Mitsubishi Electric Apricot VS 550 User guide

LS/VS550
Owner’s Handbook
NATIONAL
ACCREDITATION
OF CERTIFICATION
BODIES

OWNERS HANDBOOK
APRICOT LS/VS 550

Intel and Pentium®are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows®95 and Windows®3.11 are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the US and other countries.
Other trademarks mentioned within this document and not listed above are the
properties of their respective owners.
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.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means electronic or mechanical including photocopying and recording, for any
purpose, without the express written permission of the publishers.
Copyright © Apricot Computers Limited 1996. All rights reserved.
Published by:
Apricot Computers Limited
3500 Parkside
Birmingham Business Park
Birmingham, England
B37 7YS
http://www.apricot.co.uk
Printed in the United Kingdom

Safety and regulatory notices
I
Safety and Regulatory Notices
Electrical
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.
To prevent fire and electric shock, do not expose any part of the computer to rain or
moisture and turn off the computer and unplug all power cords before moving or
cleaning the system unit, or removing the system top cover.
Battery
This product contains a lithium battery.
Do not use a metal or other conductive implement to remove the battery. If a short-
circuit is made between its positive and negative terminals the battery may explode.
Replace a discharged configuration (CMOS) battery with one of the same type.
Dispose of the battery in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended
instructions and Do not attempt to recharge, disassemble or incinerate the discharged
battery. Keep away from children.
Laser products
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.
It will be in high visibility colours and bear the details shown above.
Use the CD-ROM drive only as described in this manual. Failure to do so may result
in exposure to hazardous radiation.
Ergonomic
When positioning the system unit, monitor and keyboard, take into account any
local or national regulations relating to ergonomic requirements.

Safety and regulatory notices
II
Standards
Safety
This product complies with the European safety standards EN60950 and EN41003
when applicable, will include the national deviations for the country in which it is
sold.
The computers motherboard complies with the following International safety standards:
UL1950 (USA)
Electro-magnetic Compatibility (EMC)
This product complies with the following European EMC standards:
Emissions EN55022 Class B
Immunity EN50082 Level 1
Harmonics EN61000-3-2
This product also complies with the following International EMC standards:
VCCI level 2 (Japan)
The applicable standards for the country of sale will be shown on the label fixed to
the rear of the system.
Notes
All interconnecting cables (e.g. Microphone, headphone and speaker) and
communication cables should be less than 2 metres in length. If cable extensions are
used, ensure adequate earth connections are provided and screened cables are used.
Legalities
This equipment complies with the relevant clauses of the following European
Directives:
Low voltage Directive 73/23/EEC
EMC Directive 89/336/EEC
Telecommunications Directive 91/263/EEC
CE marking Directive 93/668/EEC
Caution
This system has been tested to comply with CE marking and its strict legal requirements.
Use only Apricot tested and approved parts. Failure to do so may result in invalidating
both the compliance and your warranty. All expansion cards must carry CE approvals.

Safety and regulatory notices
III
Power connection information
Typical AC plugs
250V
E
L N
E
N L
250V
E
NL
125V
BS1363A SHUCO NEMA 5-15P
United Kingdom Austria Belgium Taiwan
Denmark Finland Thailand
France Germany USA
Holland Italy Canada
Norway Sweden
Procedure
Note
Any ancillary equipment using an AC power supply cable should be earthed.
The power supplies in the computer and the monitor are correct for the country in
which the system is first sold. Do not alter any switch settings on the rear of the
system. If you wish to use the computer in another country it may not be suitable,
contact your supplier or an authorised Apricot dealer.
♦ Before connecting up any parts of the system, ensure that the AC supply is
switched off or disconnected.
♦ First connect up the keyboard, mouse, monitor signal cable, and audio cables
as appropriate.
♦ Connect up all AC cables. (System to supply, system to monitor, all related
peripherals.) Then switch on or connect the AC supply.
♦ Switch on the monitor first, then the computer followed by the peripherals,
such as printer or speakers.
◊ If the monitor AC lead is connected to the computer AC outlet, when you
come to switch off, the computer power button will switch off the monitor
at the same time.

Safety and regulatory notices
IV
Power Cable Connections - UK ONLY
This equipment is supplied with an AC power lead that has a non-removable
moulded plug.
Always replace the fuse with one of the same type and rating which is BSI or ASTA
approved to BS1362. Always refit the fuse cover, never use the plug with the fuse
cover omitted.

LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK I
CONTENTS
1 Introducing your Computer
Unpacking 1/1
Pictorial guides 1/3
2 Getting Started
General advice 2/1
Connecting the components 2/2
Turning on and booting the computer 2/4
3 Using your Computer
Using the 3.5 diskette drive 3/1
Using the CD-ROM drive 3/3
Using the PD/CD-ROM drive 3/6
Using an FTD Travan tape drive 3/9
Using a SCSI DDS-2 tape drive 3/12
The sound connections 3/17
The anti-theft features of your computer 3/17
Customising your display settings 3/20
Software Backup 3/21
Using Help 3/22
Caring for your computer 3/22
Transporting your computer 3/24
Using your computer in another country 3/25
4 Expansion Cards
Configuring the card 4/2
Installing the card 4/7
5 System Upgrades
Inside the system unit 5/2
Adding more system memory 5/3
Adding more video memory 5/6
Adding a second hard disk drive 5/8
Upgrading the processor 5/9

II LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
6 Troubleshooting
Problems when starting 6/1
Troubleshooting checklist 6/5
The systems disk drives 6/7
A Inside the System Unit
Anti-static precautions A/1
Opening the system unit A/2
Board layout A/3
Changing the jumper settings A/4
System connectors A/6
Replacing the CMOS battery A/7
Replacing the Sensonic batteries A/8
B System BIOS and Setup
Entering setup B/2
If setup runs on its own B/2
Control keys B/3
Main menu screen B/4
System summary B/5
Product data B/5
Devices and I/O ports B/5
Date and time B/7
System security B/8
Start options B/10
Advanced Setup B/11
Plug and Play B/12
Error Log B/13
Power management B/13
Error messages B/15
C Technical Information
Specifications C/1
Physical characteristics C/2
Fall-back Password

Introducing your computer
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 1/1
1 INTRODUCING YOUR
COMPUTER
This chapter gives you a quick tour of your Apricot computer. It
details the energy-efficient features of the computer and contains
pictorial guides to help you identify the various parts of the
machine. As soon as you’ve unpacked the components and
familiarised yourself with them, you should progress to the next
chapter, ‘Getting Started’.
WarningWarning
Read the power guidelines which can be found in the Safety &
Regulatory section of this manual before using the computer for the first
time.
Unpacking
On unpacking the computer, you should find:
♦ Apricot PC system unit.
♦ System unit AC power cord, and monitor power cord,
appropriate for the country of sale.
♦ System documentation (this Owner’s Handbook, etc.)
♦ Microsoft Windows 95 or (if requested) Microsoft MS-DOS
and Windows for Workgroups documentation.
More elaborate systems may include software or hardware options
with accompanying installation diskettes and additional documentation.
Some of these options may have been factory configured, or
installed by your supplier.
Keep the cartons, boxes and packaging materials; you will need
them again if you have to transport the computer elsewhere.
Make a note of the manufacturer’s data recorded on the various
components (product codes, serial numbers, etc.). A service engineer
may need this information if the computer develops a fault.

Introducing your computer
1/2 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
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).
CautionCaution
Do not attempt to use the computer’s energy-saving features with a
monitor that does not support DPMS; the monitor may be permanently
damaged.
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 may 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 will restart
the computer in full power mode.
Further details can be found in the Power Management section of
Appendix B, “System BIOS and Setup”.

Introducing your computer
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 1/3
Pictorial Guides
Front View
COMPACT
43
2
1
5
6
7
1Power button: press to turn on or off.
2Standby button: pressing this button switches the system
between normal working mode and its Standby mode. In
standby mode the system uses little power, but can be quickly
returned to normal mode.
3Optional CD-ROM, PD/CD-ROM, or tape drive.
43.5” Floppy diskette drive.
5Power LED indicator: lights when the system unit is
powered.
6Hard disk drive activity indicator: lights when the hard disk
drive is in use.
7Air vents.

Introducing your computer
1/4 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Rear View
1
10101
2
11
678910
15 14
112
13
51
16
4
23
1Casing screws: unfasten these to remove the top cover.
2AC power outlet: where the monitor power cord plugs in.
3Voltage selection switch: the system unit can be set to operate
with a 100-120 V or 220-240 V AC power supply.
4AC power inlet: where the system unit power cord plugs in.
5Optional dual Universal Serial Ports (USB) for connection to
USB compatible interfaces.
6Keyboard port: connect the keyboard to this port.
7Mouse port: connect the mouse to this port.
8Serial port 1: typically used for connecting an external modem or
a serial printer signal cable.
9Serial port 2: as serial port 1.
10 Parallel port: typically used for a printer signal cable.
11 Monitor port: connect the monitor signal cable to this port.
12 Air vents: do not block these vents or the system will overheat.
13 Blanking plates: for the expansion card slots.
14 Optional audio daughter board.
15 Security loop: you can feed a security chain through this loop
and secure it to prevent theft of the system unit.
16 System unit case lock.

Getting Started
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/1
2 GETTING STARTED
This chapter provides important information to help you site,
connect, power and configure the computer.
Warning
Read the power guidelines which can be found in the Safety &
Regulatory section of this manual before using the computer for the first
time.
General advice
This computer is designed to be used in a normal home or office
environment. Here are a few hints for choosing a suitable site:
♦ Place the system unit flat on a sturdy, level surface.
♦ Site the computer away from moisture, direct sunlight, and
extremes of heat and cold. Avoid situations in which the
surrounding temperature or humidity may change rapidly.
(See Appendix C, Technical Information, for recommended
temperature and humidity ranges.)
♦ When positioning the system unit, monitor and keyboard, take
into account any local or national regulations relating to
ergonomic requirements. For example, you should ensure that
little or no ambient light is reflected off the monitor screen as
glare, and that the keyboard is placed in a comfortable position
for typing.
♦ Give the computer plenty of room so that air can circulate on
all sides. Air is drawn into the system unit through vents on
the front and on the left-hand side, and expelled through the
vent on the back. Ensure that these vents are never obstructed.
Do not allow any cables, particularly power cords, to trail across the
floor where they can be snagged by people walking past.

Getting Started
2/2 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
Warning
The computer uses the system unit AC power cord as its disconnect
device. Ensure that the system unit is positioned close to the AC power
outlet, and that the plug is easily accessible.
To prevent fire and electric shock, do not expose any part of the system
unit to rain or moisture.
Connecting the components
See Chapter 1, Introducing your computer, if you need help
identifying the various ports on the system unit.
Checking the AC power supply
When the computer is delivered, it is ready for the commercial AC
power supply generally available in the country in which it is first
sold. It has been set for the correct voltage range, and is supplied
with an AC power cord and plug which comply with the relevant
safety standards.
Before using the computer in a country other than that in which it
was originally sold, you must check the voltage and frequency of
that countrys AC power supply, and the type of power cord
required there. Check the power rating labels on the rear of the
computers system unit and its monitor to ensure that they are
compatible with the AC power supply.
If necessary, the AC voltage setting of the system unit can be
adjusted by the voltage selection switch on the rear of the system
unit. Refer to the section entitled Using the computer in another
country in Chapter 3, Using your computer, for instructions on
how to do this. It is likely that the monitors voltage setting will also
need adjusting; consult the Users Guide that accompanies the
monitor, or ask your supplier for help.
Installing add-on options
If the computer arrived with uninstalled add-on options, (such as
expansion cards or memory modules) refer to the relevant chapters

Getting Started
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/3
in this handbook for step-by-step installation instructions.
Expansion cards may also have their own documentation that
supplements or overrides the instructions in this manual.
Note that some options for which you have installation guides may
have already been installed for you at the factory or by your
supplier.
Connecting the components
Having assured yourself that the voltage settings, and the AC power
cords of the computer, the monitor and any other peripherals, are
correct, use the procedure below to connect these components
together. It is important that you take each step in the order
indicated.
1. If your AC power outlets have switches, set them to their Off
positions.
2. Ensure that the system unit, the monitor, and any peripherals
are turned off.
3. Connect the monitor signal cable between the monitor and the
monitor port on the rear of the system unit. (If the monitor
signal cable is connected after the computer is turned on, the
display may appear in monochrome or not at all.)
4. Where appropriate, connect other signal cables between your
peripherals and their respective ports on the system unit. Make
sure the signal cables are connected securely.
5. Plug the keyboard cable into the keyboard port on the system
unit. Be careful not to plug it into the mouse port by mistake.
6. Plug the mouse into the mouse port on the system unit. Never
connect either the keyboard or the mouse while the system
unit is turned on.
7. Where appropriate, connect the computer to the network.
8. Connect the monitor power cord between the monitor and the
AC power outlet on the rear of the system unit.

Getting Started
2/4 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
9. Connect the system unit power cord between the AC power
inlet on the rear of the system unit and a nearby, grounded AC
power outlet.
10. Where appropriate, connect power cords between your
peripherals and nearby, grounded AC power outlets.
11. If your AC power outlets have switches, set them to their On
positions.
Turning on and booting the computer
Turning the power on
To turn on the computer, simply press the POWER button. The
power indicator on the front of the machine lights to green to show
that the system unit is powered. Remember that the monitor has its
own power button or switch; see the monitors Users Guide for
details.
Always make sure that the system unit is turned on before turning
on any attached peripherals.
If the computer does not start when the POWER button is pressed,
check that the system unit and monitor power cords are securely
connected and that the AC power supply is switched on.
Power-on self-test
Whenever the computer is turned on, a power-on self-test (POST)
routine test various hardware components and compares the actual
configuration of the computer with that recorded in configuration
(CMOS) memory. During this time, BIOS sign-on and POST
messages are displayed.
The boot sequence
Provided that POST succeeds without discovering any serious errors
or configuration discrepancies, the computer attempts to find an
operating system; that is, it attempts to boot.

Getting Started
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 2/5
By default, the computer will look first for a system diskette, then
for a bootable hard disk, but this sequence can be changed with the
BIOS Setup utility.
System diskette
A system diskette is a diskette bearing at least the rudiments of an
operating system. If the computer finds such a diskette in the
diskette drive, it boots from it. If it finds a non-system diskette, the
computer invites you to replace it. If necessary, your operating
system manuals should tell you how to create a system diskette.
Hard disk
Apricot computers fitted with a hard disk normally arrive with
either Microsoft Windows 95 or the MS-DOS/Windows operating
system already in place or pre-installed, so that its there ready for
you when you turn on the computer for the first time.
Note
A hard disk may contain more than one operating system, in different
partitions, but only one partition can be active at any one time. The
computer loads its operating system from the currently active partition.
Starting the computer for the first time
The first time you turn on your computer a message appears
explaining the legal terms and conditions that govern the use of the
software pre-installed on the computers hard disk. Once you have
read this message, you will have to press the specified key to
continue. By doing so you are acknowledging that you have read,
understood and accepted the terms and conditions.
Why your computer may seem to stop working
Your computer has a built-in energy-saving feature. If you leave it
for a while without doing anything, it goes into a special low-power
standby mode. The monitor display may go blank and the
processor slows down. The operating system and your programs
continue to run, although slowly (and of course you cant see them

Getting Started
2/6 LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK
because the monitor is blank). The computer is still working, and
you havent lost any of your files.
You can wake the computer again by pressing any keyboard key. See
Appendix B, System BIOS and Setup for more information.
Caution
The monitor supplied with your computer is designed to work with these
energy-saving features. If you want to use another monitor, make sure
that it supports the VESA standard for Display Power Management
Signalling; if it doesnt, it may be permanently damaged.
Turning the power off
Before turning off the computer, run through the following
checklist:
♦ Quit or exit from the applications you are running; be sure to
save any files you have altered.
♦ If you are logged-in to a network, logout before turning off the
computer. This gives the network operating system a chance to
free up the network resources youve been using.
♦ Close down or quit any software that employs virtual memory
or disk-caching (Windows 95 and Windows for Workgroups
do this automatically).
♦ Always turn off any attached peripherals first. However, theres
no need to turn off the monitor if its being powered from the
system unit.
♦ Wait until all the activity indicators on the front bezel are unlit
or the operating system reports that is OK to turn the system
off.
To turn off the computer, simply press the POWER button again.
The power indicator on the front bezel goes out. If the monitor is
powered from the system unit, it will be turned off at the same
time.
Wait at least 5 seconds before you turn the computer on again - to
give it time to initialise properly.

Using your computer
LS/VS 550 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 3/1
3 USING YOUR COMPUTER
This chapter provides useful information on the correct operation of
the drives which may be fitted to your computer. It also provides
useful advice on caring for, and transporting your computer.
Warning
Read the power guidelines which can be found in the Safety &
Regulatory section of this manual before using the computer for the first
time.
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.
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: