POST

POST

Expanded = Power On Self Test

When your computer boots up it goes through a process called POST.

You may have wondered in the past as to what is actually happening, well wonder no more Lindburgh is here to explain.

In brief it is a start up test for every computer to make sure it meets all of the system requirements, etc.

There are 10 steps ( Different actions ) in the POST

No. 1 Tests the power supply to make sure the computer is turned on and that it meets its reset signal.

No. 2 Checks to make sure the CPU (Central Processing Unit) can execute instructions.

No.s 3 & 4 Ensure that the BIOS are readable.

No.s 5 & 6 concentrate on the CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) to make sure they are readable.

No. 7 Tests the CPU to make sure it can read all the different forms of memory, for example :- The memory controller, The memory bus And the memory module.

No. 8 Your computer's memory is tested to make sure it is operational and that it can be read and written, as well as, capable of containing the POST code.

No.s 9 & 10 Deal with the I/O bus and controller. They are required to be accessible, and be able to write and read from the video system and to read all of the video RAM.

If these tests fail the POST will make a series of Beeps each composite of these Beeps have a code which tells the operator what is failing and where.

This will mean that you usually have to restart the computer

Now that’s a fat lot of good to you isn’t it ?

However, you at lease now know what is happening when the computer boots up, which should be some consolation although you can’t do anything about it if it goes belly up, other than re-boot. Am I not a cynic ?  