Dell 6100 Installation And Troubleshooting Manual

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Contents

Dell 6100 Installation And Troubleshooting Manual Manual pdf 45 page image

Running the System Diagnostics 5-11SubtestsThe subtests that constitute the System Set Test Groupand the computer functions they confirm follow:• CMOS Confidence TestChecks the NVRAM for accessibility and reliabilityof data storage by performing a data pattern checkand verifying the uniqueness of memory addresses.• EISA Configuration Memory TestVerifies the accessibility and reliability of the RAMon the Extended Industry-Standard Architecture(EISA) configuration RAM chip, which stores theEISA hardware configuration information. On sys-tems without flash RAM, performs a data patternand address uniqueness test.• DMA Controller TestTests the direct memory access (DMA) controllerand verifies the correct operation of its page andchannel registers by writing patterns to the registers.• Real-Time Clock TestConfirms the functionality and accuracy of the com-puter’s real-time clock (RTC).• Timers TestChecks the timers used by the microprocessor forevent counting, frequency generation, and otherfunctions. Only the functions that can be activatedby software are tested.• Interrupt Controller TestGenerates an interrupt on each interrupt request(IRQ) line to verify that devices using that line cancommunicate with the microprocessor(s) and that theinterrupt controllers send the correct memoryaddresses to the microprocessor(s).• Speaker TestChecks the functionality of the speaker by generat-ing eight tones.• x87 Calculation TestChecks the use of different types of numbers and themath coprocessor’s ability to calculate correctly.• x87 Duty Cycle TestTests the math coprocessor’s ability to perform com-plex mathematical operations.• x87 Error Exception TestVerifies the math coprocessor’s ability to handleerrors and to send IRQs to the microprocessor.• Apic Test and Apic MP TestFor systems with multiprocessors, confirms that theadditional microprocessors are operational.Why Run a System Set Test?The System Set subtests double-check many systemboard components, such as the computer’s input/output(I/O) circuitry, that are tested by other test groups orsubtests in the diagnostics. You should run the SystemSet Test Group if you are having a problem and cannotisolate the failure or malfunction to a particular systemboard component.The System Set Test Group also verifies the proper oper-ation of other computer components, such as the speaker,that are not tested elsewhere in the diagnostics.The following symptoms usually suggest a problem witha component or subassembly that warrants running a Sys-tem Set subtest:• A program is not running as usual, or a proven pieceof software appears to malfunction and you confirmthat the software itself is not at fault. You can con-firm that the software is functioning properly bymoving it to another computer and running it there.• An option card you previously accessed can nolonger be accessed.• You get parity errors or page fault failures (any errormessage that contains the words parity or page fault)at any time during operation. These errors are usu-ally accompanied by a reference to an address,which you should record on a copy of the Diagnos-tics Checklist found in Appendix A.• Correcting errors in the system configuration infor-mation in the system setup program or the systemconfiguration utility does not resolve a problem.• The computer’s clock/calendar stops.