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From: dlg6627@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Darmawan  Ludirdja)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Diagnostics with AMI BIOS
Message-ID: <1991Jun21.165536.12681@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 21 Jun 91 16:55:36 GMT
References: <1991Jun18.170421.26077@cbnewsj.att.com> 	<1991Jun19.034826.6420@chinet.chi.il.us> <CG108W3.91Jun20171751@icogsci1.ucsd.edu>
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cg108w3@ucsd.edu (Steve - Happy Hacker) writes:

>--=}>> On 19 Jun 91 03:48:26 GMT, chaz@chinet.chi.il.us (Charlie Kestner) said:

>CK> In article <1991Jun18.170421.26077@cbnewsj.att.com> ker@cbnewsj.att.com (kenneth.roser) writes:

>>My 386-33 machine has an AMI bios dated 5/91.  I thought that one of
>>the features of an AMI BIOS was built in diagnostics.  How does one
>>invoke these diagnostics?  It's not specified in my motherboard
>>documentation.
>>
>>On the other hand, is it possible my BIOS doesn't have this feature?

>CK> You can get to the diagnostics (provided your BIOS has them), by
>                                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>CK> doing whatever is required to get to the CMOS setup program at
>CK> bootup.  On my AMI BIOS (dated 4/90), I get there by hitting the
>CK> delete key at bootup.  The BIOS then presents me with a choice of
>CK> "SETUP" or "DIAGS".

>I have seen several (including my own) AMI BIOS's that DO NOT have the
>diagnostics program in them.  AMI offers the same diagnostics on disk,
>and I was able to find them on a local BBS.  Although, it would be
>nicer to be able to use them when the computer won't boot at all.

>For the interested, I have an Amstrad 386/33 motherboard with the VLSI
>brand chip set.  Hitting Del at boot time gives me the choice of RUN
>SETUP or REBOOT.  Also, it has no extended BIOS configurations.
>Things like bus speed and wait states are all jumper controlled.

>Looks like there are different types of AMI BIOS's.

>-Steve 
>-- 
>}>> Steve Haehnichen <<{
>  shaehnichen@ucsd.edu      Disclaimer: UCSD and I do not share any opinions.

There are some variety of AMI BIOSes!.
If you would like to know boot your computer before the system information
(while memory checking) on the left bottom of the screen you could read a line
Depending on what type of AMI bios you have if it is begin with
letter E ==> extended follow by chipset type of your motherboard and release
             date of BIOS.
          i.e. ESIS ==> Extended CMOS setup with SIS chipset.
                   if you press del after memory checking you will find 
                   XCMOS on the third line.
letter D ==> diagnostics. follow by chipset type and date of release of the BIOS
          i.e  DINT ==> Diagnostics setup with Intel compatible.
               DC&T ==> Diagnostics setup with C&T chipset.
etc.....

Darmawan
dlg6627@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu