Packaging:

Carrying Pouch

Side View

    The PC-Doctor Service Center 6 kit arrived in a non-descript brown box. Inside the box was a small, black nylon carrying case, with the PC-Doctor, Inc. name and logo embroidered on the front, and a carrying handle on top (you know... a man-purse.) The service kit itself was packaged inside both the front pouch and main section of this case. Each item making up this kit was packaged in either a plastic bag or its own retail packaging.

A Closer Look:

CD Case	Quick Start Guide	Install Disc/CD Test
DVD Test Media	Multi USB Device	Back Side

    Starting with the items in the front pouch, we find a CD case that contains the CD's for testing CD and DVD media and the Diagnostics Run CD, as well as a Quick Start Guide. Also in the front section is the PC-Doctor's exclusive Multipurpose USB Device: it's bootable for direct hardware testing without Windows, it must be in a USB port for all product use, and provides constant status updates and USB testing. Along with the USB Device is a card with a list of LED color code combinations and what they mean.

PCI Post card	Back Side	USB Flash Drive	Back Side
Flash Drive	PSU Tester	PSU Tester	Audio Loopback Cable
Loopback Devices	Back Side	Ethernet	Loopback

    The main section is loaded with all kinds of goodies; wish my Christmas stocking gets stuffed this well! Here's a list of what you'll find here:

• A PCI POST card: to troubleshoot computers that are unable to boot to any OS. It comes in its own retail package, the back of which has a full set of instructions on how to use the card.

• An 128 MB USB Flash Drive storage device: used for saving reports generated about the computer. Also comes in a retail box, with its features and requirements listed on the back.

• A Power Supply Tester. Again comes in its own retail box, with instructions on the back for using the tester with a 20/24-pin connector or on secondary cables, and a brief explanation of the LED status lights.

• An Audio loopback test device: a black wire with  1/4" connectors on the ends. Packaged in a plastic bag.

• A RJ45 Ethernet loopback test device: it has a little silver chain on it that makes the device look almost like my old gym teacher's whistle. Also packaged in a plastic bag.

• One of each of the following packaged together in a plastic bag:

  • A red Parallel loopback test device;

  • A yellow Serial loopback test device;

  • A green Game Port loopback test device.

There sure are a lot of neat gadgets for all kinds of testing. Let's see now how they work.

Installation:

PCI Post Card	Display on Both Sides	USB Key Installed
All Green - All Good	Currently Testing	Serial Loopback
Parallel Loopback	LAN Loopback	Audio Loopback

    A lot of devices mean a lot of different installs. Fortunately, 95% of those installations are done on the outside of the computer; only the PCI BIOS post card reader and PSU tester need to be installed internally. The PCI post card or PSU doesn't have to be installed, but it does help for those computers that won't boot into the operating system. Next, pop in the software CD and click on install. After the software is installed, it will ask you to insert the Multipurpose USB device. This device is a key that allows you to use the software - without it you are out of luck and the software will not work.

    With everything installed, it's just a matter of picking which test you want to run. For the folks with newer computers, you may not have a parallel or serial port, or even a gaming port, since most of those ports have been replaced with the USB port. All the loopback devices simply plug into their corresponding ports, but these loopbacks aren't necessary to complete the internal test. A little information on the Ethernet loopback device: this device will only work on 10/100 Ethernet cards. If the card can do 1000mb, the external loopback will not function properly. This isn't really a problem since an internal test can be performed.

Diagnostic Testing:

Opening Screen	Main	CPU Test	RAM Test
Serial Loopback	LAN	Video Test	Vid Wire Frame

    There are literally dozens of tests that can be performed - separately or in groups. Going over each test individually will take forever, so I'm going to go over some of the main tests that would be the most commonly used, and post some screen shots of these tests. All the tests give detailed information and should lead in you in the correct direction for finding problems.  Also, a lot of the tests can be run in DOS. Just leave the main CD in the drive and during the boot process (make sure you have the optical drive as the first boot device,) the PC-Doctor Diagnostics screen will appear.

Conclusion:

    The PC-Doctor Service Center 6 is a handy set of tools to have around when that pesky computer problem arises. Not only does it test for that current problem you may be having with the computer, but it also can serve as a way to benchmark current components of the computer. The software is extremely user-friendly and performs the tests quickly, and there is a test for just about everything you can think of. When the system is up and running like a finely tuned machine, all the testing gear packs up nicely in that small, nylon pouch and can be stored on a shelf out of the way.

    For the average user who isn't all too inclined to tackle the task of computer diagnostics, or might be afraid they could mess something up, the PC-Doctor Service Center 6 would put their mind at ease and build that confidence on tackling that computer issue. I would like to thank Chris and the other folks at PC-Doctor, Inc. for sending this item out for VH to review.

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