home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Collection of Tools & Utilities
/
Collection of Tools and Utilities.iso
/
memory
/
ramtst30.zip
/
MANUAL.RT
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1988-04-01
|
16KB
|
491 lines
U S E R S' M A N U A L
R A M T E S T V E R S I O N 3 . 0
Copyright 1987,1988 Telemarketing Resources
dba Brown Bag Software
2155 South Bascom Ave #114
Campbell Ca 95008
Tel: (408) 559-4545
RamTest Version 3.0 Copyright (c) 1987,1988
Telemarketing Resources dba Brown Bag Software
RAMTEST
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Executing this program WILL destroy the data
in memory, including data located on RAM disks.
You will find this program useful, not only in identifying an
existing fault but also as part of a periodic maintenance program.
This program has been developed as an exhaustive test of the
memory in a PC, XT, AT or any of their clones. It is much more
comprehensive than the Power On Self Test and delivers diagnostic
messages which are much easier to understand. In addition to
system or base memory, RamTest will also test Expanded Memory on
all machines and Extended Memory on AT type machines.
RUNNING RAMTEST
WE SUGGEST THAT YOU DO NOT RUN ANY OTHER PROGRAM
(including memory resident programs) while using RamTest.
To start the program place the disk in the default drive and type:
RAMTEST [Enter]
The test is best run from a floppy disk which has been formatted
using the /S option from IBM or MS DOS ver 3.1 or lower (so that
you can boot directly from it) and contains no RAM-based
utilities. Many commonly used RAM resident programs and utilities
"take command" of portions of the system and may cause RamTest to
crash. AN IMPORTANT EXCEPTION to this is if your system uses
Expanded Memory, you MUST then have the Expanded Memory Manager
included in your CONFIG.SYS file in order to test Expanded Memory.
When RamTest first starts, it computes the Relative Performance
Index. This number approximates the factor by which the computer's
performance exceeds that of a 4.77MHz 8088. The number generated
will probably be different than that generated on the same machine
by the Norton Utilities. The difference arises from the different
methods used to compute the processor speed.
After the startup command is executed, the program determines the
RAM configuration of your system and displays the RamTest menus.
2
RamTest Version 3.0 Copyright (c) 1987,1988
Telemarketing Resources dba Brown Bag Software
TOP-LINE PULL-DOWN MENUS
All RamTest options can be specified in the RamTest Top-Line Menus
C If you can tell the program what size memory chips your
computer has, then the diagnostics can be even more
precise as to the location of any errors.
E Cycles the echo option through the possible settings.
This option causes RamTest to echo error messages to a
printer or other output device. In this mode, the error
message will be output to the indicated port and then
testing will continue without pause. Allowable choices
for ECHO are COM1, COM2, LPT1, LPT2 and DISK. If COM1 or
COM2 is chosen, the baud rate parameters must be set
using the DOS MODE command prior to running RamTest. For
example, to run RamTest with the error messages going to
a printer at 9600 baud, use the following sequence of
commands:
MODE COM1 9600
RAMTEST COM1
*** Note that you may also specify the required port as
a command line parameter.
If DISK is specified, then have a blank formatted floppy
in Drive A before beginning the test.
O Toggles "Quit and Continue On Error".
P The P option disables parity checking for Eagle
computers and other machines without parity checked RAM
and also to merely disable checking of the RAM chips.
This option should also be used with computers which
have parity detection circuitry which is noticeably
different from IBM (PC Limited and other clones
included). If RamTest consistently indicates parity
errors in a computer which does not fail otherwise, you
should use the P option.
R Report from DISK to Printer, if ECHO DISK was selected.
S Toggles "Sound on Error".
T RepeaT. Sets the number of times a test or set of tests
will execute. Range is 1 to 65535, with 0 meaning
continuous. Pressing Esc during testing will cause the
program to halt at the end of the current cycle.
As with all Brown Bag products, pressing the F1 key brings
context-sensitive help. Pressing the Esc key terminates the
program.
3
RamTest Version 3.0 Copyright (c) 1987,1988
Telemarketing Resources dba Brown Bag Software
TYPES OF MEMORY
The difference between base, expanded and extended memory is
fairly simple. Base Memory is that computer memory below the 640k
DOS limit. This is generally where programs are loaded and run.
Expanded Memory is memory which is contained on an expansion board
which conforms to the Lotus-Intel-Microsoft Expanded Memory
Specification (EMS). It can actually be many megabytes but is
accessed in 16k chunks which are mapped into an unused space in
memory, often segment D000. Extended Memory is only used on AT
type computers and is related to the 80286 protected mode of
operation.
THE TEST MENU
This menu allows you to choose any combination of the memory
sections of your computer for testing. Each menu item is related
to one or more types of memory but they appear only if your
particular machine has the type of memory in question. The
complete menu (seen only on an AT type system) is:
Base Memory
Expanded Memory
Extended Memory
Base and Expanded Memory
Base and Extended Memory
Base, Expanded and Extended Memory
Expanded and Extended Memory
<Esc> Exit RamTest
If your