Dell 4100/200, 4100/180 manual Running the System Diagnostics, Features of the System Diagnostics

Chapter 5

Running the System Diagnostics

Unlike many diagnostic programs, Dell’s system diag- nostics helps you check the computer’s hardware without any additional equipment and without destroying any data. By using the diagnostics, you can have confidence in the computer system’s operation. And if you find a problem you cannot solve by yourself, the diagnostic tests can provide you with important information you will need when talking to Dell’s service and support personnel.

CAUTION: Use the system diagnostics to test only Dell computer systems. Using this program with other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or result in error messages.

Features of the System

Diagnostics

The system diagnostics provides a series of menus and options from which you choose particular test groups or subtests. You can also control the sequence in which the tests are run. The diagnostic test groups or subtests also have these helpful features:

•Options that let you run tests individually or collectively

•An option that allows you to choose the number of times a test group or subtest is repeated

•The ability to display or print out test results or to save them in a file

•Options to temporarily suspend testing if an error is detected or to terminate testing when an adjustable error limit is reached

•A menu category called ABOUT that briefly describes each test and its parameters

•Status messages that inform you whether test groups or subtests were completed successfully

•Error messages that appear if any problems are detected

When to Use the System Diagnostics

Whenever a major component or device in the computer system does not function properly, you may have a com- ponent failure. As long as the microprocessor and the input and output components of the computer system (the monitor, keyboard, or CD-ROM drive) are working, you can use the system diagnostics. If you know what compo- nent(s) you need to test, simply select the appropriate diagnostic test group(s) or subtest(s). If you are unsure about the scope of the problem, read the rest of this chapter.

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