Limitations to POST

[mattrix100]

What are the limitations to the Power-on Self-test setup?

Thanks

[Catso]

It can only be used at power up.

[kepla]

Just to clarify - you are asking about the limitations of the setup, not the POST itself - yes ? The POST program code is contained in the same memory chip as the BIOS code on most motherboards, so it will be up to whatever facilities for setting-up the POST that the BIOS provider chose to provide. If any are provided at all, they are usually limited to being able to skip some parts of the test, for example a full memory test or floating-point check, but often you don't see any provision to alter the POST set-up at all. The POST will be executed 'as it comes' and the machine will go straight on into initialising the BIOS and then initiating the op system boot (most often from disk). If you are monitoring the results of the POST by having what is known as a 'POST card' plugged into a PCI slot then the limitations as to how you can set it up should be explained in the manual which came with the card. You can probably access the details on-line if it is missing.