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Ruuds Diagnostic ROM  -  Breakdown  -  Versions 4.3 and 4.4 and 4.5


Below, when a 'Checkpoint' is indicated as going to "[LPT1-3]", that means I/O addresses/ports 378h, 278h, and 3BCh.  Those ports are parallel (printer) ports.  If you have a parallel (printer) port at either of those ports, then the device shown at here can be used to view bytes sent to the port.  You can use a parallel printer if it has a 'hex' mode - example at here.

Below, when a 'Checkpoint' is indicated as going to "[COM1]", that means I/O address/port 3F8h.  The first serial port in a computer is usually set to I/O address/port 3F8h.  More information about checkpoints going to COM1 is at here.

Below, when a 'Checkpoint' is indicated as going to "[IBMDIAG]", that means I/O port 80h.  On IBM 5170's, port 80h is used for diagnostic purposes, with an ISA POST card being used to show diagnostic bytes sent to port 80h.  However, on an IBM 5150 or 5160, rarely does an ISA POST card work.  Do not be surprised if it does not work.  More information about that is at here.



arrow-red-right.png A more detailed description of the tests is at here.



For versions 4.3 and 4.4



STEP		 Video
enabled ?
           ACTION
           IF ERROR
           COMMENT
1 No Send checkpoint 33  to [LPT1-3]+[IBMDIAG]    33h chosen because it is very distinctive.  See note 1 below.
-- No If a serial port at I/O port 3F8h ('COM1') exists, then
initialise it to: 9600 baud, no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit. (9600,N,8,1)		    
-- No If a serial port at I/O port 3F8h ('COM1') exists, then send '33' to it.
A serial terminal (or terminal program) will see: 33 		   
2 No Send checkpoint 00  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
3 No Initialise the MDA/CGA card.    Both MDA and CGA done.  If neither card are present, this step will not fail, but step 18 will.
4 No For MDA/CGA, set the correct video mode, and make the cursor invisible.    Both MDA and CGA done.  If neither card are present, this step will not fail, but step 18 will.
5 No Send checkpoint 02  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
6 Yes Clear the MDA/CGA video screen.    Both MDA and CGA done.  If neither card are present, this step will not fail, but step 18 will.
7 Yes Send checkpoint 03  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
8 Yes On-screen, display the name of the program and the version.    Both MDA and CGA done.  If neither card are present, this step will not fail, but step 18 will.
9 Yes Send checkpoint 04  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
10 Yes Just in case, disable NMI interrupts.    A good motherboard will automatically do that at power-on time, via hardware.
11 Yes Send checkpoint 06  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
12 Yes Initialise the 8255 chip.    Also disables turbo mode for compatible motherboards.
13 Yes Send checkpoint 08  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
14 Yes Set up 'unexpected NMI' handler.    See note 2 below.
15 Yes Send checkpoint 09  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
16 Yes • Beep the speaker three times: short-long-short.
• On the IBM 5150, single-click the relay.		    Short-long-short beeping chosen because it is very distinctive.  See note 3 below.
17 Yes Send checkpoint 0A  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
18 Yes Look for MDA video RAM.
If MDA found, send checkpoint 0B."
If MDA not found, look for CGA video RAM.
If CGA found, send checkpoint 0C."
If CGA not found, look for EGA video RAM.
If EGA found, send checkpoint 0D."
  If none of those found:
1. Send checkpoint 8A to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then halt.		  
20 Yes The last 96 bytes of MDA/CGA video RAM is unused by the card.
We will use those bytes for the stack and some variables.
Test those 96 bytes.		  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint 8D to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then display "Test of video RAM failed.",
3. then halt.		  
21 Yes Send checkpoint 0E  to [LPT1-3]+[IBMDIAG]    
22 Yes Clear our variables.    Zero the variables that the diagnostic stores in video RAM.
-- Yes If a serial port at 3F8h (i.e. COM1) exists, set the 'Com1Exists' variable to 1.    That variable will be checked by later code that intends to send bytes to COM1.
    LOOP START    
23 Yes Send checkpoint 10 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
24 Yes Disable maskable interrupts, and set the direction flag to increment.    
25 Yes Display 00 in the top right corner of the screen.    
26 Yes Send checkpoint 12 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
27 Yes Display "Testing CPU"    
28 Yes Part 1 of CPU test.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint 92 (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then halt.		  
29 Yes Send checkpoint 14 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
30 Yes Part 2 of CPU test.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint 94 (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then halt.		  
31 Yes Send checkpoint 16 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
32 Yes Display "Diagnostic ROM checksum"    
33 Yes See if 8-bit checksum of ROM is 00h.  If not 00h:
1. Send checkpoint 96 (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then halt.		  
34 Yes Send checkpoint 18 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
35 Yes Quote: 'Disable the DMA controller'    
  Yes Send checkpoint 19 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
36 Yes Quote: 'Disable the speakers and enable timer 2'    
37 Yes Send checkpoint 1A  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
37 Yes Display "8253 timer channel 0"    
39 Yes Test 8253 timer channel 0.  Mode 2 only.  If an error, send checkpoint 9A to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
40 Yes Send checkpoint 1B  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
41 Yes Display "8253 timer channel 1"    
42 Yes Test 8253 timer channel 1.  Mode 2 only.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint 9B to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then halt.		  Halt beause with a failing timer 1, there won't be any refresh of motherboard and card RAM.
 That compromises a later test of that RAM.
43 Yes Send checkpoint 1C  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
44 Yes Display "8253 timer channel 2"    
45 Yes Test 8253 timer channel 2.  Mode 2 only.  If an error, send checkpoint 9C to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
46 Yes Send checkpoint 1F  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
47 Yes Display "8237A DMA controller"    
48 Yes Test the 8237A DMA controller.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint 9F to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then halt.		  
48 Yes Send checkpoint 22 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
50 Yes Configure the 8237 DMA controller    Includes preparing for RAM refresh by appropriately configuring channel 0.
51 Yes Send checkpoint 24 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
52 Yes Display "Hot timer 1 check"    
53 Yes Look for a 'hot' timer 1'  If error, send checkpoint A5 to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  The DREQ0 pin on the 8237A DMA controller is expected to be LOW.
54 Yes Send checkpoint 26 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
55 Yes Initialise channel 1 on the 8253 timer chip.    One pulse per approximately 15 µs.  See here.
56 Yes Send checkpoint 28 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
57 Yes Display "RAM parity error latches"    
58 Yes Step 1:  Clear/disable the two 'RAM parity error' latches.
Step 2:  Verify that neither of the two latches are showing as set.		  If error, send checkpoint A7 to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
59 Yes Send checkpoint 2A  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
60 Yes Display "Check first 2 KB of RAM"    
61 Yes Check the first 2 KB of RAM.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint AA (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then display error details on-screen,
3. then send error details to [COM1],
4. then halt.		  If an error:
 An RS-232 serial terminal (or terminal program) on COM1 will see something like 'AA 4000 20'
 In the example given, the '4000' is the failing address.
 In the example given, the '20' is the bit error pattern.  00 indicates the parity bit.
62 Yes Send checkpoint 32 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
63 Yes Display "Found RAM:"    
64 Yes See how much Conventional memory can be found.   Strickly speaking, what this diagnostic reports is the top address of RAM.
For example, in the misconfiguration shown at here, the diagnostic will report 640 KB.
Same if a RAM card goes faulty in a way that creates a gap between motherboard RAM and card RAM.
65 Yes Send checkpoint 34 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
66 Yes Display the amount of RAM found.    
67 Yes Send checkpoint 35 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
68 Yes Display "Testing RAM - Data"    
69 Yes Do a data test of the found RAM.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint B5 (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then display error details on-screen,
3. then send error details to [COM1],
4. then halt.		  If an error:
 An RS-232 serial terminal (or terminal program) on COM1 will see something like 'B5 4000 20'
 In the example given, the '4000' is the failing address.
 In the example given, the '20' is the bit error pattern.  00 indicates the parity bit.
70 Yes Send checkpoint 37 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
71 Yes Display "Testing RAM - Address"    
72 Yes Adddress test of the found RAM - Part 1 of 2.

See here for a crude description of a memory addressing problem.
  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint B7 (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then display error details on-screen,
3. then send error details to [COM1],
4. then halt.		  If an error:
 An RS-232 serial terminal (or terminal program) on COM1 will see something like 'B7 4000 20'
 In the example given, the '4000' is the failing address.
 In the example given, the '20' is the bit error pattern.
  Yes Adddress test of the found RAM - Part 2 of 2.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint B8 (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then display error details on-screen,
3. then send error details to [COM1],
4. then halt.		  If an error:
 An RS-232 serial terminal (or terminal program) on COM1 will see something like 'B8 4000 20'
 In the example given, the '4000' is the failing address.
 In the example given, the '20' is the bit error pattern.
73 Yes Send checkpoint 39 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
74 Yes Display "Testing RAM - Refresh"    
75 Yes Do a test of RAM refresh.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint B9 (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then display error details on-screen,
3. then send error details to [COM1],
4. then halt.		  90 second delay between test write then read-back.
 A 90 second count-down will be seen on the screen.

 If an error:
 A serial terminal (or terminal program) on COM1 will see something like 'B9 4000'
 In the example given, the '4000' is the failing address.
76 Yes Send checkpoint 3A  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
77 Yes Display "Testing RAM - Slow Refresh"    
78 Yes Test the RAM at the refresh rate of 2 milliseconds.  If an error:
1. Send checkpoint BA (hex) to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG],
2. then display error details on-screen,
3. then send error details to [COM1],
4. then halt.		  If an error:
 An RS-232 serial terminal (or terminal program) on COM1 will see something like 'BA 4000 20'
 In the example given, the '4000' is the failing address.
 In the example given, the '20' is the bit error pattern.
79 Yes Send checkpoint 3E  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
80 Yes Display "8259 interrupt controller"    
81 Yes Test the 8259 interrupt controller.  If an error, send checkpoint BE to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
82 Yes Send checkpoint 40 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
83 Yes Display "Hot IRQ interrupts".    
84 Yes Check if the 8259 sees an interrupt (IRQ0 to IRQ7) when one is unexpected.  If an interrupt, send checkpoint C0.  
85 Yes Send checkpoint 42 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
86 Yes Display "Checking interrupt IRQ0".    
87 Yes Verify correct operation of Interrupt 0.  If an error, send checkpoint C2 to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
88 Yes Send checkpoint 46 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
89 Yes Display "Hot NMI".    
90 Yes Verify that the 8088 CPU is not receiving an NMI.  If an error (NMI present), send checkpoint C6 to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
91 Yes Send checkpoint 4E  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
92 Yes Display "Keyboard responds to reset".    
93 Yes Software reset the keyboard, and see if in response, the keyboard sends the expected byte of AA.  If an error, send checkpoint CE to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
94 Yes Send checkpoint 50 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
95 Yes Display "Keyboard stuck key".    
96 Yes See if the keyboard is reporting a stuck key.  If an error, send checkpoint D0 to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
97 Yes Send checkpoint 52 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
98 Yes Display "Check floppy controller".    
99 Yes See if a reset of the floppy controller is successful.  If an error, send checkpoint D2 to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  
100 Yes Send checkpoint 54 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
101 Yes Display "Trying to read a floppy".    
101 Yes Try to read a track on a 360K floppy.  If an error, send checkpoint D4 to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]  360K floppy drive required.
102 Yes Send checkpoint 60 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
103 Yes Display "Check ROM at F4000".    IBM 5150: IC socket U28.   IBM 5160: IC socket U19.   Diagram at here.
104 Yes Verify that 8 KB at F4000 has an 8-bit checksum of 00.

(Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at F4000 - may pass, may fail.)		    Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at F4000 - may pass, may fail.
105 Yes Send checkpoint 61 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
106 Yes Display "Check ROM at F6000".    IBM 5150: IC socket U29.   IBM 5160: IC socket U19.   Diagram at here.
107 Yes Verify that 8 KB at F6000 has an 8-bit checksum of 00.

(Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at F6000 - may pass, may fail.)		    Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at F6000 - may pass, may fail.
108 Yes Send checkpoint 62 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
109 Yes Display "Check ROM at F8000".    IBM 5150: IC socket U30.   IBM 5160: IC socket U18.   Diagram at here.
110 Yes Verify that 8 KB at F8000 has an 8-bit checksum of 00.

(Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at F8000 - may pass, may fail.)		    Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at F8000 - may pass, may fail.
111 Yes Send checkpoint 63 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
112 Yes Display "Check ROM at FA000".    IBM 5150: IC socket U31.   IBM 5160: IC socket U18.   Diagram at here.
113 Yes Verify that 8 KB at FA000 has an 8-bit checksum of 00.

(Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at FA000 - may pass, may fail.)		    Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at FA000 - may pass, may fail.
114 Yes Send checkpoint 64 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
115 Yes Display "Check ROM at FC000".    IBM 5150: IC socket U32.   IBM 5160: IC socket U18.   Diagram at here.
116 Yes Verify that 8 KB at FC000 has an 8-bit checksum of 00.

(Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at FC000 - may pass, may fail.)		    Ignore result if no 8KB ROM at FC000 - may pass, may fail.
117 Yes Send checkpoint 6A  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
118 Yes Display the switch setting    
119 Yes Send checkpoint 72 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    
120 Yes Update the 'Completed passes' figure    
121 Yes Send checkpoint 74 (hex)  to [LPT1-3]+[COM1]+[IBMDIAG]    





Note 1 Possible problems in using 00 instead could be:
• 00 might be the default power-on display of some parallel/LPT monitoring devices.
• Some parallel/LPT monitoring devices may register a 00 (and other bytes) at power-on time.
   
Note 2 Low RAM is untested at this point, but do it anyway.
In fact, there may be no low RAM at all, but do it anyway.
If the 'unxepected NMI' handler gets called, checkpoint 99 will be sent, and *** UNEXPECTED NMI *** be displayed on a MDA/CGA screen.
   
   
Note 3 Yes, we are taking the chance that the circuitry involved in beeping the speaker is working.

No beeps might be because:
• No speaker connected to motherboard.
• Diagnostic ROM not created properly.
• Diagnostic ROM has started to execute, but circuitry involved in beeping the speaker is faulty.