| ★ APPLICATIONS ★ DIVERS ★ AMTEST/AMSTEST: THE COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR AMSTRAD CPC464 ★ |
AMTEST (Popular Computing Weekly) | AMSTEST (c) Amsoft (Cahier de l'Amstrad) |
Dr Data This diagnostic tool for the 464 is a series of short programs that presumably put the inner workings of the computer to a strmgent test. I say presumably. my general reaction is simply one of bafflement. There are four parts in all -part one displays a series of patterns on the screen as it 'interrogates the major silicon chips'- No Fault Found was the only thing we could get it to say, which was a relief for everyone concerned. Program 2 displays all 27 colours and sounds a note for each colour "so you can check the monitor and audio by observation". The colours were okay but the sound was awful! I decided that the music of Sorcery was a better test and didn't return the computer. Part three again displays patterns as a "selection of all engineering tests needed to adjust the monitor correctly". No explanation of what to look for or anything - just patterns. Part four tests the cassette by saving and reading data and also tests the keyboard it draws a picture of every key and each one lights up. To be honest I think that if you can get Knight Lore or something to rim it is a far more exhaustive test than the last three parts. Maybe this tape would legitimise a complaint to Amstrad. In the mean time I wish Amsoft would diagnose its copy writers. Tony Kendle, PopularComputingWeekly851003 |
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