PassMark BurnInTest V5.3
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 PassMark Software
All Rights Reserved
http://www.passmark.com
Overview
========
Passmark's BurnInTest is a software tool that allows all
the major sub-systems of a computer to be simultaneously
tested for reliability and stability.
Status
======
This is a shareware program.
This means that you need to buy it if you would like
to continue using it after the evaluation period.
Installation
============
1) Uninstall any previous version of BurnInTest
2) Double click (or Open) the downloaded ".exe" file
3) Follow the prompts
UnInstallation
==============
Use the Windows control panel, Add / Remove Programs
Requirements
============
- Operating System: Windows 2000, XP, 2003 server, Vista (*)
- RAM: 32 Meg
- Disk space: 6 Meg of free hard disk space (plus an additional 10Meg to run
the Disk test)
- DirectX 9.0c or above software for 3D graphics and video tests (plus working
DirectX drivers for your video card)
- SSE compatible CPU for SSE tests
- A printer to run the printer test, set-up as the default printer in Windows.
- A CD ROM + 1 Music CD or Data CD to run the CD test.
- A CD-RW to run the CD burn test.
- A network connection and the TCP/IP networking software installed for the
Network Tests
Pro version only:
- A serial port loop back plug for the serial port test.
- A parallel port loop back plug for the parallel port test.
- A USB port loop back plug for the USB port test.
- A USB 2.0 port loop back plug for the USB 2.0 port test.
- PassMark ModemTest V1.3 1010 (or higher) for Plugin Modem testing.
- PassMark KeyboardTest V2.2 1011 (or higher) for Plugin Keyboard testing.
- PassMark Firewire Plugin V1.0 1000 (or higher) and a 揔anguru FireFlash?drive
for Plugin Firewire testing.
(*) Windows 2000 does not support the CD-RW burn test. The advanced RAM test
is only available under Windows 2000 and Windows XP professional (the other
RAM tests are supported under the other OS's). Users must have administrator
privileges.
Windows 98 and Windows ME
=========================
Windows 98 and ME are not supported in BurnInTest version 5.3 and above.
Use a version of BurnInTest prior to 5.2 for compatibility with W98 and ME.
Windows 95 and Windows NT
=========================
Windows 95 and NT are not supported in BurnInTest version 4.0 and above.
Use a version of BurnInTest prior to 3.1 for compatibility with W95 and NT.
Version History
===============
Here is a summary of all changes that have been made in each version of
BurnInTest.
Release 5.3 build 1035 revision 4
WIN32 release 10 November 2008
- Lenovo China specific build. Lenovo system detection changes.
Release 5.3 build 1035 revision 3
WIN32 release 7 November 2008
- Lenovo China specific build. Lenovo system detection changes.
Release 5.3 build 1035 revision 2
WIN32 release 6 November 2008
- Lenovo China specific build. Lenovo logo and Lenovo system detection changes.
Release 5.3 build 1035
WIN32 release 5 November 2008
- Lenovo China specific build. Changes include: Lenovo logo added, Lenovo system
support only, 32-bit BurnInTest restricted to 32-bit Windows and BurnInTest run
as administrator.
Release 5.3 build 1034
WIN32 release 3 October 2008
- Correction to setting the CD burn test drive in preferences.
- Changed the mechanism to check for the required DirectX Direct3D as the previous method
did not work on some system (some W2003 servers).
- Enhanced the mechanism to report memory hardware errors in the Memory torture test.
Release 5.3 build 1033
WIN32 release 1 October 2008
- Changes to correct a BurnInTest crash problem on some systems. When the
disk and standard RAM tests are run for many hours, BurnInTest may have
disappeared with no error message.
Release 5.3 build 1030
WIN32 release 25 September 2008
- Changes to investigate a BurnInTest crash problem on XP SP3.
Release 5.3 build 1028
WIN32 release 11 September 2008
- Two 2D Video memory test crash bug workarounds implemented. Crashes in
(i) DirectX DirectShow and (ii) ATI atiumdag.dll library.
- A hang on startup has been corrected. A 2 minute timeout has been added to
the collection of system information.
- Video playback, Hard disk and CD/DVD test 'no operations' error reporting
changed.
- When BurnInTest crashes, it will not generate a "minidump" file. Minidumps
will need to be sent to Microsoft as per the normal process. However, a log
entry will be added to the normal BurnInTest log.
- Changes to trace logging to reduce activity when trace logging is not turned
on.
- Note: We have seen a report of the Video Playback failing (crash) due to a
faulty video codec, ffdshow.ax. If you are using this we suggest you try a
different Video file and codec.
Release 5.3 build 1027 revision 0003
WIN32 release 19 August 2008
- Changed the 2D test to wait for the Video Playback test in order to allow
memory allocation for the Video playback test.
- Changed the Memory test to wait for the Video Playback test and 3D test to
allow memory allocation for these tests.
- Minor changes to the No operation error watchdog timer for the CD and Hard
disk tests.
- Minor correction to the Butterfly seek test.
- Video playback trace logging increased.
Release 5.3 build 1027 revision 0002
WIN32 release 19 August 2008
- Video playback trace logging increased.
Release 5.3 build 1027
WIN32 release 31 July 2008
- Corrected a bug where BurnInTest would fail to start if Activity trace level
2 logging (debug level logging) was turned on and the Logging Summarize
option was also selected.
- Minor change to the serial port test where, if "Disable RTS/CTS and DSR/DTR
test phase" was selected the DTR and RTS lines would be explicitly disabled
to prevent any toggling of these lines. Previously these where enabled, but
not explicitly toggled.
Release 5.3 build 1026
WIN32 release 17 July 2008
- Updated Level 2 and Level 3 CPU cache information for newer Intel CPU's.
- Updated the detection of Hyperthreading and the number of logical CPUs for
a new Intel CPU.
Release 5.3 build 1025
WIN32 release 11 July 2008
- Corrected a Disk test bug where on rare occasions a verification error is
incorrectly displayed. This is during the random seeking phase of the "Random
data with random seeking" test mode and only occurs with some specific test
settings.
Release 5.3 build 1024
WIN32 release 10 July 2008
- Workaround for the rare crash bug in Vista in atklumdisp.dll at address
0x730676ae.
- Added trace debug information for BurnInTest startup and the 3D test.
Release 5.3 build 1022
WIN32 release 12 June 2008
- Corrected a bug where the 2D video memory test in BurnInTest v5.3.1020 and
v5.3.1021 would report a "Not enough video memory available for test" error
if the test was run a couple of times (without closing BurnInTest).
Release 5.3 build 1021
WIN32 release 5 June 2008
- 32-bit BurnInTest PRO 5.3.1020 would not start on Windows 2000. This has been
corrected.
Release 5.3 build 1020
WIN32 release 29 May 2008
- BurnInTest could have crashed on accessing bad video memory hardware in the
2D test. This problem is now just reported as an error (and BurnInTest)
continues.
- When BurnInTest crashes, it should now generate a "minidump" file to help
debug which system component caused the failure (32-bit Pro version only).
- Other minor changes.
Release 5.3 build 1019
WIN32 release 16 May 2008
- Corrected rare crash bugs in the 2D and Video tests.
- Added a hot Key, F4, to set the auto run flag and run the tests (i.e. set
"-r" and then run the tests).
- Other minor changes.
Release 5.3 build 1018
WIN32 release 16 April 2008
- Added an operation watchdog timer for all tests. In rare cases, a single test
can stop in the operating system - i.e. there is a problem in the operating
system/ device driver that prevents control being returned to the BurnInTest
for that test. This was added for specialized serial port hardware that
could lockup after several hours of testing.
Release 5.3 build 1017
WIN32 release 3 April 2008
- Corrected the Advanced Network test to run on non-English Operating
Systems.
Release 5.3 build 1016
WIN32 release 17 March 2008
- Added additional USB 2.0 Loopback plug test initialization to ensure plugs
are in a 'clean' state when starting the USB tests. This was added due to
reported USB data verification errors after scripted USB testing across
multiple reboots.
Release 5.3 build 1015
WIN32 release 27 February 2008
- Increased error reporting detail for the standard RAM test, when the -v
command line option is used.
Release 5.3 build 1014
WIN32 release 30 January 2008
- Corrected a problem where the loopback sound test could run out of memory if
run for several days.
Release 5.3 build 1013
WIN32 release 31 December 2007
- Improved the reporting of COM port errors such that in the rare case a COM
port locks up in the Operating System, the error is still reported.
- Corrected a bug, where in rare cases, the result summary could be duplicated
in a log file.
- Updated license management, in an attempt to remove a rare crash on startup.
Release 5.3 build 1012.0002
WIN32 release 31 October 2007
- New build of Rebooter (64-bit Windows correction).
- Clarifications in the help file.
Release 5.3 build 1012
WIN32 release 17 October 2007
- Changed the Standard Network Test, "Test all available NICs" such that the
number of Network Addresses specified in Preferences->Network will be the
number of NICs tested. This will error faulty NICs that are not detected by
the BurnInTest auto NIC detection mechanism.
- Minor change to the 2D memory test when run with the 3D test (multiple large
windows) and the RAM test. Aimed at correcting sympton: Access Violation
0x00404CF9.
- Corrections to the mapping of paths with ".\".
Release 5.3 build 1011 rev 2
WIN32 release 17 September 2007
- Modified the Multi-Process torture test to better describe a new error
message introduced in V5.3.1010.
Release 5.3 build 1011 - Public release
WIN32 release 11 September 2007
- Corrected a bug where "Limited Evaluation Version" could be displayed even
after BUrnInTest is licensed (problem introduced in 32-bit BITPRO V5.3.1010).
- Changed the Sound test to allow any of the tests (Wave, Midi or MP3) to be
excluded from testing by blanking the filename.
- The Command line parameter "-j" (cycle disk test patterns after each test
file) could fail during the Random data test due to the mechanism used in
BurnInTest. The Random data test is now excluded from the test when (and
only when) the "-j" command line parameter is specified.
- In rare circumstances, the 2D test number of operations could potentially
overflow and become negative. This has been corrected.
- In rare circumstances, BurnInTest could hang if there was a system problem
in rebooting the system (ie. it failed to shutdown) using PassMark
Rebooter. This has been corrected.
Release 5.3 build 1010 - Public release
WIN32 release 28 August 2007
WIN64 release 28 August 2007
- As BurnInTest exercises system components, it is possible for faulty hardware
or device drivers to cause software exceptions. These are normally seen as
Windows reporting an "Access Violation". Changes have been made to handle
these errors for the memory tests (for faulty RAM) and direct device driver
access (for some device driver errors), as well as overarching more generic
handling of these types of errors.
- Corrected a software failure bug on startup (particularly Vista) where
a DirectX function was causing software failures in "dsetup.dll".
- Updated the "Activity Event" generated with the periodic results summary
report to be numbered (from 1 upwards) such that when "Logging->Summarize",
these events are not summarized.
- Corrected a bug where the HTML log name could include a duplicate of the
filename prefix.
- Updated to the Common Errors section of help.
Release 5.3 build 1009 - Public release
WIN32 release 16 August 2007
- Corrected a 'zip' version cleanup problem.
Release 5.3 build 1008 - Komputer Swiat Expert magazine version
WIN32 STD release 14 August 2007
Release 5.3 build 1007 - Public release
WIN32 release 7 August 2007
- Corrected a disk test startup problem for some large RAID systems when SMART
testing is selected.
- Added additional logging for the disk test when an error occurs.
- Changed the 3D test when run with the 2D EMC test to be 'behind' the EMC
scrolling H's test. Allowed the test to be easily exited when running the
3D test in Fullscreen mode.
- Minor corrections to the Advanced Network test.
- Changed the log file reference of "Network Name" to "Computer Name".
WIN64 specific:
- MMX and 3DNow! are obsolete for native 64-bit applications. BurnInTest has
been changed to show "NA" (Not applicable) in the test window for these tests.
Release 5.3 build 1006 - Limited release
WIN32 release 17 July 2007
- Standard Network Test changes:
- Increased the number of destination IP addresses from 4 to 6.
- Added an option (default) "Test all available NICs", which will force traffic
down every system NIC with a basic algorithm of NIC1 to IP Address 1, NIC2 to
IP Address 2 etc.
- Advanced Network test changes:
- Simplified the test.
- Removed the UDP and FTP options. The Standard Network test can be used
as a UDP test.
- Removed the Advanced Network test specific logging, and included all
relevant logging in the standard BurnInTest logging mechanism.
- Replaced the complicated dynamic balancing of any system NIC to any Endpoint
NIC with a simpler static allocation on test startup.
- Changed the error detection mechanism to detect errors much more quickly.
- Re-worked the errors reported.
- Changed the CPU throttling mechanism to reduce the CPU load.
- Updated endpoint.exe.
- Removed checkend.exe (now obsolete).
- Changed the logging rollover to work with the output of interim results (e.g. per
1 minute). Previously rollover only occurred on error events written to the log.
This also corrected an issue where interim results summary logging could be written
to the physical disk with some delay (based on Windows disk caching).
- Corrected the "Unknown" reporting of some operating systems.
- Added the skipping of the Butterfly seek disk test when run on Vista and
insufficient privileges. A notification of this is logged.
- Intel Quad core L2 cache size reporting has been added.
- Added new SMART threshold descriptions.
- Added new disk test options, accessed via command line parameters:
/ka: keep disk test files in all cases (c.f. /k keep disk test files on error).
/j: cycle patterns between test files. Note: Random seeking will be skipped in
this case. This option has been added to allow multiple test patterns to
be used across very large disks.
- Added an option to make some test settings unavailable to the user. An example
configuration file available on request.
Release 5.3 build 1005 0001 (STD only) - Public release
WIN32 release 29 June 2007
- Corrected a bug introduced in v5.3.1005.0000 STD (only) where the disk test
would use up more and more system resources, thus causing test failures.
Release 5.3 build 1005 rev 0003 (PRO only) - Limited public release
WIN32 release 21 June 2007
- Correction to the behavior of a static RAM test pattern (rather than the
default Cyclic pattern).
Release 5.3 build 1005 rev 0002 (PRO only) - Limited public release
WIN32 release 15 June 2007
- The "Select all CD/DVD drives" preferences option has been made user configurable,
rather than using pre-defined test settings.
Release 5.3 build 1005 rev 0001 (PRO only) - Limited public release
WIN32 release 13 June 2007
- Bug correction for the CD auto selection feature.
Release 5.3 build 1005 - Public release
WIN32 release 18 May 2007
WIN64 release 18 May 2007
- In a number of cases, such as when specifying the post test application,
uppercase application names were not accepted. This has been corrected.
- The default font height in the 2D scrolling H's test should have been
Arial 9. This has been changed.
- The BurnInTest Video playback test incompatibility with Nero 6 and Nero 7
has been resolved.
- The BurnInTest disk test throughput for dual core systems has been improved.
Release 5.3 build 1004 rev2 - Limited release
WIN32 release 8 May 2007
- Changed the Standard Network Test to better report packet error ratios. In
addition, a new warning has been added to indicate that errors have been
detected but not enough packets have been attempted to be sent to determine
accurately whether the configured error ratio has been exceeded.
- Corrected a bug where the "append to existing" logging option did not work
across scripted reboots, and a new log file was created instead of appending
to the existing log file.
- If the 3D test was running, then BurnInTest blocked a forced close of
BurnInTest, this blocking has been removed.
- Changed the PASS and FAIL windows so they can now also be closed by selecting
the Windows Close "X" button.
Release 5.3 build 1004 - Public release
WIN32 release 10 April 2007
WIN64 release 10 April 2007
- Corrected a problem introduced in BurnInTest v5.2 where BurnInTest could run
out of memory (the main symptom) when tests where run for long periods (> 12hours).
WIN64 specific:
- Corrected a bug where the number of cores reported on a Quad core system
was incorrectly reported as CPU packages.
Release 5.3 build 1003 - Limited release
WIN32 release 3 April 2007
- A new 2D GUI (Graphical User Interface) test has been added to the
standard 2D graphics test.
- Resolved an issue where BurnInTest would fail to start on Vista
systems with DEP enabled for all programs.
- On some systems, the Disk test could pause momentarily even when a duty
cycle of 100% was specified. This pause has been removed.
- When running the CD test under BartPE (Pre-install environment) 4 additional
specific files are skipped as they are unavailable for testing.
- Minor bug corrections.
Release 5.3 build 1002 rev 0001 - Limited release
WIN32 release 16 March 2007
- Changes to the new 3D test:
- Added a Full screen non-windowed test for the primary monitor, where the
resolution can be selected from those supported by the Graphics card.
- Added the user option of changes the vertical sync in the full screen
non-windowed test to be either the Maximum rate of the graphics card, or
to be the rate of the monitor (this may prevent some flicker).
- Added a more complex water texture using DirectX Vertex Shader 2.0 and Pixel
Shader 2.0 effects (if supported by the graphics card). This applies to
3D test windows that are 800x600 or larger.
- Changed some error messages from window displays (that require user
intervention) to standard error reporting. Added new 3D error messages
and more detail in the error reporting.
- Changed the definition of an operation to be a successfully displayed frame.
- Changed the definition of a cycle to be 2000 frames.
- Changed 2D video memory test to wait until the 3D test starts (as per V5.2
and earlier).
- A new version of rebooter has been included.
- If BurnInTest is started with the -p command line parameter (to use the
bit.exe directory for files such as the configuration file), then BurnInTest
will start rebooter with the -p option. This can be useful when running
BurnInTest and Rebooter from a USB drive.
Release 5.3 build 1002 - Limited release
WIN32 release 19 March 2007
- Corrected a bug introduced in V5.2 where selecting accumulated logging could
lead to rebooter failing to launch.
Release 5.3 build 1001 - Limited release
WIN32 release 16 March 2007
- The 3D test has been improved. The 3D ball test has been replaced with a
more complex 3D terrain test. This will more thoroughly exercise modern
graphics cards. Further, the 3D test has been changed to support multi-
monitor testing (up to 4 monitors). Accordingly, a new preferences
section has been added for the 3D test. The multi-monitor test options
are only available in BurnInTest Professional.
Release 5.3 build 1001 - Limited release
WIN32 release 16 March 2007
- The 3D test has been improved. The 3D ball test has been replaced with a
more complex 3D terrain test. This will more thoroughly exercise modern
graphics cards. Further, the 3D test has been changed to support multi-
monitor testing (up to 4 monitors). Accordingly, a new preferences
section has been added for the 3D test. The multi-monitor test options
are only available in BurnInTest Professional.
- BurnInTest uses DirectX 9.0c. This version of BurnInTest uses a more
recent version of the Microsoft DirectX Direct3D component, October 2006.
BurnInTest has been modified to detect and install this component (file)
if it does not exist.
- A command line parameter -X has been added to skip the DirectX version
checking on BurnInTest start-up.
- With the recent introduction of multi-monitor support for the Video
Playback test, it is now more likely that the system will run out of
memory when running multiple video tests simultaneously, particularly
when more memory intensive codecs are used. A specific Insufficient
resources to complete test message has been added in this case, rather
than the previous more generic unrecoverable error message. The video
test have been changed to attempt recovery from this and the more generic
unrecoverable error, by closing the current video and opening the next.
The logging detail has been increased.
- Note: The BurnIntest sample video pack has been altered with the DivX
Compressed Video file being removed due to the DivX codec failing with this
Video file when used with multiple simultaneous Video playbacks. Access
Violation: 0x69756e65. See: http://www.passmark.com/download/bit_download.htm
- The video description is now collected for a larger range of Vista systems.
- Windows 98 and ME are no longer supported. Please see www.passmark.com
for a link to an older version of BurnInTest that will support W98/ME.
Release 5.3 build 1000 rev2 - Limited release
WIN32 release 9 March 2007
- A command line parameter -P has been added to allow the BurnInTest directory
to be used rather than the User's personal directory. This may be useful when
running BurnInTest from a USB drive for example.
- When running the CD test under BartPE (Pre-install environment) 4 additional
specific files are skipped as they are unavailable for testing.
- A change has been made to support Hmonitor temperature monitoring on Vista.
- A number of undocumented command line parameters have been documented:
-B: BurnInTest will generate additional Serial port test information
when activity trace level 2 logging is set.
-E [data]: Specifies the test data to use in the serial port test.
-M: Automatically display the Machine ID Window when BurnInTest is started.
-U: Force BurnInTest to set logging on at startup.
Release 5.3 build 1000 - Limited release
WIN32 release 8 March 2007
- Changed the 2D and Video playback tests to support multi-monitor testing.
- When running the CD test under BartPE (Pre-install environment) 4 specific files
are skipped as they are unavailable for testing.
Release 5.2 build 1006 - Limited release
WIN32 release 1 March 2007
- Corrected a bug where BurnInTest would fail to start on certain Vista systems.
- Corrected a bug where some files where the full path was not specified would
be incorrectly referenced in the Program Files directory, rather than the
user personal directory.
Release 5.2 build 1005 - Public release
WIN32 release 21 February 2007
WIN64 release 21 February 2007
- Updated the Graphics card description for Windows Vista systems.
- Updated the Advanced Network test to indicate that elevated administrator
privileges are required when running on Vista.
- Moved files from the Program files directory for the Advanced Network Test
(BurnInTest, EndPoint and CheckEnd). Specifically, the User Application
directory is now used for the temporary test FTP files and the User Personal
directory is now used for the log and configuration files.
- Updated the cleanup process for when running the "zip" version of BurnInTest
Professional from a CD or flash drive.
- Updated the help link from the Windows Start, All Programs, BurnInTest menu for
the browser based help.
- Corrected a bug where Disk preferences displayed in the Preferences window
would be incorrect when the system had no Floppy drive.
- Corrected a bug where the Advanced Network test might not have been displayed
until after entering the Duty Cycle selection (ie. just chaning from the
standard network test to the advanced test).
- Corrected a USB bug in Beta 5.2.1003 where the test would not run if there
where there insufficient USB loopback plugs attached to the system.
- Included a new version of PassMark Rebooter that supports Windows Vista.
Release 5.2 build 1004 - Public Pre-release
WIN32 release 13 February 2007
- Updated the reported Operating system for the various Vista product editions.
- Disk test settings can be configured for "Automatically Select all Hard Disks",
rather than using defaults.
- When running the CD test under BartPE (Pre-install environment) 4 specific files
are skipped as they are unavailable for testing.
- Corrected a bug where temperature information could be duplicated in the
HTML report.
- Corrected a bug certain 'save report' warning messages could be truncated.
- Help file updated.
Release 5.2 build 1003 - BETA RELEASE ONLY
WIN32 release 23 January 2007
- Changed the USB preferences and test to more completely check for the
PassMark USB Loopback plugs and ignore any device that is not a PassMark USB
Loopback plug (due to reported incorrect detection with another hardware
device).
- Increased Trace level debugging for Intel temperature monitoring.
- Corrected a bug with the disk test introduced in 5.2.1001
Release 5.2 build 1002 - BETA RELEASE ONLY
WIN32 release 22 January 2007
- Increased the number of disks that can be tested from 20 to 26.
- Updated BurnInTest to reflect that Temperature monitoring with Intel Desktop
utilities is supported. Intel Desktop utilities essentially is a replacement
for Intel Active Monitor for newer Intel motherboards.
- Increased Trace level debugging for Intel temperature monitoring.
Release 5.2 build 1001 - BETA RELEASE ONLY
WIN32 release 19 January 2007
- Windows Vista support.
- The Block size used in the disk test is now configurable per disk. The default
block size has been increased from 16KB to 32KB.
- An option has been added to automatically detect all of the CD and DVD drives
for the CD test (as per the disk test). This may be useful when testing across
many systems with different optical drive configurations.
- Increased Trace level debugging for Intel temperature monitoring.
- Bugs corrected:
- Disk preferences - in rare cases invalid default values could be set for a disk,
an invalid value error would occur and the values would need to be manually
corrected.
Release 5.2 build 1000 - limited release
WIN32 release 8 January 2007
- Windows Vista support.
- Reduced the need for elevated administrator privileges:
- Changed the location of the disk test files from the root directory of the
test volume to a BurnInTest data files subdirectory
(e.g from "C:\" to "C:\BurnInTest test files\")
- Moved many of the files from the Program Files directory to the User
directory for Windows 2000, XP and Vista. When running BurnInTest on
Windows 98, ME or from a key.dat file (e.g. from a USB drive with a licensed
key.dat) BurnInTest will store these files in the BurnInTest program
directory. Specifically, the following files have been moved from the
Program Files directory to the User Personal directory, e.g.
Vista - "C:\Users\\Documents\PassMark\BurnInTest\"
XP - "My Documents\PassMark\BurnInTest\"
Files: Configuration file, Configuration load/save default directory,
Save log file and image default directory, parallel port override
"ioports.dat" directory, default command line script directory, log
file directory, video file directory, Plugin directory, machine id
file directory, Run as script default directory, CD burn image,
Advanced network FTP temp files.
- Replaced the Help system with Browser based help.
- Changed the Disk test block size from 16KB to 256KB. It is planned to make this
user configurable in the next build.
Release 5.1 build 1014
WIN32 release 2 November 2006
WIN64 release 2 November 2006
- Corrected a bug when running on Vista, where the Standard network test would report
a checksum error when the transmitted data was correct.
- Corrected a bug where BurnInTest would not stop the tests based on the number of
test cycles for the Plugin test or the Advanced Network test.
- Made the "Could not set USB2Test mode" USB error message more specific by adding
an error for insufficient system resources.
- Changed the preferences Window to fit on an 800x600 resolution screen.
- Corrected a minor bug in Activity level 2 trace logging with the 'hide duplicate'
preference setting.
- Corrected a minor memory leak if the 2D test failed to initialize (such as due
to a DirectX problem).
- The Parallel port test may now be used on Windows Vista. Specifically, the PassMark
device driver used for the parallel port test could not be loaded on 64-bit Windows
Vista as it was not digitally signed. It is now digitally signed.
Release 5.1 build 1013 revision 0002
WIN32 release 19 September 2006
WIN64 release 19 September 2006
- Corrected an Access Violation problem reported by a customer on a particular MB.
Release 5.1 build 1013
WIN32 release 7 September 2006
WIN64 release 7 September 2006
- The "Notes" section has been added to the Customer results certificate.
- Some additional configuration range validation has been added.
Release 5.1 build 1012
WIN32 release 15 August 2006
- Corrected a false report of a "Unable to get disk volume extent information" for
the disk butterfly seek test.
- Advanced Network test changes for errors:
"Corrupt header - packet discarded" and "Advanced Network test timed out"
- Advanced Network test Endpoint changes for problems on non-English Operating
Systems and systems with the Windows "Network Interface" performance
statistics disabled.
- SMART parameters on a Samsung Hard Disk caused BurnInTest to fail when running
the disk test with SMART thresholds enabled. This has been corrected.
- The 2D scrolling H's test could display corrupt characters on the second and
subsequent test run. This has been corrected.
- A problem with the Integer maths test where the results could display a negative
number of operations has been resolved.
- Minor improvements to the help file.
- HTML help file added for Windows Vista and Longhorn Server.
- Minor improvements to the Error Classification file (error descriptions).
- Some CD Trace level 1 logging has been moved to trace level 2.
- Trace level 1 logging has been added to the test closing software.
- New build of Endpoint.exe (1.0 1010).
Release 5.1 build 1011
WIN32 release 6 July 2006
- New Advanced Network test error reporting added in the previous build V5.1 1010
has been removed.
- A broader range of USB 2.0 Loopback plugs can now be used with BurnInTest.
Release 5.1 build 1010
WIN32 release 4 July 2006
- Corrected the HTML report description of the L2/L3 CPU cache when the L3
cache size could not be determined.
Advanced network changes:
- Endpoints ran at 100% CPU load as they contained no throttling. This impacted
their ability to effectively handle multiple threads handling TCP/UDP messaging.
Throttling has been added to the EndPoint side to reduce CPU load. This does
not greatly impact Network load.
- Throttling on the BurnInTest side contained a sleep that was not insignificant.
This could have impacted the BurnInTest data test thread to to handle incoming
TCP and particularly UDP messages. This sleep has been reduced and other
throttling parameters changed to suit. (ie. smaller sleeps more often).
- EndPoint systems with x NICs (where x > 1), reported themselves as an Endpoint
with x NICs, x times. Effectively registering with BurnInTest as x * x EndPoint
NICS. This impacted the effectiveness of the load distribution to EndPoint NICs.
An Endpoint system now only registers the once with BurnInTest.
- The BurnInTest side did not report data verification Checksum errors for full
duplex testing. This error determination has been corrected and reporting added.
- The Test statistics sent from the Endpoint to BurnInTest could fail if the
statistics block is split across 2 lower level TCP send packets. This could
lead to problems like incorrect reporting of Endpoint determined checksum
errors, Endpoint load and load balancing. Further it would lead to an Endpoint
testthread being put into an endless TCP send loop. This would eventually bring the
Endpoint system to its knees as more and more of these test threads go into this
state. This has been corrected.
- The Data Received reported by BurnInTest was double counted. This has been
corrected.
Release 5.1 build 1009
WIN32 release 23 June 2006
- Plugin test error classifications were incorrect in the log file detailed
description.
- Corrections to the advanced network test (BurnInTest and EndPoint).
Release 5.1 build 1008 - limited release
WIN32 release 20 June 2006
- Advanced network changes corrections. Most notably, a bug where part of the
payload data could be lost if the payload block (eg. 1000 bytes) was split across
2 (or more) lower level TCP packets.
- Added version reporting for Endpoints.
Release 5.1 build 1007 - limited release
WIN32 release 16 June 2006
Advanced network changes:
- Corrected a BurnInTest access Violation introduced in V5.1 1006.
- The Endpoint now reports its version and build to BurnInTest and BurnInTest
reports this in the log file if it is an earlier version than expected. This
is to help avoid the situation where old Endpoints are run on the Network, that
may not be compatible with the version of BurnInTest being run by the user.
- Removed a timeout report in a specific instance where a timeout is not an error.
- Changed the Endpoint rebalancing and polling to occur less often after the test
has been running 3 minutes. This is to help allowing the handling of polling from
a larger number of multiple copies of BurnInTest on the Network.
- Added a connection retries on failure for the Endpoint.
- Corrected a memory leak in the Endpoint.
- Increased the number of sockets supported.
- Corrected some Advanced Network error classifications.
Release 5.1 build 1006 - limited release
WIN32 release 14 June 2006
- Improvements to the Advanced Network test (both BurnInTest V5.1 1006 and
EndPoint V1.0 1004) to remove corrupted false packet corruption errors.
Improved the timeout recovery mechanism. Added some validation to the Windows
Network performance data used for NIC utilization.
- Changes to the collection of Disk drive information on startup to try to resolve a
startup issue on Systems with a large number of physical drives and 'unusual'
WMI namings.
Release 5.1 build 1005
WIN32 release 2 June 2006
- Corrected a bug in the Advanced network test where the test would not recover
from timeout errors. The test appears to be running, but the results are 0 and the
number of connected End Points are 0. Also improved the retry on timeout mechanism.
- Removed some duplication in error reporting in the Advanced Network test.
- Changed the Advanced Network display of Utilization to ensure a maximum of 100%
displayed.
- Corrected an Advanced Network test bug where the number of Errors reported in the
test window would not take into account the corrupt packet threshold, and an error
would be added for each occurrence of the corrupt packet (rather than when the user
set threshold was reached).
Release 5.1 build 1004b
WIN32 release 25 May 2006 (not publicly released)
- Corrected the default Advanced network corrupt packet threshold value.
- Updated the data entry fields in the CD preferences when a different CD drive
is selected.
- The Advanced Network specific log files should be concatenated for a script
run. This was only occurring for the first NIC under test. The concatenation
will now occur for each NIC under test, when run from a script.
- Corrected a bug where a log file name specified with no directory path could
be incorrect.
- Corrected a bug where the customer "Test Certificate" report incorrectly
translated the "%" character from a customer specific HTML template.
eg would be translated to
.
- The "Advanced Network test error" (215) has been removed and replaced with other
existing error messages 214, 219, 220, 221 or 222.
- Added the Customer name and Technician name to the text and HTMl reports.
Previously, this information was only included in the "Test Certificate" report.
- We have added a commandline option to specify the Serial port test data as a
constant value. To specify specific data for the Serial port test you should
specify e.g. "bit.exe /E 23" from the command line where 23 is in decimal and
will be used for all test data (instead of random data). The vales should be
between 0 and 255.
Release 5.1 build 1004
WIN32 release 19 April 2006 (not publicly released)
- Added the COM port speed of 921600 Kbits/s for RS 422/RS485 testing.
- Changed the CD test to ensure that the entire test CD data is not cached on
systems with a large amount of RAM.
- Added a -M command line option to display the Machine ID window automatically
when BurninTest starts.
- Changed the 2D EMC scrolling H's test to work on multiple monitors were the
resolution on each is different.
- Changed log files such the syntax "..\" could be used for files
in the directory up a level.
- Minor correction to the advanced network test.
Release 5.1 build 1003
WIN32 release 18 April 2006
WIN64 release 18 April 2006
- Changed the Advanced network test to allow a corrupt packet threshold value up
to 1 million.
- Bundled a new version of rebooter.
Release 5.1 build 1002
WIN32 release 11 April 2006
WIN64 release 11 April 2006
- Corrections to the translation of V4.0 to V5 configuration files.
Note: Configuration files in V5.x builds prior to V5.1 1002 could become corrupted
if a V4.0 configuration file is loaded.
- Corrected a bug where the main Window size and location were not restored on
restarting BurnInTest.
- Changes to the SMART attribute logging to support a greater range of Disk drive
device drivers. Added additional Activity Level 2 trace logging.
- Added an option to use CTS (Clear To Send) flow control in the loop back stage of
the COM port test.
- Corrected a bug where the CPU L3 cache could be reported as -1.
- Help file updates.
Release 5.1 build 1001
WIN32 release 30/March/2006
- Digitally signed the BurnInTest application to allow it to run under Windows
Server "Longhorn". Note, previously only the installation package was digitally
signed.
- Updated the reported Operating system descriptions, including:
- Windows Vista
- Windows Server "Longhorn"
- Corrected a bug where the Advanced network information was not displayed on the
main window when it was run from a script.
- The Advanced Network Corrupt threshold packet has been changed to produce an error
every time the error is received after the threshold is reached.
- Corrected the reporting of "Network, Packet discarded due to corrupt header" as
a Network test error.
- Corrected a bug where a new log file was not created if (only) the log prefix
changed during the running of a script file.
- Split the "Network, Advanced Network test error" error into 6 errors:
"Network, Advanced Network test error"
"Advanced Network Socket error"
"Advanced Network Send error"
"Advanced Network Send error - no data sent"
"Advanced Network Receive error"
"Advanced Network Receive error - no data received"
Added either activity trace 1 or trace 2 logging for each of the errors, with
additional information where available.
- Added additional Serial port activity trace 2 logging. Including the logging of
all transmit buffer data when the /B command line is used.
Release 5.1 build 1000
WIN32 release 27/March/2006 (not a public release)
Added the following features:
- Create the log file directory specified in the Logging Options if it does
not exist.
- Condense the Advanced Network Test log files to one log file per IP address
per script run, when run from a script.
- Added an option to summarize duplicate errors in the log file.
- Color coded errors based on severity in the Detailed event log Window and
the HTML log file.
- Added an option to only create a log file when BurnIn actually runs a test
as opposed to every time BurnIn is executed.
- Added a warning if a test thread completes with 0 cycles and 0 operations.
- In the results summary html file, inserted more spacing between the 揘otes?
and 揇etailed Event Log?
- Changed the Activity Trace file format to be the same as the log file,
ie. text or HTML, rather than always text.
- The 2D 揝crolling H抯?test will now display across multiple screens/displays
?i.e. all active displays.
- A threshold has been added for the 揷orrupt header ?packet discarded?event
in the advanced network options so that a 揊ail?is not produced when that
is the only thing that produces errors.
- Added looping capability in scripting.
LOOP n
{
?
}
where n is the number of times to repeat the commands in the brackets.
- Corrected a bug where PASS could be displayed if the Advanced Network test
was the only test running, but it failed.
Release 5.0 build 1001
WIN32 release 9/March/2006
- Corrected a bug where Network directory paths were not accepted, eg. for the
log file name and post test application file name.
- The CPU maths test has been improved to better load up all CPU's. Previously
BurnInTest started a maths test thread per physical CPU package. BurnInTest
has been changed to start a maths test thread per CPU
(= num. physical CPU packages x num. CPU cores x num. logical CPUs).
- The CPU preferences have been changed to allow the CPU maths test to be
locked to any CPU (ie. select a CPU from a list of CPU's where the number of
CPU's = num. physical CPU packages x num. CPU cores x num. logical CPUs).
- The Parallel and Serial port error message have been modified in the case
where a test plug may not have been connected to indicate that the user
should check this.
- Corrected a bug where a licenced version could display the message
"[limited evaluation version]"
Release 5.0 build 1000
WIN32 release 24/February/2006
WIN64 release 24/February/2006
NEW TESTS & IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING TESTS
BurnInTest Standard and Professional versions.
- Added a customer style results certificate. This will save the log file in
HTML format but from the perspective of a end customer. This report style can
be tailored by the user (through changing an HTML template).
- An MP3 playback test has been added to the Sound test.
- A color printer test has been added.
- A new post test option to allow the results to be printed automatically at
the end of a test has been added.
- Added new Post-test action options of:
- Optionally allow the user to "run an external program & exit" after
BIT has been manually stopped. Modify the $RESULT variable to
"PASS (manual abort)" or "FAIL (manual abort)" for this case.
- Allow the results window to be displayed for all post test options
(except Reboot).
- Added new Pre-test actions to allow an external application to be run and
have BIT wait for the application to exit. On continuing, BIT will run the
subscript file (of scripting commands) if it has been created.
- Changed the manual Stop buttons, to abort the running of a script (rather
than just the current test).
BurnInTest Professional specific.
- Added a "Plugin" test that allows users to develop their own BurnInTest test
modules for specialized hardware. Three external plugins may be specified at
once.
- A Modem test has been added to BurnInTest as a Plugin. PassMark's ModemTest
Version V1.3 (latest build) is required.
- A KeyBoard Test has been added to BurnInTest as a Plugin. PassMark's
KeyboardTest Version V2.2 (latest build) is required.
- A Firewire Test has been added to BurnInTest as a Plugin. PassMark's
free Firewire plugin is required and a "Kanguru FireFlash" drive is required.
- A new advanced network test has been added. BurnInTest Professional only.
- The Memory test now allows the user to specify the type of test pattern to
be used.
- Testing with the USB 2.0 Loopback plug has been improved. When used with
USB 2.0 Loopback device driver V2.0.1002, error details will now be reported
for:
CRC error reported by USB Host controller
BIT STUFF error reported by USB Host controller
DATA TOGGLE MISMATCH error reported by USB Host controller
STALL PID error reported by USB Host controller
DEVICE NOT RESPONDING error reported by USB Host controller
PID CHECK FAILURE error reported by USB Host controller
UNEXPECTED PID error reported by USB Host controller
DATA OVERRUN error reported by USB Host controller
DATA UNDERRUN error reported by USB Host controller
BUFFER OVERRUN error reported by USB Host controller
BUFFER UNDERRUN error reported by USB Host controller
NOT ACCESSED error reported by USB Host controller
FIFO error reported by USB Host controller
TRANSACTION (XACT) ERROR reported by USB Host controller
BABBLE DETECTED error reported by USB Host controller
DATA BUFFER ERROR reported by USB Host controller
In the case of these errors, BurnInTest will re-attempt the operation.
The user can set the Error reporting to be skipped for the initial recovery
attempt.
IMPROVEMENTS TO TESTING FACILITIES
- Added a disk autoconfig, such that when tests are started, the disk drives
and settings will be defaults to all disks (exc. CD/DVD). This may be useful
when testing multiple systems with different hard disk drive letters.
- Store the position of the Main window on exiting BurnInTest. On starting
BurnInTest, position the main window as saved; on starting tests, position the
test windows as saved.
- Allow a "drag & drop" of the Configuration file directly on the BurnInTest
program icon.
- Allow testing 99.5% to 100% of disk, instead of 94%, for disks that do not
contain the Windows directory and do not contain a swap file.
- Added the ability to log interim results, which may be useful for unstable
systems.
- AMD and Intel Dual core reporting added.
- New L2 CPU cache sizes added to reports.
- CPU support for SSE3, DEP and PAE added to reports.
- Shortcut of "F1" for contextual help added to all Windows.
- Improve the flexibility in specifying the EXECUTEWAIT scripting command for
sleeper.
- Updated logging header information with the hard and optical drive model.
- The 2D and 3D tests have been updated to use DirectX 9.0c.
- User interface updated.
- The HTML report format has been improved.
- The BurnInTest configuration file extension has been renamed from .cfg to
use .bitcfg, to ensure the configuration file is associated with BurnInTest.
- An error message indicating that accumulated log files are not supported
when run from CD or DVD has been added.
- To allow smaller test files with very large disks, the minimum disk test
file size has been reduced from 0.1% to 0.01% of the disk space.
- Log events were previously shown as "INFORMATION" if they were low level
errors, or simply additional information (not errors). "INFORMATION" now
refers to a low level error, and "LOG NOTE" now refers to additional information
(that is not in the error count).
- Improved the specific detail of the Serial Port errors detected. BurnInTest
now reports framing errors, buffer overrun errors, input buffer overflow errors,
parity errors and Transmit buffer full errors as specific error messages
(rather than a broader error description).
- Added the /k command line so the user can specify not to delete HDD test files
if an error occurs.
- Increased Activity trace level 1 error logging for Serial port testing.
- Increased Activity trace level 1 error logging for Hyper threading detection.
- Bundled a new version of the Rebooter program.
- Improved the Serial port error logging (displaying baud rate) and increased
Activity trace level 1 error logging (displaying erroneous data).
- Modified the Window sizes to help improve navigation on smaller displays
(i.e. 640x480).
- The CPU load for the Standard and Torture RAM tests has been made more linear
with the duty cycle setting. Note: This means that compared to the previous
build of BurnInTest, less RAM test operations will be run per second (when the
duty cycle is less than 100).
- Additional debug code and very minor changes in the Loopback sound test.
- The Post test option of "Run external application and exit" has been modified such
that if no external file is specified, this Post test option will just exit BurnInTest.
- Allowed the full range of PassMark USB1 loopback plugs to be used with BurnInTest
Professional.
- Added additional Activity Trace level 2 logging.
- The delay inserted between packets in the USB2 test, when the duty cycle is
less than 50, has been changed from at least 1ms to at least 1ms to 50ms
(for a Duty Cycle of 49 down to 0).
- The subscript commands to configure BurnInTest from an external application
(i.e. specified in the bit-script-input.txt file and run by specifying either
a pre-test or EXECUTEWAIT application) has been changed to allow "LOAD"
commands (in addition to "SET" scripting commands).
- Renamed the "Error" log to "Event" log.
- Changed the order of the items in an Event log line, such that the Severity
is the first item.
- The EXECUTEWAIT script command has been modified such that the external
application may provide an input script file (of SET... commands) to be run
after the EXECUTEWAIT application closes. This allows external applications
to define test environment parameters (such as the serial number and machine
type).
- Added scripting commands:
SETSERIAL "1234-shdfgdhs-GHGHG"
SETMACHINETYPE "HP XPS800"
SETNOTES "Test notes defined by the external application."
SETLOG "\Program Files\Plugin\plugin_log"
SETPLUGIN "\Program Files\Plugin\plugin.exe"
- Added POST TEST application parameter substitution to allow values to be
passed to an external application at the end of a test. These are:
$RESULT - "PASS" or "FAIL" will be substituted.
$SERIAL - The serial number will be substituted.
$MACHINETYPE - The machine type will be substituted.
$NOTES - The notes will be substituted.
- Added extra logging for memory allocation errors in the disk test
- Added "log bad sector increase" and "bad sector threshold" options to disk
test. This resulted in a change to the configuration file format and
required additional code to automatically convert from old formats.
- Modified the user interface in the preferences window for the disk test and
the CD test
- Improved the handling of USB 2.0 loopback plugs recovery from sleep states.
BUG CORRECTIONS
- Corrected a bug where the System and Application events logged in the BurnInTest
Trace logs were wrong if the event log had reached its maximum size.
- Checks that the Sound test files (WAV and MIDI) exist have been added.
- The continuous auto updating of the USB image (USB Loopback plug vs. USB
2.0 Loopback plug) on the main window has been removed. This is now updated
on BIT startup, selecting Refresh in USB preferences or on starting a test.
If there is a serious USB problem, this (together with the USB 2.0 Loopback
device driver, V2.0.1002) will avoid the possibility of BurnInTest locking up.
- Corrected a bug with the Butterfly seek mode of the Disk test. This was found
to occur with FAT32 disks where the Cylinder size was relatively small and the
Sector size relatively large.
- Reset Defaults on the Configuration Page now resets the Auto Stop Value.
- Reset Defaults on the Configuration Page now resets the color indicators.
- The CD test has been modified to skip invalid files either with "?"'s , to
avoid reporting errors that are due to the CD test media filenames.
- The Network test results window scroll bar has been corrected.
- The Memory torture test could fail on some systems with a small amount of RAM
and relatively high memory fragmentation. This has been corrected.
- Scripting correction for .cmd files.
- Corrected a bug that caused problems when running the disk test with SMART
monitoring turned on. This problem only occurs on a small number of HDD's.
- Corrected memory leaks
- On occasion, the measured waveform from the loopback sound test may have been
slightly altered on starting or stopping all tests, possibly enough to trigger an
error. This has been resolved.
- If an error occurred in the final second of a test, the error may have been logged
but not included in the big PASS/FAIL results window. This has been corrected.
- After running a script file that loaded a configuration file, that had a full path
specified, the Save and Load configuration menu options no longer worked. This
has been corrected.
- Previously, the Version of BurnInTest was only written in the First log file after
starting BurnInTest. This log line is now written in all log files.
- For USB2 tests that have read or write failures, the Windows error codes are
now included in the level 2 Activity trace log.
- Command line parameters may now be passed to a PreTest application.
- Log files may now use a single static filename. This may be useful when the log
file is to be parsed by an external program.
- Corrected a bug where the Plugin test would stop prematurely.
- Corrected the specification of the Scripting EXECUTEWAIT filename.
- Changed Script processing such that a script is aborted if a scripting error
is encountered and Stop on error is selected.
- Added an indication on the main window that a script is currently running
("Script currently running").
- Corrected the serial port test to identify non-existing plugs when the
Disable RTS/CTS and DSR/DTR testing has been selected.
- Corrected the display of strange results (666666) reported by a user,
related to copy protection.
- Fixed a memory leak bug in the MBM interface which caused memory
allocation errors.
- Added BIT version number to the ASCII log file.
- Fixed a bug with the 3D Test that was causing it to stop before the
autostop timer period
- Changed an error in the tape drive test to a warning if tape drive doesn't
support setting drive parameters.
History of earlier releases:
Please see http://passmark.com/products/bit_history.htm
Documentation
=============
All the documentation is included in the help file. It can be accessed from
the help menu. There is also a PDF format Users guide available for download
from the PassMark web site.
Support
=======
For technical support, questions, suggestions, please check the help file for
our email address or visit our web page at http://www.passmark.com
Ordering / Registration
=======================
All the details are in the help file documentation
or you can visit our sales information page
http://www.passmark.com/sales
Compatibility issues with the Network & Parallel Port Tests
===========================================================
If you are running Windows 2000 or XP, you need to have
administrator privileges to run this test.
Enjoy..
The PassMark Development team