analog_programmer wrote on 2025-01-27, 13:15:

Guys, do you know if the last POST code displayed by these chinese POST analyzer cards is for the BIOS booting routine that was completed successfully or is it for the one where the error occurred?

In my opinion the last code says where it is blocked, so the Post that does not exceed, then anyway you have to understand why it stops there, that is, if it depends on a hardware failure or a software problem (see BIOS), but usually in the booklet of the post card, you find most of the codes and their explanations.

PC@LIVE wrote on 2025-01-27, 13:41:

In my opinion the last code says where it is blocked, so the Post that does not exceed, then anyway you have to understand why it stops there, that is, if it depends on a hardware failure or a software problem (see BIOS), but usually in the booklet of the post card, you find most of the codes and their explanations.

I also thought so, but now I can't find any logical explanation for relation between the boot stop at "41" POST code and the BIOS checksum error according to those POST code descriptions (for Award BIOS ver. 4.51PG) and the boot routine sequence (for Award BIOS versions > 4.2) from https://blog.theretroweb.com/2024/01/20/award … post-codes-list

The "user manual" for these chinese POST analyzer cards is just a piece of useless sh...paper 😁

analog_programmer wrote on 2025-01-27, 14:23:

PC@LIVE wrote on 2025-01-27, 13:41:

In my opinion the last code says where it is blocked, so the Post that does not exceed, then anyway you have to understand why it stops there, that is, if it depends on a hardware failure or a software problem (see BIOS), but usually in the booklet of the post card, you find most of the codes and their explanations.

I also thought so, but now I can't find any logical explanation for relation between the boot stop at "41" POST code and the BIOS checksum error according to those POST code descriptions (for Award BIOS ver. 4.51PG) and the boot routine sequence (for Award BIOS versions > 4.2) from https://blog.theretroweb.com/2024/01/20/award … post-codes-list

The "user manual" for these chinese POST analyzer cards is just a piece of useless sh...paper 😁

Well the explanation was written by Jan, I don't know if it's the same brand of BIOS, however it is possible to avoid reprogramming the chip, simply by connecting a floppy reader, and rewriting the BIOS from floppy, but you need to have an ISA video card, but having a programmer, you avoid reading problems (due to defective sectors of the floppy), and you waste less time.
The paper booklet is what it is, but even if it was precise in the explanation, you still have to understand that, if for example it indicates a memory problem, it will never be able to tell you if a track is interrupted.

PC@LIVE, Jan's explanation is what you both have discovered from the practice and I don't dispute that. It just doesn't correspond to descriptions about Award BIOS ver. 4.5x POST codes and boot routine sequence in TRW's blog in any logical way. So, I question the Award BIOS POST code information on the blog - it is either incomplete or partially wrong.

The chinese POST code analyzer card's "user manual"... I don't even want to comment on it! There are some AMI and Award POST codes poured without even mentioning for which BIOS cores versions they are 😁