Manuals

Back to Contents Page

Diagnostics: Dell Precision™ WorkStation 620 System User's Guide

	Overview		Starting the Dell Diagnostics
	Features		Advanced Testing
	Before You Start Testing

Overview

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.

Features

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

Before You Start Testing

• 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."

Starting the Dell Diagnostics

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.

1. Insert the Dell ResourceCD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the computer.
   
   

   NOTES: If your system does not boot from the CD-ROM drive, enter System Setup and change the Boot Sequence. 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.

2. Select the number for the language that you want.
   
   A numbered list of eight options appears.
   
   
3. Select Option 2 – Dell Diagnostics by typing 2 and pressing <Enter>. After the diagnostics load, the following Diagnostics Main Menu screen appears:

4. 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.

5. 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.
   
   
6. 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.
   
   
7. Select the Advanced Testing option to customize your test(s).
   
   
8. Remove the ResourceCD from the CD-ROM drive when you have finished running the Dell Diagnostics.

NOTE: To change the boot sequence, repeat step 1, set the boot sequence to fit your needs, and restart your computer.

Advanced Testing

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.

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.

NOTE: The options displayed on your screen should reflect the hardware configuration of your computer.

Advanced Testing Help Menu

The Help options and a description of their functions are presented in the following table.

Back to Contents Page