Dell Latitude CP Reference And Troubleshooting Manual

Also see for Latitude CP: Service manual Service manual

Contents

4-18 Dell Latitude CP Reference and Troubleshooting GuideSubtestsThe five subtests in the Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI)test group confirm the following drive functions:• Disk Controller TestChecks the internal microcode of the hard-disk drivecontroller• Forced Error-Correction-Code TestChecks the ability of the hard-disk drive to identifyand correct errors• Seek TestChecks the drive’s ability to search for a specifiedtrack on the drive and to position the read/writeheads of the drive to all tracks• Read TestPositions the read/write heads at each cylinder of thedrive and verifies that all tracks on the drive can beread correctly• Write TestPositions the read/write heads at each cylinder of thedrive and verifies that all tracks on the drive can bewritten to correctlyIDE CD ROM Drives Test GroupThe subtests in the IDE CD ROM Drives test groupcheck the functionality of the integrated drive electronics(IDE) CD-ROM drive. Before conducting an IDE CDROM test, insert into the drive a CD with audio and datatracks (such as a multimedia CD).NOTE: The Audio Output Test requires a CD with audiotracks; all other subtests in this test group require a CDwith data tracks. If the CD-ROM drive contains a CDthat does not have the required data or audio tracks, thesubtest fails.Why Run an IDE CD ROM Drives Test?If you encounter a problem while using an applicationprogram on a CD, the problem could result from the discor from the drive. When you encounter problems, first tryusing a different CD. If the problem recurs, run the IDECD ROM Drives test group.These are the most common symptoms that might promptyou to test an IDE CD-ROM drive:• Seek errors are reported by the operating system orapplication programs.• An error message appears on the screen stating thatthe computer cannot read from an IDE CD-ROMdrive.SubtestsThe five subtests in the IDE CD ROM Drives test groupconfirm the following drive functions:• Drive Controller TestCauses the drive to execute its internal self-test.• Seek TestChecks the drive’s ability to search for each block onthe device.• Read TestPositions the read heads at each block of the devicefor reading data and verifies that all blocks on thedevice can be read correctly.• Audio Output TestCauses the drive to begin playing the first audiotrack on an audio CD. (To determine if the testpassed, listen to the audio output of the drive.)NOTE: The Audio Output Test does not run automat-ically as part of the IDE CD ROM Drives test group;you must select this subtest individually.• Eject Removable MediaChecks the drive’s ability to eject the CD tray.Serial/Infrared Ports Test GroupThe subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports test group checkthe computer’s interface with external devices (such as aserial mouse or a printer). The subtests in this test groupare not intended as a diagnostic test for the externaldevice itself.