PCD Win Manual 10110

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PC-Diag Windows

User’s Manual

NOTE: THIS MANUAL DESCRIBES THE FEATURES OF THE PCDIAG PRO VERSION. SOME FEATURES MIGHT BE DISABLED IN THE VERSION YOU PURCHASED. PLEASE CHECK OUR WEB SITE FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EACH VERSION.

PC-Diag, Inc.

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INTRODUCTION

5

Technical Assistance..................................................................................................5
INSTALLATION 8

HOW TO INSTALL PC-DIAG ON YOUR COMPUTER....................................................................................8 UNINSTALL PC-DIAG FROM YOUR COMPUTER.........................................................................................8 HOW TO … 9

RUN A TEST.........................................................................................................................................9 RUN A TEST IN REMOTE MODE...............................................................................................................9 RUN A BATCH TEST...............................................................................................................................9 RUN A TEST MULTIPLE TIMES.................................................................................................................9 CREATE A SNAPSHOT REPORT.................................................................................................................9 SAVE TEST LOG.................................................................................................................................10 PRINT TEST RESULTS...........................................................................................................................10 COPY RESULTS TO CLIPBOARD.............................................................................................................10 SET USER AND COMPUTER INFORMATION...............................................................................................10 ENABLE STARTUP WIZARD..................................................................................................................10 GETTING STARTED 11

HOW TO START PC-DIAG...................................................................................................................11 STARTUP WIZARD..............................................................................................................................11 MAIN SCREEN 16

EDIT MENU.......................................................................................................................................17 COMPUTER MENU..............................................................................................................................18 REMOTE MENU..................................................................................................................................18 CONNECTION MENU...........................................................................................................................18 TESTS MENU.....................................................................................................................................18 BATCH TESTING MENU.......................................................................................................................19 TOOLS MENU....................................................................................................................................20 VIEW MENU......................................................................................................................................25 HELP MENU......................................................................................................................................26 TOOLBARS.........................................................................................................................................27 TESTING COMPONENTS 29

PROCESSOR........................................................................................................................................29 MANUALLY TESTING THE CPU...........................................................................................................31 MEMORY...........................................................................................................................................33
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MANUALLY TESTING THE MEMORY.......................................................................................................34 HARD DRIVES....................................................................................................................................35 MANUALLY TESTING THE DISK DRIVES..................................................................................................37 CDROM AND DVD DRIVE..............................................................................................................38 FLOPPY DRIVE...................................................................................................................................39 DISPLAY ADAPTER.............................................................................................................................41 MONITOR..........................................................................................................................................42 NETWORK ADAPTER ..........................................................................................................................43 SOUND CARD.....................................................................................................................................44 KEYBOARD........................................................................................................................................46 MOUSE..............................................................................................................................................47 SERIAL PORTS...................................................................................................................................48 TESTING COMPONENTS IN REMOTE MODE 49

GENERAL ..........................................................................................................................................49 RUNNING PCDIAG IN SERVER MODE .................................................................................................50 RUNNING PCDIAG IN CLIENT MODE .................................................................................................50 STEPS TO USE PCDIAG IN SERVER MODE ............................................................................................50 STEPS TO USE PCDIAG REMOTE IN CLIENT MODE ...............................................................................54 DEFAULT SETTINGS ...........................................................................................................................57 SAVING, LOADING AND RESTORING CONNECTIONS ..................................................................................59 "VIEW" MENU ..................................................................................................................................61 "MESSAGES" MENU ..........................................................................................................................62 COMPONENTS INFORMATION 63

PROCESSOR........................................................................................................................................63 MEMORY...........................................................................................................................................63 HARD DRIVES....................................................................................................................................63 CDROM AND DVD DRIVES.............................................................................................................63 FLOPPY DRIVES.................................................................................................................................64 DISPLAY ADAPTER.............................................................................................................................64 MONITOR..........................................................................................................................................64 NETWORK ADAPTER...........................................................................................................................64 MODEM.............................................................................................................................................65 SOUND CARD.....................................................................................................................................65 KEYBOARD........................................................................................................................................65 MOUSE..............................................................................................................................................65 SERIAL PORTS...................................................................................................................................66 PARALLEL PORTS...............................................................................................................................66 USB.................................................................................................................................................66 PCI..................................................................................................................................................66 SYSTEM DEVICES...............................................................................................................................67 GENERAL INFORMATION 68

PROCESSOR........................................................................................................................................68
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MEMORY...........................................................................................................................................70 HARD DISK DRIVES...........................................................................................................................71 CDROM AND DVD DRIVES.............................................................................................................72 FLOPPY DRIVES.................................................................................................................................73 DISPLAY ADAPTERS............................................................................................................................73 MONITORS.........................................................................................................................................74 NETWORK ADAPTERS.........................................................................................................................75 MODEMS...........................................................................................................................................75 SOUND CARDS....................................................................................................................................75 KEYBOARD........................................................................................................................................76 MOUSE..............................................................................................................................................76 SERIAL PORTS...................................................................................................................................76 PARALLEL PORTS...............................................................................................................................77 USB.................................................................................................................................................77 PCI..................................................................................................................................................77 SYSTEM BOARD DEVICES....................................................................................................................77 IDE.................................................................................................................................................78

PC-Diag, Inc.

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Introduction
How to Use This Manual
We tried to organize this manual with a certain amount of logic connected to the way you’ll probably use your PC-Diag software. You can consult the table of contents, where you’ll notice that the topics start with the tasks you perform immediately after installing the software, move on to the tasks you perform often, and then cover the tasks you perform less frequently. The index guides you to specific tasks and features so when you absolutely must know immediately how to do something; it’s easy to find in the instructions.

Technical Assistance
If you have difficulties using the product, or it seems to fail, go to our support page at http://www.pc-diagnostics.com/support.shtml for further information. If you do not find the information your require there. Then please fill out one of our (TROUBLE TICKET’S) go to https://store.pc-diagnostics.com/Articles.asp?ID=134 and fill out one of our technical assistance reports the form must be completed in full in order for our support team to expedite your request. EXCEPTION: If you are a volume buyer and you have attained a prior written agreement or (Service Level Agreement), as per your SLA agreement you can call our private support line for immediate assistance. IMPORTANT: PC-Diag does not offer live telephone support unless you have a (Service Level Agreement)! If you do not have a (Service Level Agreement), Please just fill out our (TROUBLE TICKET) at https://store.pc-diagnostics.com/Articles.asp?ID=134 and one of our support personnel will assist you within 24hrs, but usually much sooner. The exception would be that your particular request requires more extensive research or we have to attempt to duplicate the error you are receiving on our own test beds. Be sure that the request you are making is in fact something that the PC-Diag version you have is capable of testing. If you are not sure you can check our compare Windows document at: http://www.pc-diagnostics.com/pc_diagnostics_tools/documents/PCDiag_Windows_Comparison_Chart2.doc Or you may require some customization of our product!

Custom Versions
We have provided a variety of custom-designed and custom-built test products for qualified service companies, computer and motherboard manufacturers, mail order houses, telemarketing groups, distributors, and other resellers. For many configurations we can provide production prototypes within 2 to 3 weeks after an order is placed. We provide these products in standard and custom configurations for the retail market, Value-Added Resellers, PC manufacturers, and distributors. Contact us to receive the latest product information. You will find us responsive and you will get reasonable rates.

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Getting Started
Congratulations on deciding to use PC-Diag’s computer management solutions. This was a wise decision, and it’s one that will change your PC testing practices forever. PC-Diag is a robust system test software package that lets you determine how your computer is configured, how fast it is performing, whether it is running properly, what is wrong with it, and what to do to remedy the problem. It is easy to use, gives fast results and saves repair time. PC-Diag for Windows is designed to reduce the expenses associated with the maintenance of computers thus limiting downtime, unnecessary repair, unwarranted technical support and costly RMA returns. Our software allows it’s user to maintain quality maintenance service and support during all four phases of a PC’s lifecycle. There can be little doubt that diagnostic software is critically important to everyone in the PC industry, from home users to professional third party maintenance technicians. Therefore, the goals of any diagnostic developer are: the diagnostics should be able to detect a defect or a configuration problem in the hardware, to identify what caused the problem, and to suggest how to remedy the problem. PC-Diag for Windows was designed not only to inspect and verify how well your computer works, but also to give you access to a large knowledge database about each of these components. Our main goal was to offer you the opportunity to perform in-depth tests on your computer components without the help of a professional troubleshooter. And we made this as easy as 1-2-3 1 – View information about your components 2 – Select and execute tests to make sure they are working well 3 - Read valuable information about specific components PC-Diag comes in several versions, each with different characteristics, depending on the intended use. All versions of PC-Diag share the same crisp, clean pull-down menu system, so they all operate alike, and operation is virtually self-explanatory. PC-Diag Features  An easy to use point and click interface  Comprehensive report about your computer components, and operating system  Displaying detailed information about processor, memory, hard drives, CD/DVD drives, floppy drive, monitor, video card, network card, modem, sound cards, keyboard, mouse, serial ports, parallel ports, USB, PCI and system board devices.  Selecting and executing extensive tests for processor, memory, hard drives, CD/DVD drives, floppy drive, video card, sound cards, keyboard, mouse, serial ports.  Printing/saving the information or tests results.  Displaying the content of the configuration files. There are differences in the available features for the various versions. Since the product is constantly evolving, this manual cannot keep up with all the changes and new features added. For the latest information about features, call our Toll Free line in the US or Canada at (888) 6892978 or International (718) 249-4862 or visit our website at http://www.pc-diagnostics.com . Supported Operating Systems:  Windows 2000  Windows 2000 Pro  Windows XP  Windows 2003  Windows Vista PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

Intended Audience This manual is intended for people who have to test and troubleshoot computers. It can be educational for people who are relatively new to computers. We have attempted to write the manual so almost anyone who is familiar with a computer can understand it. The manual cannot realistically be a complete introductory text on the PC, nor can it adequately describe low-level functioning of computer components or troubleshooting techniques. Many of the things you might like to know are probably beyond the scope of this manual. Also, if you don't have a lot of computer knowledge, interpreting the tests’ results can be confusing. If you need a better background in computers, we recommend training courses such as A+ certification. We provide both email and website methods of sending us your comments, questions, and requests for assistance. It is important to write your problem or question with full details on your system. We welcome your feedback because it will help us improve the product. NOTE: We highly recommend that you read through the manual once before using the product.

PC-Diag, Inc.

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Installation
This chapter offers you information on how to install and start PC-Diag. It also explains how you can uninstall PC-Diag from your computer.

How to install PC-Diag on your computer
To install PC-Diag, you have to do the following: 1. Double click on Setup.exe or the file you downloaded from PC-Diag web site, if you purchased the physical media on CD or USB drive you’ll find the Setup.exe there as well. 2. Click Next on the Welcome panel.

3. Read the License Agreement and click Yes to accept it. 4. Select the desired installation folder and click Next. To select another folder click Browse. 5. Select Program Folder and click Next 6. Click Next to confirm installation. (It is recommended to have at least 20 MB free space on your hard drive and 64 MB of memory). 7. Click Finish when the installation is done

Uninstall PC-Diag from your computer
To uninstall PC-Diag, you have to do the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Click Start. Click Control Panel. Click Add or Remove Programs. Find and click on PC-Diag. Click Change/Remove. Select Remove and click Next Click OK to confirm removal.

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How To …
Run a test
1. Go to the Tests menu and select the appropriate component Or Click on the component icon in the application toolbar 2. Select test option 3. Click Run Test button

Run a test in remote mode
1. Select “Remote -> Configure -> Run Mode” option from the main menu Or Click the Run Mode icon in the application toolbar 2. Select Server option 3. Start listening by clicking Start button 4. On the remote computer running PCDiag Remote Client, select "Run as client" in the configuration window 5. Click on the Connection | New menu item or on the appropriate toolbar icon 6. In the right panel of PCDiag Remote, the user can see the messages that are exchanged between the controller and the remote application 7. You can close the connection by clicking Close connection menu. To return to local mode, click the Stop button 8.

Run a batch test
This test allows you to test the computer by test groups such as Motherboard, Memory, Video, Fixed Disk, CD, Floppy Disk, Video, Serial, Parallel, USB and more. Batch mode tests can simulate a month of normal operation in just a few hours of intensive exercising 1. For a full batch test select Full testing from the Batch testing menu Or press the F4 key 2. For a quick batch test select Quick testing from the Batch testing menu Or press the F5 key 3. To create a new batch file press the F7 key 4. To open an existing batch file press the F6 key

Run a test multiple times
1. Select a test from Batch testing menu 2. Specify the “Number of test passes” in Options section

Create a snapshot report
This is a fast easy way to identify the installed hardware found in your computer, including the exact identity of the latest CPU’s, cache memory and more. To view the snapshot report select Snapshot from Computer menu Or click on the Snapshot icon in the application toolbar

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Save test log
1. Run test 2. Go to the File menu and select Save option Or Click on the Save icon in the application toolbar 3. Select file name, folder name, and file type 4. Click Save button

Print test results
1. Run test 2. Go to the File menu and select Print option Or Click on the Print icon in the application toolbar 3. Select printer and set printer properties 4. Click Print button

Copy results to clipboard
1. Run test 2. Go to the Edit menu and select on of the Copy options

Set user and computer information
1. Select Options from Tools menu (Ctrl+O) 2. Fill in the required information 3. Click Apply button

Enable startup wizard
1. Select Options from Tools menu (Ctrl+O) 2. In Interface tab check “Show wizard at application startup” box

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Getting started
How to start PC-Diag
The software application cannot be used unless the serial numbers/ registration code / or codes are entered into the required fields once the software is opened. The software activation serial numbers / codes will be sent to you via email at the address you entered on your order form. Please be sure to put anything from @pc-diagnostics.com on you (SAFE SENDER LIST) after your purchase, or any communication from PC-Diag could end up in your SPAM FILTERS, especially if you are using FREE email addresses such as hotmail or Yahoo. Please type the information you receive from us such as your name, the company name and the serial / registration code carefully in order to authenticate the right to use this software application. If you any reason you misplace your download links or serial / registration codes you can easily retrieve all your information. Alternatively, you can go to www.pc-diagnostics.com/customerlogin.php enter your (5 digit order number) and the email address that is on your original order form. This information must be accurate and exact in order for you to log in to view all your information. AFTER INSTALLATION: Run the program by clicking on the Start button, followed by going to Programs, PC-Diag and then clicking on the PC-Diag icon. Alternatively, you can double click from the desktop on PC-Diag Icon.

Startup Wizard
PC-Diag’s interactive wizard acts as an interface that will lead you through a complex task, using step-by-step dialogs. The following section provides a summary of the steps that you follow to complete the startup wizard.

Step 1
The first step enables you to choose whether to use the software in local mode or remote mode.

Step 2
You can choose to fill in the user information that will be used on the computer summary report. Press Yes if you want to fill this information now.

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In remote mode this step will advise you to disable the firewall to allow the communication on the selected port.

In remote mode you must provide the IP address of the system administrator’s computer and the port used for communication. The two programs can act as both server and/or client, therefore they should be complementarily configured (when one is the server, the other should be the client). Also, they should use the same port and the client's address should reflect the correct server IP address. The only difference between these two modes exists in the set up of the connection. One application is listening for the connection (the server) and the other is initiating the connection (the client).

Step 4 (Step 2 for Locale Mode)
The Owner/Customer information will be used on the computer summary report. Press Yes if you want to fill this information now.

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Step 5 (Step 3 for Locale Mode)
The Computer/Technician information will be used on the computer summary report. Press Yes if you want to fill this information now.

Step 6 (Step 4 for Locale Mode)

Step 7 (Step 5 for Locale Mode)
You can select the source and destination files that will be used for the netcards read and write tests. Press Yes if you want to fill this information now.

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Step 8 (Step 6 for Locale Mode)
The ratings table helps you to compare the performance of your computer components, and operating system so you can determine whether or not your PC is performing the way it should be. (Compare how well your PC is performing based on similar machines). Press Yes if you want to fill this information now.

Step 9 (Step 7 for Locale Mode)
The report options determine the content of the computer summary report. Press Yes if you want to fill this information now.

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Step 10 (Step 8 for Locale Mode)
If you want to display the computer summary information press Yes.

Step 11 (Step 9 for Locale Mode)
This step allows you to run a batch file.

Step 12 (Step 10 for Locale Mode)
If you want to start the wizard next time, select Yes and then click on Finish.

Now that PC-Diag is installed and the startup wizard is completed, it is time to get to know the screen, its navigation features, and to learn how to use its tools.

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Main Screen
PC-Diag’s main window is displayed after you start the application. As you can see, PC-Diag looks and behaves like any other Windows application: it has a menu, a toolbar, a status bar and a working area with detailed information. Every element will be explained in greater detail in the following pages. The main window is presented below.

The menu-driven interface is so simple and intuitive that the manual is not even needed for most features. Main menu contains the following submenus: File, Edit, Computer, Remote, Connection, Tests, Batch testing, Tools, View, Help. Information area displays information about the computer or one of the components, test options and the log of the previous run tests.

File Menu
Using the File Menu you can save the information on screen to the hard drive for later usage or print it to your printer. Save as option

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Saves the information on screen to your computer. If you select this option, then the Save As dialog box will be displayed. You can select the file name, the destination of your file, and in what format the file will be saved. Click Save to save the file or click Cancel to close this window without saving. IMPORTANT. There are four available formats for saving a file: 1. Web Page Complete: will save the information in an HTM or HTML file and the related files (like images) in a separate folder 2. Web Archive: will save all the information (including images) in a single file. This is the recommended option.

3. Web Page, HTML Only: will save only the text formatted as HTML. Images will not be
saved.

4. Text Only: will save only text without HTML formatting.
Print option Prints the information on the screen to the selected printer. You can select the printer, what pages to print, number of copies as well as other options. Click on Print button to start printing or click on Cancel to close this window. Printer Setup option Displays Printer Setup dialog box. Using this window, you can select the printer, paper size, paper source, and orientation. Click on Properties to display a setup window for more advance options. Exit option Closes PC-Diag application.

Edit Menu
Using the Edit Menu you can copy the information on screen to the clipboard or clear the test log. Copy All (Text) option Copy all the information on screen to your clipboard. Only text will be copied and no other formatting information. Copy All (HTML) option Copy all the information on screen to your clipboard. The information will be copied in HTML format. Copy Test Log (Text) option Copy only the test log to your clipboard. Only text will be copied and no other formatting information. Copy Test Log (HTML) option PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

Copy only the test log to your clipboard. The information will be copied in HTML format. Clear Test Log Clear the test log and prepares for a new test.

Computer Menu
Using the Computer Menu you can go to the Computer Information screen, Hardware Selection screen, Configuration screen or Snapshot screen. Computer Information option Displays the computer information summary. You can see information about the operating system, ownership, BIOS, processor, memory, drives, keyboard, mouse and printer. Hardware Selection screen Displays a screen where you can select the component type. Click on the desired component and then click View button to display more information about it. Configuration screen Displays a screen where you can select one of the following configuration files: Autoexec.bat, Autoexec.NT, Config.sys, Config.NT, System.ini, Win.ini, Hosts, LMHosts. Click on the file name and then click View button to display more information about it. Snapshot screen Displays the Snapshot configuration report of the hardware in your system. The report is excellent for showing what is in the system and whether it needs an upgrade. It is also a convenient way of obtaining a complete view of your system in one go without going through every module.

Remote Menu
Using the Remote Menu you can connect to another computer (see details in “Testing components in remote mode” section)

Connection Menu
Using the Connection Menu enables you to close an existing connection

Tests Menu
The Tests menu is the heart of the diagnostic system. This is where all of the diagnostic tests are performed. PC-Diag’s tests are divided into groups. Each group tests a particular type of device in the computer. Each test submenu shows the Run All Tests selection to enable you to run all the tests of the group in sequence. Processor option - Displays the Processor test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. Memory option - Displays the Memory test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. Hard Drives option - Displays the Hard Drives test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button.

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DVD/CDROM Drives option - Displays the DVD/CDROM Drives test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. Floppy Drives option - Displays the Floppy Drives test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. Video Card option - Displays the Video Card test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. Sound Card option - Displays the Sound Card test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. Keyboard option - Displays the Keyboard test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. Mouse option - Displays the Mouse test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. Serial Port option - Displays the Serial Port test screen. Select the tests you want to execute and then click Run Test button. View session log option - Displays a log with your last tests. Manual Test option - Allows you to manually test the CPU, memory or drive.

Batch testing Menu
Batch testing Menu enables you to automate the diagnostic testing process. A batch testing file consists of the test you want to run, the devices to test, and the test settings to be used. Each test appears next to a selection box. If the test’s selection box is marked it will be executed when batch testing file is used. Use the spacebar or mouse to toggle the test selection box on and off. Tests are divided into groups and subgroups. Selecting a group by turning on its selection box causes all of the tests within the group to be added to the batch testing file. Turning off a group causes all of its tests to be removed. Tests within the test groups can be individually selected by turning on their selection box. When you are finished editing the tests and options in the batch testing file, save them under a name of your choice.

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Tools Menu
Tools Menu lets you select from different tools the application is offering. Cleanup Tools option The Cleanup Tools window will help the user to search for: - invalid entries from Start Menu and Add/Remove Programs - temporary files (.tmp) - backup files (.bak) - files that have size 0 User then has the option to delete the invalid entries or files. The window will show Add/Remove Programs tab by default (see picture below).

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Cleanup Tools option provides useful functions such as Show/AddRemove Programs, Delete Selected Program, Show Start Menu Invalid Entries, Delete Selected Entry, Delete All. Click “Show Add/Remove Programs” and the list will be populated with all the entries from Windows registry that refer to Add/Remove programs. To delete an entry click on it to select and then click “Delete Selected Program”. Click Close to exit the window. Important: this will delete the program entry in the Windows registry, and not the program itself. To display invalid entries from Windows Start Menu, click the Start Menu tab (see picture below).

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Click “Show Start Menu Invalid Entries” and the list will be populated with all invalid entries from Start Menu. To delete an invalid entry, click on it and then click “Delete Selected Entry”. To delete all invalid entries click on “Delete All”. Click Close to exit this window. To see temporary files, backup files, or files that have size = 0 (empty files), click Files tab (see picture below).

Using Choose folder you may change the folder you want to search. You may type in folder path or you may select it with the mouse. You can also change the drive you want to search. PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

If you select option “Search subfolders”, then the application will search in all subfolders of the selected folder. If you select “Search System Files”, then the application will search for files with attribute “System” set. If you select “Search Volume Files”, then the application will search for files with attribute “Volume” set. You may select the file type using “Look for” combo box: - *.tmp – temporary files - *.bak – backup files - size = 0 – empty files After you complete your selections, click “Search” to start searching for files. This operation can take a long time. The search can be stopped by clicking “Stop Search”. To delete a file, click on the file name and then click “Delete Selected file”. Click Close exit this window.

USB Tools option Displays the USB Tools window (see picture below). This is a distinct application and will display detailed information about the USB Host Controller and the attached USB devices.

Network Card Tool option Displays dynamic information about the network card and you can also test it from here.

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Environment Variables option Displays the Environment Variables window (see below). This window contains the list of environment variables and their values.

File Extensions option

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Displays the File Extensions window (see below). This window contains the list of file extensions and the program/class associated with them.

Links option Links option lets you select from another menu with links to different tools that Microsoft Windows offers: Event Viewer, Performance Monitor, System Edit, System Information, Task Manager.

View Menu
View Menu lets you customize the applications’ interface and to navigate through screens you already displayed. Toolbar option Show or hide toolbar. Shortcuts bar option Show or hide shortcuts bar. Navigation options Allows you to navigate through previously displayed screens in a similar way with most web browsers: Back (go to the previous screen), Next (go to the next screen), First (go to the first screen), Last (go to the last screen). Refresh option Refresh the current screen. This is useful if you changed some options and you want to restore them or you have added/removed/modify the hardware and want to display it (for example after connecting an USB device).

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Help Menu
Help Menu displays this help file and information about the application. Contents option Display the help file and make Contents tab active. Index option Display the help file and make Index tab active. Search option Display the help file and make Search tab active. Tips option Shows a tip of the day from PC-Diag’s database. This is a standard feature on modern Windows applications. Click Next to view the next tip or Close to close the window. You can also change the Show Tip at Start option. If this option is set, then the Tip window will be displayed the next time you start the application.

Email PC-Diag option Creates a new email message and set the To address to PC-Diag. PC-Diag Web Site option Opens the default web browser and loads to PC-Diag web site. About option Display the About window. You can view information about the software, version, and authors. Click OK to close this window.

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Toolbars
The toolbar was designed to make common tasks easier. It is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar. The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in this application.

Below are the pictures of each toolbar button and a brief description of its function:

Saves the current screen in a file. Prints the current screen. Quits the application. Displays help for the program. Displays the previous screen. Displays the next screen. Displays the first screen. Displays the last screen. Refreshes the current screen.

Displays the processor test screen.

Displays the memory test screens. Displays the hard drive test screen. Displays the CDROM/DVD drive test screen. Displays the floppy drive test screen. Displays the video card test screen.

Displays the sound card test screen.

Displays the keyboard test screen.

Displays the mouse test screen. Displays the serial port test screen.

Displays the computer information summary screen.

The shortcuts bar provide quick access to the most frequently used commands in the PC-Diag environment: F1-Help, F2-Save, F3-Summary, F4-Full batch, F5-Quick batch, F6-Load batch, F7New batch, F9-Print, Ctrl-X-Exit.

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To display or hide the toolbar, choose View menu, then check or uncheck the toolbar(s) you wish to show or hide.

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Testing Components
Several standard test suites are built into the software. Each of these test suites contains a number of different tests designed to measure different aspects of your computer system. These tests can be run as a group or as individual tests. The result of each test is presented using a particular unit of measurement. In each case the higher the number, the higher the performance of the computer. For some tests there is a differentiation between integer and floating point numbers. Integers are whole numbers such as 19, 53171, -33. Floating point numbers contain a fractional part, eg. 1.009, 37919.9. These two types of numbers are treated quite differently inside a computer, which is why the tests differentiates between the two. For a measurement to be accurate and fair, several precautions need to be taken. Failure to take into account these factors may result in measurements that are inaccurate and misleading. • Stop all other applications before running a test. • Turn off virus checkers; most of them don’t have serious effect on performance, but some might. • Once a test has been started, leave the test run without starting or interacting with other applications. • Windows can sometimes fire a process that can interfere with the accuracy of a test. You may need to run a test a couple of times over a longer period of time to get an accurate result. • Performance result can be dramatically worsened if Windows doesn’t have enough memory and needs to swap out to disk too often. Make sure you have enough RAM if you want to get a real indication of the system performance. • How full the disk is and its cluster size can affect the read/write performance of a disk; also, if the disk is fragmented this can badly affect performance. • Don’t expect these tests to run twice as fast on a computer with two or more CPUs.

Processor
The processor is the brain of the computer, interpreting and executing instructions. Processor clock speed is usually measured in MHz or GHz, but this is not an accurate representation of the processor's true potential, and that's why tests are used to determine the performance of the processor in various areas. PC-Diag allows you to run different tests to assure the processor is working properly. Tests are performed using two sets of values: predefined values and random values. Random generated test values are a very powerful tool. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Processor option Or Click on Processor icon in the application toolbar 2. Select the tests you want to run 3. In the Test configuration box, you can check which core you want to test. If no core is selected, a Message Box will notify this. Select all cores check-box enables the user to perform tests on all cores 4. Click on Run Test button

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Below is a list with some tests you can choose from and a short description for each of them: Test name 16 bits registers 32 bits registers 16 bits arithmetical operations 32 bits arithmetical operations 16 bits logical operations 32 bits logical operations String operations Floating point operations MMX registers MMX operations Description Tests all 16 bits registers using a specific set of values and a random set of values Tests all 32 bits registers using a specific set of values and a random set of values Tests arithmetical operations with 16 bits operands using a specific set of values and a random set of values Tests arithmetical operations with 32 bits operands using a specific set of values and a random set of values Tests logical operations with 16 bits operands using a specific set of values and a random set of values Tests logical operations with 32 bits operands using a specific set of values and a random set of values Tests string operations using a specific set of values Tests floating point operations using a specific set of values and a random set of values Tests MMX registers using a specific set of values and a random set of values Tests MMX operations using a specific set of values and a random set of values

Floating point operations PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

This test performs various operations on floating point numbers (numbers with decimals), intensively using the processor's FPU (floating point processing unit). In the old days, the FPU could be found as a separate chip on the mainboard, called the math co-processor, but even since the 486, it has been integrated into the main processor. On many newer systems, including Pentium 4's and Athlon XP's, the FPU is very weak, due to the fact that nowadays most floating point operations are done using MMX or SSE extensions. Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extension 3 (SSSE3) is Intel’s name for the SSE instruction set’s fourth iteration and contains 16 new discrete instructions over SSE3. Each can act on 64-bit MMX or 128-bit XMM registers. Therefore, Intel’s materials refer to 32 new instructions. New features were included in the CPU’s properties page to meet the latest technologies: • Hyper-Threading Technology – the field has a No value if the tested processor does not have Hyper-Threading Technology implemented, Yes (Disabled) if the processor has Hyper-Threading Technology implemented and is disabled from Bios, Yes (Enabled) if the processor has Hyper-Threading Technology implemented and is enabled. Multi-core – the field has a Yes value if the tested processor is multi-core, No value if the tested processor isn’t multi-core Multi-processor – the field has a Yes value if the tested PC is multi-processor, No value if the tested PC isn’t multi-processor Multi-core capability – the field indicates how many cores the tested processor has Hyper-Threading capability – the field indicates how many logical processors are available for each core SSE3 enabled – has a Yes value if the tested processor supports the set of instructions Streaming SIMD Extension 3, No if the tested processor doesn’t support the set of instructions Streaming SIMD Extension 3 SSSE3 enabled – has a Yes value if the tested processor supports the set of instructions Streaming SIMD Extension 3, No if the tested processor doesn’t support the set of instructions Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extension 3

• • • •

• •

If the tested CPU does not support the SSSE3 set of instructions and the user checks the SSSE3 operations test check-box or selects it from the menu, a Message Box will notify him and the check-box will be disabled. The 64 bits registers test runs only on CPUs with a 64 bits architecture and a 64 bits version of Windows.

Manually testing the CPU
CPU manual test allows you to configure the test type, parameters, registers, and operations. To run the manual test: 1. Choose Tests from the main menu 2. Click on “Manual test” 3. Select “Processor” The CPU Test window will open.

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In section “Functions”, select the test type that will be executed. In sections “Value 1” and “Value 2” input the values that will be stored in registers. “Value 2” is used only for operations that require two parameters. In section “Registers”, select the registers that will be used through the test. Click on register to select it form list. You can select multiple registers from list. The test will be executed for each register. Section “Operations” is used only for test that contains the word ”Operations” in its name. To perform test click “Run Test”. Below is a list with test to select from and a short description of each: Test name 16 bits registers 32 bits registers 16 bits logical operations 32 bits logical operations 16 bits arithmetical operations 32 bits arithmetical operations String operations Floating point operations MMX register MMX operations Description Tests 16 bits registers using selected registers and value Tests 32 bits registers using selected registers and value Tests 16 bits logical operations using selected values, registers, and operations Tests 32 bits logical operations using selected values, registers, and operations Tests 16 bits arithmetical operations using selected values, registers, and operations Tests 32 bits arithmetical operations using selected values, registers, and operations Tests string operations using selected values, registers, and operations Tests floating point operations using selected values, registers, and operations Tests MMX registers using selected registers and value Tests MMX operations using selected values, registers and operation Parameters Registers Value Registers Value Registers Operation Values Registers Operation Values Registers Operation Values Registers Operation Values Registers Operation Values Registers Operation Values Registers Operation Values Registers Operation Values Help file

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Memory
Memory represents the internal storage areas in the computer. PC-Diag allows you to run different tests to assure the memory is working properly. Tests are performed using a number of predefined patterns. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Memory option Or Click on Memory icon in the application toolbar 2. Select the tests you want to run 3. Click on Run Test button Below is a list with tests you can select from and a short description for each of them: Test name Main patterns Walking ones Walking zeros Moving inversion Flood 0 Description Tests memory using specially selected values in a predefined sequences Tests memory with a sequences of values that differs by a single bit (changed alternatively from 0 to 1). Tests memory with a sequence of values that differs by a single bit (changed alternatively from 1 to 0). Tests memory with a sequence of values generated recurrent by inverting one bit. This tests each memory address. It writes "000000000000000000000000000000" in every 32 bit address, then reads it back in a CPU register, and verifies if it was correctly returned. This operation is very fast. This tests each memory address. It writes "11111111111111111111111111111111" in every 32 bit address, then reads it back in a CPU register, and verifies if it was correctly returned. This tests each memory address. It writes "10101010101010101010101010101010" in every 32 bit address, then reads it back in a CPU register, and verifies if it was correctly returned. This tests each memory address. It writes "01010101010101010101010101010101" in every 32 bit address, then reads it back in a CPU register, and verifies if it was correctly returned.

Flood 1

Checkerboard

Inverted checkerboard

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Manually testing the memory
Manual memory test allows you to specify the value for test, the percent from memory that you want to allot and the maximum number of errors to be reported. To run the manual test: 1. Go to menu “Tests” on the main menu 2. Click on “Manual test” 3. Select “Memory” The Memory Test window will open.

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In section “Memory percent”, enter the percent of memory you want to test. In section “Byte test”, enter the value to be used for test (should be between 0 and 255). In section “Max Errors to report”, enter the maximum number of errors that you want to be reported. Click “Run test” to begin the test.

Hard Drives
Hard disk drive (HDD) is the device that can read/write from a hard disk. PC-Diag allows you to run different tests to assure the hard drive is working properly. You can configure these tests and choose which drive on your computer you want to test, if you have more than one hard drive or partition. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Hard drives option Or Click on Hard Drive icon in the application toolbar 2. Select the tests you want to run and the hard drive 3. Click on Run Test button Below is a list with tests you can select from and a short description for each of them: Test name Sequential Read/Write Random Read/Write Linear Seek Random Seek Funnel Seek Description Tests hard drive response to read/write operations performed sequentially. Tests hard drive response to read/write operations performed randomly. Tests the ability to move reading heads from one track to another, moving from the first to the last track and back. Tests the ability to randomly move the reading heads between tracks. Tests the ability to move the reading heads between tracks in a special designed sequence: Track Start, Track End, Track Start+1, Track End-1, Track Start+2, Track End-2 ... Track End, Track Start

Note: Linear Seek, Random Seek, and Funnel Seek are time consuming operations. They also give you an idea on how fast your hard drive is.

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To specify the location of data on a hard drive it is necessary to say what cylinder, then the track and sector. Moving the heads from one cylinder to another is called a seek, and the amount of time this takes is the average seek time. Speed or access time is the time it takes a hard disk to locate and retrieve a sector of data. This includes the time that it takes to move the head to the track, settle down, and read the data. As the disk spins beneath the head, a pulse of voltage through the head causes the area of the track that is beneath the head at that time to become magnetized. If this pulse of voltage is turned on for a certain amount of time, then turned off for some amount of time, it can represent the writing or recording of ones and zeros. The hard disk spins much faster than a floppy, so the duration of the magnetizing pulses can be much shorter at a higher frequency. The recording density depends to a great extent on the changes in magnetic flux. The faster the disk spins, the greater the number of changes. This allows much more data to be recorded in the same amount of space. The recording density or bits per inch (bpi) for each zone changes from the inner tracks to the outer tracks because the speed at the inner tracks pass beneath the heads faster than the outer tracks. One big factor in the amount of data that can be recorded in a given area is the frequency of the changing zeros and ones and the speed of the disk. The higher the speed of the disk, the higher the recording frequency can be. Of course, the rotational speed of the disk is also one of the factors that determines the seek, access, and transferal time. If you want to access data on a certain track, the faster the disk rotates, the sooner that sector will be available for reading. Hard-disk technology has improved tremendously over the last ten years.

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Manually testing the disk drives
Manual disk drive test allows you to specify the test type, the size of file to be created and the track you want to seek. To run the manual test: 1. Go to menu “Tests” on the main menu 2. Click on “Manual test” 3. Select “Drive” The Drive Test window will open.

In section “Select function”, select test type. In section “Select drive”, choose the drive to be tested. In section “Input file size”, enter the file length in octets. The section “Number of compares“ is only for “Test Random Read Write”. It represents the number of compares executed by the test. In section “Input track”, input the track number where want to seek. To perform test, click “Run Test”. To cancel test, click “Close”. Below is a list with tests to select from and a short description of each: Test name Sequential Read/Write Random Read/Write Linear Seek Description Tests hard drive response to read/write operations performed sequentially Tests hard drive response to read/write operations performed randomly Tests the ability to move reading heads from one track Parameters Drive number File size Drive number File size Number of compares Drive number Track number

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CDROM and DVD Drive
PC-Diag allows you to run different tests to assure the CD/DVD drive is working properly. You can configure these tests and choose which drive on your computer you want to test, if you have more than one CD or DVD drive installed. You need to have a disc in the drive which should, if possible, have mostly large files on it. Having many small files on the disc will lower the result, as the time required to seek between files is included in the result. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select CDROM/DVD drives option Or Click on CD/DVD Drive icon in the application toolbar 2. Select the tests you want to run 3. Click on Run Test button Below is a list with tests you can select from and a short description for each of them: Test name Linear Seek Random Seek Funnel Seek Description Tests the ability to move reading heads from one track to another, moving from the first to the last track and back. Tests the ability to randomly move the reading heads between tracks. Tests the ability to move the reading heads between tracks in a special designed sequence: Track Start, Track End, Track Start+1, Track End-1, Track Start+2, Track End-2 ... Track End, Track Start

Note: Linear Seek, Random Seek, and Funnel Seek are time consuming operations. They also give you an idea on how fast your CD/DVD drive is. You have to have a CD/DVD in the unit to perform these tests. Note that most CD Drives take around 3 – 5 seconds to ‘warm up’ if they haven’t been used in some time. This is a period where the drive accelerates to its read rotation speed and positions the read head. This time lag will definitely affect results for lower test durations. To help eliminate this effect, run the test a second time after the drive has warmed up. The rate at which a CD Drive can read data from a CD ROM varies about many factors. Firstly, and most importantly, is the speed of the manufactured drive. Older drives list speeds of 2X or 4X, (1X = 0.1536 MB/Sec), whereas top end drives at time of writing are now advertised as having speeds of 48X and 56X. Another large influence on the data transfer rate from CD is the system cache and the part it plays in storing frequently accessed data. The cache is a section of memory Windows uses to store data for fast access. The first time, for instance, a 10 MB file is read from a CD ROM, it is likely that Windows will copy it to the cache, recognizing that the data may soon be requested again. Upon subsequent requests for the same file, Windows will simply read the file directly from the cache and hence bypass the bottleneck of reading from the CD ROM again. After a certain period of time and/or a certain number of I/O requests, this data will have been replaced in the cache with more recent or essential data. Requesting the file at this stage, will mean Windows must go directly to the CD ROM once more. Note that the cache size and management policies vary considerably from system to system and are very likely to vary constantly while the system is running.

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Floppy Drive
PC-Diag allows you to run different tests to assure the floppy drive is working properly. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Floppy drives option Or Click on Floppy Drive icon in the application toolbar 2. Select the tests you want to run and the floppy drive 3. Click on Run Test button Below is a list with tests you can select from and a short description for each of them: Test name Sequential Read/Write Random Read/Write Linear Seek Random Seek Description Tests floppy drive response to read/write operations performed sequentially. Tests floppy drive response to read/write operations performed randomly. Tests the ability to move reading heads from one track to another, moving from the first to the last track and back. Tests the ability to randomly move the reading heads between tracks. Help file

PC-Diag, Inc.

Funnel Seek

Tests the ability to move the reading heads between tracks in a special designed sequence: Track Start, Track End, Track Start+1, Track End-1, Track Start+2, Track End-2 ... Track End, Track Start

Note: Linear Seek, Random Seek, and Funnel Seek are time consuming operations. A major problem with floppy drives is that the heads are dirty or misaligned, or the head positioner or electronics are broken or worn out. Sometimes, the drive is positioned wrongly in comparison to other system components. Many times, the heads in the drive are misaligned so they do not sit perfectly over the center of the track. In such a case, the drive can read the diskettes that it writes but cannot reliably read disks created on other drives. To remedy floppy drive problems, use alignment and cleaning disks. If the drive is still defective, you’ll have to swap it with another drive. The floppy controller electronics are usually on the motherboard. If this circuitry is defective, the drive might not spin or read properly, try removing and reseating it in its slot connector, or moving it to another slot. If it still does not work, you may need to replace it.

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Display Adapter
PC-Diag allows you to run different tests to assure the display adapter is working properly. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Video Card option Or Click on Video Card icon in the application toolbar 2. Select the tests you want to run 3. Click on Run Test button Below is a list with tests you can select from and a short description for each of them: Test name AVI file display MPEG-1 file display MPEG-2 file display Video card memory Description Plays an AVI file Plays a video file stored in MPEG-1 format Plays a video file stored in MPEG-2 format Tests video card memory by storing different values. During this test whole screen will go through different colors.

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Monitor
PC-Diag allows the user to run different tests to assure the monitor is working properly. To run the tests, do the following: 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Monitor option Or Click on Monitor icon in the application toolbar 1. Select the tests you want to run. 2. Click on Run Test button. Below is a list with tests to select from and a short description of each: Test name RED Color GREEN Color BLUE Color Description Change color for all pixels to red. Change color for all pixels to green. Change color for all pixels to blue.

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Network Adapter
Almost all computers these days have a network connection of some description. PC-Diag allows the user to run different tests to assure the network adapter is working properly. To run the tests, do the following: 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Network Adapter option Or Click on Network Adapter icon in the application toolbar. 1. Select the desired tests. 2. Click on Run Test button. Below is a list with tests to select from and a short description of each: Test Description name Ping The test will ping 4 times consecutively the selected network card. When running the tests it is important to see which network card is selected. The test will run on the selected network card. Read Copies a source file from the network to your local computer. The source and destination file can be set using Tools - Options - Netcard tests. If one of these files is not set correctly, then the test will fail. Write Copies a source file from the local computer to a folder from the network. The source and destination file can be set using Tools - Options - Netcard tests. If one of these files is not set correctly, then the test will fail. Note: If you are attempting to connect to a machine from outside or inside a firewall, you may need to either change the port number to one accepted by the firewall or ask your network administrator to configure the firewall to allow the default port for the network test.

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Sound Card
PC-Diag allows you to run different tests to assure the sound card is working properly. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Sound Card option Or Click on Sound Card icon in the application toolbar 2. Select the tests you want to run 3. Click on Run Test button Below is a list with tests you can select from and a short description for each of them: Test name MIDI file, left channel MIDI file, right channel MIDI file, both channels WAV file, left channel WAV file, right channel WAV file, both channels Speaker Description Plays an MIDI file that uses only the left channel Plays an MIDI file that uses only the right channel Plays an MIDI file that uses both left and right channel Plays an WAV file that uses only the left channel Plays an WAV file that uses only the right channel Plays an WAV file that uses both left and right channel Tests internal speaker by playing random sounds

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PC-Diag, Inc.

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Keyboard
PC-Diag allows you to run a test to assure all keys are working properly. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Keyboard option Or Click on Keyboard icon in the application toolbar 2. Click on Run Test button After the Keyboard Test window is displayed, you have to press each key individually. Click Refresh to restore all keys in the window, or click Close to close this window. When all keys have been pressed, this window will close automatically.

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Mouse
PC-Diag allows you to run different test to assure your mouse is working properly. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Mouse option Or Click on Mouse icon in the application toolbar 2. Select the tests you want to run 3. Click on Run Test button Below is a list with tests you can select from and a short description for each of them: Test name Mouse movement Mouse clicks Mouse drag and drop Description Tests mouse movement by asking user to move over different squares on the screen. Tests mouse clicks: left, right, middle and double click. Tests mouse dragging by asking user to drag an image over another image

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Serial Ports
PC-Diag allows you to run a test to assure serial ports are working properly. To run the tests, you have to do the following 1. Go to the Tests menu and select Serial Port option Or Click on Serial Port icon in the application toolbar 2. Click on Run Test button Below is a list with tests you can select from and a short description for each of them: Test name Send/Receive data Description Send data on the serial ports and compares it with the received data. This test is performed at different speed. Note: to perform this test you have to plug the serial loopback in the appropriate port.

Note that serial port tests may pass, but the serial ports can still cause application programs that use them to fail, particularly if the port controller chips and system bus communication speed are not matched and fast enough to move data at higher baud rates. You would notice communication problems in such circumstances with high-speed modems and unbuffered serial port chips in slow-bus computers.

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Testing components in remote mode
General
For running in remote mode, two components are required: - PCDiag Pro (PCDiagPro.exe) which displays the remote hardware configuration and the results of the tests run on the remote computer - PCDiag Remote Client (PCDiagRemoteClient.exe) which collects the hardware information and runs the tests The main program is PCDiag Pro/Controller.The PCDiag Pro/Controller can run in two modes: local and remote. When running in local mode, all the information and tests refer to the local computer. When running in remote mode, the information is referring to the remote computer the Contoller is receiving information from. PCDiag Remote Client/Clients are used to run the tests and collect the information on the remote computer/computers. Both applications have similar menus for configuring and starting/stopping the connection. These two programs can act as both server and/or client, therefore they should be complementarily configured (when one is the server, the other should be the client). Also, they should use the same port and the client's address should reflect the correct server IP address. The only difference between these two modes exists in the set up of the connection. One application is listening for the connection (the server) and the other is initiating the connection (the client). The operating mode of the “PCDiag Pro” software application, can be changed as follows: - Select “Remote -> Configure -> Run Mode” option from the main menu or the toolbar button , and then select either “Server” or “Client”. In the case of the “PCDiag Remote Client”, the operation mode can be set when a new connection is created using “Connection -> New” menu option or the corresponding toolbar button . If an attempt is made to establish a new connection based on an old connection (selected from list in the left side of the window), the settings of the new connection are preserved from the old one.

Fig.1 Select Run Mode menu item.

Fig.2 Select Run Mode toolbar icon.

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Fig.3 Select New menu item for the Remote application.

Fig.4 Select New Connection toolbar icon for the Remote application.

Running PCDiag in Server Mode
In Server Mode, PCDiag Pro will listen for the connection. This means that the remote computer (running an instance of PCDiag Remote) should initiate the connection. To initiate a connection, the remote application should be correctly configured (the controller IP and port should be set), and the Start button should be pressed.

Running PCDiag in Client Mode
In Client Mode, PCDiag Pro will initiate the connection. This means that the remote computer (a PCDiag Remote instance) should listen for a connection. To listen for a connection, the remote application (PCDiag Remote), should be correctly configured (the listen port should be set), and the Start button should be pressed. The controller application connects to the remote application by specifying the IP address and the port.

Steps to use PCDiag in Server mode
1. Click on the Remote menu and choose Configure/Run mode. Check to see that the listening port is correct (default is set to 5001, the last setting is stored).

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Fig. 1 Choose the port for Server Mode.

2. Start listening by clicking Start button. 3. The Controller is listening for the connection, the client should initiate the connection. 4. On the remote computer running PCDiag Remote Client, check off the "Run as client" in the configuration window. 5. Click on the Connection | New menu item or on the appropriate toolbar icon.

Fig. 2 Check the connection setting on the remote computer. 6. The connection data is set by default, the user should only check to ensure they are correct (the connection data is provided by the vendor). a. Server address = the IP address of the Controller computer. b. Server port = the port on which the Controller is listening

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Fig. 3 Check the connection data on the Remote application. 7. Click on the Start button from the "New Connection" dialog. The user can see the results by checking the Output window messages.

Fig. 4 Check the Output window messages. 8. In the right panel of PCDiag Remote, the user can see the messages that are exchanged between the controller and the remote application.

Fig. 5 Messages exchanged between Remote and Controller.

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9. The Remote is connecting to the Controller. After connecting, the title bar of the PCDiag Pro is changed to “connected to computer …” and the name of the computer is changed to the name of the remote computer

Fig.6 PCDiag Pro running in Remote Mode. 10. The information displayed about the installed hardware and tests will now run in remote mode (on the remote computer), and will refer to the remote computer.

Fig .11 Displaying remote computer information.

11. You can close the connection by clicking Close connection menu. Only the current connection will be closed, the program will continue to listen for the connections from other clients (PCDiagRemote). 12. To return to local mode, click the Stop button. PC-Diag, Inc. The program will run from local mode from Help file

now on (all the information and tests will refer to the local computer). NOTE: During the execution of the test in Remote Mode, the user logged into the remote computer may be required to perform certain actions (for example, if the mouse or keyboard tests are run).

Steps to use PCDiag Remote in Client mode
1. Click on the Remote menu item, then choose Configure/Run mode. Select Run as client. Enter the IP address and the port of the Remote computer (the computer that needs to be investigated).

Fig.1 Configure PCDiag Pro to run as client.

2. Initiate the connection by clicking Start button. 3. As the program connects to the Remote application, the Remote computer listens for the connection. 4. Check in the PCDiag Remote (located on the remote computer), the Run Mode, and the connection settings. 5. Click on the Connection | New menu item or on the appropriate toolbar icon.

Fig. 2. Check the connection setting on the remote computer.

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6. Select Run as server and set the listening port.

Fig. 3. Set the listening port on Remote application. 7. Click on the Start button from the "New Connection" dialog. The user can see the results by checking the Output window messages.

Fig. 4 Check the Output window messages. 8. In the right panel of PCDiag Remote, the user can see the messages that are exchanged between the controller and the remote application.

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Fig. 5 Messages exchanged between Remote and Controller. 9. The Controller is connecting to the Remote. After connecting, the title of the PCDiag Pro is changed to “connected to computer …” and the name of the computer is changed to the name of the remote computer.

Fig. 6. PCDiag Pro running in Remote Mode. 10. The information displayed about the installed hardware and tests will now run in remote mode (on the remote computer), and will refer to the remote computer.

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Fig .19 Displaying remote computer information.

11. You can close the connection by clicking Close connection button or Stop button in Client mode, each button performs the same action. The program will run from local mode from now on (all the information and tests will refer to the local computer). Note: During the execution of test in Remote Mode, the user logged into the remote computer may be required to perform certain actions (for example, if mouse or keyboard tests are run).

Default Settings
When opening the “Client” application, if you select the option ”New” from the “Connection” menu, the first time you do so you will notice that the “New Connection” dialogue box already contains some default settings. For easy operation, the application also offers some options for the saving and loading of these default settings: 1) “Default Settings” dialogue box enables the default connection to be modified so that upon starting the software application, the settings saved through this dialogue box can be automatically loaded into the “New Connection” dialogue box. This dialogue box can be reached through the “Settings” option in the “Options” menu.

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Fig. 1 How to reach "Default Settings" dialogue box

Fig. 2 “Default Settings” dialogue box After the settings in this dialogue box have been modified, press the “Save” button to save them. If you do not want to save the changes, press “Cancel”. 1) In the “New Connection” dialogue box, which can be reached by selecting the “New” option in the “Connection” menu, you will notice two buttons: “Load Default” and “Save as Default”.

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Fig. 3 “New Connection” dialogue box The “Load default” button loads the default settings in its controls while “Save as default” button saves dialogue box settings as a default so that upon starting the software application they appear both in “New Connection” and in “Default Settings”.

Saving, loading and restoring connections
“PCDiagRemoteClient” enables the user to save the connections and related settings, as well as the list of messages conveyed and received while the connection was active. Upon establishing a connection through the “New Connection” dialogue box, you will notice this connection occurs in the main window left side tree. To save this connection (IP, port, operation sequence, as well as the messages) first select it and then choose either “Save” or “Save as” option from the “Connection” menu or the related toolbar button . If you select the “Save” button for the first time as a connection, the “Save as” dialogue box will be displayed in order to save the connection. If you have already saved this connection, further savings will be performed in the file that was chosen initially. When you select the “Save as” option, the “Save as” dialogue box will always be opened.

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Fig. 1. Select “Save” and “Save as” options to save the settings of a specific connection and "Open" and “Unload” options to load and unload a connection. To verify whether the save has been successful, a message indicating “Success” should appear in the status window located in the lower side of the main window, as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 2. Verify whether save has been successful. To load an old connection, select the option “Open” from the “Connection” menu or the toolbar button , then select the file containing the connection and press the button “Open”. If the file settings are successfully loaded, under the “Loaded” section in the tree, there should be a node labeled with the path of the file from which loading has been performed, as well as the connection IP and port. In the status window you should see a message indicating successful operation (Fig. 3).

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Fig. 3. After loading a connection from a file, you will receive a message of success and the connection will appear in the tree under “Loaded” section. Note that the loading operation does not indicate connection recovery but only the assignment of an entry to the tree. This enables you to study the messages at the time the connection was active by selecting the connection from the tree that has been loaded. You can view results in the right side screen message window. If you want to reestablish a connection from the tree, under the “Loaded” section select the desired connection and then choose the option “Start” from the “Remote” menu or the toolbar button . The software application will try to establish a new connection by using the older connection settings. If the old connection has been established in the “Server” mode, the application will only obey the new connections on the port preserved from the old one. If the old connection has been established in the “Client” mode, the application will try to connect to the related IP and port. Note that the settings stored under the “New Connection” dialogue box will be replaced with those in the old connection that are reestablished. You can also reestablish connections under the “Offline” section of the tree. The operation sequence is the same as described above.

"View" menu
The “View” menu contains four options for activating and deactivating (displaying or not) specific interface elements as follows: 1) Left Toolbar - activates and deactivates the toolbar associated with the main window left side tree. This toolbar contains the following buttons: “Close” (associated with the “Connection | Close” menu option), “Refresh” (associated with the “Connection | Refresh” menu option), “New Connection” (associated with the “Connection | New Connection” menu option), “Open” PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

(associated with the “Connection | Open” menu option), “Save” (associated with the “Connection | Save” menu option) and “Unload” (associated with the “Connection | Unload” menu option). 2) Right Toolbar - acts over the toolbar associated with the message window located in the main windows right side containing the following buttons: “Refresh” (associated with the “Messages | Refresh” menu option), “Filter” (associated with the “Messages | Filter” menu option) and “Delete” (associated with the “Messages | Delete” menu option). 3) Status Bar - activates and deactivates the status bar in the main window lowest part. This bar displays the current time, the number of messages in the active connection, if a connection is active or not, as well as the connection mode: either “Client” or “Server”. 4) Output bar - hides or displays the status window located in the main window lower side. This window displays various status messages such as: if a file has been loaded or not, if a connection has been saved to the disk or not, if the desired connection has been successful, etc.

"Messages" menu
The “Messages” menu contains three options related to the messages displayed in the right side window: 1) Refresh - redisplays the message window 2) Filter - displays the “Filter Messages” dialogue box, which contains a list of validation boxes associated with the types of messages that can be displayed in the message window. Checking a validation box results in deactivating some messages, and prevents them from being displayed in the message window. In the lower part of the dialogue box, there is a validation box separated from the list that permanently erases all the selected messages. By selecting this option, all the messages bearing one of the checked types will be unloaded from the memory and will not appear any longer with the associated searches.

3) Delete - permanently erases all messages in the message list selected from the tree.

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Components Information
Processor
PC-Diag will display a lot of useful details about your processor like type, family, model, speed, presence of a FPU, compatibility with MMX technology, SSE2 instruction set enabled, AMD 3DNow instruction set enabled.

Memory
PC-Diag is collecting and displaying information about your memory capacity: total physical memory, free physical memory, total virtual memory, free virtual memory, total page file, and free page file.

Hard Drives
Upon examination of your hard drives, PC-Diag will display information about all physical drives (manufacturer, size, no of cylinders, no of tracks per cylinder, no of sectors per track, no of bytes per sector) and their corresponding logical drives (assigned letter, file system, label, serial number, total space, free space, used space).

CDROM and DVD Drives
PC-Diag is able to present detailed information about your CD and DVD drives, like: manufacturer, model number, drive name, file system, serial number, total space, free space, used space. You have to have a CD or DVD inserted in your drive so we can collect the correct information.

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Floppy Drives
PC-Diag is able to present detailed information about your floppy drives, like: capacity, no of tracks, no of sectors per track, and no of bytes per sector. You have to have a floppy disk inserted in your drive so we can collect the correct information.

Display Adapter
Using PC-Diag you can find out the information about your video card (name, manufacturer, location, bus type) and installed driver (description, manufacturer, date, version).

Monitor
Using PC-Diag you can find out the information about your monitor (name, manufacturer, video modes supported, frequency supported) and driver (description, manufacturer, date, version).

Network Adapter
PC-Diag can display information about network card (name, manufacturer, location), installed driver (description, manufacturer, date, version) and network setup (hardware address, IP address, subnet mask, gateway, DHCP).

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Modem
PC-Diag can display information about modem (name, manufacturer, location, COM port where it is attached, fax supported), installed driver (description, manufacturer, date, version) and modem response to ATI information (ATI0 – ATI11) commands.

Sound Card
Using PC-Diag you can find out the information about your sound card (name, manufacturer, location) and driver (description, manufacturer, date, version)

Keyboard
PC-Diag can display information about the attached keyboard (manufacturer, name, code page, repeat delay, repeat rate), and installed driver (description, manufacturer, date, version).

Mouse
PC-Diag can display information about the attached mouse (manufacturer, number of buttons, wheel mouse, pointer speed, COM port where it is attached), and installed driver (description, manufacturer, date, version).

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Serial Ports
PC-Diag collects and displays information about the serial ports and the associated driver (description, manufacturer, date, version).

Parallel Ports
PC-Diag collects and displays information about the parallel ports and the associated driver (description, manufacturer, date, version).

USB
PC-Diag collects and displays information about the USB ports and devices that are attached to the computer using USB ports.

PCI
PC-Diag collects and displays information about the PCI devices that are attached to the computer: location, device class, vendor ID, class ID, manufacturer, interrupt.

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System Devices
PC-Diag collects and displays the device number and name for all system board devices.

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General Information
Processor
Definition Processor or central processing unit (abbreviated as CPU) is the brains of the computer, interpreting and executing instructions. The CPU is the most important element of a computer system. Some computers have more than one processor and are thus called "multiprocessor". Manufacturers The most important CPU manufacturers are: - Intel Corporation - AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) - Transmeta Classification Three basic characteristics differentiate microprocessors: - Instruction set: The set of instructions that the microprocessor can execute. Considering this, a CPU split in two categories: complex set of instructions (CISC) and reduced set of instruction (RISC). - Bandwidth: The number of bits processed in a single instruction. Current CPUs process 32 or 64 bits in a single instruction while older CPUs process 8 or 16 bits in a single instruction. - Clock speed: Given in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz), the clock speed determines how many instructions per second the processor can execute. CPU speed increased dramatically, at a rate close to 200% every 18 months (also know as Moore law). Current CPUs speed is between 1 and 3.2 GHz. Dual-core processors Dual-core refers to a CPU that includes two complete execution cores per physical processor. It combines two processors and their caches and cache controllers onto a single integrated circuit (silicon chip). It is basically two processors, in most cases, residing reside side-by-side on the same die. A dual-core processor has many advantages especially for those looking to boost their system's multitasking computing power. Dual-core processors provide two complete execution cores instead of one, each with an independent interface to the frontside bus. Since each core has its own cache, the operating system has sufficient resources to handle intensive tasks in parallel, which provides a noticeable improvement to multitasking. History Intel 8086 (1978) The 8086 was a 16-bit processor and talked with its cards via a 16 wire data connection. The chip contained 20 address lines that gave it the ability to address with up to 1 MB of RAM. Intel 8088 (1979) The 8088 is almost identical to the 8086. The only difference is that it handles its address lines differently than the 8086. Intel 80186 (1980) The 80186 contained a high level of integration, with the system controller, interrupt controller, DMA controller and timing circuitry right on the CPU. Intel 80286 (1982) The 80286 is 16-bit processor capable of addressing up to 16 MB of RAM. This chip is able to work with virtual memory. The 286 was the first "real" processor. It introduced the concept of protected mode. PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

Intel 386 (1985 - 1990) The 386 was a 32-bit processor, meaning its data throughput was immediately twice that of the 286. The 32-bit address bus allowed the chip to work with a full 4 GB of RAM and a staggering 64 TB of virtual memory. Intel 486 (1989 - 1994) The 486 was a 32-bit processor and the first to have an integrated floating point unit (FPU) to replace the normally separate math coprocessor. It also contained an integrated 8 KB on-die cache. AM486DX Series (1994 - 1995) AMD put out its AM486 series in answer to Intel's counterpart. AMD released the chip in AM486DX4/75, AM486DX4/100, and AM486DX4/120 versions. AMD AM5x86 (1995) It was actually AMD's competitive response to Intel's Pentium-class processor. AM5x86 was designed to offer Pentium-class performance while operating on a standard 486 motherboard. The chip also had 16 KB on-die cache. Intel Pentium (1993) It was the first CPU with a superscalar design that can execute two instructions per clock cycle. Intel Pentium Pro (1995-1999) The Pentium Pro is a RISC chip with a 486 hardware emulator on it. It was also called P6. Also, Pentium Pro has two level of cache (L1, L2). AMD K5 (1996) K5 was AMD answer to Pentium. Intel Pentium MMX (1997) This model improves the original Pentium and introduces a new instructions set (MMX) that make it better serve the needs of the multimedia applications. AMD K6 (1997) and Cyrix 6x86MX (1997) These two CPU's have close performance with Intel Pentium II Intel Pentium II (1997) Pentium II was a processor optimized for 32 bits applications. It brings a lot of improvements comparing to first Pentium generation: higher clock rate, bigger L1 and L2 cache, on die L2 cache, dynamic execution technology, Intel Celeron (1998) Celeron is the cheaper version of Pentium II, without (or with a smaller amount of) on die L2 cache. AMD K6-2 & K6-3 (1998) K6-2 introduces the 3Dnow instructions set (similar with Intel's MMX) and K6-3 increases the clock speed and adds a bigger on die L2 cache. Intel Pentium III (1999) Intel Pentium III marks the introduction of SSE instructions set (basically an extension of older MMX). AMD Athlon (1999) This CPU is an important step in the AMD history and mark important changes (like a new bus) PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

Intel Celeron II (2000) and AMD Duron (2000) This chips inherits from Pentium II and AMD Athlon, but they have less L2 cache. They are cheaper CPUs than their "parents". Intel Pentium IV (2000) Pentium IV has a new architecture and introduces new technologies: Hyper Pipelined Technology, Rapid Execution Engine, Execution Trace Cache. Later in 2003, Hyper Threading was introduced and it simulates multiple CPUs on a single die. Transmeta Crusoe (2000) and Eficeon (2003) Crusoe is the first processor designed from the ground up to solve the problems of mobile and Internet computing because Crusoe generates very little heat and uses far less power than competitors AMD Athlon 4 (2001) The chip implement of AMD's PowerNow! technology and Intel's SSE instruction set. The chip can change its voltage and clock speed depending on the usage requirement of the time, making it useful for mobile computers. AMD Athlon XP (2001) This chip can perform more work per clock cycle than Pentium IV, its competition. It came in different flavors: for desktop and for mobile computers. AMD Opteron (2004) Opteron is a 64 bits CPU that can run older 32 applications. It was specially designed for server and is suitable for multiprocessor computers. Intel Itanium (2004) Itanium is a 64 bits CPU based on the EPIC architecture. It was designed for demanding enterprise and technical applications. AMD Athlon 64 FX (2003) This is the 64 bits version of the popular Athlon CPU. It can run both 32 and 64 bits applications and integrates DDR memory controller.

Memory
Definition Memory represents the internal storage areas in the computer. Memory usually refers to the actual chips capable of holding data. Every computer has a certain amount of physical memory, usually referred to as RAM. When a computer runs a program, the program is temporarily loaded into memory and processed there. When the processing is completed, it is then loaded back on the hard disk, printed out, or sent to wherever you want it to go. Manufacturers Kingston (http://www.kingston.com) Corsair ( http://corsairmemory.com ) Samsung Electronics (http://www.samsung.com/Products/Semiconductor/index.htm ) Classification RAM (Random Access Memory) – This is a volatile memory, and data can be both red and written form this memory. RAM content is immediately lost when the power is turned off or if you exit a program without saving it. PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

There are different types of RAM: DRAM (dynamic random access memory), SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), RDRAM (Rambus DRAM), DDR (Double Data Rate-Synchronous DRAM), PM/FPM, FPM (Fast Page Mode RAM), EDO (Extended Data Out Dynamic Random Access Memory), SRAM (static random access memory), WRAM (Windows RAM) . ROM (Read Only Memory) – This memory can only be read, and it cannot be written. Every computer has a certain amount of ROM memory that contains the boot up instructions sequence. There are different types of ROM: PROM (programmable read-only memory), EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), and EEPROM(electrically erasable programmable read-only memory). Capacities Memory size is measured in bytes. Each byte is composed of 8 bits, the smallest unit of information on a machine. One bit can store only one of two values: 0 and 1. Current memory chips size ranges between 1MB and 4GB. 1MB = 2^20 bytes = 1048576 bytes (approximate 1 million bytes) 1GB = 2^30 bytes = 1073741824 bytes (approximate 1 billion bytes) Bandwidth Bandwidth measures how much data can be transferred in 1 second. Common values are: PC66, PC100, PC133, PC400, PC1600, PC2100, PC2700, PC3000, PC3200, PC35000, PC4000. A PC100 chip can transfer 100MB/s, while a PC4000 chip can transfer 4000MB/s (40 times faster).

Hard Disk Drives
Definition Hard disk drive (HDD) is the device that can read/write from a hard disk. A hard disk is a magnetic disk that stores data. A hard disk can have one or multiple platter with multiple tracks. Each track is split in a certain number of sectors. Manufacturers There are several hard disk manufacturers with hundreds of different models, sizes, and types of hard disks. Maxtor (http://www.maxtor.com) Seagate (http://www.seagate.com) Western Digital (http://www.westerndigital.com) Classification Hard disk drives are classified by the size of the disk in 3 ½-inches and 2 ½-inches (usually in laptops). Modern hard disk drives can be even smaller. Another classification criteria is the interface type. Most of the hard disk drives connect through an IDE or SCSI interface. SCSI interface is most suitable for servers, while IDE is widely used for desktops and laptops. Modern hard drives have a SATA interface, which is much faster than IDE. Serial ATA is a serial link - a single cable with a minimum of four wires creates a point-to-point connection between devices. Transfer rates for SATA begin at 150MBps. One of the main design advantages is that the thinner serial cables facilitate more efficient airflow inside a form factor and also allow for smaller chassis designs. In contrast, IDE cables used in parallel ATA systems are bulkier than Serial ATA cables and can only extend to 40cm long, while Serial ATA cables can extend up to one meter. Serial ATA supports all ATA and ATAPI devices. External hard drives are using USB (1.1 or 2.0) and FireWire interfaces. PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

Rotational speed is between 5400rpm and 12000+ rpm. Common values are 5400rpm (for laptops), 7200 rpm (for desktops), 10000 and 12000+ rpm (for servers). Another important parameter that determines the hard drive performance is the average access time. This can usually have values between 4 and 15ms. The smaller access time is, the fastest the hard drive will be. Capacities A hard disk drive usually stores few Giga bytes of data. Common values are between 10 and 80 Giga bytes, but the latest hard drives can go up to 250 Giga bytes.

CDROM and DVD Drives
Definition CD drive is the device that can read/write from a compact disc. A compact disk (CD) is an optical disk that can store digital data. Manufacturers Sony (http://www.sony.com) NEC (http://www.nec.com ) HP (http://www.hp.com ) Pioneer (http://www.pioneer.com ) Classification An important classification criteria is transfer speed (1x-52x). A transfer speed of 1x represents a speed of 150kb/s. A transfer speed of 24x means a speed of 24x150kb/s. Usually the reading speed is higher than writing speed, and the writing speed is higher than rewriting speed. Another classification criteria is the interface type. Most of the compact disk drives are using IDE standard. External CD drives are using USB (1.1 or 2.0) or FireWire interfaces. Capacities A compact disk can store up to 1GB of data, but most common size is 650MB of data. Definition DVD drive is the device that can read/write from a DVD. A digital video disc (DVD) is an optical disk that can store digital data, similar to a CD. DVD drives are backward compatible with CD format and can read from CD’s. Manufacturers Sony (http://www.sony.com) NEC (http://www.nec.com ) HP (http://www.hp.com ) Pioneer (http://www.pioneer.com ) Classification An important classification criteria is the transfer speed (1x-8x). A transfer speed of 1x represents a speed of 600KB/s. A transfer speed of 4x means a speed of 44x600KB/s. Usually the reading speed is higher than writing speed, and the writing speed is higher than rewriting speed. Another classification criteria is the interface type. Most of the DVD drives are using IDE standard. External DVD drives are using USB (1.1 or 2.0) or FireWire interfaces. PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

Capacities A DVD can store at least 4.7GB of data (going up to 17GB).

Floppy Drives
Definition Floppy disk drive (FDD) is a disk drive that can read and write from a floppy disk (soft magnetic disk). Floppy disks are portable (can be removed from the floppy drive) Manufacturers Sony (http://www.sony.com) Mitsumi (http://www.mitsumi.com) Teac (http://www.teac.com/DSPD/floppy.html) Classification Floppy disk drives are classified by the size of the disk they can read in 3 ½-inch, 5 ¼-inch and 8inch. The modern floppy disk drives support 3 ½ inch disks. Capacities A 3 ½ inch floppy disk usually store 720K bytes or 1.44M bytes (double density). A 5 ¼ inch disk capacity is between 360K bytes and 1.2M bytes. Floppy disks are divided into tracks, cylinders and sectors. A disk must be formatted before it can be used. This consists of laying out individual concentric tracks on each side of the disk. If it is a 720-Kb, 1.2-Mb, or 1.44-Mb disk, each side is configured with 80 tracks, numbered from 0 to 79. The 1.2-Mb and 1.44-Mb disks have 80 cylinders. Each of the tracks is divided into sectors. Each track of the 1.44-Mb disk is divided into 18 sectors. Each sector can contain 512 bytes. Multiplying the number of sectors times the number of bytes per sector times the number of tracks times the two sides gives the amount of data that can be stored on a disk. DOS allocates one or more sectors on a disk and calls it a cluster or allocation unit. On the 360Kb and 720-kb disks, a cluster is two sectors. On the 1.2-Mb and 1.44-Mb disks, each allocation is one sector. Only single files or parts of single files can be written into an allocation unit. If two different files were written into an allocation unit, the data would become mixed and corrupted.

Display Adapters
Definition A video card is the board that plugs into the computer’s motherboard to give it display capabilities. There are motherboards with a built in video card. Manufacturers ATI (http://www.ati.com) nVidia ( http://www.nvidia.com ) Matrox (http://www.matrox.com) 3dLabs (http://www.3dlabs.com) Classification Video cards are classified by the type of chipset they are using. The most common chipsets are ATI Radeon (i.e. 7000, 9000, 9200, 9700), nVidia GeForce (i.e. GeForce 2, GeForce 3, GeForce 4), Matrox G550. Installed memory

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A video card has certain onboard memory. Common values are between 16 and 64 Mega bytes, but the latest video cards can go up to 256 Mega bytes. Video card RAM is necessary to keep the entire screen image in memory. The CPU sends its data to the video card. The video processor forms a picture of the screen image and stores it in the frame buffer. This picture is a large bit map. It is used to continually update the screen image. Other important features to be considered are: resolution, 3D graphic capabilities, compatibility with Microsoft DirectX and OpenGL, TV output. Microsoft developed DirectX so that the performance of applications running in the Windows operating system can rival or exceed the performance of applications running in the MS-DOS operating system or on game consoles. Developers of these games had to conform to a number of hardware implementations for a variety of cards. With DirectX, games developers get the benefits of device independence without losing the benefits of direct access to the hardware. The primary goals of DirectX are to provide portable access to the features used with MS-DOS today, to meet or improve on the performance of MS-DOS console-based applications, and to remove the obstacles to hardware innovation on the personal computer. Additionally, Microsoft developed DirectX to provide Windows-based applications with high-performance, real-time access to available hardware on current and future computer systems. DirectX provides a consistent interface between hardware and applications, reducing the complexity of installation and configuration and using the hardware to its best advantage. By using the interfaces provided by DirectX, software developers can take advantage of hardware features without being concerned about the implementation details of that hardware.

Monitors
Definition Monitor is connected to the computer video port and displays text and graphics. Most of the monitors work on the same principle as a TV. Manufacturers Samsung (http://www.samsung.com) Nec (http://www.nec.com) Sony (http://www.sony.com) Viewsonic (http://www.viewsonic.com) Sharp (http://www.sharp.com) Classification There are many criteria for monitor classifications. Monitors are separated in CRT and LCD. Manufacturers are making bigger and better Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitors for laptops. They are also called Thin Film Transistor (TFT) displays. They are also now making them for desktop computers. These monitors use a liquid crystal sealed between two pieces of polarized glass. The polarity of the liquid crystal is changed by an electric current to vary the amount of light that can pass through. Most of the cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors are real wattage hogs. Most of them now have an energy saving mode, but they might still require from 100 to 175 watts. The largest LCD monitors require only 40 watts. The basic CRT technology is very old and there doesn’t seem to be much room for further improvements. Eventually, LCD technology will replace the CRT for most applications. Many of the new monitors are now able to connect to computer by USB, and even can act as a USB hub and provide up to five or more connections for a USB-compatible device. Considering color capabilities, monitors can be classified in monochrome, gray-scale and color.

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Other important criteria are monitor size (ranging from 10” to 22” or larger) and resolution (how many pixels can be displayed). Most modern monitors can display 1024 by 768 pixels or higher resolutions.

Network Adapters
Definition A network card is the board that plugs into the computer’s motherboard so the computer can be connected to a network. There are motherboards with a built in network card. Manufacturers 3Com (http://www.3com.com) Intel (http://www.intel.com) NetGear (http://www.netgear.com) LinkSys (http://www.linksys.com) Classification Network cards are classified by the type of network architecture they are supporting. The most common network architecture is Ethernet. Another classification criteria is the data transfer speed, common values being 10Mbps, 100Mbps or 1Gbps (Gigabit Ethernet).

Modems
Definition A modem (modulator-demodulator) is a device connected to a computer that allows it to transmit data over the phone or cable lines. Manufacturers 3Com (http://www.3com.com) Motorola (http://www.motorola.com) US Robotics (http://www.usrobotics.com) Classification Modems can be connected to the computer serial port (external modems) or plugged into the motherboard as an expansion card (internal modems). Other important criteria are transfer speed (varying from 2400 to 56700 bauds for regular modems), voice/data capabilities, data compression (hardware or software), data and fax standards supported.

Sound Cards
Definition A sound card is the board that plugs into the computer’s motherboard to give it sound capabilities. There are motherboards with built in sound card. A sound card enables computer to output sound to speakers, and record sound from a microphone connected to the board. Also, the sound card can be connected to the CDROM or can be used to process sounds file. The basic quality of a sound card can be tested by playing a MIDI file. Then you can easily hear the difference. There is also a difference in how many notes (polyphony) can be played simultaneously. If you want to compose your own music on your PC, you use the sounds PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

available on your sound card. The greater works you want to write, the more "voices" you will need. Manufacturers Creative Labs (http://www.creativelabs.com) Classification Sound cards are classified by the slot type: PCI or ISA (for older cards). Another classification criteria is the digital audio depth (8bits, 16 bits, 24 bits). Sound cards can support different audio technology like Dolby Digital or DTS (Digital Theater System). Most sound cards support MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) files and WAV files, a format developed by Microsoft and IBM.

Keyboard
Definition A keyboard is a device that allows it to enter data into the computer using a set of keys. Keys are classified in alphanumeric, punctuation and special (F1-F12, Caps, etc.). The original PC keyboard has 84 keys, and then it was extended to 101 keys or more. The keyboard is actually a computer in itself. It has a small microprocessor with its own ROM. The computerized electronics of the keyboard eliminate the bounce of the keys, can determine when you hold a key down for repeat, can store up to 20 or more keystrokes, and can determine which key was pressed first if you press two at a time. In addition to the standard BIOS chips on your motherboard, there is a special keyboard BIOS chip. Each time a key is pressed, a unique signal is sent to this BIOS. The signal is made up of a dc voltage that is turned on and off a certain number of times, within a definite time frame, to represent zeros and ones. Each time a 5-volt line is turned on for a certain amount of time, it represents a one. When it is off for a certain amount of time, it represents a zero. For example, in the ASCII code, if the letter A is pressed, the code for 65 will be generated, 1000001. Manufacturers There are many keyboard manufacturers. Most of them have slight differences in the placement and feel of the keys, and special adjuncts such as trackballs, calculators, and keypads. Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com) Belkin (http://www.belkin.com)

Mouse
Definition A mouse is a device that allows you to control the movement of the cursor on the screen. A mouse can have one or more buttons which can have different functionality. Manufacturers Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com) Belkin (http://www.belkin.com)

Serial Ports
Definition

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A serial port is a port used for serial communication (data is transferred bit by bit) with different devices (keyboards, mice, modems). Serial port connectors have either 9 or 25 pins, with the male connector on the back of the computer and a female connector on the cable. The 9-pin version is more common, and is often used to connect a mouse if there is not a separate connection. Most serial port communication conforms to RS232C and RS4232 standards. Transfer speed The transfer speed for communication on the serial port may vary from 1200 bauds to 152000 bauds.

Parallel Ports
Definition A parallel port is a port used for communication with other devices (like printer) and that is capable of transferring more than one bit simultaneously. It is called the parallel port because its cable has 8 parallel signal lines to transmit 8 bits at a time.

USB
Definition USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an external bus standard used for communication with other devices (like keyboards, mice, digital cameras). Transfer speed It supports various data transfer rates up to 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) Important advantages over serial ports USB supports Plug-and-Play installation and hot plugging and that is one of the reasons more and more devices are using now USB instead of serial or parallel ports. Another big advantage of USB standard is that a single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices.

PCI
Definition PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is a local bus standard used for communication with other device (internal modems, network cards, video cards etc.). Transfer speed PCI can run at clock speed of 33Mhz, 66Mhz or higher. At 33MHz, the PCI can transfer 133Mbps while the latest PCI standard (PCI-X) can transfer up to 1GB/s.

System Board Devices
Definitions System Board (motherboard) - A motherboard is the physical arrangement in a computer that contains the bus, the microprocessor, and integrated circuits used for controlling any built-in peripherals such as the keyboard, text and graphics display, serial ports and parallel ports, joystick, and mouse interfaces. On the typical motherboard, the circuitry is imprinted or affixed to PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

the surface of a firm planar surface and usually manufactured in a single step. The most common motherboard design in desktop computers today is the AT, based on the IBM AT motherboard. A more recent motherboard specification, ATX, improves on the AT design. ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) - a power management specification developed by Intel, Microsoft, and Toshiba. ACPI enables the operating system to control the amount of power given to each device attached to the computer. With ACPI, the operating system can turn off peripheral devices, such as CD-ROM players, when they're not in use. As another example, ACPI will enable manufacturers to produce computers that automatically power up as soon as you touch the keyboard. ACPI evolves the existing collection of power management BIOS code, Advanced Power Management (APM) application programming interfaces (APIs, PNPBIOS APIs, Multiprocessor Specification (MPS) tables and so on into a well-defined power management and configuration interface specification. DMA (Direct memory access) controller - can control the memory system without using the CPU. On a specified stimulus, the module will move data from one memory location or region to another memory location or region. While it is limited in its flexibility, there are many situations where automated memory access is much faster than using the CPU to manage the transfers. PCI bus (Peripheral Component Interconnect bus) is an interconnection system between a microprocessor and attached devices in which expansion slots are spaced closely for high speed operation. Using PCI, a computer can support both new PCI cards while continuing to support Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion cards, an older standard. Designed by Intel, the original PCI was similar to the VESA Local Bus. However, PCI 2.0 is no longer a local bus and is designed to be independent of microprocessor design. PCI is designed to be synchronized with the clock speed of the microprocessor. Most modern PCs include a PCI bus in addition to a more general ISA expansion bus. PCI is also used on newer versions of the Macintosh computer. PIC (Programmable Interrupt Controller) - A special-purpose integrated circuit that functions as an overall manager in an interrupt driven system. It accepts requests from the peripheral equipment, determines which of the incoming requests is of the highest priority, ascertains whether the incoming request has a higher priority value than the level currently being serviced, and issues an interrupt to the CPU based on this determination. Microcode Update Device - The Microcode Update Device is an interface between the operating system and an Intel processor based on the x86 architecture. This device provides the latest microcode updates for the processor if the BIOS does not already contain this information. If the computer that you are using does not contain the properly processor or if your BIOS is up to date with Intel's latest microcode, the Microcode Update device is not initiated; the device is unloaded to free up resources. Device Manager marks the device with a code 24 status message. System speaker - electro-acoustic transducer that converts electrical signals into sounds loud enough to be heard at a distance

IDE
Definitions IDE (Intelligent Drive Electronics or Integrated Drive Electronics) is a standard electronic interface used between a computer motherboard's data paths or bus and the computer's disk storage devices. In an IDE interface the controller is integrated into mass storage devices (disk or CD-ROM drive). The IDE interface is based on the IBM PC Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) 16-bit bus standard, but it is also used in computers that use other bus standards. Today most computers use an enhanced version of IDE called Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE), PC-Diag, Inc. Help file

and the IDE controller is often built into the motherboard. ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) is the official name that American National Standards Institute group X3T10 uses for Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE). ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface) is an interface between your computer and attached CD-ROM drives and tape backup drives (is an extension to the original ATA standard that adds support for connecting devices other than hard disks). ATAPI provides the additional commands needed for controlling a CD-ROM player or tape backup so that your computer can use the IDE interface and controllers to control these relatively newer device types. ATAPI is part of the Enhanced IDE (EIDE) interface (also known as ATA-2). S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) is an interface between a computer's start-up program or BIOS (basic input/output system) and the computer hard disk. If S.M.A.R.T is enabled when a computer is set up, the BIOS can receive analytical information from the hard drive and determine whether to send the user a warning message about possible future failure of the hard drive. It is a feature of the Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE) technology that controls access to the hard drive.

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