I'm trying something new with hardware

[atajay]

Hi, I'm always interested in learning more about how desktop and server hardware work. I want to pull POST codes from defective computers for the first time and I need a little help.

Little known fact: I figure if I have to use computers I might as well be the one that fixes them. That way my own computer always always works.

 

[rgd1101]

Hi, I'm always interested in learning more about how desktop and server hardware work. I want to pull POST codes from defective computers for the first time and I need a little help.

Little known fact: I figure if I have to use computers I might as well be the one that fixes them. That way my own computer always always works.

what do you mean by pull post code from defective computers?
does it boot? read the manual?

 

[atajay]

Hi, I'm always interested in learning more about how desktop and server hardware work. I want to pull POST codes from defective computers for the first time and I need a little help.

Little known fact: I figure if I have to use computers I might as well be the one that fixes them. That way my own computer always always works.

what do you mean by pull post code from defective computers?
does it boot? read the manual?

I'm an A+ instructor, yes i've read all the manuals.I have a group of Dells that don't show anything on the display on boot. They got that way from being disassembled/reassembled by students. The beep codes sound screwed up (I could not translate what I heard to what the manual says). So I figured it was time to get my first POST error capture card. My problem is that each POST card lists the different BIOS vendors it supports. The Dell manual and Dell BIOS don't list the vendor. I booted up a similar Dell into BIOS and the menus are generic without info on the BIOS software. None of the POST error cards specifically say that they support Dell. The computers are Optiplex 755s or similar.

Newegg lists one such card as "LCD PCI PC Diagnostic Analyzer Card Motherboard Post Tester"
That card supports:"AMI, Award & Phoenix"
I don't know if Dell uses any of those since it is not branded

Finally, I thought there is a possibility that I could use a standard PCI card then just intrerpret the codes using a table like the one available here that is Dell specific.

http://www.bioscentral.com/postcodes/dellbios.htm

 

[jarodatkinson]

How do you get the + certification?..... Is that a boss's office don't ask/don't tell situation? .... Would like to put that on my resume....

 

[atajay]

How do you get the + certification?..... Is that a boss's office don't ask/don't tell situation? .... Would like to put that on my resume....

That's so funny

 

[hang-the-9]

If you have systems that were taken apart and now don't work, especially by students, I would suspect broken CPU pins, RAM issues, damaged CPU, really could be anything. Error codes may tell you some general things, but you won't know if the CPU is bad or the socket for example if you get a CPU error code. And with nothing on the screen, there is really not much past physical issues that can cause that.

 

[atajay]

I just want to know if ANYONE knows if I can plug in a PCI POST card into a Dell and expect it to display Hex Codes. Since it's a class, I want to use a device such as this. And really, it doesn't matter why. I just want to plug in a PCI POST card into any Dell for any reason and get a hex code return. Since I've assembled and disassembled computers 100s of times I'm pretty aware it's my responsibility to see if jumpers have been put on fan headers etc etc etc.

 

[Alabalcho]

These "PCI Diagnostic cards" cost less than $10. Get one and try, for Pete' sake!

And as a side "bonus": PCI bus is joining the group of ISA, EISA, AGP buses...

 

[atajay]

Well, I went to a technical forum, and asked a technical question. Expected a technical answer. But since we are just posting asides, here's one. It doesn't bother me that I got 0 responses in two forums. Why? Because I couldn't answer the question myself. I have considerable experience in the day to day use of hardware. I don't buy equipment I can't use. It's really an aside that I personally feel that I've sent enough hardware to the landfill. I'm not going to send another card, regardless of cost, to the landfill if I can help it. So, there's your answer about why I won't buy a $10 card without first asking a technical question on a technical forum. I really don't see my sin here asking the question. Oh, and at my company approves all my hardware requests, every one. That's because I don't buy any equipment unless I'm sure it's gonna do something for the company.

I'm an instructor, I've been doing this a long time. I understand a constant flow of noobs. But I avoid forums like the plague because of non technical answers and 'free lectures' that in now way shed light on the question. This concludes my free lecture.