An authentication code for a diagnostic code is generated. In one aspect,
the authentication code includes a timestamp indicating when the
diagnostic generating the diagnostic code was run. In a further aspect,
the authentication code includes a serial number for a computer system
running the diagnostic. In a still further aspect, the authentication
code includes a serial number for a component being diagnosed. The
authentication code may be generated on the system being diagnosed, or it
may be obtained from a server communicably coupled to the system being
diagnosed. Additionally, the diagnostic code may be obtained from a file
residing on the computer system begin diagnosed, or on a server.