The Power On Self Test
When the system is powered on, the BIOS will perform diagnostics and initialize
system components, including the video system. (This is self-evident when the
screen first flicks before the Video Card header is displayed). This is commonly
referred as POST (Power-On Self Test).
Afterwards, the computer will proceed its final boot-up stage by calling the
operating system. Just before that, the user may interrupt to have access to
SETUP.
To allow the user to alter the CMOS settings, the BIOS provides a little program,
SETUP. Usually, setup can be entered by pressing a special key combination (DEL,
ESC, CTRL-ESC, or CRTL-ALT-ESC) at boot time (Some BIOSes allow you to enter
setup at any time ...
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very little technical
explanation.
A Typical BIOS POST Sequence
Most BIOS POST sequences occur along four stages:
1. Display some basic information about the video card like its brand,
video BIOS version and video memory available.
2. Display the BIOS version and copyright notice in upper middle screen.
You will see a large sequence of numbers at the bottom of the screen. This
sequence is the .
3. Display memory count. You will also hear tick sounds if you have enabled
it (see Memory Test Tick Sound section).
4. Once the POST have succeeded and the BIOS is ready to call the operating
system (DOS, OS/2, NT, WIN95, etc.) you will see a basic table of the system's
configurations:
· Main Processor: The type of CPU identified by the BIOS. Usually Cx386DX,
Cx486DX, etc..
· Numeric Processor: Present if you have a FPU or None on the contrary. If
you have a FPU and the BIOS does not recognize it, see section Numeric Processor
Test in Advanced CMOS Setup.
· Floppy Drive A: The drive ...
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section in
Advanced CMOS Setup.
AMI BIOS POST Errors
During the POST routines, which are performed each time the system is powered on,
errors may occur. Non-fatal errors are those which, in most cases, allow the
system to continue the boot up process. The error messages normally appear on
the screen.
Fatal errors are those which will not allow the system to continue the boot-up
procedure. If a fatal error occurs, you should consult with your system
manufacturer or dealer for possible repairs. These errors are usually
communicated through a series of audible beeps. The numbers on the fatal error
list correspond to the number of beeps for the corresponding error. All errors
listed, with ...
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The Power On Self Test. (2008, December 24). Retrieved October 31, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Power-On-Self-Test/95139
"The Power On Self Test." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 24 Dec. 2008. Web. 31 Oct. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Power-On-Self-Test/95139>
"The Power On Self Test." Essayworld.com. December 24, 2008. Accessed October 31, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Power-On-Self-Test/95139.
"The Power On Self Test." Essayworld.com. December 24, 2008. Accessed October 31, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Power-On-Self-Test/95139.
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