Running the Dell Diagnostics 7-15
6HULDO,QIUDUHG3RUWV7HVW*URXSThe Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group checks the computer’s interface with a device
connected to the computer through the serial port. It does not test the device itself.
Table7-9 lists the tests.
If the Dell Diagnostics does not recognize your computer’s serial port, enter the sys-
tem setup program and verify that the serial port is enabled. The Serial/Infrared Ports
Test Group cannot test a port unless it is enabled.
When a port is faulty, first make sure that the device conn ected to the p ort is func tion-
ing properly. Use the documentation that came with the de v ic e t o tro ubl es hoo t it and
confirm that it is working properly. Try operating the device from different program s or
through the operating system to eliminate the software configuration as the cause of
the problem.
After you eliminate incorrect system configuration settings, device malfunctions, and
software errors as potential causes of port problems, you can run the Serial/Infrared
Ports Test Group to check your hardware. Although faulty devices or software errors
may cause the following symptoms, they also suggest a po rt problem:
If a device works intermittently or produces intermittent errors, the port may be
faulty.
If the computer displays an error message that is related to the device connected
to the serial port, but corrections to the device do not resolve the error, run the
Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group.
If your software and the diagnostics do not recognize that you have a serial port,
even though the serial port is enabled in the system setup program, run the
Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group.
NOTES: With certain modems installed, the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group subtests
may fail because the modem appears to the Dell Diagnostics as a serial port, but it
cannot be tested as a serial port. If a modem is installed and the serial port tests fail,
remove the modem and run the diagnostics again.
Audio Test Causes the drive to begin playing the fi rst audio track on
an audio CD. To determine whether the test passed, lis-
ten to the audio output of the drive.
NOTE: To conduct the Audio Output Test, you must
select it individually. It will not run as part of the test
group.
S.M.A.R.T. Test Retrieves the status (pass/fail) of SMART-capable drives.
Media Eject Test Checks a drive’s ability to eject its removable media.
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NOTE: The Glossary in the
Online Guide
defines abbreviations and acronyms.