Dell OptiPlex Gn Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide (.pdf) - Page 60

• Audio Output Test Causes the drive to begin playing the first audio track on an audio CD. To determine whether the test passed, listen to the audio output of the drive. NOTE: To conduct the Audio Output Test, you must select it individually. It will not run as part of the test group. • Eject Removable Media Checks the drive's ability to eject its CD. Why Run an IDE CD ROM Drives Test? If you encounter a problem while using an application program on a CD, the problem could result from the disc or from the drive. When you encounter problems, first try using a different CD. If the problem recurs, run the IDE CD ROM Drives Test Group. These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test an IDE CD-ROM drive: • 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 an IDE CD-ROM drive (typically, drive D or drive E). Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group The subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group check the computer's interface with external devices, such as a printer and a mouse, that are connected to the computer through a serial or infrared port. The subtests in this test group are not intended as a diagnostic test for the actual peripheral attached to each port. NOTES: With certain modems installed, the Serial/ Infrared Ports Test Group subtests may fail because the modem appears to the Dell Diagnostics as a serial or infrared port, but it cannot be tested as a serial or infrared port. If a modem is installed and one of the serial/ infrared ports subtests fails, remove the modem and run the diagnostic tests again. If an external loopback connector is not attached to a serial or infrared port, the Serial External Transmission Test will fail for that port and the results of this test should therefore be ignored. An external modem connected to the port does not substitute for an external loopback connector. Subtests The four subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group confirm the following port functions: • Serial/Infrared Baud Rate Test Checks the baud rate generator in each serial communications chip against the computer's clock • Serial/Infrared Interrupt Test Checks the serial port's ability to send IRQs to the microprocessor • Serial/Infrared Internal Transmission Test Checks several internal functions of the serial port using the internal loopback mode of the serial communications chip • Serial External Transmission Test If a loopback device is attached, checks the line control bits of the serial port and sends a test pattern at several baud rates, checking the returned values Why Run a Serial/Infrared Ports Test? If the Dell Diagnostics does not recognize your computer's serial or infrared ports, enter the System Setup program and check the Serial/infrared Port category to see whether the port has been disabled. The subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group cannot test a port unless it is enabled. When a port is faulty, it may not be immediately evident that the port, and not the device connected to the port, is faulty. Instead, the peripheral (such as a printer or mouse) might behave erratically or not operate at all. If the external device is not properly installed through your software, it also may not function properly. Try operating the peripheral from different programs or through the operating system. If it still does not work, you can eliminate the software configuration as the cause of the problem. 4-18 Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide