Dell Diagnostics: Dell OptiPlex GX1 Small-Form-Factor System User's Guide
file:///C|/infodev/2013/eDoc/OpGX1/UG/diag.htm[2/21/2013 11:47:14 AM]
Similar to the Read Test, but no data is transferred from the drive to the system.
Write Test
Positions the read/write heads at each block of the drive and verifies that all tracks on the drive can be
written to correctly.
SMART Test
Checks to see if a hard-disk drive's internal error thresholds have been exceeded, which might predict
impending hard-disk drive failure. If any thresholds have been exceeded, the test fails.
CD-ROM Audio Test
Attempts to play an audio track from a CD in a CD-ROM drive. If the system does not have speakers
and an integrated audio controller or sound card, you must connect headphones to the CD-ROM
headphone jack to verify whether the test completes successfully.
Media Eject Test
Attempts to electronically eject media from a removable media drive. If the drive does not support
electronic media ejection, the test is meaningless.
Tape Retension Test
Performs a tape retension operation on a tape drive with a tape cartridge installed. Tape drive errors
are sometimes due to a cartridge that needs to be retensioned.
Why Run an IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices Test?
NOTE: 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 your computer will not attempt to use it. Identification of unusable disk
space, unless it is an unusually large amount (over five percent of the possible total), should not be
regarded as a cause for testing the hard-disk drive.
These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test an IDE drive:
The drive fails during the boot routine.
Seek errors are reported by the operating system or application programs.
An error message appears on the screen stating that the computer cannot read from or write to the
drive.
Data on the drive is corrupted or lost; this problem may be intermittent. Once saved by a program, files
cannot be properly recalled.
Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group
The subtests in the
Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group
check the computer’s interface with external devices,
