diagnostics, extended test, booting problem

Question

Hello:

I have a Dell Inspiron 8500. I am having problems booting it. It crashed while running Symantec.
It can also be a hard disk problem. I heard that if I start tapping the F12 key immediately after switch on,
it should show onboard diagnostics and then the option "extended test" can be given which runs for
1-2 hours & checks all hardware.

But whenever I try to do it, it shows after the Dell logo "starting one time boot menu" & then the list of boot device

Internal HDD
CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive
Cardbus NIC
Onboard NIC
Diagnostics.

I donot see any extended test menu. If I give Diagnostics, it runs for 1 minute doing
1) CPU Time stamp calibration: PASS
2) PIC Functionality test: PASS
3) A20 gate test: PASS
4) Start DST short test : FAIL
Error Code: 1000-0146
Msg: Unit 0: DST Log contains previous error (s)

Can anyone tell me how to do the extended test?
Thanks a lot in advance, DG

ejn63 · Answer

You can load the diagnostics and choose the extended test, but the short test tells the story - the hard drive is dying and should be replaced ASAP.

Motto26 · Answer

The 32 big diagnostics (the extended test you ar looking for) will appear after the PSA (pre boot stsyem assestment) the diags to which you got the 1000-0146. after that test you will be prompt to press any key to continue. Now if you already reinstall the Operating system or this is a blank HDD to which you rienstall the OS. You have to use your 'Inspiron resource cd'. its a blue cd. so tap F12 put the disc into the drive and choose cdrw/dvd or just boot to the CD drive. and there you will access the 32 bit diags. Note that error code 1000-0146 tells us that the hdd as a bad sector. now if you are getting an Unmountable_boot_volume_error try running CHKDSK /R under the recovery console.

nihaoba · Answer

Hello:
I have a Dell Latitude C840. I am having problems booting it. Screen blanked each time it starts.

If I start tapping the F12 key immediately after switch on, it shows onboard diagnostics and then the option “extended test” is given. If I give Diagnostics, it runs for 1 minute doing

1) CPU Time stamp calibration: PASS
2) PIC Functionality test: PASS
3) A20 gate test: PASS
4) Start DST short test : FAIL
Error Code: 1000-0146
Msg: Unit 0: DST Log contains previous error (s)

Can anyone tell me how to do the extended test?
Thanks a lot in advance, Mike at liuscsu@gmail.com

Storage, Drives & Media

diagnostics, extended test, booting problem

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