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    Dell Diagnositics - Hidden in Plain Sight

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by noexitpath, Feb 2, 2006.

  1. noexitpath

    noexitpath Notebook Enthusiast

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    Dell Built-In Diagnostics

    Use:
    This tool-set helps diagnose hardware based issues on Dell Notebooks. It will start doing a DOS based quick test of the hardware then ask you if you wish to boot the "Diagnostic Partition". If you say 'Y' it will load a version of Linux with many Diagnostic Tests which you can run in full or individual.

    Instructions:
    Turn on the computer. When you see the Dell logo, repeatedly hit "F12". It will take you to a menu called "Quick Boot". It will list off all of the drives you can boot to, as well as a selection called "Diagnostics". Enter that selection.

    Limitations:
    All tools are limited by how well they are coded. These tools will NOT find every single issue, though they are a great place to start.

    I do not recommend anyone running the Diagnostic Tool unless you have a FULL backup of all your data and are having issues that you need diagnosed.

    (I am not acting as a Dell representative and you are responsible for all your own actions.)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
    noexitpath, Feb 2, 2006
    #1
  2. USAFdude02

    USAFdude02 NBR Reviewer & Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Great post...I think this will be a help to alot of people in this forum.

    Edit: Added as a sticky for now. We will see what kind of response will come about with problems.
     
    USAFdude02, Feb 2, 2006
    #2
  3. ccbr01

    ccbr01 Matlab powerhouse! NBR Reviewer

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    I have actually went into that before. I was on the phone with Dell when I got my i9300 going to a check of the lcd panel.
     
    ccbr01, Feb 2, 2006
    #3
  4. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

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    It does work even if you reformat. I think you have to download the diagnostics utility though.
     
    Amber, Feb 2, 2006
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  5. Safar

    Safar Notebook Guru

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    [​IMG]
    Boot Device Menu (F12)


    [​IMG]
    Shots show the Utility Partition in DOS based FDISK and the Windows


    [​IMG]
    The Dell PC Restore partition

    CAUTION: Dell does not recommend removing the Dell PC Restore partition through disk manager because the customer will not be able to recover that space for his system partition.
     
    Safar, Feb 10, 2006
    #5
  6. DonnaB

    DonnaB Notebook Geek

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    Hi,
    The Drivers and Utility CD contains the diagnostic utility. It is another method to run the utility (by booting to CD). I prefer to run it using F12, it is handy plus if a the user's optical drive is not working properly, the diagnostic utility may not run.

    I really like this utility that is why I cloned the whole hard-drive as my backup and I never touch the partition that Dell shipped to me. I have another backup solution though so I'm keeping them all. All features of the hidden partition is significant to most Dell customers especially if the notebook is still supported or warrantied and if the notebook came with MediaDirect.

    Anyways, the Diagnostic Utility is a breeze. Sometimes the Dell Support will ask the customer to run the utility if anything is wrong in any devices.
     
    DonnaB, Feb 16, 2006
    #6