How to Add Dell Diagnostics to GRUB Boot Menu in Ubuntu Linux

If you’re using Ubuntu Linux on your Dell computer and want to run Dell’s built-in diagnostics, this guide will help you reconnect to the diagnostics partition—if it’s still available on your system.

Why This Matters

Dell’s diagnostics help you check your hardware for issues. If your system came with a diagnostics partition, you can boot into it and run tests—even if you’ve installed Ubuntu later.

Before You Start

Check if your system still has the diagnostics partition:

1. Open a terminal in Ubuntu.
2. Run this command: sudo mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt
   If it mounts successfully, the partition is still there.

If your system didn’t come with the diagnostics partition or you’ve wiped it during a reinstall, this guide won’t work. You’ll need to use Dell’s online or preboot diagnostics instead.

Step-by-Step: Add Dell Diagnostics to Your GRUB Menu

If the partition exists, follow these steps:

1. Open the GRUB configuration file: sudo nano /etc/grub.d/40_custom

2. Add this entry at the end of the file:

   menuentry "Dell DOS Diagnostics (on /dev/sda1)" {
     insmod chain
     insmod fat
     set root=(hd0,1)
     chainloader +1
   }

3. Save and exit the file.

4. Update GRUB: sudo update-grub2

5. Reboot your system. You should now see Dell DOS Diagnostics in your boot menu.

Need Help?

If diagnostics show errors, contact Dell Technical Support. You can also explore Dell’s online diagnostics or preboot diagnostics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to common questions about Dell diagnostics and Ubuntu:

1. What is the Dell diagnostics partition?

It’s a built-in tool that helps check your hardware for issues before the operating system loads.

2. Can I use Dell diagnostics with Ubuntu?

Yes, if your system still has the diagnostics partition. You’ll need to manually add it to your GRUB boot menu.

3. What if I deleted the diagnostics partition?

You won’t be able to use this method. Try Dell’s online or preboot diagnostics instead.

4. How do I know if the partition still exists?

Run sudo mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt in Ubuntu. If it mounts, the partition is there.

5. What does GRUB do?

GRUB is the bootloader that lets you choose which system or tool to start when your PC boots.

6. Will this affect my Ubuntu installation?

No, adding a GRUB entry just gives you another option at startup. Your Ubuntu setup stays the same.

7. What if diagnostics show an error?

Contact Dell Support with the error code. They’ll guide you on what to do next.