What Is POST?

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What Is POST?
De inition of POST and an explanation of different types of POST errors

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by Tim Fisher 166

Updated August 19, 2019

POST, short for Power On Self Test, 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.
Windows
Computers aren't the only devices that run a POST. Some appliances, medical
Key Concepts equipment, and other devices also run very similar self-tests after being powered
Computer Concepts on.

File Types
Note: You might also see POST abbreviated as P.O.S.T., but probably not
too often anymore. The word "post" in the technology world also refers to Close
Command Line
an article or message that's been posted online. POST, as is explained in
Have something helpful to add? Leave a
Basics this article, has nothing at all to do with the internet-related term.
comment below! Moderated by Lifewire
staff.
Guides & Tutorials

Installing & Upgrading The Role of POST in the Startup Process Comments Community 
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A Power On Self Test is the irst step of the boot sequence. It doesn't matter if you've Recommend t Tweet f Share
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just restarted your computer or if you've just powered it on for the irst time in days;
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the POST is going to run, regardless.

POST doesn't rely on any speci ic operating system. In fact, there doesn't even need Start the discussion…
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 software. LOG IN WITH

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. OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?

The computer will continue to 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 one.

If the POST inds 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
process.

Problems During the POST

Remember that the Power On Self Test is just that - a self-test. Just about anything
that might prevent the computer from continuing to start will prompt some kind of
error.

Errors might come in the form of lashing 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.

If some part of the POST fails, you'll know very soon after powering on your
computer, but how you ind out depends on the type, and severity, of the problem.

For example, 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 test card.

On 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 ind a suitable hard drive to boot
from.

Certain types of failures during the POST might not produce an error at all, or the
error may hide behind a computer manufacturer's logo.

Since issues during the POST are so varied, you may need a troubleshooting guide
speci ic to them.

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