HP Diagnostic Tools

Module 1: POST Test

August 2021

1 Confidential
 HP Diagnostic Tools
Module map

Module 1: Module 4:
POST Test HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI

Module 2: Module 5:
HP Support Assistant Other Diagnostic Apps and Tools

Module 3:
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics for Windows

2
 Navigating the presentation

Interactivity
Attachments

URL links

Recommended training
Slide notes

Course resources
3 Confidential
 Module 1: POST Test
Learning map

• Diagnostic tools overview

• POST Test
• Post Test results

4
 What are diagnostic tools?
• Diagnose and fix hardware and network issues
• Includes:
– Tests that run as part of the BIOS
– Pre-boot utilities independent of the OS
– Support applications

5 Confidential
 Purpose of diagnostic tools
• Detect malfunctioning hardware
• Check hardware is functioning properly
• Check for software issues
• Provide alerts through error messages
– LEDs
– Beep codes
• Generate test logs

NOTE: Run diagnostics before replacing hardware. Check

with region for the local process.

6 Confidential
Type of HP diagnostic tools

Run as part of computer firmware Pre-boot diagnostic tool that uses the
UEFI specification and performs advanced
hardware tests

Built-in tool with automated fixes, Hardware diagnostics tests that run
updates, and support independently of the OS from bootable code
on external media

Diagnostic tool that run in the OS, but are

independent of the OS
- Windows 7, 8.1, 10 & 11 OS only
 Power-on self-test (POST)
What is it?
• Diagnostic tests that run automatically with system
power-on
• Stored in the NVRAM
• Provides alerts through error messages, LEDs or beep
codes
• First diagnostic resource

QuickBoot (configurable option)

Skips select POST tests

8
 What does it test?
• Installed hardware
• Memory
Intel Optane
• Cache cache

• PCI data path

• Flash ROM
Graphics card
• CPU Memory
module
• SCSI devices
• Power supply
• Graphics cards (PCI/AGP/PCI-Express)

Hard drive
CPU

9
 How does POST work?
Successful POST Unsuccessful POST

System boots into OS Error!

• Beep code
• LED code
• Error message

10
 Responding to a POST error
Click the icons to learn about how to respond to a POST error.
F2 key
F10 key
Ignore the message
and continue. F1 key

Run the HP PC
Hardware Diagnostics
UEFI.

Run F10 Setup to

correct a system
configuration error.

View details about Enter

the message.

11 Confidential
 Observing the computer at POST
During or after POST, check the following:
System boots?
• Initial screen display and cursor
• Computer does not boot after POST
LED codes? Sound and beep codes?
• Power LED—On or flashing • Hard drive and/or fan activity
• LEDs flash properly at start-up • Optical drive activity
• POST error codes—audible and visual

NOTE:
POST messages, LED codes, and beep codes are different for HP desktops, notebooks, and tables. To decode a POST error code for a
specific model, refer to the
• Maintenance and Service Guide for a specific model.
• LED codes for HP business computers, available on WISE

12
Customer scenario
A customer calls and complains that their computer is beeping but not starting up. Other than a malfunctioning part,
what could the most common causes of beep codes be?
Enter your answer in the space provided.
Customer scenario
A customer calls and complains that their computer is beeping but not starting up. Other than a malfunctioning part,
what could the most common causes of beep codes be?
Enter your answer in the space provided.

You should inform the customer that a common cause of LED and beep codes is heat-related failures
caused by a build-up of dust in critical cooling areas. Over time, dust can collect in a computer's cooling
vents and clog the pathways that are part of the thermal cooling design. This can cause heat-sensitive
components, such as the processor and memory modules, to overheat and fail. If the computer is
beeping but not starting up, advise the customer to check for and remove any dust that might have
accumulated around or inside the computer.
 Resources

URLs Recommended training

• HP Support Assistant • HP Support Assistant Fundamentals - HPSA 9.x (Course

• HP PC Hardware Diagnostics
• HP Support website
• WISE
• LED/beep code recovery actions for HP notebooks
• LED/beep code recovery actions for HP desktops
ID: 02020007)
• HP PC Hardware Diagnostics for Windows (Course ID:
01075376)
• HP Diagnostic Tools Overview (Course ID: 0001092656)
• HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI (HPU Course ID
00699664)

• HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (HP Supports Assistant)

15 Confidential
 Thank you

16 Confidential