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- POST CODE MASTER
- Version 1.0
-
- ╔═════════════════════════╡ INFORMATION SCREEN ╞══════════════════════════╗
- ║ ║
- ║ POST CODE MASTER ║
- ║ ║
- ║ By: ║
- ║ ║
- ║ MicroSystems Development, Inc. ║
- ║ 4100 Moorpark Ave. Suite #104 ║
- ║ San Jose, CA 95117 USA ║
- ║ ║
- ║ Phone: (408)296-4000 ║
- ║ FAX: 408-296-5877 ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ 1.0 WHAT ARE POST CODES? ║
- ║ ║
- ║ POST is an acronym which stands for Power On Self Test. This ║
- ║ is a procedure that the internal Basic Input/Output Software, ║
- ║ or BIOS of a PC performs every time it is powered on. The ║
- ║ software checks, tests and initializes various hardware ║
- ║ subsystems. Before entering each step, the BIOS writes a 2 ║
- ║ digit indentifying code to an external address. This code is ║
- ║ commonly referred to as a POST code. The early IBM PC and XT ║
- ║ computer BIOS's did not generate these codes, but AT class ║
- ║ (286, 386, and 486) computers do. IBM compatible computer ║
- ║ makers usually use a BIOS from a third party, such as one of ║
- ║ the ones listed in the BIOS manufacturer list in this program. ║
- ║ When one of the tests fails, the last POST code generated will ║
- ║ indicate the failure. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ 2.0 WHAT ARE BEEP CODES? ║
- ║ ║
- ║ In addition to the POST codes, many BIOS's generate different ║
- ║ types of beeps on the PC's speaker. The type and number of ║
- ║ beeps indicate what component of the system has failed. This ║
- ║ will give you an indication of a failure even when other ║
- ║ critical components of the system do not work. Sometimes beep ║
- ║ codes are associated with a POST codes also, but even BIOS's ║
- ║ that do not generate POST codes, may generate beep codes. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ Some beep codes are simply a certain number of beeps and are ║
- ║ listed as 1 beep, 2 beeps, etc. Some are a combination of low ║
- ║ and high tones, and some are a series of long and short beeps. ║
- ║ Still others are a series of beeps and pauses. These are shown ║
- ║ as 3-2-1, which means 3 beeps, pause, 2 beeps, pause, 1 beep. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ 3.0 WHAT IS POST CODE MASTER? ║
- ║ ║
- ║ POST CODE MASTER consists of both a software and a hardware ║
- ║ product. The software portion is this program which guides ║
- ║ you through a database of the POST and beep codes that are ║
- ║ generated by various BIOS manufacturers. POST CODE MASTER ║
- ║ hardware is a plug in card which displays the POST codes ║
- ║ generated by the BIOS. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ If you are trying to repair or troubleshoot a system, use the ║
- ║ POST CODE MASTER display card to display the POST Code, then ║
- ║ look up its meaning in this database to pinpoint the problem. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ Software hints: If you are unsure of the type of BIOS in the ║
- ║ system, select the code in question, then select the BIOS ║
- ║ window and compare the descriptions of that code for different ║
- ║ manufacturers. To locate a code quickly, select the POST code ║
- ║ window and type the code using the keyboard. If the code is ║
- ║ not used by a particular BIOS, it will show "Not Defined". ║
- ║ ║
- ║ The POST CODE MASTER display card contains two 7-segment LED ║
- ║ displays which show the POST code exactly as they are shown by ║
- ║ this program. It also has 4 LED indicators to detect the ║
- ║ presence of +/- 5 volts and +/- 12 volts, to help identify ║
- ║ power supply problems. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ ║
- ║ │ +5 -5 +12 -12 ┌─┐ ┌─┐ │ ┌─── ║
- ║ │ o o o o ├─┤ ├─┤ │ │ ║
- ║ │ └─┘ └─┘ ╞═╡ ║
- ║ │ │ │ ║
- ║ │ P O S T C O D E M A S T E R │ │ ║
- ║ │ │ │ ║
- ║ │ by │ │ ║
- ║ │ │ │ ║
- ║ │ MicroSystems Development │ │ ║
- ║ │ │ │ ║
- ║ │ ╞═╡ ║
- ║ │ │ │ ║
- ║ │ ┌──────┘ │ ║
- ║ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ║
- ║ └───────────────────────────────┘ │ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ Figure 1. The POST CODE MASTER Display Card ║
- ║ ║
- ║ The POST CODE MASTER display card is a low cost troubleshooting ║
- ║ tool that will pay for itself the first time it is used! ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ COPYRIGHT NOTICE ║
- ║ ║
- ║ The screen format and method of data presentation used in this ║
- ║ program is a copyright of MicroSystems Development and may not ║
- ║ be copied or reproduced. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ You may however, copy and distribute unmodified copies of ║
- ║ this program freely, provided that you charge no more than a ║
- ║ nominal fee and it is not sold or distributed in conjunction ║
- ║ with any other product. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ DISCLAIMER ║
- ║ ║
- ║ The information contained in this program is believed to be ║
- ║ accurate and was obtained from reliable sources, however, this ║
- ║ program is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, ║
- ║ either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the ║
- ║ implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a ║
- ║ particular purpose. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ TRADEMARKS ║
- ║ ║
- ║ 486 is a trademark of Intel Coporation. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ AMI is a trademark of American Megatrends, Inc. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ Award is a trademark of Award Software, Inc. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ COMPAQ is a trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ IBM, PC, XT, and AT are trademarks of International Business ║
- ║ Machines, Inc. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ MR BIOS is a trademark of Microid Research. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ Phoenix is a trademark of Phoenix Technologies, Inc. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ POST CODE MASTER is a trademark of MicroSystems Development. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ Quadtel is a trademark of Quadtel Corporation. ║
- ║ ║
- ║ *** END OF INFORMATION SCREEN *** ║
- ║ ║
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