DISCLAIMER The below debug routines are listed to help test and view extended information on your computer. However, some of these debug routines can also potentially damage computer components or cause them not to work properly. We are providing these debug routines as a reference. If these cause problems with the computer they are run on, Computer Hope will not be held responsible for your actions. We recommend that only experienced computer users run these commands and that you are fully aware of the potential hazards of using these routines.
When running any of the below routines you are agreeing to the above statement.
DEBUG ABCs
Debug is a MS-DOS command which can be used to enter machine language into the computer either to create programs or test computer peripherals by receiving back various computer machine code.
Within this page as well as other pages you will begin to understand how to utilize this great method of testing computer hardware, as well as learn the basics of machine code.
Additional information on the MS-DOS command debug can be found on our debug page.
ENTERING DEBUG
Debug has been included in every version of MS-DOS as well as Windows. When running any of the debug routines it is recommended that if you have Windows that you exit or shut down to get into a real DOS prompt (unless you're running Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or later versions). Additional information about getting into MS-DOS can be found on document CHDOS.
Once at the MS- DOS prompt, run through the below example, this example is perfectly fine to run on any PC Computer running MS-DOS / Windows and will not harm anything.
Type debug and press enter.
This should get you to a - (small dash). This is the debug prompt.
At the - type d40:00 and press enter; this will return several lines of information.
(See Testing Ports for explanation of this feedback.)
After the feedback you will be back to the debug prompt.
To exit out of debug type q and press enter. This will return you back to the MS-DOS prompt.
In some of the below debug routines you will notice that a "g" is typed, then "q". G tells the computer that the code type is not self executing and must be run at this point. If completed, the program will return Program Terminated Normally which indicates you can now quit from the debug program.
UNDERSTANDING RESPONSES
Several of the debug routines listed within this page as well as several other of our pages will return responses in Hexadecimal format. It is recommended if you wish to understand some of the code within these routines that you get a familiarity of Hexadecimal. You can find information about Hexadecimal as well as Binary on our Binary & Hexadecimal page.
POSSIBLE ISSUES
If during the time you are typing the debug routine you receive ^error this is and indication that you have incorrectly typed something within the line just completed. You can type the line again without causing any problems with the routine.
