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Free Online PC Diagnostic Tests
By Stephen Bucaro
Is your computer performing poorly, acting strangely, or experiencing problems when you go online?
PC Pitstop runs fully automated
diagnostic tests on your PC while online through Internet Explorer. The tests are
safe, passive evaluations of your system.
After completion of the tests you receive an online report that details what the
tests found, and in some instances, help for downloading a solution. The tests
themselves will not change any settings on your PC. Best of all, the service is free!
PC Pitstop tests works with Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP and Internet Explorer 4 or
later. The tests do not work with Netscape browsers because they use ActiveX controls
which Netscape does not support.
You have the options to create an account or test anonymously. If you create an
account, PC Pitstop creates a history of your test scores to review at any time.
If you test anonymously, test results are available only during the current visit.
PC Pitstop downloads and installs several DLLs (Dynamic Link Librarys) on your system.
A DLL is a program module that performs a specific set of tests of your computer.
Below is a list of the DLLs installed.
PCPitStop.dll is the main test module.
Sysres.dll determines your free system resources.
Smartvsd.vxd is used to obtain hard disk information.
DiskHealth.dll tests your hard disk.
Ping.ocx tests your Internet Connection.
mhLbl.ocx is used to test your ActiveX Installation.
Pav.dll is the AntiVirus ActiveX control.
Imscan.dll is the AntiVirus scanning engine.
apvxdut.vxd is the AntiVirus virtual device driver.
PAV.SIG is the AntiVirus signature file.
The DLLs are not downloaded and installed untill you give permission by clicking OK
on the security certificate that displays on your screen. PC Pitstop also places
cookies on your hard drive. Session cookies allow the DLLs to work while you are at
the site durring the current browsing session. Persistent cookies are used to store
data from one session to another to allow access of your test results later.
If your Internet Explorer (IE) Security settings is set to High, you may not be able
to download the DLL's and cookies. To run the tests you should have your IE Security
set to Medium or, if you have set security to High and PC Pitstop is in your Trusted Sites.
PC Pitstop tests your PC's processor, video, memory, hard drives, and speed. Don’t
be surprised if your hard drive clicks and your monitor flashes while the tests run.
The complete series of tests takes two to four minutes.
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