Power Computing PowerTower Pro User manual

PowerTower Pro
UserÕs Guide
Part number 72810
Revision number 970116

For Technical Support, Call 1-800-708-6227 PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide v
A word from the Power
Computing team
0
Dear New Power Computing Owner,
Thank you for choosing an award winning Mac OS system from Power Computing. As the
Þrst and only vendor of
personalized Mac OS computers
we appreciate your support. Our goal is to provide you with the best product available.
Power Computing was chosen by Apple as the Þrst licensed manufacturer
of Mac OS systems. We created our company with the focus on providing customers with
more choice, better service, and more affordable systems.
Our top priority is you. We offer toll-free lifetime technical support and an inexpensive
optional on-site warranty plan, which provides service at your location. We would love to
hear from you. Call us with any questions, or just
to let us know how you like the system. Our customer service number is
1-800-671-6227; our e-mail address is,
[e-mail] .
We hope this is the beginning of a long relationship between us. We look forward to your
continued support. Enjoy your new Power Computer.
Sincerely,
Steve Kahng
Chairman and CEO

vi PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide For Technical Support, Call 1-800-708-6227

ii PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide For Technical Support, Call 1-800-708-6227
Power Computing Corporation
 1996, 1997 Power Computing Corporation. All rights reserved.
Under copyright laws, this manual may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the
written consent of Power Computing. Your rights to the software are governed by the
accompanying software license agreement.
Power Computing Corporation
2555 North Interstate 35
Round Rock, Texas 78664-2015
[phone]
Power Computing, the Power Computing logo, PowerTower, and PowerTower Pro are
trademarks of Power Computing Corporation. Mac and the Mac OS logo are trademarks of
Apple Computer, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective
holders. Every effort has been made in this book to distinguish proprietary trademarks from
descriptive terms by following the capitalization style used by the manufacturer.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Power
Computing is not responsible for printing or clerical errors.
Warranty information about your system may be found beginning on page xvii. Other legal
notices are found in ÒRegulatory InformationÓ on page 161.

For Technical Support, Call 1-800-708-6227 PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide iii
Support Information
For basic customer and technical support information, as well as product information and
other news, visit our Web Site at:
http://www.powercc.com
Direct or Dealer Support?
Customers who purchased systems directly from Power Computing should contact Power
Computing for assistance. Customers who did not purchase systems directly from Power
Computing must contact the dealer they purchased their system from for assistance.
Contacting Power Computing Customer Service
To contact Power Customer Service call [phone], fax [phone], or e-mail
[e-mail] and describe in detail any problems or issues you need
resolved with respect to Power Computing. Be sure to include your order or quote number,
serial number, and phone number with all correspondence. For details, see ÒContacting
Customer ServiceÓ on page xix.
Contacting Power Computing Technical Support
To contact Power Technical Support call [phone], fax [phone], or e-mail
[e-mail] and describe in detail the problem that you are having with
your Hardware.
Before calling technical support, please complete the troubleshooting steps described in
Chapter 4, ÒTroubleshooting.Ó
For details on contacting Technical Support, see ÒContacting Technical SupportÓ on
page 34.

iv PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide For Technical Support, Call 1-800-708-6227
Support Numbers
Customers who purchased systems directly from Power Computing should use the numbers
listed below to contact Power Computing for telephone assistance.
Sales To place an order or
check on an order you
havenÕt received yet
M Ð F 8AM to10 PM
Sat 9 AM to 6 PM
Sun 10 AM to 6 PM
1-800-999-7279
Customer
Support
If you have a question
or a problem with an
order you have
received
M Ð F 8 AM to 6 PM
Sat 10 AM to 4PM
Sun 10 AM to 6 PM
1-800-671-6227
Technical
Support
For help with a
technical problem
M Ð F 8 AM to 8 PM
Sat 10 AM to 4 PM
Sun 10 AM to 4 PM
1-800-708-6227

PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide vii
Table of Contents
PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide
A word from the Power Computing team ........................................ v
System Overview ............................................................................. xv
System front view ..................................................................................................xv
System rear view ..................................................................................................xvi
Return, Support, Warranty, Satisfaction Guarantee,
and License Information ............................................................... xvii
RETURN POLICIES .......................................................................................xvii
Support information ..........................................................................................xix
LIMITED WARRANTY ..................................................................................xxi
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEE .......................................... xxiii
Apple Computer, Inc. System Software License Agreement ..........................xxv
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Finding a place for the computer and monitor ........................................................1
Plugging in the computer ........................................................................................2
Connecting the monitor ...........................................................................................4
Connecting the mouse and keyboard ......................................................................7
Turning the computer on .........................................................................................9
Problems starting up ..........................................................................................10
Shutting down the computer .................................................................................12
Warranty Registration .......................................................................................13
Chapter 2 Connecting Peripheral Devices
Using SCSI devices ...............................................................................................16
Setting the SCSI ID ...........................................................................................16
Ensuring proper termination ..............................................................................17

viii PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide
Connecting the device .......................................................................................18
Installing software device drivers ......................................................................19
Connecting a printer ..............................................................................................19
Connecting input devices ......................................................................................19
Connecting a modem or telecom adapter ..............................................................20
Connecting to a network .......................................................................................20
Connecting to a LocalTalk network ..................................................................20
Connecting to an Ethernet network ...................................................................20
Connecting to a Token Ring network ................................................................21
Using audio equipment ..........................................................................................21
Understanding the sound ports ..........................................................................21
Connecting an audio device ...............................................................................21
Connecting external speakers ............................................................................22
Connecting a microphone ..................................................................................23
Playing audio CDs on a CD-ROM drive ...........................................................24
Chapter 3 Getting Started With Mac OS
Running the Basics tutorial ...................................................................................27
Using on-line help .................................................................................................28
Shutting down the computer .................................................................................29
Sleep ..................................................................................................................31
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting
Common problems and solutions ..........................................................................33
Restarting the computer .....................................................................................34
The monitor is dark after you turn on the computer. .........................................34
Flashing question mark on start-up ...................................................................34
A floppy disk icon with an X in it appears. .......................................................36
An icon with a sad face appears when you start up. ..........................................36
A hard disk icon does not appear on the Mac OS desktop. ...............................37
You cannot read a floppy disk. ..........................................................................37
No characters appear on the screen when you type. ..........................................38
You see a dialog box with a bomb. ...................................................................38
You cannot launch a program or it quits unexpectedly. ....................................39
Isolating system software issues ...........................................................................40
Procedures involved in troubleshooting ................................................................42

PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide ix
Starting up from the Power CD .........................................................................42
Using Disk First Aid ..........................................................................................44
Using HDT Primer PE to test and repair SCSI disks ........................................45
Using Drive Setup for test and repair IDE hard disks .......................................47
Using the System Software installer ..................................................................48
Rebuilding the desktop file ................................................................................50
Resetting (Zapping) the PRAM .........................................................................51
Technical Support Contact Information ................................................................52
Chapter 5 Installing PCI Expansion Cards
Required tools .......................................................................................................55
Removing the cover ..............................................................................................55
How to remove the cover ..................................................................................56
Installing expansion cards .....................................................................................59
What you need to know about adding expansion cards ....................................59
Install an expansion card ...................................................................................61
Chapter 6 Adding Memory
Required tools .......................................................................................................67
Removing the cover ..............................................................................................67
How to remove the cover ..................................................................................68
Adding memory .....................................................................................................72
What you need to know about adding RAM .........................................................72
Installing and removing RAM ...........................................................................73
Prepare the computer .........................................................................................74
Adding video memory ...........................................................................................93
Chapter 7 Installing Internal Drives
What you need to know about installing internal drives .......................................95
Required tools ....................................................................................................95
Drive bay locations ............................................................................................96
Prepare the drive ..................................................................................................100
Removing the cover ............................................................................................103
Installing the drive ...............................................................................................106
Drive replacement and installation considerations ..........................................110
Replacing a drive in the bottom 5.25 inch rack position .................................111

x PowerTower Pro UserÕs Guide
Replacing and installing drives in the upper
5.25 inch rack positions ..................................................................................119
Replacing and installing drives in the
front 3.5 inch rack positions ...........................................................................130
Replacing and installing drives in the RAID rack ...........................................135
Putting the computer back together .................................................................137
Installing software drivers ...................................................................................147
If the drive does not work ...................................................................................147
Appendix A Safety and Health Information
Safety instructions ...............................................................................................149
Health-related information about computer use ..................................................150
Appendix B Technical Information
Specifications ......................................................................................................153
RAM configurations ............................................................................................157
VRAM information .............................................................................................157
Monitor resolution/color table .........................................................................158
Power requirements .........................................................................................159
Appendix C Regulatory Information
FCC statement .....................................................................................................161
Radio and television interference ....................................................................161
DOC statement ....................................................................................................162
CD-ROM drive ....................................................................................................163
Lithium battery warning ......................................................................................163
For use in European countries .............................................................................164