Dell 7500 manual Starting the Dell Diagnostics

The Dell Diagnostics provides a series of menus and options from which you choose particular device groups or subtests. You can also control the sequence in which the tests are run. The diagnostic device 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 device 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 Devices menu option that briefly describes each test and its parameters

•A Config menu option that describes the configuration of the devices in the selected device group

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

•Error messages that appear if any problems are detected

As long as the microprocessor and the input and output components of your computer (the display or display, keyboard, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive, and diskette drive) are working, you can use the Dell Diagnostics. If you are experienced with computers and know what component(s) you need to test, select the appropriate diagnostic device group(s) or subtest(s). If you are unsure about how to begin diagnosing a problem, read the rest of this chapter.

Starting the Dell Diagnostics

To start the diagnostics, perform the following steps:

1.Turn off the computer.

NOTICE: Before using the Dell Diagnostics Diskette, make sure to write-protect the diskette.

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

3.Turn on the computer.

4.When the boot screen appears, select 2 Start Computer with CD-ROM Support (Windows 98) or 1 EIDE Support (Windows NT).

5.Type diags32 and press <Enter>.

The DIAGNOSTICS MENU appears (see Figure 3-1). The menu allows you to run all or specific diagnostic tests or to exit to the MS-DOS prompt.

NOTE: Before you read the rest of this section, you may want to start the Dell Diagnostics so that you can see it on the screen.

3-30 Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide