run a diagnostic

Meaning

This phrase means to execute a specialized program or test sequence to check the health, performance, or errors of a computer system, software, or piece of hardware. It is commonly used in IT support, software development, and technical troubleshooting contexts.

Examples

• The IT department will run a diagnostic on your laptop to see why it keeps crashing.

  The IT department will run a diagnostic on your laptop to see why it keeps crashing.

• Before we replace the hard drive, let's run a diagnostic to confirm the issue.

  Before we replace the hard drive, let's run a diagnostic to confirm the issue.

• The system is programmed to run a diagnostic automatically every night at midnight.

  The system is programmed to run a diagnostic automatically every night at midnight.

• I had to run a diagnostic on the network because our office internet connection was extremely slow.

  I had to run a diagnostic on the network because our office internet connection was extremely slow.

• If the error message appears again, please run a diagnostic and send us the log files.

  If the error message appears again, please run a diagnostic and send us the log files.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to make a diagnostic on my computer.

  ✓ I need to run a diagnostic on my computer.

  In English, we 'run' or 'perform' a diagnostic; we do not use the verb 'make'.

• ✗ The software is running a diagnostics test.

  ✓ The software is running a diagnostic test.

  When used as an adjective modifying a noun like 'test', 'diagnostic' should be singular, or you can simply say 'running a diagnostic'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• When the server went offline, the engineer had to ___ to identify the source of the crash.

  💡 Execute a technical system test.

  Show answer

  run a diagnostic

• It is good practice to ___ on your hard drive once a month to ensure there are no corrupt files.

  💡 Perform a software health check.

  Show answer

  run a diagnostic