SCREEN - BATCH MENU
The batch menu is designed for running multiple tests in a continuous or pass-bound mode. This option is useful for testing newly assembled systems and for diagnosing systems with intermittent errors.
The options are available to select specific tests to be performed, and to save the selected tests to a floppy disk. These selections can then be loaded again in order to facilitate specific batch test routines.
The option is available to create a report of the system tests that are run, and to save this report to a parallel printer or floppy disk.
The RUN ALL test selection will perform all non-destructive and non-interactive test routines. This will test the following equipment if it is detected by the diagnostic. Systemboard, Cache Memory, Base Memory, Extended and/or Expanded Memory, Floppy Disk(s) Read and Write (Partial/Entire) Butterfly Seek, Fixed Disk(s) Read, Butterfly Seek and Controller tests, CD ROM Butterfly Seek and Read, Sound Card check, Internal Serial, Internal Parallel, and Video Memory test. Each of the tests is more fully explained in the Diagnostic Menu. Choose SELECT TESTS if destructive testing is required. A prompt will ask if you want to run Write or Partial tests, on both the floppy and hard drives.
NOTE: A formatted disk is required in all floppy drives and a CD must be placed in the CD ROM drive for the Run All Tests option
All errors will be logged to the error log until the error log is full. The error log can hold up to 16 errors per test. If the Error Halt has been selected, additional errors for the test will be displayed on the screen.
Run Continuously The Run Continuously Option will run all or selected tests up to 65535 times. This might take about a year on a 166mhz Pentium machine, if all tests were performed. The test can be aborted by pressing the escape key. This option is designed for burn-in testing of new systems, when it is desirable, to force heat-related problems to occur.
Set Pass Count The Set Pass Count option allows up to 65535 passes to be selected. The diagnostic will perform all tests or the pre-selected tests until the pass count is reached or the Escape key is pressed.
SCREEN SELECT TESTS
The Select Tests Menu allows selection of specific tests to be run. Non-destructive and destructive testing can be chosen from this menu. Destructive testing will write over selected media data. Formatted diskettes are required for floppy tests. Loopback plugs are required in order to perform external serial and parallel port tests. CD ROM disks are required for CD ROM tests. Errors will be logged to the error log. Press the space bar to toggle the checkmark for each test to be selected.
Load Batch Tests This option will load a previously saved Batch file from a floppy diskette. This is designed for convenience of running specific tests in a batch mode. This option will ask for the floppy drive where the file to be loaded is stored. Once the drive is selected the prompt will ask for the name of the file to be loaded. If running under DOS, the complete path must be entered for the location where the file is stored. Once the file has been loaded the Run Selected tests option can be performed without further need of setup.
Save Batch Tests This option allows any currently selected tests to be saved to a file on a floppy diskette. This file can then be loaded from the floppy disk at a future time. This is designed to expedite the setup of specific batch tests. This option will display a window to select the drive to save the file. Select a drive and press enter. A prompt will appear asking for the name of the file to be saved. The file name will be referred to by the Load Batch option. If running under DOS, the complete path must be entered for the location where the file is to be saved.
Test Selection SystemBoard Tests The SystemBoard tests includes the CPU, NPU, DMA chips (8237), PIC chips (8259), PIT chips (8254), RTC chip (146818), 8042 chip and the speaker. If it is determined that 32 bit chips are present then the tests will be performed in 32 bit mode.
Memory Tests The Memory Tests allows the selection of the type of memory to be tested. Any tests available on a particular machine may be selected.
A. Base Memory Test starts testing the base memory directly above the end of the diagnostic program. If it is necessary to test the area in which the program is loaded use the Test Base Memory option before booting to Micro-Scope.
B. Cache Memory will be tested if the particular machine has CACHE RAM present. This will test up to 256k of static RAM and tag RAM.
C. Expanded Memory will test the ability of the expanded memory driver to page Extended Memory into Base Memory if an LIM 4.0 or compatible driver is installed. This test is not recommended for "burn in" of new or repaired systems since the extended memory test is more thorough.
D. Extended Memory tests are performed in protected mode. It is necessary to boot the diagnostic from M2000 O/S or to DOS without loading memory drivers (himem.sys, EMM386.exe) in order for the test to function.
Floppy Tests The Floppy Tests requires the selection of the floppy drives and the selected tests to be run. Format and Write tests will destroy all data on the diskette. The appropriate media type must be specified for the diskette on which the tests are to be performed. The selections are made by pressing the space bar and then pressing enter to go to the next option window.
NOTE: Incorrect selection of the media will result in false errors being reported for the floppy tests.
Fixed Disk Tests The Fixed Disk Tests requires the selection of the fixed disk drives and the tests to be run. The selections are made by first pressing the space bar on the desired section and then pressing enter to continue to the next option window.
NOTE: The Format and Write tests will destroy all data in the selected area of the fixed disk(s) selected.
IDE Device Tests Individually select one IDE device for testing: Primary Master, Primary Slave, Secondary Master or Secondary Slave.
SCSI Device Tests Select from up to 16 SCSI devices by highlighting the device listing and pressing the space bar. Available tests are Read, Write and Butterfly Seek.
Multimedia Tests This allows selection of tests for the CD-ROM, Sound Card and Record/Playback function.
Serial Port Tests The Serial Port Tests requires the selection of the serial ports and the selected tests to be run. External tests require the loopback plugs to be present on the selected serial ports.
Parallel Port Tests The Parallel Port Tests requires the selection of the parallel port and the selected tests to be run. External tests require the loopback plugs to be present on the selected parallel ports.
Network Card Test This tests the registers and EEPROM of the network card.
USB Controller Test The basic functions and commands of the USB Host Adapter are tested.
Video Memory Test The Video Memory Test will test the amount of memory on the video adapter detected by Micro-Scope. Additional video tests require an operator. Go to Section III Diagnostics, Video Tests and run the tests manually.
Other Device Tests Individually select tests for the Sleep Button, Joystick, Keyboard, Mouse and Printer
The Run Selected choice will begin the selected tests immediately, as soon as one of the two options below is enabled. The errors will be logged to the error log. Run Continuously The Run Continuously option will run the selected tests for 65535 passes or until the escape key is pressed. Set Pass Count The Set Pass Count option will run the selected tests for a specified number of passes or until the escape key is pressed.
The report features menu allows the creation, saving, loading and logging of a report. The options in this menu are Create Report and Log Report. This feature is designed for the creation of a report on systems that have been tested using the Run All or Run Selected options. If running under the M2000 O/S the report format can be saved to or loaded from a floppy diskette.
Create Report This function will create the report format. The name, address and phone numbers may be input for both the testing facility and the client. Pressing Enter on this option will bring up the Testing Facility window.
SCREEN CREATE REPORT
To create an original report select the edit function, type in the appropriate information, and press enter. Then press (A) to accept the information and continue on to the Client window. The client window is handled in the same manner.
Press E (edit) to edit the appropriate window.
Press S (save) to save report format. This option will save the information in the current window to a floppy diskette. The Testing Facility and the Client Information is saved separately so it may be loaded independently of the other option. Choosing this option will prompt for the floppy drive to save the file to, and the name of the file to be saved. Press enter after each entry to accept the parameter and continue to the next window. If running under DOS, the report may be saved to any valid floppy, fixed or network drive by entering the completed path to where the file is to be saved.
Press L (load) to load an existing report format. This option will load an existing report format from a floppy diskette. If this option is chosen, a prompt will appear asking for the floppy drive where the file exists. Pressing enter on a drive will bring up the file name prompt. Enter the name of the file which contains the desired report format. Pressing enter at this time will load the report format. If running under DOS, the report may be loaded from any valid floppy, fixed or network drive by entering the complete path where the file is stored.
Press C (clear) to clear the window. This option will clear any information in the current window. This will not affect the other option windows in the report format.
Press A (accept) to accept the information in the window. This option accepts the information in the current window and continues on to the next window. This is used when all of the necessary information has been input into a window.
NOTE: The client information and the testing facility information may be saved or loaded individually.
Log Report This option allows the entire report to be saved as a file or displayed on the screen or sent to a parallel printer. While running under the M2000 O/S, the report may also be saved to a floppy diskette. If running under DOS, the report may be saved to any valid floppy, fixed or network drive by entering the complete path for where the file is to be saved.
SCREEN LOG REPORT
Selecting any of the options in this menu except Display to Screen will bring up submenus. The report is logged in a four page format.
Page 1 - The first page contains the testing facility and client information along with information regarding the system tested. The date, time and number of passes is also stored on page one.
Page 2 - The second page contains the equipment installed in the system tested. This will include the same information found in the System Configuration window.
Page 3 - This page contains the tests that were performed and a Pass or Fail status for each test. If an error was detected for any of the tests, the appropriate page in the error log will be added to the report. For example, if three tests found errors, three pages would be added to the report, detailing the type of error that occurred.
Page 4 and above - These will be detailed information on the errors found.
Display on Screen Select this option to display the test results on the monitor screen.
Log To Disk This option will save the report to an ASCII file on a 360k or a 720k floppy diskette. Pressing enter will bring a prompt asking for the floppy disk where the file will be saved. Pressing enter again will ask for the name of the report file to be saved. If running under DOS, the report may be saved to any valid floppy, fixed or network drive by entering the complete path where the file is to be saved.
NOTE: Files saved to a floppy can be loaded at a later date and then printed if necessary.
Log To Printer - Select the printer option to print the report to a parallel printer. If this option is selected a prompt will ask for the port where the printer is connected. Select the proper port and the diagnostic will print the report.
The Error Log window will display all errors detected from the Run All Tests and Run Selected Tests. The Error Log can hold a maximum of 16 errors for each test performed. This log will be added to a report if errors were detected during testing.
By selecting Error Halt Enabled, the operator is choosing to halt the batch when the first error is detected. If Error Halt is disabled, each test will continue until the error log for that specific test is filled (16 errors). Enabled will stop on the error and Disabled will continue testing.