POST, or Power on Self Test, is a series of tests done by a computer, router or printer before booting up and is done every time a computer is turned on. POST is controlled by your computer’s BIOS, and similar to BIOS, POST also uses BEEPS to communicate boot up problems. For more information, on the BIOS beep errors, please see the BIOS Beep Error post.
When detected, the POST error will cause a beep and then may also display an error code on the screen. POST errors are generated from a problem with the tests that automatically happen during the boot up process. The BIOS generates the errors in the POST and a series of beeps that may include a number code will be generated. The beep codes in addition to the error message can be used to determine what the problem is, and hopefully offer a simple solution.
POST error codes are different from system error codes. Although the codes may share numbers with some common error messages such as the STOP code or system error code, POST codes have very different meanings and solutions than other error codes. A POST error code is a code generated using the hexadecimal number system, which is a number system that uses 16 symbols to represent values and is common in computer language.
There are hundreds of different beep codes. The specifics of the beeps and the meaning of them will depend largely on your system. Many operating systems are similar but not exact in the beep codes used to identify an error. If you are attempting to troubleshoot through a POST error, be sure you are using the information as it relates to your specific system.
Understanding how BIOS and POST works is the best first step to being an informed computer user. For example: in IBM computers, two short beeps indicate one of many general POST errors. When an error occurs the computer will generate the beeps along with the specific error code that is displayed on the computer screen. Also specific to IBM computers, a continuous beep indicates that a power supply or a keyboard problem exists. Errors such as these are very simple to fix. A power supply may be unplugged or the keyboard may be detached.
Often, POST errors provide specific information that can be easily understood, allowing the user to repair the problem quickly and easily. Other errors indicate much more serious problems, such as one long and one short beep, which indicates system board issues, and four beeps indicating a motherboard timing issue. The more serious errors will require the assistance of a trained technician.
Knowing your system information and what the beep codes mean can give you the knowledge you need to fix the simple things yourself and leave the more complex errors to the trained professionals.
Its really informative to know that POST, or Power on Self Test, is a series of tests done by a computer, router or printer before booting up and is done every time a computer is turned on. POST is controlled by your computer’s BIOS, and similar to BIOS, POST also uses BEEPS to communicate boot up problems.Thanks for sharing such an information rich blog.
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