DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS
        COPYRIGHT 1986, 1987 BY ONTRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
                    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE

       FOR HARD DISK, CONTROLLER AND CABLE TEST AND MAINTENANCE




This file contains the basic operating instructions for DISK MANAGER
DIAGNOSTICS, including error information and special operating
environment considerations.  You are urged to review the operating
procedures prior to using this utility.





USE CTRL-S TO STOP AND START THE SCROLLING PROCESS AS YOU READ THIS FILE.





You may print this file by using either PRINT.COM (a DOS utility), your
text processor, or use the DOS COPY command as follows:


              A>COPY DIAG.REF PRN <ENTER>
































                                    PAGE 1







         DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS


DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS is a software utility that provides you with a
comprehensive test for your hard drive subsystem.  DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS
will operate on any IBM PC, XT, AT or compatible computer system.  This
utility performs exhaustive disk controller tests, disk drive tests, and
provides clear error detection, error isolation, and corrective action
information.

Use DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS prior to disk software installation to verify
your disk controller settings, disk cable orientation, and disk drive
communications.

Use DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS to maintain your disk subsystem and to
identify and correct any related error conditions.  With DISK MANAGER
DIAGNOSTICS, you have the capability to scan your disk(s) to identify any
flaws that have occurred on the disk surface after initial installation has
occurred.


                          - WARNING -

DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS does have the ability to perform initialization
and write functions on your hard disk. DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS makes every
effort to ensure that these operations occur ONLY on the Customer Engineer
(C.E.) cylinder, which is not normally used to store data. However, since
the intent of a diagnostic is usually to operate on a machine suspected of
having a malfunction, it is always advisable to BACK-UP ANY VALUABLE DATA
prior to running any of the write tests.



STEP 1: LOAD THE PROGRAM

        Boot your computer system from the hard disk if possible, then
        proceed to the DOS "A>" prompt. If you are unable to boot from
        the hard disk, boot from the floppy disk drive.

        To invoke DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS, type:

        A>DIAG    <ENTER>      for monochrome display, or

        A>DIAG/C  <ENTER>      for color display

        If you are using this utility on an AT&T 6300 PLUS computer or
        are using an XT disk controller in an AT computer, use the
        following command line to invoke the diagnostic:

        A>DIAG/P <ENTER>

STEP 2: SELECT THE DRIVE TO BE TESTED (1 OR 2)






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STEP 3: IDENTIFY THE DISK DRIVE TYPE / CONFIGURATION

        The drive parameters are read according to either the operating
        system (DOS), the presence of a device driver (such as DISK
        MANAGER), or the presence of a drive table mechanism.

        If your disk documentation agrees with the parameters
        displayed, your disk is considered "STANDARD." If your disk
        parameters do not match those displayed, enter the appropriate
        model code for your disk.


STEP 4: THE MAIN MENU

The entire diagnostic is executed via the function keys. The function
keys active in the MAIN MENU are described below:

         F1.  RUN ALL TESTS
         F2.  RUN INDIVIDUAL TESTS
         F3.  REPEAT THE TESTS
         F4.  ALLOW C.E. CYLINDER WRITES
         F5.  STOP ON ERROR
         F6.  SELECT DRIVE TWO
         F7.  FORMAT C.E. CYLINDER
         F8.  DISPLAY ALL DISK PARAMETERS
         F9.  COLOR ON/OFF


F1  - RUN ALL TESTS

      This option will execute all the tests in the Test Menu in the
      order shown.

F2  - RUN INDIVIDUAL TESTS

      This option lets you select and execute one test from the Test
      Menu.

F3  - REPEAT THE TESTS

      This option lets you loop on an individual test, or on multiple
      tests. Use this option to help detect intermittent failures.
      To loop on an individual test, select F3 and then F2. You will
      then select the specific test from the Test Menu. To loop on all
      tests, select F3 and then F1.

F4  - ALLOW C.E. CYLINDER WRITES

      This option will permit the diagnostic to actually write to the
      disk. The Customer Engineer (C.E.) cylinder is a reserved cylinder
      that is not normally used by DOS. Use this option to verify
      write/read capability prior to initial disk installation, or to test
      the write/read capability of the disk subsystem of an existing
      installation.

      WARNING!  DISK INSTALLATIONS THAT USE A "DRIVE-SPLIT" MECHANISM
      SHOULD NEVER USE THIS FUNCTION, BECAUSE A C.E. CYLINDER WRITE
      TO THE FIRST LOGICAL DRIVE WILL WRITE TO THE SECOND LOGICAL
      DRIVE RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL C.E. CYLINDER.

                                    PAGE 3





F5  - STOP ON ERROR

      Select this option to halt the diagnostic on any error. This option
      should be selected when looping on tests (F3).


F6  - SELECT DRIVE TWO

      In a multiple hard disk drive subsystem, use this option to select
      the alternate drive to be tested. If drive 2 is selected, this
      function key will let you re-select drive 1.

F7  - FORMAT C.E. CYLINDER

      This option will permit the diagnostic to actually format one disk
      cylinder.  The Customer Engineer (C.E.) cylinder is a reserved
      cylinder that is not normally used by DOS. Use this option to verify
      formatting capability prior to initial disk installation, or to test
      the write/read capability of the disk subsystem in an existing
      installation.

      WARNING!  DISK INSTALLATIONS THAT USE A "DRIVE-SPLIT" MECHANISM
      SHOULD NEVER USE THIS FUNCTION, BECAUSE A C.E. CYLINDER WRITE
      TO THE FIRST LOGICAL DRIVE WILL WRITE TO THE SECOND LOGICAL
      DRIVE RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL C.E. CYLINDER.

      CAUTION: THIS OPTION SHOULD ONLY BE SELECTED IF YOU SUSPECT A
               WRITE FAILURE IN THE SUBSYSTEM.


F8 -  DISPLAY ALL DISK PARAMETERS

      This option will display the active disk drive parameters. If you
      are experiencing difficulty in executing the diagnostic, use this
      option to check your disk configuration file. If changes are
      necessary, change the appropriate parameters using the screen
      prompts, or select a new configuration file as described in
      Step 2 of this section.

F9  - COLOR ON/OFF

      Use this option to select either monochrome or color displays.
















                                    PAGE 4







STEP 5: THE TEST MENU

The function keys active in the TEST MENU are described below:

         F1.  CONTROLLER TESTS
         F2.  SEEK TESTS
         F3.  RANDOM READ TESTS
         F4.  READ/WRITE TESTS
         F5.  ECC READ/WRITE TESTS
         F6.  VERIFY DISK MEDIA
         F7.  RETURN TO MAIN MENU


F1  - CONTROLLER TESTS

      This option performs an exhaustive test of the hard disk controller
      card. This test may be performed with the disk drive either connected
      or disconnected. Fault isolation is to the controller card as a unit.

F2  - SEEK TESTS

      This option performs in-out, harmonic and random seek tests on the
      disk drive. Fault isolation is to the suspect device.

F3  - RANDOM READ TESTS

      This option performs a random read of the disk to test the overall
      health of the disk subsystem.

F4  - READ/WRITE TESTS

      This option performs write, read and compare operations on the C.E.
      cylinder of the disk. The C.E. cylinder must be formatted prior to
      executing this test. Fault isolation is to the suspect device.

      CAUTION: THIS OPTION SHOULD ONLY BE SELECTED IF YOU SUSPECT A
               WRITE FAILURE IN THE SUBSYSTEM.

F5  - ECC READ/WRITE TESTS

      Error Correction Code (ECC) tests force data errors on the C.E.
      cylinder of the disk, and test the controller's error detection
      (correction) capability. The C.E. cylinder must be formatted prior
      to executing this test. (Main Menu options F4 and then F7 must be
      selected). Fault isolation is to the suspect device.

      CAUTION: THIS OPTION SHOULD ONLY BE SELECTED IF YOU SUSPECT A
      WRITE FAILURE IN THE SUBSYSTEM.










                                    PAGE 5







F6  - VERIFY DISK MEDIA

      This option lets you scan the disk for media defects. This test
      executes a non-destructive scan, in that it does not write to the
      disk surface. Upon completion of the scan activity, you will have
      the option of examining the list of defects found. If new defects
      are detected, use DISK MANAGER to deallocate them.

      NOTE: THIS TEST OPTION IS NOT EXECUTED WHEN F1 (RUNNING ALL TESTS)
            IS SELECTED FROM THE MAIN MENU. SELECT THIS OPTION SEPARATELY.
            YOU CANNOT SCAN A DISK SURFACE THAT IS NOT INITIALIZED.

F7  - RETURN TO MAIN MENU

      From the Main Menu, additional options can be selected, or the
      diagnostic can be terminated.










































                                    PAGE 6






                    ERROR DETECTION AND OPERATOR ACTIONS


CAUTION: ALWAYS POWER-OFF THE COMPUTER AND ANY EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLIES
BEFORE WORKING ON THE DISK SUBSYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN
PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO THE DISK SUBSYSTEM!

When the diagnostic detects an error within the disk subsystem, an
appropriate message is displayed. By depressing the F10 key, a more
descriptive error message is displayed, providing the recommended
corrective action.

In some cases, fault isolation to the specific device (controller,
command cable, data cable, or drive), cannot be accurately defined.
For example, a faulty data cable can cause one to suspect the controller
and/or the drive to be defective. The diagnostic will identify the
recommended order of investigation in such cases.

Occasionally, the disk subsystem will fail to operate through no fault
of its own. The following shows some system-level failures that, when
resolved, could restore the disk subsystem to operation:


Problem:

1. DOS will not boot from hard disk, or

2. Diagnostic will not load, or

3. Diagnostics load but will not run


Check:

1. Check proper connection of all external cables (keyboard, monitor,
   disks).

2. Check proper seating of all card assemblies in the system.

3. Run system-level diagnostics (normally provided with the computer).
   The system memory test should be executed.


















                                    PAGE 7







                           - NOTICE -

DISK MANAGER DIAGNOSTICS is intended to diagnose any detectable problem
with your hard disk subsystem. In order to accomplish this, DISK MANAGER
DIAGNOSTICS uses hard disk functions which are not normally used in the
course of system operation. These "diagnostic" functions are NOT
necessarily supported by all computer/controller combinations. Therefore,
if your system appears to be working without any problems and DISK MANAGER
DIAGNOSTICS indicates that a diagnostic function is failing, the
possibility exists that you computer/controller simply does not support the
diagnostic function itself.















































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