Problem Solving 5-7Monitoring POSTEach time you turn on the system, the Power-On Self-Test (POST) runs automaticallyand checks the system board, processor board, memory, keyboard, and most installedperipheral devices.During the memory test, POST displays the amount of memory that it is able to accessand test. Depending on the amount of memory, it may take several minutes to completethe memory test.Press F2 to enter SETUP. If you do not press F2, the above message remains for a fewseconds and the boot process continues.If POST finds an error, it displays an error message and, in case there is a problem withthe display, it emits a series of long and short beeps. Write down any beep codeemitted. This information is useful to your service representative.Refer to the “BIOS User’s Information” section in this chapter for a list of items tocheck for each error code and for an explanation of the error beep codes.The POST Tests table at the end of this chapter lists keys active during POST andprovides a description of errors that may occur.The BIOS indicates errors by writing an error code to the PS/2-standard logging area inthe Extended BIOS Data Area, and by displaying a message on the screen, which issometimes preceded by the POST Error Code. The error code will also be logged to theEvent Logging area.Report any error code to your service representative.
