Dell 3000 manual Audio Test Group, Why Run an Audio Test?, Subtests

If it still does not work, you can eliminate the software setup as the cause of the problem.

Another possible cause for errors is a problem with the external device itself. Use the documentation that came with the peripheral to troubleshoot it and confirm that it is working properly. (Most printers have a self-test.)

After you eliminate incorrect system configuration infor- mation settings, peripheral malfunctions, and software errors as potential causes of port problems, you can run the subtests in the Parallel Ports test group to check your hardware. Although the following symptoms can be caused by faulty peripherals or software errors, they might also suggest a port problem:

•If a peripheral works intermittently, or produces intermittent errors, the port may be faulty.

•If the computer displays an error message that is related to the external device connected to a port, but corrections to the device do not resolve the error, run the appropriate subtest in the Parallel Ports test group.

•If your software and the diagnostics do not recognize that you have a parallel port, you should check the Parallel Port option in the System Devices menu of the Setup program, and if necessary, run the appro- priate subtest in the Parallel Ports test group.

Subtests

The four subtests in the Parallel Ports test group confirm the following port functions:

•Parallel Internal Test

Checks several internal functions of the parallel port

•Parallel External Loopback Test

Tests the functionality of the control lines through an external loopback connector, if an external loopback connector is available

•Parallel External Interrupt Test

Tests the parallel port’s ability to generate interrupts from all possible sources, if an external loopback connector is available

•Parallel Printer Pattern Test

Tests whether the port(s) can retain data, print text on a printer, and generate interrupts

Audio Test Group

The subtests in the Audio test group check the functions of the audio controller and the computer’s recording and playback features.

Why Run an Audio Test?

If you do not hear sounds from your built-in speakers when you expect to, it is possible that your operating system or sound application uses resource settings differ- ent than those of the audio controller in the computer. In the absence of an expected sound, first check the docu- mentation that accompanied your operating system or sound application to see if the sound features are cor- rectly configured to work with the computer. The default resource settings for the audio controller are:

•DMA channel: 1

•IRQ line: 5

•Port address: 220h

If necessary, change the resource settings in your operat- ing system or sound application to match these default settings.

If you still do not hear sound when you expect to, run the Audio test group.

NOTE: Before running the Audio test group, make sure to enable the built-in speaker(s), and make sure that the speaker volume has not been muted.

Subtests

The six subtests in the Audio test group confirm the fol- lowing functions:

•Software Reset Test

Checks for the presence of an active audio controller in your system

•Interrupt Test

Checks whether the audio controller is generating an interrupt on the IRQ line configured for that controller

•DMA Test

Tests for the presence of a DMA channel on the sys- tem chip set, and determines if the DMA controller and the audio controller can exchange signals

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