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Acer Altos 330 Series User Manual

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AcerAltos 330 Series
User's Guide

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  • Page 1 AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide...
  • Page 2 Further, Acer reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes from time to time in the contents hereof without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Acer reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this manual at any time and without notice.
  • Page 3 The software is the property of Acer or Acer’s supplier and you do not have and shall not gain any proprietary interest in the software (including any modifications or copies made by or for you) or any related intellectual property rights.

  • Page 4: Important Safety Instructions

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read these instructions carefully. Save them for future reference. 2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. 3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. 4.
  • Page 5 12. Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. 13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: a.

  • Page 6: Interference Statement

    FCC Class B Radio Frequency Interference Statement Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.

  • Page 7: About This Manual

    About this Manual Purpose This user’s guide aims to give you the information you need to operate the system properly and tells you how to install internal components. Manual Structure This user’s guide consists of four chapters and an appendix. Chapter 1System Board Describes the system board and all its major components.
  • Page 8 Conventions The following conventions are used in this manual: Text entered by user Represents text input by the user. , etc. Represent the actual keys that you have to press on the keyboard. NOTE Gives bits and pieces of additional information related to the current topic.

  • Page 9: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Chapter 1 System Board 1.1 Features ...................... 1-1 1.2 Major Components..................1-2 1.2.1 System Board Layout ..............1-3 1.3 Jumpers and Connectors................1-4 1.3.1 Jumper and Connector Locations..........1-4 1.3.2 Jumper Settings................1-5 1.3.3 Connector Functions............... 1-5 1.4 Front Panel Connectors................
  • Page 10 Chapter 2 BIOS Utility 2.1 Entering Setup....................2-1 2.2 System Information..................2-4 2.2.1 Processor..................2-5 2.2.2 Processor Speed................2-5 2.2.3 Internal Cache Size................2-5 2.2.4 External Cache.................2-5 2.2.5 Floppy Drive A................2-5 2.2.6 Floppy Drive B ................2-6 2.2.7 IDE Primary Channel Master............2-6 2.2.8 IDE Primary Channel Slave............2-6 2.2.9 IDE Secondary Channel Master.............2-6 2.2.10 IDE Secondary Channel Slave............2-6 2.2.11 Total Memory..................2-7...
  • Page 11 2.5.1 Serial Ports 1 and 2 ............... 2-16 2.5.2 Parallel Port................... 2-17 2.5.3 Onboard Device Settings.............. 2-19 2.6 Power Management................. 2-21 2.6.1 Power Management Mode............2-21 2.6.2 Power Switch < 4 sec..............2-22 2.6.3 System Wake-up Event ..............2-22 2.7 Boot Options ....................
  • Page 12 Chapter 3 System Utilities 3.1 AFlash BIOS Utility..................3-1 3.1.1 Executing AFlash ................3-2 3.1.2 Quick Way to Execute AFlash............3-3 3.2 SCSISelect Configuration Utility ...............3-4 3.2.1 Overview ..................3-4 3.2.2 Default Values .................3-4 3.2.3 When to Use the SCSISelect Utility ..........3-5 3.2.4 Running the SCSISelect Utility............3-5 3.3 SCSISelect Utility Options................3-6 3.3.1 Configure/View Host Adapter Settings Menu ......3-7 3.3.2 SCSI Disk Utilities .................3-19...
  • Page 13 4.2.2 Rear Panel..................4-5 4.2.3 Internal Components..............4-6 4.3 Opening the Housing Panels ..............4-7 4.3.1 Front Panel ..................4-7 4.3.2 Removing the Left Cover ............... 4-8 4.3.3 Removing the Right Cover............. 4-9 4.3.4 Removing the Metal Frame for Additional Hard Disks.... 4-10 4.4 Component Installation................
  • Page 14 List of Figures 1-1 System Board Layout.................1-3 1-2 Jumper and Connector Locations .............1-4 1-3 Front-Panel Connectors ................1-7 1-4 Installing a Pentium II Processor ............1-10 1-5 Securing the Pentium II Processor............1-11 1-6 Unlocking the Module Latches ...............1-12 1-7 Removing the Pentium II Processor ............1-13 1-8 Installing a DIMM..................1-15 1-9 Removing a DIMM ..................1-16 3-1 Options Menu Screen.................3-6...

  • Page 15: Chapter 1 System Board

    Chapter 1 System Board Features This high-performance system board supports the Intel Pentium II CPU running at 266 up to 450 MHz. Integrated with the Intel 440BX system controller, which consists of the PCI controller and the PCI/ISA IDE accelerator (PIIX4), the AcerAltos 330 combines the new generation of Pentium II power with unmatched graphics performance.

  • Page 16: Major Components

    Major Components The system board has the following major components: • A single edge contact (SEC) CPU connector that supports Pentium II processors running from 266 to 450 MHz • Three DIMM sockets that accept 64- and 128-MB ECC SDRAM DIMMs •...

  • Page 17: System Board Layout

    1.2.1 System Board Layout PS/2 keyboard port Battery PS/2 mouse port Intel 82371EB USB connectors Primary IDE connector Serial port 1 Secondary IDE connector Parallel port FDD connector Serial port 2 Intel 440BX BIOS DIMM sockets ISA slots Voltage regulators PCI slots CPU slot 10 AGP slot...

  • Page 18: Jumpers And Connectors

    Jumpers and Connectors 1.3.1 Jumper and Connector Locations Figure 1-2 shows the jumper and connector locations on the system board. Figure 1-2 Jumper and Connector Locations In this figure, the blackened pin of a jumper or connector represents pin 1. AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide...

  • Page 19: Jumper Settings

    Jumper Settings Jumper Setting Function Password Security Check password 2-3* Bypass password BIOS 1-2* Acer Reserved 1.3.3 Connector Functions Table 1-2 lists the different connectors on the system board and their respective functions. Table 1-2 Connector Functions Connector Function Suspend 5V...
  • Page 20 Table 1-2 Connector Functions (continued) connector Function Upper: PS/2 mouse connector Lower: PS/2 keyboard connector CN10 Enhanced IDE 2 connector CN11 Enhanced IDE 1 connector CN12 Hard disk LED connector CN13 SCSI disk LED connector (for M11E Combo Card) CN15 Reserved CN16 Power switch...

  • Page 21: Front Panel Connectors

    Front Panel Connectors The following figure shows the pin orientation of the front-panel connectors. Figure 1-3 Front-Panel Connectors Chapter 1 - System Board 1-7...

  • Page 22: Installing Components On The System Board

    Installing Components on the System Board The following sections describe how to install components into the system board, including how to install a Pentium II processor into the socket on the CPU board, and how to upgrade system memory. Before beginning the installation, please take a moment to read the sections below.

  • Page 23: Post-Installation Instructions

    3. Follow the ESD precautions in section 1.5.1 before handling a system component. 4. Remove any expansion boards or peripherals that block access to components you are installing. 5. See the following sections for specific instructions on the component you wish to install.

  • Page 24: Installing A Pentium Ii Processor

    Installing a Pentium II Processor Follow these steps to install a Pentium II processor into the socket on the CPU board. The edge connector of the Pentium II module is slotted so that it only fits in one direction. Make sure the module groove matches the one on the processor socket 1.
  • Page 25 The system settings are configured at the factory for the correct CPU frequency/ Memory DIMM combination. If you upgrade the CPU frequency to 300, 350, 400, or 450 MHz, the memory controller requires PC-100 DRAM DIMMs. Your system will not work properly if you use standard DIMMs with the higher speed CPUs.

  • Page 26: Removing A Pentium Ii Processor

    Removing a Pentium II Processor Follow these steps to remove the Pentium II CPU module from the slot. 1. Remove the fan connections. See Table 1-2. 2. Unlock the latches that secure the processor module. Figure 1-6 Unlocking the Module Latches 2.
  • Page 27 Figure 1-7 Removing the Pentium II Processor Chapter 1 - System Board 1-13...

  • Page 28: Memory Upgrade

    Memory Upgrade The three 168-pin sockets onboard support ECC synchronous DRAM DIMMs. You may install 64-MB or 128-MB DIMMs for a maximum of 384-MB system memory. Each of the sockets represents one independent bank. This allows you to install DIMMs with different capacities on each bank. 1.8.1 Memory Configurations Table 1-3 lists some system memory configurations.

  • Page 29: Installing A Dimm

    1.8.2 Installing a DIMM To install a DIMM, align it with the socket and press it down until the holding clips secure the DIMM in place. The DIMM socket is slotted to ensure proper installation. If you install a DIMM but it does not completely fit, you may have inserted it the wrong way.

  • Page 30: Removing A Dimm

    1.8.3 Removing a DIMM To remove a DIMM, press the holding clips on both sides of the socket outward to release the DIMM. Place your forefingers on the top of the DIMM before you press the holding clips to gently disengage the DIMM from the socket. Figure 1-9 Removing a DIMM AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide 1-16...

  • Page 31: Reconfiguring The System

    1.8.4 Reconfiguring the System Reconfigure the system after installing or removing DIMMs. Follow these steps to reconfigure the system: 1. Reboot the system. 2. Press during the power-on self-test (POST) routine to run Setup. During POST, a memory error message appears, indicating that the total memory does not match the value stored in CMOS.

  • Page 32: Server Management Features

    Server Management Features 1.9.1 Advanced Server Manager (ASM Pro) ASM Pro is a server management tool based on the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). It detects server problems related to a CPU thermal condition, ± 12V/ ± 5V/3.3V/1.5V detection, or calculating PCI bus utilization. This feature is designed primarily for server supervisors and management information system (MIS) personnel to help them detect errors or potential trouble spots in their network servers through a single management station.

  • Page 33: 1.10.1 Software Error Messages

    1.10.1 Software Error Messages Software error messages are returned by your operating system or application. These messages typically occur after you boot the operating system or when you run your applications. If you receive this type of message, consult your application or operating system manual for help.

  • Page 34: System Error Messages

    Table 1-4 System Error Messages Message Action CMOS Battery Error Replace the CMOS battery. CMOS Checksum Error Run Setup (see section 2.1). CPU BIOS Update Code Contact your dealer. Mismatch Diskette Drive Controller Error Check and connect the control or Not Installed cable to the diskette controller.
  • Page 35 Table 1-4 System Error Messages (continued) Message Action Memory Error at: Check DIMMs on the system MMMM:SSSS:OOO board. Contact your dealer. (W:XXXX, R:YYYY) where: M: MB, S: Segment, O: Offset, X/Y: write/read pattern Memory Size Mismatch Check the memory size and CPU clock speed installed in the CPU Clock Mismatch system.

  • Page 36: 1.10.3 Correcting Error Conditions

    1.10.3 Correcting Error Conditions As a general rule, if an error message says "Press F1 to continue," it is caused by a configuration problem, which can be easily corrected. An equipment malfunction is more likely to cause a fatal error, i.e., an error that causes complete system failure.

  • Page 37: Chapter 2 Bios Utility

    Chapter 2 BIOS Utility The BIOS Utility allows you to view and change your system’s configuration settings. Most systems are already configured by the manufacturer or the dealer. There is no need to run Setup when starting the computer unless you get a Run Setup message.
  • Page 38 The Setup Utility Main Menu appears: Setup Utility • System Information • Product Information • Disk Drives • Onboard Peripherals • Power Management • Boot Options • Date and Time • System Security • Load Default Settings • Abort Settings Change The system supports two BIOS Utility levels: Basic and Advanced.
  • Page 39 The asterisk (*) mark indicates that the parameter appears only when you are in the Advanced Level. The parameters on the screens show default values. These values may not be the same as those in your system. The grayed items on the screens have fixed settings and are not user-configurable.

  • Page 40: System Information

    System Information The following screen appears if you select System Information from the Main menu: System Information Processor ......Pentium II Processor Speed ....XXX MHz Internal Cache Size ....32 KB, Enabled External Cache Size ....512 KB, Enabled Floppy Drive A .....

  • Page 41: Processor

    2.2.1 Processor The Processor parameter specifies the type of processor currently installed in your system. The system supports Intel Pentium II processors. 2.2.2 Processor Speed The Processor Speed parameter specifies the speed of the processor currently installed in your system. The system can support Pentium II processors running at 266, 300, 333, 350, 400, and 450 MHz.

  • Page 42: Floppy Drive B

    2.2.6 Floppy Drive B This parameter specifies the system’s current diskette drive B settings. For information on how to configure the floppy drives, see section 2.4.1. 2.2.7 IDE Primary Channel Master This parameter specifies the current configuration of the IDE device connected to the master port of the primary IDE channel.

  • Page 43: Total Memory

    2.2.11 Total Memory This parameter specifies the total amount of onboard memory. The memory size is automatically detected by BIOS during the POST. If you install additional memory, the system automatically adjusts this parameter to display the new memory size. 1st Bank/2nd Bank/3rd Bank The 1st Bank, 2nd Bank, and 3rd Bank parameters indicate the type and size of DRAM installed in DIMM sockets 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

  • Page 44: Product Information

    Product Information The Product Information contains the general data about the system, such as the product name, serial number, BIOS version, etc. This information is necessary for troubleshooting (may be required when asking for technical support). The following figure shows how the Product Information screen appears: Product Information Product Name ......

  • Page 45: Main Board S/N

    2.3.4 Main Board S/N This parameter specifies the system board’s serial number. 2.3.5 System BIOS Version This parameter specifies the version of the BIOS utility. 2.3.6 DMI BIOS Version This parameter specifies the version of the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) BIOS version.

  • Page 46: Disk Drives

    Disk Drives Select Disk Drives to input configuration values for disk drives. The following screen shows the Disk Drives menu screen: Disk Drives Diskette Drive A ...... [xx-MB, xx-inch] Diskette Drive B ...... [ None LS-120 Drive as ....... [ Normal ] IDE Primary Channel Master IDE Primary Channel Slave IDE Secondary Channel Master...

  • Page 47: Ls-120 Drive Compatible As

    2.4.2 LS-120 Drive Compatible As This parameter allows you not only to enable the LS-120 device installed in your system, but also to specify the function of the device. The setting affects how BIOS will detect the device. Although LS-120 options are provided in the system BIOS, LS-120 drives are neither qualified nor supported in this server.

  • Page 48: Ide Drives

    2.4.3 IDE Drives Although IDE options are provided in the system BIOS, IDE hard disk drives are neither qualified nor supported in this server. The IDE options are: IDE Primary Channel Master This parameter lets you configure the hard disk drive connected to the master port of IDE channel 1.
  • Page 49 IDE Primary/Secondary Channel Master/Slave Page 1/1 Type ......[ Auto ] Cylinder ....... [ XXXX ] Head ......[ XXXX ] Sector ......[ XXXX ] Size ......[ XXXX ] MB Hard Disk Size > 504MB ..[ Auto ] *Hard Disk Block Mode ....

  • Page 50: Enhanced Ide Features

    Head This parameter specifies the number of heads of your hard disk, and is automatically set depending on your Type parameter setting. Sector This parameter specifies the number of sectors of your hard disk, and is automatically set depending on your Type parameter setting. Size This parameter specifies the size of your hard disk, in MB.

  • Page 51: Advanced Pio Mode

    Advanced PIO Mode When set to Auto, the BIOS utility automatically detects if the installed hard disk supports the function. If supported, it allows for faster data recovery and read/write timing that reduces hard disk activity time. This results in better hard disk performance.

  • Page 52: Onboard Peripherals

    Onboard Peripherals The Onboard Peripheral Configuration allows you to configure the onboard communication ports and the onboard devices. Selecting this option displays the following screen: Onboard Peripherals Serial Port 1 .......[Enabled ] Base Address .....[3F8h] IRQ ......[4] Serial Port 2 .......[Enabled ] Base Address .....[2F8h] IRQ ......[3] Parallel Port .......[Enabled ]...

  • Page 53: Parallel Port

    This function lets you assign an interrupt for serial ports 1 and 2. The options for serial ports 1 are IRQ 4 and 11. The options for serial port 2 are IRQ 3 and 10. The Base Address and IRQ parameters for each port are configurable only if the port is enabled.

  • Page 54: Parallel Port Operation Mode Settings

    Operation Mode This item allows you to set the operation mode of the parallel port. Table 2-1 lists the different operation modes. Table 2-1 Parallel Port Operation Mode Settings Setting Function Standard Parallel Port Allows normal speed one-way operation (SPP) Standard and Bi- Allows normal speed operation in a two- directional...

  • Page 55: Onboard Device Settings

    2.5.3 Onboard Device Settings The Onboard Device Settings menu allows you to configure the onboard communication ports and the onboard devices. Selecting this option from the Onboard Peripherals menu displays the following screen: Onboard Device Settings Floppy Disk Controller ....[Enabled ] IDE Controller ......[Both PS/2 Mouse Controller ....[Enabled ] USB Host Controller ....[Disabled ]...

  • Page 56: Usb Host Controller

    USB Host Controller This parameter lets you enable or disable the USB controller on board. When enabled, it activates the USB function of the system. When disabled, it deactivates the function. USB Legacy Mode This function, when enabled, lets you use a USB keyboard in DOS. Set this to Disabled to deactivate the USB keyboard function in DOS.

  • Page 57: Power Management Mode

    Power Management The Power Management menu allows you to configure the system power-management feature. The following screen shows the Power Management parameters and their default settings: Power Management Power Management Mode ....[Disabled] IDE Hard Disk Standby Timer ..[--] System Sleep Timer ....[--] Sleep Mode ......[----] Power Switch <...

  • Page 58: Power Switch < 4 Sec

    IDE Hard Disk Standby Timer This parameter allows the hard disk to enter standby mode after inactivity of 1 to 15 minutes, depending on your setting. When you access the hard disk again, allow 3 to 5 seconds (depending on the hard disk) for the disk to return to normal speed.

  • Page 59: Boot Options

    Boot Options This option allows you to specify your preferred setting for bootup. The following screen appears if you select Boot Options from the Basic Configuration menu: Boot Options Boot Sequence [Floppy Disk] [Hard Disk [IDE CD-ROM ] First Hard Disk Drive ....[ SCSI] Fast Boot ......[Disabled] Silent Boot ......[Disabled] Num Lock After Boot ....[Enabled]...

  • Page 60: Boot Sequence

    2.7.1 Boot Sequence This parameter allows you to specify the boot search sequence during POST. • . The system checks this drive first. • . The system then checks this drive if it can not boot from the specified drive. •...

  • Page 61: Num Lock After Boot

    Even if your setting is Enabled, you may also switch to the text mode while booting by pressing when you see the “Ctrl-Alt-Esc key to enter setup” message on the screen. When set to Disabled, BIOS is in the conventional text mode where you see the system initialization details on the screen.

  • Page 62: Date And Time

    Date and Time The real-time clock keeps the system date and time. After setting the date and time, you do not need to enter them every time you turn on the system. As long as the internal battery remains good (approximately seven years) and connected, the clock continues to keep the date and time accurately even when the power is off.

  • Page 63: Time

    • Year 1980 to 2099 2.8.2 Time Highlight the items on the Time parameter and press to set the time following the hour-minute-second format. Valid values for hour, minute, and second are: • Hour 00 to 23 • Minute 00 to 59 •...

  • Page 64: Advanced Options

    Advanced Options Advanced Option configuration is available only in the Advanced Level. The Advanced Options configuration menu allows you to configure the system memory, PCI device settings, and CPU frequency. Press F8 to access the Advanced Options parameters. To avoid damaging the system, do not change any settings in the Advanced Configuration unless you are a qualified technician.

  • Page 65: Memory/Cache Options

    2.9.1 Memory/Cache Options The Memory/Cache Options allows you to configure the advanced system memory functions. Memory/Cache Options Internal Cache(CPU Cache) ...[Enabled ] External Cache ......[Enabled ] Cache Scheme ......[ Write Back ] Memory at 15MB-16MB Reserved for ...[System] Memory Parity Mode ....[ECC] Internal Cache (CPU Cache) This parameter enables or disables the first-level or internal memory, that is, the memory integrated into the CPU.

  • Page 66: Memory At 15Mb-16Mb Reserved For

    Memory at 15MB-16MB Reserved for To prevent memory address conflicts between the system and expansion boards, reserve this memory range for the use of either the system or an expansion board. Memory Parity Mode This parameter allows you to enable or disable the ECC (Error Checking and Correction) feature.

  • Page 67: Pnp/Pci Options

    2.9.2 PnP/PCI Options The PnP/PCI Options allows you to specify the settings for your PCI devices. Selecting this option displays the following screen: PnP/PCI Options PCI IRQ Setting ... [ Auto INTA INTB INTC INTD PCI Slot 1 ....[--] [--] [--] [--]...

  • Page 68: Vga Palette Snoop

    PCI Slots When you set the PCI IRQ Setting parameter to Auto, these parameters specify the auto-assigned interrupt for each of the PCI devices. If you set the PCI IRQ Setting parameter to Manual, you need to specify the interrupt that you want to assign for each PCI device installed in your system.

  • Page 69: Graphics Aperture Size

    Graphics Aperture Size This parameter determines the effective size of the graphics aperture. Graphics aperture is the address range that the AGP video and the CPU use to manage graphical objects. The lowest setting is 8 MB and the highest is 256 MB. Plug and Play OS When this parameter is set to Yes, BIOS initializes only PnP boot devices such as SCSI cards.

  • Page 70: Cpu Frequency

    2.9.3 CPU Frequency This parameter displays your CPU’s speed and bus frequency. It also allows you to specify the CPU frequency multiplier. Selecting this option displays the following screen: CPU Frequency Bus Frequency ....66/100 MHz CPU Multiple ....[x] Processor Speed .....

  • Page 71: 2.10 System Security

    2.10 System Security The Setup program has a number of security features to prevent unauthorized access to the system and its data. The following screen appears if you select System Security from the Main menu: System Security Setup Password ....[None] Power-on Password ....
  • Page 72 2. Enabled the Setup Password parameter in the System Security menu by pressing the arrow key. The Setup Password window appears: Setup Password Enter your new Setup Password twice. Setup Password may be up to 7 characters long. Enter Password ....[xxxxxxx] Enter Password again ...

  • Page 73: To Remove Your Setup Password

    7. Press Yes to save your settings and exit Setup Utility. Your password will be saved to CMOS. For the password to take effect you must set jumper JP3 to 1-2 (Check password): 1. Turn off and unplug the computer. 2.
  • Page 74 Remember to set JP3 to 2-3 (Bypass password) because you won’t be able to access Setup Utility if a password does not exist and JP3 is set to 1-2 (Check password). AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide 2-38...

  • Page 75: To Bypass Setup Password

    To set JP3 to 2-3 (Bypass password): 1. Turn off and unplug the computer. 2. Open the computer housing and set JP3 to 2-3 (Bypass password) to bypass the password function. See figure 1-2 for the location of JP3. 3. Close your computer’s housing and reboot your system. To bypass Setup Password: If you forget your setup password, you can bypass the password security feature by hardware.

  • Page 76: 2.10.2 Power-On Password

    2.10.2 Power-on Password The Power-on Password secures your system against unauthorized use. Once you set this password, you have to type it whenever you boot the system. To set this password, enter Setup Utility, select System Security, then highlight the Power-on Password parameter.

  • Page 77: 2.10.3 Disk Drive Control

    2.10.3 Disk Drive Control The disk drive control features allow you to control the floppy drive or the hard disk drive boot function to prevent loading operating systems or other programs from a certain drive while the other drives are operational (under DOS mode only).

  • Page 78: 2.11 Load Default Settings

    2.11 Load Default Settings Use this option to load the default settings for the optimized system configuration. When you load the default settings, some of the parameters are grayed-out with their fixed settings. These grayed parameters are not user- configurable. The following dialog box appears when you select Load Default Settings from the main menu: Load Default Settings...

  • Page 79: 2.13 Exit Setup

    Select No to ignore the message and return to the BIOS utility. 2.13 Exit Setup Examine the system configuration values. When you are satisfied that all the values are correct, write them down. Store the recorded values in a safe place. In the future, if the battery loses power or the CMOS chip is damaged, you will know what values to enter when you rerun Setup.

  • Page 80: Chapter 3 System Utilities

    Chapter 3 System Utilities This chapter contains information about system utilities that you need when you upgrade your system. These utilities are the AFlash BIOS Utility and SCSISelect Configuration Utility. The AFlash BIOS Utility diskette does not come with the system package. Ask your dealer for assistance if you need the utility.

  • Page 81: Executing Aflash

    3.1.1 Executing AFlash Follow these steps to execute AFlash: 1. Copy the MSG.DAT and AFLASH.EXE files from the system utilities diskette into the subdirectory of your choice. 2. From that subdirectory, type: aflash 3. A help message appears. Press any key to continue. 4.

  • Page 82: Quick Way To Execute Aflash

    3.1.2 Quick Way to Execute AFlash When you have already copied the AFlash files into your hard disk, you can simply type the following on the DOS prompt (subdirectory where the files are located) to quickly execute the program. aflash (filename) The program automatically performs the loading and programming functions, then reboots the system.

  • Page 83: Scsiselect Configuration Utility

    SCSISelect Configuration Utility 3.2.1 Overview The SCSISelect configuration utility allows you to change SCSI controller settings without opening the computer or changing jumpers. 3.2.2 Default Values Table 3-1 lists the settings you can change with the SCSISelect utility and the default value for each setting.

  • Page 84: When To Use The Scsiselect Utility

    3.2.3 When to Use the SCSISelect Utility Use the SCSISelect utility if you need to • Change any of the default values listed in Table 3-1 • Check and/or change SCSI device settings that may conflict with those of other devices (e.g., SCSI ID) •...

  • Page 85: Scsiselect Utility Options

    SCSISelect Utility Options When the SCSISelect utility detects the AIC-7880 SCSI controller in your computer, it displays the Options menu shown in Figure 3-1. Adaptec AIC7880 Ultra/Ultra W SCSISelect (TM) Utility AIC-7880 Ultra/Ultra W at Bus:Device 00:10h Would you like to configure the host adapter, or run the SCSI disk utilities? Select the option and press <Enter>.

  • Page 86: Configure/View Host Adapter Settings Menu

    3.3.1 Configure/View Host Adapter Settings Menu The Configure/View Host Adapter Settings menu lists three settings under SCSI Bus Interface Definitions and three additional options, as shown in Figure 3-2: • Host Adapter SCSI ID: changes the host controller SCSI ID from its default value of 7 •...

  • Page 87: Host Adapter Scsi Id Selection Screen For Aic-7880

    Use the cursor ( ↑ ↓ ) to move to your selection. Press Enter to display a pop-up menu of choices or to make selections. Press Esc at any time to return to the previous menu. Press F6 to reset all settings to the SCSI controller defaults.

  • Page 88: Scsi Parity Checking Selection

    Each SCSI device on the SCSI bus, including the SCSI controller, must be set to a unique SCSI ID. The SCSI ID serves two purposes: it uniquely identifies each SCSI device on the bus, and it determines the device's priority on the bus during the Arbitration phase.

  • Page 89: Host Adapter Scsi Termination Selection For Aic-7880

    The SCSI controller always checks parity when reading from the SCSI bus to verify the correct transmission of data from your SCSI devices. You should disable SCSI Parity Checking if any attached SCSI devices do not support SCSI parity. (Most currently available SCSI devices do support SCSI parity.) Use the cursor ( ↑...

  • Page 90: Boot Device Options Screen

    Boot Device Options This option shows the target ID of the device you are booting from. The default setting is 0 (zero). We recommend that you not change this setting. Some operating systems will not run unless the boot device is set at zero. Figure 3-6 shows the Boot Device Options screen.

  • Page 91: Scsi Device Configuration Screen For Aic-7880

    SCSI Device Configuration This option allows you to configure certain parameters of each SCSI device on the SCSI bus. A screen similar to Figure 3-7 appears. The screen shows a column of information for each SCSI ID, even if some SCSI IDs are not assigned to a device. To configure a specific SCSI device, you need to know which SCSI ID it uses.
  • Page 92 Initiate Sync Negotiation This option determines whether the SCSI controller initiates synchronous negotiation with the SCSI device. When set to Yes, the SCSI controller initiates synchronous negotiation with the SCSI device. When set to No, the SCSI controller does not initiate synchronous negotiation.
  • Page 93 Some older SCSI devices do not support Fast SCSI data transfer rates. This may cause your computer to operate erratically or hang if the transfer rate is set too high. Set Initiate Sync Negotiation to No for these devices. Enable Disconnection This option determines whether the SCSI controller allows a SCSI device to disconnect from the SCSI bus (sometimes called Disconnect/Reconnect).
  • Page 94 Send Start Unit Command This option, which is supported by some SCSI devices, determines whether the Start Unit Command (SCSI command 1B) is sent to the SCSI device (most devices do not require this). Enabling this option reduces the load on your computer's power supply by allowing the SCSI controller to power-up SCSI devices one-at-a- time when you boot your computer.

  • Page 95: Advanced Configuration Options Screen

    Advanced Configuration Options When you select Advanced Configuration Options, a screen similar to Figure 3-8 appears. Do not change these options unless absolutely necessary. Adaptec AIC7880 Ultra/Ultra W SCSISelect (TM) Utility AIC-7880 Ultra/Ultra W at Bus:Device 00:10h Configuration Advanced Configuration Options SCSI Bus Interface Definitions Host Adapter SCSI ID ........
  • Page 96 Host Adapter BIOS This option enables or disables the SCSI controller BIOS. Default is Enabled. The SCSI controller BIOS must be enabled if you want the computer to boot from a SCSI hard disk drive connected to the SCSI controller. Several SCSISelect options cannot be used unless the SCSI controller BIOS is enabled.
  • Page 97 Extended BIOS Translation for DOS Drives > 1 GByte This option allows you to enable or disable extended translation for SCSI hard disks with a capacity greater than 1 GByte. It is only valid if the SCSI controller BIOS is enabled. The default setting is Enabled. Do not change this setting from the default.

  • Page 98: Scsi Disk Utilities

    3.3.2 SCSI Disk Utilities When you select SCSI Disk Utilities from the Options menu the SCSISelect utility scans the SCSI bus and lists all SCSI devices installed on the SCSI bus. You will see a screen similar to Figure 3-9. You can easily determine from this screen which SCSI ID is assigned to each device on the SCSI bus.

  • Page 99: Format Disk

    Format Disk The Format Disk utility performs a low-level format on disk devices. Most SCSI disk devices are preformatted and do not need to be formatted again. The Adaptec Format Disk utility is compatible with the vast majority of SCSI disk drives.

  • Page 100: Configuring Multiple Scsi Controllers

    Configuring Multiple SCSI Controllers The AHA-2940/W/UW SCSI controller is used as an example in the following discussion. To use multiple PCI SCSI controllers, do the following: • Install the boot SCSI controller in the lowest PCI Device number. The Device number is determined by the slot number on the PCI bus.

  • Page 101: Disk Drives Over 1 Gbyte

    Disk Drives Over 1 Gbyte 3.5.1 Extended Translation Adaptec SCSI controllers have always supported the full range of disk drive capacities under all major operating systems. As disk drives have recently grown beyond 1 GByte in formatted capacity, they have run up against the DOS 1024- cylinder limit.

  • Page 102: When To Use Extended Translation

    3.5.3 When to Use Extended Translation Using Fdisk To install a new disk, or to re-partition an existing disk, use the fdisk DOS utility as you normally would. The cylinder size increases to 8 MBytes when you enable extended translation. The size of the partition you request must therefore be a multiple of 8 MBytes.

  • Page 103: Scsi Troubleshooting Checklist

    SCSI Troubleshooting Checklist The AIC-7880 SCSI controller has been tested for compatibility with a wide range of SCSI devices. Most problems that occur during installation result from errors in preparing and connecting devices on the SCSI bus. Answer these questions first if a problem occurs during installation: •...

  • Page 104: Bios Startup Messages

    BIOS Startup Messages After you have configured your SCSI controller, the SCSI controller BIOS displays a message when you boot your computer. Normally, this message lists the SCSI ID, manufacturer, model number and other information for each SCSI device that the BIOS detects.

  • Page 105: Device Connected, But Not Ready

    3. Perform a SCSI low-level format with the Format Disk utility under SCSI Disk Utilities in the SCSISelect utility. All data on the target drive will be lost when you run the Format Disk utility. Back up your data before you run it! 4.

  • Page 106: Start Unit Request Failed

    3.7.2 Start unit request failed The BIOS was unable to send a Start Unit Command to the device. Run the SCSISelect utility and disable Send Start Unit Command for the device. Time-out failure during SCSI Inquiry command! Time-out failure during SCSI Test Unit Ready command! Time-out failure during Start Unit command! An unexpected time-out occurred.

  • Page 107: Booting The Computer From A Scsi Drive

    Booting the Computer from a SCSI Drive The following items may apply for multiple SCSI controller configurations. See the section “Configuring Multiple SCSI Controllers” for more detailed information. • Be sure that both standard hard disks are mapped out of the computer using the Setup program by setting the Setup program to Onboard IDE-Disabled.
  • Page 108 Using a Standard Drive as C and a SCSI Drive as D • Use the Setup program to map the second standard hard disk (if one exists) out of the configuration. • Disable Onboard SCSI Boot in Setup. • Be sure that the SCSI drive to be used as drive D is set to SCSI ID 0. Check the drive manual for information on setting the SCSI ID for that device.
  • Page 109 Using a SCSI Drive as C and Another SCSI Drive as D • Make sure your computer's CMOS Setup is set to Onboard IDE-Disabled, as is required for SCSI host controllers. Also ensure Onboard SCSI Boot is Enabled. • Be sure that the SCSI drive to be used as drive C is set to SCSI ID 0. Check the disk drive manual for information on setting the SCSI ID for that device.
  • Page 110 installed in a motherboard slot that does not support First-Party DMA (i.e., Bus Master) data transfers. See your computer documentation. Chapter 3 - System Utilities 3-31...

  • Page 111: Chapter 4 System Housing

    Chapter 4 System Housing This chapter describes the features of the system housing and tells you how to install the basic system components such as disk drives, system board, or expansion boards. Descriptive illustrations accompany the installation procedures. Turn OFF the system power and all peripherals before opening the system or connecting or removing any peripheral device.

  • Page 112: Positioning The System Housing

    Positioning the System Housing 4.1.1 Standalone System For a standalone system, rotate the feet outward to stabilize the housing. AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide...

  • Page 113: Against A Wall

    4.1.2 Against a Wall Figure B Figure A Fans Fans 2-4 inches The housing has vents on both sides, with the vent on the left side being the most important. When standing the system with the vents facing a wall, leave a 2-4 inch space from the wall to allow air circulation.

  • Page 114: Features

    Features 4.2.1 Front Panel Power/Hard disk/RDM LEDs 3.5-inch diskette drive 5.25-inch drive bays Power button Reset button AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide...

  • Page 115: Rear Panel

    4.2.2 Rear Panel Power socket Serial port 1 Keyboard Parallel port Mouse Serial port 2 Universal serial bus (USB) connector Universal serial bus (USB) connector 10 RJ-45 LAN connector 11 SCSI Port Chapter 4 - System Housing 4-5...

  • Page 116: Internal Components

    4.2.3 Internal Components The following figure shows the housing internal structure and some of the basic system components. Power supply Expansion board brackets Metal frame for additional hard disks 5.25-inch drive bays (for hard disks or CD-ROM) 3.5-inch hard disk drive bays AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide...

  • Page 117: Opening The Housing Panels

    Opening the Housing Panels Before opening the system housing, please refer to section 1.5 for ESD precautions and pre- and post-installation instructions. 4.3.1 Front Panel 1. Push the safety latch to unlock the system housing. 2. Insert your hand in the opening under the front panel. Reach for the panel handle and press it to release the cover from the housing frame.

  • Page 118: Removing The Left Cover

    4.3.2 Removing the Left Cover Remove the two screws that secure the left cover, then slide the cover toward the front for about an inch. Pull the upper part of the cover outward. Lift the cover out. AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide...

  • Page 119: Removing The Right Cover

    4.3.3 Removing the Right Cover Remove the two screws securing the right cover, then slide the cover toward the front for about an inch. Pull the upper part of the cover outward. Lift the cover out. Chapter 4 - System Housing 4-9...

  • Page 120: Removing The Metal Frame For Additional Hard Disks

    4.3.4 Removing the Metal Frame for Additional Hard Disks 1. Remove the screw that secures the metal frame for additional hard disks. 2. Slide the frame in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure to release the frame tabs from the slots on the floor of the housing. AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide 4-10...

  • Page 121: Component Installation

    Component Installation Make sure that you have removed the metal frame for additional hard disks before you proceed. Refer to the previous sections for the instructions. 4.4.1 ESD Precautions Always observe the following electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions before installing any system component: 1.

  • Page 122: Installing A System Board

    Installing a System Board Observe the ESD precautions in section 4.4.1. Follow these steps to install a system board. 1. Position the housing so that the right side lies flat. 2. Align the board with the pegs on the housing frame. 3.

  • Page 123: Installing Expansion Boards

    Installing Expansion Boards Observe the ESD precautions in section 4.4.1. 1. Remove a bracket from any empty expansion slot. Save the screw to secure the new board. Save the bracket for future use. Chapter 4 - System Housing 4-13...
  • Page 124 2. Gently insert the board into the open expansion slot. Make sure that the board is inserted completely. 3. Secure the board with the screw. Do not neglect this step. The board uses the screw for grounding. AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide 4-14...

  • Page 125: Installing Drives

    Installing Drives Observe the ESD precautions in section 4.4.1. Installing Hard Disks 1. Push down the tab that locks the 3.5-inch hard disk drive frames to the housing, then pull the frames out. Chapter 4 - System Housing 4-15...
  • Page 126 2. Detach the upper drive frame from the lower drive frame. 3. Secure a hard disk on the upper drive frame. AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide 4-16...
  • Page 127 4. Secure a hard disk on the lower drive frame. 5. Reattach the lower drive frame to the upper drive frame. Chapter 4 - System Housing 4-17...
  • Page 128 6. Reinstall the drive frames into the housing. 7. Connect the power supply and drive cables. AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide 4-18...

  • Page 129: Installing Additional Hard Disks

    Installing Additional Hard Disks The system housing comes with a metal frame for additional hard disks. This frame accommodates two half-height hard disks. 1. Secure the hard disks on the metal frame one at a time. Before you re-install the additional hard disk frame back into the housing, make sure that you have installed the system board and expansion boards, if any.
  • Page 130 2. Locate the slots at the back of the housing floor. 3. Insert the frame tabs into these slots, with the hard disks facing the system board. 4. Carefully slide the frame toward the rear of the housing until it fits in place. 5.
  • Page 131 Removing the Frame with Installed Hard Disks Follow these steps when removing the frame with hard disks installed. 1. Detach the hard disk cables, then remove the screws that secure the frame to the housing. 2. Use a flat screwdriver to slowly slide the frame toward the front. See the following figure.

  • Page 132: Cover Installation

    Cover Installation After you install the necessary system components into the housing, you must reinstall the left and right covers and the front panel. 4.8.1 Installing the Left Cover 1. Align the hooks on the bottom edge of the left cover with the rail on the bottom of the housing.

  • Page 133: Installing The Right Cover

    4.8.2 Installing the Right Cover 1. Align the hooks on the bottom edge of the right cover with the rail on the bottom of the housing. 2. Push the upper part of the right cover. 3. Slide the cover toward the rear panel until it fits in place. Chapter 4 - System Housing 4-23...

  • Page 134: Installing The Front Panel

    4.8.3 Installing the Front Panel 1. Insert the hooks on the inner side of the front panel into the protruding tabs on the edge of the roof. 2. Fit the lower front panel until it clicks in place. AcerAltos 330 Series User’s Guide 4-24...
  • Page 135 Index Booting the computer from a SCSI drive, 3-28 Computer hands, or SCSI controller cannot always find the drives, 3-30 Abort settings change, 2-41 Device connected, but not ready, 3-26 Advanced configuration options, 3-16 Disk drive configuration problems, 3- Advanced options, 2-28 AGP, 2-32 Start unit request failed, 3-27 Bus frequency, 2-34...
  • Page 136 Booting the computer from a SCSI drive, Hard disk size > 504 MB, 2-14 3-28 IDE drives, 2-12 Bus frequency, 2-34 LS-120 drive compatible as, 2-11 Disk drives over 1 Gbyte Extended translation, 3-22 Using Fdisk, 3-23 When to use extended translation, 3- Cache scheme, 2-29 CD-ROM drive DMA mode, 2-15 Display <Ctrl-A>...

  • Page 137: System Board Layout

    Floppy drives, 2-10 Removing the frame with installed Format disk, 3-20 hard disks, 4-21 Front panel, 4-4, 4-7 Installing expansion boards, 4-13 Front panel connectors, 1-7 Installing hard disks, 4-15 Front panel features, 4-4 Installing system board components, 1-8 Installing the front panel, 4-24 Installing the left cover, 4-22 Installing the right cover, 4-23 Internal cache (CPU cache), 2-29...
  • Page 138 Memory upgrade, 1-14 PCI IRQ setting, 2-31 Installing a DIMM, 1-15 PCI IRQ sharing, 2-32 Memory configurations, 1-14 PCI slots, 2-32 Reconfiguring the system, 1-17 Plug and play OS, 2-33 Removing a DIMM, 1-16 PnP/PCI options, 2-31 Memory/cache options, 2-29 Positioning the system housing, 4-2 Modem ring indicator, 2-22 Against a wall, 4-3...
  • Page 139 BIOS support for bootable CD-ROM, 3-18 Boot device options, 3-11 Rear panel, 4-5 Configure/view host adapter settings Rear panel features, 4-5 menu, 3-7 Reconfiguring the system, 1-17 Display <Ctrl-A> message during Removing a DIMM, 1-16 BIOS initialization, 3-18 Removing a Pentium II processor, 1-12 Enable disconnection, 3-14 Removing the frame with installed hard Format disk, 3-20...
  • Page 140 Support removable disks under BIOS as IDE secondary channel master, 2-6, 2- fixed disks, 3-17 System BIOS version, 2-9 IDE secondary channel slave, 2-6, 2-12 System board, 1-1, 1-3 Internal cache size, 2-5 ASM Pro, 1-18 Parallel port, 2-7, 2-17 Correcting error condition, 1-22 Processor, 2-5, 2-34 Error messages, 1-18, 1-19...
  • Page 141 Using a SCSI drive as C and another SCSI drive as D, 3-30 Using a standard drive as C and a SCSI drive as D, 3-29 Using Fdisk, 3-23 Verify disk media, 3-20 VGA palette snoop, 2-32 When to use extended translation, 3-23 When to use the SCSISelect utility, 3-5 Index 7...

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