Diagnostics • Drivers • Documentation
Support Ticket System: TD-SUP-4471 • Response Time: 4–7 Business Days
| Phone | 1-800-TD-4471 (Option 2 for Support) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM EST |
| support@terminaldynamics.biz | |
| Fax | 1-800-TD-4472 (24/7, auto-receive) |
| Response Time | 4–7 business days (standard), 2–3 business days (warranty) |
When contacting support, please have your DT-1000 serial number ready. The serial number is located on a label on the rear panel of your desktop unit. It begins with "TD-" and is followed by a sequence of numbers that may or may not add up to 47.
Driver downloads are being migrated to our new distribution system. We appreciate your patience. The migration was scheduled to complete in Q3 1997. It is Q1 1998. We continue to appreciate your patience.
Yes. The DT-1000's cooling fan operates at a frequency of 44.71 Hz, which is within the audible range for most humans. This sound indicates that the system is idle and functioning within specified parameters. If the humming changes pitch, or if it sounds like it is responding to questions you ask aloud, please note that the DT-1000 does not have voice recognition capability. The timing is coincidental.
This is addressed in firmware update v4.71 (see Driver Downloads above). The LED persistence has been traced to the drive controller maintaining a read state after media ejection. The controller believes the floppy is still present. In a philosophical sense, it may be correct. In a practical sense, the firmware update resolves this by instructing the controller to accept the floppy's absence. Please apply the update when it becomes available.
The TD-SND-001 Sound Card may produce a 447.1 Hz tone during initialization. This tone typically ceases within 30 seconds of system boot. If the tone persists, try addressing the sound card verbally. Note: Terminal Dynamics does not officially support verbal communication with hardware components, and the effectiveness of this approach in our testing was classified as "anecdotal but reproducible."
The TD-MDM-144 modem's auto-dial feature may occasionally initiate connections to numbers stored in its non-volatile memory buffer. If you have not stored any numbers, the buffer should be empty. If the modem is dialing numbers that do not appear to exist in any public directory, please note the number, the time of the call (it is almost certainly 2:47 AM), and contact Terminal Dynamics support. We will add your report to the file.
Purchase the TD-MEM-004 Memory Expansion Module and follow the installation guide included in the package. The process involves removing the DT-1000's side panel (four Phillips-head screws), locating the three empty SIMM slots on the motherboard, and inserting the modules at a 30-degree angle until they click into place. Terminal Dynamics classifies this as a "Level 2 Field Service Operation." The levels go up to 47. We do not discuss what Level 47 involves.
The DT-1000 uses standard ISA expansion slots, RS-232 serial ports, and a parallel port, making it technically compatible with a wide range of third-party peripherals. However, Terminal Dynamics can only certify and support peripherals bearing the TD part number prefix. Third-party hardware has not been tested against our 4,471 compatibility checkpoints and may produce unexpected results. Terminal Dynamics defines "unexpected results" broadly.
The DT-1000 does not have a power management system. It does not have wake-on-LAN capability. It does not have a real-time clock with alarm function. There is no hardware mechanism by which the DT-1000 could power itself on. If your unit powered on at 2:47 AM, please check for surge protector timer functions, shared circuits with timed appliances, or other environmental factors. If no environmental cause is identified, please note that this has been reported by other users and is under investigation. The investigation began in 1994. It is ongoing.
CRT monitors may display residual phosphor images or electromagnetic interference artifacts that appear as shapes or patterns. If you see what appears to be a face, text, or other structured imagery that does not correspond to any running program, this is a known characteristic of P22 long-persistence phosphor and is not a cause for concern. Please do not attempt to communicate with the image. If the image attempts to communicate with you, please contact Terminal Dynamics support and request a priority escalation under reference code TD-QA-4471-VIS.
The Soul Drive's read head may periodically recalibrate by seeking to track zero. This produces an audible click. If the clicking occurs at regular intervals, the drive is performing scheduled self-diagnostics. If the clicking occurs at irregular intervals that nonetheless feel deliberate, as if the drive is attempting to communicate in a rudimentary code, this is also self-diagnostics. All clicking from the Soul Drive is self-diagnostics.
Portals 98 documentation is maintained by MicroSoul Corp. Visit portals98.com for the latest guides, system requirements, and release notes. For hardware-specific questions about running Portals 98 on the DT-1000, contact Terminal Dynamics. For software-specific questions, contact MicroSoul Corp. For questions about where hardware ends and software begins, neither company is prepared to answer that.
The DT-1000 Desktop System carries a one (1) year limited warranty from date of purchase. Peripherals carry a 90-day limited warranty. The warranty covers manufacturing defects and component failures under normal operating conditions. "Normal operating conditions" are defined in document TD-WRN-4471, Section 14, Subsection 7, which states that normal conditions are those in which "the hardware behaves as expected." Terminal Dynamics reserves the right to define "expected."
Yes. Visit deadterminal.art to experience the DT-1000 terminal environment online. This browser-based experience provides an accurate simulation of the DT-1000 running MicroSoul Portals 98. The simulation is accurate. Uncomfortably so, according to some users.
| Symptom | Possible Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| No display output | VGA cable disconnected, monitor power off, brightness at minimum | Check all connections. Verify monitor power LED. Adjust brightness. |
| System does not POST | Power supply failure, unseated memory, CPU overheat | Verify power connection. Reseat memory modules. Allow 47 minutes to cool. |
| Keyboard not responding | PS/2 connector loose, keyboard locked | Reseat PS/2 connector. Check keyboard lock switch on chassis rear. |
| "Non-System Disk" error | Non-bootable floppy in A: drive | Remove floppy from A: drive and restart. Or insert system disk. |
| Persistent Soul Drive LED | Firmware issue (pre-v4.71) | Apply firmware update v4.71 when available. See Driver Downloads. |
| Phantom audio from sound card | IRQ conflict or initialization tone | Verify IRQ jumper settings. Try IRQ 5 instead of IRQ 7. Wait 30 seconds. |
| Modem dials autonomously | Buffer contents, line noise, unknown | Reset modem with ATZ command. Clear buffer with AT&F. Note the time. |
| System powers on at 2:47 AM | Under investigation (since 1994) | File report with TD support. Reference: TD-QA-4471-PWR. |
If your issue is not listed above, or if the resolution does not resolve your issue, or if the resolution raises additional questions that you did not previously have, please contact Terminal Dynamics Technical Support.
Documentation is included with your DT-1000. Digital versions are provided here as a convenience. If you notice any discrepancies between the printed and digital versions, the printed version is authoritative. If you notice discrepancies between the printed version and reality, reality is under review.