Epson Equity 286 PLUS User manual

EPSON
®
EQUITY®286 PLUS
User’s Guide

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS
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 or
television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment doss cause interference to radio and television
reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
a
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
a
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver
a
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected
l
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING
The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will
invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which
exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. It is the responsibility of the
user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device. If this
equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused
interfaces.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Epson America, Inc., could void the
user’s authority to operate the equipment.
FOR CANADIAN USERS
This digital apparatus does not exceed the class B limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian
Department of communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans le réglement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique édité par le Ministère des Communications du Canada.

EPSON
®
EQUITY®286 PLUS
User’s Guide

IMPORTANT NOTICE
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by
or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect,
special, or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of
incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson
America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information
contained herein. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this
publication, Epson America assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is
any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained
herein. Further, this publication and features described herein are subject to change
without notice.
TRADEMARKS
Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Equity is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc.
General notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only
and may be trademarks of their respective companies.
Copyright © 1990 by Epson America, Inc.
Torrance, California Y727991002
ii

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference.
Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not
use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for
cleaning.
Do not use this product near water.
Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table.
The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.
Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are
provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating, these openings must
not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked
by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface.
This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or
heat register. This product should not be placed in a built-in
installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
This product should be operated from the type of power source
indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of
power available, consult your dealer or local power company.
This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding-type plug, a
plug having a third (grounding) pin. This plug will only fit into a
grounding-type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are
unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician
to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the purpose of the
grounding-type plug.
Do not locate this product where the cord will be walked on.
10. If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that
the total of the ampere ratings on the products plugged into the
extension cord do not exceed the extension cord ampere rating.
Also, make sure that the total of all products plugged into the
wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.
III

11. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet
openings, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out
parts that could result in a risk of fire or electric shock. Never
spill liquid of any kind on the product.
12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Manual, do not
attempt to 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 in
those compartments to service personnel.
13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to
qualified service personnel under the following conditions:
A. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.
B.
If liquid has been spilled into the product.
C. If the product has been exposed to rain or water.
D.
If the product does not operate normally when the operating
instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that
are covered by the operating instructions, since improper
adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will
often require extensive work by a qualified technician to
restore the product to normal operation.
E.
If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been
damaged.
F.
If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance,
indicating a need for service.
iv

Epson
®
Equity
®
286 PLUS
User’s Guide Correction
Please note that the setting of jumper J6 on your computer’s main
system board, described on page 5-7, should be as follows:
*Factory setting
Also note that the jumper settings described on page D-6 should be
reversed. To disable the password function, set jumper J6 to position
B. To enable the password function, set jumper J6 to position A.
On pages 5-13 through 5-17, the illustrations and descriptions of
your computer’s option slots indicate that the 8-bit slot is slot
number 1 and that the 16-bit slots are numbers 2 through 4. The
8-bit option slot is actually slot number 4 and the 16-bit slots are
slot numbers 1 through 3. Please keep this in mind as you read
these pages.
Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Equity is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc.
Copyright © 1991 by Epson America, Inc.

Contents
Introduction
Optional Equipment .................................
1
Operating Systems and Other Software ..................
2
How to Use This Manual .............................
3
Where to Get Help ..................................
4
Chapter 1
Setting Up Your System
1 Choosing a Location ............................... l-l
2 Removing the Protector Card. .......................
1-3
3 Connecting a Monitor ............................. l-4
Using the VGA Interface ......................... l-4
Using a Display Adapter Card ..................... l-7
4 Connecting a Printer or Other Device ..................
1-8
Using the Parallel Interface .......................
1-8
Using the Serial Interface. ........................
1-11
5 Connecting the Keyboard. ..........................
1-12
6 Connecting the Mouse .............................
1-13
7 Connecting the Power Cord. ........................
1-15
8 Turning On the Computer ..........................
1-16
Turning Off the Computer. .......................
1-18
Chapter 2
Running the SETUP Program
Starting the SETUP Program ..........................
2-2
Selecting Options ...............................
2-3
Setting the Date and Time ............................
2-3
Setting the Diskette Drive(s) ..........................
2-4
V

Setting the Hard Disk Drive(s) .........................
2-5
Hard Disk Drive Types ...........................
2-5
Setting the Primary Display Type .......................
2-8
Setting the Keyboard Test Function. ....................
2-9
Setting the Shadow RAM. ............................
2-10
Setting the CPU Clock Speed .........................
2-10
EMS Size.. ........................................
2-11
Setting the Password ................................. 2-12
Changing or Deleting a Password ...................
2-13
Setting the Built-in Interfaces. .........................
2-14
Setting the Parallel Interface ......................
2-14
Setting the Serial Interface. .......................
2-15
Setting the Disk Drive Controllers. .................
2-15
Saving Your Settings .................................
2-16
Chapter 3
Using Your Computer
Installing MS-DOS or Another Operating System .........
3-1
Special Keys on the Keyboard ..........................
3-2
Stopping a Command or Program. ......................
3-4
Resetting the Computer ..............................
3-4
Using a Password ....................................
3-6
Using Disks and Disk Drives. ..........................
3-7
How Disks Store Data. ...........................
3-7
Types of Diskette Drives. .........................
3-9
Caring for Diskettes and Diskette Drives ............. 3-11
Write-protecting Diskettes ........................
3-13
Using a Single Diskette Drive System ............... 3-15
Inserting and Removing Diskettes ..................
3-16
Formatting Diskettes. ............................
3-18
Making Backup Copies. .......................... 3-18
Using a Hard Disk Drive. .........................
3-19
vi

Chapter 4
Enhancing System Operations
Using AUTOEXEC.BAT and Other Batch Files........... 4-l
Changing the Processor Speed.........................
4-2
Entering Keyboard Commands.....................
4-4
Using the ESPEED Program.......................
4-5
Using Expanded Memory Beyond 1MB
..................
4-7
Modifying the CONFIG.SYS File..................
4-8
Using the VGA Utilities..............................
4-10
Copying the Utility Files.........................
4-11
Using VGAMODE..............................
4-13
Using SETVGA................................
4-17
Using SNOOZE................................
4-18
Chapter 5 Installing and Removing Options
Removing the Cover.................................
5-2
Changing the Jumper Settings.........................
5-5
Setting the Jumpers..............................
5-6
Replacing the Battery................................
5-8
Installing an Option Card.............................
5-12
Removing an Option Card............................
5-17
Removing the Subassembly............................
5-18
Adding Memory Modules.............................
5-22
Installing Memory Modules.......................
5-23
Removing Memory Modules.......................
5-26
Installing a Math Coprocessor..........................
5-29
Removing a Math Coprocessor.........................
5-33
Replacing the Subassembly............................
5-33
Replacing the Cover.................................
5 -41
Post-installation Setup for Memory Cards................
5-42
Using the CORFIX Program......................
5-43
Post-installation Setup...............................
5-44
vii

Appendix A
Specifications
CPU and Memory ...................................A-l
Controllers. ........................................A-2
Interfaces ..........................................A-2
Power Supply. ......................................A-3
Mass Storage
.......................................A-3
Keyboard.......................................... A-4
Environmental Requirements ........................... A-4
Physical Characteristics. ..............................A-4
Appendix B
Installing and Removing Disk Drives
Using the Correct Drive Bay. ..........................
B-2
How to Use This Appendix ...........................
B-3
Setting the Hard Disk Drive Jumpers ....................
B-4
Setting the Jumpers for Two Hard Disk Drives ........
B-4
Changing the Jumper Settings .....................
B-5
Installing a Hard Disk in the Vertical Position. ............
B-7
Removing the Mounting Frames From the Drive ......
B-8
Removing and Attaching the Mounting Plate ........
B-10
Installing the Drive..............................
B-12
Connecting the Hard Disk Drive Cables .............
B-18
Removing a Hard Disk From the Vertical Position .........
B-24
Installing or Removing a Disk Drive in the
Horizontal Position ...........................
B-27
Removing the Subassembly .......................
B-28
Installing a Disk Drive in the Horizontal Position. .....
B-33
Replacing the Drive on the Subassembly. ............
B-41
Removing a Disk Drive From the Horizontal Position . .
B-43
Replacing the Subassembly. .......................
B-46
viii

Appendix C
Performing System Diagnostics
Starting the Diagnostics Program .......................
The Main Menu Screen ............ ..................
Setting the Run Time Parameters. ......................
Error Logging
...................................
Selecting Diagnostic Tests ........................ ...
Selecting Multiple Tests ..........................
Running the Tests ............................... ...
Memory Diagnostics
.................................
Hard Disk Diagnostics. ...............................
HardDiskParameters.. .........................
. .
Hard Disk Format ........................ .......
Media Analysis ..................................
Performance Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-18
C-2
C-2
C-4
C-6
C-8
C-8
C-10
C-I 2
C-12
C-13
C-16
C-17
SeekTest......................................
Read/Verify Test ................................
Check Test Cylinder. ............................
Force Bad Tracks. ...............................
Hard Disk Error Messages
.........................
Floppy Disk Diagnostics
...............................
Performing the Tests. ................ ...........
Floppy Disk Error Messages.
.......................
Miscellaneous Diagnostics. ............................
Printer Adapter Test. ............................
Communication Adapter Test .....................
Exiting System Diagnostics ............................
C-18
C-18
C-19
C-19
C-19
C-20
C-21
C-22
C-23
C-23
C-24
C-25
ix

Appendix D Troubleshooting
Identifying Your System
..............................D-l
Error Messages
......................................
D-2
The Computer Won’t Start. ...........................
D-3
The Computer Does Not Respond ......................
D-4
Password Problems
...................................
D-5
Accessing Your Current Password
..................
D-6
Keyboard Problems
..................................
D-7
Monitor Problems...................................
D-8
Diskette Problems...................................
D-9
Diskette Drive Problems..............................
D-11
Hard Disk Problems
..................................
D-12
Installing the Drive..............................
D-13
Preparing the Drive..............................
D-14
Accessing Data on the Drive......................
D-15
Software Problems
...................................
D-16
Printer Problems....................................
D-17
Option Card Problems. ...............................
D-18
Mouse Problems
.....................................
D-19
Memory Module Problems............................
D-19
Battery Problems....................................
D-20
Math Coprocessor Problems...........................
D-20
Glossary
Index
X

Introduction
The Epson® Equity® 286 PLUS is a high-performance personal
computer which offers exceptional speed and convenience in a
compact design. The computer’s 12 MHz 80286 microprocessor
makes all your programs run faster, even when supporting
multitasking operations.
Your system includes 1MB of internal memory, a built-in VGA
(video graphics array) display adapter, built-in parallel and serial
interfaces, an IBM
®
PS/2™ compatible mouse port, and four
standard option slots (three 16-bit and one 8-bit). These
interfaces allow you to connect most of your peripheral devices
directly to the computer, so you do not have to install option
cards. You can use the option slots to install additional devices,
such as a modem or a network card.
Your computer can support up to three internal drives: either
two diskette drives and one hard disk drive, or one diskette drive
and two hard disk drives.
The Equity 286 PLUS also offers shadow RAM to speed up
processing by moving the ROM BIOS and the video ROM into
the RAM area of memory. This allows the computer to access
information and display text and graphics on the screen faster.
Optional Equipment
You can easily upgrade your computer by installing additional
memory and adding just about any optional device that is
compatible with the IBM Personal Computer, PC XT,“’ or
PC AT.™
Introduction I

By adding memory modules to the main system board, you can
expand the computer’s memory up to 5MB. Memory modules
are efficient because they eliminate the need to use one of your
option slots to add memory to your system. Your computer can
also access memory installed on memory modules faster than
memory installed on an option card. You can add a memory
card, however, if you want to expand your memory up to 16MB.
You may also want to install an 80287 math coprocessor in your
computer to speed up mathematical calculations in certain
application programs. Check with your authorized Epson dealer
to see which options are available.
Operating Systems and Other Software
You probably have a version of MS-DOS
®
to use with your’
Equity 286 PLUS. Epson has enhanced MS-DOS by adding two
time-saving utilities-HELP and MENU-that make it easier to
use. The HELP program lets you display information on the
screen about any MS-DOS command. MENU provides an easy
way to run many of these commands.
Note
MS-DOS is not the only operating system you can use with
your computer. You can run practically any operating system
compatible with MS-DOS, OS/2, Unix®or XENIX®If you
use another operating system, however, refer to the
documentation that came with it to install and run it on your
computer.
You can use virtually any application program designed for the
IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, or compatible computers on your
Equity 286 PLUS.

Epson has included special VGA utilities that you can use with
your built-inVGA adapter. These utilities provide 132-column
text mode and emulation of different adapter types, as well as a
program to turn off your display automatically when you’re not
using it.
How to Use This Manual
This manual explains how to set up and operate your
computer, install options, and run diagnostics checks. Although
the illustrations show a computer with a 51/4-inch diskette drive,
instructions are included for using a 31/2-inch drive.
Note
This manual covers basic operating instructions for using your
computer, but does not explain how to use MS-DOS. See
your MS-DOS manuals for comprehensive instructions on
installing and using the operating system.
You do not need to read everything in this book; see the
following chapter summaries.
Chapter 1 provides simple step-by-step instructions for setting
up your system. On the back cover foldout are illustrations
identifying the different parts of your computer; refer to these as
you set up your system.
Chapter 2 describes how to run the SETUP program to define
your computer’s configuration. Do this before you use your
computer. You may need to do it again later, if you change the
configuration.
Chapter 3 provides instructions for important operating
procedures, such as using and caring for disks and disk drives.
Chapter 4 describes specialized features you can use to enhance
your system’s performance.
Introduction 3

Chapter 5 describes some of the options you can use in your
computer and contains instructions for removing the cover,
setting jumpers, replacing the battery, and installing options.
Appendix A gives the technical specifications for the computer.
Appendix B describes how to install and remove a hard disk or
diskette drive.
Appendix C outlines the system diagnostics checks. If you are
having trouble with any part of the hardware, you may want to
run some of these.
Appendix D contains troubleshooting tips.
At the end of the manual, you’ll find a glossary and an index.
Where to Get Help
Customer support and service for Epson products are provided by
a network of authorized Epson dealers and Customer Care
Centers throughout the United States. Epson America provides
product information and support to its dealers and Customer
Care Centers.
Therefore, we ask that you contact the business where you
purchased your Epson product to request assistance. If the people
there do not have the answer to your question, they can obtain
it through our toll-free dealer support program. Epson is
confident that this policy will provide you with the assistance
you need.
Call the Epson Consumer Information Center at
[phone] for the location of your nearest Epson dealer or
Customer Care Center. To locate or purchase accessories or
supplies, contact your Epson dealer.
4 lntroduction

Chapter 1
Setting Up Your System
Setting up your Equity 286 PLUS personal computer is easy.
Just follow the eight steps in this chapter. As you set up your
computer, you may want to leave this manual’s back cover
foldout open so you can refer to the illustrations identifying the
different parts.
Note
The illustrations in this manual show the computer with a
5 1/4-inch diskette drive. If your system has a M-inch diskette
drive instead, and you need additional instructions, see
Chapter 3 when necessary.
Choosing a Location
Setting Up Your System 1-1

Before you set up your computer, it’s important to choose a safe,
convenient location that provides the following:
cl
cl
cl
0
0
Cl
A large, sturdy desk or table. The surface should be strong
enough to easily support the weight of your system and all of
its components. Select a location that allows plenty of space
so you can work comfortably.
A flat, hard surface. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted
floors attract static electricity, which can erase data on your
disks and damage the computer’s circuitry. Soft surfaces also
prevent proper ventilation.
Good air circulation. Air must be able to move freely under
the system and behind it. Leave several inches of space
around the computer.
Moderate environmental conditions. Protect your computer
from extremes in temperature, humidity, dust, and smoke.
Avoid direct sunlight or any other source of heat. High
humidity also hinders operation, so select a cool, dry area.
Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges,
connect all your equipment to three-prong, 120-volt
grounded outlets. You need one outlet for the computer, one
for the monitor, and additional outlets for a printer and any
other peripheral devices.
No electromagnetic interference. Locate your system away
from any electrical device, such as a telephone, which
generates an electromagnetic field.
1-2
Setting Up Your System

3 Removing the Protector Card
If you have a 5 1/4-inch diskette drive, there is a protector card in
the diskette slot. This card is inserted at the factory to protect
the read/write heads in the drive. To remove it, flip the latch up
to pop the card out part way, then pull it out, as shown below.
(If you have a second 5 1/4-inch diskette drive, be sure to remove
the protector card from that drive as well.)
Save the protector card. If you transport your computer, you may
want to insert the card into your diskette drive prior to shipping.
This will protect the read/write heads during the shipping
process.
Setting Up Your System
I -3