Dell Inspiron 3700 User Manual
Page 38
Confirming the System Configuration Information
When you boot your computer from your diagnostics diskette, the diagnostics checks your system configuration information and displays it in the
Device Groups area on the main screen.
The following sources supply this configuration information for the diagnostics:
l
The system configuration information settings (stored in nonvolatile random-access memory [NVRAM]) that you selected while using the
System Setup program
l
Identification tests of the microprocessor, the video controller, the keyboard controller, and other key components
l
Basic input/output system (BIOS) configuration information temporarily saved in RAM
Do not be concerned if the Device Groups area does not list the names of all the components or devices you know are part of your computer. For
example, you may not see a printer listed, although you know one is attached to your computer. Instead, the printer is listed as a parallel port. The
computer recognizes the parallel port as LPT1, which is an address that tells the computer where to send outgoing information and where to look
for incoming information. Because your printer is a parallel communications device, the computer recognizes the printer by its LPT1 address and
identifies it as a parallel port. You can test your printer connection in the Parallel Ports
tests.
How to Use Dell Diagnostics
Six comprehensive, menu-driven, online Help categories provide instructions on how to use the program and explain each menu item, test group,
subtest, and test and error result. To enter the Help menu, perform the following steps:
1. Highlight Select Devices to Test in the Diagnostics Menu.
2. Press <Enter>.
3. Press <h>.
The six Help menu categories are
,
. The online Help also provides detailed
descriptions of the devices that you are testing. The Help categories are explained below.
Menu Category
The Menu Help category provides descriptions of the main menu screen area, the Device Groups, and the different diagnostic menus and
commands and instructions on how to use them.
Keys Category
The Keys Help category explains the functions of the all of the keystrokes that can be used in Dell Diagnostics.