The Dell Disk Self Test (DST) is a hard disk drive diagnostic tool that tests the hard disk drive in a Dell computer.

When using a Dell computer, one or more of the following symptoms may occur:

• The computer may stop responding (hang) at the Desktop or in a program.
• The computer may no longer start Microsoft® Windows®.
• The computer may generate a Stop error message when starting or running.

  	Note:
  	A STOP error does not indicate that the hard disk drive is damaged. A Stop error message may occur because of a damaged or incorrect device driver, or for other reasons.

These problems may occur if the hard disk drive in the computer is damaged. To help troubleshoot this problem, use the DST tool to test the hard disk drive.

The DST tool may be started from a CD or from the system setup program (BIOS). When the DST tool runs, it notifies you whether the diagnostics can be run on the hard disk drive.

Running the DST tool on a hard disk drive that is not from Dell may return a false result. The tool may incorrectly report that the drive has failed the tests.

The Dell Disk Self Test (DST) tool is available in the latest basic input/output (BIOS) revisions of OptiPlex, Dimension, and Precision Workstation computers. To ensure that your system has the hard drive test, upgrade to the latest version of the BIOS available from Dell Drivers and Downloads.

To run the DST Hard Drive Diagnostics from the BIOS, follow these steps:

1. At the Dell BIOS splash screen, press the <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <D> keys at the same time.
   The computer beeps once to acknowledge that the hard drive diagnostics have been initiated, and then the following message appears:

   IDE Diagnostics running, please wait
   Primary

   Drive 0: (Drive Model) -

2. The test may take up to 3 minutes to run the diagnostics (the time depends on the size and speed of the drive).
   When the diagnostics are complete, one of the following messages appears if the test passed:

   IDE Diagnostics running, please wait
   
   Primary
   
   Drive 0: (Drive Model) - Pass
   Drive 1: No IDE Device

   -OR-

    Secondary

   Drive 0: (CD-ROM Model) - Diagnostics not supported
   Drive 1: No IDE Device
    
   Test complete, Press <Enter> to reboot

3. If the diagnostic test reports an error, refer to Dell Troubleshooting Wizard: "Hard Drive Fails the Diagnostics"Wizard ID: 324398

Dell portable computers now have the Drive Self Test (DST) included in the BIOS as part of the Preboot System Assessment (PSA) diagnostic suite.

	Note:
	Some older Dell Portable computers do not support the PSA diagnostics. To run the Drive Self Test(DST), press the <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <D> keys at the same time while the Dell splash screen is displayed.

To start the PSA Diagnostics, follow these steps:

1. With the computer powered off, hold the <Fn> key while pressing the power button to power on the computer.

2. Release both buttons once the computer powers on and the screen displays Diagnostic Boot Selected... in the upper right corner.

The PSA diagnostics will run the DST with the other tests. The DST failed if one of the following errors is reported:

If the diagnostic test reports one of the above errors, refer to Dell Troubleshooting Wizard: "Hard Drive Fails the Diagnostics"Wizard ID: 324398

If any other error is reported by the PSA diagnostics, refer to Dell Troubleshooting Wizard: "Troubleshooting With PSA Diagnostics on a Laptop Computer Wizard ID: 345518

For computers that do not have the Disk Self-Test (DST) tool in the BIOS, it can be run from the ResourceCD that shipped with the computer.

	Note:
	The Drive Self Test (DST) is not included on newer Dell ResourceCDs. You must use the ResourceCD that shipped with your computer if your computer is not able to run the DST from System Setup (BIOS).

Installing the ResourceCD

1. Insert the CD into the CD or DVD drive to display the CD auto-runs and the installation screen.

2. Click OK to start the installation and display the InstallShield window.

3. Click Next to continue and allow the files to copy to the hard drive.

4. When the InstallShield Complete Screen window appears, click Yes, I want to restart my computer now.

5. Click Finish.

6. Eject the ResourceCD from the CD or DVD drive.

Running the DST Diagnostics Utility

1. After Windows has restarted, reinsert the ResourceCD into the CD or DVD drive.
   After the original install, the ResourceCD auto-runs when inserted.

2. In the Welcome Dell System Owner window, click Next to display the Criteria page.

3. Under the System Criteria column, choose ALL for the system model, ALL for the operating system, ALL for the device type, and DIAGNOSTICS under Topics.

4. Under System, click Dell DST Diagnostic Utility.

5. Run the DST diagnostics utility.

If the diagnostic test reports an error, refer to Dell Troubleshooting Wizard: "Hard Drive Fails the Diagnostics"Wizard ID: 324398