Apricot MS 530 User guide

OWNER’S HANDBOOK
MS 530
apricot
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
COMPACT

OWNER’S HANDBOOK

Intel is a registered trademark, and Intel Pentium and OverDrive are trademarks
of Intel Corporation.
Microsoft® and Windows® 95 are registered trademarks of Microsoft in the
US and other countries.
Information contained in this document is subject to change without notice and
does not represent a commitment on the part of Apricot Computers Limited.
Any software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement.
The software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of this
agreement. It is against the law to copy any disk supplied for any purpose other
than the purchaser’s personal use.
All rights reserved; no use or disclosure without written consent.
Copyright © Apricot Computers Limited 1995
Published by
Apricot Computers Limited
3500 Parkside
Birmingham Business Park
Birmingham B37 7YS
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
Printed in the United Kingdom
Part No. 15535331
Revision 01

SAFETY & REGULATORY NOTICES
SAFETY/1
Safety and Regulatory Notices
Read the separate Power Connection Guide before using the computer for the first time.
The computer uses a safety ground and must be earthed. The system unit
AC power cord is its ‘disconnect device’. Ensure that the system unit is
positioned close to the AC power outlet and that the plug is easily
accessible. The power cord packed with the computer complies with the
safety standards applicable in the country in which it is first sold. Use only
this power cord. Do not substitute a power cord from any other equipment.
It is imperative that the system unit is set to the correct voltage range before
use. If not, the machine may be irreparably damaged.
To prevent fire and electric shock, do not expose any part of the computer
to rain or moisture.
When positioning the system unit, monitor and keyboard, take into account
any local or national regulations relating to ergonomic requirements.
Microphone, headphone and speaker cables should be less than 2 metres long.
Warning: This product contains a replaceable lithium battery. Do not use a
metal or other conductive implement to remove the battery. If a short-circuit is
accidentally made between its positive and negative terminals, the battery
may explode. Replace a discharged battery with one of the same type; another type
may explode or ignite. Dispose of the battery in accordance with the manufacturer's
recommended instructions. Do not attempt to recharge, disassemble or incinerate.
Keep away from children.
Any CD-ROM drive fitted in this system is classified as a CLASS 1 LASER
PRODUCT according to IEC825 Radiation Safety of Laser Products (Equipment
Classification: Requirements and User's Guide). The CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT label is
located on the under side of the system unit.

SAFETY & REGULATORY NOTICES
SAFETY/2
Use the CD-ROM drive only as described in this manual. Failure to do so
may result in exposure to hazardous radiation. Refer to the labels on the
computer to establish which of the following applies.
E.E.C.
This equipment complies with the relevant clauses of following European
directives:
89/336/EEC and 73/23/EEC,and is able to bear the CE mark.
Radio and television interference
The computer described in this manual generates and uses radio frequency
energy for its operation. If it is not installed and used properly, in strict
accordance with the manual, it may cause interference with radio and
television reception.

MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK I
CONTENTS
1 Introducing your computer
Your multimedia computer 1/2
Pictorial guides 1/4
2 Using your Computer
Using the front bezel controls 2/2
Using the infra-red remote control 2/5
3 Using the System Drives
Using the 3.5” diskette drive 3/2
Using the CD-ROM drive 3/4
Using the hard disk 3/6
4 The Multimedia Applications
The Infra-red Remote Control 4/2
The Apricot TV/Teletext Application (Optional) 4/3
The Apricot Message Centre application 4/4
The Apricot Media Manager Application 4/5
The Apricot Entertainment Centre Application 4/7
The Apricot Power Manager Application 4/8
The Radio application (Optional) 4/9
5 System Upgrades
Adding more system memory 5/2
Adding more cache memory 5/4
Adding more video memory 5/6
Upgrading the hard disk drive 5/8
Upgrading the processor 5/11
6 Expansion Cards
Configuring the card 6/3
Installing the card 6/8

II MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
7 Maintaining and Transporting
Cleaning the computer 7/2
Transporting the computer 7/4
8 Troubleshooting
Problems when starting 8/2
Restoring the software 8/3
Troubleshooting checklist 8/3
The system’s disk drives 8/5
A Inside the System Unit
Anti-static precautions A/2
Opening the system unit A/3
The components inside your computer A/5
Board layout A/6
Jumper configurations A/7
Replacing the CMOS battery A/9
B System BIOS and Setup
Entering setup B/2
Control keys B/2
If setup runs on its own B/3
Opening screen B/4
Sub-menu pages B/5
Error messages B/12
C Technical Information
Specifications C/2
Physical characteristics C/4
Port characteristics C/5

Introducing your Computer
MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 1/1
1 INTRODUCING YOUR COMPUTER
This chapter gives you a quick tour of your Apricot multimedia computer.
It details the various features of the computer and contains pictorial
guides to help you identify the various parts of the machine.
This guide assumes that your computer is already set up and
ready for use. If you have yet to get your computer up and
running, please refer to the “Quick Start Up Guide” before
you read any further.
Warning
Read the separate Power Connection Guide before using the computer for the
first time.

Introducing your Computer
1/2 MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Your Multimedia Computer
Welcome to your MS 530 system! An all-in-one entertainment
centre which combines sound and vision with sophisticated
computing facilities.
The PC can be instantly transformed into a TV/ Teletext set with
additional facilities to capture, store and edit images as well as
providing the opportunity to view CDi titles and Photo CDs.
It can also be turned into an audio centre by tuning into the radio or
by playing your favourite audio CDs in the CD drive provided. The
CD drive gives you access to a whole host of sophisticated educational,
professional and games software.
The infra-red remote control provides you with a familiar user-
friendly interface allowing you to switch from one activity to
another at the touch of a button.
All in all, your MS 530 multimedia system is a “complete” system
offering you the very latest in computer technology.
Standard Features
The standard features of the Apricot MS 530 multimedia system include:
•Integral all-in-one chassis with a slide-out LPX cage.
•Intel Pentium system processor with upgrade capability.
•Standard 8 Mbytes of motherboard random access memory (RAM),
upgradeable to 64 Mbytes by the use of single in-line memory
modules (SIMMs).
•Optional second level system memory cache (at least 256 Kbytes).
•BIOS Setup configuration utility in read-only memory (ROM).
•Full power management.
•Optional TV with Teletext support and operation.

Introducing your Computer
MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 1/3
•High quality 17” tube.
•Infra-red remote control with fully integrated two button mouse.
•Optional radio card.
•On-board high performance PCI bus video based on a Cirrus
Logic GD543x controller, equipped with at least 1 Mbytes of
video RAM, upgradeable to 2 Mbytes.
•Dual PCI Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard disk drive
interface with an ATA-PI CD-ROM drive included as standard.
•Five expansion card slots.
•1.44 Mbytes 3.5" diskette drive and 3.5" hard disk drive.
Energy-efficient features
All models in the range comply with the requirements of the US
Environmental Protection Agency’s “Energy Star” programme for
energy-efficient computers. These models support:
•System Management Mode (SMM) of processors.
•Operating systems and applications that use the Intel/Microsoft
Advanced Power Management (APM) interface standard.
•VESA BIOS Extensions for Power Management (VBE/PM), for
use with energy-efficient monitors that support Display Power
Management Signalling (DPMS).
If the computer is left unattended for a certain amount of time
(defined in the BIOS settings) the computer will enter a low power
mode. The screen will blank, and some of the computer’s components
will slow down. Do not worry! This is meant to happen. Pressing
any of the keys on the keyboard or moving the mouse should restart
the computer in full power mode.

Introducing your Computer
1/4 MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Further detailed information can be found in the Power Management
Help file provided with the system which can be found in the
Apricot Folder.
Pictorial Guides
Front View:
1. Monitor
2. Speakers
3. Front Control Panel (Drops down to reveal further features).
Front Control Panel:
1. Power switch
2. Standby button
3. LED indicators for the states shown.
4. Infra-red remote sensor
5. Built-in microphone
6. Microphone socket
7. Headphone socket
8. Volume control button
9. Menu button
10. Decrement (-) button
11. Increment (+) button
12. LCD control function display
13. 3.5” floppy disk drive
14. CD-ROM drive

Introducing your Computer
MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 1/5
Front View
POWER
MENU
+
_
COMPACT
1
2
3
Front Control Panel
POWER MESSAGE
STANDBY HD
POWER
MENU
+
_
COMPACT
1
2
12
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
POWER MESSAGE
STANDBY HD
3
14
13

Introducing your Computer
1/6 MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Rear View:
10
2 3 4567
11
8
1
9
1. AC Power Inlet
2. Keyboard port
3. Mouse port
4. Serial port (COM 1)
5. Serial port (COM 2)
6. Parallel/printer port
7. Monitor connection
8. Expansion card slots
9. Audio external connectors
10. Monitor lead (which connects to 7)
11. System fan vents

Using your Computer
MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/1
2 USING YOUR COMPUTER
This chapter contains all you need to know in order to start working
with your computer quickly. It gives you detailed instructions on
how to access and use the various features of the system.
Warning
Read the separate Power Connection Guide before using the computer for the
first time.

Using your Computer
2/2 MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Using the Front Bezel Controls
The computer comes with many front panel controls, and activity
indicators which are all relatively simple to use:
POWER MESSAGE
STANDBY HD
POWER
MENU
+
_
COMPACT
The POWER switch is used to turn the computer and monitor on and off.
The following table lists the colours of the various LED’s on the
front bezel and explains their meaning when active (i.e. when the
LED displays the colour indicated below):
Indicator LED Meaning when active
Power On Green The system is powered.
Standby Yellow The monitor has entered standby mode. The
LED will begin to flash.
Message Red There is an unread message in the Message
Centre.
Hard Disk
Drive
Green The computer is using the hard disk drive.
The Control Function Display
The LCD Control Function Display is a display panel which informs
you of any unexpected situations such as power loss, loss in signal
etc. When the computer is switched on, the LCD displays the
horizontal and vertical refresh rates of the monitor.
The LCD Control Function Display also has a menu which allows
you to alter the following monitor settings:

Using your Computer
MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/3
Menu Option Function
HYP Hypersound ON/OFF Enable/Disable wider sound spectrum.
CNT Contrast Alters the contrast level of the monitor.
BRT Brightness Alters the black level of the screen.
HSC H-Size Alters the horizontal size of the image on the
screen.
HPC H-Position Alters the horizontal position of the image on
the screen.
VSC V-Size Alters the vertical size of the image on the
screen.
VPC V-Position Alters the vertical position of the image on the
screen.
PCC Pincushion Straightens the left and right sides of the
screen image.
TRA Trapezoid Adjusts the parallelism of the left and right
sides of the screen image.
RRC Raster
Rotation
Adjusts the rotation or twist of the picture.
PRL Parallelogram Adjusts the vertical slant or tilt of the screen
image.
CTC Colour Temp Adjusts the level of blue and red colour in the screen image.
DEG Degauss This is used to eliminate possible colour shading or
impurity.
CNV H-Static-Conv Adjusts the horizontal alignment of the red, green and blue
beams.

Using your Computer
2/4 MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
To alter any of the above features, the MENU button needs to be
pressed to display the menu:
HYP CNT BRT
The + and - buttons (next to the MENU button) can be used to
toggle between the various options in the menu. As you step
through the various options they begin to flash. To select the option,
press the MENU button when the required option is flashing.
You will then be able to alter the current level of the selected option
by pressing either the + or - buttons, to increase or decrease the
current level. The change is indicated by a series of asterisks below
the selected option:
BRIGHTNESS
*********************
The warning messages you are most likely to come across are:
The monitor has entered standby
mode. The standby LED will flash.
The system may have entered into
power down mode.
These two warning messages are normal during the operation of the
system if the motherboard has entered standby mode.
There is a fault condition, turn the
system off.
There is a problem, turn the system off.
STAND BY
NO SIGNAL !
EMERGENCY !!!
ALL POWER DOWN !
BEAMLIMIT !!!
ALL POWER DOWN

Using your Computer
MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/5
If you ever come across any of the above warning messages, then it
is advisable to turn the computer off, check that the power cord is
securely and correctly in place, and then switch the power back on.
If the problem persists then contact your local authorised dealer.
Using the Infra-Red Remote Control
The infra-red remote control offers a friendly user interface that is
immediately familiar to the inexperienced user.
It has an integral two-button mouse to control the
major functions of the multimedia applications.
Pressing the HELP button on the remote control
displays the ‘Remote Status’ window (shown below).
Pressing the red coloured button, labelled Help on
the ‘Remote Status’ window displays the on-line
help file. An on-line tutorial is also included in the
help file.
The infra-red remote operates on two standard AA batteries which
are inserted into the remote as shown below:
5-4
-
+-
+

Using the System Drives
MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 3/1
3 USING THE SYSTEM DRIVES
This chapter details useful information on the correct operation of
the drives fitted to your computer.

Using the System Drives
3/2 MS 530 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Using the 3.5" diskette drive
The floppy disk drive is usually configured in the system BIOS as
drive A:, with a capacity of 1.44 Mbytes.
The 3.5" diskette drive fitted to your computer can read and write
both 720 Kbytes disks (if marked “DD” or “double density”) and
1.44 Mbytes disks (if marked “HD” or “high density”). The HD
disks can hold twice the capacity of DD disks, it is therefore more
economical to purchase them.
Each diskette has a rigid plastic cover with a metal shutter that
guards the disk surface. The drive automatically moves the shutter
aside to read the diskette.
Caution
Never touch the exposed surface under the shutter; you could deform the disk
or leave a fingerprint that might make it difficult to read.
The immediate physical differences between the HD and DD floppy
disks are shown in the diagram below:
The HD disks have the ‘HD’ logo near the window and an extra
hole beside the label. This enables the drive to distinguish between
the two. The other hole which exists on both disks is the write
protect tab (on the underside). Keep diskettes well away from dust,
moisture, magnetic objects, and equipment that generates magnetic
fields. Also, avoid extremes of temperature and exposure to direct
sunlight. Otherwise, data recorded on the diskette may become
corrupted.