Tandy 1500HD User manual

TANDY@ Cat. No. 25-3506
1500HD
User Guide

All portions of this software are copyrighted and are the
proprietary and trade secret information of Tandy Corpo-
ration and/or its licensor. Use, reproduction,
or publica-
tion of any portion of this materialwithout the prior written
authorizationof Tandy Corporation is strictly prohibited.
Tandy 1500 HD User's Guide
0 1990Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
DeskMate, RadioShack, and Tandy
are registeredtrademarks
of Tandy Corporation.
GW is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
IBMis a registeredtrademarkof
InternationalBusinessMachinesCorporation.
Microsoft and MS-DOSare registeredtrademarks
of
Microsoft Corporation.
PC is atrademark
of
InternationalBusinessMachinesCorporation.
Tandy 1500 HD BIOS:
0 1984, 1985,1986,1987, 1988
PhoenixSoftwareAssociates, Ltd. and
Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
DeskMateSpell Checker
0 1986-88Tandy Corporation; Microlytics, Inc;
UFO Systems, Inc; Xerox Corp.
All Rights Reserved.
GW-BASIC Software:
0 1983, 1984, 1985 Microsoft Corporation.
Licensedto Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
MS-DOSSoftware:
0 1981, 1986Microsoft Corporation.
Licensedto Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or use
of any portion of this manual, with-
out express written permission from Tandy Corporation
and/or its licensor, is prohibited. While reasonableefforts
have been made in the preparation
of this manual to as-
sure its accuracy, Tandy Corporation assumes no liability
resulting from any errors in or omissions from this man-
ual,or from the use
of the information contained herein.
10 9 8765 4 3 2

CONTENTS
BeforeYou Begin ........................................................ 5
PackageContents
...................................................... 5
AboutThisBook
....................................................... 5
TextConventions
....................................................... 6
Introduction
............................................................. 7
StandardFeatures
...................................................... 7
Optional Features ............... .........................
GettingStarted .................. ..................................... 9
PowerSources
........................................................ 9
Usingthe AC Adapter and Chargingthe Battery
............................. 9
Low-Batterylndications
................................................ 11
InformationAbout RechargeableBatteries
................................. 12
StartingYour Computer
.................................................. 13
Operating Your Computer
................................................ 14
Usingthe Diskette Drive
................................................. 14
Turning
Off Your Computer ............................................... 15
Usingthe Keyboard
..................................................... 16
Function Keys
....................................................... 16
TypewriterKeys
...................................................... 16
ReversingCTRLand CAPS LOCK Keys
.................................. 20
NumericKeypadArea
................................................. 21
Arrow(Cursor)Keys
.................................................. 22
Getting More
............................................................ 23
Adding and Usinga Printer
............................................... 23
Adding a Mouse or Other Serial Device
..................................... 24
Adding an InternalModem
............................................... 24
Adding an Internal1 MB EMS RAMCard
.................................... 25
ChangingYour Computer's Functions
........................................ 27
Introduction
........................................ ............... 27
The Setup Program
................................
............... 27
The Power Program
................................................... 27
Memory Diagnostics
........... ................................. 29
Serial PortAssignment
................................................ 29
CursorType
....................................... .............. 29
Start-up Program
..................................................... 29
Hard DiskTimeout
.. ............................................ 29
DisplayTimeout
.... ............................................ 29
Floppy Diskstandby
........................................... . . 29
Low PowerAudio
..................................................... 29
Speaker
............................................................ 29
Parameter Defaults and Descriptions
.....................
3

Usingthe Setup Program in DeskMate ..................................... 30
RebootingYour Computer
.............................................. 33
Other Setup Options
.................................................. 33
Usingthe Power Programin DeskMate
..................................... 34
Startup Parameters
.................... ........................... 37
Power Management Parameters
......................................... 37
Using the Power Program in DOS
......................................... 39
Using Power-ManagementLineCommands
................................. 40
Power ManagementKey Combinations
.................................. 42
Basic DeskMateCommands
............................................... 43
GettingAround in DeskMate
.............................................. 43
Changingthe Current Drive
.............................................. 44
FormattingaDiskette
................................................... 46
CopyingFiles
......................................................... 47
Renaming Files
........................................................ 49
Copying Diskettes
...................................................... 50
Using MS-DOS .......................................................... 55
EnteringMS-DOS Commands .........................
About the Drives ................ .................................... 56
Usingthe Hard Disk
............. .................................... 56
Backing Up Your Hard Disk
............................................... 56
Restoring Backupsto Your Hard Disk
....................................... 58
Write Protection ........................................... ......... 58
How MS-DOSStores Information
.............................
About Files .......................................................... 59
About Directories
........................................ ... 59
About Filenames
..................................................... 61
FilenameExtensions
.................................................. 61
MoreAbout MS-DOS Commands and Keys
.................................. 62
Typing Commands
................................... .............. 63
EditingCommands
.................................. .............. 63
SpecialKeys
........................................................ 64
Viewing a Directory
................................................... 66
LookinglnsideFiles
................................................... 67
Usingother Commands
................................................. 67
Hard DiskFormatting
..................................................... 69
UsingHsect
........................................................... 69
UsingFdisk
........................................................... 71
Howto Create a DOS Partition ........... ........................... 72
Howto Display Partition Data
............ ........................... 73
UsingFormat .......................................................... 74
Reinstalling MS-DOS and DeskMate on the Hard Drive
........................ 75
Computer Care
........................................ .............. 76
Specifications
......................................... .............. 77
Usingthe Setup Program in DOS
........... ....... ................ 37
Running Non-DeskMate Programs From DeskMate
..............
SpecialCommands ......... ...................................... 66
Index
.................................................................. 78
4

BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Note: You must immedi-
ately install and charge
the supplied battery pack,
as described in “Setting
Up Your Computer” be-
fore you can operate your
computer from the battery
pack. Failure to do this
can greatly reduce the
battery’s life and effi-
ciency.
PACKAGECONTENTS
Your Tandy 1500 HDpackage includes:
The computer and the AC adapterkharger
The battery
Two 1.44MB DeskMate/MS-DOSdiskettes (GW-
BASIC included)
MS-DOSQuick Reference
DeskMafeGettingStarted
QuickStart
RegistrationCard
PC-Link Registration Card
ABOUT THIS BOOK
The sections called “Getting Started,” and “Getting
More,” tell you about your computer and also tell
you howto run programs.
The section called “Basic DeskMate Commands”
gives you information about how to use many of
the computer’s basic functions. The DeskMate
graphics-oriented desktop screen is equipped with
a command menu and program icons that are
easy to use.There is also an on-line help tutorial to
help you understand how to use DeskMate.To run
most programs, see
DeskMafeGettingStarted.
Inthe DeskMafeGettingStarted magazine,you will
find short entertaining articles about DeskMate.
With DeskMate, you can do almost everything you
want to do with your computer. Have fun and ex-
plore!
5

1500 HD Laptop Computer
TEXT CONVENTIONS
This manual uses a simple method of notation to
distinguish among text you type, keys you press,
and what you see on the computer screen.
BACKSPACE Key names that appear in
small, heavy, capital letters
represent keys that you
press.
CTRL+ C
Two or more keys separated
by a plus sign represent
what we call a
keycombina-
tion.
To use a key combina-
tion, press and hold down
the first key. Then, press the
other key (s).
format ENTER Characters that you type are
displayed differently from the
regular text in this manual.
You must press ENTER after
you type your text. With most
programs, you can type in
ei-
ther uppercase or lowercase
letters.
A: \ Characters that appear on
the screen are also displayed
differently from the regular
text, like the example shown
here.
6

INTRODUCTION
Your Tandy 1500 HD Laptop Computer is a versa-
tile, simple-to-use computer. You can use it at
home or take it with you to school, work, or as you
travel, giving you instant access to useful informa-
tion and productivity software. We have included
everything you need
to immediately begin using
your computer.
STANDARD FEATURES
IBM PC softwarecompatibility
MS-DOS version 3.3 operating system and
DeskMateversion 3.3
A 2 Winch 20 MB hard disk drive with MS-DOS
and DeskMateinstalled
A 3 M-inch, 1.44MB diskette drive
LCDdisplay with fluorescent backlight
Full-feature, 84-key keyboard with full 101 key
emulation
Serial and parallel ports that let you use options
such as a printer,mouse, fax, or modem
’ Fullportability
OPTIONAL FEATURES
You can add options to make your computer even
more useful. For example, you can add a printer to
print copies
of the documents you create. You can
connect a mouse or an external modem to your
computer’s serial port. You can also add an inter-
nal modem card (Cat. No. 25-3525) or
1 MB ex-
pansion RAMcard (Cat.
No. 25-3507)to your com-
puter.
7

8

GETTING STARTED
“Getting Started” provides information to help you
set up and begin using your computer.
Cautions:
Be sure you install all optional devices before
you turn on your computer.
Keep a reasonable clearance space around the
computer and any optional device(s) to prevent
overheating
.
Avoid extreme temperature and humidity
changes when using, storing, or transporting
your computer.
POWER SOURCES
You can power your computer from the supplied
AC adapter or from the rechargeable battery. How-
ever, the battery comes fully discharged,
so you
must use the AC adapter as described below until
you have completely charged the battery.
Using the AC Adapter
and Charging the Battery
The following procedure tells you how to install the
battery and how to connect the AC adapter that
powers the computer and charges the battery.
Cautions:
Using an AC adapter other than the one supplied
might harmthe battery and the computer.
Unplug the AC adapter when you disconnect it
from the computer.
9

1500 HD Laptop Computer
1. Placethe computer on aflat, levelsurface.
2. Slide the battery into the battery compartment.
3. Insert the AC adapter’s connector into the DC
IN 9.5V jack. Then, plug the adapter into a stan-
dard AC outlet and let the battery fully charge
beforeyou usethe computer onbattery power.
Notes:
The battery must charge for eight hours if you
are using the computer while the battery is
charging.
If you are not using the computer, the
battery charges in about four hours.
Do not store the battery in high temperature lo-
cations for extended periods.
For more information about care and use of the
battery, see “Information About Rechargeable
Batteries” in this manual.
The adapterkharger does not charge the battery
when the diskettedrive turns on. Batterycharging
resumeswhenthe diskette drive turns
off.
After a period of time, your computer’s battery
loses its ability to maintain a charge. This time pe-
riod varies depending upon use, storage condi-
tions, and several other complex factors. When
this occurs, you must replace the battery. Replace
the battery only with the same type of battery (Cat.
No. 25-3526) available at your local Radio Shack
10