Dell Latitude CPi User Guide - Page 126

Keyboard Test Group, Why Run a Keyboard Test?, Subtests

Page 126 highlights

Graphics Mode Test Checks the video subsystem's ability to present data and color in graphics modes Color Palettes Test Checks the video subsystem's ability to display all of the available colors Solid Colors Test Checks the video subsystem's ability to show screens full of solid colors and allows you to check for missing color pixels Many of these tests display characters or graphics on the screen for you to verify. Samples of these screens are shown in Diagnostic Video Tests. NOTE: The default limit for testing SVGA modes is No. If you are testing an external monitor, change the limit to Yes. Keyboard Test Group The subtests in the Keyboard test group verify the correct operation of your keyboard and the keyboard controller chip. Why Run a Keyboard Test? Keyboard problems are not always caused by the keyboard. For example, a complete lockup of the computer, rendering the keyboard inoperable, is probably not caused by a problem with the keyboard. There are two symptoms that are likely to be keyboard-related. Sometimes, the configuration of a program changes the function of a key or key combination. Similarly, key configuration programs like ProKey can change a key's function. Because these programs are memory resident, be sure to clear them out of the computer's memory before running a subtest in the Keyboard test group. (Clear them from memory by booting the computer from the Dell Diagnostics Diskette.) When these possibilities have been eliminated, and if the following symptoms occur, you should run one or more of the subtests in the Keyboard test group: When you press a key, the character represented by that key appears repeatedly; the key seems to be stuck. Run the Stuck Key Test. When you press a key and the response is different from the usual response or the response you anticipated, the key contact may be damaged. Run the Keyboard Interactive Test. When a key does not work at all, run all of the subtests in the Keyboard test group. Subtests The four subtests in the Keyboard test group confirm the following keyboard functions: Keyboard Controller Test Confirms the ability of the keyboard controller chip to communicate with the keyboard and confirms the programming of the controller chip Keyboard Key Sequence Test

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Graphics Mode Test
Checks the video subsystem's ability to present data and color in graphics modes
Color Palettes Test
Checks the video subsystem's ability to display all of the available colors
Solid Colors Test
Checks the video subsystem's ability to show screens full of solid colors and allows you to check for
missing color pixels
Many of these tests display characters or graphics on the screen for you to verify. Samples of these screens
are shown in
Diagnostic Video Tests
.
NOTE: The default limit for testing SVGA modes is
No
. If you are testing an external monitor, change
the limit to
Yes
.
Keyboard Test Group
The subtests in the Keyboard test group verify the correct operation of your keyboard and the keyboard
controller chip.
Why Run a Keyboard Test?
Keyboard problems are not always caused by the keyboard. For example, a complete lockup of the
computer, rendering the keyboard inoperable, is probably not caused by a problem with the keyboard. There
are two symptoms that are likely to be keyboard-related. Sometimes, the configuration of a program changes
the function of a key or key combination. Similarly, key configuration programs like ProKey can change a
key's function. Because these programs are memory resident, be sure to clear them out of the computer's
memory before running a subtest in the Keyboard test group. (Clear them from memory by booting the
computer from the
Dell Diagnostics Diskette
.) When these possibilities have been eliminated, and if the
following symptoms occur, you should run one or more of the subtests in the Keyboard test group:
When you press a key, the character represented by that key appears repeatedly; the key seems to be
stuck. Run the Stuck Key Test.
When you press a key and the response is different from the usual response or the response you
anticipated, the key contact may be damaged. Run the Keyboard Interactive Test.
When a key does not work at all, run
all
of the subtests in the Keyboard test group.
Subtests
The four subtests in the Keyboard test group confirm the following keyboard functions:
Keyboard Controller Test
Confirms the ability of the keyboard controller chip to communicate with the keyboard and confirms the
programming of the controller chip
Keyboard Key Sequence Test