IBM PC/XT hardware diagnostics

• Main Authors: Bernardo, Jaime, Corpuz, Reginald, Hari-Ong, Gene J., Tan, Jefferson L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1991
• Subjects: Computer software; Computer input-output equipment; IBM Personal Computer XT > Programming; Programming (Electronic computers)
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/16393
• Institution: De La Salle University

The main objective of this project study is to come up with an internal program for the PC/XT that would check the hardware for certain operational errors, and alert the user of the errors via error messages in text mode. The user's manual will include descriptions of errors found, and possible techniques of repair. The package will also include a diskette which contains another copy of the program, its listing, and a user's manual program. This is done to enhance the program's output clarity. This was not included for the on-board program since graphic enhancements will also entail additional blocks of memory, thereby making the on-board package more expensive. The program is written in 8086 assembly language using the Turbo Assembler 1.0 of Borland. Assembly codes are necessary to make the program ROMable and writing programs this way also saves memory. It is then loaded into an EPROM, mounted onto the card which is readily installed in one of the slots of the XT system board. This thesis analyzes the various parts of the PC/XT motherboard, and some components of certain important adapters on cards such as the CRT controller. The program then analyzes the various components and displays error messages to alert the user of errors. The user may refer to the user's manual for clarifications and explanations on the error messages given. The forte of this thesis project is its being on-board, therefore not requiring the integrity of the disk drive to load and execute an external diagnostic program.