Dell Latitude CPi A - Manual (Page 110)

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Running the Dell Diagnostics: Dell
™
Latitude
™
CPi A-Series
System User's Guide
Overview | Features of the Dell Diagnostics | When to Use the Dell Diagnostics | Before You Start Testing |
Starting the Dell Diagnostics | How to Use the Dell Diagnostics | Confirming the System Configuration
Information | How to Use the Menu | Main Menu Options | Tests in the Dell Diagnostics | Error Messages |
RAM Test Group | System Set Test Group | Video Test Group | Keyboard Test Group | Mouse Test |
Diskette Drives Test Group | Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) Test Group | IDE CD-ROM Drives Test Group |
Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group | Parallel Ports Test Group | SCSI Devices Test Group | Network Interface
Test Group | Audio Test Group | Other Test Group
Overview
Unlike many diagnostic programs, the Dell Diagnostics helps you check the computer's hardware without any
additional equipment and without destroying any data. By using the Dell Diagnostics, you can have
confidence in the computer's operation. If you find a problem you cannot solve by yourself, the diagnostic
tests can provide you with important information you will need when talking to Dell's service and support
personnel.
CAUTION: Use the Dell Diagnostics to test only your Dell computer. Using this program with
other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or result in misleading error
messages.
NOTE: If the computer does not boot, call Dell for technical assistance. See Getting Help for
instructions.
Features of the Dell Diagnostics
To troubleshoot components or devices, run the appropriate test (test group or subtest) in the diagnostics on
your Dell Diagnostics Diskette. The diagnostics program exercises the functional components and devices of
the computer more vigorously and thoroughly than they are exercised during normal operation.
The Dell Diagnostics provides a series of menus and options from which you choose particular test groups or
subtests. Each diagnostic test group or subtest allows you to control important testing parameters. You can
also control the sequence in which the tests are run. The diagnostic test groups or subtests also have these
helpful features:
Options that let you run tests individually or collectively
An option that allows you to choose the number of times a test group or subtest is repeated
The ability to display test results, print them, or save them in a file
Options to suspend testing when an adjustable error limit is reached
A menu option called About that briefly describes each test and its parameters
Status messages that inform you whether test groups or subtests were completed successfully
Error messages that appear if any problems are detected