Running The Dell Diagnostics - Dell Latitude LM Service Manual

3-6 Dell Latitude LM Systems Service Manual
R
unning the Dell Diagnostics
CAUTION: To prevent damage to the original diagnostics diskette,
always use a backup copy of the diagnostics diskette when servicing a user's
computer. Dell recommends that users make several copies of this diskette to
ensure that one is always available.
The Dell diagnostics contains tests that aid in troubleshooting the computer.
The diagnostics diskette contains the following test groups:
•
RAM — Tests the main memory
•
System Set — Tests the primary functions of the main board
•
Video — Tests the video subsystem
•
Keyboard — Tests the keyboard subsystem
•
Mouse — Tests the mouse/touch pad subsystem
•
Diskette Drives — Tests the diskette drive subsystem
•
Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) — Tests the IDE hard-disk drive subsystem
•
IDE CD ROM Drives — Tests a CD-ROM drive subsystem
•
Serial/Infrared Ports — Tests the serial communications port
•
Parallel Ports — Tests the parallel communications port
•
Audio — Tests the operation of the audio chip set
•
SCSI Devices — Tests a SCSI hard-disk drive subsystem
NOTE: This test does not apply to Dell Latitude LM computers.
•
Network Interface — Tests a network controller and its associated interface
NOTE: This test does not apply to Dell Latitude LM computers.
To start the diagnostics, turn off the computer, insert a diagnostics diskette into
the diskette drive, and then turn on the computer.
Starting the diagnostics causes the Dell logo screen to appear, followed by a
message indicating that the diagnostics is loading. Before the diagnostics loads,
a program tests the portion of main memory (RAM) required for loading the
diagnostics. If a main memory error is detected, a message appears on the
screen telling you a memory module has failed.
If no errors are found in main memory, the diagnostics loads, and the Diagnos-
tics Menu appears. This menu lets you choose the following options or exit to
®
the MS-DOS prompt:
•
RUN QUICK TESTS
failure or to indicate where further testing is needed to isolate a failure
•
— Runs all tests for a thorough test of the computer
RUN ALL TESTS
•
RUN SPECIFIC TESTS
computer
— Runs preselected tests to quickly locate a computer
— Tests a particular area or subsystem of the