Subtests; Why Run A Hard-Disk Drives Test; Ide Cd Rom Drives Test Group - Dell OptiPlex N Troubleshooting Manual

subtests check the storage capability of a drive as well as
the hard-disk drive controller (which affects the ability to
read from and write to the drive). The subtests are for all
hard-disk drive types except for small computer system
interface (SCSI) drives. To test SCSI drives, use the SCSI
Devices Test Group.

Subtests

The five subtests in the Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI)
Test Group confirm the following drive functions:
•
Disk Controller Test
Checks the internal microcode of the hard-disk drive
controller
•
Forced Error-Correction-Code Test
Checks the ability of the hard-disk drive to identify
and correct errors
•
Seek Test
Checks the drive's ability to search for a specified
track on the drive and to position the read/write
heads of the drive to all tracks
•
Read Test
Positions the read/write heads at each cylinder of the
drive for reading data and verifies that all tracks on
the drive can be read correctly
•
Write Test
Positions the read/write heads at each cylinder of the
drive and verifies that all tracks on the drive can be
written to correctly

Why Run a Hard-Disk Drives Test?

If you check your hard-disk drive to determine the
amount of available space, your operating system will
probably report problem areas. Problem areas on hard-
disk drives are common, because most hard-disk drives
have a small amount of space that is not usable. The hard-
disk drive keeps a record of this space so that your
computer will not attempt to use it. Identification of
unusable disk space, unless it is an unusually large
amount (over five percent of the possible total), should
not be regarded as a cause for testing the hard-disk drive.
These are the most common symptoms that might prompt
you to test the hard-disk drive:
•
The hard-disk drive fails during the boot routine.
•
Seek errors are reported by the operating system or
application programs.
•
An error message appears on the screen stating that
the computer cannot read from or write to the hard-
disk drive.
•
Data on the hard-disk drive is corrupted or lost; these
problems may be intermittent. Once saved by a pro-
gram, files cannot be properly recalled.
I
DE CD ROM Drives Test Group
The subtests in the IDE CD ROM Drives Test Group
check the functionality of up to four IDE CD-ROM
drives connected to the primary and secondary IDE ports.
Before conducting an IDE CD-ROM test, insert a CD
with audio and data tracks (such as a multimedia CD)
into each CD-ROM drive.
NOTES: All of the subtests except for the Audio Output
Test require a CD with data tracks. The Audio Output
Test requires a CD with audio tracks.
If a CD-ROM drive is empty, or if it contains a CD that
does not have the required data or audio tracks (depend-
ing on the subtest[s] being conducted), the subtest(s) will
fail.
Subtests
The five subtests in the IDE CD ROM Drives Test Group
confirm the following drive functions:
•
Drive Controller Test
Causes the drive to execute its internal self-test.
•
Seek Test
Checks the drive's ability to search for each block on
the device.
•
Read Test
Positions the read heads at each block of the device
for reading data and verifies that all blocks on the
device can be read correctly.
Running the Dell Diagnostics 4-17