POST and BIOS

Computer Systems Servicing –

Module 1
Activity
Arrange these letters to come up with the correct answer
and think of a single word synonymous to the term you
found.
 The
Power - On Self -Test
(POST)
Power-On Self-Test (POST)

POST
01
is the initial set of
diagnostic tests
performed by the
computer right after it's
powered on, with the
intent to check for any
hardware related
issues.
Power-On Self-Test (POST)

POST
01
When power is turned on,
POST (Power-On Self-Test)
is the diagnostic testing
sequence that a
computer's basic
input/output system runs
to determine if the
computer keyboard,
random access memory,
disk drives, and other
hardware are working
Did you know?

A Power On Self -Test is the

first step of the boot
sequence. It doesn't
matter if you've just
restarted your computer or
if you've just powered it on
for the first time in days;
the POST is going to run,
Did you know?

POST doesn't rely on any

specific operating system.
In fact, there doesn't even
need to be an OS installed
on a hard drive for the
POST to run. This is
because the test is
handled by the system's
BIOS, not any installed
Did you know?

A Power On Self-Test
checks that basic system
devices are present and
working properly, like the
keyboard and other
peripheral devices, and
other hardware elements
like the processor, storage
devices, and memory.
The Roles of POST in the Startup Process

The computer will continue to

01 boot after the POST but only if
it was successful. Problems
can certainly appear after the
POST, like Windows hanging
during startup, but most of
the time those can be
attributed to an operating
system or software problem,
not a hardware
The Roles of POST in the Startup Process

02 If the POST finds

something wrong
during its test, you'll
usually get an error of
some kind, and
hopefully, one clear
enough to help jump-
start the
troubleshooting
Problems During the POST

Errors might come in the

form of flashing LEDs,
audible beeps, or error
messages on the
monitor, all of which are
technically referred to as
POST codes, beep
codes, and on-screen
POST error messages,
respectively.
Problems During the POST

01 If some part of the POST

fails, you'll know very
soon after powering on
your computer, but how
you find out depends on
the type and severity, of
the problem.
Problems During the POST

02 If the problem lies with

the video card, and
therefore you can't see
anything on the monitor,
then looking for an error
message wouldn't be as
helpful as listening for a
beep code or reading a
POST code with a POST
Problems During the POST

03 In MacOS computers, POST

errors often appear as an
icon or another graphic
instead of an actual error
message. For example, a
broken folder icon after
starting up your Mac may
mean that the computer
can't find a suitable hard
Problems During the POST
If your computer has an irregular POST or a beep code not
mentioned above, use the following POST TROUBLESHOOTING
STEPS to determine the failing hardware component.

1. Remove New Hardware 6. Check all Fans

2. Remove Any Disks or USB Device 7. Check all Cables

3. Disconnect External Devices 8. Disconnect all Expansion Cards

4. Reconnect and Check Power Cords 9. Disconnect all Drivers

5. Identify Beep Code 10. Remove the RAM

Common Beep Codes and their Message
Table 1: IBM Beep Codes
 IBM POST INTERFACE
(International Business Machines Corporation)
Common Beep Codes and their Message
Table 2: AMI Beep Codes
 AMI POST INTERFACE
(American Megatrends, Inc.)
Common Beep Codes and their Message
Table 3: Award Beep Codes
AWARD POST INTERFACE
Common Beep Codes and their Message
Table 4: Phoenix Beep Codes
PHOENIX POST INTERFACE
 Do you have
any Questions?
 The
Basic Input Output
System (BIOS)
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

BIOS
01
BIOS, which stands for
Basic Input Output
System, is a small piece
of code programmed on
an erasable,
programmable, read-
only memory (EPROM)
chip on the
motherboard.
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

BIOS
01
It's BIOS that's
responsible for the
POST and therefore
makes it the very
first software to run
when a computer is
started.
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

BIOS
01
The BIOS firmware
is non-volatile,
meaning that its
settings are saved
and recoverable
even after power
has been removed
from the device.
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

BIOS
02
BIOS is accessed
and configured
through the BIOS
Setup Utility. The
BIOS Setup Utility is,
for all practical
purposes, the BIOS
itself.
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

BIOS
02
All available
options in BIOS
are configurable
through the BIOS
Setup Utility.
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

BIOS
02
Unlike an operating
system like Windows,
which is often
downloaded or obtained
on a disc and needs to
be installed by the user
or manufacturer, BIOS
comes installed from the
moment the machine is
manufactured.
BIOS Setup Screen Overview

Main
01
Provides general
product
information,
including BIOS,
processor,
system memory,
and system
BIOS Setup Screen Overview

Advanced
02
Configuration
information for
the CPU,
memory, IDE,
Super IO, trusted
computing, USB,
PCI, MPS and
BIOS Setup Screen Overview

Security
03
Set or change
the user and
supervisor
passwords.
BIOS Setup Screen Overview

Boot
04
Configure the
boot device
priority
(storage drives
and the DVD-
ROM drive)
BIOS Setup Screen Overview

Exit
05
Save changes
and exit, discard
changes and exit,
discard changes,
or load optimal or
fail-safe defaults.
Application Software
Computer Systems Servicing –
Module 1
Software

A set of instructions (also called a

program) that guides the hardware
to operate effectively.
Types of Software:

System Software
01
Any software required to
support the production or
execution of application
programs but not specific
to any particular
application. Common
operating systems
include Windows,
Macintosh OS, OS/2, and
UNIX.
Types of Software:

Application Software
02
Designed to help
the user to
perform singular
or multiple
related tasks.
Examples of Application Software

2.1 Word Processing Software

Creates, edits, saves, and
prints documents. This also
serves as an electronic
typewriter and even more.
With word processors, the
user can quickly produce
quality documents like memos
and reports.
Example: MS Word, WordPerfect, Ami Pro,
MacWrite.
Examples of Application Software

2.2 Spreadsheet Software

An electronic
spreadsheet consisting
of rows and columns is
used to present and
analyze data.
Example: MS Excel, Lotus 123, Quattro Pro.
Examples of Application Software

2.3 Database Management Software

Used to structure a
database, an extensive
collection of computer
programs. Data is
organized as fields and
records for easy retrieval.
Example: MS Access, dBase, Fox Pro, Oracle.
Examples of Application Software

2.4 Presentation Software

These are programs
that allow users to
create an electronic
presentation for
reports and other
functions.
Examples of Application Software

2.5 Desktop Publishing Software

This allows the user to
create page makeups
and do simple
typesetting to produce
various materials,
such as books,
pamphlets, reports,
and booklets.
Examples of Application Software

2.6 Reference Software

These are
electronic versions
of various
references such as
encyclopedia,
almanacs, atlases,
dictionaries,
Examples of Application Software

2.7 Graphics Programs

These allow the
creation and
manipulation of
graphics, images,
objects, and pictures.
Some of the common
graphics programs
are CorelDraw,
Photoshop, and
Examples of Application Software

2.8 Educational Software

These include
tutorials and
electronic lessons
that give students
knowledge or training
in a particular subject
or skill, such as Math
or Science or
gardening or cooking.
Examples of Application Software

2.1 Network Software

0 These are programs
that make it possible
for computers in
different areas to be
connected, allowing
their users to
communicate with
each other.
Example: Skype, Zoom, Google meet,
yahoo messenger
Examples of Application Software

2.1 Programming Software

1 software is a tool to
make software using
different
programming
languages.
Example: Java, C++
Types of Software:

Utility Software
03
often referred to as
utility, is a system
software designed to
help analyze,
configure, optimize, or
maintain a computer
and enhance its
performance.
4 Types of Utility Software

3.1 System Utilities

it is a software
application that helps
optimized and maintain
a computer just like an
anti-virus, memory
testers, package
managers, network
utilities, and registry
cleaner
4 Types of Utility Software

3.2 File Management Utilities

utilities are used in
managing and
securing back up
files. The examples
are Archivers,
backup software,
data compression
utilities, and file
4 Types of Utility Software
Storage Device Management
3.3 Utilities
All the disk related
software utilities fall
into this type of
utility. They can be
disk checkers, disk
partition editors,
disk formatters, disk
space analyzers and
4 Types of Utility Software

3.4 Miscellaneous Utilities

All the remaining
utility software can
be included in this
type, for example,
data generators, hex
editors, HTML
checkers, and merge
programs.
Types of Software:

Device Driver
04
a computer program that
operates or controls a
particular type of device
attached to a computer.
Typical devices are
keyboards, printers,
scanners, digital cameras,
and external storage
devices; each of these
needs a driver to work
Types of Software:

Portable application Software

04
characterized as
standalone, it is designed
to run on a computer
without installing it. That
runs from a removable
storage device, such as a
USB flash drive. It does not
need to be installed on a
computer to run and does
not store data on the host
 Do you have
any Questions?