NEC POWERMATE VE - 03-1996 User manual

First Printing — March 1996
Copyright 1996 Copyright 1996
NEC Technologies, Inc. NEC Corporation
1414 Massachusetts Avenue 7-1 Shiba 5-Chome, Minato-Ku
Boxborough, MA 01719 Tokyo 108-01, Japan
All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved
PROPRIETARY NOTICE AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related
materials, is the valuable property of NEC Corporation (NEC) and/or its licensors.
NEC and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reserve all patent, copyright and other
proprietary rights to this document, including all design, manufacturing,
reproduction, use, and sales rights thereto, except to the extent said rights are
expressly granted to others.
The NEC product(s) discussed in this document are warranted in accordance with
the terms of the Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However, actual
performance of each such product is dependent upon factors such as system
configuration, customer data, and operator control. Since implementation by
customers of each product may vary, the suitability of specific product
configurations and applications must be determined by the customer and is not
warranted by NEC.
To allow for design and specification improvements, the information in this
document is subject to change at any time, without notice. Reproduction of this
document or portions thereof without prior written approval of NEC is prohibited.
MultiSync and PowerMate are registered trademarks of NEC Technologies, Inc.
FastFacts is a trademark of NEC Technologies, Inc.
All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

Contents iii
Contents
Using This Guide
Text Conventions ..................................................... x
Related Documents................................................... xi
1 Introducing Your Computer
Front Features.......................................................... 1-1
System Controls and Lamps ................................ 1-3
Diskette Drive A ................................................. 1-4
CD-ROM Reader................................................ 1-5
Back Features .......................................................... 1-8
External Connectors............................................ 1-10
Power Supply Features........................................ 1-11
Network Interface Board ..................................... 1-12
Speakers .................................................................. 1-13
Microphone.............................................................. 1-14
2 Getting Started
Using a Mouse......................................................... 2-1
About Your Online Documentation........................... 2-2
Where to Go from Here............................................ 2-4
3 Installing Options
Option Installation Procedures.................................. 3-2
Safety Precautions............................................... 3-4
Removing the System Unit Cover ........................ 3-5
Replacing the System Unit Cover......................... 3-7
Expansion Boards .................................................... 3-8
Locating Expansion Slots.................................... 3-8
Installing an Expansion Board............................. 3-10
Installing an Expansion Board in the
Inside Slot......................................................... 3-12
Removing an Expansion Board............................ 3-14

iv Contents
Removing an Expansion Board
from the Inside Slot........................................... 3-15
SIMM Upgrade........................................................ 3-17
Checking System Memory................................... 3-18
Removing a SIMM.............................................. 3-20
Installing a SIMM............................................... 3-21
Video Upgrade ......................................................... 3-22
Processor Upgrade ................................................... 3-24
Removing the Processor ...................................... 3-24
Installing the Processor........................................ 3-25
Secondary Cache Upgrade........................................ 3-26
Data Storage Devices............................................... 3-28
Locating Device Slots.......................................... 3-28
Preparing the Device ........................................... 3-29
Device Cables ..................................................... 3-30
Diskette Drive Signal Cable............................ 3-32
IDE Signal Cables.......................................... 3-33
System Power Cables..................................... 3-34
Cabling Storage Devices...................................... 3-34
Cabling an IDE Device................................... 3-35
Cabling a Diskette Drive ................................ 3-36
Installing Storage Devices ................................... 3-37
Removing the 3 1/2-Inch Drive
Bracket ........................................................ 3-37
Installing the 3 1/2-Inch Drive ........................ 3-39
Removing the Front Panel............................... 3-40
Installing the 5 1/4-Inch Device ...................... 3-41
Replacing the Front Panel............................... 3-44
Replacing the 3 1/2-Inch Drive
Bracket ........................................................ 3-45
Adding External Options .......................................... 3-46
Connecting a Parallel Printer ............................... 3-46
Connecting an RS232C Device............................ 3-47

Contents v
4 Setting System Parameters
The Setup Utility...................................................... 4-2
How to Start Setup................................................... 4-3
How to Use Setup .................................................... 4-4
The Menu Bar..................................................... 4-5
The Legend Bar................................................... 4-6
Selecting a Menu Item.................................... 4-7
Displaying a Submenu.................................... 4-7
Getting Help................................................... 4-7
Main Menu Options ................................................. 4-7
IDE Adapters...................................................... 4-9
Memory Cache.................................................... 4-11
Memory Shadow................................................. 4-12
Boot Options....................................................... 4-12
NumLock............................................................ 4-13
The Advanced Menu ................................................ 4-14
Integrated Peripherals Menu................................ 4-15
The Security Menu................................................... 4-17
The Power Menu...................................................... 4-20
The Exit Menu......................................................... 4-22
Save Changes & Exit .......................................... 4-22
Discard Changes & Exit...................................... 4-23
Get Default Values.............................................. 4-23
Load Previous Values.......................................... 4-23
Save Changes...................................................... 4-24
5 Setting System Board Jumpers
Changing Processor Jumper Settings......................... 5-2
Setting the Cache Jumper ......................................... 5-5
Clearing Your Password........................................... 5-6
6 Using Voyetra Sound Software
AudioStation............................................................ 6-2
Power Bar........................................................... 6-2
Mixer Module ..................................................... 6-4
CD Module......................................................... 6-4

vi Contents
Digital Audio Transport (DAT) Module .............. 6-5
MIDI Module...................................................... 6-5
MIDI Orchestrator ................................................... 6-6
Playing a MIDI Song File.................................... 6-7
Editing a MIDI Song File .................................... 6-7
WinDAT.................................................................. 6-9
Recording .WAV Files ........................................ 6-9
Loading and Playing .WAV Files......................... 6-10
Editing .WAV Files............................................. 6-11
7 24-Hour Information Services
NEC's Fastfacts Service ........................................... 7-2
NEC Bulletin Board Service..................................... 7-4
America Online Service............................................ 7-6
CompuServe Online Service ..................................... 7-7
AT & T Interchange................................................. 7-8
E-Mail/Fax Technical Support Service ..................... 7-9
Internet .................................................................... 7-10
NEC Technical Support Services.............................. 7-11
8 If You Have a Problem
Problem Checklist .................................................... 8-2
Solutions to Common Problems................................ 8-3
System Problems................................................. 8-3
Diskette Drive Problems...................................... 8-5
Monitor Problems................................................ 8-6
Keyboard/Mouse Problems.................................. 8-7
CD-ROM Problems............................................. 8-7
Speaker Problems................................................ 8-8
Microphone Problems.......................................... 8-8
Replacing the CMOS Battery ................................... 8-9
Diagnostic Diskette .................................................. 8-12
Getting Help............................................................. 8-13
Getting Help from Your Company....................... 8-13
Getting Help from Your NEC Dealer................... 8-13

Contents vii
Getting Help from NEC's Technical Support
Center............................................................... 8-14
NEC Warranty/Non-Warranty Repair Service..... 8-14
A Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment
Making Your Computer Work for You..................... A-1
Arrange Your Equipment.......................................... A-3
Adjust Your Chair.................................................... A-4
Adjust Your Input Devices ....................................... A-6
Adjust Your Monitor................................................ A-8
Vary Your Workday................................................. A-10
Pre-Existing Conditions and Psychosocial Factors..... A-11
Checking Your Comfort: How Do You Measure Up? A-12
Checking Your Chair........................................... A-12
Checking Your Keyboard .................................... A-12
Checking Your Mouse......................................... A-12
Checking Your Monitor....................................... A-12
Checking You ..................................................... A-13
B Reviewing System Interrupts
Interrupt Controller .................................................. B-1
Index
List of TablesQuick Reference to Information About Your
Computer............................................................... 2-5
Setup Key Functions ................................................ 4-6
Main Menu Parameters ............................................ 4-8
IDE Hard Disk Parameters....................................... 4-11
Memory Cache Parameters....................................... 4-12
Boot Parameters....................................................... 4-13
Keyboard Parameters ............................................... 4-14
Advanced Menu Parameters ..................................... 4-15

viii Contents
Integrated Peripherals Parameters............................. 4-16
System Security Options........................................... 4-19
Power Management Parameters................................ 4-21
Interrupt Level Assignments..................................... B-1

Using This Guide ix
Using This Guide
The PowerMate Ve Series User's Guide provides a quick
reference to information about your computer.
The guide contains the following information:
■Chapter 1, Taking a Look at Your System, provides a
look at system components. See this chapter to
familiarize yourself with your system.
■Chapter 2, Getting Started, gives you information about
using a mouse, using online documentation, and what
you should do after your system is up and running.
The chapter includes a quick-reference chart for finding
information about a variety topics.
■Chapter 3, Installing Options, provides installation
procedures for internal and external options.
■Chapter 4, Setting System Parameters, describes the
Setup utility and explains how to use it to configure your
system.
■Chapter 5, Setting System Board Jumpers, provides
information on changing jumper settings when
reconfiguring your system.
■Chapter 6, Using Voyetra Sound Software, explains how
to use Voyetra’s Multimedia Sound Software to play
music CDs, record, play and edit audio files, and play
and edit MIDI files.
■Chapter 7, 24-Hour Information Services, lists the
services available to you for information and help and
describes how to access the services.

x Using This Guide
■Chapter 8, If You Have a Problem, contains
troubleshooting tips for solving simple problems and
provides information on where you can find help when
you cannot solve a problem yourself.
■Appendix A, Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment,
contains guidelines to help you use your computer
productively and safely. This appendix also instructs
you on how to set up and use your computer to reduce
your risk of developing nerve, muscle, or tendon
disorders.
■Appendix B, Reviewing System Interrupts, provides a
list of interrupt settings.
!
WARNING
Prolonged or improper use of a computer
workstation may pose a risk of serious injury. To
reduce your risk of injury, set up and use your
computer in the manner described in Appendix A,
Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment.
TEXT CONVENTIONS
This guide uses the following text conventions.
■Warnings, cautions, and notes have the following
meanings:
!
WARNING
Warnings alert you to situations that could result in
serious personal injury or loss of life.

Using This Guide xi
!
CAUTION
Cautions indicate situations that can damage the
hardware or software.
NOTE
Notes give important information about the
material being described.
■Names of keyboard keys are printed as they appear on
the keyboard, for example, Ctrl, Alt, or Enter.
■Text or keystrokes that you enter appear in boldface
type. For example, type return and press Enter.
■File names are printed in uppercase letters.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
In addition to this guide, the following printed
documentation ships with your PowerMate®Ve Series
system.
■NEC PowerMate Ve Series Quick Setup/
Quick-Reference Roadmap
Quick Setup contains information for quickly getting
your system up and running. Read this information to set
up the system for the first time.
The Quick-Reference Roadmap gives you a look at the
documentation, NEC tools, software applications, and
services available to you.