskette •
Inserting a Diskette •
Protecting Your Tape
Cartridge Data ••••••
Inserting and Removing a
Tape
Cartridge •••••••
Cleaning the Head Assembly •
vi
• A-I
• • I-I
• • iii
• • 1-2
• • 2-1
• 2-2
4-2
• 4-3
• 8-2
• • 8-3
9-1

Chapter 1
Choosing a Location
After unpacking your 586T/986T, decide where you want
to use your system. When choosing a location, consider
these suggestions:
1. Choose a stable surface to hold your system. If
you are going to place your terminal next to the
system, make sure that the surface is large enough
to provide 12" of space between the system and
the terminal.
2. Place your system and terminal near a 3 way
power
outlet.
3. Orient your terminal away from direct sunlight
or strong room lights.
4. Provide enough space to route the cables and
power
cords.
5. Be sure the cooling vents for the terminal and
system are not be blocked.
See the following illustration.
1-1

Choosing a Location
ORIENT TERMINAL AWAY
FROM
WINDOWS OR
BRIGHT LIGHTS
PLACE TERMINAL AND
SYSTEM AT LEAST 12"
APART
PROVIDE ENOUGH SPACE TO ROUTE
CABLES AND POWER CORDS
Figure 2. Choosing a Location
1-2
PLACE YOUR
SYSTEM AND
TERMINAL NEAR A
3-WA Y OUTLET

Chapter 2
Setting
Up Your System
Read this chapter to find out how to connect the
various parts of your system.
Before You Begin
Before you begin make sure that you can easily reach
the backpanels on both the System and the Terminal.
POWER
SWITCH
CONNECT
CONNECT POWER
CORD HERE
TERMINAL CONNECT SERIAL
HERE PRINTER HERE
O( H.D. EXPANSION)O
oE3o @
TAPE I
I
Figure 3. The 586T Backpanel
2-1

Setting Up Your System
CONNECT POWER
CORD HERE
01. P
L--H.O.eXPANSlON=-:J
~
°L,.,,~
IWORKNET I
PORT' 0 O~O O~O O~O O~O O~O
CONNECT
TERMINAL
HERE
Figure 4. The 986T Backpanel
Connecting a Terminal to the System
A wide variety of terminals can be used with the
Altos 586T/986T. Most terminals use a RS232C cable
to connect the terminal to the system. This is an
industry standard cable and is readily available.
The cable from the terminal must be connected to PORT
1 on the 586T or the 986T. See the manual that came
with your terminal for where to connect the cable at
the terminal. Connect additional terminals to ports
2 through 5 on the 586T and 2 through 9 on the 986T.
2-2

Setting Up Your System
Your terminal must be set to communicate with your
system according to the specifications below:
o 9600 baud asynchronous transmission.
o Eight bit word length, one start bit and one
stop bit.
o No parity.
o Data-Terminal-Ready (DTR) handshaking enabled.*
o Request-to-send (RTS) and clear-to-send (CTS)
handshaking is disabled.
Refer to your operating system manual (Introduction
to Xenix or the Introduction to Concurrent CP/M) and
the manual that came with your terminal for how set
these parameters.
*As an alternative to DTR handshaking, you may use
X/ON-X/OFF. In this case DTR must be on at all times
as opposed to operating in the "handshaking" (back
and forth signaling) mode.
Connecting the Power Cord to the System
Plug the power cord into the AC INPUT receptacle at
the rear of your system.
Do not plug the power cord into the wall outlet.
2-3

Chapter 3
Starting
Your System
Before You Begin
1. Make sure that the power switches for both the
system and the terminal are in the OFF position.
2. Plug the power cords for the system and the terminal
into the wall outlets.
Turning the Terminal On
1. Turn the terminal on.
2. Watch for the cursor (small rectangular block) to
appear in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
After about 30 seconds, if the cursor does not
appear, try adjusting the brightness.
Turning the System On
To turn the system on, set the Power Switch on the
system to ON. The following message appears on the
screen in approximately 15 seconds:
POWER UP TEST PASSED
Monitor Version n.nn
Press any key to interrupt boot
3-1

Starting YourSystem
Within four seconds press the Space Bar. The screen
message changes to read:
PASSED POWER-UP TEST
Monitor Version n.nn
Press any key to interrupt boot
Enter [1] to Boot from Hard Disk
Enter [2] to Boot from Floppy Disk
Enter [3] to Enter Monitor
At this point, do not select any of the options.
If the system does not pass the Power Up test, the
following message appears on the screen:
POWER UP TEST FAILED
Problem Checklist
If your system does not display a power up test
message, check the following list.
1. If the fan on the system is not running, check
the following:
Is the Power Cord plugged into the rear of the
system and into the wall outlet?
Check the wall outlet by plugging in a lamp.
3-2

Starting Your System
Check the fuse by doing the following:
Set the Power Switch to OFF.
Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
Remove the fuse holder by inserting a
screwdriver into the fuse holder slot and
turning it counterclockwise.
Inspect the fuse. It is defective if the
wire between the two metal caps is broken
or no longer visible. Replace the fuse if
necessary. Otherwise, reinsert the fuse
holder into the rear panel and using the
screwdriver, turn it clockwise.
2. If nothing appears on the screen, check the
following:
Is the the keyboard plugged into the Monitor?
Is the cable between the terminal and the
system secure at both ends?
Is the brightness control on the terminal turned
up all the way?
If none of these suggestions has helped contact
YOUr Altos dealer.
CAUTION
IF YOUR SYSTEM HAS TO BE SENT IN FOR REPAIR, PART OF
THE TEST PROCEDURE ERASES THE DATA ON THE HARD DISK.
THEREFORE, COpy ALL THE CONTENTS OF THE HARD DISK, AS
ALTOS DOES NOT GUARANTEE DATA INTOORITY UPON RETURN
OF YOUR SYSTEM.
3-3

Chapter 4
Using
and Backing Up Diskettes
With the 586T and 986T systems, you should use
double-sided, double density floppy diskettes.
Handling DiskeHes
o Use a felt pen to label your diskette. Do not use
a ball point pen.
o Keep your diskettes away from any magnetized
objects. This includes putting a diskette on
top of your system or close to the telephone.
o Do not bend your diskette.
o Keep your diskette away from direct sunlight or
excessive heat.
o Do not touch or clean the exposed surfaces on
the diskette.
o When not in use, store your diskettes in their
protective jackets.
4-1

Using and Backing Up Diskettes
Protecting Data On Diskettes
The 5 1/4 inch diskettes that you use with your
system have a notch cut into the side. You also
receive silver pieces of tape for covering this
notch.
When the notch is covered, you cannot write or erase
data on the diskette. This is known as write
protecting a disk.
When the notch is not covered, you can write or erase
data on the diskette. This is known as write
enabling a disk.
1. AVOID TOUCHING
2. DO NOT BEND
3. DO NOT DROP
4. KEEP IN JACKET COVER
WHEN NOT IN USE.
Figure 5. A Write-Protected Diskette
4-2

Inserting a Diskette
Using and Backing Up Diskettes
1 ) QJ2.e.n .tILe Fl 0I#2PY ~
.elQ.t...
Press the rectangular
area below the slot
as shown.
2)
Insert the diskette.
With the label side
facing up and toward
you, carefully insert
the diskette until it
locks in place.
3) Close the drive door
Slide the door latch down
until it locks in place.
Figure 6. Loading a Diskette
4-3