Performing the Tests

The Diskette format test checks the format capability of the diskette drive and its controller. In order to run the test, you need a blank diskette that has been formatted using the MS-DOS FORMAT command and that is not write-protected. When the program prompts you to insert a diskette, insert the newly formatted one.

Once the Diskette format test is completed successfully, you must use the test diskette to run any of the tests in the following table. These tests will not run properly unless the diskette has been previously used for the Diskette format diagnostic test.

Tests requiring a specially formatted diskette

 

rTest

 

Function

 

 

 

 

 

Drive speed test

 

Verifies how fast the diskette drive

 

 

 

 

rotates a diskette. A 1.2MB. 51/4-inch

 

 

 

 

diskette drive should rotate a 1.2MB

 

 

 

 

diskette at 360 RPM and a 360KB

 

 

 

 

diskette at 300 RPM. A 1.44MB,

 

 

 

 

3!4-inch drive should rotate a

 

 

 

 

diskette at 300 RPM. (Tolerance

 

 

 

 

allowed: one percent.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random R(ead/W(rite) test

 

Checks the random seek capability

 

 

 

 

of a diskette drive by performing a

 

 

 

 

random read/write operation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sequential R(ead)/W(rite) test

 

Checks the sequential seek

 

 

 

 

capability of a diskette drive by

 

 

 

 

performing a sequential read/write

 

 

 

 

operation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drive change line test

 

Tests the status of the disk change

 

 

 

 

line that detects when you insert or

 

 

 

 

remove a diskette from a drive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performing System Diagnostics B-21