9533 Planar
   J22 Flash Memory Select Jumper
9533 FAQ Tribute
Starter, Diagnostic, and Utility Disks
9533 Under Linux (To Peter's Site!) 
4 Slot PCMCIA Adapter
   PCMCIA Drivers for DOS/OS2/Win3.1x
      Testing the PCMCIA Adapter
      Switch Settings
      Lock / Unlock PCMCIA Cards
         Disabling Solenoid Locks
   PCMCIA under W95
NT3.51 on the Big E
486SLC2 Characteristics
   16MB RAM Limit
   387SX Math Coprocessor
Memory
Onboard XGA-2
   Patch for 9533 XGA-2 Files
Hard Drive
  Disk Manager for >528MB
   HD Cable
Floppy Drive
   Floppy Tape Connector
   Removing Floppy Tape Connector
   Reseating the Floppy Tape Connector
Open the Case
Remove the Power Supply / Floppy/ Hard Drive Mount
Power Supply Limitations
Testing the Power Supply

J22 Flash Memory Select Jumper
From Daniel Basterfield
Louis, 
   One for the web page: I pulled a book out of an old bookshelf, and half a dozen other books fell over, in the midst of which was a shrink-wrapped PS/2 E Technical Reference. Woohoo! 
   This jumper is used to select whether flash memory or EPROM is accessed through the ROM addresses. If the jumper is across both pins when the system is powered on, flash memory is mapped to address hex 000E0000 to 000FFFFF and hex FFFE0000 to FFFFFFFF. The system is shipped with the jumper installed (flash memory is selected). If the jumper is removed, the EPROM responds to these addresses. 
   Note: Do not change the position of the jumper while the system is powered-on; unpredictable operation will occur 

Pin	Signal Name
1	select flash memory
2	ground

Adjustable Floor Stand Accessory (P/N 91F1028) 

Don Hills posted the original PS/2 E (Model 9533) FAQ on CompuServe. His work provided the base for my adventures with the "Big e". 

 The PS/2 E (model 9533) system unit has a PS/2 model 35 motherboard. 486SLC2 25/50 MHZ CPU, 4 MB memory soldered in, 2 sockets for IBM PS/2 style SIMMs (2, 4 or 8 MB), to a maximum of 16 MB of total system memory.  IDE controller, but only enough room inside for a laptop 2.5 inch IDE drive.  XGA-2 video w/1MB of VRAM on motherboard.  One ISA bus slot, depending on the model it may contain: 
 - Nothing 
 - An IBM ISA Token Ring 16/4 adapter 
 - An IBM ISA Ethernet adapter 
 - An IBM 3270 emulation adapter 
 - A PCMCIA adapter with (4) Type 2 slots (2 in the front, 2 in the rear). 
   (Ed. PCMCIA controller is an Intel SE82365SL. Intel(R) discontinued the 82365SL and 82365SL DF in 1995.  The rights, tooling and technical data for the 82365SL were given to Rochester Electronics, Inc.* (REI). ) 

16MB RAM Limit
   With only 24 address lines the total RAM is limited to 2^24 bytes =16.777.216 bytes = exactly 16.0 MB. That's the directly addressable memory area. The 16-bit external data-path allows only 16-bit slots (the "short ones"). 
   However: because of the 486SX-style core and instruction set it can handle true-32 bit software written for 486 systems. The machine can even carry out 32-bit instructions across the 16-bit data-bus (with two bus-cycles instead of one) - but it still is a 386SX system *technically*. 

MEMORY:
   There are 2 slots for memory that support 2, 4 or 8 MB SIMMs. If the total of the SIMMs and the onboard 4 MB memory exceeds 16 MB the system will tell you that only 12MB of the socketed memory is useable. It will work fine no matter if you have 12MB or 16MB in the sockets . 
   "Generic" or "industry standard" memory will not work- it must be "PS/2 style" 70 ns parity memory.  It uses the same memory as other PS/2s of the same vintage- if in doubt, ask the supplier for memory for an IBM PS/2 model 56 or 57 or 76 or 77 (8556, 8557, 9556, 9557, 9576, 9577).  These were very common models. I have also used an 8MB SIMM from a 8595. 
   The system reserves .5KB of memory when BIOS/POST is copied to RAM for execution in systems with less than 16MB of planar memory. You will have 15.5MB available when 16MB of memory is installed. 

387 Math Coprocessor
  After a bit of diddling around, I got a Intel 387SX to run. Watch your pin orientation... Pin 1 to pin one. Usually, pin 1 is marked either with a dot or the corner of the chip is not a 90 degree corner. Like it was "cut" off.  Also, the 387 socket is a 121 pin PGA socket. I don't think this helps in using an SLC3 upgrade. At all. 

Disk Manager for >528MB
   If the drive is over 512 MB you will also need "Disk Manager" or "EZdrive" or similar software in order to be able to access more than 512 MB of the drive. (The PS/2 E does not have "large disk" or "LBA" support in BIOS. Disk Manager is used for IBM IDE hard disk drives) 

HD Cable 39G6566 has the right power tap-off. Laptop IDE drives have the power wires on the same plug as the signal cable, but the 9533 is "desktop" IDE where the power is separate.  The IBM cable splits out the power wires to a special connector from the power supply. The stock IBM drives can be found here IBM H2172-A2 (172MB), H2258-A3 (258MB) & H2344-A4 (344MB)

Floppy Tape Connector
You can't build one, it's a ribbon printed circuit IBM Part 39G6564. 

Floppy Tape Removal
   Notice the off-white piece at the rear edge of the floppy. It actually works as a wedge. To release the tape, use a small screwdriver to carefully work up that off-white piece from the black base. Go slow. The piece is a captive part, and only pry it up about 1/10th of an inch. Just enough to free the tape. (OK, maybe 1/8th of an inch) 

Reseating Floppy Tape
    Now with the tape loose, carefully seat it square in the socket. While still maintaining downward pressure on it, push the wedge down until it seats on the black base. That's it. 

Note: I had a strange problem with my floppy. Tried reseating the tape, no go. I was turning it over, looking for model numbers, when I heard something rattle. Turns out somebody had stuck a safety pin in the floppy. So if small children have been in the area, just remember they like to stick small objects in anything with a door. VCRs. Tape decks, Sewing Machines. Computers.... 

XGA-2 Patch
xgapatch.com XGA Patch files for 9533 Starter Disk 
   To use the XGAPATCH.COM, make sure that it's on the same floppy or in the same directoy that the Starter Diskette files are on. Run XGAPATCH, and it searches for and automatically "patches" two files for you. That's it.. 

>Yes - but the XGA-2 driver with Winblowz is for the MCA-version only. The 9533 has ISA XGA-2 and it seems it does not work very well together. I'd managed toget it going under Win95 IIRC ... I deleted the Wincrap from it and installed Linux ... 

From Don Hills (looks to be a long thread) 
   It has a problem under OS/2 as well, specifically in motion video. On Micro Channel (such as 9556), the bus is fast enough for OS/2 to use the 64 KB window below the 1 MB line to push video data to the adapter. On ISA such as the 9533, it won't work unless you remove 4 MB of memory to allow the XGA-2 to use the 1 MB window between 14 and 15 MB. Without it, you just get a black video window with no error. 
   (XGA-2 has 3 "apertures" or direct video buffer access paths: a 64 KB "movable" window below the 1 MB line, a 1 MB aperture below the 16 MB line, and a 4 MB aperture just below the 4 GB line (when in a 32-bit addressing system). 

As for hard disk noise, the APM for DOS and OS/2 works fine. 

VESA POWER MANAGEMENT
   This is a technique proposed to the VESA for adoption as an industry standard.  It involves the system unit or graphics adapter card to which the display is connected.  The stages towards shutdown are controlled by the state of the H and V sync lines on the incoming video signal as follows: 

STEP	H-SYNC	V-SYNC	DISPLAY STATUS	VESA STATE
1	Active	Active	Normal Operation	On
2	Inactive	Active	Video - Instant Restart	Off - Standby
3	Active	Inactive	Video & Scans - Instant Restart	Off - Suspend
4	Inactive	Inactive	Only Micro active - Delayed Restart	Off

       At step 3, power consumption is reduced below 30 watts. 
       At step 4, power consumption is reduced below 8 watts. 

ps2estrt.exe  9533E Starter Diskette v1.0 
ps2eutil.exe 9533E utilities disk version 1.0 

Switch Positions on PCMCIA Adapter
  I have nothing yet on what values correspond to the slot, rom, or IRQ switch settings. 

From Daniel Basterfield
   I did come across a sideways hint at the purpose of one of the DIP switches on the PCMCIA card, but it's the less exciting of the four. There would appear to be 32KB of flash ROM on the card; this is described as holding the 'socket services code' - I would interpret this as it being firmware to sit between the SS driver API and the hardware of the PCMCIA controllers. It is apparently addressed as two seperate 16KB blocks when being (re)programmed; one of the switches has BLK 0 / BLK 1 markings. 

PCMCIA Drivers for DOS/Win3.1x
   These drivers are not as good as with the ones from ISA2SLOT, but the disk does have the Lock/Unlock and Security Manager Utility for OS/2 and Win3.1x

utte131.exe PCMCIA Device Drivers for 9533 
To create a diskette from the uttps131.DSK file: 
- Insert a blank diskette into the A: drive 
- At a DOS prompt type "LOADDSKF uttps131.DSK A:" and press Enter 
- Follow the instructions on the screen 
(Loaddskf.exe is included in the UTTE131.EXE file.) 

Using ISA2SLOT
   I used the Play At Will software that came with the MCA PCMCIA Adapter. If you search the subdirectories, there is all the *.idp files. One is for the IBM 4 slot adapter. Bingo! 
   A problem using the PCMINSTW.EXE (Win 3.1x) program was that it choked trying to rename the system.ini and config.sys files. How to work around that- When it asks to make changes to config.sys (and system.ini) tell it no. Then it will save the changed files as config.pcm and system.pcm in the EZPLAY directory (or wherever you told the instal program to put it). 
  Then use File Manager to move the original config.sys and system.ini to your temp directory (safety first) move the *.pcm fles to the correct locations, rename them, dump out of Winblows, reboot, and it should work. Did for me. 

Win95 PCMCIA Support
  After I got through some conceptual difficulties, I got it to work. I chose to install it under Add New Hardware, and I didn't let Win95 autodetect it (Though it works that way, it identifies it as a PCIC or compatible, NOT Intel.) 
   The default choice of I/O 03E0-03E1, IRQ works. Windows will also instal Socket Services automatically.You do not need any DOS drivers whatsoever. 
   IF the device you are using is visible under Explorer, but comes up as not ready when you click on it, try reformatting it. This was one of my problems. I could see the PC hard drive, used it to transfer W95 setup files, but it would not respond to Exploiter. Until I reformatted it. 

The PCMCIA adapter acts as a bus from the planar to the option adapters. 

   If the computer has a problem, carefully remove and reseat the riser card, any PC Cards, and the PCMCIA adapter. If, after reseating these boards, you get an 80XX error code, replace the PCMCIA adapter. For any other symptom, continue with the steps below. 

If you suspect a problem with the PCMCIA adapter, do the following. 
   Power-off the computer. 
   Remove all option adapters from the four PCMCIA adapter slots. 
   If you have a PCMCIA wrap plug, insert it into slot one. 
   Insert the PS/2 E Type 9533 Advanced Diagnostics diskette into drive A. 
   Power-on the computer and follow the instructions on the screen. 

If the PCMCIA adapter diagnostic tests find no problem, suspect a PC Card option adapter connected to the PCMCIA adapter. To test the PC Card: 
Power-off the computer. 
Insert suspect PC Card into a rear slot. 
Insert the appropriate PC Card diagnostics diskette into drive A. 
Power-on  computer and follow the instructions on the screen. 

If the PC Card option adapter diagnostic tests find no problem: 
   Power-off computer and insert PC Card into a front slot. 
   Power-on the computer. If the PCMCIA adapter diagnostic tests still find no problem, replace the PCMCIA adapter. 
  If a PC Card option adapter fails in a front slot and it did not fail in a rear slot, replace the PCMCIA adapter. 
   If a PC Card fails in both a front and a rear slot, replace the PC Card. 

Editor's Note: And just trot right over to your local IBM rep, and he (or she) will be glad to sell you one for $500+. 

Note: Before you replace a PC Card, be sure its application software and any required drivers are installed correctly on the computer. 

Lock/Unlock PCMCIA Cards
    PC Cards can be locked in place for security purposes with the lock mechanism. Any of the four lock mechanisms can be unlocked manually. To unlock a locked mechanism, use a pen or screwdriver (pencil lead is made from graphite, which is a conductor. Keep it away from electrical switches) to press its lock solenoid in the direction of the arrow shown below. (Solenoids 1 and 3 are shown locked. Solenoids 2 and 4 are shown unlocked.) 

Disabling Lock/Unlock
   The Lock/Unlock software does NOT work under W95 or NT. If you don't care about leaving them unlocked, simply remove the solenoid headers from J4 (front two sockets) and J3 (rear two sockets). As this is NOT an MCA system, this does not cause any prompts for the starter disk. 

  I have disconnected both solenoid headers on my e and have no problems under Win95. 

   After some switch twiddling, I had to pull a card out without being able to use the blue buttons (card was locked). Trying to reinsert the card didn't work. I looked real close- when the solenoid is in the locked position, there is a little "finger" that sticks out to retain the PC card. It's on the guide that has the eject buttons.
   If you are curious, open the case and use a small screwdriver to work a solenoid. The finger is toggled with the solenoid. As long as the case is on, it's very hard to get a grip on a card with your fingers (pliers are another story).

I thought this was a twisted joke. 

Daniel Basterfield

Well, it was not tricky, really. Rather than attach a CD-ROM drive (couldn't figure an easy way of doing that), I simply copied the NT i386 directory to the hard drive, and installed from there - I chose to use a 105MB PCMCIA drive as a big diskette, and created a suitable DOS boot disk. I've swapped the hard drive for a 512MB one, so space is not an issue. I'm using the normal 4-port PCMCIA adapter, but haven't checked (as far as I recall) if all four ports are available. I'd suspect only two ports are recognised. 

I've just tried shoving a couple of PCMCIA devices into it, and of course the damn security clips are activated, so I can't. Arse. I haven't had any luck running the DOS or Windows lock  Programs under NT. I can't even get the DOS one to run under DOS! at the moment it's only got the PCMCIA t-r adapter in it, and I can't get the bloody ethernet card back in to prove it was working when I last used it. Argh! 

Um, NT 3.51 isn't exactly nippy, but it serves well as a network device. 

>  are you implying that you are using a pcmcia adapter under 3.51? Do tell... 

   Nothing to tell - it saw it, and installed the drivers - the PCMCIA device is started, basically. I'm not sure how to check whether it's running as two instances of a two-port driver, or one instance of a four-port driver, and I can't get any extra cards into it at the moment. I have to say, I get so bloody frustrated with the 4-port card locking the cards away, I have seriously considered slinging the card and just making do with an ISA Digital 2-port 82365sl that I have spare. When Ipress the 'eject' button, I mean 'eject'... :-( 

To be honest, the trickiest bit is remembering that when I apply SP5 to it, it overwrites the t-r adapter driver with a duff old version, so I lose my remote control. Obviously the punishment of having to get a monitor cabled up near it is enough for me to remember that for a week or so... then I forget and do it all again - Doh! 

> I suppose I could try 4.0 on my e. As it uses the i82365SL pcmcia chipset,  it might work. 

Yup - it will. I recall that NT 4 was using around 24MB with me logged on, and without much configured in the way of services. Thrash! I tried NT 3.51 with the Shell Update - a sort of 3.51/4.0 hybrid, but that Explorer shell ate up the RAM, and only shaved 2MB off the NT 4 memory usage. Still thrashy. 

I'll give you any assistance I can with NT on this box. My recollections of the installation are a little hazy, as that was about four months ago, so apologies if any of this is annoyingly vague. The box just runs and runs - it's been rebooted only to move house, and again whenever I pull the wrong power cord. I haven't got it to boot without the keyboard present, so I just leave the space saver plugged in and tucked out of the way. 

I suppose I ought to carry on the quest, and get it sorted out. I'll need to shrink the partition to make way for a Win3.1 area, so I can boot that and eject my cards without using a screwdriver. Cleaner, but not ideal. 

I did have OS/2 4.0 on it for a while - got really narked trying to install LanServer 5 onto it - whatever I did, it refused to play ball unless it could see the CD. Hmm. The PCMCIA adapter support was a dream, though!