Running the Dell Diagnostics 7-17
If your software and the Dell Diagnostics do not recognize that you hav e a parall el
port, you should check Parallel Port in the system setup program, and if neces-
sary, run the appropriate test in the Parallel Ports Test Group.

NOTE: If an external loopback connector (a special Dell manufacturing device) is not

attached to the parallel port, the External Loopback Test will fail for that port and the

results of this test should therefore be ignored.

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The SCSI Devices Test Group checks the functionality of up to four SCSI host adapt-
ers and all the SCSI devices attached to them. Table 7-11 lists the tests.
If you check your small computer system interfa ce (SCSI) hard -disk driv e to determi ne
the amount of available space, your operating system will probably report problem
areas. Most hard-disk drives have a small amount of space th at is not usable. Identifi-
cation of unusable disk space, unless it is an unusually large amount (over 5 percent
of the possible total), should not be regarded as a cause for testing the hard-disk
drive.
If you encounter a problem while using an application on a CD, the problem could
result from the disc or from the drive. When you enc ou nter problems, first try using a
different CD. If the problem recurs, run the SCSI Devices Test Group.
These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test a SCSI device:
A SCSI hard-disk drive fails during the boot rout i ne.

Seek

errors are reported by the operating system or applications.
An error message appears on the screen stating that the computer cannot

read

from or

write

to a SCSI device.
Data on a SCSI device is corrupted or lost; saved fil es cannot be properl y recalled .
This problem may be intermittent.

NOTES: Before conducting these subtests on CD-ROM drives , insert a CD wit h audio

and data tracks (such as a multimedia CD) into each CD-ROM drive. All of the tests,

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Internal Checks several internal functions of the parallel port.
External Loopback Tests the functionality of the control lines through an
external loopback connector (if one is attached).
External Interrupt Tests the parallel port’s ability to generate interrupts
from all possible sources, if an external loopback con-
nector or printer is attached.
Printer Pattern Tests a printer and the parallel port’s ability to send a
pattern to the printer (if connected).