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"The computer book of the month is The Bios Companion by Phil Croucher. Long-time readers of this column will recall I have recommended his book before. This tells you everything you ought to know about the BIOS in your system. Post codes, options, upgrades, you name it.

Years ago, I called an earlier edition of this invaluable and I see no reason to change my view. Recommended."

Jerry Pournelle
Byte Magazine

"Croucher's book was invaluable 20 years ago and remains so today...... Every one of the 468 pages holds useful information, the author having zero tolerance for padding."

Davey Winder
PC Plus Magazine

"You've completerly impressed me with the quality and scope of your guides - extreme care has obviously gone into their research and preparation."

Jeremy Fleming

"His style is lovely: clear, jargon-free where possible, chatty and friendly with beautiful short paragraphs. It [Communications & Networks] joins my list of 'I wish I'd written it' books. I haven't come across such a good subject book in a long time at this price."

Lorna Kyle
Personal Computer World

"To any micro owner who wants to know what this comms business is all about, [Communications & Networks] is certainly one of the best around. ... Croucher is not only knowledgable about his subject, he's interested in it and communicates that interest to you. "

Ron Peck
New Computer Express

"There are few books about which explain as accurately and comprehensively as [Communications & Networks] does what communications are all about. The glossary is excellent."

Micro Decision

"...any PC user with a genuine interest in using his machine to its full potential will recognise [Communications & Networks] for the completely invaluable tool and often the inspiration that it is."

Yvonne Taylor
Which PC

"[Communications & Networks] is the type of book you can read on a bus or train without getting a headache from trying to understand what it means."

Network

"As a recently reformed computer illiterate myself, I appreciated the author's straighforward yet humourous and light-hearted style of writing. He manages to strike the balance between too much and too little information. ... [Computing Under Protest] is never in danger of either boring or confusing the reader."

Emma Tyrrall
Practical PC

"Good documentation is important for any software, but even more so for an operating system - the documentation [for DOS 386 Professional] has some exceptionally clear explanations. Altogether, the documentation is an example of the right way of doing things, and other software manufacturers would do well to take note."

Matthew Holbrook
Computer Shopper

"The DOS 386 Professional manual sets arrived at 2130 local time today. We have had a brief look at them and wish to congratulate IMS on the excellent, clear and concise manner in which they have been presented."

Fred Parker
ETL Soft

"I remain impressed by Mr. Croucher's fluid writing style, practical orientation, enthusiasm, and strong technical knowledge."

Lance A Leventhal
Slawson Communications, Inc



JAR Professional Pilot Studies

"Its real value lies in taking the plethora of booklets and ring-bound photocopies associated with commercial examinations and condensing them into an attractive and portable form. The guy really does deserve a medal ~ he has made a genuine contribution to the body of professional aviation literature assembled during the course of the last century.

I heartily recommend it to students of commercial flight, if only as a souvenir of their efforts... "

Colin Hilton
Pro Pilot's Rumour Network

"(The) Book is quite a good compliment to our notes for students. We will be recommending all our students buy the books.... "

Chris
Naples Air Centre

"I got your book last month and am in the process of ploughing through it! Actually, I really like it and find it very interesting and easy to read."

Simon Rouse

"So far I have found your book an extremely helpful reference manual to carry around in my flight bag."

Blair Clubley

"I wish to commend you on a "work of art". I wish the CAA would produce a quick reference easy to read manual such as yours. Truly wonderful!"

Ebrahim Parkar
 
Post Codes
 Acer
 ALR
 AMI
 Arche
 AST
 AT&T
  Award
 Chips & Technologies
 Compaq
 Dell
 DTK
 Eurosoft/Mylex
  Faraday A-Tease
 HP
 IBM
 Intel
 Landmark
 Microid/MR
 NCR 		 Olivetti
 Philips
 Phoenix
 Quadtel
 Supersoft
 Tandon
 Zenith

Dell POST Codes

OEM version of Phoenix, Port 80. Also uses Smartvu display on front.

Note: Not all POST codes are included below - the latest information is in the The BIOS Companion, which contains over 100 pages of them.


Beep Codes

 

1 - 2 No video card detected Reseat the video card
1 - 2 - 2 - 3 BIOS ROM checksum error  
1 - 3 - 1 - 1 DRAM refresh error Reseat the memory modules
1 - 3 - 1 - 3 8742 Keyboard Controller error Reseat the keyboard connector
1 - 3 - 3 - 1 Memory defective or not present Reseat the memory modules
1 - 3 - 4 - 1 RAM failure on line xxx Reseat the memory modules
1 - 3 - 4 - 3 RAM failure on data bits xxx of low byte on memory bus Reseat the memory modules
1 - 4 - 1 - 1 RAM failure on data bits xxx of high byte on memory bus Reseat the memory modules

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Messages

 

nnnn Cache RAM Passed nnnn KB of system cache RAM has been successfully tested  
nnnn Extended RAM Passed nnnn KB of extended RAM has been tested  
nnnn Shadow RAM Passed nnnn KB of shadow RAM has been successfully tested  
nnnn System RAM Passed nnnn KB of system RAM has been successfully tested  
CD-ROM drive Identified The systems automatic drive type detection feature has identified the CD-ROM drive  
Diskette drive A error; Diskette drive B Error Drive A or B is present but has failed the BIOS POST Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the chassis and detected correctly in the system setup
Entering Setup The system is starting the system setup program  
Extended RAM Failed at offset: nnnn Extended memory is not working correctly or is not configured correctly at offset: nnnn IF you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s)
Failing bits: nnnn nnnn is a map of the bits at RAM address that failed the memory test.  Each 1 in the map indicates a failed bit If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s)
Fixed Disk n Failure; Fixed Disk Controller Failure The hard drive specified by n is not working or not configured correctly Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the chassis and defined coracle in the system setup program
Fixed Disk n Identified The system's automatic drive type detection feature has identified the hard disk drive(s)  
Incorrect Drive x type - Run Setup Diskette drive x is not correctly identified in the system setup program Ensure that the drive is defined correctly in the system setup program
Invalid NVRAM media type The system is having a problem accessing NVRAM (CMOS) Set the configuration jumper to Maintenance mode and restart the system to return all settings to their defaults
Invalid system configuration data The system configuration information is the system setup program is incorrect, or the battery charge may be low Enter the system setup program and verify the system configuration, then restart the system
Keyboard controller error The keyboard controller failed it's test If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s)
Keyboard error The keyboard is not working correctly The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced
Keyboard error nn The BIOS has detected a stuck key represented by scan code nn Make sure nothing is resting on the keyboard.  If a key appears to be stuck, carefully pry it up.  if the problem persists, you may need to replace the keyboard
Mouse initialized The system's mouse has been found and initialized  
Operating system not found The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C Enter the system setup program and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified
Parity check 1 nnnn A parity error has been detected on the system bus.  The BIOS attempts to locate the address and display it nnnn.  If it cannot locate the address, it displays ???? instead If you receive this message after making changes in the setup program, enter the program and restore the original values(s)
Parity check 2 nnnn A parity error has been detected on the I/O bus.  The BIOS attempts to locate the address and display it nnnn.  If it cannot locate the address, it displays ???? instead If you receive this message after making changes in the setup program, enter the program and restore the original values(s)
Press <F1> to resume, <F2> to Setup This message is displayed after a recoverable error message Press <F1> to start the boot routine or <F2> to enter the system setup program and change any settings
Press <Del> to enter SETUP Optional message displayed during POST Id desired, press <Del> to enter the system setup program
Previous boot incomplete - Default configuration used After a unsuccessful boot, POST loads default values There may be incorrect values or incorrect settings in the system setup program.  Run the system setup program and attempt to restore the incorrect settings.  If the message reappears, set the configuration jumper to Maintenance mode and restart the system to return all settings to their defaults
Real time clock error The RTC has failed the BIOS test If you receive this message after making changes in the setup program, enter the program and restore the original values(s)
Resource allocation conflict on motherboard The system cannot configure all system board devices without a resource conflict Run the system setup program and try to resolve any obvious resource conflicts.  If the message reappears, set the configuration jumper to Maintenance mode and restart the system to return all settings to their defaults
Shadow RAM failed at offset: nnnn Shadow RAM has failed at offset nnnn in the 64KB block in which the error was detected If you receive this message after making changes in the setup program, enter the program and restore the original values(s)
System battery is dead - Replace and run SETUP The CMOS clock battery indicator shows the battery is dead Replace the battery and run the system setup program to reconfigure the system
System BIOS shadowed The system BIOS has been copied to shadow RAM  
System cache error - cache disabled RAM cache failed the BIOS test.  The BIOS has disabled the cache If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original settings
System CMOS checksum bad - run SETUP System CMOS has been corrupted or modified incorrectly, perhaps by an application program that changes data stored in CMOS Run the system setup program and reconfigure the system by either reverting to the default values or by making your own selections
System RAM failed at offset: nnnn System RAM failed at offset nnnn in the 64KB block in which the error was detected If you receive this message after making changes in the setup program, enter the program and restore the original values(s)
System timer error The timer test failed If you receive this message after making changes in the setup program, enter the program and restore the original values(s)
UMB Upper limit segment address: nnnn Displays the address nnnn of the upper limit of the UMB, indicating released segments of the BIOS which may be reclaimed by a virtual memory manager  
Video BIOS shadowed The video BIOS has been successfully copied to shadow RAM  

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 POST Codes

 

01 CPU register test in progress
02 CMOS read/write test failed
03 BIOS ROM checksum bad
04 8254 programmable interrupt controller failed
05 DMA controller initialization failed
06 DMA page-register test failed
08 RAM refresh verification failed
09 Starting first-64K RAM test
0A First-64KB RAM IC or data line bad
0B First-64KB RAM odd/even logic bad
0C First-64KB address line bad
0D First-64KB parity error
10 Bit 0 bad in first 64KB
11 Bit 1 bad in first 64KB
12 Bit 2 bad in first 64KB
13 Bit 3 bad in first 64KB
14 Bit 4 bad in first 64KB
15 Bit 5 bad in first 64KB
16 Bit 6 bad in first 64KB
17 Bit 7 bad in first 64KB
18 Bit 8 bad in first 64KB
19 Bit 9 bad in first 64KB
1A Bit 10 bad in first 64KB
1B Bit 11 bad in first 64KB
1C Bit 12 bad in first 64KB
1D Bit 13 bad in first 64KB
1E Bit 14 bad in first 64KB
1F Bit 15 bad in first 64KB
20 Slave DMA register bad
21 Master DMA register bad
22 Master interrupt-mask register bad
23 Slave interrupt-mask register bad
25 Loading interrupt vectors
27 Keyboard-controller test failed
28 CMOS RAM battery bad
29 CMOS configuration validation in progress
2B Video-memory test failed
2C Video initialization failure
2D Video-retrace failure
2E Searching for a video ROM
30 Switching to video ROM
31 Monochrome operation OK
32 Color (CGA) operation OK
33 Color operation OK
34 Timer-tick interrupt in progress (or bad)
35 CMOS shutdown test in progress (or bad)
36 Gate A20 bad
37 Unexpected interrupt in protected mode
38 RAM test in progress or high address line is bad
3A Interval timer channel 2 bad
3B Time-of-day test bad
3C Serial-port test bad
3D Parallel -port test bad
3E Math co-processor test bad
3F Cache-memory test bad

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