HP VECTRA VA 6/XXX User manual

Familiarization Guide
HP Vectra VA and XA
6/xxx PCs
HP Vectra VA MT PC
HP Vectra VA PC
HP Vectra XA PC

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Contents
iii
1 Product Contents
HP Vectra VA PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
HP Vectra VA MT PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
HP Vectra XA PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 Operations
Flashing the Latest Version of the System BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Checking the System Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Replacing the System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Replacing the Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Replacing the Processor Chip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
System Board Connectors and Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Backplanes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Accessory Boards that are Supplied with the PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A Final Test
Draw a Circle Around Each Correct Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Answers and Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Contents
iv

1
1
Product Contents
This guide is for experienced technicians who have already completed the
HP Vectra PC family training course. It is a self-paced training guide
designed to train you to repair the PC. It solely contains information specific
to the repair of these PCs. For information on the installation of accessories,
see the User’s Guide and the Online documents that are supplied with the
PC.

2
1 Product Contents
HP Vectra VA PC
HP Vectra VA PC
1 hard disk drive
Backplane
Flexible disk drive
CD-ROM drive
Vacant slim
Pentium Pro
4 accessory slots
Memory modules
System board
processor
internal shelf
3.5/5.25-inch shelf
Mouse
Keyboard Parallel Port Serial Port A Serial Port B
Display

3
1 Product Contents
HP Vectra VA MT PC
HP Vectra VA MT PC
Pentium Pro processor
Memory modules
Flexible disk drive
CD-ROM drive
2 vacant half height
System board Video controller board
2 hard disk drive
Power supply
internal shelves
Backplane
5.25-inch shelves
Airflow guide
4 vacant accessory slots
Audio controller board
S
Serial port B
Mouse connector
Keyboard connector
Parallel port
Display connector
Processor fan Serial port A
Power supply
Hard disk compartment
and fan Voltage selection switch

4
1 Product Contents
HP Vectra XA PC
HP Vectra XA PC
1 hard disk drive
Backplane
Flexible disk drive
CD-ROM drive
Vacant slim
Pentium Pro
Memory modules
System board
processor
internal shelf
3.5/5.25-inch shelf
Audio board (ISA slot)
Matrox board (PCI slot)
3 vacant accessory slots
RJ-45 network
BNC coax hole
Mouse
Keyboard Parallel Port Serial Port A Serial Port B
connector
metal plug
Display connector

5
2
Operations
• procedure for flashing the System BIOS
• procedure for checking the system configuration
• procedures for replacing the system board, power supply, and processor
• layout of the system board and backplane
• layout of the Matrox Millennium video controller board, the audio
controller board and the Enhanced Ethernet Network board.

6
2 Operations
Flashing the Latest Version of the System BIOS
Flashing the Latest Version of the System BIOS
BIOS upgrades can be downloaded, on to flexible diskette, from the
HP World Wide Web site. Following the instructions which you are given,
you will obtain the flash utility program, PHLASH.EXE, the BIOS file,
GZxxxx.FUL, and a file called platform.bin, on a bootable flexible
diskette.
Insert the flexible diskette into drive A. Re-boot the system. Enter the
command of the form PHLASH GZxxxx.FUL (where xxxx is replaced by the
version number of the BIOS that you have downloaded).
Access HP World Wide
Web Site World-Wide Web URL http://www.hp.com/go/vectrasupport
Only use the flash utility program (PHLASH.EXE and platform.bin) that is
supplied with the GZxxxx.FUL file.
Do not switch off the computer until the System BIOS update has been
completed, otherwise irrecoverable damage to the ROM could be
incurred.

7
2 Operations
Checking the System Configuration
Checking the System Configuration
The system configuration needs to be checked in three main areas: the
summary screen, the Setup program, and the system board switch settings.
Summary Screen
To view the summary screen, press just after you have switched on your
PC, while the Vectra logo is being displayed during the Power-On Self-Tests.
Press to retain the screen indefinitely.
Setup Program
To run the Setup program, press just after you have switched on your
PC, while the Vectra logo is being displayed during the Power-On Self-Tests.
To obtain further information on the options which are available for each
field, position the cursor on the field and read the item-specific help that is
given on the right of the screen.
System Board Switch Settings
The first five of the system board switches set the frequency of the
processor. The others are used to configure the PC, as summarized in the
following table.
Switch Function Default
1-5 -Processor frequency.
See the information that is printed on the system board. -
6Open Normal operation Open
Closed Clear configuration data (CMOS memory)
7Open Normal operation Open
Closed Clear all passwords
8Open Disables keyboard power-on Closed
Closed Enables the PC to be turned on from the space bar on the keyboard
9Open Normal operation Open
Closed Clear the Product Identification field (VA or XA)
10 Open Normal operation Open

8
2 Operations
Replacing the System Board
Replacing the System Board
After replacing the system board, flash the System ROM with the latest
version of the System BIOS. Enter the product identification and serial
number, and then reconfigure the PC using the Setup program.
Replacing the Power Supply
Do not plug the cable for the HP Vectra VA control (status) panel into the
connector for the XA. Do not plug the cable for the HP Vectra XA control
(status) panel into the connector for the VA.
XA VA
Do not remove the thermal interface material between the processor and
the heat-sink. To do so would affect the cooling of the processor.
This interface material may stick the processor and heatsink together.
Do not attempt to separate them. Manipulate them as a single unit.
Always flash the latest version of the System BIOS. You may have been
provided with a system board with an old version of the BIOS.
Do not reinstall the memory modules haphazardly. There are three memory
banks, which can be filled in any order, each comprising a pair of sockets.
Different banks can contain memory module pairs of different sizes or types.
However, in each bank which is occupied, you must install a pair of identical
modules.
On the HP Vectra VA 6/xxx PC, always use the specific extraction tool
(PLCC IC Extraction, part number 5041-2553) when removing the video
memory upgrade chips.
On the HP Vectra VA 6/xxx MT PC, always check the position of the voltage
selection switch.

9
2 Operations
Replacing the Processor Chip
Replacing the Processor Chip
System Board Connectors and Switches
If any thermal interface material, such as
aluminium foil or silicone, is supplied with
the heat-sink or the processor chip, place it
carefully on the top of the processor before
installing the heat-sink.

10
2 Operations
Backplanes
Backplanes
XA Desktop The front of the backplane is the same as that for the VA desktop. The rear is
shown on the next page.
VA Desktop
VA Minitower

11
2 Operations
Accessory Boards that are Supplied with the PC
Accessory Boards that are Supplied with the PC
Matrox MGA Millennium
Video Controller Board
This is the same board as is supplied on the HP Vectra XU 6/xxx PC and
HP Vectra VT 6/xxx PC. It is a PCI board, and so does not require specific
configuration when installed in the PC.
Audio Controller Board The layout of the audio controller board is shown on the next page. Although
this is an ISA board, it is Plug-and-Play, so does not require any specific
configuration when installed in the PC.
XA Desktop (rear view)
Top and bottom halves of the
upgrade socket. (For the
installation of a video memory
upgrade module or the Matrox
MPEG module).
Display connector
2 MB memory chips
Configuration switches. (Set to
their bottom position for
normal operation).

12
2 Operations
Accessory Boards that are Supplied with the PC
Enhanced Ethernet
Network Board
The Enhanced Ethernet Network board, depicted below, is a PCI board, and
so does not require specific configuration when installed in the PC.
Line-In
Microphone-In
Line-Out
Speaker-Out
Joystick
Internal
Front panel (used only on the XA)
CD-Audio
Speaker
For the coax adapter board
Remote start
RJ-45 UTP 10 BaseT network
Hole to accept a coax BNC

13
A
Final Test
Now that you have read this familiarization guide, complete the following
questionnaire to check your understanding. Draw a circle around each letter
that corresponds with a correct answer. (There may be more than one cor-
rect answer to each question).

14
A Final Test
Draw a Circle Around Each Correct Answer
Draw a Circle Around Each Correct Answer
1What is needed when replacing an HP Vectra VA system board?
aa new system board
ba new processor chip
ca new VRM
dnew video memory chips
ean extraction tool
fa BIOS diskette.
2An HP Vectra VA MT, supplied with a 1.2 GB hard disk, has been up-
graded by the user, but now no longer works. Which of the following could
be the source of its failure to operate properly?
aIt has been fitted with a P6S/200 Pentium Pro processor.
bThere is an 8 MB EDO memory module in memory socket A1, and an
8 MB FPM module in A2.
cMemory sockets B1 and B2 are empty.
dThere is a 16 MB EDO memory module in memory socket C1, but
socket C2 is empty.
eA 850 MB IDE hard disk drive has been fitted in the lowest front-access
shelf, and has been connected to the spare grey IDE socket.
fA network board has been installed in a PCI slot.
3What do you need to do to update the System BIOS on an HP Vectra XA?
aMake sure that you have a bootable diskette.
bDownload a file whose file-name is of the form GZxxxx.FUL.
cDownload a file whose file-name is PHLASH.EXE.
dDownload some other file.
eSet SW6 (clear configuration data) to Closed.
fSet SW7 (clear all passwords) to Closed.
gSet SW9 (clear product identification field) to Closed.

15
A Final Test
Draw a Circle Around Each Correct Answer
4What do you need to do to obtain the latest System BIOS?
aOrder a BIOS diskette.
bConnect to the World Wide Web URL, at http://www.hp.com/go/
vectra/support.
5What do you need to do to configure the Matrox MGA Millennium video
controller board?
aMove SW-1 on the Matrox board (BIOS unprotected) to the On posi-
tion.
bMove SW-2 on the Matrox board (VGA disabled) to the On position.
cNothing. It is configured automatically.

16
A Final Test
Answers and Explanations
Answers and Explanations
1What is needed when replacing an HP Vectra VA system board?
a a new system board
e an extraction tool
f a BIOS diskette
The extraction tool is required to remove any video memory upgrade
modules on the defective system board. The BIOS diskette is required to
flash the latest System BIOS.
2Which of the following could be the source of the PC’s failure to operate?
b There is an 8 MB EDO memory module in memory socket A1, and an
8 MB FPM module in A2.
d There is a 16 MB EDO memory module in memory socket C1, but
socket C2 is empty.
Memory banks must be filled with pairs of identical modules, but it is not
necessary to fill the memory banks in any particular order.
3What do you need to do to update the System BIOS on an HP Vectra XA?
a Make sure that you have a bootable diskette.
b Download a file whose file-name is of the form GZxxxx.FUL.
c Download a file whose file-name is PHLASH.EXE.
d Download some other file.
Response (d) refers to the platform.bin file. SWs 6,7&9 must be Open.
4What do you need to do to obtain the latest System BIOS?
b Connect to the World Wide Web.
The World Wide Web site is kept updated with the latest version.
5What do you need to do to configure the Matrox MGA Millennium video
controller board?
c Nothing. It is configured automatically.
The switches on the Matrox board should not be changed, but kept in the
Off position.