Running Notebook On-Board Diagnostics (Obd); The Preboot System Assessment (Psa) - Dell Latitude D Series Training

o Runs a quick test on all components in the system.
o Finds obvious faults.
o Has an approximate run‐time of 30 minutes.
•
Extended test:
o Runs in‐depth tests on all components in the system.
o Tests components at the extremes of their parameters.
•
Custom test:
o Runs in‐depth tests on the individual components that you select.
o Helps to tailor the tests you run. You use this option when you receive error code
information highlighting a potentially faulty part or you have a suspicion based on the
system's behavior that you want to validate.
•
Symptom tree:
o Is useful if you are not sure which component is suspected to be failing, but know the
symptom that it is producing.
o Tests all hardware components that can cause a particular symptom.
Running Notebook On‐board Diagnostics (OBD)
The On‐Board Diagnostics (OBD) tools consist of two system tests:
•
Preboot System Assessment (PSA)
•
32‐bit Diagnostics
The OBD tool must be run, if possible, before replacing any hardware, unless the fault has been verified
through a component substitution test. Additionally, all error code information must be referenced in
the online service request.
There are two methods to start the OBD:
•
Press <Fn> or the Access Direct button, if available, while powering on the system.
•
Choose Diagnostics from the <F12> one‐time boot menu.
NOTE: The PSA tests are built into the BIOS while the 32‐bit Diagnostic, (as in the desktop ranges) exist
in the utility partition. Therefore, the resource CD can be used to run the 32‐bit Diagnostics program.
After the completion of the OBD process, the user will be asked to run Dell Diagnostics, which will
complete as it would in the 32‐bit Desktop Diagnostics, if the utility partition has not been overwritten.
The Preboot System Assessment (PSA)
The PSA is a system test that is available in the OBD tools. It is an integrated low‐level hardware
diagnostic designed to run before the 32‐bit Diagnostics. The results of the PSA are written into an
EEPROM on the system board. If the system clears the PSA, it will continue to perform the 32‐bit
Diagnostics. If the diagnostic tools are not located on the hard drive partition, the system will prompt
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