Using the Advanced Diagnostic Test Programs (2140, 2142)

Using the Advanced Diagnostic Test Programs

The test programs provide advanced functions and utilities for users and service or support professionals to troubleshoot even the most difficult problems.

Program Navigation

You can maneuver within the test programs by typing the first letter of a menu choice, using the function keys, or using command-line options. You can also use the mouse pointer to choose an option.

Using the First Letter of a Menu Choice

Throughout the test programs, pressing the first letter of an option on a menu is the same as moving to that item with the cursor and pressing Enter.

Using the Function Keys

Use the following keys to maneuver throughout the test programs:

Keys Action Enter Select an item, run the test module, or run the test Down Arrow ( ) Moves the cursor down Up Arrow ( ) Moves the cursor up Left Arrow (<) Moves the cursor left Right Arrow (>) Moves the cursor right F1 Calls up the appropriate Help information. Use the up arrow key ( ) or the down arrow key ( ) to scroll through the information. Pressing F1 from within a Help screen provides a help index from which you can select different categories. One of the important help categories is function key usage. Pressing Esc exits Help and returns to where you left off. Esc Go back to the previous menu.

Keys	Action
Enter	Select an item, run the test module, or run the test
Down Arrow ( )	Moves the cursor down
Up Arrow ( )	Moves the cursor up
Left Arrow (<)	Moves the cursor left
Right Arrow (>)	Moves the cursor right
F1	Calls up the appropriate Help information. Use the up arrow key ( ) or the down arrow key ( ) to scroll through the information. Pressing F1 from within a Help screen provides a help index from which you can select different categories. One of the important help categories is function key usage. Pressing Esc exits Help and returns to where you left off.
Esc	Go back to the previous menu.

Command Line Options

To enter PC-Doctor commands:

NOTE: Before beginning, ensure that Suspend Timer is disabled in the Setup Utility.

Install the Diagnostics and Utilities CD in the CD/DVD-ROM drive.
Power-off, then power-on the system unit.
Do not press F1 during POST.
If any POST errors appear after POST, make a note of the errors and press Esc key.
When the 'Aptiva Diagnostics and Utilities Menu' screen is displayed type: zero for a DOS prompt, then change the DOS prompt to G: or the drive letter designated for the CD/DVD-ROM.
Type CD\PCDR to get the PCDR directory.
Type PCDR/XX (where /XX represents one of the following from the list below) then press Enter.

Command Action /AN Enables automatic testlog numbering. A sequential number will be added to testlogs automatically. This number is stored in the file PCDR.NUM, which can be edited using the text editor. PC-Doctor will automatically add a testlog number if the file PCDR.NUM exists. To disable this feature you must delete the PCDR.NUM file. /BA:xx Start batch mode testing of overlay number 'xx'. The overlay number must be in the range of 1-10. For this switch to be useful, it should be combined with the '/PR:nnnn' switch and possibly also the /EO and /HE switches. At the end of batch mode testing, PC-Doctor returns with an ERROR- -LEVEL that is set to 0 for no erors, 1 if any tests failed or 2 if testing was aborted. /DJ Direct Joystick I/O. This will force PC-Doctor to read joystick status and position directly from the hardware. /EO Log error only. If selected, PC-Doctor will only log tests that produced a FAILED result. You can use this switch to bypass PASSED and N/A test results in order to produce shorter test logs. /HE Enables halt-on-errors mode. If PC-Doctor encounters a failed diagnostic test, it ask the user if it should continue or abort testing. /ID:nnnn Adds the text string 'nnnn' to the top of the test log for identification purposes. If you want to use spaces in the text string, you must encapsulate the entire statement starting with the /ID: in quotes, for example: PCDR /HE "/ID:This string has spaces" /ST /MS:xx Runs a batch-mode Maximum System Load Test for 'xx' minutes The number of minutes must be in the range of 2 to 9999. PC-Doctor returns with an ERRORLEVEL that is set to 0 for no errors, 1 if any tests failed, or 2 if testing was aborted. /NN Disables checking for network cards. Use this switch if the system hangs while checking for network cards. /NOMOUSE Disables the mouse. /NP No prompting. Use this switch with the /BA:xx switch to bypass prompting for serial and parallel port loopback tests /NS Disables checking for sound cards. /NSC Disables checking for SCSI cards. /NV Bypass virus test. /PC:xx Set the pass count to 'xx'. The number of passes must be in the range of 1 to 9999. PC-Doctor repeats diagnostic tests for the indicated number of passes. /PR:nnnn Send test log output to a file 'nnnn' or to a device. The name of a file can include a path, for example 'C:\TESTLOG.TXT' or a device, 'PRN'. /ST Enables all hardware checking. When this switch is enabled all equipment that has a known hardware bug will show 'failed' after testing. If a hardware bug is found when this switch is enabled, it does not mean the equipment is defective. Rather, the hardware in question might contain a bug which does not hinder its performance.

Command	Action
/AN	Enables automatic testlog numbering. A sequential number will be added to testlogs automatically. This number is stored in the file PCDR.NUM, which can be edited using the text editor. PC-Doctor will automatically add a testlog number if the file PCDR.NUM exists. To disable this feature you must delete the PCDR.NUM file.
/BA:xx	Start batch mode testing of overlay number 'xx'. The overlay number must be in the range of 1-10. For this switch to be useful, it should be combined with the '/PR:nnnn' switch and possibly also the /EO and /HE switches. At the end of batch mode testing, PC-Doctor returns with an ERROR- -LEVEL that is set to 0 for no erors, 1 if any tests failed or 2 if testing was aborted.
/DJ	Direct Joystick I/O. This will force PC-Doctor to read joystick status and position directly from the hardware.
/EO	Log error only. If selected, PC-Doctor will only log tests that produced a FAILED result. You can use this switch to bypass PASSED and N/A test results in order to produce shorter test logs.
/HE	Enables halt-on-errors mode. If PC-Doctor encounters a failed diagnostic test, it ask the user if it should continue or abort testing.
/ID:nnnn	Adds the text string 'nnnn' to the top of the test log for identification purposes. If you want to use spaces in the text string, you must encapsulate the entire statement starting with the /ID: in quotes, for example: PCDR /HE "/ID:This string has spaces" /ST
/MS:xx	Runs a batch-mode Maximum System Load Test for 'xx' minutes The number of minutes must be in the range of 2 to 9999. PC-Doctor returns with an ERRORLEVEL that is set to 0 for no errors, 1 if any tests failed, or 2 if testing was aborted.
/NN	Disables checking for network cards. Use this switch if the system hangs while checking for network cards.
/NOMOUSE	Disables the mouse.
/NP	No prompting. Use this switch with the /BA:xx switch to bypass prompting for serial and parallel port loopback tests
/NS	Disables checking for sound cards.
/NSC	Disables checking for SCSI cards.
/NV	Bypass virus test.
/PC:xx	Set the pass count to 'xx'. The number of passes must be in the range of 1 to 9999. PC-Doctor repeats diagnostic tests for the indicated number of passes.
/PR:nnnn	Send test log output to a file 'nnnn' or to a device. The name of a file can include a path, for example 'C:\TESTLOG.TXT' or a device, 'PRN'.
/ST	Enables all hardware checking. When this switch is enabled all equipment that has a known hardware bug will show 'failed' after testing. If a hardware bug is found when this switch is enabled, it does not mean the equipment is defective. Rather, the hardware in question might contain a bug which does not hinder its performance.

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