[Main menu]

    The AMIDiag 4.5 menu screen has the following main menu
    items for testing -

        {System Board menu},
        {Memory menu},
        {Hard disk menu},
        {Floppy menu},
        {Keyboard menu},
        {Video menu},
        {Misc menu},
        {User menu},
        {Options menu}.

    Use the left and right arrow keys to select one of the
    main menu items. Then use the up and down arrow keys to
    select any of the individual tests. Then press <ENTER>
    to run the test. Press <F1> at any time to invoke help.

    If you are using a mouse, double-click on any menu items
    to run it. To select a test for running in batch mode,
    single-click on the test. If you single-click on a selected
    test, it will become deseclected.

    See also - {About AMIDiag}

[About AMIDiag]

    AMIDiag 4.5 is the most complete collection of tests
    to check today's motherboards with all the advanced
    technologies - {EISA}, {PCI}, {Plug&Play}, {PCMCIA} -
    you name it, we got it.

    Equally outstanding is the accompanying SYSINFO program -
    which can detect allocation of resources (IRQ, DMA etc)
    to all types of peripherals - SCSI controllers, IDE
    controllers, Sound cards, CD-ROM drives, to name a few.

    
[System board menu]

    This set of tests are intended for checking the functioning
    of the motherboard. Following tests are available - 


    {Basic Functionality test},
    {CPU Protected Mode test},
    {Processor speed test},
    {Coprocessor test},
    {DMA controller test},
    {Interrupt controller test},
    {Timer test},
    {Real time clock test},
    {CMOS validity test},
    {EISA system test},
    {PCI system test}

    See also - {Main menu}
               {About AMIDiag}
         

[Memory menu]

    This set of tests are intended for checking the functioning
    of the memory. Following tests are available - 

    {BIOS ROM test},
    {Parity test},
    {Pattern test},
    {Walking 1's test},
    {Walking 0's test},
    {Random read/write test},
    {Address test},
    {Refresh test},
    {Cache memory test}

    See also - {Main menu}
               {About AMIDiag}

[Hard disk menu]

    This set of tests are intended for checking the functioning
    of the hard disk. Following tests are available - 

    {Hard disk format},
    {Auto interleave},
    {Media analysis},
    {Performance test},
    {Seek test},
    {Read/verify test},
    {Check test cyl},
    {Force bad tracks}

    See also - {Main menu}
               {About AMIDiag} 

[Floppy menu]

    This set of tests are intended for checking the functioning
    of the floppy disk. Following tests are available - 

    {Diskette format},
    {Drive speed test},
    {Random r/w  test},
    {Sequential r/w  test},
    {Elevator seek test},
    {Disk change line test}

    See also - {Main menu}
               {About AMIDiag} 
    
[Basic Functionality Test]

    The Basic Functionality Test runs in one of two modes,
    depending on the {CPU} installed in the system.

    If the processor is an 80286, the test is run in 16-bit
    mode and checks:

    *    the functionality of the 16-bit registers,
    *    {16 bit flags}, and
    *    special 80286 instructions.


    If the procesor is an 80386 or higher:

     The test is run in 32-bit mode and checks:

    *    the functionality of the 32-bit registers, 
    *    {32 bit flags}, and 
    *    special 80386 and 80486    instructions.

[CPU Protected Mode Test]

    The CPU Protected Mode Test tests the {protected mode}
    features of Intel 80286 and above {CPU}s. 

    The processor is switched to protected mode and then all 
    protected mode special instructions are tested. 

    For example, a protected mode selector is loaded with a 
    segment limit of 256 bytes. Then an LSL (Load Segment Limit)
    instruction is used to make sure it returns the segment
    limit properly.

[Processor Speed Test]

    This test determines and displays the CPU clock speed by
    measuring the time taken to execute a specific instruction.
    The time is calculated by using a separate clock source
    with a known frequnecy. 

    Special care has been taken to eliminate the effect of any 
    {prefetch queue} and cache memory. The CPU speed is displayed 
    in bar chart form. The CPU clock speeds of commercially 
    available CPUs are displayed on the scale for reference. 

[Coprocessor Test]

    This test checks the functionality of the 80287 or 80387
    math coprocessor. 

    The tests include loading and storing the control and 
    status word, data transfer between CPU and NPX, and 
    exception checking while the data transfer is in progress.

[DMA Controller Test]

    The {DMA} Controller Test is a series of read/write tests
    on the memory address registers and page registers of DMA
    controllers 1 and 2.

[Interrupt Controller Test]

    This test performs a series of read/write tests on {interrupt}
    mask registers of the interrupt controller. It also checks for
    stray interrupts by setting the mask for all interrupts and
    then enabling the processor interrupt.


[Timer Test]

    This test checks the accuracy of the timer count by
    calibrating it against the periodic interrupt of the real
    time clock ({RTC}).

[Real Time Clock Test]


    This test checks the accuracy of the real time clock by
    calibrating it against the timer (IRQ 0) interrupt.

[CMOS Validity Test]

    This test checks the condition of AT {CMOS} RAM
    (non-volatile memory). 

    The tests assure that the CMOS battery is in good
    condition and that the CMOS RAM checksum is correct.

[EISA system test]

    This test runs on {EISA} systems only.

    This test performs read/write/compare tests on some
    EISA-specific {DMA} and {interrupt} controller registers.
    It also checks the software NMI and the fail-safe timer
    found in EISA system.

[PCI system test]

    This test runs on {PCI} systems only.

    This test scans the PCI bus and finds out all the PCI devices.
    Then it uses alternative procedures to find out the same device.
    It checks for all valid combinations of PCI bus number, device
    number and function number. It also checks validity of PCI
    BIOS32 service directories, and the generation of PCI special
    cycles.

[BIOS ROM Test]

    The {BIOS} {ROM} test checks the data path of the BIOS ROM
    and also assures that the ROM is write-protected.

    In order to speed up access to ROM, most of the BIOS vendors
    allow the ROM to be shadowed to RAM. A shadowed ROM may remain
    write-enabled by mistake, causing serious problems later.


[Parity Test]

    This test reads all memory locations and checks for parity
    errors in the entire memory space.

    All IBM AT-compatible systems include memory {parity} checking
    circuitry. When the {CPU} accesses a memory location that has
    a parity error, a bit is set in a specific register and an
    NMI (non-maskable interrupt) is generated. AMIDiag parity test
    captures the interrupt so that the system does not crash even
    when a parity error is encountered, Then it reads the entire
    memory region for parity errors.


[Pattern Test]

    This test performs a comprehensive read/write test on
    entire memory space, using worst-case bit patterns
    such as AA55. 

    This test will identify most memory problems.

[Walking 1's Test]

    This test identifies shorts on data lines. The following
    diagram explains how this test works.

           ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐                       
           │     M E M O R Y            D A T A        │                      
           └──┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌──┘                     
              │D7│ │D6│ │D5│ │D4│ │D3│ │D2│ │D1│ │D0│                        
              └┐┌┴─┴┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘                        
    BUS ───────┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼────────────             
               └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘                         

    Walking 1's test writes a rolling 1s pattern in memory, i.e.
    it first writes 1, then 2,4,8,16 etc, so that in the written
    data, only one bit is on at a time.

    Consider the memory chip shown above. It has a short between
    data bits 7 and 6 (shown as D7 and D6). Therefore, walking 1s
    test will pass upto the data pattern 20h (bit 5 on). Then,
    when the test will write 40h (bit 6 on), it will read back
    0c0h (both bits 7 and 6 on), because bits 7 and 6 are shorted
    together.

    Walking 1's test is thus very useful in isolating data shorts.
    
[Walking 0's Test]

    This test identifies opens on data lines. The following
    diagram explains how this test works.

           ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐                       
           │     M E M O R Y            D A T A        │                      
           └──┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌──┘                     
              │D7│ │D6│ │D5│ │D4│ │D3│ │D2│ │D1│ │D0│                        
              └┐┌┴─┴┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘                        
               ││   └┘   ││   ││   ││   ││   ││   ││  
    BUS ───────┼┼────────┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼────────────             
               └┘        └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘                         

    Walking 0's test writes a rolling 0s pattern in memory, i.e.
    it first writes FE, then FD,FB etc, so that in the written
    data, only one bit is 0 at a time. 

    Consider the memory chip shown above. It has an open data pin
    in bit position 6 (shown as D6). Therefore, walking 0s test
    will pass upto the data pattern DFh (bit 5 off). Then,
    when the test will write BFh (bit 6 off), it will read back
    FFh, because bit 6 is open and will always appear as set.

    Walking 0's test is thus very useful in isolating data opens.

[Random read/write test]

    This test uses a pseudo-random number generator to
    generate random addresses spread over the whole memory
    area, and then writes random data to the location, reads
    it back and compares the data read with the data written.

    Most of today's motherboards are equipped with large cache
    memory for performance reasons. Cache sizes between 64 KB
    to 2 MB is not uncommon. However, depending on the cache
    algorithm, soft or flaky errors in dynamic memory sometimes
    become difficult to catch. If a memory test progresses
    sequentially, after some time it will start accessing the
    cache only. The random read/write test has been designed to
    defeat the cache strategy and access the DRAM as much as
    possible.
 
    This test is also useful in finding out "cache loading"
    problems in motherboards. Since this test produces cache
    misses more frequently than any other application program,
    this test exercises the cache loading thoroughly.  

[Address Test]

    This test checks for shorts and opens on address lines.
    Following diagram explains how the address test works.

           ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐                       
           │     M E M O R Y       A D D R E S S       │                      
           └──┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌─┐  ┌──┘                     
              │A7│ │A6│ │A5│ │A4│ │A3│ │A2│ │A1│ │A0│                        
              └┐┌┴─┴┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘ └┐┌┘                        
    BUS ───────┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼───┼┼────────────             
               └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘   └┘                         

    The address test writes a value in one location of memory
    and then scans the entire memory region to find out a
    reflection of that value. The address locations are so
    selected that in the complete address, onIn the bit
    remains set at a time. For instance, this test will write
    at memory locations 1,2,4,8,16 etc.

    In the memory chip shown above, address bits 7 and 6 are shorted
    together. So, any value written to xxxxxx40 will also appear at 
    xxxxxC0. On the other hand, if bit 7 if open, the address
    xxxxxx01 becomes same as xxxxxx81, since address bit 7 will
    always remain high. So, the value written at xxxxxx01 will be
    duplicated at xxxxxx81.

[Refresh Test]

    This test makes sure the refresh circuitry is functioning and
    measures the refresh interval. 

    Bit 4 of I/O port 61h becomes set every time refresh takes
    place. By polling port 61h over a known period of time, it is
    possible to calculate the refresh interval. An error is reported
    if this interval is not within +/- 5 percent of the standard
    refresh interval of 15 microseconds. 

[Cache Memory Test]

    If AMIDiag detects {cache} memory in the system, 
    this test displays the internal cache size and
    external cache size on screen.

[Hard Disk Format]

   ┌────────────────────! Attention ! ────────────────────────────┐
   │                                                              │
   │ THIS TEST IS DESCTRUCTIVE AND WILL ERASE ALL DATA FROM DISK. │
   │                                                              │
   └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

    Use the Hard Disk Format Test to integrate a new hard disk to
    the system or reformat a used hard disk that has developed some
    bad tracks because of aging or poor handling.

    This test should not be run on IDE, SCSI or other advanced-
    -technology drives. IDE drives come preformatted from factory,
    and under normal operating circumstances you should not have
    to format it again. In fact, doing so might make some of the
    IDE disks totally and permanently unusable ! If you really
    need to format IDE drives, please consult the IDE drive
    manufacturer's manual to find out how to do it.

    The same is true for SCSI drives also. If you really have to
    format a SCSI disk, use the "SCSIDIAG" utility from American
    Megatrends Inc. - the makers of AMIDiag.

[Auto Interleave]

   ┌────────────────────! Attention ! ────────────────────────────┐
   │                                                              │
   │ THIS TEST IS DESCTRUCTIVE AND WILL ERASE ALL DATA FROM DISK. │
   │                                                              │
   └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

    Run Auto Interleave to optimize hard disk performance.

    AMIDiag calculates the optimum interleave value by formatting
    certain tracks with a specific interleave factor, and then
    measuring the data transfer rate for that interleave factor. 

    The hard disk is formatted with the interleave factor that
    has the fastest data transfer rate.

    This test should not be run on IDE, SCSI or other advanced-
    -technology drives, for reasons descibed in {hard disk format}.


[Media Analysis]

   ┌────────────────────! Attention ! ────────────────────────────┐
   │                                                              │
   │ THIS TEST IS DESCTRUCTIVE AND WILL ERASE ALL DATA FROM DISK. │
   │                                                              │
   └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

    The Media Analysis routine runs a series of write, read and
    compare tests to locate bad tracks.

[Performance Test]

    The Performance Test determines the Data Transfer Rate,
    the Sequential Seek Time, and the Random Seek Time.

    The Data Transfer Rate is measured in kilobytes per second.
    The Seek times are measured im milliseconds.


[Seek Test]

    The Seek Test determines the head movement capability of
    the hard disk by seeking to a specified cylinder and
    head range. 

    A series of sequential seeks is performed first, followed 
    by a series of random seeks.

[Read/Verify Test]

    This test performs sequential and random read and verify
    operations on the specified cylinder and head range.

    If you want to monitor the health of your disk and the disk
    controller, you should run this test periodically.

[Check Test Cyl]

   ┌────────────────────! Attention ! ────────────────────────────┐
   │                                                              │
   │             THIS TEST WRITES DATA TO THE HARD DISK.          │
   │                                                              │
   └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

    The last cylinder on the hard disk is the test cylinder.
    This test performs write and verify tests on all 
    sectors in the test cylinder. 

    It is important that the last cylinder of a hard disk remains
    free from errors. If all sectors on the test cylinder are bad,
    the {BIOS} {POST} issues a "x: Drive failure" message on boot
    up, where x may be either C or D. 

    Since this test writes to the disk, skip this test if you do
    not want to perform any write tests on your disk.

[Force Bad Tracks]

   ┌────────────────────! Attention ! ────────────────────────────┐
   │                                                              │
   │ THIS TEST IS DESCTRUCTIVE AND WILL ERASE DATA FROM THE DISK. │
   │                                                              │
   └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

    This routine allows you to mark a set of tracks as faulty. 

    If you did not enter the bad tracks before performing a low
    level format, use this option to accomplish the same objective
    at any later time. 

    Once you select a set of tracks as faulty, AMIDIAG will format
    the tracks and mark them as bad. This will prevent the OS to
    store any important data in those tracks. However, any existing
    data will be lost.
     
    This test should not be run on IDE, SCSI or other advanced-
    -technology drives, for reasons descibed in {hard disk format}.

[Diskette Format Test]

   ┌────────────────────! Attention ! ────────────────────────────┐
   │                                                              │
   │ THIS TEST IS DESCTRUCTIVE AND WILL ERASE ALL DATA FROM DISK. │
   │                                                              │
   └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

    This test determines the ability of the floppy disk controller
    to perform low-level formatting.

    It also determines the condition of the magnetic media inside
    the diskette.
 
    When the test is over, all the data in the disk will be wiped
    out (all sectore will be written with the format filler byte
    F6). You will have to run the DOS FORMAT utility to reuse the
    disk under DOS.
  
[Drive Speed Test]

    This test determines the rotational speed of the floppy
    drive.

    The ideal rotational speed, expressed in RPM
    (revolutions per minute), is:

    *    360 RPM for high density (1.2 MB or 1.44 MB) 
         drives, and 
    *    300 RPM for low density    (360 KB or 720 KB) drives.

[Random Read/Write Test]

    This test checks the random seek, read, and write
    capability of the floppy drive. 
    
    The diskette used in this test must be formatted.

[Sequential Read/Write Test]

    This test checks the sequential seek, read, and write
    capability of the floppy drive. 

    The diskette used in this test must be formatted.

[Disk Change Line Test]

    This test verifies the disk change line capability 
    of the floppy drive. 

    The disk change line is only found in high
    density (1.44 MB or 1.2 MB) drives. It allows the
    operating system to recognize that a diskette was
    removed from the drive and a new diskette inserted.

[Elevator seek test]

    This test verifies the track-to-track seeking capability 
    of the floppy drive. 

    The last usable track on a floppy drive is track 79 on a
    80-track drive (all drives except 360 KB), or track 39 on
    a 40-track drive. If we designate this last track number as
    N, then this test seeks through the tracks in the following
    sequence -

   Tracks - 0-------------------------------------------------N

   Sequence - 0, N, 1, N-1, 2, N-2, ....... (N-1)/2, (N+1)/2

    As the distance between two consecutive tracks gradually
    decreases, the screeching sound coming out from the drive will
    gradually diminish and almost disappear in the last part of
    the test.

[Controller Test]

    The controller test issues a Self Test command to the
    keyboard controller and checks for an OK response. Then
    it sends the diagnostic echo command to the keyboard and
    waits to get back the echo from the keyboard.


[Scan/ASCII Code Test]

    The Scan/ASCII Code Test determines whether the pressed
    key matches its respective Scan and ASCII codes.

    A diagram of the keyboard is displayed on the screen. When
    a key is pressed, the corresponding key position on the screen
    is highlighted, and the ASCII code and the scan code for the
    key is displayed.

    Press <Control-Break> to break out from keyboard test.

[Keyboard Clock Line Test]

    The Keyboard Clock Line Test verifies that the keyboard
    clock line is working properly (it is not stuck at high
    or low).

[Keyboard Data Line Test]

    The Keyboard Data Line Test verifies that the keyboard
    data line is working properly (it is not stuck at high
    or low).

[Adapter Test]

    This option tests the video display memory residing at
    segment B800h or B000h, depending on whether the display
    adapter is color or monochrome. Since random characters
    are written in the display memory and then read back,
    the screen may show some irregular characters and colors
    while the test is being executed.

    This test can be run with monochrome and color display
    adapters.
    

[Attribute Test]

    This option tests the display attributes. It displays a
    screen with a blinking line, reverse video line, high
    intensity line and lines in 8 colors. The screen is
    displayed in video mode 3 ( mode 7 for monochrome ).

    This test can be run with monochrome and color display
    adapters.
    

[80x25 Display Test]

    This routine tests the 80x25 character set of the display
    adapter, displaying the entire character set in black and
    white, then in reverse video. The program uses video mode
    3 ( 7 for monochrome ) for this test.

    This test can be run with monochrome and color display
    adapters.
    
[40x25 Display Test]


    This option tests the 40x25 character set of the display
    adapter, displaying the entire character set in black
    and white, then in reverse video. The program uses video
    mode 1 for this test.

    This test can be run with monochrome and color display
    adapters.
    

[320x200 Graphics Test]

    This test displays a black and white 9x13 window and
    redisplays it in reverse video. Then it displays a three
    color screen, a screen filled with random dots of random
    colors, then a blank screen and finally 256 colors.

    This test uses video mode 4 and 13h.

[640x200 Graphics Test]

    This screen displays 3 black and white boxes, then goes
    from a blank screen to an all white screen filled with
    dots, then goes back to the blank screen.

    This test can be run only with color display adapters.
    

[Page Selection Test]

    Color display adapters usually have several "pages" on
    which text can be displayed. There is a BIOS interface
    (INT 10h function 5) to access different video pages.

    This test writes all 0's on page 0, all 1's on page 1,
    all 2's on page 2 and so on. Then it lets the user view
    all the pages and find out whether they are functioning
    properly.

    This test can be run only with color display adapters.
    
[Color Test]

    This test displays all possible color combinations in
    the foreground, background and border.

    This test can be run only with color display adapters.
    
[640x350 Graphics Test]

    This test displays a 16 color screen, then fills the
    screen with random colors, then returns to a blank
    screen.

    The test employs EGA mode 0fh if EGA monochrome monitor
    is detected, and EGA mode 10h if EGA color monitor is
    detected.

    This test can only be run with EGA or higher video
    adapters.
    

[640x480 Graphics Test]

    This test displays a 16 color screen, then fills the
    screen with random colors, then returns to a blank
    screen.

    The test employs VGA mode 11h if VGA monochrome monitor
    is detected, and VGA mode 12h if VGA color monitor is
    detected.

    This test can only be run with VGA or higher video
    adapters.
    

[Serial Port Test]

    This test checks the serial ports found in the global
    memory locations 40:0 to 40:7. A maximum of four serial
    ports ( COM1 through COM4 ) are tested. The communication
    parameters, like number of data bits, number of stop bits,
    parity type etc. can be individually selected by the user
    for each port. All parameters can be entered within a
    single edit window.

    The tests that are performed on the serial ports include -
    
        1) Register test,
        2) Interrupt ID test,
        3) Internal loopback test,
        4) Line status test,
        5) Modem control register test,
        6) Data transfer test ( at baud rates from 300 bps
           to 9600 bps ),
        7) External loopback test.

[Parallel port test]

    This test checks the parallel ports found in the global
    memory  locations  40:8 to  40:d. A  maximum  of three
    parallel ports ( LPT1 through LPT3 ) are tested. The
    test parameter window asks the user whether a printer or
    an external loopback plug is connected. If none of these
    are connected, only register read/write test on the
    parallel port data buffer is performed. Otherwise, the
    following tests are performed - 
    
        1) Register test,
        2) IRQ activation test,
        3) Pattern printing,
        4) Bold letter printing,
        5) Compressed mode printing,
        6) Printer form feed test.

    If printer is connected, the user should check the output
    to ensure everything is OK. If only external loopback is
    connected, there will be no printed output, but the
    response from the parallel port controller is checked to
    ensure proper functionality of the parallel port.

[Set/view run time parameters <F2>]

    Selecting this option is the same as pressing <F2>
    from the main menu. 

    This option allows you to specify different groups
    of parameters:

    *    Hard disk test parameters
    *    Hard disk types
    *    Floppy test parameters
    *    Batch mode parameters

    You can specify the physical dimensions of the hard disk as 
    well as the starting and ending cylinder numbers and head 
    numbers    where the tests will be executed.

[Load/save run time parameters <F7>]

    Selecting this option is the same as pressing <F7>
    from the main menu. 

    This option allows you to save certain run time parameters 
    in an ASCII file with a .SAV file extension, or to load 
    these parameters from a .SAV file.
    
    The parameters that are saved include information on the
    tests that have been selected for batch mode execution
    (by pressing <F3>, <F4>, or <F8>), the batch mode run time
    option (time bound, pass bound, or continuous), the error
    logging option, the error log file name and heading, and 
    other test parameters.

[System information]

    This option allows you to run SYSINFO.EXE from 
    within AMIDiag. 

    SYSINFO.EXE displays memory block details, a software 
    interrupt summary, IRQ allocation information, CMOS 
    information, the contents of AUTOEXEC.BAT and 
    CONFIG.SYS files, and lots of other information.

    SYSINFO.EXE can also be run from the DOS command line 
    as a standalone program. 
    
[Configuration Program]

    This program allows you to run CONFIG.EXE from within
    AMIDiag. CONFIG.EXE can also be executed from the DOS 
    command line.

    CONFIG allows you to define memory organization and CPU 
    components graphically, so that in case of error, the 
    exact location of the component is displayed on a 
    graphics screen in AMIDiag. 

    CONFIG also allows you to integrate cache controller 
    programs and user-defined diagnostic programs with AMIDiag. 

    CONFIG displays the faulty memory chip or CPU component when 
    called by AMIDiag via a special command line option. 

    It also loads or saves configuration data to or from an ASCII 
    file.

[Virus Scanning]

   This option loads PC-Defender lite, the anti-virus software
   developed by American Megatrends Inc. This software includes
   the latest versions of McAfee Scan and Clean program. 

[Report Generation]

    This option allows you to specify if error messages are 
    logged to a disk file, a printer, or a serial port.

    If you select "Yes" and the previous selection was "No", 
    type the name of the log file as well as an optional 
    ASCII header string for identification. 

    If you select "Yes" and the previous selection was "Yes"
    and the log file name is the same, choose whether the new
    error log file is appended to the old file or the old file 
    is rejected and a new error log file is started. 

    Similarly, if you select "No" and the previous selection 
    was "Yes", you must discard or save the old log file.

[Change Color Settings <F10>]

    This selection is the same as pressing <F10> from the 
    main menu. By repeatedly pressing <F10>, you can rotate 
    the color scheme and see the different color sets 
    available. 

    When you select a color set, press <Enter> to save that 
    color set and return to the main menu.

[Toggle Speaker On/Off]

    This option allows you to enable or disable the system
    speaker. 

    If the speaker is disabled, memory tests and others tests 
    that issue beeps will run in quiet mode.

    The speaker can be enabled by selecting "Speaker on"
    in the dialog box displayed by this option. 

[DOS Shell]

    This option allows you to return to the DOS prompt
    temporarily. 

    You can issue all DOS commands from the DOS shell. 
    Typing "Exit" from the DOS prompt returns to AMIDiag.

[Exit AMIDIAG]

    This option terminates AMIDIAG and returns to DOS prompt.

[CPU]

    CPU is acronym for Central Processing Unit. It is the
    brain of the computer, where building blocks for arithmetic
    and logical operations and control circuitry is located.

    In IBM PC market, the Intel 80x86 CPUs are most popular.
    Other vendors who are making 80x86-compatible CPUs
    include IBM, Cyrix, AMD, Texas Instrument etc.

[16 bit flags]

    The CPU flag is a special register which indicate the status
    of the operations done by CPU. The different elements of the
    flag register are the carry flag, the zero flag, the sign
    flag etc. For instance, when the CPU performs an ADD
    instruction, all the three flags mentioned before ( carry,
    zero etc ) gets modified.

    The 80286 CPU flag register has 16 bits in it. The "16 bit
    flags" refer to a flag format compatible to 80286 CPU.

                 16 bit EFLAGS
     
             1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
             5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
            ┌─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┐
            │ │N│I O│O│D│I│T│S│Z│ │A│ │P│ │C│
            │0│F│P L│F│F│F│F│F│0│0│F│0│F│1│F│
            │ │ │   │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
            └─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┘
             0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0
     
        NF=Nested task flag (bit 14).
        IOPL=Input/Output privilege level (bits 13-12).
        IF=Interrupt enable flag (bit 9).
        TF=Trace flag (bit 8).
        SF=Sign flag (bit 7).
        ZF=Zero flag (bit 6).
        AF=Auxiliary Carry flag (bit 5).
        PF=Parity flag (bit 2).
        CF=Carry flag (bit 0).  

[32 bit flags]

    The CPU flag is a special register which indicate the status
    of the operations done by CPU. The different elements of the
    flag register are the carry flag, the zero flag, the sign
    flag etc. For instance, when the CPU performs an ADD
    instruction, all the three flags mentioned before ( carry,
    zero etc ) gets modified.

    The 80386 and above CPUs have 32 bits in the flag register.
    The "32 bit flags" refer to a flag format compatible to these
    CPUs.

    32 bit EFLAGS
     
     3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
     1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
    ┌─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┐
    │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │I│V│V│A│V│R│ │N│I O│O│D│I│T│S│Z│ │A│ │P│ │C│
    │0│0│0│0│0│0│0│0│0│0│D│I│I│C│M│F│0│F│P L│F│F│F│F│F│0│0│F│0│F│1│F│
    │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │P│F│ │ │ │ │ │   │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
    └─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┘
     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0
     
    ID=Identification flag (bit 21).
    VIP=Virtual interrupt pending (bit 20).
    VIF=Virtual interrupt flag (bit 19).
    AC=Alignment check (bit 18).
    VM=Virtual 8086 mode (bit 17).
    RF=Resume flag (bit 16).
    NF=Nested task flag (bit 14).
    IOPL=Input/Output privilege level (bits 13-12).
    IF=Interrupt enable flag (bit 9).
    
[Protected mode]

    Intel 80286 and higher CPUs have two modes of operation. One
    is known as the real mode, where the {CPU} behaves essentially
    like an Intel 8086 CPU. The address space is limited to 1
    Mega byte, only one task can be executed at a time, and no
    protection of any kind is available. DOS, the major operating
    system for IBM PC market, runs in the real mode of CPU.

    The other mode, known as protected mode offers features like
    access to upto 4 Giga bytes of memory (for 80386 and higher CPUs),
    multitasking, I/O privilege levels and protection. There is
    also a virtual 8086 mode to emulate multiple 8086 machines
    running simultaneously. Some major operating systems like OS/2,
    Windows NT and operating environments like Windows 3.1 operate
    in protected mode only.

[Prefetch queue]

    While the Intel 80x86 CPU is executing one instruction, it is
    capable of fetching subsequent instruction and stroring them
    in a queue, to reduce overall execution time. The depth of this
    prefetch queue varies from processor to processor. Even within
    the same family, the 80386 SX and DX processors have prefetch
    queues which are not the same in size.

[DMA]

    DMA is the acronym for Direct Memory Access. The term refers to
    the direct transfer of data to or from a peripheral device (e.g.
    a floppy disk) without any intervention of CPU.

    A DMA controller is a controller chip which, when programmed,
    takes care of all the related issues of a DMA transfer - like
    DMA timing, number of bytes to transfer etc.

[Interrupt]

    An interrupt is a signal that stops what the CPU is currently
    doing, allowing it to perform a higher priority task. An
    interrupt is usually generated by a peripheral device demanding
    attention. After the interrupt is serviced, the suspended task
    is resumed at the point it was stopped.

[RTC]

    RTC is the acronym for Real Time Clock. It is found in all IBM
    AT-compatible systems. The purpose of the RTC is to provide a
    separate source of clock, which is independent of the CPU
    clock speed, for updating the system date and time. This can
    also be used as an alarm. 

[CMOS]

    CMOS is the acronym for Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor -
    a method of fabricating ICs. It is more frequently used to specify
    an IC which has been produced by this method. All CMOS ICs consume
    very little energy.

    The CMOS RAM is used in IBM AT-compatible systems to store vital
    system configuration data. The CMOS RAM is battery backed, so that
    its content remains intact even when the system is switched OFF.

[EISA]

    EISA is the acronym for Extended Industry Standard Architecture.
    This standard was built to enhance the existing ISA BUS, which
    is only 16-bit wide, to allow 32-bit BUS operations. EISA also
    allowes level-triggered interrupts, so that the same interrupt
    can be shared by more than one device.

[PCI]

    PCI is the acronym for Peripheral Components Interconnect. The
    PCI is one of the most popular local bus standards. A local bus
    is one where the peripherals like the display controller or
    the disk controller sit on the CPU bus, and hence they operate
    much, much faster than the traditional ISA bus, where the CPU
    may be running at 66 Mhz, but the peripherals will be running
    at 8 Mhz only.

[PCMCIA]

   PCMCIA is the acronym for Personal Computer Memory Card
   International Association. This was formed to formulate a
   standard for credit-card-sized I/O controller, memory and
   mass storage cards. As of now, it is mostly used in IBM PC
   compatible notebook computers, but it might become popular
   in desktop segment in near future. The small size of the card
   is very convenient for moving around. Today's busy executives
   might carry a couple of these tiny cards in their coat pockets,
   even though they are capable of storing several hundred 
   megabytes of data.

[Plug&Play]

   Plug-and-play is a mechanism to provide automatic configuration
   capability to ISA cards, thus enabling the user to simply plug
   in a card and play with it. Automatic configuration was
   previously available only on MCA and EISA systems, using a
   configuration utility. For ISA cards, the user always had to
   go through the pain of changing switches and jumpers to change
   IRQs, DMAs etc. Before selecting a specific IRQ or DMA, the user
   had no way of knowing whether that IRQ or DMA is free or not.
   Installing a card was thus a trial-and-error process over a
   long period of time. Plug-and-play attempts to change this
   scenario by -

        1) Maintaining a record of the possible resources that the
           card can use in the card itself, in a read-only format,
        2) Defining a mechanism to set or modify the current
           resource configuration in the card,
        3) Defining a Plug-and-Play BIOS, which will detect all
           resources required by all the cards during POST, and
           then assign the resources in a conflict-free manner.
          
 

[Cache]

    Cache is a method to speed up accessing of information in a
    slower device, by storing a part of the information in a much
    faster device. For instance, in an IBM AT-compatible computer,
    the main memory is built using DRAMs with typical access time of
    60-70 nano seconds. However, if, at a given instant, most of
    the memory accesses are restricted within a small 64 kb block
    of memory, then that 64 kb data can be copied to cache memory,
    which is made of static RAMs with typical access time of 12-14
    nano seconds. As long as the content does not get modified, the
    CPU will keep on accessing data from cache and the system will
    enjoy a tremendous boost in performance.

[Parity]

    Parity of a block of data storage is the sum of all the bits
    set in the unit. It is either odd or even. In an even parity
    system, the number of bits set to 1 has to be odd - if it is
    not, then the data is considered erroneous.

    Computer memory is organized in bytes, or collection of eight
    bits. The odd or even parity is maintained by adding a bit,
    called the parity bit. This bit is made 0 or 1 by the parity
    generation circuitry in such a way that the sum of all set
    bits including the parity bit is always kept even or odd.
    
[BIOS]

    BIOS is an acronym for "Basic Input Output System". The system
    BIOS is a set of routines residing in ROM which takes care of
    the physical devices like hard disk, floppy disk, keyboard,
    video etc. 

    American Megatrends Incorporated, the makers of AMIDiag, are
    also the makers of AMIBIOS - one of the most widely accepted
    BIOS firmwares in the industry with an ever increasing market
    share.

[POST]

    POST is an acronym for "Power on self test". When you boot up
    your system, the system {BIOS} runs a series of tests on the
    attached components and peripherals. These tests are termed
    collectively as the POST. The system BIOS will not boot up
    the operating system if some critical component, like the 
    memory, {CPU}, {DMA} or {interrupt} controller fails in the
    POST phase.

    Progress of POST is indicated by outputting a sequence of
    values to the checkpoint port (normally 80h in most ISA/EISA
    systems). Most serious errors are notified by a series of
    beeps. Some of the errors, especically non-fatal ones, are
    displayed on the screen.

[Help on help]

    There is no help on help.

