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Running the Dell Diagnostics: Dell PowerEdge 8450 Systems Installation and
Troubleshooting Guide
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Running the Dell™ Diagnostics: Dell PowerEdge™ 8450 Systems Installation and
Troubleshooting Guide
Overview • Features
of the Dell Diagnostics • When to Use
the Dell Diagnostics • Starting the Dell
Diagnostics • How to Use the Device
Groups Menu • Device
Groups Menu Options • Tests in
the Dell Diagnostics • System Board
Devices Tests • Processor Cache Test
• System Memory Test • I/O APIC Test • System Management BIOS Test
• VESA/VGA Interface • PC/AT Compatible Keyboards Tests
• Pointing Devices Test • Serial Ports Test • Parallel
Ports Tests • Diskette Test
• IDE Devices Test • Symbios SCSI Controllers Test
Unlike many diagnostic programs, the Dell Diagnostics helps you check the computer's
hardware without any additional equipment and without destroying any data. By using the
diagnostics, you can have confidence in the computer system's operation. If you
find a problem that you cannot solve by yourself, the diagnostic tests can
provide you with important information you will need when talking to Dell's technical
assistance representative.
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CAUTION: Use the Dell Diagnostics to test only
Dell computer systems. If you use this program with other computers, incorrect computer
responses or error messages may result. |
The Dell Diagnostics provides a series of menus and options from which you choose
particular device groups or devices. You can also control the sequence in which the tests
are run. The diagnostic menus 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 test is repeated
- The ability to display or print 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
- Help messages that briefly describe each test and its parameters
- Status messages that inform you whether device group or device tests are completed
successfully
- Error messages that appear if any problems are detected
Whenever a major component or device in the computer system does not function properly,
you may have a component failure. As long as the microprocessor and the input and output
components of the computer system (the monitor, keyboard, and diskette drive) are working,
you can use the Dell Diagnostics. If you know what component(s) you need to test, simply
select the appropriate diagnostic device group(s) or subtest(s). If you are unsure about
the scope of the problem, read the rest of the information in this section.
You can run the Dell Diagnostics from either the utility partition on your hard-disk
drive or from a set of diskettes that you create from the Dell OpenManage Server
Assistant CD.
To run the diagnostics from the utility partition, perform the following steps:
- Start the utility partition by pressing <F10> during the power-on self-test
(POST).
- From the utility partition's main menu, select the Run System Diagnostics
option from Run System Utilities.
See "Utility Partition" in "Using the Dell OpenManage Server
Assistant" in the Dell PowerEdge 8450 Systems User's Guide for additional
information about the utility partition.
To run the Dell Diagnostics from the diskettes, perform the following steps:
- Create a set of diagnostics diskettes using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD.
See "Utility Partition" in "Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant
CD" in the User's Guide for information on creating diskettes.
- Boot the system from the first diagnostics diskette.
If the system fails to boot, see Getting Help for instructions
on obtaining technical assistance.
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NOTE: Before you read the rest of this section,
you may want to start the Dell Diagnostics so you can see it on your monitor screen.
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When you start the diagnostics, the Dell logo screen appears, followed by a message
telling you that the diagnostics is loading. Before the diagnostics loads into memory, a
program tests the random-access memory (RAM) that will be used by the diagnostics.
If no errors are found in RAM, the diagnostics loads, and the Diagnostics
menu appears. The menu allows you to run all or specific diagnostic tests or to exit the
Dell Diagnostics.
For a quick check of the system, select Quickly Test All Devices. This
option runs only the device tests that do not require user interaction and that do not
take a long time to run. Dell recommends that you choose this option first to increase the
chance of tracing the source of the problem quickly. For a complete check of the system,
select Fully Test All Devices. To check a particular area of the system,
choose Select Devices to Test.
Selecting Exit to MS-DOS exits the diagnostics and returns you to your
operating system environment.
To select an option from the Diagnostics menu, highlight the option
and press <Enter>, or press the key that corresponds to the highlighted letter in
the option you choose.
When you select Select Devices to Test from the Diagnostics menu,
the main screen of the diagnostics appears.
Information on the main screen of the diagnostics is presented in the following four
areas:
- Two lines at the top of the main screen identify the diagnostics and give its version
number.
- On the left side of the screen, the Device Groups area lists the
diagnostic device groups in the order they will run if you select All under
the Run Tests submenu. Press the up- or down-arrow key to highlight
a device group.
- On the right side of the screen, the Devices for Highlighted Group area
lists the specific devices within a particular test group.
- Two lines at the bottom of the screen makes up the menu area. The first line lists the
menu options you can select; press the left- or right-arrow key to highlight an option.
The second line gives information about the highlighted option.
The Device Groups menu at the bottom of the screen provides options
that enable you to select and run specific diagnostic tests from the diagnostics main
screen. Use the left- and right-arrow keys to select the options on the menu. As you move
from one menu option to another, a brief explanation of the highlighted option appears on
the bottom line of the screen.
If you want more information about a device group or device, move the highlight to the About
option and press <Enter>. After reading the information, press <Esc> to return
to the previous screen.
Five options are listed at the bottom of the diagnostics main screen: Run Tests,
Devices, Select, Config, and Help.
There are two ways to select a menu option:
- Look on the screen to see which letter in the option is capitalized,
and type that letter (for example, type r to select the Run option).
- Move the highlight to the option you want to select by pressing the left- or right-arrow
key, and then press <Enter>.
Whenever one of the options is selected, additional choices become available.
The following subsections explain the menu options as listed from left to right in the Device
Groups menu.
Run Tests
Run Tests displays seven options: One, All,
Select, Options, Results, Errors,
and Help. If you select One, all the devices within the
highlighted device group are run. If you select All, all of the tests in
all of the device group tests are run. (The device group tests are run in the same order
as they are listed.) If you choose Select, only the selected device
groups or the devices that you selected within the device groups are run. Before testing
any device groups or devices, you should consider setting global parameters within Options.
Global parameters offer you greater control over how the device group tests or device
tests are run and how results are reported. Help displays a series of
help options, including Menu, Keys, Device,
Group, and Test.
Devices
Most of the device groups consist of several devices. Use the Devices
option to select individual devices within the device group(s).
When you select Devices, the following options are displayed: Run
Tests, Tests, Select, Parameters,
and Help. Table 1 lists all of the possible values for each option.
Table 1. Devices Options
| Option |
Functions |
| Run Tests |
Displays five options: Run
Tests, Tests, Select, Parameters,
and Help. |
| Tests |
Allows you to select individual devices
to tailor the testing process to your particular needs. You can choose one or more devices
from the list. When you choose Tests, four options are displayed:
Run Tests, Select, Parameters, and Help. |
| Select |
Allows you to choose one or more devices
from a particular device group. Three options are displayed: One, All,
and Help. |
| Parameters |
Determines how a particular test will be
run. Table 2 lists all of the possible values for each option. To change Parameters
options, press the spacebar, the left- and right-arrow keys, or the plus (+) and minus (-)
keys. |
| Help |
Displays a list of help topics. |
Table 2. Parameters Options
| Option |
Possible Values |
| Number of Times to Repeat Test(s) |
0001 through 9999,
or 0000, which loops indefinitely until you press
<Ctrl><Break>. The default is 1. |
| Maximum Errors Allowed |
0000 through 9999,
where 0000 means that there is no error limit. The default is 1.
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| Pause for User Response |
Yes, No
Allows you to decide whether tests will wait for user input.
The default is Yes to wait for user input. |
| Message Logging |
None, Errors,
All
Determines if any test results are saved to a file. The default is None. |
| Message Logging File Name |
Specifies the name of the logging file if
the Message Logging option is selected. The default is A: RESULT. |
Select
The Select option in the Device Groups menu allows
you to choose one or more devices from a particular device group. Three options are
displayed: One, All, and Help
Config
Choosing Config from the Device Groups menu display
information about the particular device that is highlighted.
When you test a device group or test in the diagnostics, error messages may result.
Record the messages on a copy of the Diagnostics
Checklist found in Getting Help; also see Getting Help for
instructions on obtaining technical assistance and informing the technical assistance
representative of these messages.
The tests in the System Board Devices group check the computer's basic
system board components and verify their related functions.
Devices
Table 3 lists the devices that constitute the System Board Devices
group and the computer functions they confirm.
Table 3. System Board Devices Tests
| Device |
Function of Test |
| DMA Controller |
Tests the direct memory
access (DMA) controller and verifies the correct operation of its page and channel
registers by writing patterns to the registers. |
| Real-Time Clock |
Confirms the functionality
and accuracy of the computer's real-time clock (RTC). |
| System Timer |
Checks the timers used by the
microprocessor for event counting, frequency generation, and other functions. Only tests
the functions that can be activated by software. |
| Interrupt Controller |
Generates an interrupt on
each interrupt request (IRQ) line to verify that devices using that line can communicate
with the microprocessors and that the interrupt controllers send the correct memory
addresses to the microprocessor. |
| System Speaker |
Checks the functionality of
the speaker by generating eight tones. |
| Floating Point Processor |
Checks the functionality of
the floating point processors. |
The Processor Cache test checks the Level-1 (L1) cache used by the
system microprocessors.
The System Memory test checks the system RAM.
Why Run a System Memory Test?
Faulty memory can cause a variety of problems that may not appear to be happening in
RAM. If the computer is displaying one or more of the following symptoms, run the tests in
the RAM device group to verify that the memory is not at fault:
- A program is not running as usual, or a proven piece of software appears to malfunction
and you confirm that the software itself is not at fault. (You can confirm that the
software is functioning properly by moving it to another computer and running it there.)
- The computer periodically locks up (becomes unusable and must be rebooted), especially
at different places and times in different programs.
- You get a parity error (any error message that contains the word parity) at any time
during operation. These errors are usually accompanied by a reference to an
address—the location of the portion of memory where the error occurred—which you
should record on a copy of the Diagnostics
Checklist found in Getting Help.
- You receive the Memory ECC Fault
Detected message from the Dell OpenManage™ Hardware
Instrumentation Package (HIP) server management application program. See Messages and Codes for more information on this program.
The I/O APIC test checks the input/output Advanced Programmable
Interrupt Controller (I/O APIC), which directs system I/O interrupts to the
microprocessor(s).
The System Management BIOS test checks the functionality of the system
management firmware.
The tests in the VESA/VGA Interface device group verify the proper
operation of the video controller and the video control circuitry installed in the
computer. These tests check for the correct operation of the readable registers in the
video circuitry and the controller. They write, read, and verify data patterns in the
cursor registers of the controller. This device group also tests all the video memory and
provides additional tests to test the color features of a color monitor.
Why Run a Video Test?
Many of the symptoms that would prompt you to run a subtest in the VESA/VGA
Interface device group are obvious, because the monitor is the visual component
of the computer system. Before you run this device group or any of its tests, you should
make sure that the problem is not in the software or caused by a hardware change. You
should also try running all of the software support utilities provided for the monitor and
the video subsystem.
The PC-AT Compatible Keyboards tests verify the correct operation of
the keyboard and the keyboard controller chip.
Why Run a Keyboard Test?
Keyboard problems are not always caused by the keyboard. For example, if the computer
system locks up, rendering the keyboard inoperable, the problem is most likely not caused
by the keyboard. There are three symptoms that are likely to be keyboard-related.
Sometimes, the configuration of a program changes the function of a key or key
combination. Likewise, key configuration programs can change a key's function. Because
these programs are memory-resident, you should be sure to clear them out of the computer's
memory before running a subtest in the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards device
group. (Clear them from memory by rebooting the computer from the diagnostics diskette.)
When these possibilities have been eliminated, and if the following symptoms occur, you
should run the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards tests:
- When you press a key, the character represented by that key appears repeatedly; the key
seems to be stuck.
- When you press a key and the response is different from the usual response or the
response you anticipated, the key contact may be damaged.
- When a key does not work at all.
The Pointing Devices test checks the functionality of the mouse
controller (which coordinates cursor movement on the screen with corresponding movement of
the mouse or touch pad) and the operation of the mouse keys/touch pad.
Why Run a Pointing Devices Test?
Mouse or touch pad problems are as likely to originate in RAM as they are to be caused
by a faulty mouse or touch pad. Three sources of RAM-related problems include the
configuration of a program (which changes the function of the mouse or touch pad),
memory-resident programs, and failure of a mouse or touch pad device driver. If these
possibilities have been eliminated and the following symptoms persist, run the Pointing
Devices test:
- When you press a mouse button or the touch pad, the function of the button (or touch
pad) continues; that is, the button (or touch pad) seems to be stuck.
- When you press a mouse button or the touch pad, the response is different from the usual
or anticipated response, which indicates the button (or touch pad) contact may be damaged.
- A mouse button or the touch pad does not work at all.
- The cursor does not respond on the screen in accordance with the movements you make with
the mouse or touch pad.
The Serial Ports test checks the computer’s
interface with external devices, such as a printer and a mouse, that are connected to the
computer through a serial port. The subtests in this test group are not intended as a
diagnostic test for the actual peripheral attached to each port.
Why Run a Serial Ports Test?
If the Dell Diagnostics does not recognize your computer’s
serial ports, enter the system setup program and check the Serial Port
category to see whether the port has been disabled.
When a port is faulty, it may not be immediately evident that the
port, and not the device connected to the port, is faulty. Instead, the peripheral (such
as a printer or mouse) might behave erratically or not operate at all. If the external
device is not properly installed through your software, it also may not function properly.
Try operating the peripheral from different programs or through the operating system. If
it still does not work, you can eliminate the software configuration as the cause of the
problem.
Another possible cause for errors is the external device. Use the
documentation that came with the peripheral to troubleshoot it and confirm that it is
working properly. (Most printers have a self-test.)
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NOTE: With certain modems installed,
the Serial Ports test may fail because the diagnostics recognizes the modem as a
serial port device, but cannot test the modem as a serial port device. If you have a modem
installed and you experience a serial-port test failure, remove the modem and run the
diagnostic tests again. |
After you eliminate incorrect system configuration information
settings, peripheral malfunctions, and software errors as potential causes of port
problems, you can run the Serial Ports test to check your hardware.
Although the following symptoms can be caused by faulty peripherals or software errors,
they might also suggest a port problem:
- If a peripheral works intermittently or produces intermittent errors,
the port may be faulty.
- If the computer displays an error message that is related to the
external device connected to a port, but corrections to the device do not resolve the
error, run the Serial Ports test.
- If your software and the diagnostics do not recognize that you have a
serial or infrared port, check the Serial Port option in the system setup
program and, if necessary, run the appropriate subtest in the Serial
Ports test .
The Parallel Ports test checks the computer's interface with external
devices, such as a printer, that are connected to the computer through a parallel port.
This test is not intended as diagnostic tests for the actual peripheral attached to each
port.
Why Run a Parallel Ports Test?
If the diagnostics does not recognize the computer's parallel port, enter the system
setup program and check the Parallel Port option to see if the port has
been disabled. (See "Using the System Setup Program" in the User's Guide
for instructions.) The subtests in the Parallel Ports device group cannot
test a port unless the port is enabled.
When a port is faulty, it may not be immediately evident that the port, and not the
device connected to the port, is faulty. Instead, the peripheral might behave erratically
or not operate at all. If the external device is not properly installed through the
software, it also may not function properly. Try operating the peripheral from different
programs or through the operating system. If it still does not work, you can eliminate the
software setup as the cause of the problem.
Another possible cause of errors is the external device. Use the documentation that
came with the peripheral to troubleshoot the device and confirm that it is working
properly. (Most printers have a self-test.)
After you eliminate incorrect system-configuration information settings, peripheral
malfunctions, and software errors as potential causes of port problems, you can run the Parallel
Ports test to check the hardware. Although the following symptoms can be caused
by faulty peripherals or software errors, they might also suggest a port problem:
- If a peripheral works intermittently or produces intermittent errors, run the Parallel
Ports test.
- If the computer displays an error message that is related to the external device
connected to a port but corrections to the device do not resolve the error, run the Parallel
Ports test.
- If the software and the diagnostics do not recognize that you have a parallel port,
check the Parallel Port setting in the system setup program and, if
necessary, run the Parallel Ports test.
Very often, a diskette drive problem may first appear to be a diskette problem. A box
of defective diskettes might produce faulty-drive error messages. The test results can be
confusing, so Dell suggests running the Diskette test more than once by
using diskettes from different sources.
A command that is typed in an incorrect form (usually called a syntax error)
is another possible cause of diskette drive problems. Be sure you have entered the command
in the proper form.
If the diskette(s) and command syntax are eliminated as causes, the following symptoms
usually suggest a drive problem and warrant running the Diskette
test:
- An error message stating that the computer cannot read from or write to a diskette
appears on the screen .
- A diskette cannot be properly formatted, or format error messages appear on the screen.
- Data on diskettes is corrupted or lost; this problem may be intermittent.
The IDE Devices test checks the functionality of devices connected to
the system's integrated drive electronics (IDE) port. Before conducting this test, insert
a CD with audio and data tracks (such as a multimedia CD) into the CD-ROM drive.
Why Run an IDE Devices Test?
If you encounter a problem while using an application program on a CD, the problem
could result from the disc or from the drive. When you encounter problems, first try using
a different CD. If the problem recurs, run the IDE Devices test.
These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test an IDE CD-ROM drive:
- Seek errors are reported by the operating system or application programs.
- An error message stating that the computer cannot read from an IDE CD-ROM drive
(typically, drive D or drive E) appears on the screen.
The Symbios SCSI Controllers test checks the operation of the
integrated small computer system interface (SCSI) host adapter.
Why Run a Symbios SCSI Controllers Test?
If you check your SCSI hard-disk drive for the amount of available space, your
operating system will probably report problem areas. Problem areas on hard-disk drives are
common, because most hard-disk drives have a small amount of unusable space. The hard-disk
drive keeps a record of this space so that your computer will not attempt to use it.
Identification of unusable disk space, unless it is an unusually large amount (over five
percent of the possible total), should not be regarded as a cause for testing the
hard-disk drive.
These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test a SCSI device:
- A SCSI hard-disk drive fails during the boot routine.
- Seek errors are reported by the operating system or application programs.
- An error message stating that the computer cannot read from or write to a SCSI device
appears on the screen.
- Data on a SCSI device is corrupted or lost; this problem may be
intermittent.
- After you save files in a program, you cannot open them.
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