If you experience a problem with your system, run the diagnostics before calling for technical assistance. The purpose of the diagnostics is to test your system's hardware without requiring additional equipment or risking data loss. If you are unable to fix the problem yourself, service and support personnel can use diagnostics test results to help you solve the problem.
Using Online Diagnostics
To assess a system problem, first use the Online Diagnostics. Online Diagnostics is a suite of diagnostic programs, or test modules, that include diagnostic tests on chassis and storage components such as hard drives, physical memory, communications and printer ports, NICs, CMOS, and more. If you are unable to identify the problem using the online diagnostics, then use the embedded system diagnostics.
The files required to run the online diagnostics for systems running supported Microsoft® Windows® and Linux operating systems are available at support.dell.com and on the CDs that came with your system. For information about using diagnostics, see the Dell Online Diagnostics User's Guide.
Embedded System Diagnostics Features
The system diagnostics provides a series of menus and options for particular device groups or devices. The system diagnostics menus and options allow you to:
Run tests individually or collectively
Control the sequence of tests
Repeat tests
Display, print, or save test results
Temporarily suspend testing if an error is detected or terminate testing when a user-defined error limit is reached
View help messages that briefly describe each test and its parameters
View status messages that inform you if tests are completed successfully
View error messages that inform you of problems encountered during testing
When to Use the Embedded System Diagnostics
If a major component or device in the system does not operate properly, component failure may be indicated. As long as the processor and the system's input/output devices are functioning, you can use the embedded system diagnostics to help identify the problem.
Running the Embedded System Diagnostics
The embedded system diagnostics program is run from the Unified Server Configurator (USC) screen.
CAUTION: Use the embedded system diagnostics to test only your system. Using this program with other systems may cause invalid results or error messages.
As the system boots, press <F10>.
Click Diagnostics in the left pane and click Launch Diagnostics in the
right pane.
The Diagnostics menu allows you to run all or specific diagnostics tests or to exit.
System Diagnostics Testing Options
Click the testing option in the MainMenu window.
Testing Option
Function
Express Test
Performs a quick check of the system. This option runs device tests that do not require user interaction.
Extended Test
Performs a more thorough check of the system. This test can take an hour or longer.
Custom Test
Tests a particular device.
Information
Displays test results.
Using the Custom Test Options
When you select Custom Test in the MainMenu window, the Customize window allows you to select the device(s) to be tested, select specific options for testing, and view the test results.
Selecting Devices for Testing
The left side of the Customize window listsdevices that can be tested. Click (+) next to a device or module to view its components. Click (+) on any component to view the tests that are available. Clicking a device, rather than its components, selects all of the components of the device for testing.
NOTE: After you select all the devices and components that you want to test, highlight All Devices and then click Run Tests.
Selecting Diagnostics Options
From the Diagnostics Options area, select the test(s) you want to run on a device. You can select:
Non-Interactive Tests Only — Runs only tests that require no user intervention.
Quick Tests Only — Runs only the quick tests on the device.
Show Ending Timestamp — Time stamps the test log.
Test Iterations — Selects the number of times the test is run.
Log output file pathname — Enables you to specify the USB memory key where the test log file is saved. You cannot save the file to a hard drive.
Viewing Information and Results
The following tabs in the Customize window provide information about the test and the test results:
Results — Displays the test that ran and the result.
Errors — Displays any errors that occurred during the test.
Help — Displays information about the currently selected device, component, or test.
Configuration — Displays basic configuration information about the currently selected device.
Parameters — Displays parameters that you can set for the test.
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