VTech Write It Right Computer Specifications

Hardware Features Overview With the computer on a level surface, examine the following features on the front panel: Keyboard lock/unlock

Diskette are On the right side panel, you'll find the ON-OFF switch. The "1" setting means "ON", and "0&qu

Connecting Peripherals 1. Before connecting anything to your computer, make sure the power is off. The switch on the right panel should

6. Insert the main power cable that comes with the computer into the socket on the back of the system unit. , Plug the other end

Starting the Computer For system installed with hard disk, please follow the proce-dure:-1. Turn on the power to your monitor. The

If your computer has no hard disk drive installed, then follow the following procedures: Open the package of diskettes that came with

Setting the System Clock Your computer has its own clock to keep track of the date and time while you work. The clock is not set in

Operation Speed The computer can operate at two different speeds. Some software requires you to operate at 4.77 MHz to maintain full co

Chapter 2: Using the Keyboard The Keyboard Security Lock The computer features a keyboard lock on the front panel. With the keyboard

Overview The keyboard is your primary means of communicating with your computer. Its layout roughly resembles an ordinary type-writer.

Warning This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy. If it is not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accord

The Typewriter Keys The typewriter area of the keyboard behaves a lot like a standard keyboard. Like a typewriter, the SHIFT key pr

10 Shift EJ ENTER... As a RETURN key, it ends the line being typed and advances to the next line. As the ENTER key, it's used t

CTRL-PRINT SCREEN...ECHO The computer prints each line as it is typed. To cancel the function, press CTRL-Print SCREEN again. CTRL-NUM WC

The Numeric Keypad The numeric keypad, shown below, performs a dual function. With the NUM LOCK key engaged (indicated by the status li

+...Displays the PLUS symbol. + D -...Displays the MINUS symbol. •...Displays the ASTERISK, used for multiplica-tion. j ...Displays the SLA

[g The number 6 The number 7 I~omel [] The number 8 The number 9I~upi The number 0I~ns I The DECIMAL POINTI~el I Moves the cursor right.

Editing and Cursor Control Keys This keypad sits between the Typewriter and Numeric keypads. It performs keypad with 6 [!J [] EJ EJ EJ

IPage IUp IPage IOn DELETE... Deletes one character at the position of the cursor. All characters move left one position to fill in the

Function Keys Located along the top half of the keyboard, these twelve function keys allow you to perform complex commands with a single keys

28

Copyright This manual is copyrighted with all rights reserved. No portion of this document may be copied or reproduced by any means withou

Chapter 3: Introduction for New Users Facts You Should Know This chapter is intended for people with no computing experi-ence. If you fall

Introduction to MS-DOS MS-DOS stands for MicroSoft Disk Operating System. An operating system is a group of programs that acts as: • A

Storing Files on a Computer To learn more about how your computer works, you have to learn how MS-DOS organizes and stores data. A

Organizing Files into Directories Files on a disk are grouped into directories. A directory is simply a "Table of Contents"

ROOT I I FINANCE LETTERS Filel File2 I I Budget OFFICE PERSONAL Checkbk Bills SlsDept AuntMary Acctg Janice Thank You The rules for naming direc

The Menu of MS-DOS Activities The computer features a helpful menu of the most common MS-DOS commands. The menu appears whenever you s

Command [A] Format a disk [B] Format a sys disk [C] Format hard drive [D] Copy file(s) Function Prepare a new, blank diskette for use on your system.

Command [E] Copy disk [F] Make a directory [G] Remove directory [H) Change directory [I] Display directory [J) Run a program [K] Change date & tim

Command [L] Check config. [M] Display help me [N] Exit to DOS Displays details about your system configuration (i.e. how many drives, how much memory)

How to Care for Your Computer 1. Until you gain a great deal of experience, do not attempt to probe the inside of your computer,

Table of Contents Chapter 1: Installation ... 5 Introduction...

Diskette Care The 5-1/4" Floppy Disk Drive of the computer uses 5-1/4", double sided, double density (40 tracks per inch), so

• Never lay a diskette on top of or next to the computer system unit. • Write only on a diskette label, and only with a soft f

Hints on using 3-1/2" drive Before you are going to use the 3-1/2" drive, there are some basic concept and terminology yo

3. Warm boot the system. 3.5" disks can now be formatted on nOKB. (B) If you are using DOS 3.3 1. Insert a DOS disk which conta

Chapter 4: Enhancements Special Note The enhancements described in this chapter let you improve the power and performance of your computer

Opening the System Unit To open the computer system unit, you'll need a Philips screwdriver. Begin by placing the computer system

Road Map of Internal Components With the system unit open, this is a good time to get a general overview of the internal parts of t

I lard disk controller card Power supply Sockets for memory expansion to 640K 4 empty rows for installing "'lIiiiijg~~U2~lli] e:.\panded m

Expanding System Memory to 640K MS-DOS itself recognizes up to 640K of memory. Because the computer comes with 512K of memory, one of

2. Install the chips in the right sockets on the system board. = === As shown in this c::J====== diagram, the sockets c::J c::=::J~~~6 I

Chapter 4: Enhancements ... 43 Special Note ...

You must install the new memory chips with the indentation facing the back of the system unit, in the exact same direction as the

5. Set the switch on the system board so the computer recog-nizes all 640K. The computer has banks of switches labeled SW1 and SW2. SW

Installing Parity RAM RAM parity is a method the computer can use to continually monitor and test the performance and reliability of

3. Make sure the chips are pointing the right way. As before, notice the indentation on the chips is pointing towards the center of

To enable RAM parity, gently lift the jumper of the two pins it's on now, and place it on the two pins shown below. RAM Parity

Installing Expansion Cards Installing expansion cards into slots is a very simple process. With six expansion slots free, you· have a lo

3. Slide the card into place, with its tab meeting the grooves in the expansion slot. 4. Replace the slot cover screw, which will se

Installing an 8087 Math Co-Processor The computer has a socket available for an 8087 math co-processor chip. This chip is specialized to d

3. Make sure the chip is pointing in the right direction. The notch on the 8087-1 should be pointing to the rear of the unit (towar

Installing Expanded Memory As mentioned before, MS-DOS only recognizes up to 640K of memory. Any memory above and beyond 640K is referred

Chapter 1: Installation Introduction The computer is a high performance, expandable personal com-puter system which is designed specificall

The first 5i2K of expanded memory goes in Bank O. The first sixteen chips get installed in sockets U50 through U57, and U60 through U

Using Expanded Memory As mentioned previously, MS-DOS does not recognize any memory past 640K. All memory over 640K is called expand

ERAMDISK.SYS This is a driver to turn your expanded memory into a RAM disk. A RAM disk program sets aside a portion of memory and

Installing a Hard Disk Drive If your computer is equipped with a hard disk drive, you will need to prepare the disk for use by "

Chapter 5: Trouble Shooting Checklist Symptoms and Suggestions Symptom No response from the main unit. No screen display. Poor screen displa

Symptom Suggestions No response from the keyboard. Disk drive error. If none of these measures computer dealer. • Keyboard cable not prop

Beeps 1 Long + 1 Short Base 64K RAM isn't usable. Check the RAM chips. 1 Long + 2 Short The video selector switch on the Monoc

Display Messages Message Cause & Suggested Solution Video error. • BIOS couldn't find the type of display adapter requested by th

CHAPTER 6: Further Reading There are many popular books on the market written about IBM PC-XT Compatible computers and the MS-DOS Opera

Other books available from computer retailers and book stores include: Quick and Easy PC-DOSjMS-DOS, Alfred Publishing Company, Inc. Your

• Socket for an Intel 8087 math co-processor • Eight expansion slots In this fIrst chapter, we will guide you through the installation of

Appendix 1: Dip Switches and Settings Switch Box #1 (SW1) Position 1: Diagnostics ~ooooooo ~ooooooo 12345678 12345678 Normal operation Factory tes

Position 5 & 6: Type of Display ON Enhanced Graphics Adaptor or Video Graphics array (VGA) ~~~~~~~~ 12345678 ON Color graphics adaptor 40 x25

Switch Box #2 (SW2) Switch SW2 is used for setting the I/O Port address for the expanded memory installed in the computer. If you have up

72

Appendix 2: The Multi I/O Card The multifunction input/output (Multi I/O) card installed ill the computer gives you several powerful features

Notice how the jumpers are set when the unit leaves the factory: 25 ••••••••• 1 27~~~~~~~~~ 3 IHGFEDCBA The letters under each row are

Row D: Serial Port COM2 The Multi I/O card normally has only one serial port named COMl. If you wish to purchase add a second serial por

Parallel Printer Port Used for connecting a parallel printer with input. It is fully compatible with the IBM printer port. Pin # Descripti

RS232 Serial Port Used for connecting a serial printer or modem with RS232 standard input. It is fully compatible with the IBM PC-XT s

Joystick Port Used for connecting a joystick mechanism to the Laser Turbo XT using a is-pin "D" style connector. ~-1 " I~

Preparing for the Installation Before you install the computer, you should have a large clear area on which to work. Clear a tableto

Appendix 3: Monochrome Graphics /Color Graphics Card Overview As a color graphics adapter, this card provides a flexible interface to RGB

Using the Adapter in Non-Laser Computers If you install the Monochrome Graphics/Color Graphics Card in a non-Laser computer, or the Mon

With the jumper set in this manner, the BIOS on the Mono-chrome Graphics/Color Graphics Card is disabled. If your Laser computer is in

82

Appendix 4: Glossary of Computer Terms As with any industry, the computer world seems to have a language all its own. Listed below

AT Style Keyboard IBM has manufactured a few different models of personal computers (PC, PC JR., PC/XT, PC/AT). The PC/AT style keyboard

Bracket Brackets are the narrow metal pieces which cover the eight holes on the back of your computer. The eight holes correspond t

DIP Switch The DIP in DIP switch stands for Dual In-line Package. DIP switches on your computer must be turned either "on"

Expansion Card An expansion card is a device you plug into a computer which allows you to add new features. Expansion cards are delicate

Formatted Formatted diskettes are "mapped out". When you format a disk, the disk drive creates divisions ("sectors")

Checking the Contents of the Package Carefully unpack the computer from its carton. Make sure the carton contains the following: • The

I.C. Socket I.e. socket stands for Integrated Circuit socket. An I.C. socket is a location on the computer motherboard where you can ins

Parallel Port Parallel ports are computer ports typically used for parallel Centronics printer hook-up. RAM RAM stands for Random Access

ROM ROM stands for Read Only Memory. ROM memory is information your computer can readily access, necessary information. ROM memory dif

Write Protect Every floppy diskette has a notch (or cut-out portion) on it. This notch allows the computer disk drive heads to writ