Dell Alienware x16 R2 Owners Manual - Page 128

Dell SupportAssist Pre-boot System Performance Check diagnostics

Page 128 highlights

Dell SupportAssist Pre-boot System Performance Check diagnostics About this task SupportAssist diagnostics (also known as system diagnostics) performs a complete check of your hardware. The Dell SupportAssist Pre-boot System Performance Check diagnostics is embedded with the BIOS and launched by the BIOS internally. The embedded system diagnostics provides options for particular devices or device groups allowing you to: ● Run tests automatically or in an interactive mode. ● Repeat the tests. ● Display or save test results. ● Run thorough tests to introduce additional test options to provide extra information about one or more failed devices. ● View status messages that inform you the tests are completed successfully. ● View error messages that inform you of problems encountered during testing. NOTE: Some tests for specific devices require user interaction. Always ensure that you are present at the computer terminal when the diagnostic tests are performed. For more information, see the knowledge base article 000180971. Running the SupportAssist Pre-Boot System Performance Check Steps 1. Turn on your computer. 2. As the computer boots, press the F12 key as the Dell logo appears. 3. On the boot menu screen, select the Diagnostics option. 4. Click the arrow at the bottom left corner. Diagnostics front page is displayed. 5. Click the arrow in the lower-right corner to go to the page listing. The items that are detected are listed. 6. To run a diagnostic test on a specific device, press Esc and click Yes to stop the diagnostic test. 7. Select the device from the left pane and click Run Tests. 8. If there are any issues, error codes are displayed. Note the error code and validation number and contact Dell. Built-in self-test (BIST) M-BIST M-BIST (Built In Self-Test) is the system board built-in self-test diagnostics tool that improves the diagnostics accuracy of system board Embedded Controller (EC) failures. NOTE: M-BIST can be manually initiated before Power On Self-Test (POST). How to run M-BIST NOTE: M-BIST must be initiated on the computer from a power-off state that is either connected to AC power or with a battery only. 1. Press and hold both the M key on the keyboard and the power button to initiate M-BIST. 2. The battery indicator LED may exhibit two states: a. OFF: No fault was detected with the system board. b. AMBER: Amber indicates a problem with the system board. 128

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Dell SupportAssist Pre-boot System Performance Check
diagnostics
About this task
SupportAssist diagnostics (also known as system diagnostics) performs a complete check of your hardware. The Dell SupportAssist
Pre-boot System Performance Check diagnostics is embedded with the BIOS and launched by the BIOS internally. The embedded
system diagnostics provides options for particular devices or device groups allowing you to:
Run tests automatically or in an interactive mode.
Repeat the tests.
Display or save test results.
Run thorough tests to introduce additional test options to provide extra information about one or more failed devices.
View status messages that inform you the tests are completed successfully.
View error messages that inform you of problems encountered during testing.
NOTE:
Some tests for specific devices require user interaction. Always ensure that you are present at the computer terminal
when the diagnostic tests are performed.
For more information, see the knowledge base article
000180971
.
Running the SupportAssist Pre-Boot System Performance Check
Steps
1.
Turn on your computer.
2.
As the computer boots, press the F12 key as the Dell logo appears.
3.
On the boot menu screen, select the
Diagnostics
option.
4.
Click the arrow at the bottom left corner.
Diagnostics front page is displayed.
5.
Click the arrow in the lower-right corner to go to the page listing.
The items that are detected are listed.
6.
To run a diagnostic test on a specific device, press Esc and click
Yes
to stop the diagnostic test.
7.
Select the device from the left pane and click
Run Tests
.
8.
If there are any issues, error codes are displayed.
Note the error code and validation number and contact Dell.
Built-in self-test (BIST)
M-BIST
M-BIST (Built In Self-Test) is the system board built-in self-test diagnostics tool that improves the diagnostics accuracy of system
board Embedded Controller (EC) failures.
NOTE:
M-BIST can be manually initiated before Power On Self-Test (POST).
How to run M-BIST
NOTE:
M-BIST must be initiated on the computer from a power-off state that is either connected to AC power or with a battery
only.
1.
Press and hold both the
M
key on the keyboard and the
power button
to initiate M-BIST.
2.
The battery indicator LED may exhibit two states:
a.
OFF: No fault was detected with the system board.
b.
AMBER: Amber indicates a problem with the system board.
128