Dell 3000 manual Output Device for Status Messages, Output Device for Error Messages, Test Limits

Output Device for Status Messages

Ordinarily, all status messages appear only on the dis- play. This parameter allows you to direct status messages to either a printer or a file, in addition to the display. Use the right-arrow key to select the option you want. If you choose the Printer option, status messages print as they occur. If you choose the File option, status messages are written to a file named result. This file is automatically created on the diagnostics diskette when you run the diagnostics. If the result file already exists on the dis- kette, new status messages are added to it.

The result file is an ordinary American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) text file. You can access the result file through Windows Notepad by per- forming the following steps:

1.Select Quit Menu to exit the diagnostics and return to the MS-DOS prompt.

2.Remove the Dell Diagnostics Diskette from the diskette drive.

3.Use the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination to reboot the computer.

4.If necessary, start your operating system.

5.Insert the Dell Diagnostics Diskette into the diskette drive.

6.Double-click The Notepad Icon. Then Select Open from the File menu.

7.In the File Name text box, type a:\result and press <Enter>.

The contents of the file appear on the display.

You can also access the result file with the MS-DOS type command:

1.Select Quit Menu to exit the diagnostics and return to the operating system prompt.

2.At the operating system prompt, type the follow- ing command and press <Enter>:

type result

The contents of the file appear on the display.

After running particular diagnostic tests and viewing the status messages generated by the tests in the result file, you can delete the contents of the file so that it is empty

for the next set of messages generated. Otherwise, the next messages are added to the end of the previous ones in the file.

Output Device for Error Messages

Ordinarily, all error messages appear only on the display. This parameter allows you to direct error messages to either a printer or a file, in addition to the display. Use the right-arrow key to select the option you want. If you choose the Printer option, error messages print as they occur. If you choose the File option, error messages are written to the result file used for status messages. This file is automatically created on your diagnostics diskette when you run the diagnostics. If the result file already exists on the diskette, new error messages are added to it.

The result file is an ordinary ASCII text file. You can access and review the result file in Windows Notepad or with the MS-DOS type command as described in the pre- vious subsection, “Output Device for Status Messages.”

After running particular diagnostic tests and viewing the error messages generated by the tests in the result file, you can delete the contents of the file so that it is clear for the next set of messages generated. Otherwise, the next messages are added to the end of the previous ones in the file.

Test Limits

NOTE: The diagnostics program sets default limits on all tests. The only reason to change the defaults would be to limit the amount of testing done. An exception is the default limit for testing super video graphics array (SVGA) modes. If you are testing an external monitor, change the default to Yes.

The RAM test group, the Video test group, the Serial/ Infrared Ports test group, the Diskette Drives test group, the Parallel Ports test group, and the Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) test group allow you to designate limits. Whether you select Test Limits for a highlighted test group (from the Main menu) or a subtest (from the Sub- test menu), you set the limits for all the subtests in that test group. When you select Test Limits, a new screen appears and the Key Help area lists keys to use with the new screen.

4-8 Dell Inspiron 3000 Reference and Troubleshooting Guide