Method and apparatus for testing a sytem component with test checkpointing
First Claim
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1. A method of testing a component of a computer system, the computer system having a nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of:
- a) informing a user of a test to be performed on the component;
b) storing information identifying the test in the nonvolatile memory;
c) performing the test on the component;
d) if the test was successfully completed, repeating steps a-c for another test until all tests for the component are successfully completed; and
e) if any test is not successfully completed, retrieving the information identifying that test from the nonvolatile memory and informing the user of the identity of that test.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for testing the installation and functioning of a component of computer system has a test engine which causes the identity of a test to be performed to be stored in a nonvolatile memory before being performed. The test is announced to the installer and then ran. This procedure is performed for a sequence of tests. In the event of a crash during testing, the step-by-step sequencing of the tests and the storage of the test identifies step-by-step in the nonvolatile memory simplifies identification of the test that caused the crash for the installer.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of testing a component of a computer system, the computer system having a nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of:
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a) informing a user of a test to be performed on the component; b) storing information identifying the test in the nonvolatile memory; c) performing the test on the component; d) if the test was successfully completed, repeating steps a-c for another test until all tests for the component are successfully completed; and e) if any test is not successfully completed, retrieving the information identifying that test from the nonvolatile memory and informing the user of the identity of that test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to perform the steps of:
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a) informing a user of a test to be performed on a component coupled to a computer system; b) storing information identifying the test in a nonvolatile memory of the computer system; c) controlling performing of the test on the component; d) if the test was successfully completed, repeating steps a-c for another test until all tests for the component are successfully completed; and e) if any test is not successfully completed, retrieving the information identifying that test from the nonvolatile memory and informing the user of the identity of that test. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer system comprising:
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a central processing unit; a nonvolatile memory coupled to the central processing unit; a video board coupled to the central processing unit; and a test engine used by the central processing unit to a) inform a user of a test to be performed on the video board, b) store information identifying the test in the nonvolatile memory, c) perform the test on the video board, if the test was successfully completed, repeating a)-c) for another test until all tests for the component are successfully completed, and if any test is not successfully completed, retrieve the information identifying that test from the nonvolatile memory and informing the user of the identity of that test. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification