If you have only one diskette drive and no hard disk, you need to use
that drive to load the operating system as well as the application
programs you are using. First load the operating system; this copies it
to the computer’s memory (RAM) so you do not need to leave the
system diskette in the drive. Then you can remove that diskette and
insert the program diskette you want to use, and load that into
memory too. See your application program manual for detailed
instructions.
If you have a hard disk and one diskette drive, you can load the
operating system and application programs from the hard disk, create
and store your data there, and use the diskette drive just for copying
data to or from diskettes.
Using Two Diskette Drives
If you have two diskette drives, you can use the top drive (A) for
loading the operating system and application programs and the
second drive (B) for creating data. If you have a hard disk, you will
probably need the diskette drives just to copy files to and from the
hard disk and to copy diskettes.
Using a Hard Disk Drive
Working with a hard disk is similar to working with a diskette.
However, the hard disk provides several advantages:
l The 40MB hard disk can store as much data as 33 1.2MB
diskettes and the 90MB hard disk can store the equivalent of
approximately 75 1.2MB diskettes.
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l
Your computer can perform all disk-related operations faster.
l
You can store all your frequently used programs and data files on
the hard disk, eliminating the inconvenience of swapping
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diskettes to access different files.
4-18 Using the Equity 386