NCR PC4I User manual

NC R
Personal
Computer
COwner’s
Manual

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
WARNING
This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device, pursuant
to Subpart J of art 15 of FCC Rules. Only peripherals (computer input/output devices, terminals,
printers, etc.) certified 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.
Information to U er
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 art 15 of FCC Rules, 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 determined by
turni ng the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
• Reorient the receiving antenna
• Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver
• Move the computer away from the receiver
• lug the computer into a different outlet so thatcomputer and receiver are on different branch
circuits.
If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for
additional suggestions. The user may find the’following booklet prepared by the Federal
Communications Commission helpful: "How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference
roblems". This booklet is available from the U.S. Government rinting Office, Washington, DC
20402, Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.
The NCR Corporation (NCR) is not responsible for any radio or television interference caused by
unauthorized modifications of this equipment or the substitution or attachment of connecting
cables and equipment other than those specified by NCR. The correction of interferences caused by
such unauthorized modification, substitution or attachment will be the responsibility of the user.
MS and GW (MS™-DOS, MS™-MACRO Assem ler, GW™-BASIC) are trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation- TUTOR and PAL are products of Comprehensive Software
Support, Inc.
Fir t Edition, April, 1985
It is the policy of NCR Corporation to improve products as new technology, components,
software, and firmware ecome availa le. NCR Corporation, therefore, reserves the
right to change specifications without prior notice.
All features, functions, and operations descri ed herein may not e marketed y NCR in
all parts of the world. In some instances, photographs are of equipment prototypes.
Therefore, efore using this document, consult your NCR representative or NCR office
for information that is applica le and current.
Copyright © 1985 by NCR Corporation
Dayton. Ohio
All Rights Reserved
rinted in the Federal Republic of Germany

N C R
CUSTOMER PROGRAM LICENSE AGREEMENT
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE OPENING THIS
PACKAGE. OPENING THIS PACKAGE INDICATES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM, YOU SHOULD PROMPTLY RETURN THE PACKAGE
UNOPENED AND YOUR MONEY WILL BE REFUNDED.
This License Agreement applies to the rogram contained in the accompanying package. Unauthorized
copying is prohibited by the Copyright Law. YOU MAY NOT USE. CO Y, MODIFY OR TRANSFER THE
ROGRAM. IN WHOLE OR IN ART, EXCE T AS EX RESSLY ROVIDED FOR IN THIS LICENSE
AGREEMENT. The rogram is or may be considered by the copyright owner or licensor of NCR as
confidential, proprietary and a trade secret and should be safeguarded by you as such. Title to the rogram
and copies of it remains with the copyright owner.
LICENSE
You may:
a. use the rogram only on a single machine at a single location, unless the rogram has been specifically
designated by NCR, in writing or on this package, for your use on a group of machines.
b. copy the rogram into any machine readable or printed form for backup of modification purposes only,
to support your use of it on the single machine or designated groupof machines. (Certain programs may
include mechanisms to limit or inhibit copying. They may be designated by a "Copy rotected" notice);
c. modify the rogram for your use on the single machine or designated group of machines. (Any portion of
the rogram merged into another program will be considered to be a modification and will be subject to
the terms and conditions of this License Agreement); and
d. transfer the rogram and license to another party only if the other party agrees to accept the terms and
conditions of this License Agreement. You must advise NCR of the name and address of the other party
and the other party must accept the terms of this License Agreement by signing a copy of it and providing
NCR with the signed copy. If you transfer the rogram, you must at the same time destroy all copies
whether in printed or machine-readable form which you have not transferred to the other party and this
includes all modifications of the rogram (including portions of it contained or merged into other
programs).
You must reproduce and include any copyright notice and serial number on any copy, modification or portion
merged into another program.
IF YOU TRANSFER OSSESSION OF ANY CO Y. MODIFICATION OR MERGED ROGRAM TO
ANOTHER ARTY. YOUR LICENSE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATED.
TERM
Your license will be effective until terminated. You may terminate it at any time by destroying the rogram,
including all copies, modifications and merged portions in any form. It will also terminate upon conditions set
forth elsewhere in this License Agreement or if you fail to comply with any term or condition in this License
Agreement. You agree that upon any such termination you will destroy the rogram, including all copies,
modifications and merged portions in any form.

EXCLUSION OF WARRANTY
EXCE T AT STATED IN THE "LIMITED WARRANTY" BELOW. THE ROGRAM IS ROVIDED "AS IS"
WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. EITHER EX RESSED OR IM LIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO THE IM LIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A ARTICULAR UR OSE.
THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND ERFORMANCE OF THE ROGRAM IS WITH YOU.
SHOULD THE ROGRAM ROVE DEFECTIVE. YOU (AND NOT NCR OR ITS DEALER OR DISTRIBUTOR
OR ANY LICENSOR OF NCR OR OWNER OF THE ROGRAM) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL
NECESSAHY SERVICING, RE AIR OR CORRECTION. There is no warranty by NCR or any other party or
person that the (unctions contained in the rogram will meet your requirements or that the operation ol the
rogram will be uninterrupted or error free. You assume all responsibility lor the selection of the rogram to
achieve your intended results, and (or the installation, use and results obtained from it.
LIMITED WARRANTY
NCR warrants both the media on which the rogram is reproduced and the reproduction of the rogram on
the media to be tree from detects in materials and workmanship under normal use lor a period of ninety (90)
days from the date of delivery to you as evidenced by a copy of your receipt.
NCR's entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be:
1. The repair or replacement of any media not meeting NCR's "Limited Warranty" and which is returned to
NCR or an authorized NCR dealer or distributor within the 90-day period, with a copy of your receipt, or
2. If NCR or its authorized dealer or distributor is unable to deliver replacement media and repair is not
practicable or cannot be timely made, you may terminate this License Agreement by returning the
rogram and your money will be refunded.
IN NO EVENT WILL NCR OR ANY OTHER ARTY OR ERSON BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE
FOR ANY DAMAGES. INCLUDING LOST ROFITS. LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE ROGRAM OR
MEDIA EVEN IF NCR OR THE OTHER ARTY OR ERSON HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE OSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above exclusion may not
apply to you.
Some states do not allow limitations or exclusion of liability (or incidental or consequential damages so the
above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to
state.
MISCELLANEOUS
You may not sublicense, assign or transfer the license or the rogram except as expressly provided in this
License Agreement. Any attempt otherwise to sublicense, assign or transfer any of the rights, duties or
obligations hereunder is prohibited, and will automatically terminate your license and right to use the
rogram.
This License Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio where NCR Corporation has its
principal office.
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT AND AGREE TO BE
BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU FURTHER AGREE THAT IT IS THE COM LETE AND
EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US AND THAT IT SU ERSEDES ANY
RO OSAL OR RIOR AGREEMENT. ORAL OR WRITTEN. AND ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
BETWEEN US OR BETWEEN YOU AND ANY NCR DEALER OR DISTRIBUTOR RELATING TO THE
SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT.
Should you have questions concerning this License Agreement or should you desire to obtain information
on warianty performance, you may contact NCR by writing to:
NCR COR ORATION
1150 Anderson Drive
Liberty, SC 29657
USA

HISTORICAL DATA
OWNER’S MANUAL
CONTENTS
Hi torical Data
INTRODUCTION........................................................................1-1
DOCUMENTS.............................................................................1-1
ADVANCED DOCUMENTS................................................1-2
NEXT S TE .............................................................................1-3
INSTALLATION QUALITY RE ORT
................................. 1-3
HEL US HEL YOU..............................................................1-3
A COM UTER IS........................................................................1-3
COM UTER CA ABILITIES................................................1-4
COM UTER ADVANTAGES................................................1-4
COM UTER LIMITATIONS................................................1-4
HISTORICAL DATA AND USAGES..................................1-5
COM UTER SYSTEM COM ONENTS
........................... 1-10
HARDWARE...........................................................................1-10
Central rocessing Unit (C U) ......................................... 1-10
Memory
............................................................................... 1-11
Internal Memory.................................................................1-11
External Memory.................................................................1-12
Input Devices......................................................................1-14
Output Devices......................................................................1-14
SOFTWARE . • ......................................................................1-14
System Software.................................................................1-15
The Operating System........................................................1-15
Run-time Interpreter Routines ......................................... 1-16
Utility rograms.................................................................1-16
rogram Development S oftware .................................... 1-16
Editors
.................................................................................... 1-17
Assemblers ................................................... 1-17
Compilers................................................................................1-18
Linkers .................................................................................... 1-18
Application Software ............................................................ 1-18
READING, WRITING, RESENTATION OF DATA . 1-19
The Binary System ............................................................ 1-19
Recording Data in Internal Memory................................1-21
Recording Data in External Memory................................1-21
Fixed Disks...........................................................................1-21
Flexible D isks......................................................................1-22
OWNER S MANUAL /

HISTORICAL DATA
RELATIONSHI BETWEEN HARDWARE,
SOFTWARE, AND DATA................................................1-25
Ready — Set — Go
READY......................................................................................2-1
SITE SELECTION AND RE ARATION
........................ 2-1
UN ACKING.............................................................................2-2
CONNECTIONS........................................................................2-3
COM UTER COM ONENTS CHECKLIST ........................ 2-5
Cabinet......................................................................................2-7
Keyboard..................................................................................2-7
Software..................................................................................2-8
SET................................................................................................2-9
OWER-ON ROCEDURE.....................................................2-9
G O ..............................................................................................2-11
TURN IT O N ...........................................................................2-11
A LICATION SOFTWARE
.............................................. 2-11
KEYBOARD FEATURES...................................................2-11
Rollover . ...............................................................................2-11
Auto-repeat...........................................................................2-11
Keys.........................................................................................2-12
Groups....................................................................................2-12
Control Keys...........................................................................2-13
Typewriter K ey s.................................................................2-15
Cursor Keys...........................................................................2-16
Numeric Keys......................................................................2-17
AN OUNCE OF REVENTION.........................................2-18
Human E rror......................................................................2-18
Daily C are...........................................................................2-19
OPTIONS INSTALLATION
RE ARATIONS...................................................................3-1
CABINET DISASSEMBLY.....................................................3-1
Card Rack Assembly Removal...........................................3-2
CABINET REASSEMBLY.....................................................3-3
Card Rack Reassembly
. .........................................................3-3
MAIN ROCESSOR BOARD (M B ) ................................. 3-4
BOARD INSTALLATION.....................................................3-5
BOARD REMOVAL ........................................... .... . . 3-8
Monochrome Monitor Adapter Board (Freestanding
Display)..................................................................................3-9
OWNER S MANUAL

HISTORICAL DATA
Color Display/Graphics Display Board (Fieestanding
Display)...............................................................................3-11
Alpha Controller Board (Internal Display)
...................... 3-12
32K/64K Graphics Controller Boards (Internal
Display) ............................................................................... 3-13
32K Graphics Controller Board Memory Expansion . 3-16
Expanded Memory ............................................................ 3-17
To Install C hips:.................................................................3-18
Main rocessor Board Memory ......................................... 3-19
Memory Expansion Board...................................................3-20
Numeric Coprocessor ............................................................ 3-22
SERIAL AND ARALLEL ORTS .................................... 3-23
Serial o r t .......................................................................... 3-24
arallel ort...........................................................................3-25
EXTERNAL VIDEO DIS LAYS
......................................... 3-26
Display Switch Settin gs...................................................3-26
EXTERNAL DIS LAY INSTALLATION...........................3-26
FLEXIBLE DISK DR IV E ...................................................3-28
FIXED DISK DRIVE
............................................................ 3-32
DRIVE REMOVAL.................................................................3-37
COM UTER TILT AND SWIVEL MECHANISM . . . 3-39
Maintenance and Trouble hooting
MAINTENANCE........................................................................4-1
RELOCATION........................................................................4-2
Flexible Disk Drive .............................................................. 4-2
Fixed Disk D rive...................................................................4-3
osition the Fixed H e ad .................................................... 4-3
System......................................................................................4-5
Set-Up......................................................................................4-5
Radio/TV Interference ................................................ * . 4-6
TROUBLESHOOTING .............................................................. 4-7
USER DIAGNOSTICS .............................................................. 4-7
Copy Diagnostics...................................................................4-7
Error Messages........................................................................4-8
A Typical Diagnostics Run-Through ................................. 4-9
Memory Test...........................................................................4-10
Controllers Test (Circuit Devices) .................................... 4-11
Keyboard Test......................................................................4-13
Flexible Disk Drive T est...................................................4-14
Fixed Disk Drive T est........................................................4-15
Monochrome Display Test...................................................4-16
iii
OWNER'S MANUAL

HISTORICAL DATA
Color/Graphics Display Test..............................................4-17
eripherals T es t.................................................................4-21
Tape Drive T e st.................................................................4-22
Continuous Run of Tests from Main Menu ...................... 4-23
Utilities.Menu......................................................................4-23
Add/Delete Test Modules...................................................4-25
Run All T e sts......................................................................4-28
Exit from Diagnostics ...................................................... 4-28
Appendix A Keyboard Function ................................... A-1
Appendix B Technical D a ta ............................................B-1
Appendix C Sy tem Switch Setting ............................... C-1
Glo ary...........................................................................G-1
Index.....................................................................................1-1
iv OWNER S MANUAL

Chapter 1
Historical Data
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the world of computing on your NCR ERSONAL
COM UTER, and the worldwide family of satisfied NCR customers.
You’ve been introduced to your computer with the NCR AL program
and, just for fun, you’ve probably played a few games of
BLACKJACK. Now, you’re ready to gain in-depth knowledge of your
new computer.
DOCUMENTS
Helping you gain confidence and ability in the use of your computer
are the manuals for the system. These manuals are:
Owner’s Manual — the one you're now reading. You get a User
Diagnostics diskette with this manual. A
whole chapter in this manual tells you about
diagnostics.
NCR-DOS Manual — This is a detailed reference to the features
and use of the NCR-DOS operating system
software that is standard for this com
puter. You get three diskettes with this
manual, NCR-DOS/GW-BASIC on two
diskettes, and NCR TUTOR. TUTOR helps
you to master NCR-DOS commands and
concepts.
GW-BASIC Manual — GW-BASIC is the standard program
development software for your NCR er
sonal Computer. rogram development
software simply means that when you’re
ready to write or modify programs your
self, this manual is your reference to the
features, instructions and programming
1-1
OWNER S MANUAL

HISTORICAL DATA
techniques available in this GW-BASIC
language. The GW-BASIC diskette is
provided in the NCR-DOS manual.
Diskettes in these manuals contain the software you’re going to hear
so much about. In simplistic terms, software is like the old fashioned
telephone operator — it’s the middle man — you talk via the keyboard
to the software — the software via firmware communicates with the
hardware — and then comes back to you with some response. Without
software you cannot communicate with your computer. There are
several types of software:
1. System Software, e.g., NCR-DOS
2. rogram Development Software e.g., GW-BASIC
3. Diagnostics Software, e.g., User Diagnostics
4. Self-teaching Software, e.g., NCR AL and NCR TUTOR
5. Application Software, e.g., specific use programs.
ADVANCED DOCUMENTS
There are three additional manuals available for the owner who
wants to become more deeply involved with the programming or
servicing of the computer. They are:
NCR-DOS rogrammer’s Manual
This is a very technical software reference book containing
detailed information on several topics, i.e., MS-MACRO assem
bler language, utilities, and several others.
Technical Reference Manual
This is a very technical hardware reference manual with detailed
illustrations and descriptions of standard and optional hardware
components.
Hardware Maintenance and Service Manual
This book describes in detail the procedures for both preventive
and corrective maintenance for your NCR ersonal Computer
and each hardware component.
These manuals are available through your authorized NCR dealer or
your NCR representative by ordering NCR stock:
1. NCR DOS Programmer’s Manual — G6B1-0204-0000
1- OWNER S MANUAL