Instruction Manual
Beep Codes and Error Messages 3-9
• Serial Ports — Tests the serial communication port
• Parallel Ports — Tests the parallel communication port
• SCSI Devices — Tests the SCSI controller in the Advanced Port
Replicator
• Network Interface — Tests the network controller in the Advanced Port
Replicator
• Serial Infrared — Tests the IrDA communications port
• Audio — Tests the built-in sound subsystem
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 which memory address 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 selected tests from all test groups to quickly
locate the failure or to indicate where further testing may be needed to iso-
late a failure
• RUN ALL TESTS — Runs all tests for a thorough test of the computer
• RUN SPECIFIC TESTS — Tests a particular area or subsystem
CAUTION: To prevent possible damage to the original diagnostics dis-
kette, always use a backup copy of the diagnostics diskette when servicing a
user’s system. If the user has not already made a backup copy of the diagnostics
diskette, do so before you run the diagnostics.