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Diagnostics: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 System User's Guide
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Diagnostics: Dell Precision™ WorkStation 420 System User's
Guide
If you experience a problem with your computer, run the Dell
Diagnostics before you call Dell for technical assistance. The diagnostics tests
check your computer's hardware without additional equipment and without the risk of
destroying data. When the diagnostics tests complete without indicating problems,
you can have confidence in your computer's operation. If the tests indicate a problem you
cannot solve, the test error messages provide important information you need when talking
to Dell's service and support personnel.
NOTICE: Only use the Dell Diagnostics to test your Dell
computer system. Using this program with other computers may cause incorrect computer
responses or result in error messages.
The diagnostic test group features allow you to take the following
actions:
- Perform quick checks or extensive tests on one or all devices
- Choose the number of times a test group or subtest is repeated
- Display or print test results or save them in a file
- Suspend testing if an error is detected or terminate testing when an
adjustable error limit is reached
- Access online Help screens that describe the tests and tell how to
run them
- Read status messages that inform you whether test groups or subtests
completed successfully
- Receive error messages that appear if problems are detected
- Read "Safety
First—For You and Your Computer" and the safety instructions in your System
Information Guide.
- Turn on your printer if one is attached, and make sure it is online.
- Enter system setup, confirm your computer's
system configuration information, and enable all of its components and devices, such as
ports.
- Perform the checks in "Basic
Checks."
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NOTE: Dell recommends that you print these procedures before you
begin. For additional information, refer to the "Dell Precision WorkStations
ResourceCD User's Guide," located on the Dell ResourceCD. |
- Shut down and restart the computer.
- Press <F2> at the start of the boot routine to access the System Setup screen.
- Select the Boot Sequence option and press <Enter>.
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NOTE: Record your current boot sequence in the event you want to
restore it after running the Dell Diagnostics. |
- Select CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive as the first device in the boot sequence.
- Insert the Dell ResourceCD into the CD-ROM drive.
- Press <Alt><b> to exit system setup and save the change.
The computer reboots and the Dell logo screen appears followed by a list of the available
languages.
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NOTE: If you are starting the ResourceCD for the first
time on this computer, the ResourceCD Installation window opens to inform you that
the ResourceCD is about to begin installation. Click OK to continue. To complete
the installation, respond to the prompts offered by the installation program. If the Welcome
Dell System Owner screen opens, click Next to continue. |
- Select the number for the language that you want.
A numbered list of eight options appears.
- Select Option 2 – Dell Diagnostics by typing
2 and pressing <Enter>. After the
diagnostics load, the following Diagnostics Main Menu screen appears:
- Select an option from the Diagnostics Main Menu screen by pressing the
up- or down-arrow key to highlight the option and pressing <Enter>, or press the key
that corresponds to the highlighted letter in the option title.
- Test All Devices — Performs quick or extensive tests on all
devices.
- Test One Device — Performs quick or extensive tests on a
single device after you select it from a list of device groups. After you select Test
One Device, press <F1> for more information about a test.
- Advanced Testing — Allows you to modify the parameters of a
test, select a group of tests to perform, and access additional information about Advanced
Testing.
- Information and Results — Provides test results, test
errors, version numbers of subtests, and additional information on the Dell Diagnostics.
- Program Options — Allows you to change the settings of the
Dell Diagnostics.
- Exit to MS-DOS — Exits to the MS-DOS® prompt.
- Select Quick Tests from the Test All Devices or Test
One Device option to perform a quick check of your computer or a specific device.
Quick Tests runs only the subtests that run fast and do not require user
interaction. Dell recommends that you select Quick Tests first to
increase your chance of locating the problem quickly.
- Select Extended Tests from the Test All Devices or Test
One Device option for a thorough check of your computer or to check a particular
area of your computer.
- Select the Advanced Testing option to
customize your test(s).
- Remove the ResourceCD from the CD-ROM drive when you have finished running the
Dell Diagnostics.
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NOTE: To change the boot sequence, repeat steps 1 through 6,
set the boot sequence to fit your needs, and restart your computer. |
When you select Advanced Testing from the Diagnostics Main
Menu screen, the following advanced testing screen appears.
Information in the Advanced Testing screen is presented as follows:
- Device Groups — Lists the diagnostic test groups in the order they
run if you select All from the Run tests menu option
To select a test device group, press the up- or down-arrow key to highlight the group.
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NOTE: The diagnostics may not list in the Device Groups area the
names of all components or devices that are part of your computer system. For example, it
may not list a printer even though it is connected to your computer. However, the parallel
port to which the printer is connected appears in the Device Groups list.
You can test your printer connection in the Parallel Ports tests. |
- Devices for Highlighted Group — Lists the computer's current
hardware
- Device groups: menu bar — Contains the options Run
tests, Devices, Select, Config,
and Help
To select a menu option, press the left- or right-arrow key to highlight the option and
press <Enter>, or press the key that corresponds to the highlighted letter in the
category title.
For more information on using the Advanced Testing screen, select the Help
menu option.
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NOTE: The options displayed on your screen should reflect the hardware
configuration of your computer. |
The Help options and a description of their functions are presented in
the following table.
| Help Option |
Description |
| Menu |
Describes the Advanced Testing
screen, the Device Groups, and the diagnostic menus and commands and
gives instructions on how to use them |
| Keys |
Explains the functions of all keystrokes that can be used in the Dell
Diagnostics |
| Device Group |
Describes the highlighted group in the Device Groups list
on the main menu and provides reasons for using certain tests |
| Device |
Describes the highlighted device in the Device Groups
list on the Advanced Testing screen |
| Test |
Describes the test procedure for each highlighted test group subtest |
| Versions |
Lists the version numbers of the subtests |
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