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Dell Diagnostics

Dell Precision™ WorkStation 530 User's Guide

• When to use the Dell Diagnostics
  
  
• Features
  
  
• Before you start testing
  
  
• Running the Dell Diagnostics
  
  
• Advanced testing
  
  

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

If you experience a problem with your computer, run the Dell Diagnostics before you call Dell for technical assistance. The Dell Diagnostics tests check your computer's hardware without additional equipment and without the risk of destroying data. When the diagnostics tests complete without indicating any problems, you can have confidence in your computer's operation. If the tests indicate a problem you cannot solve by yourself, the test results provide important information you will need when talking to Dell's service and support personnel.

NOTICE: Only use the Dell Diagnostics to test your Dell computer. Using this program with other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or result in error messages. Also, only use the Dell Diagnostics that came with your computer or an updated version of the program for your computer. Do not use Dell Diagnostics from another model Dell computer.

Features

The diagnostic test groups 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 ensure that it is online.
  
  
• Enter system setup, confirm your computer's system configuration information, and enable all of its components and devices, such as ports.
  
  

Running 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. See "Finding Information and Assistance" for more information.

1. Insert the Dell Precision ResourceCD into the CD drive.
   
   

Microsoft® Windows® automatically runs the ResourceCD, and the main menu appears.

NOTE: If this is the first time you have used the ResourceCD, an installation utility automatically runs, and then the main menu appears.

2. Press <Alt><F4> to exit the main menu.
   
   
3. Ensure that your diskette drive is empty.
   
   

NOTE: Some of the diagnostics tests allow you to print the results. If you want to print test results, turn on your printer, if one is attached, and ensure that it is online.

4. Restart the computer.
   
   
5. If your computer boots to the CD, the Dell logo screen appears, followed by a list of menu option descriptions and their available languages.
   
   

NOTE: If your computer does not boot to the CD, change the Boot Sequence to boot from the CD drive.

NOTE: If you have a SCSI controller installed in your computer, make sure the controller is configured to boot after IDE devices. For more information, see your SCSI controller documentation.

6. Select the appropriate language for menu options. If you have changed a partition table and restarted your computer, select the option to Continue Windows NT Reinstall.
   
   

A numbered list displays the available options. The following list describes each option.

NOTE: Once you select one of the following options, you cannot return to the list to select another option. If you decide that you do not want to continue with an option or wish to select another option, you must restart your computer.

• Option 1 – Start/Continue Windows NT® Installation
  
  

NOTICE: This option has the potential to erase partial data or the entire hard drive.

Helps you reinstall Windows NT Workstation on your computer. Use this option if your computer has become unusable or if you require a clean installation of this OS. To complete the reinstallation, you will need your Windows NT CD, your service pack CD, and your Windows NT Product Key (also called the Product ID or COA).

For more information, refer to the Windows NT installation guide provided with your computer.

• Option 2 – Dell Diagnostics
  
  

Loads the Dell Diagnostics that allow you to perform tests and help determine if your computer has possible problems. When the Diagnostics Menu appears, select one of the options to continue.

• Option 3 – Dell ZZTOP Imaging Software
  
  

NOTICE: This option reformats your hard drive and causes data loss. Do not select this option unless a qualified Dell technician has instructed you to do so.

Helps you to restore a corrupted hard drive by reinstalling Windows and reconfiguring the computer to factory defaults.

• Option 4 – SCSI Hard-Drive Diagnostics
  
  

Runs a diagnostic test on your SCSI hard drive(s). The diagnostic test does not cause data loss. However, you should back up any important data before you run the test.

NOTE: The SCSI hard-drive diagnostics are intended for computers with SCSI hard drives and will ignore IDE hard drives.

• Option 5 – Network Adapter Diagnostics/Configuration
  
  

Configures the resources and settings for the integrated network adapter. It also allows you to run MS-DOS–based diagnostics on the adapter to help solve problems.

For more information on this utility, refer to the 3Com documentation provided with your computer.

• Option 6 – Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
  
  

NOTE: The RAID configuration utility is not for use with your computer.

• Option 7 – Video Diagnostics
  
  

Displays a list of video controllers that can be installed in your computer and then runs diagnostic tests on the video controller you select.

NOTE: To find out what video adapter you have, click the Start button, click Settings, click Control Panel, and double-click the Display icon. In the Display Properties window, click the Settings tab. For Windows, the video adapter is listed. For Windows NT, click Display Type to list the video adapter.

After a diagnostic test runs, it tells you whether the test passed or failed. You can isolate the part of the video subsystem that is experiencing a problem by determining which tests pass or fail.

• Option 8 – Copy Hard Drive Controller Drivers to Diskette
  
  

Allows you to select and copy to diskette hard-drive controller drivers appropriate for your computer. You can then manually install the drivers that are not natively supported by the OS.

• Option 9 – Exit to DOS
  
  

Exits the main menu and returns to an MS-DOS prompt, at which point you can remove the ResourceCD and restart your system.

7. Select Option 2 – Dell Diagnostics.
   
   

After the diagnostics load, the Dell Diagnostics main menu appears:

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

• 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.
  
  

8. Select the type of tests to perform:
   
   
   • To perform a quick check of your computer or a specific device, select Quick Tests from the Test All Devices or Test One Device option.
     
     

Quick Tests runs only the tests that run fast and do not require user interaction. Dell recommends that you choose Quick Tests first to increase the odds of tracing the source of the problem quickly.

• For a thorough check of your computer or to check a particular area of your computer, select Extended Tests from the Test All Devices or Test One Device option.
  
  
• To customize your test(s), select the Advanced Testing option.
  
  

9. Remove the ResourceCD from the CD drive when you finish running the Dell Diagnostics.
   
   
10. If you changed the Boot Sequence in system setup, enter system setup and change the sequence back to the original configuration.
    
    

Advanced Testing

When you select Advanced Testing from the Diagnostics Menu, the following screen appears:

Advanced Testing Screen

NOTE: The groups and devices listed in your screen can vary somewhat based on the components installed in your computer.

Information in the Advanced Testing screen is presented as follows:

• Device Groups — lists the diagnostic test groups in the order they will 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.

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:

Advanced Testing Help Categories 

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 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 Dell Diagnostics modules associated with the Device Groups

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