IBM 6866 Personal Computer User Manual


 
Diagnostics and test information
The following tools are available to help identify and
resolve hardware-related problems:
Power-on self-test (POST)
POST Beep Codes
Error Code Format
IBM PC Enhanced Diagnostics
Power-on self-test (POST)
Each time you power-on the system, it performs a series of
tests that check the operation of the system and some
options. This series of tests is called the
power-on
self-test
, or
POST
. POST does the following:
Checks some basic system-board operations
Checks the memory operation
Starts the video operation
Verifies that the diskette drive is working
Verifies that the hard disk drive is working
If the POST finishes without detecting any problems, a
single beep sounds and the first screen of your operating
system or application program appears.
Note
Type 6584/6594 computers default to come up quiet
(No beep and no memory count and checkpoint code
display) when no errors are detected by POST.
To enable Beep and memory count and checkpoint
code display when a successful POST occurs:
1. Enable Power on Status in setup. See “Setup
Utility program” on page 41.
If the POST detects a problem, an error message appears
on your screen. A single problem can cause several error
messages to appear. When you correct the cause of the
first error message, the other error messages probably will
not appear on the screen the next time you turn on the
system.
POST beep codes
The Power On Self-Test generates a beeping sound to
indicate successful completion of POST or to indicate that
the tests detect an error.
One beep and the appearance of text on the display
indicates successful completion of the POST. More than
one beep indicates that the POST detects an error.
32 IBM PC 300/IntelliStation Vol 3 HMM