BACKPACK diskette drive User's Guide Rev. Copyright c 1997 Micro Solutions, Inc. Part Number Micro Solutions, Inc., provides this manual as is, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Micro Solutions, Inc., shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material. Micro Solutions, Inc. 132 West Lincoln Highway DeKalb, Illinois 60115 Phone: 815.756.3411 FAX: 815.756.2928 Automated Fax Response: 815.754.4600 Technical Support FAX: 815.756.4986 Technical Support BBS: 815.756.9100 WebSite: http://www.micro-solutions.com Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2. INSTALLATION 2.1 DRIVE INSTALLATION 2.2 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION 3. USING BACKPACK 3.1 BACKPACK'S DRIVE LETTERS 3.2 THE NONSTOP OPTION 3.3 CHANGING THE INTERNAL DRIVE ID 4. BACKPACK DOS UTILITIES 4.1 BPFORMAT 4.2 BACKFMT APPENDIX A TROUBLESHOOTING APPENDIX B TECHNICAL SUPPORT APPENDIX C HARDWARE WARRANTY APPENDIX D SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT 1. Introduction Congratulations on your decision to purchase BACKPACK, the easy-to-install diskette drive for PCs, XTs, ATs, PS/1s, PS/2s, laptops, notebooks and compatibles. This manual provides information regarding the installation and use of BACKPACK. 1.1 System Requirements Check the system requirements listed here to make sure you have everything needed for proper operation of BACKPACK IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/1, PS/2, laptop, notebook, or compatible computer with: 100% IBM compatible parallel printer port. 512K memory or above. DOS version 3.0 or above or Windows 95. 2. Installation The BACKPACK drive and software must be installed before you can use the BACKPACK drive. The step-by-step instructions in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 will help you perform the installation. 2.1 Drive Installation Installing the BACKPACK drive is a straightforward process. It consists of plugging the drive into your computer's parallel printer port. The instructions in this section will guide you step by step through the installation procedure. Perform the following steps to install the BACKPACK drive: 1) Locate the parallel printer port connector on your computer. If you have more than one parallel printer port, it doesn't matter which one you use for BACKPACK. 2) If you have a printer connected to the parallel printer port, disconnect it and attach that printer cable to the connector labeled "Printer" on the BACKPACK drive. 3) Connect the cable supplied with the BACKPACK to the connector labeled "Computer" on the back of the BACKPACK drive. 4) Connect the BACKPACK cable to the printer port on the computer. 5) Plug the BACKPACK power unit into a wall outlet and attach the power cable to the power connector on the BACKPACK drive. 6) Set the BACKPACK power switch to the ON position. Once you have completed the installation successfully, your computer should work exactly as it did before. If it does not, review the installation procedure and check for mistakes. 2.2 Software Installation The SETUP program on your BACKPACK master diskette will install the software for you automatically. This procedure assumes your diskette drive letter is "A". If you use a different drive letter, substitute it in the procedure. Use the following procedure to run SETUP: Place the BACKPACK diskette in your A: drive. From Windows Program Manager choose File, Run ... or from the Windows 95 Desktop click Start, Run. In the dialog box enter: A:\SETUP Or to install from MS-DOS, enter the following at the DOS prompt: A:\SETUP The BACKPACK diskette includes a file called README.TXT that contains information gathered since this guide was written. You can view or print this text file using NOTEPAD under Windows. Under DOS, you can use the DOS EDIT utility to view or print this file. The software should now be installed on your boot drive. Remove the BACKPACK master diskette and put it in a safe place. Restart the computer before using the BACKPACK drive. Either power the computer off and then back on or hold down CTRL, ALT, and DEL on the keyboard. Under Windows 95, make sure to "Shut Down" the system before rebooting. You have now completed the installation, and the BACKPACK drive is ready to use. The remaining chapters in this guide can be referred to when needed. 3. Using Backpack Backpack is used just like any other disk drive. It has its own drive letter. You can access either from your programs by referring to the drive letter. 3.1 Backpack's Drive Letters Just as your existing disk drives are referred to by letters (A:, B:, etc.), BACKPACK has a drive letter associated with it. The letter to be used is assigned by DOS and is determined by which letters are already in use on your system. Backpack will get the next available letter in alphabetical order. For example, if you have two floppy drives, using letters A: and B:, the BACKPACK will be drive C. In a typical hard disk system where the floppy drives are A: and B: and the hard disk is C:, the BACKPACK will be drive D:. When your computer is powered up, the BACKPACK software driver will display a message on the screen to tell you the drive letter. The message will look like this: The following BACKPACK drive is available: Drive D: In this case, you will refer to the BACKPACK as drive D: when you are accessing it through any software packages. You can check the BACKPACK drive letter at any time by one of three methods: A) Insert master diskette in drive A and type: A:bpdrives B) From the hard drive in DOS, or in a DOS window in Windows, type: C:\backpack\bpdrives The BPDRIVES command will cause the drive letter message to be printed on the screen. (This example assumes that the BACKPACK software was installed in the default subdirectory C:\ BACKPACK.) C) Under Windows File Manager or Windows 95 My Computer and Explorer the BACKPACK will have an icon and drive letter. 3.2 The NONSTOP Option When the computer loads the software driver for the BACKPACK drive, the driver will scan the parallel printer ports looking for BACKPACK drives. If the driver does not find a BACKPACK it will issue an error message and wait for you to press the ESC key to acknowledge the message. This could become annoying if the BACKPACK drive isn't always connected to the computer. The NONSTOP software option can be used to suppress the error message that is displayed if no BACKPACK drive is found when the system starts. Perform the following steps to specify the NONSTOP option: 1) Using a suitable text editor or word processor (such as DOS EDIT or Windows NOTEPAD), bring up the CONFIG.SYS file from your hard drive for editing. Typically CONFIG.SYS will be found in the C:\ directory. 2) Locate the line that references BACKPACK.SYS and add NONSTOP to the end of it as shown below: device=\BACKPACK\BACKPACK.sys nonstop Be sure to type a space before NONSTOP. 3) Save the modified CONFIG.SYS file. 4) Restart the computer by exiting or shutting down Windows and holding down CTRL, ALT, and DEL. NOTE: If BACKPACK is connected and powered on, but still reports the error "A BACKPACK . drive was not found..." during boot, refer to the Troubleshooting section (Appendix C) of this User's Guide. Do not install this NONSTOP option, since it will only suppress the error message and will not correct the problem. 3.3 Changing the Internal Drive ID This section is relevant only if you are connecting more than one BACKPACK to your computer. Each BACKPACK drive is assigned an internal drive ID when it is manufactured. The ID is a number between 0 and 99 and initially is the last two digits of the BACKPACK's serial number. When more than one BACKPACK is connected to a computer, the BACKPACK driver software assigns DOS drive letters in ascending drive ID order. The lower the drive ID number, the lower the DOS drive letter. For example, assume that you have a computer with two floppy drives (A: and B:) and a hard drive (C:). Assume also that you are connecting the following two BACKPACK drives: Serial number xxxxxx35 Serial number xxxxxx17 Drive letter D: will be assigned to the drive with serial number 17 and drive letter E: will be assigned to the drive with serial number 35. There are two situations in which you may need to alter a BACKPACK drive ID number: 1) If you are connecting two BACKPACK drives to one computer and they happen to have the same last two digits in the serial number. In this case the BACKPACK software will locate only one of the drives and assign it a drive letter. The other drive will not be recognized. Assigning a new drive ID to one of the drives will allow both drives to be recognized. 2) If you are connecting two BACKPACK drives to one computer and you would like to reverse the drive letters. Since drive letters are assigned according to drive ID numbers, the order of the drives can be reversed by assigning new drive ID numbers. Drive ID numbers are used only for establishing the order of drive letters; they serve no other purpose. Perform the following steps to alter a drive ID number: 1) Connect the BACKPACK drive whose ID number you will be altering to a parallel printer port. Disconnect all other BACKPACK drives from the computer. 2) Place your BACKPACK master diskette into drive A:. 3) Run the SETID program with the following command: A:\>setid The program will ask you to select a new drive ID. 4) After you exit the program, remove the BACKPACK master diskette from drive A:. 5) Move the BACKPACK power switch to the OFF position for a few seconds, then move it back to the ON position. 6) Attach all the BACKPACK units to the computer. Restart the computer by closing Windows and pressing down CTRL, ALT, and DEL 4. BACKPACK DOS Utilities BACKPACK includes two utility programs that run under MS-DOS to initialize diskettes. 4.1 BPFORMAT Similar in use to the DOS FORMAT utility, BPFORMAT allows you to initialize blank diskettes to all DOS formats. Syntax BPFORMAT drive letter options Options /1.2 creates a 1.2MB diskette (model 012525). /720 creates a 720KB diskette (model 014350). /1.4 creates a 1.4MB diskette (model 014250). /H starts initializing without prompting for a diskette to be inserted. /N no verification of the diskette will be performed after formatting. /Q quickly initializes a diskette by clearing the root directory. /S copies the operating system files to the diskette after initialization. /V prompts for a volume label after the diskette is initialized. Description The driver letter, followed by a colon (:), should be your BACKPACK drive. The format options determine which format will be used. If you enter the BPFORMAT command without specifying a format option, the highest- capacity format supported will be used. Make sure you have high-density diskettes if you are trying to use a high- density format, or else initialization errors and data loss a likely to occur. The /Q option is used when you have a diskettes that has already been initialized and contains some files. It can be used to quickly discard the contents of a diskette. When the /Q option is used, the diskette will always be initialized to the same format it was originally initialized to. Examples For these examples, assume that drive D is a BACKPACK 1.2MB drive: bpformat d: /360 will initialize the diskette in drive D to the 360KB format. bpformat d: /s will initialize the diskette in drive D to the 1.2MB format and place a copy of DOS on the disk, making it a bootable system diskette. bpformat d: ./q will quickly clear the root directory area of the previously initialized diskette in drive D. The diskette format will be the same as it was before. 4.2 BACKFMT BACKFMT is a background (TSR) diskette formatting program that allows you to initialize diskettes while you continue running other programs. Syntax BACKFMT options Options /C reconfigures some BACKFMT options after the initial installation. /D disables BACKFMT and removes it from memory. Description Background formatting is initiated when you press a user-definable access key, which displays a menu from which you can select the drive and capacity of the diskette to initialize. After you select the drive and capacity, BACKFMT will start initializing the diskette while returning you to your original program. You can continue working while BACKFMT performs the initialization. To make the background formatter available, you have to run the BACKFMT program. Enter the following command at the DOS prompt: backfmt Configuration The first time the BACKFMT program is run, it will display a message indicating that it has not been configured yet. Configuration consists of answering a few simple questions. Each question has a default answer (in square brackets) that can be used for the first-time installation. Listed here are some points you will be asked about: Would you like to change the background formatter access key? This allows you to change the access key to a different combination. The access key is initially set to CTRL-ALT-F. What would you like BACKFMT to do when it completes the initialization of a diskette? You can select how to be informed when BACKFMT finishes initializing a diskette. Would you like the diskette to be verified after formatting? You should always have the diskette verified for normal operation. If you tell BACKFMT not to verify, it will always verify the first cylinder, where the directory is placed. If that area is good, it will continue formatting without verifying the rest of the diskette. Turning verification off allows diskettes to be initialized about 20 to 30 percent faster. Are you using a color monitor? You should answer Yes to this question only if you are really using a color monitor. If you have a monochrome (white, green, or amber) monitor, answer No. Menu readability will be improved by a correct response. Once you answer the configuration questions, the BACKFMT.COM file will be updated with the new information. From that point on, when BACKFMT is run, it will not ask for configuration information. If you want to change the configuration, you should specify the /C option when you are running the BACKFMT program, as follows: backfmt /c If BACKFMT is reconfigured with the /C option, all the changes will be made to the BACKFMT.COM file. The changes will take effect immediately. The currently defined access key will be displayed near the end of the BACKFMT signon message. It will look similar to this: While holding Ctrl & Alt, press F When the DOS prompt returns, BACKFMT is ready for use. If you need to remove BACKFMT from memory, use the following command from the DOS prompt: backfmt /d Using BACKFMT To initialize a diskette with BACKFMT, use the following procedure: 1) Press the BACKFMT key sequence. The default is CTRL-ALT-F unless you changed it during configuration. A window displaying the available drives and formats should appear near the top of your screen. 2) Using the cursor keys, select the format capacity that you would like to use. 3) When you have selected the desired format capacity, press ENTER to get the program to accept your choices. 4) Another window will appear, displaying your selection and giving you one last chance before the initialization starts. Pressing ENTER will start the diskette initialization, and you will be returned to the program you were originally running. If you press the BACKFMT access key while a diskette is being initialized, a status window will appear. The current cylinder and head being initialized will be displayed in this window. Press any key to remove the status window. Depending on how you configured BACKFMT, a window may appear when the initialization is finished or if an error exists. This display will be self- explanatory. If you configured BACKFMT so it won't display a window, the result will be displayed when you press the access key again. Notes BACKFMT will work only with your BACKPACK drive. If you attempt to access a diskette that is currently being background formatted, you will get a "Drive not ready" error message. The drive will be accessible as soon as the initialization is complete. The BACKFMT menu is not available while your screen is displaying graphic images. If you try to access the BACKFMT menu while your display is in a graphic mode, you will hear a beep. Don't remove BACKFMT from memory with any memory management program. While in memory, BACKFMT is closely linked to BACKPACK.SYS; and if it is improperly removed, it will cause system failure. Remove BACKFMT from memory only with the /D option. Appendix A Troubleshooting Backpack should not affect the operation of your existing computer software and hardware. If there seems to be a problem using the computer or BACKPACK after installation, read the following problem descriptions to see if they match the problems you are experiencing. Review the README.TXT file included on the software diskette (see Section 2.2) and see if your problem is discussed there. If you can't resolve the problem, review Section C.3 Technical Support. When you are trying to access the drive, an "Invalid drive specification" message appears on the screen. This can occur if you are not using the correct drive letter to access BACKPACK. Be sure the letter you use is the one indicated on the screen when the computer starts. Review Section 3.1 for information on drive letters. This can also occur if you have not run SETUP to install the BACKPACK software or if you have not restarted the computer after running SETUP. Review Section 2.2 for information on software installation. The BACKPACK drive doesn't work. The message "A BACKPACK . drive was not found" appears when the computer starts. This will occur if the power to the BACKPACK drive is not on when DOS is loaded. Make sure the BACKPACK power switch is in the ON position and that the power unit is plugged in securely. This can also occur if a hardware conflict exists. Make sure you don't have two printer ports set to the same address, and make sure you have a completely IBM compatible printer port. After you install the BACKPACK, the printer doesn't work properly. This can occur if the power to the BACKPACK is not on. In some cases, the printer will appear to work even though the power switch is off. For reliable operation, make sure the BACKPACK power switch is in the ON position and the power unit is plugged in securely. After you have connected two BACKPACKs, only one of them is assigned a drive letter. Either drive works properly if connected by itself. This can occur if two or more BACKPACKs are set to the same internal drive ID number. When more than one BACKPACK is installed on the same computer, they must all have distinct internal drive ID numbers. Drive ID numbers are assigned at the time of manufacture but can be changed with the SETID program. Refer to Section 3.3 for information on changing ID numbers. The message "LPT1: not found" appears when you are trying to use the printer. This can occur if the power to the BACKPACK is not on when DOS is loaded. Make sure the BACKPACK power switch is in the ON position and that the power unit is plugged in securely. Restart the computer using CTRL-ALT- DEL. The message "BACKPACK.SYS Error: Error: Bad or missing argument in CONFIG.SYS" appears when the computer starts. In a CONFIG.SYS line where BACKPACK.SYS is loaded, a parameter was specified but the argument was either missing or invalid. The invalid argument or the position of the missing argument will be displayed, and you will have to press the ESC key to continue. Review Section 3.4 regarding parameters and arguments. The message "BACKPACK.SYS Error: Unrecognized parameter in CONFIG.SYS" appears when the computer starts. In the CONFIG.SYS line where BACKPACK.SYS is loaded, an invalid parameter was specified. The invalid parameter will be displayed, and you will have to press the ESC key to continue. Appendix B Technical Support Most questions about BACKPACK and its operation are answered in this guide. To solve most problems: Check the solutions and procedures in this User's Guide. Check the README.TXT file on the BACKPACK installation diskette. Contact Micro Solutions Automated Fax Response service at 815.754.4600. Automated Fax Response is available 24-hours daily. A complete catalog of faxes and information is available. f you are calling from outside the United States enter the digits 011 before your country code and FAX number. Contact Micro Solutions Bulletin Board Service at 815.756.9100 for troubleshooting software, bulletins and driver updates. Visit Micro Solutions WebSite: http://www.micro-solutions.com If your problem remains unsolved, contact Micro Solutions Technical Support department at 815.754.4500. Technical Support is available during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, Central Time. Before calling, be sure to have the following information ready: The version numbers of your BACKPACK software and your operating system (DOS or Windows). The name and model of the computer, and the eight-digit serial number found on the bottom of your BACKPACK drive. The exact wording of any error message(s) from the BACKPACK program, DOS, Windows or any other application producing the error message. If possible, be at your computer when calling. Appendix C Hardware Warranty 1 Year Limited Warranty Micro Solutions, Inc. (MSI), warrants BACKPACK to be free from hardware defects in workmanship and material under normal use for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase by the original consumer purchaser. During this warranty period, MSI will repair or replace, at its option, any component parts that in its opinion prove to be defective. This warranty does not extend and shall not apply to products that have been subjected to misuse, neglect, accident, or improper installation. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY AND REMEDY ARE EXCLUSIVE AND EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICRO SOLUTIONS, INC., BE LIABLE FOR LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF GOODWILL, OR ANY OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, based upon the point of sale. If your drive is defective, you should return it to the point of purchase for service. If you are unable to do so, contact MSI at one of the phone numbers below to receive the address of an authorized distributor in your country who can perform warranty service. If you live in the United States you may return your drive directly to MSI. If you live outside the United States you may return your drive directly to MSI, but freight cost and duties may be excessive on single item shipments. A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from MSI prior to the return of defective material. Contact MSI with the serial number of your drive by telephone at USA 815.756.3411, Ext. 325, or FAX 815.756.4986 for an RMA number. MSI is not responsible for material returned without the RMA number clearly printed on the outside of the shipping container. Products to be returned to MSI must be returned, shipping and insurance prepaid, by the original purchaser to the address below. Micro Solutions, Inc. Attn: RMA# ____________________ 300 East Harvestore Drive DeKalb, Illinois 60115 Appendix D Software License Agreement Terms and Conditions Micro Solutions, Inc. (MSI), licenses the enclosed software ("the software") for your personal use. You assume all responsibility for the operation and results. MSI may from time to time revise this software. In doing so, it shall incur no obligation to furnish such revisions to you. Furthermore, MSI may elect to charge an update fee for such revisions. Software Warranty Information MSI warrants that the diskette containing the software is free from defects and will replace a defective diskette within thirty (30) days from the date of purchase by the original consumer. MSI makes no warranties, either express or implied, with respect to this software, its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The entire risk as to the performance of this software is with you. IN NO EVENT WILL MICRO SOLUTIONS, INC., BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SOFTWARE. This agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, USA