Manual

support.dell.com Running the Dell Diagnostics 4-1
CHAPTER 4
Running the Dell Diagnostics
NOTE: To perform these procedures, you must connect a keyboard, mouse, and mon-
itor to your system.
Unlike many diagnostic programs, the Dell Diagnostics helps you check the system's
hardware without any additional equipment and without destroying any data. By using
the diagnostics, you can have confidence in the system's operation. If you find a prob-
lem that you cannot solve by yourself, the diagnostic tests can provide you with
important information you will need when talking to Dell's technical assistance
representative.
NOTICE: Use the Dell Diagnostics to test only Dell systems. If you use this
program with other systems, incorrect system responses or error messages
may result.
Features of the Dell Diagnostics
The Dell Diagnostics provides a series of menus and options from which you choose
particular device groups or devices. You can also control the sequence in which the
tests are run. The diagnostic menus 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 is repeated
• The ability to display or print test results or to save them in a file
• Options to temporarily suspend testing if an error is detected or to terminate
testing when an adjustable error limit is reached
• Help messages that briefly describe each test and its parameters
• Status messages that inform you whether device group or device tests are com-
pleted successfully
• Error messages that appear if any problems are detected
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