3-6 Dell Latitude LM Systems Service Manual
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The Dell diagnostics contains tests that aid in troubleshooting the computer.
The diagnostics diskette contains the following test groups:
•RAM — Tests the main memory
•System Set — Tests the primary functions of the main board
•Video — Tests the video subsystem
•Keyboard — Tests the keyboard subsystem
•Mouse — Tests the mouse/touch pad subsystem
•Diskette Drives — Tests the diskette drive subsystem
•Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) — Tests the IDE hard-disk drive subsystem
•IDE CD ROM Drives — Tests a CD-ROM drive subsystem
•Serial/Infrared Ports — Tests the serial communications port
•Parallel Ports — Tests the parallel communications port
•Audio — Tests the operation of the audio chip set
•SCSI Devices — Tests a SCSI hard-disk drive subsystem
NOTE: This test does not apply to Dell Latitude LM computers.
•Network Interface — Tests a network controller and its associated interface
NOTE: This test does not apply to Dell Latitude LM computers.
To start the diagnostics, turn off the computer, insert a diagnostics diskette into
the diskette drive, and then turn on the computer.
Starting the diagnostics causes the Dell logo screen to appear, followed by a
message indicating that the diagnostics is loading. Before the diagnostics loads,
a program tests the portion of main memory (RAM) required for loading the
diagnostics. If a main memory error is detected, a message appears on the
screen telling you a memory module has failed.
If no errors are found in main memory, the diagnostics loads, and the Diagnos-
tics Menu appears. This menu lets you choose the following options or exit to
the MS-DOS® prompt:
•RUN QUICK TESTS — Runs preselected tests to quickly locate a computer
failure or to indicate where further testing is needed to isolate a failure
•RUN ALL TESTS — Runs all tests for a thorough test of the computer
•RUN SPECIFIC TESTS — Tests a particular area or subsystem of the
computer
CAUTION: To prevent damage to the original diagnostics diskette,
always use a backup copy of the diagnostics diskette when servicing a user’s
computer. Dell recommends that users make several copies of this diskette to
ensure that one is always available.