HP Forum Archive 19

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HP-42S display Message #1 Posted by Dick on 24 June 2010, 3:56 p.m. I inherited an HP-42S calulator and have no manual for it. I have been able to use it for simple math functions, which is all I require. However, all of a sudden it changed display formats and I don't know how to get it to switch back to the normal 2 line basic display?? Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks Dick

Re: HP-42S display Message #2 Posted by Thomas Okken on 24 June 2010, 4:13 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dick It sounds like it's showing a menu and that's why you're only seeing X, instead of seeing both X and Y. If that is indeed the case, you can get rid of the menu by pressing EXIT; you may have to press it more than once if you're inside a nested menu. If it's the number display format you're talking about, you can control that using the DISP menu (Shift E): FIX, followed by a two-digit number from 0 to 11, selects fixed mode, where you see a constant number of digits behind the decimal; SCI selects scientific notation, where there's always an exponent of 10, even if the number could be displayed without one; ENG, or engineering mode, is like SCI mode except the exponent is always a multiple of 3, making it easier to convert to SI-style magnitude prefixes. ALL mode is like FIX 11 but does not display trailing zeroes. HTH, - Thomas

Re: HP-42S display Message #3 Posted by DavidShenk on 24 June 2010, 4:19 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dick Hi Dick, It sounds like your calculator is defective and should be sold to someone on the forum for $10 ;) You can try resetting it by turning it off, then hold down the "ON" key, press and hold the E+ and XEQ buttons, then release the On button. This will erase everything in it's memory, but should bring you back to default. Dave

Re: HP-42S display Message #4 Posted by Walter B on 24 June 2010, 5:32 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dick What Dave describes is a RESET of your HP-42S. Think of the 3 keys in Windows d;-) You may as well have entered complex or matrix mode. Please note scans of the original manuals are available in pdf through this museum for little money. Excellent ROI.

Re: HP-42S display Message #5 Posted by Martin Pinckney on 24 June 2010, 5:57 p.m., in response to message #4 by Walter B Quote: Please note scans of the original manuals are available in pdf through this museum for little money. Excellent ROI. However, if you want quick and free, try this.

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