Specifications

General checkout
The diagnostic programs are on the hidden partition on the hard disk. These
programs are the primary method of testing the major components of the computer:
the system board, Ethernet controller, video adapter, RAM, keyboard, mouse
(pointing device), diskette drive, serial ports, hard disk drives, and parallel port. You
can also use them to test some external devices. See “Diagnostics” on page 17.
Also, if you cannot determine whether a problem is caused by the hardware or by
the software, you can run the diagnostic programs to confirm that the hardware is
working correctly.
When you run the diagnostic programs, a single problem might cause several error
messages. When this occurs, work to correct the cause of the first error message.
After the cause of the first error message is corrected, the other error messages
might not occur the next time you run the test.
A failed computer might be part of a shared hard disk drive cluster (two or more
computers sharing the same external storage devices). Before running diagnostics,
make sure that the failing computer is not part of a shared hard disk drive cluster.
A computer might be part of a cluster if any of the following are true:
v The customer identifies the computer as part of a cluster.
v One or more external storage units are attached to the computer and at least
one of the attached storage units is additionally attached to another computer or
unidentifiable source.
v One or more computers are located near the failing computer.
If the failing computer is suspected to be part of a shared hard disk drive cluster, all
diagnostic tests can be run except diagnostic tests that test the storage unit (a hard
disk drive in the storage unit) or the storage adapter that is attached to the storage
unit.
Notes:
1. For computers that are part of a shared hard disk drive cluster, run one test at
a time in looped mode. Do not run all tests in looped mode, because this could
enable the hard disk drive diagnostic tests.
2. If multiple error codes are displayed, diagnose the first error code that is
displayed.
3. If the computer is suspended with a POST error, go to “Symptom-to-FRU
index” on page 99.
4. If the computer is suspended and no error message is displayed, see
“Undetermined problems” on page 115.
5. For information about power supply problems, see “Symptom-to-FRU index” on
page 99
6. For safety information, see “Safety information” on page 129.
7. For intermittent problems, check the error log; see “POST error log” on page 17
and “Undetermined problems” on page 115.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 1