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.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
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.
Copyright 0 1989 by Epson America, Inc.
Torrance, California
Y19499100200
ii
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.
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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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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iv
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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V
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:
CI
System board
Cl
Memory
Ll
Hard disk drive
0
Diskette drive
LI
Keyboard
CI
Video adapter board and monitor
CI
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:
1.
Insert the Diagnostics diskette in drive A.
2.
Turn on or reset the computer.
3.
At the MS-DOS@ prompt, type the following and press
Enter:
DIAG
The Diagnostics program displays a title screen.
4.
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:
1.
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
2.
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.
3.
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
3
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.
6
Systems Diagnostics
You cannot include certain tests in a group. The tests that must
run separately include:
category
System
Hard Disk
Board
Floppy
Keyboard
Miscellaneous
After you select the test(s) you want to run, you must set the
Run Time Parameters.
Test
Timer test
Real Time Clock test
Hard Disk Format
Auto Interleave
Media Analysis
Force Bad Tracks
Disk Change Line Test
Scan/ASCII Code Test
Printer Adapter Test:
Comm. Adapter Test
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.
10
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
Error
in
printer status
in
serial port status
Error in floppy drive A
Record the error message and select a different device for error
logging.
System Diagnostics
11
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.
12
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
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