Epson LT-286e User Manual

EPSON

EQUITY™LT™-286e

System Diagnostics

User’s Guide

IMPORTANT NOTICE

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

Epson America makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or with respect to anything in this manual, and shall not be liable for any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or for any indirect, special, or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication, Epson America assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Further, this publication and features described herein are subject to change without notice.

Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

TRADEMARKS

Equity and LT are trademarks of Epson America, Inc. MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Torrance, California

Y19499100200

Introduction.. Starting the Diagnostics Program. Creating a Database The DIAG Main Menu Screen Selecting Diagnostics Tests Setting the Run Time Parameters

Timebound Testing Continuous Testing Passbound Testing

Error Logging.. Executing Diagnostics Tests in Batch Mode Running the Tests. System Board Diagnostics

Basic Functionality Test CPU Protected Mode Test. Processor Speed Test Coprocessor Test DMA Controller Test Interrupt Controller Test. Timer Test RTC Test CMOS Validity Test

Memory Diagnostics

BIOS ROM Test Parity Test

Pattern Test Walking 1’s Test. Walking 0’s Test.

Address Test

Refresh Test

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4 6

7 9 9

9 10 12 12

13 13 13 14 14

14 15 15 16 16 17 18 18 18

19 19 19

iii

Hard Disk Diagnostics

Hard Disk Parameters.

Disk drive identifier. Disk drive type Interleave factor Bad track list Start and end cylinder numbers

Start and end head numbers Hard Disk Format. Auto Interleave Media Analysis. Performance Test Seek Test Read/Verify Test Check Test Cylinder

Force Bad Tracks Hard Disk Error Messages

Floppy Disk Diagnostics

Diskette Format Drive Speed Test Random R/W Test

Sequential R/W Test Disk Change Line Test Floppy Disk Error Messages

Keyboard Diagnostics

Controller Test. Scan/ASCII Code Test Keyboard Clock Line Test

Keyboard Data Line Test.

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20 21 21 22 22 23 23

24 24 25 26 27 28 28

29 30 31 32 32

35 35

Video Diagnostics

Adapter Test Attribute Test

80x25 Display Test. 40x25 Display Test.

320x200 Graphics Test

640x200 Graphics Test Page Selection Test Color Test 640x350 Graphics Test Video Error Message.

Miscellaneous Diagnostics

Printer Adapter Test

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Communication Adapter Test.

Keyboard Scan/ASCII Codes

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37 37 37 38 38 38 38 39

Introduction

This booklet describes how to use the diagnostics program, called DIAG, to test the condition of your computer’s main unit and peripheral devices, The DIAG program provides tests to check the following hardware:

System board

Memory

Hard disk drive

Diskette drive

Keyboard

Video adapter board and monitor

Printer and communications ports

After you start the diagnostics program, you can create a database that records the location of faulty memory chips, if any

exist. This database displays a graphic representing your computer’s memory board and identifies the faulty chips.

Once you select a test, you need to specify how long to run it. You use the Run Time Parameters window to specify a certain

length of time to run the test, run it continuously until you

interrupt it, or specify a number of times to run the test.

System Diagnostics 1

Starting the Diagnostics Program

To start the diagnostics program, follow these steps:

Insert the Diagnostics diskette in drive A.

Turn on or reset the computer.

At the MS-DOS@ prompt, type the following and press

Enter:

DIAG

The Diagnostics program displays a title screen.

Press any key to continue.

Creating a Database

You can create a database to record the location of faulty

memory chips that are causing memory errors. To graphically represent the memory board on the screen, you need to identify your system’s memory configuration.

In the lower portion of the screen, you see this message:

Press <Esc> to bypass database creation

Press ESC if you do not want to create the database. The DIAG main menu appears so you can select the tests you want to run.

2 System Diagnostics

If you want to create a database, follow these steps:

Type the name (from 1 to 50 characters) that identifies your company or the computer and press Enter in response to this prompt:

vendor's name :

(maximum 50 characters)

For example, type

Type the computer’s model number (from 1 to 8 characters)

and press Enter in response to this prompt:

model number

EPSON

and press

Enter.

(maximum 8 characters)

For example, type DIAG stores this information in a file called DIAGS.CNF.

If a database with this vendor name and model number does not exist, you see this message:

LT-286e

and press

Enter.

Database does not exist - press any key except <Esc> to continue

To create the database, press any key other than ESC. Now you respond to the screen prompts to update the

configuration. You can accept the default values that DIAG presents by pressing Enter. When you see the diagram of the motherboard, press ESC to continue the diagnostics.

If a database with the specified vendor name and model number exists, you see this message:

Your database already exists -

want to update (Y/N)? N

System Diagnostics

To update the existing database, press Y and Enter. Now you respond to the screen prompts to update the configuration.

If you do not want to update the database, press N and

Enter. You see the DIAG main menu.

The DIAG Main Menu Screen

The DIAG main menu screen looks like this:

~~~~~~~~~~ Memoly

:.:-A. . . .

..I. _.... . . . .

Processor speed test

DMA

Controller test

Interrupt Controller test

Timer test Real Time Clock test

Hard Disk

Keyboard Video

Miscl.

The program’s title, copyright information, and the date and time appear at the top of the screen.

The DIAG options line shows these categories of tests: System

Board, Memory, Hard Disk, Floppy, Keyboard, Video, and Miscellaneous.

After you select a category, DIAG provides a submenu of the

available diagnostics tests. When the main menu first displays, you see the submenu of diagnostics tests for the System Board category.

4 System Diagnostics

The Run Time Parameters window lets you specify how long you want the test to run, whether you want DIAG to notify you of each error as it occurs, and whether to create a log of all errors that occur during testing.

The Help window shows the keys you use to make menu

selections.

A short message describing each test you highlight displays at the bottom of the screen.

You use these keys to make menu selections and run diagnostics

tests:

Key

t 1 Move to the next test t

Enter

F2 F3 F4 F5 F6

Function Move to the next window (or device) Move to the previous window (or device)

Move to the previous test Start the test Set the Run Time Parameters Select or deselect a test Select all tests Deselect all tests Run all

selected tests

system Diagnostics 5

Selecting Diagnostics Tests

This section describes the various ways you can select the tests you want to run.

To start a single test, move the cursor to highlight the test category on the main menu. Then move the cursor to the submenu and highlight the test you want to perform. Press

Enter to start the test.

To select several tests at one time, move the cursor to each test you want to perform and press F3. If you decide you do not want to run a selected test, highlight the test name and press F3 again.

You can press F4 to select all tests for all devices, and press F5 to deselect all selected tests.

Once you select a test, it remains selected until you deselect it. If you run a test or a group of tests and start testing again, DIAG performs the same tests unless you deselect them.

You must enter certain parameters for the hard disk drive and the diskette drive tests. If you use F3 to select these tests, DIAG prompts you for the information. If you use F4 to select these tests, DIAG prompts you for the information during the first pass of the test. If you perform more than one pass of the test, DIAG uses the same parameters for each pass.

Systems Diagnostics

You cannot include certain tests in a group. The tests that must run separately include:

Setting the Run Time Parameters

To specify the Run Time Parameters, press F2 to move to the

Run Time Parameters window. DIAG displays default values for each of the run time parameters.

You can press ESC at any time to exit the Run Time Parameters

window and return to the submenu of diagnostics tests.

The first: run time parameter defines how long or how many

times to run the test. You see this prompt:

Testing Mode: (T)imebound / (C)ontinuous /

(P)assbound [max = 65535] (T/C/P) ? P

System Diagnostics 7

Type T and press Enter to run the selected tests in Timebound mode. In Timebound mode, DIAG runs the tests for the amount of time you specify.

Type C and press Enter to run the selected tests in Continuous mode. In Continuous mode, the tests run until you interrupt

them.

Type P and press Enter to run the diagnostics tests in

Passbound mode. In Passbound mode, DIAG executes the selected tests the number of times you specify. This is the default setting.

The next prompt is:

Wait on error (Y/N) ? Y

Press Y and Enter if you want DIAG to pause when an error

occurs during a test. DIAG pauses and waits for you to press

Enter before continuing. This lets you view the error message

and make notes about the error. This is the default setting. Press N and Enter if you want DIAG to continue when an error

occurs. The next prompt is:

Error logging (Y/N) ? N

Press Y and Enter to record the errors that may occur during

the test. See the “Error Logging” subsection for details. Press N and Enter if you do not want to create the log. This is

the default setting.

If you decide not to wait on errors, you should select error logging so you can review the errors that occur during the tests.

Next, DIAG requests information it needs to perform the type of testing you selected.

8 System Diagnostics

Timebound Testing

If you selected Timebound testing, you see this prompt:

Period :001 hr 00 min

Specify the amount of time you want to run the selected Type the number of hours, from 000 to 999, and press Enter. Then type the number of minutes, from 00 to 59, and press

Enter. You can use the backspace key

(t)

to edit your input.

Continuous Testing

If you selected Continuous testing, DIAG needs no additional

information. After you specify whether to create the error log, DIAG returns to the main menu. You see this message in the Run Time Parameters window:

Test Mode:

Passbound Testing

If you selected Passbound testing, you see this prompt:

of Passes : 00001

No.

Specify the number of times (from 1 to 65535) you want DIAG

to run the test(s). Or press Enter without entering a number to

select the default of one pass. You can use the backspace key to

edit your input.

Continuous

test(s).

Running a test multiple times provides reliability testing of

essential functions only. In most cases, running a test once is

sufficient.

System Diagnostics 9

If you specify a number larger than 65535, DIAG subtracts

65535 from your entry to determine how many times to run the

test. For example, if you enter a value of 65540, DIAG runs the test(s) five times.

Error Logging

When you request error logging, DIAG displays the following pop-up window:

Log errors on disk Log errors to printer (LPT1) Log errors to serial port (COM1)

Cancel error logging

Highlight the device you want to use to store or print the error messages. Press Enter to select the device, or press ESC to exit the pop-up window and return to the Error logging prompt.

If you select

another pop-up window:

Log errors on disk,

DIAG displays

Floppy disk A: Floppy disk B: Hard disk C:

Highlight the disk where you want to store the error messages. Press Enter to select the specified disk drive.

DIAG creates a file called ERROR.LOG in the current directory of the specified disk drive. After running the tests, you can open the ERROR.LOG file to review the errors that occurred during the tests.

System Diagnostics

After selecting error logging, DIAG uses this device (and/or disk drive) for error logging until you indicate you do not want

error logging. You can then specify a new device and/or disk drive by selecting error logging in the Run Time Parameters window. When you specify a new device and/or disk drive,

DIAG erases the existing ERROR.LOG file.

If you select the printer, DIAG writes the error messages to the device connected to your parallel port assigned LPT1. If you

select the serial port, DIAG writes the error messages to the device connected to your serial port assigned COM1.

If you select Cancel error logging, DIAG changes

the error logging response from Y to N.

When you specify the device for error logging, one of the error

messages may appear:

Floppy disk A not present Floppy disk B not present Hard disk C not present Printer port not present

Serial port not present

Error

printer status

serial port status

Error in floppy drive A

Record the error message and select a different device for error

logging.

System Diagnostics

Executing Diagnostics Tests in Batch Mode

To execute the selected group of diagnostics tests in batch mode, simply press F6.

DIAG highlights each test name as it runs the test.

If you selected Passbound testing, DIAG displays the pass number on the right side of the screen above the Run Time Parameters window. For example:

Pass :

When DIAG is executing a group of tests, you can stop the testing and return to the System Board submenu of tests by pressing Ctrl Break. DIAG completes the current test before it stops.

If you specified Wait on error in the Run Time Parameters, DIAG pauses each time an error occurs. When you

press Enter, DIAG continues the diagnostics testing.

00001

Running the Tests

When DIAG completes a test, you see this prompt:

Press <ENTER> to return to MAIN MENU.

Press Enter to return to the main menu.

If an error occurs during a test, note the error message and contact your Epson dealer. Your dealer may be able to solve the

problem; if not, he or she can refer you to an authorized Epson

Customer Care Center. If necessary, call the Epson Consumer Information number (1-800-922-891 1) for the location of your nearest authorized Epson Customer Care Center.

System Diagnostics

System Board Diagnostics

The tests listed in the System Board submenu provide a

complete diagnostics check of the system board.

Basic Functionality test CPU Protected Mode test Processor speed test

CoProcessor test DMA Controller test

Interrupt Controller test

Timer test Real Time Clock test CMOS Validity test

Basic Functionality Test

This test verifies the operation of each major component on the system board. It checks the instructions, registers, and flags of

the CPU.

When the test completes successfully, you see this message:

Basic functionality test of CPU passed OK.

CPU Protected Mode Test

This test switches to protected mode and checks the protected mode instructions, such as LSL, VER, and LAR.

When the test completes successfully, you see this message:

Protected mode test of CPU passed OK.

System Diagnostics 13

+ 42 hidden pages

Epson LT-286e User Manual

Contents

Introduction

Starting the Diagnostics Program

Creating a Database

The DIAG Main Menu Screen

Selecting Diagnostics Tests

Setting the Run Time Parameters

Timebound Testing

Continuous Testing

Passbound Testing

Error Logging

Executing Diagnostics Tests in Batch Mode

Running the Tests

System Board Diagnostics

Basic Functionality Test

CPU Protected Mode Test