Quick Reference Guide

support.dell.com Running the Dell Diagnostics 5-1
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Unlike many diagnostic programs, the Dell Diagnostics helps you check the com-
puter's hardware without any additional equipment and without destroying any data.
By using the diagnostics, you can have confidence in the computer system's opera-
tion. If you find a problem 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.
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         
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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:
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Options that let you run tests individually or collectively
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An option that allows you to choose the number of times a test is repeated
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The ability to display or print test results or to save them in a file
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Options to temporarily suspend testing if an error is detected or to terminate
testing when an adjustable error limit is reached
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Help messages that briefly describe each test and its parameters
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Status messages that inform you whether device group or device tests are com-
pleted successfully
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Error messages that appear if any problems are detected
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Whenever a major component or device in the computer system does not function
properly, you may have a component failure. As long as the microprocessor and the
input and output components of the computer system (the monitor, keyboard, and
diskette drive) are working, you can use the Dell Diagnostics. If you know what