EPSON® EQUITY™LT™-286e System Diagnostics User’s Guide
IMPORTANT NOTICE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you. COPYRIGHT NOTICE All rights reserved.
Contents Introduction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting the Diagnostics Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creating a Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The DIAG Main Menu Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting Diagnostics Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Run Time Parameters . . . . . . . . . . .
Hard Disk Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hard Disk Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Disk drive identifier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Disk drive type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interleave factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bad track list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Video Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adapter Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Attribute Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80x25 Display Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40x25 Display Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320x200 Graphics Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction This booklet describes how to use the diagnostics program, called DIAG, to test the condition of your computer’s main unit and peripheral devices, The DIAG program provides tests to check the following hardware: CI System board Cl Memory Ll Hard disk drive 0 Diskette drive LI Keyboard CI Video adapter board and monitor CI Printer and communications ports After you start the diagnostics program, you can create a database that records the location of faulty memory chips, if any exist.
Starting the Diagnostics Program To start the diagnostics program, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Diagnostics diskette in drive A. 2. Turn on or reset the computer. 3. At the MS-DOS@ prompt, type the following and press Enter: DIAG The Diagnostics program displays a title screen. 4. Press any key to continue. Creating a Database You can create a database to record the location of faulty memory chips that are causing memory errors.
If you want to create a database, follow these steps: 1. Type the name (from 1 to 50 characters) that identifies your company or the computer and press Enter in response to this prompt: vendor's name : (maximum 50 characters) For example, type EPSON and press Enter. 2. Type the computer’s model number (from 1 to 8 characters) and press Enter in response to this prompt: .. model number (maximum 8 characters) For example, type LT-286e and press Enter. DIAG stores this information in a file called DIAGS.CNF.
To update the existing database, press Y and Enter. Now you respond to the screen prompts to update the configuration. If you do not want to update the database, press N and Enter. You see the DIAG main menu. The DIAG Main Menu Screen The DIAG main menu screen looks like this: ~~~~~~~~~~ Memoly :.:-A.. . . ..I. _..... . . . . Hard Disk Keyboard Video Miscl.
The Run Time Parameters window lets you specify how long you want the test to run, whether you want DIAG to notify you of each error as it occurs, and whether to create a log of all errors that occur during testing. The Help window shows the keys you use to make menu selections. A short message describing each test you highlight displays at the bottom of the screen.
Selecting Diagnostics Tests This section describes the various ways you can select the tests you want to run. To start a single test, move the cursor to highlight the test category on the main menu. Then move the cursor to the submenu and highlight the test you want to perform. Press Enter to start the test. To select several tests at one time, move the cursor to each test you want to perform and press F3. If you decide you do not want to run a selected test, highlight the test name and press F3 again.
You cannot include certain tests in a group. The tests that must run separately include: category Test System Board Timer test Real Time Clock test Hard Disk Hard Disk Format Auto Interleave Media Analysis Force Bad Tracks Floppy Disk Change Line Test Keyboard Scan/ASCII Code Test Miscellaneous Printer Adapter Test: Comm. Adapter Test After you select the test(s) you want to run, you must set the Run Time Parameters.
Type T and press Enter to run the selected tests in Timebound mode. In Timebound mode, DIAG runs the tests for the amount of time you specify. Type C and press Enter to run the selected tests in Continuous mode. In Continuous mode, the tests run until you interrupt them. Type P and press Enter to run the diagnostics tests in Passbound mode. In Passbound mode, DIAG executes the selected tests the number of times you specify. This is the default setting.
Timebound Testing If you selected Timebound testing, you see this prompt: Period :001 hr 00 min Specify the amount of time you want to run the selected test(s). Type the number of hours, from 000 to 999, and press Enter. Then type the number of minutes, from 00 to 59, and press Enter. You can use the backspace key (t) to edit your input. Continuous Testing If you selected Continuous testing, DIAG needs no additional information.
If you specify a number larger than 65535, DIAG subtracts 65535 from your entry to determine how many times to run the test. For example, if you enter a value of 65540, DIAG runs the test(s) five times. Error Logging When you request error logging, DIAG displays the following pop-up window: Log errors on disk Log errors to printer (LPT1) Log errors to serial port (COM1) C a n c e l error logging Highlight the device you want to use to store or print the error messages.
After selecting error logging, DIAG uses this device (and/or disk drive) for error logging until you indicate you do not want error logging. You can then specify a new device and/or disk drive by selecting error logging in the Run Time Parameters window. When you specify a new device and/or disk drive, DIAG erases the existing ERROR.LOG file. If you select the printer, DIAG writes the error messages to the device connected to your parallel port assigned LPT1.
Executing Diagnostics Tests in Batch Mode To execute the selected group of diagnostics tests in batch mode, simply press F6. DIAG highlights each test name as it runs the test. If you selected Passbound testing, DIAG displays the pass number on the right side of the screen above the Run Time Parameters window. For example: Pass : 00001 When DIAG is executing a group of tests, you can stop the testing and return to the System Board submenu of tests by pressing Ctrl Break.
System Board Diagnostics The tests listed in the System Board submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the system board. Basic Functionality test CPU Protected Mode test Processor speed test CoProcessor test DMA Controller test Interrupt Controller test Timer test Real Time Clock test CMOS Validity test Basic Functionality Test This test verifies the operation of each major component on the system board. It checks the instructions, registers, and flags of the CPU.
Processor Speed Test This test identifies the CPU clock speed and displays a message similar to this: Measure CPU speed in Megahertz = 12.00 Coprocessor Test This test checks the math coprocessor. If the math coprocessor is not installed, you see this message: Numeric Data processor not present. DMA Controller Test This test performs read/write tests on the memory address registers and page registers of DMA controller 1 and 2. During the test, you see this message: Testing Programmable DMA Controller.
Interrupt Controller Test This test performs read/write tests on the interrupt mask registers and checks for invalid interrupts. During the test, you see this message: Testing Programmable Interrupt Controller . . . . When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Programmable Interrupt Controller test passed OK. Timer Test This test verifies the accuracy of the timer count by comparing it to the periodic interrupt of the system’s real time clock (RTC).
RTC Test This test verifies the accuracy of the real time clock by comparing it to the timer 0 interrupt. During the test, you see this message: Testing Real Time Clock.... When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Real Time Clock test passed. CMOS Validity Test This test checks the system’s CMOS RAM. During the test, you see this message: Testing CMOS validity.... When the test completes successfully, you see this message: CMOS validity test passed OK.
Memory Diagnostics The tests listed in the Memory submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the system's built-inmemory. BIOS ROM Test Parity test Pattern test Walking l's test Walking O's test Address test Refresh test If you have relocated any memory addresses, you must change the addresses to their original locations for the memory tests to work properly. If an error occurs during a memory test, DIAG displays this message: PRESS TO VIEW FAULTY MEMORY CHIP.
BIOS ROM Test This test checks the data path of the BIOS ROM. When the test completes successfully, you see this message: System ROM module test passed. Parity Test This test checks for parity errors in memory. During the test, DIAG displays these messages: Testing from absolute memory location xxxxxxxxh. Checking for parity error. When the parity test completes without an error, you see this message: Parity test passed OK.
Walking 1’s Test This test checks the voltage in the data lines for any shorts and checks for any data bits that are always 1. During the test, you see this message: Testing from absolute base xxxxxxxxh When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Walking 1s test in memory passed OK. Walking 0’s Test This test checks the voltage in the data lines for any shorts and checks for any data bits that are always 0.
Refresh Test This test checks the refresh interval. If an error occurs, DIAG displays this message: Failure in Refresh test. When the test completes successfully, you see this message: Refresh test passed OK. Hard Disk Diagnostics The tests listed in the Hard Disk submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the system’s hard disk drive. Hard Disk Format Auto Interleave Media Analysis Perform Test Seek Test Read/Verify Test Check Test Cyl.
Destructive diagnostics tests include: Hard Disk Format Auto Interleave Media Analysis Force Bad Tracks The non-destructive diagnostics tests include: Performance Test Seek Test Read/Verify Test Check Test Cylinder Hard Disk Parameters DIAG may request any or all of the following parameters before performing a following hard disk test: Disk drive identifier Disk drive type Interleave factor Bad track list Start cylinder number End cylinder number Start head number End head number Disk drive identifier DIAG
Disk drive type DIAG displays the following prompt for the disk drive type: Disk Drive type ? 2 Select drive type 2 for a 20MB drive or drive type 17 for a 40MB drive. DIAG determines the type of hard disk drive based on the settings in CMOS RAM. A pop-up window on the screen lists 47 possible drive types. This allows for the possibility of additional hard disk drives in the future.
Bad track list DIAG displays the following prompt for the bad track list: Mark Bad Tracks (Y/N) ? Entering the bad track list is optional. If you respond Y to the above prompt, you see the following menu in a pop-up window: Add an entry Revise an entry Delete an entry Clear Bad Track list Save and Exit You do not need to enter a bad track list for the hard disk that comes with the Equity LT-286e.
Start and end head numbers DIAG displays the following prompts for the starting and ending head numbers: Start Head number End Head number ? ? Enter the first and last head numbers on which you want to perform the tests. The default for the start head number is 0, and the default for the end head number is one less than the highest head number of your hard disk. The highest head number for the Equity LT-286e is 3.
When you select Hard Disk Format, DIAG requests the following hard disk parameters: Disk drive identifier Disk drive type Interleave factor Bad track list (optional) Start cylinder number End cylinder number Start head number End head number If you do not specify the bad track list, DIAG performs an analysis of the surface of the hard disk to determine the bad tracks.
When you select Auto Interleave, DIAG requests the disk drive identifier and disk drive type. After you specify the parameters, you see these messages: W A R N I N G All data on Hard disk you have specified may be LOST... Do you still want to continue (Y/N)? Press Y and Enter to start the Auto Interleave function. Press N and Enter to stop the operation. Media Analysis This test identifies the bad tracks on the hard disk.
DIAG displays the following messages after you specify the hard disk parameters: W A R N I N G All data on Hard disk you have specified may be LOST... Do you still want to continue (Y/N)? Press Y and Enter to start analyzing the hard disk. Press N and Enter to stop the operation. Performance Test This test checks the performance of your hard disk. It determines the data transfer rate and track-to-track seek time based on the transfer sire, seek count, and the amount of data transferred.
When you select the Performance Test, DIAG requests the disk drive identifier and disk drive type. Seek Test This test checks the seek capability of the hard disk on the specified range of cylinders and heads. DIAG performs a series of sequential seeks followed by random seeks. It reports any errors found.
Check Test Cylinder This test checks the test cylinder, which is the last cylinder on the hard disk. Perform this test if you receive a hard disk error when you boot the system. When you select Check Test Cylinder, DIAG requests the disk drive identifier and disk drive type. Force Bad Tracks Use this test to mark bad tracks on the hard disk without formatting the disk.
Press Y and Enter to start the test. Press N and Enter to stop the operation. Hard Disk Error Messages DIAG displays two types of error messages while testing the hard disk: messages DIAG generates and those the controller generates.
Floppy Disk Diagnostics The tests listed in the Floppy Disk submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the system’s diskette drive. Diskette Format I Drive Speed Test Random R/W Test Sequential R/W Test Disk Change Line Test Floppy disk diagnostics tests may be destructive or nondestructive. Destructive diagnostics destroy data on the diskette. These tests include: Diskette Format Random R/W Test Sequential R/W Test Non-destructive diagnostics do not destroy data on the diskette.
Diskette Format This test checks the format of the floppy disk controller and drive. It does not format the diskette for any particular operating system. This test destroys all data on the diskette. Drive Speed Test This test verifies how fast the floppy drive rotates a diskette. Your internal, 1.44MB, 3 1/2-inch diskette drive should rotate the diskette at 300 rpm allowing a tolerance of one percent. An external, 1.2MB, 5 1/4-inch diskette drive should rotate a 1.
Sequential R/W Test This test checks the sequential seek, read, and write capabilities of a floppy disk drive. It performs a sequential read/write operation on the diskette in the specified drive. To perform this test, insert a diskette into the drive you plan to test. Use a diskette you have formatted with the Diskette Format test. This test destroys all data on the diskette. Disk Change Line Test This test checks the status of the disk change line.
CHANGE LINE Not Available DIAG displays this message if you attempt to run the Change Line Test on a drive that does not support a change line, such as a 360KB or 720KB drive.
Controller Test This test checks the keyboard controller. Scan/ASCII Code Test This test checks the scan codes assigned to the keys on the keyboard. When you select this test, DIAG displays the layout of your keyboard on the screen. When you press a key, DIAG displays the scan code and the ASCII code of the key. See the “Keyboard Scan/ASCII Codes” section later in this booklet for a complete list of the scan codes and ASCII codes for your keyboard. Press Ctrl Break at any time to end this test.
Video Diagnostics The tests listed in the Video submenu provide a complete diagnostics check of the video adapter. Use these tests to check the operation of the LCD or monitor connected to your computer. Run All Tests Adapter Test Attribute Test 80x25 Display Test 40x25 Display Test 320x200 Graphics Test 640x200 Graphics Test Page Selection Test Color Test 640x350 Graphics Test Adapter Test This test checks the memory assigned to the display adapter.
40x25 Display Test This test checks the 40x25 display feature of the display adapter. This test is available for a color display adapter only. 320x200 Graphics Test This test checks the 320x200 graphics display feature of the display adapter. This test is available for a color display adapter only. 640x200 Graphics Test This test checks the high resolution (600x200) graphics display feature of the display adapter. This test is available for a color display adapter only.
640x350 Graphics Test This test checks the 640x350 graphics display feature of the EGA display adapter. This test is available for a color display adapter only. Video Error Message DIAG displays the following error message during the Adapter Test: DISPLAY MEMORY R/W ERROR The Adapter Test detected a read/write error in the display memory. This indicates a problem with the display controller. Contact your dealer.
You may see one of the following error messages during this test: Error Error Error Error - Printer Out of Paper Printer Not Selected Printer Interface I/O Error Time Out On Printer Check that the printer is on-line, paper is loaded, and all connections are secure. Communication Adapter Test This test checks the serial port. Before running this test, you must connect a special RS-232C connector to the serial port.
You may see one of the following error messages during this test: Error Error Error Error Error - Break Detected Framing error Overrun error Parity error Time out! These error messages indicate a problem with the controller or with the test cable. Make sure the test connector is secure. If the error persists, contact your dealer.
Keyboard Scan/ASCII Codes Scan Code ASCII Code ** ** 29 60 Num Lock ** *t Scroll Lock tt ** 0C 2D Home 47 00 T 48 00 PgUP 49 00 4A 2D F1 3B 00 F2 3c 00 F3 3D 00 F4 3E 00 F5 3F 00 F6 40 00 F7 41 00 F8 42 00 F9 43 00 F10 44 00 E OD 3D t 4B 00 [blank key] - - Keystroke Sys Req ** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics 41
Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code + 4D 00 + 4E 2B Esc 01 1B 1 02 31 2 03 32 3 04 33 4 05 34 5 06 35 6 07 36 7 08 37 8 09 38 9 0A 39 0 0B 30 End 4F 00 5- 50 00 PgDn 51 00 + Ww) 0E 08 Tab 0F 09 q 10 71 W 11 77 e 12 65 r 13 72 t 14 74 ** No codes - Ignored 42 System Diagnostics
Scan Code ASCII Code 15 79 16 75 17 69 0 18 6F P 19 70 [ 1A 5B ] 1B 5D Enter 1C 0D Ctrl ** ** a 1E 61 S 1F 73 d 20 64 f 21 66 g 22 67 h 23 68 j 24 6A k 25 6B I 26 6C 27 3B 28 27 l * ** Z 2C 7A X 2D 78 Keystroke ’ (apostrophe) Shift (left) ** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics 43
Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code C 2E 63 V 2F 76 b 30 62 n 31 6E m 32 6D , (comma) 33 2C 34 2E I 35 2F Shift (right) ** ** Alt ** ** 37 * * \ 28 5C [space bar] 39 20 Caps Lock ** ** Ins 52 00 Del 53 00 Shift SysReq ** ** Shift ’ (-) 29 7E Shift NumLock ** ** Shift ScrollLock ** ** Shift - (-) 0C 5F Shift Home (7) 47 00 Shift ? (8) 48 00 l ** No codes - Ignored 44 System Diagnostics
Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code Shift PgUp (9) 49 00 Shift - 4A 2D Shift F1 54 00 Shift F2 55 00 Shift F3 56 00 Shift F4 57 00 Shift F5 58 00 Shift F6 59 00 Shift F7 5A 00 Shift F8 5B 00 Shift F9 5C 00 Shift F10 5D 00 Shift = (+) 0D 2B Shift t (4) 48 00 Shift [blank key] - - Shift + (6) 4D 00 Shift + 4E 2B Shift Esc 01 1B Shift 1 (!) 02 21 Shift 2 (@) 03 40 Shift 3 (#) 04 23 Shift 4 ($) 05 24 Shift 5 (%) 06 25 ** No codes - Ignored Syst
1 Keystroke Scan Code Shift 6 (^) 07 5E Shift 7 (&) 08 26 Shift 8 (*) 09 2A Shift 9 (() 0A 28 Shift 0 ()) 0B 29 Shift End (1) 4F 00 Shift L (2) 50 00 Shift PgDn (3) 51 00 Shift t (bksp) 0E 08 Shift Tab OF 00 Shift Q 10 51 Shift W 11 57 Shift E 12 45 Shift f? 13 52 Shift T 14 54 Shift Y 15 59 Shift U 16 55 Shift I 17 49 Shift O 18 4F Shift P 19 50 Shift [ ({) 1A 7B Shift ] (}) 1B 7D Shift Enter 1C OD ** No codes - Ignored 46 System Diag
r- r Keystroke Scan Code Shift Ctrl Shift A 1E Shift S 1F Shift D 20 Shift F 21 Shift G 22 Shift H 23 Shift J 24 Shift K 25 Shift L 26 Shift ; (:) 27 Shift ’ (“) 28 Shift (left) l * Shift Z 2C Shift X 2D Shift C 2E Shift V 2F 56 Shift B 30 42 Shift N 31 4E Shift M 32 4D Shift, (<) 33 3C Shift (>) 34 3E Shift / (?) 35 3F Shift Shift (right) L.
Scan Code ASCII Code ** ** ** ** Shift \ (|) 2B 7C Shift [space bar] 39 20 ** ** Shift Ins (0) 52 30 Shift Del (.
Scan Code ASCII Code Ctrl F9 66 00 Ctrl F10 67 00 Ctrl = - - Ctrl t 73 00 Ctrl [blank key] - - Ctrl + 74 00 Ctrl + - - Ctrl Esc 01 1B Ctrl 1 - - Ctrl 2 (NUL) 03 00 Ctrl 3 - - Ctrl 4 - - Ctrl 5 - - Ctrl 6 (RS) 07 1E Ctrl 7 - - Ctrl 8 - - Ctrl 9 - - Ctrl 0 - - Ctrl End 75 00 Ctrl 1 - - Ctrl PgDn 76 00 Ctrl t (bksp) 0E 7F Keystroke ** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics 49
Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code Ctrl Tab - - Ctrl Q (DC1) 10 11 Ctrl W (ETB) 11 17 Ctrl E (ENQ) 12 05 Ctrl R (DC2) 13 12 Ctrl T (DC4) 14 14 Ctrl Y (EM) 15 19 Ctrl U (NAK) 16 15 Ctrl I (HT) 17 09 Ctrl 0 (SI) 18 0F Ctrl P (DLE) 19 10 Ctrl [ (ESC) 1A 1B Ctrl ] (GS) 1B 1D Ctrl Enter (LF) 1C 0A Ctrl ** ** Ctrl A (SOH) 1E 01 Ctrl S (DC3) 1F 13 Ctrl D (EOT) 20 04 Ctrl F (ACK) 21 06 Ctrl G (BEL) 22 07 Ctrl H (bksp) 23 08 Ctrl J (LF) 24 0A Ctrl K (V
Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code Ctrl ; - - Ctrl ’ - - Ctrl Shift (left) ** * * Ctrl Z (SUB) 2C 1A Ctrl X (CAN) 2D 18 Ctrl C (ETX) 2E 03 Ctrl V (SYN) 2F 16 Ctrl B (STX) 30 02 Ctrl N (SO) 31 0E Ctrl M (CR) 32 OD Ctrl , - Ctrl , - - Ctrl / - - Ctrl Shift (right) ** ** Ctrl Alt ** ** Ctrl * (PrtSc) 72 ** Ctrl\ (FS) 2B 1C Ctrl [space bar] 39 20 Ctrl CapsLock - - Ctrl Ins - - Ctrl Del - - Alt SysReq ** Alt ’ - 1 - ** No codes - Ignored System
I Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code Alt NumLock ** ** Alt Scrolllock ** ** Alt- 82 00 Alt Home - - Alt 7 - - Alt PgUp - - Alt - - - Alt F1 68 00 Alt F2 69 00 Alt F3 6A 00 Alt F4 6B 00 Alt F5 6C 00 Alt F6 6D 00 Alt F7 6E 00 Alt F8 6F 00 Alt F9 70 00 Alt F10 71 00 AA = 83 00 Alt t - - Alt [blank key] - - Alt + - - Alt + - - Alt Esc - - Alt 1 78 00 ** No codes - Ignored 52 System Diagnostics
Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code Alt 2 79 00 AIt 3 7A 00 Alt 4 7B 00 Alt 5 7C 00 Alt 6 7D 00 Alt 7 7E 00 Alt 8 7F 00 Alt 9 80 00 Alt 0 81 00 Alt End - - Alt -1 - - Alt PgDn - - Alt t (bksp) - - Alt Tab - - Alt Q 10 00 Alt W 11 11 Alt E 12 00 Alt R 13 00 Alt T 14 00 Alt Y 15 00 Alt U 16 00 Alt I 17 00 Alt O 18 00 Alt P 19 00 ** No codes - Ignored System Diagnostics 53
Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code Alt [ - - Alt ] - - Alt Enter - - Alt Ctrl ** ** Alt A 1E 00 Alt S 1F 00 Alt D 20 00 Alt F 21 00 Alt G 22 00 Alt H 23 00 Alt J 24 00 Alt K 25 00 Alt L 26 00 Alt ; - - Alt ’ - - Alt Shift (left) ** ** A l t 2C ** At X 2D ** Alt C 2E ** Alt V 2F ** Alt B 30 ** Alt N 31 ** Alt M 32 ** Alt , - - Z ** No codes - Ignored 54 System Diagnostics
Keystroke Scan Code ASCII Code Alt .
