Epson 386SX - Manual (Page 171)

If the computer starts but you can’t see anything on the
screen, see “Monitor Problems,‘” later in this appendix,
The Computer Locks Up
If your computer locks up and does not respond when you type
on the keyboard, follow these steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Some computer operations take longer than others to
complete. For example, the computer takes longer to sort a
database than to accept a single typed character. If your
computer is still locked after a reasonable length of time,
proceed to the next step.
If you are running an application program, see “Software
Problems,” later in this appendix. This section covers
certain problems caused by application programs.
Did you enter the correct password? See “Password
Problems,” below.
If you want to stop whatever the computer is doing and
return to the MS-DOS command prompt, hold down the
Ctrl key and press Break. In most cases, this solves the
problem. See Chapter 3 for more information on stopping a
command or program.
If your computer still does not respond, you can reset it with
the
RESET button. Follow the instructions in Chapter 3.
If resetting the computer does not work, turn off the
computer, wait at least five seconds, and turn it on again.
If you do not have a hard disk drive, insert the Startup
diskette in drive A. The computer should load MS-DOS.
Troubleshooting A-3