Acer Travelmate 5000 Maintenance Manual

							C.5 PC-Doctor Menus
There are several selections available from the menu bar of the PC-Doctor
Diagnostics main menu.  These include:
·?
·Diagnostics
·Interactive Tests
·Hardware Info
·Utility
·Quit
C.5.1 Online Help (?)
To obtain context sensitive help from any menu, press F1.  Pressing F1
twice (or clicking on the question mark in the upper left-hand corner of the
menu) provides you with complete online documentation.
C.5.2 Diagnostics
The Diagnostics menu allows you to run non-destructive tests with little or
no operator interaction.  Options available from the PC-Doctor Diagnostics
Menu include:
·System Test - tests all major aspects of the system except those found
in Memory, Hard Disk, Floppy Disk, and the Miscellaneous Test
categories.
·Memory Test - tests all types of main memory in the system including
base, extended, expanded, and upper memory block (UMB) memory.
·Hard Disk Test - tests all hard disk drives in the system that are either
IDE or provide a BIOS command interface.
·Floppy Disk Test - tests all floppy disk drives in the system.
·All Tests - allows you to select which tests to run.  You can also specify
special testing options.  By pressing F2, the following options are
available:
·Halt On Errors - interrupts testing if an error is detected.
n
Note:  External serial and parallel port testing requires loopback plugs (not
provided with this software).
·External Loopback - tests external loopback of COM and LPT ports.
You can select the type of loopback adapter you want to use.
  
Diagnostics C-3 
						

							·Pass Count - selects how many times tests are repeated.  The highest
limit is 9999 times.
·Test Logging - opens the Log Options menu that lets you define how
test results are printed or stored to a file during testing.  By default,
PC-Doctor produces a test result file at the end of testing if an error
was detected.  
·Switch LCD - lets you change your video output to either the internal
LCD, external monitor, or simulscan mode.  If your system does not
support simulscan, both the external monitor and the built-in LCD
screen go blank.
·Cache Control - allows you to leave the level 1 and level 2 cache
enabled during memory testing.  This assists in tracking down cache
timing issues.  
C.5.3 Interactive Tests Menu
Interactive tests are diagnostics that need user interaction to complete.
Interactive tests include:
·Keyboard - tests the keyboard keys, LEDs, and repeat rate
·Video - tests the character sets, colors, monitor, and VGA
·Speaker - tests the volume response at different frequencies
·Mouse - tests the mouse driver, buttons, and functionality
·Joystick - calibrates the joystick and tests the buttons.  During the test,
the joystick(s) should first be calibrated.  To calibrate the joystick, move
the stick to the extremes in each direction.  PC-Doctor registers the
coordinate data and adjusts the screen display accordingly.
·Diskette Drive - checks diskette drive functionality
·Maximum System Load - burn-in tests a system.  This function
simulates the operating conditions that are produced by operating
systems such as OS/2 and Windows NT.  Some systems are not
compatible with the Maximum system Load test.
·Printer Test - tests for the correct acceptance and execution of common
printer control commands.  Printer test information is stored in printer
test files with an extension of .PDP.
·SCSI Test - PC-Doctor contains SCSI device testing features that work if
you have an ASPI or CAM device driver loaded.  You can select which
SCSI host adapter to work with if you have more than one SCSI adapter
present.  
·CD-ROM Test - tests CD-ROM drives using the Microsoft CD-ROM
Extensions (MSCDEX) and the standard CD-ROM device drivers.
  
C-4 Diagnostics 
						

							C.5.4 Hardware Info Menu
This menu contains functions that determine and report on the setup of the
computer.  None of these functions perform diagnostic tests; however any
errors are included in the reports.  The following functions are available
from the Hardware Info menu:
·System Configuration - lists main system configuration data. 
·Memory Contents - shows allocation and use of system memory
·IRQ and DMA use - identifies interrupts for all standard IRQ and DMA
devices
·Device Drivers - shows all essential data on DOS resident and
installable device drivers
·COM and LPT ports - displays information about the installed serial and
parallel ports.  Only ports that are identified by BIOS are listed
·Physical Disk Drives - shows the basic characteristics for each installed
fixed disk drive including the contents of partition tables
·Logical Disk Drives - displays information about each DOS drive that is
available and has a disk in it.  If Stacker or DoubleSpace disk
compression software has been installed, details about each stacked
or doubled drive is shown
·VGA Information - identifies the type of installed VGA chip
·Software Interrupts - displays software interrupt vectors and the area of
memory they point to
·SCSI Devices - lists information about SCSI devices and interface cards
if a CAM or ASPI compliant SCSI device driver is present
C.5.5 Utility Menu
PC-Doctor has a dedicated menu for utility functions.  These functions
include:
·Run External Tests - runs other programs from PC-Doctor
·Edit CMOS RAM - gives access to CMOS RAM data
·File Editor - allows editing of configuration files
·Surface Scan Hard Disk - checks for defects on the hard disk
·Benchmark System - measures system performance
·DOS Shell - opens a DOS prompt from within PC-Doctor
·Terminal - gives access to devices connected to a serial port (such as a
modem)
·Memory Debugger - displays memory contents in either hexadecimal,
decimal, or ASCII form
  
Diagnostics C-5 
						

							·Remote Operation - enables remote control if available
·Tech Support Form - allows you to collect information about the current
system
·Battery Rundown - quickly deep-discharges the NiCad or NiMh battery
of a laptop computer.
C.6 Quitting PC-Doctor
You can quit PC-Doctor in the following ways:
·Exit to DOS (Alt-F4) - takes you back to the DOS prompt
·Reboot - performs a cold boot.  PC-Doctor flushes all files and attempts
to flush write-caches
·Park HD - prepares a computer for transport
C.7 Remote Operation
This selection only appears in the Utility menu if your PC-Doctor supports
remote control.  This entry opens the Remote Operation menu if you are not
yet online, or closes the remote connection if the system is already remotely
controlled.
When PC-Doctor is operated remotely, it is possible to perform a remote
reboot.  Remote rebooting is a complicated procedure that reloads the
operating system and makes changes to CMOS RAM and configuration files.
For further information on remote operations, refer to online documentation
or help.
  
C-6 Diagnostics 
						

							D
Configuring Memory
D.1 Introduction
This appendix describes the various areas of RAM within the TM5000 Series
Notebook Computers and how you can make the Notebooks more efficient
by configuring them with the memory management device drivers supplied
with your computer.
D.2 Memory Areas
MS-DOS directly accesses up to 640 KB of RAM for the execution of programs
and commands and for storing temporary data. 
MS-DOS cannot directly
access memory beyond this 640-KB limit. The amount of standard default
RAM (640 KB) in the computer is displayed on the Setup Program menu as
Standard (Memory), and it can be changed in 64-KB increments if required
by your application.
The memory map in Figure D-1 shows the available memory and how it is
used by  MS-DOS . 
Configuring Memory D-1 
						

							D.2.1 Extended Memory
Extended Memory is defined as internal system RAM above 1024 KB.
MS-DOS or your applications (that support Extended Memory) can access
Extended Memory if your system is configured with an Extended Memory
driver (XMS). Extended Memory drivers manage the Extended Memory
ensuring that two programs do not use the same part of memory. The
enhanced mode of MS Windows uses Extended Memory to multitask
applications.
MS-DOS includes the HIMEM.SYS Extended Memory driver. HIMEM.SYS is
defined in your CONFIG.SYS file where it is automatically loaded each time
you boot the system. HIMEM.SYS also enables MS-DOS programs to use an
extra 64-KB region located just above the 1-MB mark for storage of code
and data. This area is known as high memory area (HMA). 
n
Note: MS-DOS can also be loaded in HMA to free up conventional memory. Re-
fer to your MS-DOS User’s Manual for instructions.
n
Note: Some application programs that run in 386 enhanced mode (such as
Windows) require special Extended Memory managers. Use the Extended
Memory manager provided with your application, if available. Otherwise,
use HIMEM.SYS, the MS-DOS version furnished with the computer.
You can define part of Extended Memory as one or more RAM disks using
the RAMDRIVE.SYS device driver. Details are provided in the paragraph
D.2.2.
D.2.2 Expanded Memory
Expanded Memory conforms to the Expanded Memory Specification (EMS)
developed by Lotus/Intel/Microsoft (LIM) known as LIM-EMS. Your
computer supports EMS version 4.0.
Expanded Memory is accessed by allocating an area (usually 64 KB) of
system memory between 640 KB and 1 MB (and between 256 KB and 640
KB when the
 /O option is used) as a “window.” Pages or segments of data
are passed to and from Expanded Memory through this window, which is
called the page frame. The page frame is divided into at least four physical
pages of 16 KB each.
The total amount of internal memory above 640 KB can be assigned to
either Extended Memory (XMS) or Expanded Memory (EMS), depending on
your requirements and which driver is installed. 
n
Note: MS Windows can use both XMS and EMS in 386 Enhanced mode when
properly configured. Refer to your Windows User’s Guide for details and in-
structions.
  
D-2 Configuring Memory 
						

							The Expanded Memory Manager included with MS-DOS (EMM386.EXE)
manages the interface between the program and Expanded Memory,
bringing data in and out through the page frame as required.
Before you can use Expanded Memory, you must install the 
EMM386.EXE
device driver as described in the next section, “Memory Device Drivers.” You
need not install the Expanded Memory Driver if your application does not
support Expanded Memory.
D.3 Memory Device Drivers
The following device drivers included in the C: directory are provided to
manage memory:
·HIMEM.SYS — An Extended Memory manager that supervises the
computer’s Extended Memory so that no two applications use the same
memory at the same time
·EMM386.EXE — Supports LIM-EMS Expanded Memory
·RAMDRIVE.SYS — Supports RAM disks in standard, Extended, and
Expanded Memory
·SMARTDRV.EXE — For use with a hard disk and Extended or
Expanded Memory that supports disk-caching to speed up reading from
the hard disk.
D.3.1 Installing Device Drivers
To install a driver, add a DEVICE command line to your CONFIG.SYS file
similar to the following, using the MS-DOS EDIT utility or a word processor
that saves text files in ASCII format:
DEVICE=C:\DOS\XXXXXXXX.XXX [options]
Where XXXXXXXX.XXX is the name of the device driver, for example,
HIMEM.SYS. You must then restart the computer to load the new CONFIG.SYS
settings and activate the driver(s).
  
Configuring Memory D-3 
						

							D.3.2EMM386.EXE
The EMS memory manager provided with your computer, EMM386.EXE,
conforms to version 4.00 of the Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded Memory
Specification (EMS). EMM386.EXE enables areas of system memory to be
used as Expanded Memory.
The EMM386.EXE device driver must be installed before you can use
Expanded Memory. To install EMM386.EXE in its simplest form, include
the following command line in your CONFIG.SYS file before any other
DEVICE commands that use Expanded Memory (for example,
RAMDRIVE.SYS) but after the HIMEM.SYS command line. This allows other
device drivers to use the memory manager. 
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE [options]
Parameters (also called switches or options) for the 
EMM386.EXE driver are
described in the Microsoft Windows User’s Guide furnished with your new
computer. After it loads, the memory manager determines the amount of
Expanded Memory in the system and performs any required initialization. 
n
Note: The 386 enhanced mode of Microsoft Windows allows you to simulate
part of Extended Memory as Expanded Memory using the 
EMM386.EXE device
driver. However, this is not recommended as it degrades system perform-
ance. 
MS-DOS also uses EMM386.EXE to enable Upper Memory Area (UMA).
This allows you to load TSR programs and device drivers in this area to free
up conventional memory. Again, this may degrade performance. Refer to
your Microsoft Windows User’s Guide or your MS-DOS User’s Guide for de-
tails. 
Some applications may require “backfill” memory, which is the unused area
of standard memory that can be used by 
EMM386.EXE as Expanded Memory.
For example, an application may require only 256 KB or 512 KB of standard
memory, leaving 384 KB and 128 KB of backfill memory space, respectively,
for use as Expanded Memory.
  
D-4 Configuring Memory 
						

							E
Screen Standards
E.1 Introduction
This appendix summarizes the screen standards supported by your
computer’s internal display adapter.
The following tables display screen standard and extended modes for
external monitors, the LCD, and additional SIMULSCAN modes. 
E.2 Standard VGA Modes
Table E-1  External Monitors - Standard VGA Modes
a.  8 x 14 font provided with use of TSRFont utility.
Hex
ModeDisplay
ModeNumber
of  ColorsChar.
Per
 RowChar.
Cell
(pixels)Screen 
ResolutionVideo
Clock
(MHz)Horiz.
Freq.
(kHz)Vert.
Freq. 
(Hz)
0, 1 Text 16/256K 40 x 25 9 x 16 360 x 400 28 31.5 70
2,3 Text 16/256K 80 x 25 9 x 16 720 x 400 28 31.5 70
4,5 Graphics 4/256K 40 x 25 8 x 8 320 x 200 25 31.5 70
6 Graphics 2/256K 80 x 25 8 x 8 640 x 200 25 31.5 70
7 Text Mono 80 x 25 9 x 16 720 x 400 28 31.5 70
D Graphics 16/256K 40 x 25 8 x 8 320 x 200 25 31.5 70
E Graphics 16/256K 80 x 25 8 x 8 640 x 200 25 31.5 70
F
aGraphics Mono 80 x 25 8 x 14 640 x 350 25 31.5 70
10
aGraphics 16/256K 80 x 25 8 x 14 640 x 350 25 31.5 70
11 Graphics 2/256K 80 x 30 8 x 16 640 x 480 25 31.5 60
12 Graphics 16/256K 80 x 30 8 x 16 640 x 480 25 31.5 60
13 Graphics 256/256K 40 x 25 8 x 8 320 x 200 25 31.5 70
Screen Standards E-1 
						

							E.3 Extended VGA Modes
Table E-2 - External Monitors Extended VGA Modes
Hex Mode Display ModeNumber of
Colors Resolution Refresh Rate
11
aGraphics 2/256 640 x 480 72
11
aGraphics 2/256 640 x 480 75
11a Graphics 16/256 640 x 480 72
12
aGraphics 16/256 640 x 480 75
14 Text 16/256 1056 x 400 70
54 Text 16/256K 1056 x 350 70
55 Text 16/256K 1056 x 350 70
58, 6A
cGraphics 16/256K 800 x 600 56
58, 6A Graphics 16/256K 800 x 600 60
58, 6A Graphics 16/256K 800 x 600 72
58, 6A Graphics 16/256K 800 x 600 75
5C Graphics 256/256K 800 x 600 56
5C Graphics 256/256K 800 x 600 60
5C
aGraphics 256/256K 800 x 600 72
5C
aGraphics 256/256K 800 x 600 75
5D Graphics 16/256K 1024 x 768 43
5D Graphics 16/256K 1024 x 768 60
  
E-2  Screen Standards