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Running the Dell Diagnostics 4-13
•
Correcting errors in the system configuration infor-
mation does not resolve a problem.
•
The computer’s clock/calendar stops.
•
The speaker no longer functions. The problem could
be a failure of the system timers as well as a failure
of the speaker itself. Run the System Timers Test,
followed by the System Speaker Test.
•
If a peripheral device appears to malfunction, run the
Interrupt Controllers Test. If the computer fails the
test, the problem lies with the interrupt controller; if
the computer passes, then the problem lies with the
peripheral device.
•
A spreadsheet program or other type of mathemati-
cal application runs abnormally slow, generates error
messages concerning calculations or operations, runs
incorrectly, or generates incorrect results; or a
proven piece of the program appears to malfunction
and you confirm that the software itself is not at
fault. (You can confirm that the software is not at
fault by moving the program to another computer
and running it there.)
•
The computer halts in the middle of performing cal-
culations or complex mathematical operations.
Subtests
The subtests that constitute the System Set test group and
the computer functions they confirm follow:
•
CMOS Confidence Test
Checks the nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) for accessi-
bility and reliability of data storage by performing a
data pattern check and verifying the uniqueness of
memory addresses.
•
DMA Controller Test
Tests the direct memory access (DMA) controller
and verifies the correct operation of its page and
channel registers by writing patterns to the registers.
•
Real-Time Clock Test
Confirms the functionality and accuracy of the com-
puter’s real-time clock (RTC).
•
System Speaker Test
Checks the functionality of the speaker by generat-
ing eight tones.
•
Secondary Cache Test
Confirms the functionality of the secondary
(external) cache on the system board.
•
System Timers Test
Checks the timers used by the microprocessor for
event counting, frequency generation, and other
functions. Only the functions that can be activated
by software are tested.
•
Interrupt Controller Test
Generates an interrupt on each interrupt request
(IRQ) line to verify that devices using that line can
communicate with the microprocessor and that the
interrupt controller sends the correct memory
addresses to the microprocessor.
•
Coprocessor Calculation Test
Checks the use of different types of numbers and the
math coprocessor’s ability to calculate correctly.
•
Coprocessor Error Exception Test
Verifies the math coprocessor’s ability to handle
errors and to send IRQs to the microprocessor.
•
PC Card Controller Test
Checks the functionality of the PC Card controller
on the system board.
•
USB Register Test
Checks the onboard registers of the USB interface.
This subtest does not test USB peripherals.
V
ideo Test Group
The subtests in the Video test group verify the proper
operation of the video controller and the video control
circuitry installed in the computer. These subtests check
for the correct operation of the readable registers in the
video circuitry and the controller. They write, read, and
verify data patterns in the cursor registers of the control-
ler. The Video test group also provides additional subtests
to test the color features of the color display or an exter-
nal color monitor.
NOTE: The video subsystem of your computer’s display
may support video resolutions that are not supported on
an external monitor. When the video subtests are run on
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