Laptops from Dell are considered to be among the best available. They are very reliable and hold good on the parameter of performance as well. However, sometimes users experience issues with their Dell computers. These issues can be of software as well as hardware nature. Whatever the problem in the user’s Computer the user, shall diagnose the problem accurately and as early as possible. If the issue is of a hardware nature, Dell provides a built-in option to diagnose it. The user can resolve the problem in the hardware of their laptop by running the Dell hardware Diagnostic test. This test will find the issues with the hardware components of the user’s Dell Computer. In this blog post, we will discuss the step-by-step approach to running this hardware Diagnostic test on the user’s Dell Computer.
A Dell manufacturer offers three tools to evaluate the hardware diagnosis.
A Dell computer hardware diagnosis using three tools
1. The “SupportAssist” application (run the diagnosis while booting):
Dell computers come with this application installed by default. It supports running the Diagnostic test during the boot time of the operating system. During the test, the user will not be able to use the internet, so this application is beneficial for them. In order to detect any hardware problems with a Dell Computer, this application scans the computer hardware every month. However, the user can manually use the application as well for the same purpose.
Steps to use the “SupportAssist” application for diagnosing the hardware issues in the Dell Computers: This application can be used to perform the following test manually:
Test 1:
The Dell user can scan a specific component of the hardware of the Dell Computer. To do this the user shall open the “SupportAssist” application. Then the user shall click on the “Troubleshooting” tab. A prompt will appear on the screen user’s Dell Computer. The user shall then, click on the “I want to troubleshoot my PC”. Then, the user shall click on the “I want to check a specific piece of hardware” on the user’s Dell Computer. The user’s Dell Computer will show all the hardware components of the user’s Computer. So, the user shall select the device that she or he wants to test for the issue in the user’s Dell Computer. The user shall then follow the steps as shown on the screen of the user’s Dell Computer.
Test 2:
The user can run a quick hardware scan on the Dell Computer. Dell Computers can be tested with this test in order to detect hardware problems quickly. Hard drives, memory, and processors are among the basic components tested by the program. To run this test, the user shall open the “SupportAssist” application. The user shall then click on the “down arrow” icon as shown on the screen of the user’s Dell Computer. The user’s Dell Computer will show several tiles. The user shall click on the run under the scan hardware tile as shown on the user’s Dell Computer.
Test 3:
The user can run a stress test on their Dell Computer. Users can find out whether their Dell Computer has problems with their camera, system bootup, and optical drive by running this test. For running this test, the user shall open the “SupportAssist” application on the user’s Dell Computer. Then the user shall click on the “Troubleshooting” tab as shown on the screen of the user’s Dell Computer. The user shall then click on “I want to troubleshoot my PC” on the prompt shown on the user’s Dell Computer. Then the user shall click the “I want to scan my entire PC” link shown on the screen of the user’s Dell Computer. The user shall click on start (and then OK). The user of the Dell Computer shall keep their eyes on the progress of the test.
2. The integrated Preboot Diagnostic test (no boot possible):
Users can use this tool if their Dell Computer is unable to boot into the operating system. Such issues happen when a virus corrupts the operating system or any other important component of the user’s Dell Computer. This test is integrated within the BIOS of the user’s Dell Computer. That’s why the user can run the test without using the operating system of their Dell Computer. This test can even run automatically on the user’s Dell Computer. Aside from this, the user can save the results of the test on their Dell computer as well.
To run this test, the user shall turn on their Dell Computer. The Dell logo will appear on the screen of the user’s Dell Computer. Then, the user shall press the “F12 key” repeatedly. The user Dell Computer will show a “one-time boot menu option” Then, the user shall select the “Diagnostic option” and enter the user Dell Computer. This will start the Diagnostic test on the user’s Dell Computer. The user can also select specific devices of the user’s Dell Computer to run the test. If the test completes successfully, an error code is shown on the screen of the user’s Dell Computer. The user can search online for the meaning of these error codes.
3. Dell online Diagnostic test (can solve almost any issue):
In case the user of the Dell Computer has Internet access, this test can be helpful. The user can use the internet to find the issues in Dell Computer and corresponding appropriate troubleshooting ways. The user can even order new hardware parts for their Dell Computer in case the old one is not working. During the test, the “SupportAssist” application is used to diagnose hardware issues on the user’s Dell computer.
To run this test, the user shall go to the support page of the Dell official website which is “https://www.Dell.com/support/home”. The user shall then identify the Dell Computer on which they want to run the online Diagnostic test. The user can “download and install SupportAssist” to automatically find the specifications of the user’s Dell Computer. Moreover, the user can also find his or her Dell Computer from the list of all products. Then, the user shall click on the “Diagnostic” tab as shown on the screen of the user’s Dell Computer. The user can choose one of the three tests available on the website of Dell.
- The user can “run a quick test” on their Dell Computer. This test works well when the computer is slow or hangs. However, this test only includes the major components like memory and hard drive. If the system finds any error in such components, it will resolve it automatically. Otherwise, it will suggest replacing the corresponding hardware part of the user’s Dell Computer. This test hardly takes 10 minutes of the user’s time.
- The user can also “run a full test” on the user’s Dell Computer. This test checks all the hardware components of the user’s Computer. In spite of this, this test takes longer to complete
- The user shall also “run a custom component test” on the user’s Dell Computer. The user of the Dell Computer can select the components of the computer that they want to test using this test.
Thus, this test is specific to the hardware devices.
The Conclusion:
The user’s Dell Computer may face issues of a hardware nature. In such cases running the hardware Diagnostic test is the easiest way to sort out this issue. The writer has discussed the easy steps to perform this test on the user’s Dell Computer. Moreover, the user shall run these tests regularly on their Dell Computer. These tests prevent any major issues in advance in the user’s Dell Computer by finding the problem in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What is Dell Computer Hardware Diagnostic?
Answer 1: Sometimes users experience issues with their Dell Computer. These issues can be of software as well as hardware nature. Whatever the problem with the user’s Computer the user, shall diagnose the problem accurately and as early as possible. If the issue is of a hardware nature, Dell provides a built-in option to diagnose it. The user can resolve the problem in the hardware of their laptop by running the Dell hardware Diagnostic test. This test will find the issues with the hardware components of the user’s Dell Computer.
Question 2: Can a user run a Diagnostic test even when Dell Computer cannot boot into its operating system?
Answer 2: Yes, the user can run a “Preboot Diagnostic test on a Dell Computer” in this case. This tool is useful when the user’s Dell Computer has failed to boot into the operating system. Such issues happen when a virus corrupts the operating system or any other important component of the user’s Dell Computer. This test is integrated within the BIOS of the user’s Dell Computer. That’s why the user can run the test without using the operating system of their Dell Computer. This test can even run automatically on the user’s Dell Computer. The test results can be saved on the Dell computer as well.
Question 3: Can a user run a hardware Diagnostic test while his or her Dell Computer is booting?
Answer 3: Yes, the user can use the “SupportAssist” application for this purpose. Dell computers come with this application installed by default. It supports running the Diagnostic test during the boot time of the operating system. During the test, the user will not be able to use the internet, so this application is beneficial for them. Dell Computers are scanned every month to detect hardware issues with the user’s Dell Computer.
However, the user can manually use the application as well for the same purpose.
Question 4: Is there any online hardware Diagnostic test on the user’s Dell Computer?
Answer 4: Yes, the user can do so by visiting the support page of the Dell office website.