Can you run the 32 Bit Alienware Diagnostics from your M17xR3 Resource DVD?

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NEWER UPDATE:

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UPDATE:
I am pleased to announce that Dell-Bill_B & DELLChrisM recognized this problem and are investigating it!
DELLChrisM now also asked on the Dell community forums for people to try their DVDs M17x-R3 Owners. Please test the 32bit Diagnostics from the Resource DVD.
Would be nice if some of the NBR-Users could also check their DVDs.
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I'm not really concerned about this, but a Alienware Tech told me to do this.
He suggested to do this to gather information about why my Webcam isn't showing up in devicemanager, inspite i already dissassembled the LCD-Panel and found my Webcam to be physically missing, and my buzzing Speaker.
So forgive me my doubts about his expertise.

Doesn't seem to work for me at least, i have a revision A00 Resource DVD.
And just to be clear, i dont mean the PSA-Diagnostics (called "Diagnostics" in bootmenu), im talking about choosing to boot from CD/DVD/BD while having the Resource DVD inserted. MAYBE it is the same, but i can't say, since i can only start the PSA.

It gives me the menu you can find in DOSMENU.BAT in the DVD-root:

Code:

echo.
echo ********************************************************
echo.
echo  Choice   Action
echo.
echo    1      Run the 32 Bit Alienware Diagnostics
echo.
echo    Q      Quit without any action (Return to DOS)
echo.
echo ********************************************************
echo.
choice /C:1q Your choice:
if errorlevel 2 goto end
if errorlevel 1 goto dell_diag

Hitting 1 just loops me back to it, wich should happen here:

Code:

:dell_diag
call delldiag
goto loop

That suggests that "delldiag" can't be executed/found.

Also a file in the DVD-root DIAGS32.BAT:

Code:

@echo off
if exist \delldiag.bat \delldiag.bat

Because there is no delldiag.bat to be found on the Disk, neither as a hidden file nor in the RAM-Disk loader BOOT.IMG, i don't think i could be able to start it.

The UPC32-Directory contains the tools to recreate a DELL UtillityPartition, but it lacks the necessary files to install "32 Bit Alienware Diagnostics". The official Dell statement on this How to Run the Dell? 32-bit Diagnostics Utility | Dell says that even if you wiped the original UtillityPartition, you should be able to start the Diagnostics from the Resource-DVD.

The proof in another batchfile. MKUP.BAT

Code:

echo "Copying Dell Diagnostics to the Utility Partition"
a:
::sys UP (copies msdos.sys, io.sys, command.com form the boot image)
sys c:
::copy diags
copy %CDROM%\diags\%SRV_DIAG%\A%DIAGREV%\*.* c:\
::copy boot files
copy %CDROM%\%SRV_UPC%\uptools\UP_sys\*.* c:\

As you can see, there should be a diags-folder in the DVD-root, containing the 32Bit Diagnostics. The contents are simply copied to the UtillityPartition along with a bootable version of DOS, meaning that if it was present on the DVD it could have been simply started from it.

Conclusion:
There is no 32Bit Diagnostics on MY Resource-DVD and someone clearly didn't do his/her homework if a Dell-Rep/Tech suggests to boot 32Bit Diagnostics from DVD.

Lack of training from "certified" Dell-Techs or evil plot to withhold my Webcam and Speaker? Discuss!
Also, try if you can start it.

 

Pure stupidity on dell's end.

"Certified" engineer, my , they don't even know how to dissemble these machines.

 

Just call them back and say it's not there. Let them do their remote connect thing and tell them to try activating it.

Prepare yourself for more stupidity on their end though before they offer to either properly put one in or replace your system.

 

If you are talking about remote access, thats not going to work as we are talking about a pre-windows stage. You couldn't activate it from within windows even if the program was on the DVD (leaving Virtual machines out of my thoughts).

And this is one of these moments i wish XKCD was true:

Tech-Support is REALLY frustrating (not just Dell) if you are graduating in Computer Science/Electronic Engineerin/etc. and already know what the Problem is.
But i think i got a new tech who is a bit more understanding.

Im still hoping someone could check their ResourceDVD if they have different Revisions and if its on their disks, because the DOS-Prompt from booting the DVD clearly says that this illusive "32 Bit Alienware Diagnostics" should exist somewhere.

But it's is still interesting for me, and if there actually are ResourceDVDs WITH the Diagnostics, i would like to get my hands on one. They sure would have been useful to find out my Webcam is missing without the hassle of dismantling my baby

 

I have version A00 of the Resource disk and had exactly the same experience. It boots into the DOS Diagnostics menu, but will not accept the "1" response said to launch 32-bit diagnostics. I can't find the diag app anywhere on the disk either.

 

Thanks for that info Revelator, at least i know im not the only one.

Investigation Please! Some Dell Reps here? Where did that 32Bit Diagnostics dissapear to?

 

Use this one -

Drivers & Downloads

Its posted in the Desktop area but works fine with the AW portables. Suggest not using the option to update your diagnostics partition but instead create the USB Flash Drive media. Boot with it and you'll be in the 32-bit AW diag.

Enjoy.

 

Thanks, BatBoy. Burned to CD and working well. Much more thorough test(s) than previously available. Unfortunately it reports a USB 2.0 Controller error (not generating interrupts and need to reattach a device to Root Hub Port 1), which I'm trying to run down. +Rep.

 

Yeah, thanks too Batboy.
But as much of an improvement this is in contrast to PSA-Diagnostics, it still can't test everything and just like Revelator said, it gives errors for the USB-Controller.
I still cant think of a good reason why to put a menu for the 32bit Diagnostics on the Disc, but "forget" to implement files and on top of that, tell Dell Techs that this should be used to troubleshoot with customers.
An official statement should be interesting.

 

Interesting discussion. I checked the parts list, and the rev# is not called out in the master description. I will check out an M17xR3 when I'm in the office tomorrow and check that RDVD. Can you ask Germany support to send you a RDVD to see what version ships? I will definitely send this one up the chain and come back with a proper official response.

Thank you very much for the heads up.

 

Thank you so much for checking this thread.
I'm happy that it got recognized, yay

I will ask them for a new Resource DVD the next time i'm home, but im not sure when this is.

 

No problem. I have to work from home again today and will not be in the office to test the DVD until tomorrow. Sorry for losing a day, but my projects needs some attention.

 

Let's see if my forum guys can replicate the fail:
M17x-R3 Owners. Please test the 32bit Diagnostics from the Resource DVD - Alienware Forum - Alienware Club - Dell Community

 

Answers from Dell-Bill_B AND DELLChrisM?
this must be heaven


Well, i think we could still use some other people try it here.
I updated the first post, hope that is ok.

 

Argh. I'll go down to the lab right now and see if we have one in. Sorry I didn't remember to do it yesterday.

I was able to replicate the issue on a brand new M17xR3. Rev A00 on the RDVD. I will escalate and post back the response. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

 

Any Updates yet?
Was there something planned but somehow forgotten?

 

I got back the official response from the product engineers for Dell diagnostics. It seems diags were never intended to be run from the resource DVD for this platform. The internal documentation is not the greatest on this one at this time, but I am sending a note over to the Alienware L3 tech team. They should be able to update the training documents, or at least send out an update to the tech support organization.
Here is the verbatim response, and thanks again:


Alienware M17x R3 is shipped with Dell Enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment. ePSA has been significantly improved with a view to streamlining the entire diagnostic process. Enhancements include simultaneous testing on multiple devices, automatic execution that can be interrupted to allow interactive test selection and an intuitive graphical user interface. Diagnostic executional intensity can be maximized by selecting Thorough_Mode. There are enhancements affecting all diagnostic programs within ePSA and include:
• Graphical User Interface.
• Automatic Default Operation- runs test on all devices, allowing a user to interrupt and select any device.
• Checks the Master Boot Record for readiness to boot into a full OS environment.
• Notebook panel test (notebooks only)
• Video memory test
• Battery test (notebooks only)
• Charger test (notebooks only)
• Fan test
• Event log scan
• Multiprocessor cache test
• Configuration - displaying cable connectivity and Bluetooth, WLAN, WWAN devices installation status.
• System Health - displaying fan, battery, thermal, connectivity indicators

 

Thanks for clearing this up, i'm gonna update the first post.

I think this information should be kept somewhere, maybe as sticky or in the onwers lounge.

 

Agreed. Perhaps we can get the OP on the owners lounge thread to link to my post?
+rep for you. Thanks again.

 

Link added to the Owners Lounge thread (post# 1) and the general info sticky.

Thanks guys.

 

Hi Bill,

I am not trying to be hard to get along with but how does that help someone who does a clean install? Or is this a part of the POST? My computer came with 2 x 750 GB HD in RAID0 but I have since installed a C4 SATA 3 SSD as my boot drive so I have lost the original Dell partition and now my only option is the faulted file that Batboy provided the link to. For the money we pay for an Alienware we should have all disks required to return it to factory specs.

 

So, I asked around, and I'm told the ePSA is embedded on the motherboard. I need to verify that, though. You could probably do that quicker by trying to access ePSA with your new drives installed. Let me know if it works. Meanwhile I'll keep asking.

(You're not hard to get along with. You just have a concern that Dell has to at least listen to and investigate.)

 

Thanks Bill. I appreciate your help and concern.

 

Hi FrozenSolid .. was the ePSA able to run from your new boot SSD ??