Using the ISA Configuration Utility
3-3
P
reparing to Use the ICU
Before using the ICU for the first time, you must com-
plete the following steps:
1.
If your system includes Dell-installed software,
make a program diskette of the utility from the
diskette image on your hard-disk drive.
For instructions on how to create a program diskette
from the diskette image, see the online help provided
in the Dell DiskMaker program, which is available
in the Dell Accessories folder or program group.
NOTE: If you received an ISA Configuration Utility
Diskette with your system, skip to step 2.
2.
If you want to use your mouse with the ICU, copy
your mouse driver file (mouse.exe) to your ICU
diskette.
3.
Make a backup copy of your ICU diskette, as
described in the next subsection, “Backing Up the
ISA Configuration Utility Diskette.”
Use the backup copy whenever you run the utility;
store the original diskette in a safe place.
Backing Up the ICU
Diskette
Before using the ICU, make a backup copy of the ICU
diskette by performing the following steps.
NOTE: If you received an ISA Configuration Utility
Diskette with your system, you should use this procedure to
create a backup of that diskette.
1.
Make sure you have a blank, high-density,
3.5-inch diskette.
2.
Turn on your computer system if it is not already
on.
3.
In the Windows File Manager, select
COPY DISK
from the Disk menu. Or, at the system prompt,
type the following command line and press
<
ENTER
>:
diskcopy a: a:
4.
Follow the instructions on the screen for inserting
the source diskette (the original copy) and the target
diskette (the backup copy).
You may be prompted to swap diskettes several
times during the duplication process.
5.
Store your original ICU diskette in a safe place.
Use only the backup diskette when running the ICU.
S
tarting the ICU
After you have completed the procedure in “Preparing to
Use the ICU” found earlier in this chapter, insert the
backup copy of the ICU diskette into drive A. Then either
turn on your computer or reboot it by pressing the reset button.
Accessing Help
You can access online help in the ICU in four ways:
•
You can select
CONTENTS
from the Help menu. The
table of contents of topics is displayed. Select a topic and
click the Help button. Help text on that topic appears in a
dialog box.
•
For most dialog boxes, you can click the Help button
to display information on the action you are
performing.
•
From the ICU window, you can press the <
F1
> key to
display the table of contents for the available help topics.
•
To redisplay the last message you received from the
ICU, you can select
PREVIOUS MESSAGE
from the Help
menu.
Making Selections in the ICU
The ICU window is the main window of the utility and
the starting point for making any changes to your expan-
sion-card configuration. This window displays a list of all
ISA, Plug and Play, and PCI expansion cards currently
installed in the computer. The ICU window contains
menus and a tool bar, as shown in Figure 3-1. When you
choose a course of action, the ICU displays dialog boxes
to guide you through the various steps.
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