Epson Equity III User manual

EPSON
®
Equity™ III+
User’s Guide
Y12699112300

IMPORTANT NOTICE
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
Seiko Epson Corporation 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 other-
wise, without the prior written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. No patent liability is assumed
with respect to the use of information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken the
preparation of this publication, Seiko Epson Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omis-
sions. 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
Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Data Computer Corp
Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Equity is a trademark of Epson America, Inc
IBM is a registered trademark and AT and XT are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp.
MS and GW are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
Copyright 0 1986 by Seiko Epson Corporation
Nagano, Japan

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
FOR AMERICAN USERS
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and
used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may
cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found
to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the
specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC
ru es,
1
which are designed to provide
reasonable protection against such interference in a residential installation. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be deter-
mined 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:
l Reorient the receiving antenna
l Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver
l Move the computer away from the receiver
l Plug the computer into a different outlet so that computer and receiver are on
different branch circuits.
If necessary, the user should consult- the dealer or an experienced radio/television tech-
nician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by
the Federal Communications Commission helpful:
“Television Interference Handbook”
This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC
20402. Stock No. 004-000-00450-7.
Note: If the interference stops, it was probably caused by the computer or its periph-
eral devices. To further isolate the problem:
Disconnect the peripheral devices and their input/output cables one at a time.
If the interference stops, it is caused by either the peripheral device or its I/O
cable. These devices usually require shielded I/O cables. For Epson peripheral
devices, you can obtain the proper shielded cable from your dealer. For non-
Epson peripheral devices contact the manufacturer or dealer for assistance.
WARNING
This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class B
computing device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules. Only
peripherals (computer input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) certi-
fied to comply with the Class B limits may be attached to this computer.
Operation with non-certified peripherals is likely to result in interference
to radio and TV reception.
The connection of a nonshielded equipment interface cable to this equip-
ment will invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause
interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for this
equipment.

Contents
Introduction ..................................
How to Use this Manual .........................
1
Setting Up Your System
........................
Unpacking .....................................
Removing the disk drive protector sheet ...........
Choosing a Location .............................
Arranging the Components .......................
The front panel ................................
The back panel
...............................
Connecting the Power Cord ......................
Connecting a Video Monitor ......................
Connecting the Keyboard ........................
Connecting a Printer ............................
Parallel interface
...............................
Serial interface
................................
The Equity III+ character set ....................
Turning On the Computer ........................
Safety rules
...................................
Turning on the power switch ....................
Initial setup procedure ..........................
Initial screen display ............................
2
Using the Equity III+ .........................
Locking the Computer ...........................
Inserting and Removing Diskettes ..................
Special Keys on the Equity III+ Keyboard ...........
Controlling the Volume ..........................
Selecting Execution Speed
........................
Resetting the Computer ..........................
Turning Off the Computer ........................
3 Using Disks and Disk Drives
...................
How Disks Work ................................
Choosing Diskettes for the Equity III+ ..............
Drive and diskette incompatibilities ...............
Caring for your Disks and Disk Drives ..............
Protecting your Data .............................
Making backup copies ..........................
Write-protecting diskettes .......................
Intro-1
Intro-2
1-1
1-1
1-2
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
1-9
1-11
1-11
1-12
1-12
1-13
1-13
1-13
1-14
1-15
2-1
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-5
2-5
2-6
2-7
3-1
3-1
3-2
3-2
3-4
3-5
3-5
3-5
V

4
5
A
B
C
vi
Using a Single Floppy Disk Drive ..................
Using a Hard Disk Drive .........................
Installing Option Cards
........................
Removing the Cover .............................
Installing an Option Card ........................
Removing an Option Card .......................
Replacing the Cover .............................
Post-installation Setup
............................
Troubleshooting
..............................
The Computer Fails to Start Up ...................
The Video Display Does Not Appear ...............
The Computer Locks Up or Freezes
................
Floppy Disk Problems
............................
Hard Disk Problems .............................
Software Problems
...............................
Printer Problems
................................
Option Card Problems ...........................
Appendixes
Jumper Settings
...............................
Changing a Jumper Setting
.......................
Memory Card Jumpers
...........................
Main Circuit Board Jumpers ......................
Multi-function Card Jumpers ......................
Equity III+ Specifications
......................
CPU and Memory ..............................
Controllers .....................................
Interfaces
......................................
Power Supply
...................................
Mass Storage
...................................
Keyboard ......................................
Environmental Requirements ......................
Physical Characteristics (CPU Only) ................
Power Requirements
.............................
Options .......................................
Glossary.. ....................................
Index ........................................
3-7
3-7
4-1
4-1
4-3
4-6
4-7
4-8
5-1
5-1
5-2
5-2
5-3
5-4
5-4
5-4
5-5
A-1
A-2
A-2
A-4
A-9
B-1
B-1
B-1
B-1
B-2
B-2
B-3
B-3
B-3
B-3
B-4
C-l
Index-1

Figures
1-1 System arrangement
................. ...........
1-2 Front panel ........................ ...........
1-3 Backpanel ......................... ...........
1-4 Connecting the power cord ........... ...........
1-5 Connecting the monitor .............. ...........
1-6 Connecting the cable to the keyboard ... ...........
1-7 Opening the keyboard connector cover . ...........
1-8
1-9
1-10
1-11
1-12
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
3-1
3-2
4-1
4-2
4-3
4-4
4-5
4-6
4-7
4-8
A-1
A-2
A-3
Plugging the keyboard cable into the main unit .......
Adjusting the keyboard legs .......................
Connecting the printer cable to the parallel port ......
Connecting the printer ...........................
Turning on the power ............................
Locking the computer ............................
Inserting a diskette ..............................
Standard keyboard ..............................
Volume control knob and CPU speed switch .........
Write-protect notch ..............................
Write-protect switch .............................
Back panel screws
...............................
Sliding back the cover ............................
Removing the cover .............................
Option slots ....................................
16-bit and 8-bit option cards ......................
Removing an option slot cover ....................
Inserting an option card ..........................
Replacing the cover
..............................
Location of cards ................................
Jumper positions
................................
Removing memory card retaining screw
.............
A-4 Memory card jumpers ............................
A-5 Removing circuit board screws
.....................
A-6 Unplugging connector CN6 from hard disk controller
card
..........................................
A-7 Removing circuit board ..........................
A-8 Unplugging connectors CN6 and CN3 from the circuit
board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-7
1-8
1-9
1-9
1-10
1-10
1-11
1-12
1-14
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-5
3-6
3-6
4-2
4-2
4-3
4-3
4-4
4-5
4-6
4-7
A-1
A-2
A-3
A-4
A-6
A-6
A-7
A-7
vii

A-9 Main circuit board jumpers ....................... A-8
A-10 Disconnecting disk drive cable from multi-function card . A-10
A-11 Removing multi-function card retaining screw ........
A-11
A-12 Multi-function card jumpers .......................
A-11
Tables
1-1 Monitor/video card compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1-8
2-1 Special keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
3-1 Drive/diskette compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
A-1 Memory card jumper settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A-2 Main circuit board jumper settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A-3 Multi-function card jumper settings for parallel port . . .
A-4 Multi-function card jumper settings for serial port . . . . .
A-3
A-5
A-9
A-10

Introduction
Your Epson Equity III+ personal computer is a versatile, high-
performance system which offers you a wide variety of choices. First you
choose between two models of the Equity III+ main unit, then select the
monitor and peripherals you want to use with it to assemble the configura-
tion that does the most for you.
The Equity III+ main unit is available in these models:
l One 1.2MB (megabyte) high-density floppy disk drive
lOne 1.2MB floppy disk drive and one 40MB internal hard disk drive.
Both models include 640KB (kilobytes) of memory. You can install additional
drives in your Equity III+ to increase its storage capacity: another floppy disk
drive (360KB, 720KB, or 1.2MB)
an
d
one or more hard disks (10MB, 20MB,
40MB, etc.).
Optional cards and external devices further expand the capabilities of
your Equity III+. Its serial and parallel interfaces let you connect almost any
peripheral device you choose. Here are some options you can use with your
system:
. Monochrome monitor (green or amber)
l Monochrome video card
l RGB (red, green, blue) color monitor or RGB enhanced color monitor
l Composite color monitor
l Color/graphics video card
l Graphics or enhanced graphics video card
l Memory expansion card
l 80287 Math coprocessor
l An Epson printer or plotter.
You can also use most cards for the IBM® Personal Computer,
PC XT™, and PC AT™ on the Equity III+. Check with your Epson dealer
from time to time to find out which peripherals and option cards are
available.
Intro-1

The Equity III+ comes with the MS™-DOS operating system and the
GW™-BASIC programming language. If you have used MS-DOS before on
another computer, you will find that it works the same on the Equity III+. Be
sure to refer to your Equity MS-DOS manual, however, for descriptions of
the special utility programs added by Epson.
You may have purchased other software; you can use most software
products designed for the IBM PC, PC XT, and PC AT on your Equity III+.
Refer to your software program documentation for information on using the
software.
Additionally, the Equity III+ supports multiple users and multiple task-
ing with the appropriate operating system. Consult your Epson dealer for
more information.
How to Use this Manual
This user’s guide explains how to set up and care for your Equity III+. It
also describes how to start using your system and install optional devices.
You may not need to read everything in this book; some sections may
describe a particular option or accessory you do not have.
Follow the instructions in Chapter 1 to set up and turn on your system.
Chapter 2 describes some general operational procedures. Chapter 3
explains how disks and disk drives work and shows how to use them. Chap-
ter 4 describes how to install and remove option cards. If you encounter a
problem, refer to Chapter 5 for troubleshooting guidelines.
Appendix A describes how to change jumper settings inside the main
unit when you install certain optional devices, Appendix B presents the
Equity III+ hardware specifications, and Appendix C is a glossary of com-
puter terms used in this manual. Refer to the glossary whenever you come
across an unfamiliar word.
Intro-2

Chapter 1
Setting Up Your System
Setting up your Epson Equity III+ personal computer is easy. Just follow
the steps in this chapter.
Unpacking
As you remove your system components from their cartons, be sure
to inspect each piece. If anything is missing, looks damaged, or seems wrong,
consult your Epson dealer.
Once you have unpacked your Equity III+ computer components and
documentation, you should have the following:
The main unit and power cord
The keyboard with detachable cable
Keys for locking the computer
An MS-DOS operating system diskette (version 3.2) and a GW-BASIC
programming language diskette with supplemental MS-DOS utilities
An MS-DOS manual and a GW-BASIC manual
A diagnostics and system-dependent utilities diskette and a Diagnostics
manual
This Equity III+ User’s Guide.
In addition to these items, you probably bought a compatible video monitor
and video card.
You’ll also find a registration card with the main unit. Fill this card out
now and mail it to Epson. With your registration card on file, Epson can
send you update information.
Be sure to keep your packing materials. They provide the best protection
possible for your computer if you need to move or ship it later.
1-1

Removing the disk drive protector sheet
A cardboard sheet occupies the diskette slot in the floppy disk drive.
This sheet is inserted at the factory to protect the read/write heads. Be sure
to remove it before you connect any cables. Turn the latch that covers the
disk slot counterclockwise until it is horizontal. Carefully pull out the sheet.
If you have an optional 360KB or 720KB d
rive as well, press the disk drive
button to release the protector sheet.
Save the protector sheet and reinsert it whenever you move the com-
puter, even if you just move it to another part of the room. If you don’t plan
to use your computer for a week or more, such as when you go on vacation,
reinsert the protector sheet to help prevent dust from entering the disk drive.
2
Choosing a Location
Before you set up your new system, choose an appropriate place.
Whether you use your computer at home or in the office, you need to find a
comfortable, convenient location where it can run properly.
Choose a location that provides the following:
A large, sturdy desk or table. Make sure it can easily support the weight
of your system, including all its components.
A flat, hard surface. Soft surfaces like beds and carpeted floors attract
static electricity, which erases data on your disks and can damage the
computer’s circuitry. Soft surfaces also prevent proper ventilation.
Good air circulation. Air must be able to move freely under the system
as well as behind it. Leave several inches of space around the computer
to allow ventilation.
Moderate environmental conditions. You need to protect your com-
puter 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. Because you can’t risk losing data
stored on disk, do not expose your computer to dust and smoke which
can damage disks and disk drives.
Appropriate power sources. To prevent static charges, connect all your
equipment to 3-prong, 120-volt grounded outlets. You need one outlet for
the main unit, one for the monitor, and additional outlets for a printer
and any other peripherals. The auxiliary power outlet on the rear panel
of the Equity III+ reduces the number of wall outlets you need.
1-2

lNo electromagnetic interference. Locate your system away from any
electrical device that generates an electromagnetic field. Even a tele-
phone can cause trouble, especially if you keep diskettes right next to it.
3
Arranging the Components
First decide how you want to arrange the different parts of your
system. Figure 1-1 shows a typical setup.
Figure 1-1. System arrangement
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 connect the cables, take a look at the front and back panels
of the main unit.
1-3

The front panel
Figure 1-2 identifies the various components on the front panel.
P;;;r Ha;;v$sk Floppy disk
drive Disk lock/
lamp LED lamp LED lamp release latch
~/-!~j ~~ \:j<g
Keyboard VOLUME MONITOR RESET button
cable Optional control SELECT SPEED disk drive
socket knob switch switch slots
Figure 1-2. Front panel
Floppy disk drive. The top drive is a floppy disk drive that uses high-
density (1.2MB) diskettes.
Disk lock/release latch. To lock a diskette in place, turn this latch clock-
wise until it is vertical. To release a diskette, turn it counterclockwise
until it is horizontal.
Floppy disk drive LED lamp. A red light indicates that the drive is being
accessed. To avoid losing data, never remove a diskette or turn off the
computer’s power when this light is on.
Slots for optional disk drives. You can add another floppy disk drive
(1.2MB, 720KB, or 360KB) and/or hard disk drive in these slots. All
Equity III+ units come with at least one 1.2MB floppy disk drive.
Hard disk drive LED lamp. A red light indicates that the drive is being
accessed. To avoid losing data, do not turn off the computer’s power
when this light is on.
Power LED lamp. When the light is on, the power is on. The light is red
if the CPU (central processing unit) speed is 6 MHz, orange for 8 MHz,
and green for 10 MHz.
1-4

Key Lock. Use the key to lock the main unit and keyboard. Turn the key
clockwise to lock the computer and counterclockwise to unlock it. You
can remove the key in either position. (Locking the computer disables
the RESET button.)
RESET button. Press this button to reset the computer. When an operat-
ing system is running and the computer is unlocked, you can press the
RESET button to reboot the system.
CPU SPEED switch. Use this switch to select the CPU’s execution speed:
6 MHz, 8 MHz, or 12 MHz, from left to right. Do nor change the speed
while you are running a program.
MONITOR SELECT switch. Slide this switch to the left if you are using a
monochrome monitor or to the right if you are using a color monitor.
VOLUME control. Turn the knob clockwise to make the computer’s
speaker louder, or counterclockwise to make it quieter.
Keyboard cable socket. Plug in the keyboard cable here.
The back panel
Now look at the back panel to identify the input/output ports. Figure
1-3 shows where you connect your peripherals.
Voltage
switch Option card access slots
AC power
inlet
/ \
/
\
/
/
AC power AC power Printer
inlet outlet parallel serial
port port
outlet parallel
port
RS-232C
serial
port
Figure 1-3. Back panel
1-3

WARNING: Connect all your peripherals before you plug in the power
cable. After you plug in the power cable, always turn off
the power switch before you connect or disconnect any
peripheral.
Voltage switch. Leave this switch at 115V for USA and Canadian use.
Slide the switch to the right to select 230V for use in other countries (as
necessary).
AC Power outlet. Auxiliary power outlet. Some monitors (and other
types of peripherals) can be plugged into the main unit here, instead of a
wall outlet. The main unit’s power switch controls the monitor or
peripheral connected to this outlet.
AC Power inlet. Plug the power cord into the main unit here. Be sure
the power switch is off when you plug the power cord into an outlet.
Printer parallel port. Allows you to connect a peripheral with a paral-
lel interface, such as a printer or a plotter.
RS-232C serial port. Allows you to connect a peripheral with a serial
interface, such as a modem, another computer, or a printer.
Option card access slots. The Equity III+ has nine slots to hold up to
nine option cards. Option cards allow your computer to control your
peripherals or enhance your computer’s performance. One option card
slot holds the hard disk controller card and another contains the parallel
and serial interfaces as well as the floppy disk controller. You also need to
use one or more slots for the video card(s) you purchased for your moni-
tor. You can use the other slots to install additional options, such as a
memory expansion card.
4
Connecting the Power Cord
Insert the power cord into the AC power inlet on the left side of the
back panel, as shown in Figure 1-4. To avoid an electric shock, be sure to plug
this end into the main unit before plugging the other end into the wall socket.
For now, do not plug the power cord into an electrical outlet.
1-6

Figure 1-4. Connecting the power cord
Connecting a Video Monitor
The procedure you use to connect your monitor to the main unit
depends on the type of monitor you have. Refer to your monitor manual for
detailed instructions or follow the general guidelines below.
Note: Your dealer may have installed a video card in your main unit to control
your monitor. If not, you need to install it before you can connect your
monitor. See Chapter 4 for instructions on how to remove the main
unit’s cover and install an option card.
1.
2.
3.
Place your monitor on top of or near the Equity III+ main unit. It is
easiest to connect the monitor cable if the backs of the monitor and
main unit face you.
If necessary, connect the monitor cable to the monitor. (Some monitors
come with permanently attached cables.)
Connect the appropriate end of the monitor cable to your monochrome
or color/graphics card connector at the back of the main unit, as shown
in Figure 1-5. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them with a screw-
driver.
1-7

Figure 1-5. Connecting the monitor
The monitor type must match the video card in the main unit. If you
have a color card, you can use one of two connectors: a nine-pin, female
D-connector for RGB monitors or an RCA connector for composite
video monitors. Consult Table 1-1 to make sure your card and monitor
match.
Table 1-1. Monitor/video card compatibility
Monitor Video card Output type
Monochrome Monochrome or graphics or
One 9-pin output (TTL
enhanced graphics compatible)
Color or enhanced Graphics or color graphics or One 9-pin RGB output, or
color enhanced graphics one RCA-type jack for
composite video
Note: Be sure to set the switches on the video card to match your monitor.
4. Plug the monitor’s power cable first into the power inlet on the monitor
and then into an electrical outlet.
1-8

Note: If a monochrome monitor has the proper type of plug, you can
plug it into the auxiliary outlet next to the power inlet at the back
of the Equity III+ main unit.
5. Set the monitor switch on the front panel of the main unit for the type of
monitor you are using. (See Figure 1-2.) Slide the switch to the left for a
monochrome monitor or to the right for a color monitor.
Connecting the Keyboard
Follow these steps to connect the keyboard:
1. Connect the cable to the keyboard as shown in Figure 1-6. If there is a
plastic band around the connector, remove it first.
Figure 1-6. Connecting the cable to the keyboard
2. Open the cover on the lower left corner on the front panel of the main
unit, as shown in Figure 1-7.
Figure 1-7. Opening the keyboard connector cover 1-9

3. Plug the other end of the cable into the keyboard socket, as shown in Figure
1-8. Do not force the connector, but be sure to insert it all the way.
Figure 1-8. Plugging the keyboard cable into the main unit
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
it locks into place, as shown in Figure 1-9. You can adjust the legs to two
different positions, or leave them flat.
Figure 1-9. Adjusting the keyboard legs
1-10

Connecting a Printer
The Equity III+ has both parallel and serial interfaces. You can easily
connect a printer or plotter that has either type of interface-just follow the
instructions below. Epson offers a full range of printer products. Consult
your dealer for more information.
Parallel interface
The Equity III+ parallel interface is Centronics®-compatible and uses a
DB-25S connector. Most Epson printers have parallel interfaces.
To connect a printer to the main unit, you need an IBM-compatible
printer cable. If you are not sure which one you need, consult your Epson
dealer. Once you have a printer cable, follow these steps to connect your
printer to the parallel interface on the main unit:
1. Place the printer next to your system.
2. Before you connect the printer, be sure the power switches on both the
main unit and the monitor are off.
3. One end of the printer cable has a 25-pin male D-connector. (Refer to
your printer manual to determine which end this is.) Connect this end
to the parallel port on the back panel of the main unit, as shown in
Figure 1-10. If the plug has retaining screws, tighten them with a small
screwdriver.
Figure 1-10. Connecting the printer cable to the parallel port
1-11