Professional Soft Collection 1.02

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CONTENTS:00001463:none CONTENTS:00001561:main CONTENTS:00003467:batch CONTENTS:00006391:set_clock CONTENTS:00007190:memory_test CONTENTS:00009988:rpt_config CONTENTS:00010815:rpt_dev_drvrs CONTENTS:00012625:rpt_cmos_tbl CONTENTS:00013250:rpt_interrupts CONTENTS:00014839:bench_hdisk CONTENTS:00016730:bench_main CONTENTS:00018481:bench_video CONTENTS:00020174:bench_save CONTENTS:00020356:setup_activity_log CONTENTS:00022042:show_activity_log CONTENTS:00022473:test_sysbd CONTENTS:00023913:test_prn CONTENTS:00024669:test_ser CONTENTS:00025151:test_par CONTENTS:00025611:test_flop CONTENTS:00026964:test_hard CONTENTS:00028458:test_video CONTENTS:00030181:test_kbd CONTENTS:00031611:test_joy CONTENTS:00032313:test_mouse CONTENTS:00032747:test_clock CONTENTS:00034314:test_mem CONTENTS:00037124:log_printer CONTENTS:00037560:log_graphics CONTENTS:00037982:ram_locate CONTENTS:00040256:ram_summary CONTENTS:00041943:ram_find CONTENTS:00043704:ram_setup CONTENTS:00045134:register_user CONTENTS:00045390:memmap_base CONTENTS:00047305:memmap_int CONTENTS:00048570:memmap_tsr CONTENTS:00048920:memmap_nothing CONTENTS:00049549:memmap_hiram CONTENTS:00050010:memmap_ebios CONTENTS:00050382:memmap_vram CONTENTS:00050686:memmap_available CONTENTS:00051058:memmap_rom CONTENTS:00051365:memmap_ems CONTENTS:00051823:report_detail CONTENTS:00052326:custom_heading @(#)CheckIt checkit.hlp Date: 08/21/90, Release: 3.0. HELP:none:No Help Available Sorry, there is no help available for this part of CheckIt. END. HELP:main:Main Menu Welcome to CheckIt ------------------ CheckIt is a Quality Assurance diagnostic program for your MS-DOS PC. It can produce reports of your hardware configuration and the system resources being used, test the hardware components of your system, and display performance panels to measure key aspects of your PC's computing power. With CheckIt, PC users can assure that their computer meets the functional compatibility levels of a true PC-DOS machine and that all components are functioning properly. CheckIt's reports can also tell you what hardware and software is already installed on your PC. Use this information when you get a new system, call for support, or are installing new hardware (so you can get it right the first time). As an added feature, you can see how your computer's speed measures against other PC's. CheckIt Organization -------------------- CheckIt is organized into the following main pull-down menus: SysInfo: Displays reports describing system hardware and software. Tests: Used to select and run CheckIt's diagnostic tests. Benchmarks: Shows how this PC's speed compares to other PC's. Tools: Locates RAM chips on memory boards, Sets the real time clock's date and time, or any other program can be run from here. Setup: Used to selects color or black & white operation and Route the Activity Log to a disk file and/or a printer. Exit: Quits CheckIt and returns to DOS. Use to arrow keys to browse through the menu system. As each menu choice is highlighted, the Information Window near the bottom of the screen will change to describe the operation performed by that selection. END. HELP:batch:Select Batch This function gives you total control of CheckIt's testing facilities and is intended primarily for "expert" users with special testing needs such as service technicians. Some reasons to use this feature are: * Test components repeatedly until transient errors are finally caught. * Configure an abbreviated test suite that only checks specific components. This can be useful for people who test a lot of PC's regularly. * Run burn-in tests on newly installed equipment. Every option for every test can be defined on this single screen, so the batch can run unattended. The screen is divided into three main sections: Unattended Tests The top section of the screen includes all test that do not require direct user intervention. The tests are: memory, hard disks, floppy disks, system board, real-time clock, serial ports, and parallel ports. Interactive Tests The tests in the middle section of the screen require you to operate the selected device (like the keyboard) or confirm the results of a test (like the printer). Included in this category are the tests for: printers, video, keyboard, mouse, and joysticks. Batch Controls These fields control the batch process. You control the destination of the activity log, number of batch passes, and whether to pause whenever a test finds an error. NOTE: If you are testing with multiple passes and logging the results to either a disk or printer, CheckIt will only save the detail log to these devices. The in-memory log is disabled to avoid running out of memory during long batches. Saving a Batch Setup -------------------- These batch settings can be saved in the configuration file so the next time you run CheckIt, these settings will be set up automatically. Running the Batch ----------------- Once the batch is set up the way you want it, enter 'Y' at the "Run Batch?" prompt and press ENTER. If any selected tests require external setup (such as loopback plugs or floppy disks), a message asking you to prepare the appropriate devices before the batch begins. If only unattended tests are selected, you can leave your PC alone and come back later to review the results. CheckIt will skip any tests of devices that don't exist. This makes it easy to set up a single batch of tests that can be run on a wide variety of machines. For more information on setting up a batch of tests, see Chapter 9 in your manual. END. HELP:set_clock:Set Real-Time Clock This tool will allow you to set the date and time on your battery backed-up (CMOS) and DOS clock. If the clock needs to be set often, you may need to replace the battery. Setting the Date ---------------- Use the arrow keys to move the pointer to the date field and press ENTER. Enter the new date in MM/DD/YYYY format and press ENTER again. For example, January 21, 1990 is entered as 01/21/1990. Setting the Time ---------------- Use the arrow keys to move the pointer to the time field and press ENTER. Enter the new time in 24 hour format and press ENTER again. For example, 8:05 P.M. is entered as 20:05. END. HELP:memory_test:Memory Test You are now editing the memory test parameters. By default ALL memory is selected for a quick test. The following information describes other ways to configure the memory test. Testing Only A Portion of Memory -------------------------------- If you have narrowed down a memory problem to a specific address, you can configure CheckIt to test only that range and report on the problems. This technique can be particularly useful for finding intermittent problems, by testing the range multiple times. NOTE: To avoid testing a particular type of memory, configure the start and end address with the same value. Notice that the hex value on the right disappear. Testing Memory That Doesn't Exist --------------------------------- If a portion of memory is bad, the POST (Power On Self Test) may decide the memory is not really installed. When CheckIt investigates the system configuration, the higher part of memory will be left out. By testing the memory that YOU know is there but the system doesn't, you can identify which memory chip is bad and replace it. Testing Expanded (EMS) Memory ----------------------------- Because of the special nature of expanded memory, you should always test the entire range of EMS memory. See the special notes on expanded memory in your manual (or addendum) for complete details. Quick Test vs. Thorough Test ---------------------------- If the "Quick Memory Test Only" field is 'Y,' CheckIt will test each block of memory once, using a pseudo-random pattern. This pattern will identify most common memory problems and should be sufficient in most cases. Selecting 'N' in this field will more thoroughly test each block of memory with 8 additional patterns. Number of Test Passes --------------------- If you suspect you are having memory problems and a single pass does not produce an error, the problem may be intermittent. The best way to find this type of problem is to change the "Number of Passes" field and run the test repeatedly. To test memory continuously, enter a 'C' in this field. If the combination of multiple passes and a thorough test do not find an error, your problem is almost certainly not due to a bad memory chip. NOTE: If you are testing with multiple passes and logging the results to either a disk or printer, CheckIt will only save the detail log to these devices. The in-memory log is disabled to avoid running out of memory during long batches. END. HELP:rpt_config:Configuration This screen shows a list of the hardware and software installed in your PC. This gives you a "peek" inside your machine without having to take off the cover. This information can be used to: * Ensure that your PC meets the minimum hardware and software required to install a new device or software package. * Easily provide the right answers to questions asked while calling for technical support. * Quickly familiarize yourself with important aspects of a PC you haven't used before. The top few lines of the display show the current DOS version being used and BIOS information. The rest of the report shows your PC's current hardware configuration. See Chapter 5 in your manual for an explanation of each display element. END. HELP:rpt_dev_drvrs:Device Drivers This screen shows a list of the DOS block and character device drivers currently installed in your PC. This list is often longer than will fit on the screen so the arrow keys can be used to scroll the rest of the list into view. Block device drivers handle devices like hard disks and floppy disks. Character device drivers handle every thing else including the keyboard, serial ports, and even the display. The elements of the report are described below: Seg:Off This column shows where the device driver is in memory. The values are the hexadecimal segment and offset respectively. # Drive(s) This column only applies to block devices and lists (Block Devices) the number and name of the disk drives handled by this single driver. Name This column only applies to character devices and shows (Character the name of the driver. For example, a serial port Devices) driver might be called COM1. Attr This displays the "raw" attribute byte in hex. Meaningful information gleaned from this value is displayed under the next two columns. DOS The minimum version of DOS required for this driver to function properly is displayed. Verify that the DOS version reported in the Configuration screen is at least that required by your device drivers. Characteristics This column lists other important features of the device driver. For a complete list of the different characteristics and their meaning, see Chapter 8 in your manual. END. HELP:rpt_cmos_tbl:CMOS Table This screen shows the current settings stored in the battery backed-up CMOS memory found on AT and 386 class PC's. This information can be used to: * Determine if an incorrect report on the Configuration screen is actually due to the CMOS being set up wrong. * Print or save a copy for later reference. If the CMOS ever needs to be reconfigured, the values can be re-entered from the copy. To change these settings, use the SETUP program provided with your PC. More information on this screen can be found in Chapter 7 of your manual. END. HELP:rpt_interrupts:Interrupts This screen shows the devices and programs using the hardware interrupts (IRQ's) of your PC. A list of DMA channels is also displayed showing the standard assignments for the devices installed in your PC. This information can be used to: * Configure a new add-in card with the proper IRQ and DMA settings without researching the current configuration of existing cards. This avoids conflicts before they happen. * Resolve existing interrupt conflicts without the usual trial and error method. NOTE: Since CheckIt can only determine if an interrupt is in use when the appropriate device driver is installed and activated, the report may be inaccurate unless you install the drivers before running this report. The [CASCADE] Interrupt ----------------------- If you are using an AT or 386 class PC, IRQ will display "[CASCADE]." The reasons for this are explained in Chapter 6 of your manual. You should be aware though, that any hardware or software configured to use IRQ 2 will transparently be re-routed to IRQ 9. This is normal and does not indicate a problem. DMA Channels ------------ Unlike the IRQ list, the DMA list only displays standard DOS usage of the available channels. Third-party hardware and software will not be displayed. Although the list may not be complete, it can be a useful reminder of pre-assigned channels. END. HELP:bench_hdisk:Hard Disk Benchmark This screen measures two important aspects of your hard disk's performance: Seek Time --------- Average This is how long, on the average, your hard disk takes to Seek Time move its read/write head ("seek") from one track to another. Track to Track This is how long it takes to seek from one track to an Seek Time immediately adjacent track. Therefore, this test measures the minimum time it would take for your hard disk to find a particular piece of information. Seek time is a major factor in determining the total amount of time it takes to find data on a hard disk. Transfer Speed -------------- This measurement determines the "raw" transfer speed of your hard disk. Factors that can affect this reading are: Interleave If this is set incorrectly, you transfer speed may be as much as 10 times slower than it could be. On most PC's, an interleave of 3 is common. Disk Cache Adding disk caching software can dramatically improve your your disk performance. For more information on interpreting and improving your disk's performance, see Chapter 21 in your manual. Compare/Save Results -------------------- By default, CheckIt displays your machine's results compared against an IBM PC-XT. If you would rather use your machine for the comparison, select "S-Save for Compare" and enter a descriptive name. CheckIt will save this result in the configuration file for future use. Later, when you are running CheckIt on another machine, you can select "C-Compare to..." to see how it rates against yours. END. HELP:bench_main:Main System Benchmark This screen measures two important aspects of your system's overall performance. This information can help when deciding how best to utilize a particular PC, depending on its strength or weakness. CPU Speed (DHRYSTONES) ---------------------- This is your PC's "raw" computing speed. It measures the speed of your PC's main processor, or CPU. The upper window graphically shows this measurement against a 4.77 MHz original PC/XT machine. Underneath this graph, the system's rating is shown along with processor type and its current clock speed. Math Speed (WHETSTONES) ----------------------- This measurement, in the lower window, shows how fast your PC can compute a WHETSTONE (a measurement of floating point calculation speed). This number is important when using your PC for spreadsheet, CAD/CAM, and scientific applications. If your PC has a math co-processor, these numbers will be 5 to 10 times faster than without one. Underneath this graph, CheckIt will display the type of co-processor installed on your PC, if any, and a rating of its throughput. Compare/Save Results -------------------- By default, CheckIt displays your machine's results compared against an IBM PC-XT. If you would rather use your machine for the comparison, select "S-Save for Compare" and enter a descriptive name. CheckIt will save this result in the configuration file for future use. Later, when you are running CheckIt on another machine, you can select "C-Compare to..." to see how it rates against yours. END. HELP:bench_video:Video Adapter Benchmark This screen measures the speed of your video adapter using two common techniques. Video speed is a major performance factor for screen intensive applications such as word processing or terminal emulation. BIOS Video Speed ---------------- This benchmark measures how fast your computer can display data on the screen using the BIOS. DOS, terminal emulation software, and many older programs use this method to display text on the screen. Some video adapters provide special device drivers that can be loaded to speed up video performance. Direct Video Speed ------------------ Here, Checkit measures how fast your computer can display data directly on the screen. This method is faster than using the BIOS and most newer applications (including word processors and DOS shells) display characters this way. Although the measurement is taken in text mode, the relative speed also applies to graphics. Good scores here indicate your machine has an aptitude for CAD programs and Windows. Compare/Save Results -------------------- By default, CheckIt displays your machine's results compared against an IBM PC-XT. If you would rather use your machine for the comparison, select "S-Save for Compare" and enter a descriptive name. CheckIt will save this result in the configuration file for future use. Later, when you are running CheckIt on another machine, you can select "C-Compare to..." to see how it rates against yours. END. HELP:bench_save:Saving Benchmark Results Type in a 10 character name to describe the current results. Later, you can use 'C' to compare another set of results to these. END. HELP:setup_activity_log:Setup Activity Log CheckIt maintains a detailed log of exactly what components have been tested and the result. This log is displayed on the screen at the end of any test that finds an error. The entire log, both passes and failures, can also be stored in a disk file, sent to the printer, or both. Display Only The error log will be saved only in memory and displayed when appropriate. Disk The file CHECKIT.LOG is created (or overwritten) in the current directory the first time data is written to the activity log. Results from each test are added to the end of the file for the duration of the CheckIt session. Printer Results from each test are sent to the printer on LPT1. The first time data is sent to the printer, a message will appear advising you to prepare your printer. Disk and Saves output to both disk and printer as described above. Printer Activity Log Title ------------------ When logging to either the disk or printer (or both), CheckIt will prompt you to type in a title for the log just before it writes the first lines. You can use this space to keep track of what machine created the log, what errors you were trying to find, or anything else that you find useful. Saving SysInfo Reports (F2) --------------------------- If the activity log is being copied to a disk file or printer, the F2 function key can be used to add a copy of any SysInfo menu report to the activity log. END. HELP:show_activity_log:Activity Log These are the results of the last test (or group of tests) run. If the activity log is being saved to a disk file or printer, a copy of this report is also saved there. The box at the top shows the total number of errors found during this test run. Use the arrow keys to scroll the entire report into view. When you are finished, press ENTER and the display will disappear. END. HELP:test_sysbd:Test System Board This test will check your PC's processor (CPU), math co-processor (NPU), DMA controller, and Interrupt controller. CPU In addition to testing the general functions of your processor, CheckIt also looks for CPU's with known bugs. If CheckIt finds a problem here, replace the CPU immediately. Protected If you have a 80286 or 80386 CPU, CheckIt will make sure Mode your CPU works properly in protected mode. Operating systems like OS/2 and Xenix use this mode extensively. Also, any time extended memory is accessed, the processor must go into protected mode. NPU If you have a math co-processor (like the 8087) installed in your PC. Both the simple and complex math functions are tested. DMA This test checks the DMA controller in your PC. This chip is Controller responsible for transferring data between memory and other devices. On AT and 386 class PC's, the second DMA controller is also tested. Interrupt This test checks the 8259A interrupt controller (2 on AT and Controller 386 class PC's) in your PC. This chip is responsible for "interrupting" your CPU when certain events occur. For example, the 8259A issues an interrupt every time you press a key on the keyboard. END. HELP:test_prn:Test Printer This test will print a number of patterns on your printer. This will help find cable and configuration problems on IBM, Epson, HP Laserjet, and "generic" printers. To configure this test for your environment, press 'C' at the "Run Printer Test?" prompt. You can then change the printer type and port for the test. Once the test is properly configured, make sure the printer is ready and at the top of a new page. Then, press 'Y' at the "Run Printer Test?" prompt. All the tests will be printed at once. Next, CheckIt will display a sample of what the printout should look like and ask if it printed properly. See Chapter 17 in your manual for an explanation of each test and how to find problems. END. HELP:test_ser:Test Serial Port This test checks your serial port. Each register of the 8250 serial controller chip is tested and data transmission is tested at different baud rates. Although CheckIt can still conduct a reasonable test without a loopback plug, the test is best with one because data is actually sent and received by the port when an external loopback is used. For more information on loopback plugs and the test, see Chapter 15 of your manual. END. HELP:test_par:Test Parallel Port This test checks your parallel port. This test can be run either with or without an external loopback plug. Without a loopback plug, the internal registers of the parallel port are checked to make sure they respond properly. When an external loopback plug is added, the external signals and data lines are tested as well. For more information on loopback plugs and the test, see Chapter 16 of your manual. END. HELP:test_flop:Test Floppy Disk This test can be used in two ways: * Test your floppy drive to make sure it is working properly. * Test a particular floppy disk for bad tracks. NOTE: You must have a DOS formatted diskette for each drive being tested. To start the test, insert a floppy disk in the appropriate drive and press ENTER. If the disk as not formatted at the maximum capacity for the drive (i.e. a 360K disk in a 1.2M drive), CheckIt will ask if this is the disk you want to use. If there is data on the disk, you can insert a new disk, skip the write test, or run the write test anyway. Random Read Test ---------------- This part of the test will test each track of a floppy disk to make sure it is readable. Since the tracks are chosen in a random order, the drive's stepper motor is also tested. Errors will be displayed in the "Errors" window. Random Write Test ----------------- This part of the test determines whether your drive can accurately write data to a diskette. This step can be skipped if you are using a disk with data on it. There are a number of different reasons for a disk or drive to report errors. See Chapter 12 in your manual for details. END. HELP:test_hard:Test Hard Disk Use this test to check your hard disk. This test is will preserve the data already on your drive. Three types of read tests are performed: Linear Read ----------- Each cylinder is tested starting at cylinder 0 and continuing sequentially to the last cylinder on the disk. This first pass is to make sure all data can be read under the simplest of tests. Butterfly Read -------------- Again, each cylinder is tested. But with this test, the outermost cylinders are read first, then the innermost cylinders. This provides a worst case test of the hard disk's seeking mechanism. Random Read ----------- Like the butterfly read, this test is good at finding head movement related problems. However, unlike the orderly progression of the previous tests, the random read test more realistically simulates actual hard disk activity. Interpreting Errors -------------------- Any time an error is found, it will appear in the "Errors" window with an explanation in the notes column. There are a number of different types of errors that can be reported -- some are severe while others are purely informational. See Chapter 11 in your manual for a complete list of errors. END. HELP:test_video:Test Video Use this test to check your video sub-system. There are three main parts to this test: Video RAM --------- This part of the test checks your video display memory and paging hardware. Since garbage will display on your screen during this part of the test, a warning will appear just before this step begins. The test will complete on its own. Text Modes ---------- This part of the test checks all text modes available on your PC. Since the success or failure of these tests depends on the screen "looking" right, YOU must decide if a particular screen passes or fails. Each phase of this part of the test consists of several screens. On each screen, the title, screen number, and mode of the current test is displayed at the top left. This will give you an idea of where you are in the test. REMEMBER: You can skip individual steps or the whole test by pressing ESC. Graphics Modes -------------- This part of the tests checks any graphics modes that are available on your PC. The modes displayed depend on the type of video adapter you have on your machine. Like the text modes tests, YOU must decide if a screen passes or fails. If the Screen Is Blank or Unreadable... It is possible that some modes will not be properly supported by your video adapter or monitor. In these cases, press 'N' followed by ENTER and that screen will be marked as an error. Later, you can review the activity log to see which video modes didn't work right. END. HELP:test_kbd:Test Keyboard Use this test to check the keys and lights on your keyboard. Three different keyboards are supported: PC, AT, and Enhanced. Use the arrow keys to select the keyboard you are using. If you don't recognize the keyboard's name, look at the picture displayed on the screen and pick the one that best matches the layout of your keyboard. Press Each Key -------------- This part of the test will let you test each key. After each key has been pressed, CheckIt moves on to the next part of the test. If some keys don't work or you are only testing a few keys, press any key three (3) times. You will then be given a chance to report any problems. Typematic Repeat ---------------- This part of the test will check the "auto-repeat" feature of your keyboard. Simply press and hold down any key until it begins to blink on the screen. This is not the same as repeatedly pressing the same key. Keyboard Lights --------------- If you are using an AT or Enhanced keyboards, the lights will also be tested. Watch the keyboard lights and make sure each light comes on at the same time as its on-screen counterpart. See Chapter 19 for more information on finding and fixing problems. END. HELP:test_joy:Test Joystick If you have a joystick on your system, this test will let you verify that the joystick is properly centered and that each of the buttons are working properly. Centering the Joystick ---------------------- To adjust the joystick, first move the stick to the extreme top, bottom, left, and right. This will establish the minimum and maximum values for the X and Y axes. Now center the joystick. The cursor should be motionless in the center of the box. If the cursor is slightly off center, adjust the joystick's fine trim until it is exactly centered. Your joystick is now properly adjusted. END. HELP:test_mouse:Test Mouse If you have a mouse on your system, this test will let you verify that the it is working properly. If you have not installed the device driver for your mouse, the test can not be run. With this test, you can check the button and movement of your mouse. If you find a problem, press ESC to cancel the test (or just a step). You will then be given a chance to record any errors you found. END. HELP:test_clock:Test Real Time Clock If your system has a real-time clock, CheckIt can be used to make sure it is set properly and keeping accurate time. The following tests are performed: Compare Real-Time Time to DOS Time ---------------------------------- Both times are compared to make sure they are about the same. Since it is normal for many systems to have a difference of a few seconds, CheckIt will not report small differences as errors. Compare Real-Time Date to DOS Date ---------------------------------- These two values must match exactly. Test Real-Time Clock Alarm -------------------------- If your PC has a standard AT-style CMOS clock (most AT and 386 PC's do!), CheckIt will test the alarm feature found on these clocks. If the alarm does not go off when scheduled, the test will fail. Some PC compatibles do not support this feature. In these cases, a failure indicates a minor incompatibility problem. Compare Elapsed Time -------------------- Finally, CheckIt compares the amount of elapsed time on both clocks (regardless of there initial difference). If there is more than a fraction of a second difference, CheckIt will report the problem. A failure here usually indicates the real-time clock needs new batteries. More information on the real-time clock can be found in Chapter 14 of your manual. END. HELP:test_mem:Test Memory This is the memory test. The boxes on the left of the screen show the base, extended, and EXPANDed memory for your machine. The area selected for testing is shown in reverse video. Changing Defaults ----------------- To the right of the boxes, the test parameters are displayed. To change any element of the test, enter 'C' at the "Run memory test?" prompt and press ENTER. Additional help will explain how to configure each field. Starting the Test ----------------- When you are ready to run the test, enter 'Y' at the "Run memory test?" prompt and press return. Test Program Buffers -------------------- Since the memory test is non-destructive, the original contents of any memory tested must be saved and restored. CheckIt begins by testing the memory used for this purpose. Test Base Memory ---------------- Any base memory selected will be tested next, including memory currently being used by DOS, CheckIt, or any other program. If CheckIt finds any errors, "FAILED" will appear next to the check box and the errors will be listed in the activity log. Test Extended Memory -------------------- Any extended memory selected will be tested at this stage. Like the base memory test, errors found will result in a "FAILED" status on this part of the test and the specific memory locations will appear in the activity log. Test EXPANDed Memory -------------------- Any expanded (EMS) memory selected will be tested at this stage. Errors are reported in the same was as the base and extended memory tests. Test High Address Lines ----------------------- Any selected memory will be checked for problems caused by wrong size chips, bent or broken pins, and other addressing problems where one byte can affect another distant byte. NOTE: For best results with this step, test all installed memory. Fixing Problems --------------- If any errors are reported, the first thing to do is find the faulty chip. To do this, use the "Locate RAM Chips" function under the "Tools" menu. If the memory test was just run, the bad chip information will already be filled in. See Chapter 22 for more information on locating RAM chips. Refer to Chapter 10 of your manual for a more detailed explanation of the screen elements, the test, and fixing problems. END. HELP:log_printer:Writing to Printer The activity log is currently configured to send test results and SysInfo reports to the printer. Since this is the first time anything is being printed, CheckIt isn't sure the printer and paper are set up properly. Make sure the printer is plugged in, turned on and ready, at the top of a new page, and has plenty of paper. Then, press a key and the activity log will be printed. END. HELP:log_graphics:Log Graphics CheckIt can send data to the activity log in one of two ways. If you have a printer capable of printing IBM line-drawing characters, turn this option ON. This will produce the best quality results most reports and print-outs. If you have any other type of printer, turn this option OFF. CheckIt will then translate any special character to its nearest ASCII equivalent. END. HELP:ram_locate:Locate RAM Chips This tool helps you find failing RAM chips. First, run the Memory Test to identify the bad addresses. Then, use this screen to identify which chips to replace. Entering Address and Bit Information ------------------------------------ When CheckIt reports memory errors, it displays a 6 digit hexadecimal address followed by a list of bad bits. This information must be filled in at the first screen for CheckIt to locate the bad memory chips. If you've just run the memory test, this information will already be filled in. Otherwise, press 'C' [ENTER] and enter the address information your- self. Remember to put "EMS:" in front of any expanded memory addresses. Press ESC to exit the data entry form. Once the bad address information is entered, you can start locating the bad memory. There are two methods you can use: Simple and Advanced. Simple Method (Locate Boards) ----------------------------- This method is for users who are uncomfortable answering questions like "Parity on Left?" and "Rows in Reverse Order" but still want to locate, as closely as possible, failing RAM chips. Selecting 'S' [ENTER] will lead you through a series of simple questions that ask for increasingly detailed information about the memory layout of your computer. With each answer, the conclusions displayed are updated with as accurate information as possible. If, at any time, you are unable to answer a question, you can stop and print (F2) a copy of the current conclusions. NOTE: You can use the simple method to fill in most of the details and then proceed to the advanced method for the remaining questions. Advanced Method (Locate Chips) ------------------------------ This method is for users who know all the details of how the memory boards on their computer are laid out and needs to find the exact chip that is failing. Select 'A' [ENTER] to proceed to the board summary screen to define the memory boards in your system. When you are satisfied with your definitions, you can print a copy of the boards with failing chips (F2). END. HELP:ram_summary:Locate RAM Chips Board Summary This screen allows you to review and modify the definition for each memory board before attemping to locate the bad chips. Once you are satisfied with the board definitions, press 'F' [ENTER] to find the faulty chips. Board Summary Screen -------------------- The first screen is the board summary screen. It displays a summary of all defined boards. From here you can easily view and modify each board. View This option displays an exploded view of the currently selected Board board. If the word "MORE" appears at the top or bottom of the board, the up and down arrow keys can be used to scroll the rest of the board into view. Use the left and right arrow keys to view adjacent boards. Change This option allows you to create or modify a board. There Board is separate help for each field. More information can also be found in Chapter 4, pages 27 through 29. Also, Chapter 4, pages 30 and 31 describe how to handle a number of "special cases" when defining boards. NOTE: Some of the information needed to define a board is technical in nature. If possible, have the manual or memory board itself available while setting it up. Delete Selecting this option will delete the configuration information Board for the currently selected board. Find Selecting this option will display the boards and highlight the Bad Chips bad chips according to your definitions. END. HELP:ram_find:Find Bad Chips This screen shows which chips on a board need to be replaced. Displaying Bad Chips -------------------- Two types of "bad" chips can be displayed: BAD CHIPS These chips have been uniquely identified by CheckIt as bad and should be replaced. On the screen, they will blink in red and are marked like this: "=>". QUESTIONABLE These chips could not be uniquely identified but at least one CHIPS of them is bad. This type of indicator is used for expanded memory. On the screen, they will blink in yellow and are marked like this: "?>". To find the specific chip, you should replace one at a time and retest memory until the problem goes away. Or, to save time (instead of money), simply replace all of the ques- tionable chips. If the board is too big to fit on the screen, the word "MORE" will appear on the top or bottom. Use the up and down arrow keys to display the rest of the board. If more than one board has memory problems, "Next Board" will appear near the top of the screen. Use the left and right arrow keys to view these boards. The F2 function key can be used to send a copy of the currently displayed board to the activity log. Invalid Memory Addresses ------------------------ If you have specified an address that is not defined on any board, a message will be displayed explaining that the chips can not be located for that address. Return to the board summary screen and modify the board layouts until this message doesn't appear. END. HELP:ram_setup:Define RAM Layout This function allows you to define the physical layout of each memory board installed in your PC. This step must be completed before attempting to find a bad RAM chip. NOTE: Some of the information needed to define a board is technical in nature. If possible, have the manual or memory board itself available while setting it up. Board Summary Screen -------------------- The first screen is the board summary screen. It displays a summary of all defined boards. From here you can easily view and modify each board. View This option displays an exploded view of the currently selected Board board. If the word "MORE" appears at the top or bottom of the board, the up and down arrow keys can be used to scroll the rest of the board into view. Use the left and right arrow keys to view adjacent boards. Change This option allows you to create or modify a board. There Board is separate help for each field. More information can also be found in Chapter 4, pages 27 through 29. Delete Selecting this option will delete the configuration information Board for the currently selected board. Also, Chapter 4, pages 30 and 31 describe how to handle a number of "special cases" when defining boards. END. HELP:register_user:Register User Before using CheckIt, you must customize it by entering your name and company on the lines provided. This information is displayed every time CheckIt is loaded and will be printed on the top of every report. END. HELP:memmap_base:Base Memory Map This is a map of the first 1Mb of real address space. This includes base memory (0K to 640K) and the reserved area (640K to 1Mb). The top half of the screen shows a graphical map of this area and the bottom half shows the same information in list form. Each type of object on the screen is identified by a different symbol. Below is a list of each symbol and its meaning. A complete discussion of each object can be found in your manual. I Interrupt Vectors. This area contains information about the 256 hardware and software interrupts. P Programs. This area contains DOS, CheckIt, TSR's, and device drivers that are also resident. A Available. This is DOS memory that is currently not being used. B Extended BIOS Data Area. This region (usually at the top of DOS memory) is setup by the BIOS and is used by OS/2. V Video RAM. This is the address range used by your video adapter. R ROM. This can be either adapter ROM or System ROM. - Nothing. This address space is currently not used by any RAM, ROM, or for any other purpose. E EMS Page Frame. This is where the EMS page frame is located. It is usually 64K large. H Hi RAM. CheckIt has identified RAM in the reserved address space but can't identify how it is being used. Mappable RAM. A diamond above a letter indicates EMS mappable memory. The EMS page frame is always mappable. Some EMS implementations also allow DOS memory to be mapped by programs like DESQview and Windows. Showing More Detail ------------------- Use your arrow keys to select an item then press [ENTER]. A window will pop-up and show more detail about the selected item. The actual information displayed depends on the item selected. Pressing F2 will send the entire detail to the activity log. END. HELP:memmap_int:Interrupt Vectors This screen lets you examine how each software interrupt is being used. This is helpful when tracking down software conflicts particularly those caused by TSR's and other resident programs. The following describes the elements of the display: INT This column lists the interrupt being described. Usual This column describes what the interrupt is normally used for. Function You will notice that several have very specific purposes while others are either marked "reserved" or are used by one or more common applications. NOTE: This column describes the inter- rupts typical use and NOT how it is currently being used. Address This column shows the address the vector is pointing to. The values are the hexadecimal segment and offset respectively. Points This column displays where the vector is now pointing. In many To cases the vector will be pointing to an operating system component like the System ROM, DOS kernel, or COMMAND.COM. Some- times, the vector will be pointing to a TSR or device driver. Consult your manual for more information on interpreting this information and interrupts in general. END. HELP:memmap_tsr:Programs This list shows how much memory each resident program is using (including CheckIt). Note that some programs also allocate data and environment blocks. Make sure you include these blocks when determining how much memory a program uses. Look in your manual for ideas on how to make more DOS memory available. END. HELP:memmap_nothing:<nothing> Addresses marked this way are currently not used for any purpose. Depend- ing on the system, these areas can be used by add-in ROM modules, EMS hard- ware, or hi RAM. Relocating RAM -------------- If your system has hardware mapping capabilities (like the 80386 or 80486), you can use programs like 386Max or QEMM to put RAM in these areas. You can then move some of your resident programs to this area and leave more DOS memory for applications. Look in you manual for more information on using these areas. END. HELP:memmap_hiram:Hi RAM This area contains RAM this is not allocated in a way CheckIt can recognize. This can happen for a number of reasons: 1. Some non-standard video adapters provide more video RAM than CheckIt otherwise expects. 2. Some add-on cards have special purpose RAM that is used for buffering data and other specific tasks. This is common with LAN cards. Look in you manual for more other ways Hi RAM can appear. END. HELP:memmap_ebios:Extended BIOS Data Area The extended BIOS (EBIOS) data area is set-up by the BIOS when the system is booting and is provided for OS/2 and other multi-tasking operating systems. This memory (usually about 1K) is allocated from the top of RAM and is not available to DOS. This is why some programs report 639K total memory instead of 640K. END. HELP:memmap_vram:Video RAM This address space is used by the video adapter to display text and graphics. Some adapters use different ranges of memory for different display modes. The summary shows the entire range and the detail shows what ranges are used for each type of display mode. END. HELP:memmap_available:Available RAM This is DOS memory that is currently not used by any program. It is available for applications and TSR's. REMEMBER: CheckIt counts itself as one of the programs in memory. So, to determine the total DOS memory available without CheckIt installed, add CheckIt's RAM usage to the available total. END. HELP:memmap_rom:ROM This area contains a ROM. ROM modules are used for the main system BIOS, hard disk BIOS, video BIOS, etc. If CheckIt has found a copyright string, it will display it. Otherwise, the first few bytes of this area are displayed to help you decide what the ROM is used for. END. HELP:memmap_ems:EMS Page Frame This area is where expanded memory meets the real world. Normally, this memory lives in a separate address space and cannot be accessed by applications. The page frame provides a window into that address space so applications can save and retrieve data. This works much like a book -- you must turn to the proper page to read (or write) what you want and there are always several pages "hidden" from view. END. HELP:report_detail:Report Detail You can select either a full detail report, certification report or both. Full detail is the normal setting and generates complete test results in the activity log. The certification report fits on one page and contains a copy of the configuration report and a summary of the results for each test. NOTE: To save the results to disk or printer, be sure to select the proper activity log setting under the setup menu before starting the test. END. HELP:custom_heading:Custom Heading At this point, you can type a line to appear as a heading on the top of the activity log. You can use this space to keep track of what machine created the log, what errors you were trying to find, or anything else that you find useful. END.