IBM(R) Enhanced Diagnostics program Version 2.0.1363 Build ID: SWYT03A This README file contains instructions for using the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics program. CONTENTS ________ 1.0 Overview 2.0 Starting the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics program 3.0 Navigating the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics program 4.0 Running diagnostic tests 5.0 IBM Advanced Memory Diagnostics 6.0 Hard-disk formatting utilities 7.0 Viewing the test log 8.0 Change History 9.0 Web sites and support phone number 10.0 Trademarks 11.0 Disclaimer 1.0 OVERVIEW ____________ The IBM Enhanced Diagnostics program is a self-starting, DOS diagnostic utility you can use to detect failing hardware components. IBM and PC-Doctor, Inc., maker of diagnostic software, have developed a highly effective diagnostic application designed specifically to support the IBM PC Server(R), IntelliStation(R), Netfinity(R), and xSeries(R) products. 2.0 STARTING THE IBM ENHANCED DIAGNOSTICS PROGRAM _________________________________________________ To start the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics program from an IBM Enhanced Diagnostics diskette, do the following: 1. Shut down and turn off the computer. 2. Wait 10 seconds. 3. Insert the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics diskette into diskette drive A. 4. Turn on the computer. To start the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics program from a CD, do the following: 1. Make sure that the CD-ROM drive is in the startup sequence for your computer. 2. With the computer turned on, insert the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics CD (or the Device Driver and IBM Enhanced Diagnostics CD) into the CD-ROM drive. 3. Shut down and turn off the computer. 4. Wait 10 seconds. 5. Turn on the computer. 3.0 NAVIGATING THE IBM ENHANCED DIAGNOSTICS PROGRAM ___________________________________________________ You can use either the mouse or the keyboard to navigate the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics program. To select an item with the mouse, click the item. To use the keyboard: - Use the cursor-movement keys to highlight an item. - Press the Enter key to select a highlighted item. - Press the Esc key to return to the previous screen or menu. - Press the F1 key to display online help. 4.0 RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ____________________________ To run the diagnostic tests, you select items from a list of test categories. The first two items in the list are Run Normal Test and Run Quick Test. Run Normal Test runs a predefined set of tests from the list of categories; Run Quick Test runs a subset of those tests and takes less time to run. To run diagnostic tests, do the following: 1. From the toolbar, select Diagnostics. A list of all the test categories appears. 2. Select and run diagnostic tests in any of the following ways: - Select Run Normal Test or Run Quick Test to run a predefined set of tests. - Select any category from the list. In the list of tests that appears, selected tests are indicated by chevrons (>>). To select or deselect a test, click beside the test, or highlight the test and press the Spacebar. Press Ctrl+Enter to run all the selected tests in the category, or exit from that category and display another category to make additional selections. When you have finished making your selections, press F5 to run all selected tests in all categories. - Select any category from the list. In the list of tests that appears, select one test. This runs only that test. To stop a test at any time, press Esc. As each test runs, the test results (N/A, PASSED, FAILED, ABORTED) are displayed on the screen, beside each test name. Test results are also entered into a test log file. 5.0 IBM ADVANCED MEMORY DIAGNOSTICS ___________________________________ You can use the IBM Advanced Memory Diagnostics to identify a particular memory module (SIMM or DIMM) that fails during testing. Refer to the "System Board Layouts" section in the latest PC Server, IntelliStation, Netfinity, or xSeries Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) to locate the memory sockets. You can perform either a full memory test or a quick memory test on all memory in the computer or on a single memory socket. - The full memory test detects marginal, intermittent, and solid (stuck) memory failures. It takes approximately 80 seconds per 1 MB of memory. - The quick memory test detects solid (stuck) memory failures only. It takes approximately 20 seconds per 1 MB of memory. Only populated sockets can be selected for testing. An unpopulated socket is indicated by "........" beside the socket-test name. To run the IBM Advanced Memory Diagnostics, do the following: 1. From the toolbar, select Diagnostics. 2. Select Memory Test-Full or Memory Test-Quick. 6.0 HARD-DISK FORMATTING UTILITIES __________________________________ The IBM Enhanced Diagnostics program has two hard-disk formatting utilities: Quick Erase Hard Drive and Full Erase Hard Drive. ATTENTION: Make sure that all data is backed up before you use either of these programs. Quick Erase Hard Drive is a DOS utility that does the following: - Destroys the master boot record (MBR) on the hard disk - Destroys all copies of the FAT table on all partitions (both the master and the backup) - Destroys the partition table - Provides messages that warn the user that this is an irrecoverable process Full Erase Hard Drive is a DOS utility that performs all the functions of Quick Erase Hard Drive plus the following: - Writes random data to all sectors of the hard disk - Provides an estimate of the time to completion and a visual representation of completion status To run the Quick Erase Hard Drive or Full Erase Hard Drive utility, do the following: 1. From the toolbar, select Utility. 2. Select Quick Erase Hard Drive or Full Erase Hard Drive, and follow the instructions. 7.0 VIEWING THE TEST LOG ________________________ To view a list of test results and details of failures, do the following: 1. From any test-category screen, press F3 to display the test log. 2. Press F3 again to save the test log to a diskette, or press F2 to print the test log. When you save a test log to a diskette, note that the drive-letter designation of your diskette drive is changed to B while the CD is running. 8.0 CHANGE HISTORY __________________ 2.0.1363 - SWYT03A - initial release 9.0 WEB SITES AND SUPPORT PHONE NUMBER _______________________________________ IBM Support Web Site: www.pc.ibm.com/support IBM Marketing xSeries Web Site: www.ibm.com/eserver/xseries If you have any questions about this update, or problems applying the update go to the following Help Center World Telephone Numbers: 800-IBM-SERV (800-426-7378) Hardware Support #: 800-426-4378 Software Support #: 800-237-5511 Website for the World Wide Support Phone list: www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/YAST-3P2QYL.html. Intellistation web site: www.pc.ibm.com/intellistation 10.0 TRADEMARKS _______________ The following terms are trademarks of the IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both: - IBM - IntelliStation - Netfinity - PC Server - xSeries Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. 11.0 DISCLAIMER _______________ THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS. Note to U.S. Government Users -- Documentation related to restricted rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corporation.