Dell Latitude CPi User Guide - Page 128

Hard-Disk Drives Non-SCSI Test Group, Subtests, Why Run a Hard-Disk Drives Test?

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Very often, a diskette drive problem may first appear to be a diskette problem. A box of defective diskettes might produce faulty-drive error messages. The test results can be confusing, so you should run the subtests in the Diskette Drives test group more than once using diskettes from different sources. Another possible cause of diskette drive problems is human error-for example, typing a command in an incorrect form (usually called a syntax error). Be sure you have entered the command properly. When the diskette and command syntax are eliminated as causes, the following symptoms usually suggest a drive problem and warrant running a subtest in the Diskette Drives test group: An error message appears on the screen stating that the computer cannot read from or write to a diskette. A diskette cannot be properly formatted, or format error messages appear on the screen. Data on diskettes is corrupted or lost; these problems may be intermittent. Subtests The four subtests available in the Diskette Drives test group confirm the following drive functions: Change Line Test Checks for bent pins on the diskette drive controller and for defective lines on the diskette cable Seek Test Checks the drive's ability to search for a specified track on the diskette and to position the read/write heads of the drive to all tracks Read Test Positions the read/write heads at each cylinder of the diskette and verifies that all tracks on the diskette can be read correctly Write Test Positions the read/write heads at each cylinder of the diskette and verifies that all tracks on the diskette can be written to correctly Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) Test Group The subtests in the Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) test group check the functionality of up to two hard-disk drives of any capacity. The subtests check the storage capability of a drive as well as the hard-disk drive controller (which affects the ability to read from and write to the drive). Why Run a Hard-Disk Drives Test? 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 5 percent of the possible total), should not be regarded as a cause for testing the hard-

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Very often, a diskette drive problem may first appear to be a diskette problem. A box of defective diskettes
might produce faulty-drive error messages. The test results can be confusing, so you should run the subtests
in the Diskette Drives test group more than once using diskettes from different sources.
Another possible cause of diskette drive problems is human error—for example, typing a command in an
incorrect form (usually called a
syntax
error). Be sure you have entered the command properly.
When the diskette and command syntax are eliminated as causes, the following symptoms usually suggest a
drive problem and warrant running a subtest in the Diskette Drives test group:
An error message appears on the screen stating that the computer cannot
read
from or
write
to a
diskette.
A diskette cannot be properly formatted, or format error messages appear on the screen.
Data on diskettes is corrupted or lost; these problems may be intermittent.
Subtests
The four subtests available in the Diskette Drives test group confirm the following drive functions:
Change Line Test
Checks for bent pins on the diskette drive controller and for defective lines on the diskette cable
Seek Test
Checks the drive's ability to search for a specified track on the diskette and to position the read/write
heads of the drive to all tracks
Read Test
Positions the read/write heads at each cylinder of the diskette and verifies that all tracks on the diskette
can be read correctly
Write Test
Positions the read/write heads at each cylinder of the diskette and verifies that all tracks on the diskette
can be written to correctly
Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) Test Group
The subtests in the Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) test group check the functionality of up to two hard-disk
drives of any capacity. The subtests check the storage capability of a drive as well as the hard-disk drive
controller (which affects the ability to read from and write to the drive).
Why Run a Hard-Disk Drives Test?
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 5 percent of the possible total), should not be regarded as a cause for testing the hard-