A brief overview of #1-TuffTEST-Pro's tests and functions follows. All tests can be run in single pass or continuous mode.

Note: The availability of individual tests is dependent upon the type of PC being tested.

Note: Four asterisks (****) after a test or function below indicates that it is unique to #1-TuffTEST-Pro and is not available in #1-TuffTEST.

• Configuration Function
  • Current Configuration
  • CPU Speed Test
  • MMX Extensions Test
  • BIOS Information
  • BIOS Checksum Test
  • Switch Positions ****
  • System Memory Size
  • Extended Memory Size
  • Expanded Memory Size
  • CMOS Configuration
  • Edit CMOS settings ****

• Certification Tests (Quick System Check)
  • Abbreviated System Test ****
  • Extensive System Test ****
  • System Board Test
  • Math Coprocessor Test
  • Main Memory Test
  • Extended Memory Test
  • Expanded Memory Test ****
  • Diskette Drives Test
  • Fixed Disk Drives Test
  • Serial Port Input/Output Test ****
  • Parallel Port Input/Output Test ****

• Parallel Port Tests (LPT1, LPT2 & LPT3)
  • Interface (Signal Loopback) Test (uses TEST Plug) ****
  • Send the ASCII Character Set to a Printer Test ****
  • Echo the Keys Pressed to a Printer Test ****
  • Monitor Handshake and Data Signals While Printing Test
  • Monitor Status Signals from a Printer Test ****
  • Data Test (uses TEST Plug) ****
  • Control Test (uses TEST Plug) ****
  • Interface Status Test (uses TEST Plug) ****

• Serial Port Tests (COM 1, COM2, COM3, COM4 & up to 64 user-defined port addresses)
  • Internal Operations Test
  • External Operations Test (uses TEST Plug) ****
  • Transmitter Test (uses TEST Plug) ****
  • Receiver Test (uses TEST Plug) ****
  • Data Test (uses TEST Plug) ****
  • External/Internal Control Line Test (uses TEST Plug) ****

• Diskette Drive Tests (drives A & B)
  • Rotational Timing Test
  • Seek/Read Test
  • Write-Protect Verification Test ****
  • Read Only Test
  • Format Test ****
  • Write/Read/Verify Test ****
  • Select Testing Range Function ****

• Fixed Disk Tests (drives 0, 1, 2 & 3) - Up to 2000 Gigabytes!
  • Controller Test
  • Seek (Hysteresis) Test
  • Surface Analysis (Read and Verify ECC/CRC) Test
  • Find Optimum Interleave Test ****
  • Low-Level Format - Conditional (Preserve Bad Tracks) ****
  • Low-Level Format - Unconditional ****
  • Media Analysis (Write/Read/Verify) Test ****
  • Find Previously Marked Bad Tracks Function ****
  • Edit and/or Mark Bad Tracks Function ****
  • Reassign Blocks Function ****
  • Select Testing Range Function ****
  • Park the Disk Heads Function ****

• Main Memory Tests
  • Abbreviated Memory Test ****
  • Extensive Memory Test ****
  • Allzeroes Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Allones Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Checkerboard Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Address Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Marching Ones Test (includes Parity Module Test) ****
  • Walking Ones Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Select Memory Testing Range Function ****

Note: when any of the Main Memory Tests are run, #1-TuffTEST-Pro can be relocated on each pass (from the lower portion of main memory to the upper portion of main memory and then back again). This insures that ALL of main memory is rigorously tested. This unequaled ability to test the lower portion of main memory (that is normally occupied by the operating system and operating system dependent programs) is vitally important because this is the most used portion of memory and, therefore, the most likely area to fail.

• Extended Memory Tests - Up to 3.5 Gigabytes!
  • Abbreviated Memory Test ****
  • Extensive Memory Test ****
  • Allzeroes Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Allones Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Checkerboard Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Address Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Marching Ones Test (includes Parity Module Test) ****
  • Walking Ones Test (includes Parity Module Test)
  • Select Memory Testing Range Function ****

• Keyboard Tests ****
  • PC-Style Keyboard Test (10 Function Keys)
  • Enhanced Keyboard Test (12 Function Keys)
  • AT-Style Keyboard (10 Function Keys)
  • 102-Key Enhanced Keyboard (European Distribution)
  • NCR PC-8 Keyboard (30 Function Keys)

• Video Alignment Aids
  • Cross-Hatch Pattern
  • Dot Pattern
  • Vertical Bars Pattern
  • Horizontal Bars Pattern
  • Text Color Chart

• Video Adapter Tests
  • Verify Screen Memory Test
  • Character Set Test
  • Video Attributes Test
  • Fill Display Test
  • Cursor Addressing Test
  • Video Memory Test
  • Hi-Res Color Test
  • Text Resolution Test

• Error Log Function ****
  • Display Error Log
  • Print Error Log
  • Clear Error Log

#1-TuffTEST-Pro supports desktop PCs that use Intel Pentium 4, Pentium III, Pentium II, Pentium Pro, Pentium, i486, 80386, 80286****, 8088****, 8086****, and compatible AMD and Cyrix processors with Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), VESA Local Bus (VLB), and Peripheral Component Inter-connect (PCI) bus configurations.

Note: four asterisks (****) after a test or function above indicates it is unique to #1-TuffTEST-Pro and is not available in #1-TuffTEST.

#1-TuffTEST-Pro will test all speeds, sizes and types of memory including RDRAM and DDR SDRAM.

What Doesn't #1-TuffTEST-Pro Do?

Now for the next logical question, "what doesn't #1-TuffTEST-Pro do"?

As stated earlier, #1-TuffTEST-Pro, with its own boot-loader and operating system, is a highly specialized diagnostic software "tool" that provides superior "hardware" testing because the target system's native operating system is never used or called into memory.

Thus, #1-TuffTEST-Pro can directly test major system components such as memory, fixed disk drives, diskette drives, serial & parallel ports, video, keyboard, etc. False positives and false negatives that can be induced by the system's native operating system are eliminated.

However, since the PC's native operating system is not available to #1-TuffTEST-Pro, it cannot use the operating system's functions or interact with the various devices that, due to their proprietary design, are not supported by the PC's BIOS. Examples include pointing devices, CD-ROM drives, sound cards, network cards, etc. These devices require the availability of their own special native operating system-based software drivers and only a utility that runs under the target system's native operating system can see and interact with these drivers.

Since numerous operating system-based diagnostic utilities have always been available to see, exercise and resolve conflicts with these devices, #1-TuffTEST-Pro has remained specialized in doing what it does best - directly and rigorously test the PC's basic hardware.

Our customers recognize this and use #1-TuffTEST-Pro in conjunction with, not instead of, operating system dependent products such as BCM Diagnostics Pro, Norton Utilities, PC-Doctor, CheckIt Pro, etc.  They use #1-TuffTEST-Pro to reliably test the system's basic "hardware" and DOS/Windows-based utility products for help with configuration issues and conflicts.

Ease of Use

#1-TuffTEST-Pro is extremely easy to learn because of its user-friendly, menu-driven structure. Service and support people, regardless of their experience level, can quickly zero in on the problem and repair or replace only the defective system component (instead of replacing good parts in a blind attempt to solve the problem by random parts swapping).

Upgrade Information for New Version 3.53

Once you license #1-TuffTEST-Pro it can be upgraded for life. For your convenience, upgrades are always totally backward compatible so you never have to worry about using your old Program Diskettes with your new Program Diskettes.

There is usually one upgrade per year or whenever support is added for major new hardware. 

For example, new version 3.53, adds support for:

• Unlimited Memory Testing. Will now identify and test ANY amount of memory.
• Unlimited Hard Drive Testing. Will now identify and test ANY size hard drive. The drive(s) can be located on the Primary IDE Channel, Secondary IDE Channel, SATA MB socket and/or attached to a supported SCSI host adapter (see below).
• Testing SCSI Hard Drives. Any SCSI hard drive can now be tested provided its host adapter's BIOS supports INT13h and drive counting located at 4075 in the BIOS data area.
• Testing Up To 4 Hard Drives Per PC. Will now test up to 4 IDE, EIDE, SATA and/or SCSI hard drives per PC.

The new version also includes numerous minor enhancements & fixes. To upgrade, all we need is your #1-TuffTEST-Pro Serial Number.

A Welcome Addition To Your Tool Bag

In conclusion, a professional support/service person's tool bag is always full of "specialized" tools because they do a much better job than "multi-purpose" tools. For this same reason, no single diagnostic "software" tool is appropriate for all PC troubleshooting situations. That is why you need more than one diagnostic software "tool" in you tool bag.

Due to the lack of industry standards and the overwhelming number of different PC hardware manufacturers and configurations, no PC diagnostic software product will find ALL hardware problems. But over time #1-TuffTEST-Pro will find many more "hardware" problems than operating system dependent products.

#1-TuffTEST-Pro is only distributed via download. The download file (ttpsetup.exe) is a self-extracting Windows Installation Wizard that you "RUN" under Windows 3.1x, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

The download file is approximately 747 KB and takes 3-4 minutes to download via a 28.8/33.6 baud modem. It includes the Make #1-TuffTEST-Pro Diskette program for making a self-booting #1-TuffTEST-Pro Program Diskette whenever needed and the User Handbook. The 75+ page User Handbook is in Windows Write (*.wri) format