Specifications

Section 2: PCB Installation and Startup
Aspire S Hardware Manual Section 2: PCB Installation and Startup ◆ 2-45
2
Using Flash Cards for System Software
As the Aspire S system uses a compact flash card for software upgrades, it is possible to receive or download
a compressed file from NEC containing the system software. The following information details the steps
required to update the system software using a pre-programmed CompactFlash card containing system soft-
ware or when the software is received as a compressed file.
Using a Compressed File for System Upgrades
Requir
ements
● Customer Provided: CompactFlash Card Reader OR a PCMCIA Slot in a Laptop with a
CompactFlash Adapter
Suggestions:
Readers: Kingston USB 2.0 Hi-Speed PC Card Reader (model FCR-HS2/ATA)
SimpleTech FlashLink CompactFlash Type I and II Card USB Reader
(model STI-UCF100)
SimpleTech FlashLink All-In-One USB Reader (model STI-UMC600)
Adapters: SimpleTech CompactFlash Adapter for Type II PC Card Slots
(model STI-CFAD) (accommodates CompactFlash Type 1 cards)
SanDisk CompactFlash PC Card Adapter (model SDCF-38)
(accommodates CompactFlash Type 1 cards)
● Customer Provided: Two 32MB CompactFlash Cards (1 for system software, 1 for database backup)
● Aspire S System Software Zip File
● WinZip application
This program can be downloaded from WinZip’s web site: http://www.winzip.com
1. After receiving the compressed system software file from NEC, it must be unzipped using the WinZip
application.
If the file was received by EMail, detach the zip file to your computer.
2. Locate the zip file on your computer and double-click on the file.
The file opens the WinZip application and displays a list of the compressed files.
3. Click ACTIONS - EXTRACT or click the EXTRACT button on the tool bar.
4. In the Extract window that appears, make sure the USE FOLDER NAMES options is checked. This is
required to keep the proper paths for the files as they are extracted.
5. Select the location to which the files should be extracted and click the EXTRACT button.
Suggestion: You may want to create a directory in which all Aspire software can be kept (with a
sub-directory for the version type - example: Aspire_Software/2_03). This allows you to keep the
original source files for future use, if required.
6. Place the compact flash card to be used for the update into the compact flash card reader.
7. Double-click on MY COMPUTER and then double-click on the compact flash card reader.
The contents of the compact flash card should be displayed.
8. If there are any existing files on the compact flash card, delete or move any files off the card before pro-
ceeding.
9. Open the directory containing the system software files to be used for the system update.
10. Select all the files within the folder and copy them to the flash card.
This can be done as follows:
- From the software directory window, click: Edit - Select All - Edit - Copy
- From the flash card window, click Edit - Paste
The files are then copied from the PC to the CompactFlash card.
Continue by updating the system software using the procedure detailed in the Upgrading Soft-
ware on page 2-46 instructions.