Dell Latitude LM - Manual (Page 36)

3-6 Dell Latitude LM Systems Service Manual
R
unning the Dell Diagnostics
The Dell diagnostics contains tests that aid in troubleshooting the computer.
The diagnostics diskette contains the following test groups:
• RAM — Tests the main memory
• System Set — Tests the primary functions of the main board
• Video — Tests the video subsystem
• Keyboard — Tests the keyboard subsystem
• Mouse — Tests the mouse/touch pad subsystem
• Diskette Drives — Tests the diskette drive subsystem
• Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) — Tests the IDE hard-disk drive subsystem
• IDE CD ROM Drives — Tests a CD-ROM drive subsystem
• Serial/Infrared Ports — Tests the serial communications port
• Parallel Ports — Tests the parallel communications port
• Audio — Tests the operation of the audio chip set
• SCSI Devices — Tests a SCSI hard-disk drive subsystem
NOTE: This test does not apply to Dell Latitude LM computers.
• Network Interface — Tests a network controller and its associated interface
NOTE: This test does not apply to Dell Latitude LM computers.
To start the diagnostics, turn off the computer, insert a diagnostics diskette into
the diskette drive, and then turn on the computer.
Starting the diagnostics causes the Dell logo screen to appear, followed by a
message indicating that the diagnostics is loading. Before the diagnostics loads,
a program tests the portion of main memory (RAM) required for loading the
diagnostics. If a main memory error is detected, a message appears on the
screen telling you a memory module has failed.
If no errors are found in main memory, the diagnostics loads, and the Diagnos-
tics Menu appears. This menu lets you choose the following options or exit to
the MS-DOS
® prompt:
• RUN QUICK TESTS — Runs preselected tests to quickly locate a computer
failure or to indicate where further testing is needed to isolate a failure
• RUN ALL TESTS — Runs all tests for a thorough test of the computer
•
RUN SPECIFIC TESTS — Tests a particular area or subsystem of the
computer
CAUTION: To prevent damage to the original diagnostics diskette,
always use a backup copy of the diagnostics diskette when servicing a user’s
computer. Dell recommends that users make several copies of this diskette to
ensure that one is always available.