Mitsubishi Electric Apricot LS Pro Guide

apricot
LS Pro
USING SETUP AND INSTALLING ADD-ONS
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC

Informationcontainedinthisdocumentissubjecttochangewithoutnoticeand
doesnot represent a commitment on thepart of Apricot Computers Limited. The
softwaredescribedinthis 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’spersonaluse.
All rights reserved; no use or disclosure without written consent.
Copyright©ApricotComputersLimited1993
Publishedby
ApricotComputersLimited
3500Parkside
BirminghamBusinessPark
BIRMINGHAMB377YS
MITSUBISHIELECTRIC
PrintedintheUnitedKingdom
Partno.15146931
Revision01

1
Contents
SETUP
Introduction 3
Invoking SETUP 3
The SETUP screen 4
Controlling SETUP using the keyboard 6
System Autoconfiguration 6
SETUP functions 7
Exiting SETUP 13
Installing add-ons
Introduction 15
Anti-static precautions 16
Memory upgrades 17
Installing an 80387SX 23
Thick wire Ethernet 24
Token-Ring RPL ROM 26
Token-Ring module 28
Approved SIMMs 28

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3
SETUP
Introduction
The Apricot LS Pro system board is fitted with a small area
of memory which is used to store information about the
configuration of the computer. The computer’s
configuration is modified using a SETUP utility provided in
Read Only Memory (ROM) on the system board.
A rechargeable battery on the system board maintains the
configuration memory when the LS Pro is switched off.
Invoking SETUP
Each time the LS Pro is switched on, or rebooted, it runs
through a self test procedure. During this period the
SETUP utility can be invoked by pressing the ALT+Skey
combination.
The LS Pro can boot in two ways, it can use a graphical
boot screen, or a conventional text based boot screen.
During graphical boot a Setup button is displayed, SETUP
can only be invoked while the button is not greyed out.
During text boot a prompt appears on the screen, while the
prompt is visible SETUP can be invoked.
There may be a delay of a few seconds, while the self test
procedure is completed, before the SETUP screen
appears.

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The SETUP screen
The simplest way to use SETUP is with a mouse, just
move the cursor to the option you want to select and click
with the left mouse button. The illustration below identifies
the elements that make up the SETUP screen.
Power-On Sound
BIOS shadowing Total
Extended
1664KB
1024KB Floppy
Hard
3.5" 1.44MB
Graphics
Text
Enable Memory Disk Types
Startup Sound Volume
Boot Device
Local
Ethernet RPL
Token-Ring RPL
Other
Power-on Password
Enable
Token-Ring
Bus Width
Data Rate
Save Cancel
Monitor Type
SVGA
VGA/EVGA
EVGA (high refresh)
CMOS Checksum OK
Setup
High
Low
4 MBits/second
16 MBits/second
8 bit
16 bit
Option group Scroll bar Text
Tick box
Option button
Test
Message bar Text box Button
ELS85AT (80MB)
H/D detection
Option group
These are used to collect a number of related, or exclusive,
options under a common heading.
Check box
Check boxes are used where any number of the options in
the group may be selected. Select or de-select a check box
by pointing and clicking in the box with the mouse.

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Option button
These are used for exclusive options. Beside each option
is a circle, only one circle is highlighted at any given time.
If you point and click on an option the highlight will transfer
to it.
Scroll bar
Scroll bars behave like slide controls. They are adjusted by
pointing and clicking on the arrows at each end of the bar.
Text box
These are provided when the user has to enter text. Point
and click in the text box, then enter the text required and
press ENTER.
Text
The SETUP utility displays some information about your
system that is detected automatically and cannot be
altered. For example, the amount of memory installed in
the system is detected and displayed, for information only.
Buttons
Buttons carry out the action indicated by the text on the
button.
Message line
A message line at the bottom of the screen contains
information about SETUP.
Greyed out options
Where an option is greyed out it indicates that it cannot
currently be selected, or used. There could be a variety of
reasons for this, for example: the computer may not
support the option, or an associated option may have to be
enabled in order for the greyed out option to be valid.

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Controlling SETUP using the keyboard
If you are unable to use a mouse, you can use the
keyboard to move around and select the SETUP options.
TAB Moves you round the option groups, and
buttons. An alternative method is to hold
down the ALT key and press the letter which
corresponds to the one underlined in the title
of the group
ARROW KEYS Once you are in an option group, use the
arrow keys to move through the options. The
system will highlight an entry to show which
option is currently selected.
SPACE BAR Press the space bar to set the highlighted
option.
ENTER Confirms SAVE or CANCEL buttons.
When the changes are complete, select the SAVE button
and press ENTER. To abandon your changes, select the
CANCEL button and press ENTER.
System Autoconfiguration
If the system configuration has changed since the last time
the computer was booted, SETUP will be invoked
automatically. The changed item will be shown in the
message line; you then merely need to confirm by clicking
on the SAVE button.

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SETUP functions
Enable
Power-On Sound
When this option is enabled the LS Pro audio subsystem
provides an audible indication that the system has been
switched on.
BIOS shadowing
Enabling BIOS shadowing enhances the performance of
the system by copying the BIOS into RAM.
The BIOS on the system board is stored in ROM, which
has long access times, and only an 8-bit wide interface to
the rest of the system board. By copying the BIOS into
RAM the system takes advantage of the inherently faster
access times of RAM, and a 16-bit wide interface, to
enhance performance.
When BIOS shadowing is disabled, an additional 384
Kbytes of extended memory is available. Unless you have
a specific need for the extra 384 Kbytes it is recommended
that you enable BIOS shadowing.
H/D detection
When this check box is enabled the system automatically
detects the type of hard disk fitted. It must always be
enabled in systems equipped with a hard disk drive. If it is
disabled the system will not recognise its hard disk drive.
In floppy only and diskless systems this check box should
be disabled. With the hard disk detection disabled, systems
without hard disk drives will boot faster as the BIOS skips
the hard disk detection code.

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Startup
Graphics
When graphics is selected the initial boot screen is
displayed in graphical format. If graphics is not selected the
smooth boot option in Enable is greyed out.
Text
When text is selected a text based boot screen is used.
Monitor type
There are three option buttons in this group: SVGA,
VGA/EVGA and EVGA (high refresh). The three options
alter the timings of video signals provided by the LS Pro
video connector to suit a variety of different types of
monitor.
It is important to ensure that you have made the correct
selection.
SVGA
This option should be chosen for SVGA monitors. These
are monitors that support 800x600 non-interlaced and
1024x768 interlaced video modes in addition to standard
VGA modes.
VGA/EVGA
This option should be chosen for VGA monitors, and for
EVGA monitors to run at normal refresh rates, typically
60Hz. EVGA monitors support 800x600 and 1024x768
non-interlaced video modes in addition to standard VGA
modes.
VGA monitors will not display resolutions greater than
640x480 correctly.

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EVGA (high refresh)
This option can be used if your EVGA monitor supports
high refresh rates. If this option is chosen: 640x480,
800x600 and 1024x768 display modes use high refresh
rates, typically 72Hz.
The video timings in these high refresh rate modes are
VESA compatible. Some monitors which are capable of
displaying these modes may need the CVSHELL utility
supplied on the Apricot Drivers disks to adjust the position
of the display on the screen.
VGA and SVGA monitors will not work if this option is
selected.
Video modes
The LS Pro system board video adapter can generate a
wide variety of video outputs. In addition to standard VGA
modes it supports a number of enhanced modes.
In order to display these enhanced modes correctly you
must ensure that the correct monitor type is selected.
Selecting the wrong monitor type could result in nothing
being displayed.
To take advantage of these modes suitable display drivers
must be used. A set of drivers for popular applications is
supplied with your computer. Installation instructions are
provided in help files supplied with the drivers.
Memory
The memory text box displays a count of the amount of
memory installed in the system. The contents of the text
box cannot be edited and is displayed for information only.
Separate counts of total and extended memory are
displayed.

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Sound
The Sound option group is greyed out unless the Power-
On Sound is enabled.
Volume
The volume control adjusts the output level of the Power-
On Sound. Use it to adjust the volume to suit the
computer’s location.
Test
Use the Test button to preview the Power-On Sound to
ensure that you have set it to a suitable level.
Set Power-on Password
The LS Pro supports a power-on password. If enabled this
password must be entered every time the system is
powered up or rebooted. If you have Apricot LOC
Technology enabled the power on password cannot be
used.
When the power-on password is enabled the text box can
be selected and a password entered. The password has a
minimum length of 1 character and a maximum length of 7
characters.
Boot device
The boot device option group allows you to select where
you want the LS Pro to look for an operating system when
it is switched on or rebooted. The group contains four
option buttons, these choose between booting from a hard
or floppy disk in the computer, and remotely across
different types of network.
If you make an inappropriate selection it may result in the
computer failing to find an operating system and being
unable to boot.
Before selecting a remote boot option check with your
network administrator.

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Local
This should be selected if the computer is to boot from an
internal hard disk or floppy drive.
It should be noted that when one of the remote boot
schemes described below is enabled it is not possible to
boot the computer from a local device. If you wish an LS
Pro that normally boots remotely to boot from a local
device, you must first use SETUP to select Local in the
boot device option group.
Ethernet RPL
If the computer is connected to an Ethernet network, and it
is to boot remotely from a server using the RPL (Remote
Program Load) scheme, enable this option.
Token-Ring RPL
Only if the computer has a Token-Ring module fitted, with
a remote boot (RPL) ROM installed is this option available.
Under these circumstances, if the computer is connected
to a Token-Ring network, and it is to boot remotely, enable
this option.
Other
This option is provided for possible future implementation
of other remote boot methods. It is currently greyed out.
Disk Types
Hard disk
The hard disk type is detected automatically. This text box
is used to display the type of hard disk installed, if any.
Floppy disk
The LS Pro can be fitted with a 1.44 Mbyte 3.5 inch floppy
drive. If a drive is fitted it is detected automatically. This
text box is used to display whether a floppy is fitted or not.

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Token-Ring
If you have a Token-Ring module fitted, then these options
enable you to set the bus width and ring data rate.
Note
Full definitions of bus width and the ring data rate are given
in
Appendix B of the LS Pro Owner’s Handbook .
This part of the SETUP utility is greyed out on when the
Token-Ring module is not installed.
Bus width
The Token-Ring module can use either an 8-bit or a 16-bit
wide interface to the system board. SETUP defaults to an
8-bit interface.
The 16-bit interface provides significantly better
performance and should be used when running network
software such as Novell NetWare or Microsoft LAN
Manager. However certain network software may require
the 8-bit interface.
Data rate
The Token-Ring module supports a ring data rate of either
16Mbit/s or 4Mbit/s. The data rate can be configured either
by a switch on the module, or through SETUP.
If the switch on the module is set to 16Mbit/s the ring data
rate is software selectable, and the data rate options in
SETUP are enabled. If the switch on the module is set to
4Mbit/s the ring data rate cannot be altered by software
and the data rate options are greyed out.
Before connecting the LS Pro to a Token-Ring network
check the ring data rate of the network with your network
administrator and make the appropriate selection.
If your LS Pro is connected to a 4Mbit/s network you may
wish to have the switch in the 4Mbit/s position to ensure
that the 16Mbit/s ring data rate is not selected
inadvertently.

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Exiting SETUP
Use either the SAVE or CANCEL button to exit SETUP.
The SAVE button will implement any changes that you, or
autoconfiguration, have made. If you use the SAVE button
you will be prompted to make sure that you wish to
implement the changes.
The CANCEL button exits SETUP without implementing any
changes.

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15
Installing add-ons
Introduction
Warning
Never carry out any work on the equipment with power
applied. Always switch off at the mains and remove the
power lead from the equipment before starting work.
This guide contains instructions on installing memory
upgrades, an 80387SX coprocessor, a thick wire Ethernet
module and a Token-Ring module RPL ROM. This
document should be your only source of information when
installing any of these.
Read this document before purchasing any upgrades. If,
having read the relevant instructions, you are not confident
about installing the upgrade, you may wish to have your
supplier or service organisation install it for you.
Before you start installing the upgrade you should be
thoroughly familiar with all the relevant instructions in this
guide and the appropriate sections of your
Owner’s
Handbook
.
At the rear of this guide is some information about a
Token-Ring module upgrade, and a list of the SIMMs that
are approved for use with the Apricot LS Pro.

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Anti-static precautions
All electronic components and equipment are sensitive to
static electricity. Even small electrostatic discharges can
render components useless or severely shorten their
working life, therefore you should always take preventive
measures.
No work should be carried out on any item unless it is in a
Special Handling Area (SHA) as defined in BS CECC
00015:Part 1. In general this involves:
* a common earth point
* an earthed bench or bench mat
* an earthed wrist strap

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Memory upgrades
Memory on the Apricot LS Pro can be expanded to a
maximum of 16 Mbytes by fitting SIMMs (Single In-line
Memory Modules) in sockets provided on the system
board.
The SIMM sockets are grouped in pairs, which correspond
to blocks of memory known as banks. Four banks (banks 0
to 3) are supported.
During manufacture 2 or 4 Mbytes of RAM is soldered to
the system board. When 2 Mbytes of RAM is installed only
bank 0 is occupied and six SIMM sockets are fitted. When
4 Mbytes of RAM is installed banks 0 and 1 are occupied,
and four SIMM sockets are fitted.
Apricot memory upgrades are supplied as pairs of SIMMs,
with upgrades of 2 and 8 Mbytes available. The illustration
below identifies the
SIMM sockets and banks:
BANK 2 BANK 3 BANK 1
SIMM SOCKETS
Note
When 4 Mbytes of RAM is soldered to the system board
during manufacture the SIMM sockets for bank 1 are not
fitted.

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The following table identifies the valid upgrade
combinations.
System board Upgrade Bank
capacity to 1 2 3 Note
(Mbytes) (Mbytes) (Mbytes)
242--
2622-
282221
21228-
216-882
4 6 N/A 2 -
4 8 N/A 2 2 1
4 12 N/A 8 -
4 16 N/A 8 8 2
Notes
1. For a 2 Mbyte system board an alternative method
of achieving 8 Mbytes of RAM is to install an 8
Mbyte upgrade in bank 2 and leave the other banks
empty. This configuration disables the RAM
soldered to the system board.
2. When banks 2 and 3 are both occupied by 8 Mbyte
upgrades the RAM soldered to the system board is
disabled.