QAPlus/PRO version 5.45a, README.TXT
The following topics are described in this file:
1) Errata for version 5.45a
2) Using the Command Line Options
3) Instructions for creating memory templates for the RAM Chip Locater.
1) Errata for version 5.45a
========================
System Board Tests
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Added VPICMODE.EXE to the diskette. The program is run in Autoexec.bat.
This program resolves erroneous failures previously reported while running
the System Board Test Group.
Video Tests
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The default video tests (modes) for your Server are determined by the
diagnostics when analyzing the video controller during initialization
of the diagnostics program. Depending on the type of monitor connected
to your Server, some of the video tests which are supported by the video
controller on the system board will appear to fail if your monitor does
not support the mode tested. When running the video tests for your
Server, if the screen becomes unreadable (wavy lines or a distorted image
of the test), your monitor probably does not support the video mode
being tested. When this occurs, press the "down arrow" cursor movement
key to select "FAIL" (note: the selection is not readable on the screen
due to the distorted image), and press the "Enter" key. This step will
report the test mode which failed, and you can then delete the
unsupported modes from your default list using the steps listed below.
Refer to the manual that came with your monitor to determine whether the
modes that fail the diagnostics should be supported, in which case there
may be a problem with your monitor.
To delete unsupported modes from the default video test groups:
1) Highlight the test for which a mode is to be deleted, using
the cursor movement keys. For example, highlight Graphics,
the third test.
2) Press the "Tab" key to display the pop-up window "Change test
mode list".
3) Press the "down arrow" key to choose "Delete mode".
4) Type the mode that failed, and press the "Enter" key. For example,
type "103" to delete mode 103.
5) Type each mode that failed and press "Enter" to delete each failed
test, for the test chosen. Press the "Escape" key when you are
finished.
6) For each test group that failed a test mode, follow the above
steps to remove the unsupported modes from the test groups.
2) Using the Command Line Options
==============================
The following Command Line Options allow you to define specific
conditions for running the diagnostic programs at startup time.
At the operating system prompt, type "QAPRO /YYY" (where "/YYY"
represents one or more of the following from the list below);
then press ENTER:
/B&W The /B&W option forces the program to load
in black and white (monochrome) mode.
/LOG=file The /LOG=file option directs the test
programs to start using a specified Error
Log file.
/INT10 The /INT10 option forces the test programs
to use the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
for screen writes.
/OXXX The /OXXX option, where XXX=test group,
omits the designated test group from
testing. (See /IXXX for a list of valid
test groups.)
/OALL The /OALL option omits all test groups from
testing. (See /IXXX for more information.)
/IXXX The /IXXX option, where XXX=test group,
includes the designated test group. When
used in conjunction with the /OALL option,
you can specify the tests that you want to
include. These options are helpful if you
have insufficient memory available to load
all of the test programs simultaneously, or
if you want to test specific test groups.
The valid test groups are:
LPT Parallel port
COM Serial ports
HDU Hard disk (IDE only)
FDU Diskette drive
VID Video
MBD System board
KBD Keyboard
PDV Pointing device or mouse
MEM Memory
SCU SCSI
CDR CD-ROM
SYS System information/Utilities
You can include this option multiple times.
For example, to run the keyboard, SCSI, and
CD-ROM test groups, type:
"QAPRO.EXE /OALL /IKBD /ISCU /ICDR"
/USRCONFIG=file The /USERCONFIG=file option tells the test
programs to look for a user diagnostic
configuration file other than the default
USERDIAG.CFG.
/SCRIPT=file,R The /SCRIPT=file,R option with the ",R" runs
the selected script. If you omit the ",R"
parameter, the script is loaded but not run.
NOTE: You can use a "-" instead of a "/" as
the command line switch.
3) Instructions for creating memory templates for the RAM Chip Locater.
====================================================================
A memory template is created by answering a series of questions
presented by the RAM Chip Locater program.
The answers below are based on an example of 2 DIMMs installed on the
Processor Board in the Server 325 or 330 in Memory Connectors J2 and J3
(refer to the section "Working With Memory-Module Kits" in the PC Server
User's Handbook for a diagram of the Processor Board and the memory
connectors).
The example used below is for a 64Mb DIMM installed in Memory Connector J2,
and a 32Mb DIMM installed in Memory Connector J3. Memory Connectors J4
and J5 are empty.
1. Invoke the RAM Chip Locater from the Utilities menu on the Main Menu
of the QAPlus/PRO Diagnostics, or from the DOS command prompt by
typing A:\QARAM.EXE.
2. Select one of the default memory templates displayed on the
"Load System" menu using the cursor keys.
3. Press "F2-edit" to create a new memory template.
4. Select "Vertical" for the "Orientation" using the cursor keys,
then press the Enter key.
5. Answer "y" to the question "Are the banks arranged from left to right?",
then press the Enter key.
6. Select "64 (Pentium)" for the "System Bus Size", then press the
Enter key.
7. The next series of questions pertain to the presence (or absence)
of memory modules in the memory connectors:
a) For the first memory connector (J2), shown as "Column 0" on
the "Memory Size" window, or also shown as "bank 0" on the
default template still visible on the left-hand side of the
screen:
1) Select "64MB" for "Memory Size", then press the Enter key.
2) Select "DIMM" for "Memory Type", then press the Enter key.
b) For the second memory connector (J3), shown as "Column 1":
1) Select "32MB" for "Memory Size", then press the Enter key.
2) Select "DIMM" for "Memory Type", then press the Enter key.
c) For the third memory connector (J4), shown as "Column 2":
1) Select "Empty" for "Memory Size", then press the Enter key.
2) Select "DIMM" for "Memory Type", then press the Enter key.
d) For the fourth memory connector (J5), shown as "Column 3":
1) Select "Empty" for "Memory Size", then press the Enter key.
2) Select "DIMM" for "Memory Type", then press the Enter key.
e) When the "Memory Size" selection for "Column 4" is displayed,
select "done", then press the Enter key. The screen will be
refreshed with the new memory template.
8. To save the new memory template:
a) Press "F6-save".
b) Select the first choice "Save using new system name ...".
c) On the "Save System" screen, type a descriptive name (up to 36
characters) for the new memory template, then press the Enter key.
For this example, the memory template will be saved using the
name "My Server - 64Mb / 32Mb / 0Mb / 0Mb".
d) The new template is now selectable from the "F5-load" selection.
Notes: 1) The memory template will be saved on the Diagnostics Diskette
using the naming convention QARAMx.RAM, where x is the number
0 through 9. The maximum number of memory templates that can
be saved is 10.
2) The memory templates are saved as binary files. Do not try
to change them using an editor. Create a new template or
edit an existing template using the instructions shown above.
3) If you currently have 10 memory templates saved on the Diagnostic
diskette, you must delete a template to allow the creation of a
new template. To decide which template to delete, you can use
the DOS "type" command to display the contents of the file. A
portion of the first line is readable, and will display the
"descriptive name" given to the file when it was saved (as
described above in step 8c). By displaying the "descriptive
name" for each QARAMx.RAM file on the diskette, you can determine
which memory template you no longer need to keep.
Assume the example used above was saved in file QARAM9.RAM. To
display the "descriptive name" for the memory template, type
the following command at the DOS prompt:
type qaram9.ram
and then press the Enter key. The contents of the file will be
be displayed on the screen as follows:
My Server - 64Mb / 32Mb / 0Mb / 0Mb MOTHERBOARD
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