Dell Inspiron 7000 Dell Inspiron 7000 Reference and Troubleshooting Guide - Page 102

Self Diagnostics Test

Get Dell Inspiron 7000 PDF manuals and user guides View all Dell Inspiron 7000 manuals
Add to My Manuals
Save this manual to your list of manuals

Page 102 highlights

The IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices test group checks the functionality of up to four devices (two on each channel) of any capacity as well as the hard-disk drive controller. If you check your hard-disk drive to determine the amount of available space, your operating system will probably report problem areas. Problem areas on hard-disk drives are common, because most hard-disk drives have a small amount of space that is not usable. The hard-disk drive keeps a record of this space so that the computer will not attempt to use it. Identification of unusable disk space, unless it is an unusually large amount (over five percent of the possible total), should not be regarded as a cause for testing the hard-disk drive. If you encounter a problem while using an application on CD or DVD, the problem could result from the disk or from the drive. When you encounter problems, first try using a different CD or DVD. If the problem recurs, run the IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices test group. These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test the IDE devices: The hard-disk drive fails during the boot routine. Seek errors are reported by the operating system or application programs. An error message appears on the screen stating that the computer cannot read from or write to the hard-disk drive. Data on the hard-disk drive is corrupted or lost; these problems may be intermittent. Once saved by a program, files cannot be properly recalled. NOTES: Before conducting these tests on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives, insert a disk with audio and data tracks (such as a multimedia CD) into the drive. All of the subtests except for the Audio Test require a CD or DVD with data tracks. The Audio Test requires a CD or DVD with audio tracks. If the drive is empty, or if it contains a disk that does not have the required data or audio tracks (depending on the test that you are running), the tests will fail. The four subtests in the IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices test group confirm the following drive functions: Display Information Test displays information about the drives connected to your system. Self Diagnostics Test Uses the drive's internal test facility to determine that is functioning correctly. 4-22 Dell Inspiron 7000 Reference and Troubleshooting Guide

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • 111
  • 112
  • 113
  • 114
  • 115
  • 116
  • 117
  • 118
  • 119
  • 120
  • 121
  • 122
  • 123
  • 124
  • 125
  • 126
  • 127
  • 128
  • 129
  • 130
  • 131
  • 132
  • 133
  • 134
  • 135
  • 136
  • 137
  • 138
  • 139
  • 140
  • 141
  • 142
  • 143
  • 144
  • 145
  • 146
  • 147
  • 148
  • 149
  • 150
  • 151
  • 152
  • 153
  • 154
  • 155
  • 156
  • 157
  • 158
  • 159
  • 160
  • 161
4-22
Dell Inspiron 7000 Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
,’(±Á$7$½$7$3,±’HYLFHV±7HVW±*URXS±±
±±±±±±±±±
The IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices test group checks the functionality of up to four devices
(two on each channel) of any capacity as well as the hard-disk drive controller.
:K\±5XQ±DQ±,’(±’HYLFHV±7HVW"
If you check your hard-disk drive to determine the amount of available space, your
operating system will probably report problem areas. Problem areas on hard-disk
drives are common, because most hard-disk drives have a small amount of space that
is not usable. The hard-disk drive keeps a record of this space so that the computer
will not attempt to use it. Identification of unusable disk space, unless it is an unusu-
ally large amount (over five percent of the possible total), should not be regarded as a
cause for testing the hard-disk drive.
If you encounter a problem while using an application on CD or DVD, the problem
could result from the disk or from the drive. When you encounter problems, first try
using a different CD or DVD. If the problem recurs, run the IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices
test group.
These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test the IDE
devices:
²
The hard-disk drive fails during the boot routine.
²
Seek
errors are reported by the operating system or application programs.
²
An error message appears on the screen stating that the computer cannot
read
from or
write
to the hard-disk drive.
²
Data on the hard-disk drive is corrupted or lost; these problems may be intermit-
tent. Once saved by a program, files cannot be properly recalled.
NOTES: Before conducting these tests on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives, insert a disk
with audio and data tracks (such as a multimedia CD) into the drive. All of the subtests
except for the Audio Test require a CD or DVD with data tracks. The Audio Test
requires a CD or DVD with audio tracks.
If the drive is empty, or if it contains a disk that does not have the required data or
audio tracks (depending on the test that you are running), the tests will fail.
6XEWHVWV
The four subtests in the IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices test group confirm the following
drive functions:
²
Display Information
Test displays information about the drives connected to your system.
²
Self Diagnostics Test
Uses the drive’s internal test facility to determine that is functioning correctly.