Night Owl 6

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Text File | 1991-06-06 | 12KB | 150 lines

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 *** ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝