Laptop fault diagnosis (solved)

[#1]

A while ago I fixed one of my laptops and in the process was talked through the keys to press to enable it to do a self-diagnostic.
It took quite a while and at the end I was able to see that the hardware was all OK.
Unfortunately, I cannot remember what I did!   
Please can anyone tell me how to proceed?  It is not the same laptop (that is fine now - it was a software problem) but
I have my friend's grandson's machine coming next week and by the sounds of it this might help so want to be prepared.
* Just remembered that I still have the email pertaining to the last repair in the archive of my Gmail account. Located it and for anyone who
wants to know here are the instructions:
1. Shut down the system
2. Press and hold the <Fn> key and then press the power button to power the system on.
3. The PSA diagnostics sequence begins. Release both buttons.
This was for a Dell so am not sure if it is the same for other makes. The grandson's is an Acer.

[#2]

AFAIK this does not work for other makes.

[#3]

Oh well, not to worry but thanks for letting me know.

[#4]

Hi Poppy,
just done a quick google, and come up with this...
http://www.user-guides.co.uk/acer/acerdiagnostic/acer.asp?keywords=Acer+Diagnostic
covers just about any laptop on the market.....! ! !  (from Acer to Toshiba)
you can download the following from the first linky on the left hand side menu....
Acer - Travelmate Aspire Extensa Ferrari Veriton Power CD PDF ISO Downloads
Acer Drivers CD ISO Downloads
Acer User Guide CD PDF Downloads
Acer Service Manual CD PDF Downloads
Acer Boot Disk CD ISO Downloads
Acer Recovery CD ISO Downloads
Acer Restore Disk ISO Downloads
Acer Diagnostics Bootable CD ISO Downloads
Acer Drivers CD Disk Downloads
Have a nice evening..... !  

[#5]

Thanks for that Shutter - I might need it as the lad did not make any  disks when he purchased the Acer (although I suppose there will be a recovery partition).

[#6]

Quote from: shutter

Hi Poppy, just done a quick google, and come up with this... http://www.user-guides.co.uk/acer/acerdiagnostic/acer.asp?keywords=Acer+Diagnostic

Looks to me like one of those sites that just takes you round in circles without providing the useful downloads promised.  Can you actually get it to work, Shutter?

[#7]

Yep.... no problem...
click on the make/model on the left side.
brings up a new page listing all available software
click on the software of choice,
scroll down the page
see the prices.... click on "add to basket".....
(probably have to create an account but
what`s so difficult about that?  :-\)