Hardware FAQ Part 4



S) 7.0 Diagnostics



Q) 7.1  What do the POST beeps mean?

This section contains information on the following:



	IBM

	AMI 

	Phoenix

	DTK/ERSO XT BIOS

	MR BIOS

	Mylex 386 System BIOS

	Quadtel AT Compatible BIOS



[From: Shaun Burnett (burnesa@cat.com)]

 

POST (Power-On Self Test) beeps signal something is wrong with your

system.  The meaning of these beeps is BIOS dependent.  Below are the

audio codes for IBM, AMI, and Phoenix BIOS's.



IBM

Beep(s)                 Errant device

No beep                 Power supply, system board

1 short beep            System OK

2 short beeps           POST Error displayed on monitor

Repeating short beeps   Power supply, system board

3 long beeps            3270 keyboard card

1 long, 1 short beeps   System board

1 long, 2 short beeps   Display adapter (MDA, CGA)

1 long, 3 short beeps   EGA

Continuous beep         Power supply, system board





AMI

Beep(s)                 Failure

1 short                 DRAM refresh

2 short                 Parity circuit

3 short                 Base 64K RAM

4 short                 System timer

5 short                 Processor

6 short                 Keyboard controller Gate A20 error

7 short                 Virtual mode exception error

8 short                 Display memory R/W test

9 short                 ROM BIOS checksum

1 long, 3 short         Non-fatal--Conventional/extended memory

1 long, 8 short         Non-fatal--Display/retrace test





PHOENIX

Beep    Fatal Failures* Beep code      Non-Fatal Failures* code

1-1-3   CMOS write/read  (or real-     4-2-1   Timer tick interrupt test

	 time clock read/write)                 (or in progress)

1-1-4   ROM BIOS checksum              4-2-2   Shutdown test (or in progress)

1-2-1   Programmable interval timer    4-2-3   Gate A20 failure

1-2-2   DMA initialization             4-2-4   Unexpected interrupt in

						protected mode

1-2-3   DMA page register write/read   4-3-1   RAM test in progress or

						address failure > FFFFh

1-2-4   SRAM test and configuration    4-3-3   Interval timer Channel 2

						(or test)

1-3-1   RAM refresh verification       4-3-4   Time-of-day clock (or test)

1-3-3   1st 64kb RAM chip or data      4-4-1   Serial port (or test)

	 line failure, multibit

1-3-4   First 64K RAM odd/even logic   4-4-2   Parallel port (or test)

1-4-1   Address line failure first     4-4-3   Math coprocessor (or test)

	 64K RAM

1-4-2   Parity failure first       low 1-1-2   System-board select

	 64K RAM

2-1-1   Bit 0 first 64K RAM        low 1-1-3   Extended CMOS RAM

2-1-2   Bit 1 first 64K RAM

2-1-3   Bit 2 first 64K RAM

2-1-4   Bit 3 first 64K RAM

2-2-1   Bit 4 first 64K RAM

2-2-2   Bit 5 first 64K RAM

2-2-3   Bit 6 first 64K RAM

2-2-4   Bit 7 first 64K RAM

2-3-1   Bit 8 first 64K RAM

2-3-2   Bit 9 first 64K RAM

2-3-3   Bit 10 first 64K RAM

2-3-4   Bit 11 first 64K RAM

2-4-1   Bit 12 first 64K RAM

2-4-2   Bit 13 first 64K RAM

2-4-3   Bit 14 first 64K RAM

2-4-4   Bit 15 first 64K RAM

3-1-1   Slave DMA register

3-1-2   Master DMA register

3-1-3   Master interrupt mask

	 register failure

3-1-4   Slave interrupt mask

	 register failure

3-2-4   Keyboard controller test

	 failure

3-3-4   Screen initialization

3-4-1   Screen retrace

3-4-2   Search for video ROM in

	 progress (not failure)

* Unless otherwise noted.





[From: Will Spencer (will@gnu.ai.mit.edu)]



DTK/ERSO XT BIOS

 

1 short                                 - Begin POST and End POST

1 long, 1 short                         - Floppy Disk Drive or Controller 

					  Failure

Continuous short                        - Parity Error in First 64K RAM

Continuous tone                         - First 64K RAM failure

1 long                                  - Keyboard Failed or Locked, Interrupt

					  or other system board error

long short, long short, long short      - Video Initialization Failure, or

					  Invalid Video Switch Setting



MR BIOS

 

:POST Code 1A Beep Codes

low high, low high low high high        - Real Time Clock is Not Updating

 

:POST Code 03 Beep Codes

low high, low low low                   - ROM BIOS Checksum Test

 

:POST Code 04 Beep Codes

low high, high low low                  - Page Register Test (Ports 81-8F)

 

:POST Code 05 Beep Codes

low high, low high low                  - 8042 Keyboard Controller Selftest

 

:POST Code 07 Beep Codes

low high, high high low                 - Memory Refresh Circuit Test

 

:POST Code 08 Beep Codes

low high, low low high                  - Master (16bit) DMA Controller

					  Failure

low high, high low high                 - Slave (8 bit) DMA Controller

					  Failure

 

:Post Code 0A Beep Codes

low high, low low low low               - Memory Bank 0 Pattern Test Failure

low high, high low low low              - Memory Bank 0 Parity Circuitry

					  Failure

low high, low high low low              - Memory Bank 0 Parity Error

low high, high high low low             - Memory Bank 0 Data Bus Failure

low high, low low high low              - Memory Bank 0 Address Bus Failure

low high, high low high low             - Memory Bank 0 Block Access Read

					  Failure

low high, low high high low             - Memory Bank 0 Block Access

					  Read/Write Failure

 

:POST Code 0B Beep Codes

low high, high high high low            - Master 8259 (Port 21 ) Failure

low high, low low low high              - Slave 8259 (Port A1) Failure

 

:POST Code 0C Beep Codes

low high, high low low high             - Master 8259 (Port 20) Interrupt

					  Address Error

low high, low high low high             - Slave 8259 (Port A0) Interrupt

					  Address Error

low high, high high low low             - 8259 (Port 20/A0) Interrupt

					  Address Error

low high, low low high high             - Master 8259 (Port 20) Stuck

					  Intercept Error

low high, high low high high            - Slave 8259 (Port A0) Stuck

					  Intercept Error

low high, low high high high            - System Timer 8254 CH0/IRQ0

					  Interrupt Failure

 

:POST Code 0D Beep Codes

low high, high high high high           - 8254 Channel 0 Test and

					  Initialization

 

:POST Code 0E Beep Codes

low high, low low low low high          - 8254 Channel-2 (Speaker) Failure

low high, high low low low high         - 8254 OUT2 (Speaker Detect) Failure

 

:POST Code 0F Beep Codes

low high, low high low low high         - CMOS RAM Read/Write Test Failure

low high, high high low low high        - RTC Periodic Interrupt / IRQ8

					  Failure

 

:POST Code 10 Beep Codes

low high, low low high low high         - Video Initialization and

					  (Cold-Boot) Signon Message

 

:POST Code 12 Beep Codes

low high, high low high low high        - Keyboard Controller Failure

 

:POST Code 17 Beep Codes

low high, low low low high high         - A20 Test Failure Due to 8042

					  Timeout

low high, high low low high high        - A20 Gate Stuck in Disabled State

 

:POST Code 19 Beep Codes

low high, low high high low high        - Memory Parity Error

low high, high high high low high       - IO Channel Error





Mylex 386 System BIOS

 

long                                    - Begin POST Beep Code

2 long                                  - Video Card Bad or No Video Card

long, short, long                       - Keyboard Controller Error

long, 2 short, long                     - Keyboard Error

long, 3 short, long                     - Programmable Interrupt Controller

					  (8259-1) Error

long, 4 short, long                     - Programmable Interrupt Controller

					  (8259-1) Error

long, 5 short, long                     - DMA Page Register Error

long, 6 short, long                     - RAM Refresh Error

long, 7 short, long                     - RAM Data Test Error

long, 8 short, long                     - RAM Parity Error

long, 9 short, long                     - DMA Controller 1 Error

long, 10 short, long                    - CMOS RAM Failure

long, 11 short, long                    - DMA Controller 2 Error

long, 12 short, long                    - CMOS RAM Battery Failure

long, 13 short, long                    - CMOS Checksum Failed

long, 14 short, long                    - BIOS ROM Checksum Failed

several long beeps                      - Multiple failures



Quadtel AT Compatible BIOS

 

3 short                                 - Any Failure







Q) 7.2  What do the POST codes mean?

This section contains information on the following:



	IBM

	Award Modular BIOS

	Mylex 386 System BIOS

	Quadtel AT Compatible BIOS

	MR BIOS

	Checkpoint Codes for AMI BIOS  (pre-4/9/90)

	AMI BIOS

	AMI Color BIOS (after 2/1/91)

	EuroBIOS



[From: zz96sr@sdacs.ucsd.edu (Steve Rusk)]



     All personal computer error codes for the Power On Self Test, General

Diagnostics, and Advanced Diagnostics consist of a device number followed by

two digits other than 00.  (The device number plus 00 indicates successful

completion of the test.)



     This list is a compilation from various sources, including USENET's

Info-IBMPC Digest, IBM Technical Reference Manuals, and IBM Hardware,

Maintenance and Service manuals.



01x     Undetermined problem errors.

02x     Power supply errors.

1xx     System board errors.

101     System board error - Interrupt failure.

102     System board error - Timer failure.

103     System board error - Timer interrupt failure.

104     System board error - Protected mode failure.

105     System board error - Last 8042 command not accepted.

106     System board error - Converting logic test.

107     System board error - Hot NMI test.

108     System board error - Timer bus test.

109     Direct memory access test error.

121     Unexpected hardware interrupts occurred.

131     Cassette wrap test failed.

152

161     System Options Error-(Run SETUP) [Battery failure].

162     System options not set correctly-(Run SETUP).

163     Time and date not set-(Run SETUP).

164     Memory size error-(Run SETUP).

199     User-indicated configuration not correct.

2xx     Memory (RAM) errors.

201     Memory test failed.

202     Memory address error.

203     Memory address error.

3xx     Keyboard errors.

301     Keyboard did not respond to software reset correctly, or a stuck

	key failure was detected.  If a stuck key was detected, the

	scan code for the key is displayed in hexadecimal.  For

	example, the error code 49 301 indicates that key 73, the

	PgUp key, has failed (49 hex = 73 decimal).

302     User-indicated error from the keyboard test, or AT keylock

	is locked.

303     Keyboard or system unit error.

304     Keyboard or system unit error; CMOS does not match system.

4xx     Monochrome monitor errors.

401     Monochrome memory test, horizontal sync frequency test, or

	video test failed.

408     User-indicated display attributes failure.

416     User-indicated character set failure.

424     User-indicated 80 X 25 mode failure.

432     Parallel port test failed (monochrome adapter).

5xx     Color monitor errors.

501      Color memory test failed, horizontal sync frequency test, or

	video test failed.

508     User-indicated display attribute failure.

516     User-indicated character set failure.

524     User-indicated 80 X 25 mode failure.

532     User-indicated 40 X 25 mode failure.

540     User-indicated 320 X 200 graphics mode failure.

548     User-indicated 640 X 200 graphics mode failure.

6xx     Diskette drive errors.

601     Diskette power-on diagnostics test failed.

602     Diskette test failed; boot record is not valid.

606     Diskette verifysd function failed.

607     Write-protected diskette.

608     Bad command diskette status returned.

610     Diskette initialization failed.

611     Timeout - diskette status returned.

612     Bad NEC - diskette status returned.

613     Bad DMA - diskette status returned.

621     Bad seek - diskette status returned.

622     Bad CRC - diskette status returned.

623     Record not found - diskette status returned.

624     Bad address mark - diskette status returned.

625     Bad NEC seek - diskette status returned.

626     Diskette data compare error.

7xx     8087 or 80287 math coprocessor errors.

9xx     Parallel printer adapter errors.

901     Parallel printer adapter test failed.

10xx    Reserved for parallel printer adapter.

11xx    Asynchronous communications adapter errors.

1101    Asynchronous communications adapter test failed.

12xx    Alternate asynchronous communications adapter errors.

1201    Alternate asynchronous communications adapter test failed.

13xx    Game control adapter errors.

1301    Game control adapter test failed.

1302    Joystick test failed.

14xx    Printer errors.

1401    Printer test failed.

1404    Matrix printer failed.

15xx    Synchronous data link control (SDLC) communications adapter errors.

1510    8255 port B failure.

1511    8255 port A failure.

1512    8255 port C failure.

1513    8253 timer 1 did not reach terminal count.

1514    8253 timer 1 stuck on.

1515    8253 timer 0 did not reach terminal count.

1516    8253 timer 0 stuck on.

1517    8253 timer 2 did not reach terminal count.

1518    8253 timer 2 stuck on.

1519    8273 port B error.

1520    8273 port A error.

1521    8273 command/read timeout.

1522    Interrupt level 4 failure.

1523    Ring Indicate stuck on.

1524    Receive clock stuck on.

1525    Transmit clock stuck on.

1526    Test indicate stuck on.

1527    Ring indicate not on.

1528    Receive clock not on.

1529    Transmit clock not on.

1530    Test indicate not on.

1531    Data set ready not on.

1532    Carrier detect not on.

1533    Clear to send not on.

1534    Data set ready stuck on.

1536    Clear to send stuck on.

1537    Level 3 interrupt failure.

1538    Receive interrupt results error.

1539    Wrap data miscompare.

1540    DMA channel 1 error.

1541    DMA channel 1 error.

1542    Error in 8273 error checking or status reporting.

1547    Stray interrupt level 4.

1548    Stray interrupt level 3.

1549    Interrupt presentation sequence timeout.

16xx    Display emulation errors (327x, 5520, 525x).

17xx    Fixed disk errors.

1701    Fixed disk POST error.

1702    Fixed disk adapter error.

1703    Fixed disk drive error.

1704    Fixed disk adapter or drive error.

1780    Fixed disk 0 failure.

1781    Fixed disk 1 failure.

1782    Fixed disk controller failure.

1790    Fixed disk 0 error.

1791    Fixed disk 1 error.

18xx    I/O expansion unit errors.

1801    I/O expansion unit POST error.

1810    Enable/Disable failure.

1811    Extender card warp test failed (disabled).

1812    High order address lines failure (disabled).

1813    Wait state failure (disabled).

1814    Enable/Disable could not be set on.

1815    Wait state failure (disabled).

1816    Extender card warp test failed (enabled).

1817    High order address lines failure (enabled).

1818    Disable not functioning.

1819    Wait request switch not set correctly.

1820    Receiver card wrap test failure.

1821    Receiver high order address lines failure.

19xx    3270 PC attachment card errors.

20xx    Binary synchronous communications (BSC) adapter errors.

2010    8255 port A failure.

2011    8255 port B failure.

2012    8255 port C failure.

2013    8253 timer 1 did not reach terminal count.

2014    8253 timer 1 stuck on.

2016    8253 timer 2 did not reach terminal count, or timer 2 stuck on.

2017    8251 Data set ready failed to come on.

2018    8251 Clear to send not sensed.

2019    8251 Data set ready stuck on.

2020    8251 Clear to send stuck on.

2021    8251 hardware reset failed.

2022    8251 software reset failed.

2023    8251 software "error reset" failed.

2024    8251 transmit ready did not come on.

2025    8251 receive ready did not come on.

2026    8251 could not force "overrun" error status.

2027    Interrupt failure - no timer interrupt.

2028    Interrupt failure - transmit, replace card or planar.

2029    Interrupt failure - transmit, replace card.

2030    Interrupt failure - receive, replace card or planar.

2031    Interrupt failure - receive, replace card.

2033    Ring indicate stuck on.

2034    Receive clock stuck on.

2035    Transmit clock stuck on.

2036    Test indicate stuck on.

2037    Ring indicate stuck on.

2038    Receive clock not on.

2039    Transmit clock not on.

2040    Test indicate not on.

2041    Data set ready not on.

2042    Carrier detect not on.

2043    Clear to send not on.

2044    Data set ready stuck on.

2045    Carrier detect stuck on.

2046    Clear to send stuck on.

2047    Unexpected transmit interrupt.

2048    Unexpected receive interrupt.

2049    Transmit data did not equal receive data.

2050    8251 detected overrun error.

2051    Lost data set ready during data wrap.

2052    Receive timeout during data wrap.

21xx    Alternate binary synchronous communications adapter errors.

2110    8255 port A failure.

2111    8255 port B failure.

2112    8255 port C failure.

2113    8253 timer 1 did not reach terminal count.

2114    8253 timer 1 stuck on.

2115    8253 timer 2 did not reach terminal count, or timer   2 stuck on.

2116    8251 Data set ready failed to come on.

2117    8251 Clear to send not sensed.

2118    8251 Data set ready stuck on.

2119    8251 Clear to send stuck on.

2120    8251 hardware reset failed.

2121    8251 software reset failed.

2122    8251 software "error reset" failed.

2123    8251 transmit ready did not come on.

2124    8251 receive ready did not come on.

2125    8251 could not force "overrun" error status.

2126    Interrupt failure - no timer interrupt.

2128    Interrupt failure - transmit, replace card or planar.

2129    Interrupt failure - transmit, replace card.

2130    Interrupt failure - receive, replace card or planar.

2131    Interrupt failure - receive, replace card.

2133    Ring indicate stuck on.

2134    Receive clock stuck on.

2135    Transmit clock stuck on.

2136    Test indicate stuck on.

2137    Ring indicate stuck on.

2138    Receive clock not on.

2139    Transmit clock not on.

2140    Test indicate not on.

2141    Data set ready not on.

2142    Carrier detect not on.

2143    Clear to send not on.

2144    Data set ready stuck on.

2145    Carrier detect stuck on.

2146    Clear to send stuck on.

2147    Unexpected transmit interrupt.

2148    Unexpected receive interrupt.

2149    Transmit data did not equal receive data.

2150    8251 detected overrun error.

2151    Lost data set ready during data wrap.

2152    Receive timeout during data wrap.

22xx    Cluster adapter errors.

24xx    Enhanced graphics adapter errors.

29xx    Color matrix printer errors.

2901

2902

2904

33xx    Compact printer errors.





[From: Will Spencer (will@gnu.ai.mit.edu)]



Award Modular BIOS

 

01      - Processor Test 1: Processor Status Verification

02      - Determine Post Type

03      - Clear 8042 Keyboard Controller

04      - Reset 8042 Keyboard Controller

05      - Get Manufacturing Status

06      - Initialize Chips (DMA, 8259's)

07      - Processor Test 2: Read/Write/Verify Registers with 

	  Data Pattern FF and 00

08      - Initialize CMOS Timer

09      - EPROM Checksum

0A      - Initialize Video Controller Register 6845

0B      - Test Timer (8254) Channel 0

0C      - Test Timer (8254) Channel 1

0D      - Test Timer (8254) Channel 2

0E      - Test CMOS Shutdown Byte

0F      - Text Extended CMOS

10      - Test DMA Channel 0

11      - Test DMA Channel 1

12      - Test DMA Page Registers

13      - Test Keyboard Controller

14      - Test Memory Refresh

15      - Test 1st 64K of System Memory

16      - Setup Interrupt Vector Table

17      - Setup Video I/O Operations

18      - Test Video Memory

19      - Test 8259 Mask Bits - Channel 1

1A      - Test 8259 Mask Bits - Channel 2

1B      - Test CMOS Battery Level

1C      - Test CMOS Checksum

1D      - Set Configuration from CMOS

1E      - Size System Memory

1F      - Test Found System Memory

20      - Test Stuck 8259 Interrupt Bits

21      - Test Suck NMI Bits (Parity I/O Check)

22      - Test 9259 Working

23      - Test Protected Mode

24      - Size Extended Memory

25      - Test Found Extended Memory

26      - Test Protected Mode Exceptions

27      - Setup Cache Control or Shadow RAM

28      - Setup 8242

29      - Reserved

2A      - Initialize Keyboard

2B      - Initialize Floppy Drive and Controller

2C      - Detect and Initialize COM Ports

2D      - Detect and Initialize LPT Ports

2E      - Initialize Hard Drive and Controller

2F      - Detect and Initialize Math Coprocessors

30      - Reserver

31      - Detect and Initialize Option ROMs

3B      - Initialize Secondary Cache w/OPTi Chipset (486 only)

CA      - Micronics Cache Initialization

CC      - NMI Handler Shutdown

EE      - Unexpected Processor Exceptiom

FF      - INT 19 Boot Attempt





Mylex 386 System BIOS

 

01      - CPU Test

02      - DMA Page Register Test

03      - Keyboard Controller Test

04      - BIOS ROM Checksum

05      - Send Keyboard Command Test

06      - CMOS RAM Test

08      - RAM Refresh Test

09      - First 64K Memory Test

0A      - DMA Controller Test

0B      - Initialize DMA

0C      - Interrupt Test

0D      - Determine RAM Size

0E      - Initialize Video of EGA/VGA Checksum

10      - Search for Monochrome Card

11      - Search for Color Card

12      - Word Splitter and Byte Shifter Test

13      - Keyboard Test

14      - RAM Test

15      - Timer Test

16      - Initialize Output Port of Keyboard Controller

17      - Keyboard Interrupt Test





Quadtel AT Compatible BIOS

 

02      - Flag Test

04      - Register Test

06      - System Hardware Initialization

08      - Initialize Chip Set Registers

0A      - BIOS ROM Checksum

0C      - DMA Page Register Test

0E      - 8254 Timer Test

10      - 8254 Timer Initialization

12      - 8237 DMA Controller Test

14      - 8237 DMA Initialization

16      - Initialize 8259/Reset Coprocessor

18      - 8259 Interrupt Controller Test

1A      - Memory Refresh Test

1C      - Base 64KB Address Test

1E      - Base 64KB Memory Test

20      - Base 64KB Test (Upper 16 bits)

22      - 8742 Keyboard Self Test

24      - MC146818 CMOS Test

26      - Start First Protected Mode Test

28      - Memory Sizing Test

2A      - Autosize Memory Chips

2C      - Chip Interleave Enable Test

2E      - First Protected Mode Test Exit

30      - Unexpected Shutdown

32      - System Board Memory Size

34      - Relocate Shadow Ram if Configured

36      - Configure EMS System

38      - Configure Wait States

3A      - ReTest 64K Base RAM

3C      - CPU Speed Calculation

3E      - Get Switches From 8042

40      - Configure CPU Speed

42      - Initialize Interrupt Vectors

44      - Verify Video Configuration

46      - Initialize Video System

48      - Test Unexpected Interrupts

4A      - Start Second Protected Mode Test

4C      - Verify LDT Instruction

4E      - Verify TR Instruction

50      - Verify LSL Instruction

52      - Verify LAR Instruction

54      - Verify VERR Instruction

56      - Unexpected Exception

58      - Address Line 20 Test

5A      - Keyboard Ready Test

5C      - Determine AT or XT Keyboard

5E      - Start Third Protected Mode Test

60      - Base Memory Test

62      - Base Memory Address Test

64      - Shadow Memory Test

66      - Extended Memory Test

68      - Extended Address Test

6A      - Determine Memory Size

6C      - Display Error Messages

6E      - Copy BIOS to Shadow Memory

70      - 8254 Clock Test

72      - MC146818 Real Time Clock Test

74      - Keyboard Stuck Key Test

76      - Initialize Hardware Interrupt Vectors

78      - Math Coprocessor Test

7A      - Determine COM Ports Available

7C      - Determine LPT Ports Available

7E      - Initialize BIOS Data Area

80      - Determine Floppy/Fixed Controller

82      - Floppy Disk Test

84      - Fixed Disk Test

86      - External ROM Scan

88      - System Key Lock Test

8A      - Wait for F1 Key Pressed

8C      - Final System Initialization

8E      - Interrupt 19 Boot Loader

B0      - Unexpected Interrupt





MR BIOS



(The post codes for MR BIOS are located with the post beeps)





Checkpoint Codes for AMI BIOS 

Release date 4/9/90 and after

 

Code       Meaning

 

01      NMI disabled and 286 register test about to start.

02      286 register test passed.

03      ROM BIOS checksum (32K at F800:0) passed.

04      Keyboard controller test with and without mouse passed.

05      Chipset initialization over, DMA and Interrupt controller disabled.

06      Video disabled and system timer test begin.

07      CH-2 of 8254 initialization half way.

08      CH-2 of timer initialization over.

09      CH-1 of timer initialization over.

0A      CH-0 of timer initialization over.

0B      Refresh started.

0C      System timer started.

0D      Refresh link toggling passed.

10      Refresh on and about to start 64K base memory test.

11      Address line test passed.

12      64K base memory test passed.

15      Interrupt vectors initialized.

17      Monochrome mode set.

18      Color mode set.

19      About to look for optional video ROM at segment C000 and give control

	to the optional video ROM if present.

1A      Return from optional video ROM.

1B      Shadow RAM enable/disable completed.

1C      Display memory read/write test for main display type as set in the

	CMOS setup program over.

1D      Display memory read/write test for alternate display type complete

	if main display memory read/write test returns error.

1E      Global equipment byte set for proper display type.

1F      Video mode set call for mono/color begins.

20      Video mode set completed.

21      ROM type 27256 verified.

23      Power on message displayed.

30      Virtual mode memory test about to begin.

31      Virtual mode memory test started.

32      Processor executing in virtual mode.

33      Memory address line test in progress.

34      Memory address line test in progress.

35      Memory below 1MB calculated.

36      Memory above 1MB calculated.

37      Memory test about to start.

38      Memory below 1MB initialized.

39      Memory above 1MB initialized.

3A      Memory size display initiated. This will be updated when the BIOS

	goes through the memory test.

3B      About to start below 1MB memory test.

3C      Memory test below 1MB completed and about to start above 1MB test.

3D      Memory test above 1MB completed.

3E      About to go to real mode.

3F      Shutdown successful and processor in real mode.

40      CACHE memory on and about to disable A20 address line.

41      A20 address line disable successful.

42      486 internal cache turned on.

43      About to start DMA controller test.

50      DMA page register test complete.

51      DMA unit-1 base register test about to start.

52      DMA unit-1 base register test complete.

53      DMA unit-2 base register test complete.

54      About to check F/F latch for unit-1 and unit-2.

55      F/F latch for both units checked.

56      DMA unit 1 and 2 programming over and about to initialize 8259

	interrupt controller.

57      8259 initialization over.

70      About to start keyboard test.

71      Keyboard controller BAT test over.

72      Keyboard interface test over, mouse interface test started.

73      Global data initialization for keyboard/mouse over.

74      Display 'SETUP' prompt and about to start floppy setup.

75      Floppy setup over.

76      Hard disk setup about to start.

77      Hard disk setup over.

79      About to initialize timer data area.

7A      Timer data initialized and about to verify CMOS battery power.

7B      CMOS battery verification over.

7D      About to analyze POST results.

7E      CMOS memory size updated.

7F      Look for  key and get into CMOS setup if found.

80      About to give control to optional ROM in segment C800 to DE00.

81      Optional ROM control over.

82      Check for printer ports and put the addresses in global data area.

83      Check for RS232 ports and put the addresses in global data area.

84      Coprpcessor detection over.

85      About to display soft error messages.

86      About to give control to system ROM at segment E000.

00      System ROM control at E000 over now give control to Int 19h boot 

	loader.





Checkpoint Codes for AMI BIOS 

Release date prior to 4/9/90 



Code    Meaning

01      NMI disabled & 286 reg. test about to start

02      286 register test over

03      ROM checksum OK

04      8259 initialization OK

05      CMOS pending interrupt disabled

06      Video disabled & system timer counting OK

07      CH-2 of 8253 test OK

08      CH-2 delta count test OK

09      CH-1 delta count test OK

0A      CH-0 delta count test OK

0B      Parity status cleared

0C      Refresh & system timer OK

0D      Refresh link toggling OK

0E      Refresh period ON/OFF 50% OK

10      Confirmed refresh ON & about to start 64K memory

11      Address line test OK

12      64K base memory test OK

13      Interrupt vectors initialized

14      8042 keyboard controller test OK

15      CMOS read/write test OK

16      CMOS checksum/battery check OK

17      Monochrome mode set OK

18      Color mode set OK

19      About to look for optional video ROM

1A      Optional video ROM control OK

1B      Display memory read/write test OK

1C      Display memory read/write test for alternate display OK

1D      Video retrace check OK

1E      Global equipment byte set for video OK

1F      Mode set call for Mono/Color OK

20      Video test OK

21      Video display OK

22      Power on message display OK

30      Virtual mode memory test about to begin

31      Virtual mode memory test started

32      Processor in virtual mode

33      Memory address line test in progress

34      Memory address line test in progress

35      Memory below 1MB calculated

36      Memory size computation OK

37      Memory test in progress

38      Memory initialization over below 1MB

39      Memory initialization over above 1MB

3A      Display memory size

3B      About to start below 1MB memory test

3C      Memory test below 1MB OK

3D      Memory test above 1MB OK

3E      About to go to real mode (shutdown)

3F      Shutdown successful and and entered in real mode

40      About to disable gate A-20 address line

41      Gate A-20 line disabled successfully

42      About to start DMA controller test

4E      Address line test OK

4F      Processor in real mode after shutdown

50      DMA page register test OK

51      DMA unit-1 base register test about to start

52      DMA unit-1 channel OK, about to begin CH-2

53      DMA CH-2 base register test OK

54      About to test f/f latch for unit-1

55      f/f latch test both unit OK

56      DMA unit 1 & 2 programmed OK

57      8259 initialization over

58      8259 mask register check OK

59      Master 8259 mask register OK, about to start slave

5A      About to check timer and keyboard interrupt level

5B      Timer interrupt OK

5C      About to test keyboard interrupt

5D      ERROR! timer/keyboard interrupt not in proper level

5E      8259 interrupt controller error

5F      8259 interrupt controller test OK

70      Start of keyboard test

71      Keyboard BAT test OK

72      Keyboard test OK

73      Keyboard global data initialization OK

74      Floppy setup about to start

75      Floppy setup OK

76      Hard disk setup about to start

77      Hard disk setup OK

79      About to initialize timer data area

7A      Verify CMOS battery power

7B      CMOS battery verification done

7D      About to analyze diagnostic test results for memory

7E      CMOS memory size update OK

7F      About to check optional ROM C000:0

80      Keyboard sensed to enable setup

81      Optional ROM control OK

82      Printer global data initialization OK

83      RS-232 global data initialization OK

84      80287 check/test OK

85      About to display soft error message

86      About to give control to system ROM E000:0

87      System ROM E000:0 check over

00      Control given to Int-19, boot loader





AMI BIOS

 

01      - 286 Register Test Failed

02      - ROM BIOS Checksum (32KB at F800:0) Failed

03      - ROM BIOS Checksum (32KB at F800:0) Passed

04      - 8259 Interrupt Controller Initialization

05      - Chipset Initialization Over, DMA & Interrupt Controller Disabled

06      - Video Disabled and System Timer Test Begin

07      - CH-2 of 8254 Initialization Half Way

08      - 8254 CH-2 Timer Test to be Completed

09      - 8254 CH-1 Timer Test to be Completed

0A      - 8254 CH-0 Timer Test to be Completed

0B      - DRAM Refresh Failure

0C      - System Timer Started

0D      - Refresh Link Toggling Passed

0E      - Refresh Period ON/OFF 50% OK

10      - Refresh ON and About to Start 64KB Base Memory Test

11      - Address Line Test Passed

12      - 64KB Base Memory Test Passed

13      - Interrupt Vectors Initialized

14      - 8042 Keyboard Controller Test Passed

15      - CMOS Read/Write Test Passed

16      - CNOS Checksum and Battery Check Passed

17      - Monochrome Mode Set

18      - Color Mode Set

19      - Give Control to the Optional Video ROM at Segment C0 if present

1A      - Return from Optional Video ROM

1B      - Display Memory Read/Write Test Passed

1C      - Alternate Display Memory Read/Write Test Passed

1D      - Video Retrace Check Passed

1E      - Global Equipment Byte Set for Proper Display Type

1F      - Video Mode Set Call for Mono/Color Begins

20      - Video Mode Set Completed

21      - ROM Type Verified, Video Display OK

22      - Power On Message Displayed

23      - Power On Message Displayed

30      - Virtual Mode Memory Test About to Begin

31      - Virtual Mode Memory Test Started

32      - Processor Executing in Virtual Mode

33      - Memory Address Line Test in Progress

34      - Memory Address Line Test in Progress

35      - Memory Below 1MB Calculated

36      - Memory Above 1MB Calculated, Memory Size Computation OK

37      - Memory Test About to Start

38      - Memory Below 1MB Initialized

39      - Memory Above 1MB Initialized

3A      - Memory Size Display Initiated

3B      - About to Start Below 1MB Memory Test

3C      - Memory Test Below 1MB Completed

3D      - Memory Test Above 1MB Completed

3E      - About to go to Real Mode (Shutdown)

3F      - Shutdown Successful and Processor in Real Mode

40      - Cache Memory ON and About to Disable A20 Address Line

41      - Gate A-20 Line Disabed Successfully

42      - 486 Internal Cache Turned ON

43      - About to Start DMA Controller Test

4E      - Address Line Test Passed

4F      - Processor in Real Mode After Shutdown

50      - DMA Page Register Test Complete

51      - DMA Unit-1 Base Register Test About to Start

52      - DMA Unit-1 Base Register Test Complete

53      - DMA Unit-2 Base Register Test Complete

54      - About to Check F/F Latch for Unit-1 and Unit-2

55      - F/F Latch for Both Units Checked

56      - DMA Unit-1 and 2 Programming Over

57      - 8259 Initialization Over

58      - 8259 Mask Register Check Passed

59      - Master 8259 Mask Register Passed

5A      - About to Check Timer and Keyboard Interrupt Level

5B      - Timer Interrupt Passed

5C      - About to Test Keyboard Interrupt

5D      - Error!  Timer/Keyboard Interrupt Not in Proper Level

5E      - 8259 Interrupt Controller Error

5F      - 8259 Interrupt Controller Test Passed

70      - About to Start Keyboard Test

71      - Keyboard Controller BAT Test Over

72      - Keyboard Interface Test Over, Mouse Interface Test Started

73      - Global Data Initialization for Keyboard/Mouse Over

74      - Display "Setup" Prompt and About to Start Floppy Setup

75      - Floppy Setup Over

76      - Hard Disk Setup About to Start

77      - Hard Disk Setup Over

79      - About to Initialize Timer Data Area

7A      - Time Data Area Initialized and About to Verify CMOS Battery Power

7B      - CMOS Battery Verification Over

7D      - About to Analyze POST Test Results

7E      - CMOS Memory Size Updated

7F      - Look for  Key and Get into CMOS Setup if Found

80      - About to Give Control to Optional ROM in Segment C800 to DE00 (Setup)

81      - Optional ROM Control Over

82      - Check for Printer Ports and put the Addresses in Global Data Area

83      - Check for RS232 Ports and Put the Addresses in Global Data Area

84      - Co-processor Detection Over

85      - About to Display Soft Error Messages

86      - About to Give Control to System ROM at Segment E000

87      - System ROM E000:0 Check Over





AMI Color BIOS after 2/1/91

	

00      - Going to Give Control to INT 19H Boot Loader

01      - Processor Register Test About to Start, and NMI to be Disabled

02      - Power On Delay Starting

03      - Any Initialization Before Keyboard BAT is in Progress

04      - Reading Keyboard SYS Bit, to Check Soft Reset/Power On

05      - Going to Enable ROM. i.e. Disable Shadow RAM/Cache if Any

06      - Calculating ROM BIOS Checksum

07      - Going to Issue the BAT Command to Keyboard Controller

08      - Going to Verify the BAT Command

09      - Keyboard Command Byte to be Written Next

0A      - Going to Write Command Byte Data

0B      - Going to Issue Pin-23,24 Blocking/Unblocking Command

0C      - NOP Command of Keyboard Controller to be Issued Next

0D      - CMOS Shutdown Register Test to be Done Next

0E      - Going to Calculate CMOS Checksum, and Update DIAG Byte

0F      - CMOS Initialization to begin (If "INIT CMOS IN EVERY BOOT IS SET")

10      - CMOS Status Register About to Init for Date and Time

11      - Going to Disable DMA and Interrupt Controllers

12      - About to Disable Video Display and Init Port-B

13      - Chipset Init/Auto Memory Detection About to begin

14      - 8254 Timer Test About to Start

15      - 8254 CH-2 Timer Test to be Completed

16      - 8254 CH-1 Timer Test to be Completed

17      - 8254 CH-0 Timer Test to be Completed

18      - About to Start Memory Refresh

19      - Memory Refresh Test to be Done Next

1A      - Going to Check 15 Micro Second On/Off Time

1B      - Base 64K Memory Test About to Start

20      - Address Line Test to be Done Next

21      - Going to do toggle Parity

22      - Going for Sequential Data R/W Test

23      - Any Setup Before Interrupt Vector Init About to Start

24      - Interrupt Vector Initialization About to begin

25      - Going to Read I/O Port of 8042 for Turbo Switch (if any)

26      - Going to Initialize Global Data for Turbo Switch

27      - Any Initialization After Interrupt Vector to be Done Next

28      - Going for Monochrome Mode Setting

29      - Going for Color Mode Setting

2A      - About to go for toggle Parity Before Optional ROM Check

2B      - About to do any Setup Required Before Optional Video ROM Check

2C      - About to Look for Optional Video ROM and Give Control

2D      - About to do any Processing after Video ROM Returns Control

2E      - If EGA/VGA Not Found, Then do Display Memory R/W Test

2F      - Display Memory R/W Test About to begin

30      - About to Look for the Retrace Checking

31      - About to do Alternate Display Memory R/W Test

32      - About to Look for the Alternate Display Retrace Checking

33      - Verification of Display Type with Switch Setting 

	  and Actual Card to begin

34      - Display Mode to be Set Next

35      - BIOS ROM Data Area About to be Checked

36      - Going to Set Cursor for Power On Message

37      - Going to Display the Power On Message

38      - Going to Read New Cursor Position

39      - Going to Display the Reference String

3A      - Going to Display the Hit  Message

3B      - Virtual Mode Memory Test About to Start

40      - Going to Verify from Video Memory

41      - Going to Prepare the Descriptor Tables

42      - Going to Enter in Virtual Mode for Memory Test

43      - Going to Enable Interrupts for Diagnostics Mode

44      - Going to Initialize Data to Check Memory Remap at 0:0

45      - Check for Memory Remap at 0:0 and Find the total System Memory Size

46      - About to go For Writing Patterns to Test Memory

47      - Going to Write Patterns in Base 640K Memory

48      - Going to Find Out Amount of Memory Below 1M Memory

49      - Going to Find Out Amount of Memory Above 1M Memory

4A      - Going for BIOS ROM Data Area Check

4B      - Going to Check  and to Clear Memory Below 1M for Soft Reset

4C      - Going to Clear Memory Above 1M

4D      - Going to Save the Memory Size

4E      - About to Display the First 64K Memory Test

4F      - Going for Sequential and Random Memory Test

50      - Going to Adjust Memory Size for Relocation/Shadow

51      - Memory Test Above 1M to Follow

52      - Going to Prepare to go Back to Real Mode

53      - Going to Enter in Real Mode

54      - Going to Restore Registers Saved During Preparation for Shutdown

55      - Going to Disable Gate A20 Address Line

56      - BIOS ROM Data Area About to be Checked

57      - BIOS ROM Data Area Check to be Completed

58      - Going to Clear Hit  Message

59      - About to Start DMA and Interrupt Controller Test

60      - About to Verify from Display Memory

61      - About to go For DMA #1 Base Register Test

62      - About to go For DMA #2 Base Register Test

63      - About to go For BIOS ROM Data Area Check

64      - BIOS ROM Data Area Check to be Completed

65      - About to Program DMA Unit 1 and 2

66      - 8259 Interrpt Controller Initialization

67      - About to Start Keyboard Test

80      - About to Issue Keyboard Reset Command

81      - About to Issue Keyboard Controller Interface Test Command

82      - About to Write Command Byte and Init Circular Buffer

83      - About to Check for Lock Key

84      - About to Check for Memory Size Mismatch with CMOS

85      - About to Display Soft Error and Check for Password or Bypass Setup

86      - About to do Programming Before Setup

87      - Going to CMOS Setup Program

88      - About to do Programming After Setup

89      - Going to Display Power On Screen Message

8A      - About to Display  Message, Mouse Check 

	  and Initialization Next

8B      - About to do Main and Video BIOS Shadow

8C      - Setup Options Programming After CMOS Setup About to Start

8D      - Going for Hard Disk, Floppy Reset

8E      - About to go For Floppy Check

8F      - Floppy Setup to Follow

90      - Test for Hard Disk Presence to be Done

91      - Hard Disk Setup to Follow

92      - About to go for BIOS ROM Data Area Check

93      - BIOS ROM Data Area Check to be Completed

94      - Going to Set Base and Extended Memory Size

95      - Going to Verify From Display Memory

96      - Going to do Any Init Before C800 Optional ROM Control

97      - Optional ROM Check and Control Will Be Done Next

98      - Give Control to Required Processing 

	  After Optional ROM Returns Control

99      - Going to Setup Timer Data Area and Printer Base Address

9A      - Going to Set the RS-232 Base Address

9B      - Going to do Any Initialization Before Co-Processor Test

9C      - Going to Initialize the Coprocessor Next

9D      - Going to do Any Initialization After Co-Processor Test

9E      - Going to Check Extd Keyboard, Keyboard ID and Num-Lock

9F      - Keyboard ID Command to be Issued

A0      - Keyboard ID Flag to be Reset

A1      - Cache Memory Test to Follow

A2      - Going to Display Any Soft Errors

A3      - Going to Set the Keyboard Typematic Rate

A4      - Going to Program Memory Wait States

A5      - Screen to be Cleared Next

A6      - Going to Enable Parity and NMI

A7      - Do Initialization Required Before Giving Control 

	  to Optional ROM at E000

A8      - E000 ROM to Get Control Next

A9      - Going to do Any Initialization Required 

	  After E000 Optional ROM Control

AA      - Going to Display the System Configuration





Post Codes for EuroBIOS v4.71

 

03      DMA Page registers OK

04      DMA Page registers failed

05      Keyboard did reply

06      Keyboard did not reply

07      Keyboard self-test passed

08      Keyboard self-test failed

09      8042 was able to read links

0A      8042 was unable to read links

0B      RATMON/DIAG link OK

0C      Keyboard accepted 60h command

0D      Keyboard did not accept 60h

0E      Keyboard parameter accepted

0F      Keyboard parameter not accepted

10      Able to read keyboard command byte

11      Unable to read keyboard command byte

12      Keyboard command byte came back OK

13      Keyboard command byte came back corrupt

14      RAM refresh clock ticking correctly

15      RAM refresh clock not ticking correctly

16      RAM bit test passed

17      RAM bit test failed

18      RAM parity OK

19      RAM parity error

1A      CMOS RAM passed

1B      CMOS RAM failed

1C      CMOS RAM battery OK

1D      CMOS RAM battery faulty

1E      CMOS RAM checksum passed

1F      CMOS RAM checksum failed

20      CMOS RAM battery fault bit set

21      DMA controllers passed

22      DMA controller 1 failed

23      DMA controller 2 failed

24      Protected mode entered safely

25      RAM test completed

26      ROM checksum correct

27      ROM checksum incorrect

28      Protected mode exit successful

29      Keyboard power-up reply received

2A      Keyboard power-up reply not received

2B      Keyboard disable command accepted

2C      Keyboard disable command not accepted

2D      No video display

2E      Reported errors

2F      About to halt

30      Protected mode entered safely

31      RAM test complete

32      PIC 1 (master) passed

33      PIC 1 (master) failed

34      PIC 2 (slave) passed

35      PIC 2 (slave) failed

36      Chipset initialised OK

37      Chipset initilize failed

38      Shadowed BIOS OK

39      Shadowed BIOS failed

3A      Shadowed video BIOS OK

3B      Shadowed video BIOS failed







Q) 7.3  *I think my cache is bad. What's a good diagnostic?



S) 8.0 Misc



Q) 8.1  What is the pin out for ...?

[From: ralf@wpi.wpi.edu (Ralph Valentino)]



This is a list of the pinouts to the more common PC hardware

interfaces.  It is by no means complete.  While I have taken care not

to make any mistakes, I urge you to take caution when using these

tables.  Also, please keep in mind that these are only tables, they

are not a guide to hardware hacking and do not attempt to explain

drive capabilities, signal timings, handling care, or other interface

issues.  As always, make sure you know what you're doing before you

start hooking wires to your PC.



 5pin DIN Male          DB15-S Male

    --+--               ----------------------

   /  ^  \              \   1  2  3  4  5    /

  | 1   3 |              \ 6  7  8  9 10    /

   \ 425 /                \ 11 12 13 14 15 /

    -----                  ----------------



DB9 (DE-9) Male                DB15 (DA-15) Male

-------------           --------------------------

\ 1 2 3 4 5 /           \ 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8 /

 \ 6 7 8 9 /             \ 9  10 11 12 13 14 15 /

  ---------               ----------------------



DB25 Male                             IDC-50 Male

 ------------------------------        -------------------

 \ 1  2  3  4  5  7  8 ... 13 /       | 1  3  5  7 ... 49 |

  \ 14 15 16 17 18 .......25 /        | 2  4  6  8 ... 50 |

   --------------------------          -------------------



(Power Connector) Male

  __________

 /          \ 

| 4  3  2  1 |

 ------------



30 pin SIMM                         72 pin SIMM

-------------------------------     ---------------------------------------

|                             |     |                                     |

 )                            |      )                 _                  |

 --|||||||||||||||||||||||||---      --|||||||||||||||/ \|||||||||||||||---

   1                       30          1             36  37            72



EISA/ISA/VLB

-----------------------------------------------

|            (component side)                 |

|                                             |

|   VLB   __ ISA-16bit __       ISA-8bit    __|

 |||||||||  |||||||||||  ||||||||||||||||||| A1(front)/B1(back)

	     | | | | |    | | | | | | | | |   <-EISA

		   C1/D1                    E1(front)/F1(back)

		  G1/H1





	PCI Cards Universal/3.3V/5V and 32/64 bit.



PCI Universal Card 32/64 bit

 ----------------------------------------------------------------

|    PCI         Component Side (side B)                         |

|                                                                |

|                                                                |

|                                                optional        |

|    ____     mandatory 32-bit pins            64-bit pins  _____|

|___|    |||||||--|||||||||||||||||--|||||||--||||||||||||||

	 ^     ^  ^               ^  ^     ^  ^            ^

       b01   b11  b14           b49  b52 b62  b63          b94



PCI 5V Card 32/64 bit

|                                                optional        |

|    ____     mandatory 32-bit pins            64-bit pins  _____|

|___|    ||||||||||||||||||||||||||--|||||||--||||||||||||||



PCI 3.3V Card 32/64 bit

|                                                optional        |

|    ____     mandatory 32-bit pins            64-bit pins  _____|

|___|    |||||||--||||||||||||||||||||||||||--||||||||||||||





Power Connector Male      Speaker Connector        Turbo Indicator Connector

pin     assignment        pin     assignment       pin     assignment

1       +12V              1       -Speaker         1       +5V

2       +12V return       2       [key]            2       -High Speed

3       +5V return        3       GND              3       +5V

4       +5V               4       +Speaker +5V





AT LED Power and Key Lock     AT Backup Battery  

pin     assignment            pin     assignment 

1       LED power             1       Batt+      

2       GND                   2       [key]      

3       GND                   3       GND        

4       Key Switch            4       GND        

5       GND





Motherboard Power Connectors

pin     P8 assignment          pin     P9 assignment 

1       Power Good             1       GND

2       +5v  (or N.C.)         2       GND

3       +12v                   3       -5v

4       -12v                   4       +5v

5       GND                    5       +5v

6       GND                    6       +5v





MIDI 5pin DIN

   MIDI In                 MIDI Out

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       N/C             1       N/C

2       N/C             2       GND

3       N/C             3       N/C

4       Current Src     4       Current Sync

5       Current Sync    5       Current Src





Floppy Disk Controller IDC-34 Male

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       GND             2       Density Select

3       GND             4       (reserved)

5       GND             6       (reserved)

7       GND             8       Index

9       GND             10      Motor Enable A

11      GND             12      Drive Sel B

13      GND             14      Drive Sel A

15      GND             16      Motor Enable B

17      GND             18      Direction

19      GND             20      Step

21      GND             22      Write Data

23      GND             24      Floppy Write Enable

25      GND             26      Track 0

27      GND             28      Write Protect

29      GND             30      Read Data

31      GND             32      Head Select

33      GND             34      Disk Change





Game Port DB15-Female

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       +5V DC          2       Button 4 (A_PB1)

3       Position 0(A_X) 4       GND

5       GND             6       Position 1 (A_Y)

7       Button 5(A_PB2) 8       +5V DC

9       +5V DC          10      Button 6 (B_PB1)

11      Position 2(B_X) 12      GND

13      Position 3(B_Y) 14      Button 7 (B_PB2)

15      +5V DC





Serial Port DB9-Male DB25-Male

9-pin   25-pin  assignment

1       8       DCD (Data Carrier Detect)

2       3       RX  (Receive Data)

3       2       TX  (Transmit Data)

4       20      DTR (Data Terminal Ready)

5       7       GND (Signal Ground)

6       6       DSR (Data Set Ready)

7       4       RTS (Request To Send)

8       5       CTS (Clear To Send)

9       22      RI  (Ring Indicator)



Parallel Port DB25-Female

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       -Strobe         2       Data 0

3       Data 1          4       Data 2

5       Data 3          6       Data 4

7       Data 5          8       Data 6

9       Data 7          10      -Ack

11      Busy            12      Paper Empty

13      Select          14      -Auto Feed

15      -Error          16      -Init

17      -Slct in        18      GND

19      GND             20      GND

21      GND             22      GND

23      GND             24      GND

25      GND





Parallel Port Centronics-36

1       -Strobe         2       Data 0

3       Data 1          4       Data 2

5       Data 3          6       Data 4

7       Data 5          8       Data 6

9       Data 7          10      -Ack

11      Busy            12      Paper Empty

13      Select          14      -Auto Feed

15      {OSCXT}         16      Signal GND

17      Frame GND       18      +5v

19      GND             20      GND

21      GND             22      GND

23      GND             24      GND

25      GND             26      GND

27      GND             28      GND

29      GND             30      GND

31      -Prime          32      -Error

33      Signal GND      34      N/C

35      N/C             36      N/C





AT Keyboard Connector 5pin-DIN          Xt Keyboard Connector 5pin-DIN

pin     assignment                      pin     assignment

1       CLK/CTS (open-collector)        1       CLK/CTS (open-collector)

2       RxD/TxD/RTS (open-collector)    2       Keyboard Data

3       N/C                             3       Reset

4       GND                             4       GND

5       +5V                             5       +5V





IDE Hard Disk Interface IDC-40 Male

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       -Reset          2       GND

3       Data 7          4       Data 8

5       Data 6          6       Data 9

7       Data 5          8       Data 10

9       Data 4          10      Data 11

11      Data 3          12      Data 12

13      Data 2          14      Data 13

15      Data 1          16      Data 14

17      Data 0          18      Data 15

19      GND             20      Key

21      (reserved)      22      GND

23      -IOW            24      GND

25      -IOR            26      GND

27      IO Chrdy        28      Ale

29      (reserved)      30      GND

31      IRQ14           32      -IOCS16

33      Addr 1          34      (reserved)

35      Addr 0          36      Addr 2

37      -CS0 (1F0-1F7)  38      -CS1 (3f6-3f7)

39      -Active         40      GND





ESDI Hard Disk Interface IDC-34 Male, IDC-20 Male

	       ESDI IDC-34

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       GND             2       Head Sel 3

3       GND             4       Head Sel 2

5       GND             6       Write Gate

7       GND             8       Config/Stat Data

9       GND             10      Transfer Ack

11      GND             12      Attn

13      GND             14      Head Sel 0

15      GND             16      Sect/Add MK Found

17      GND             18      Head Sel 1

19      GND             20      Index

21      GND             22      Ready

23      GND             24      Trans Req

25      GND             26      Drive Sel 1

27      GND             28      Drive Sel 2

29      GND             30      Drive Sel 3

31      GND             32      Read Gate

33      GND             34      Command Data



	       ESDI IDC-20

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       Drive Selected  2       Sect/Add MK Found

3       Seek Complete   4       Addr Mark Enable

5       (reserved)      6       GND

7       Write Clk+      8       Write Clk-

9       Cartridge Chng  10      Read Ref Clk+

11      Read Ref Clk-   12      GND

13      NRZ Write Data+ 14      NRZ Write Data-

15      GND             16      GND

17      NRZ Read Data+  18      NRZ Read Data-

19      GND             20      GND







RLL/MFM  Hard Disk Interface IDC-34 Male, IDC-20 Male

	     RLL/MFM IDC-34

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       GND             2       Head Sel 8

3       GND             4       Head Sel 4

5       GND             6       Write Gate

7       GND             8       Seek Complete

9       GND             10      Track 0

11      GND             12      Write Fault

13      GND             14      Head Sel 1

15      GND             16      (reserved)

17      GND             18      Head Sel 2

19      GND             20      Index

21      GND             22      Ready

23      GND             24      Step

25      GND             26      Drive Sel 1

27      GND             28      Drive Sel 2

29      GND             30      Drive Sel 3

31      GND             32      Drive Sel 4

33      GND             34      Direction In



	     RLL/MFM IDC-20

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       Drive Selected  2       GND

3       (reserved)      4       GND

5       (reserved)      6       GND

7       (reserved)      8       GND

9       (reserved)      10      (reserved)

11      GND             12      GND

13      Write Data+     14      Write Data-

15      GND             16      GND

17      Read Data+      18      NRZ Read Data-

19      GND             20      GND





VGA DB15-S Female DB9 Female

15-pin  9-pin   assignment

1       1       Red

2       2       Green

3       3       Blue

4       -       Monitor ID bit 2

5       -       N/C

6       6       GND (red return)

7       7       GND (green return)

8       8       GND (blue return)

9       -       N/C

10      -       GND

11      -       Monitor ID bit 0

12      -       Minitor ID bit 1

13      4       Horizontal Sync

14      5       Vertical Sync

15      -       N/C



Monitor ID bit 0: reserved

Monitor ID bit 1: GND = mono, OPEN = color

Monochrome monitors use the green signal





CGA DB9 Female

pin   assignment

1     GND

2     GND

3     Red

4     Green

5     Blue

6     Intensity

7     (reserved)

8     Horizontal Sync

9     Vertical Sync





EGA DB9 Female

pin   assignment

1     GND

2     Secondary Red

3     Primary Red

4     Primary Green

5     Primary Blue

6     Secondary Green / Intensity

7     Secondary Blue / Mono Video

8     Horizontal Drive

9     Vertical Drive





     ISA Bus Connector              EISA Bus Connector

     -----------------              ------------------

Back Side       Component Side  Back Side       Component Side

pin assignment |pin assignment |pin assignment |pin assignment

B1  GND        |A1  CHCHK#     |F1  GND        |E1  CMD#

B2  Reset DRV  |A2  SD7        |F2  +5V        |E2  START#

B3  +5V        |A3  SD6        |F3  +5V        |E3  EXRDY

B4  IRQ9       |A4  SD5        |F4  ---        |E4  EX32#

B5  -5V        |A5  SD4        |F5  ---        |E5  GND

B6  DRQ2       |A6  SD3        |F6  ACCESS KEY |E6  ACCESS KEY

B7  -12V       |A7  SD2        |F7  ---        |E7  EX16#

B8  NOWS#      |A8  SD1        |F8  ---        |E8  SLBURST#

B9  +12V       |A9  SD0        |F9  +12V       |E9  MSBURST#

B10 GND        |A10 CHRDY      |F10 M/IO#      |E10 W/R#

B11 SMWTC#     |A11 AEN        |F11 LOCK#      |E11 GND

B12 SMRDC#     |A12 SA19       |F12 (reserved) |E12 (reserved)

B13 IOWC#      |A13 SA18       |F13 GND        |E13 (reserved)

B14 IORC#      |A14 SA17       |F14 (reserved) |E14 (reserved)

B15 DACK3#     |A15 SA16       |F15 BE3#       |E15 GND

B16 DRQ3       |A16 SA15       |F16 ACCESS KEY |E16 ACCESS KEY

B17 DACK1#     |A17 SA14       |F17 BE2#       |E17 BE1#

B18 DRQ1       |A18 SA13       |F18 BE0#       |E18 LA31#

B19 REFRESH#   |A19 SA12       |F19 GND        |E19 GND

B20 BCLK       |A20 SA11       |F20 +5V        |E20 LA30#

B21 IRQ7       |A21 SA10       |F21 LA29#      |E21 LA28#

B22 IRQ6       |A22 SA9        |F22 GND        |E22 LA27#

B23 IRQ5       |A23 SA8        |F23 LA26#      |E23 LA25#

B24 IRQ4       |A24 SA7        |F24 LA24#      |E24 GND

B25 IRQ3       |A25 SA6        |F25 ACCESS KEY |E25 ACCESS KEY

B26 DACK2#     |A26 SA5        |F26 LA16       |E26 LA15

B27 T/C        |A27 SA4        |F27 LA14       |E27 LA13

B28 BALE       |A28 SA3        |F28 +5V        |E28 LA12

B29 +5V        |A29 SA2        |F29 +5V        |E29 LA11

B30 OSC        |A30 SA1        |F30 GND        |E30 GND

B31 GND        |A31 SA0        |F31 LA10       |E31 LA9



			       |H1  LA8        |G1  LA7

D1  M16#       |C1  SBHE#      |H2  LA6        |G2  GND

D2  IO16#      |C2  LA23       |H3  LA5        |G3  LA4

D3  IRQ10      |C3  LA22       |H4  +5V        |G4  LA3

D4  IRQ11      |C4  LA21       |H5  LA2        |G5  GND

D5  IRQ12      |C5  LA20       |H6  ACCESS KEY |G6  ACCESS KEY

D6  IRQ15      |C6  LA19       |H7  D16        |G7  D17

D7  IRQ14      |C7  LA18       |H8  D18        |G8  D19

D8  DACK0#     |C8  LA17       |H9  GND        |G9  D20

D9  DRQ0       |C9  MRDC#      |H10 D21        |G10 D22

D10 DACK5#     |C10 MWTC#      |H11 D23        |G11 GND

D11 DRQ5       |C11 SD8        |H12 D24        |G12 D25

D12 DACK6#     |C12 SD9        |H13 GND        |G13 D26

D13 DRQ6       |C13 SD10       |H14 D27        |G14 D28

D14 DACK7#     |C14 SD11       |H15 ACCESS KEY |G15 ACCESS KEY

D15 DRQ7       |C15 SD12       |H16 D29        |G16 GND

D16 +5V        |C16 SD13       |H17 +5V        |G17 D30

D17 MASTER16#  |C17 SD14       |H18 +5V        |G18 D31

D18 GND        |C18 SD15       |H19 MAKx       |G19 MREQx





VESA Standard Feature Connector

pin     assignment      pin     assignment

1       PB              2       PG

3       PR              4       PI

5       SB              6       SG

7       SR              8       SI

9       Dot Clock       10      Blank

11      HSync           12      VSync

13      GND             14      GND

15      GND             16      GND

17      Ext Video Sel   18      Ext Sync Sel

19      Ext DotClock Sel20      N/C

21      GND             22      GND

23      GND             24      GND

25      N/C             26      N/C





Null Modem:

Connector 1 to  Connector 2

DTR             DSR/DCD

DSR/DCD         DTR

RTS             CTS

CTS             RTS

TXD             RXD

RXD             TXD

GND             GND





Bidirectional ("Laplink") Parallel Cable DB-25 male to DB-25 male

Connector 1 to Connector 2

2               15

3               13

4               12

5               10

6               11

10              5

11              6

12              4

13              3

15              2

The remainder connect directly through.





30 pin Fast Page Mode SIMM  256kx8 256kx9 1Mx8 1Mx9 4Mx8 4Mx9

pin     assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment

1       Vcc       |9       Gnd    |17      A8     |25      DQ7

2       -CAS      |10      DQ2    |18      A9     |26      QP

3       DQ0       |11      A4     |19      A10    |27      -RAS

4       A0        |12      A5     |20      DQ5    |28      -CASP

5       A1        |13      DQ3    |21      -WE    |29      DP

6       DQ1       |14      A6     |22      Gnd    |30      Vcc

7       A2        |15      A7     |23      DQ6

8       A3        |16      DQ4    |24      N/C



Notes:

QP, CASP and DP are N/C on all x8 bit modules

a9 is a N/C on 256k modules

a10 is a N/C on 256k and 1M modules





72 pin Fast Page Mode SIMM  256k/512k/1M/2M/4M/8M x 32/36 bit

pin     assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment

1       Gnd       |19      A10    |37      MP1    |55      DQ11

2       DQ0       |20      DQ4    |38      MP3    |56      DQ27

3       DQ16      |21      DQ20   |39      Gnd    |57      DQ12

4       DQ1       |22      DQ5    |40      -CAS0  |58      DQ28

5       DQ17      |23      DQ21   |41      -CAS2  |59      Vcc

6       DQ2       |24      DQ6    |42      -CAS3  |60      DQ29

7       DQ18      |25      DQ22   |43      -CAS1  |61      DQ13

8       DQ3       |26      DQ7    |44      -RAS0  |62      DQ30

9       DQ19      |27      DQ23   |45      -RAS1  |63      DQ14

10      Vcc       |28      A7     |46      N/C    |64      DQ31

11      N/C       |29      N/C    |47      -WE    |65      DQ15

12      A0        |30      Vcc    |48      N/C    |66      N/C

13      A1        |31      A8     |49      DQ8    |67      PD1

14      A2        |32      A9     |50      DQ24   |68      PD2

15      A3        |33      -RAS3  |51      DQ9    |69      PD3

16      A4        |34      -RAS2  |52      DQ25   |70      PD4

17      A5        |35      MP2    |53      DQ10   |71      N/C

18      A6        |36      MP0    |54      DQ26   |72      Gnd



Notes:

MP0,MP1,MP2,MP3 are N/C on all x32 bit modules

a9 is a N/C on 256k and 512k modules

a10 is a N/C on 256k, 512k, 1M and 4M modules

RAS1/RAS3 are N/C on 256k, 1M and 4M modules





SCSI Connector Pinouts (Single Ended) IDC-50 Male

pin     assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment

01      GND       |02     -DB0    |27     GND     |28     GND

03      GND       |04     -DB1    |29     GND     |30     GND

05      GND       |06     -DB2    |31     GND     |32     -ATN

07      GND       |08     -DB3    |33     GND     |34     GND

09      GND       |10     -DB4    |35     GND     |36     -BSY

11      GND       |12     -DB5    |37     GND     |38     -ACK

13      GND       |14     -DB6    |39     GND     |40     -RST

15      GND       |16     -DB7    |41     GND     |42     -MSG

17      GND       |18     -DBP    |43     GND     |44     -SEL

19      GND       |20     GND     |45     GND     |46     -C/D

21      GND       |22     GND     |47     GND     |48     -REQ

23      GND       |24     GND     |49     GND     |50     -I/O

25      (open)    |26     TERMPWR





SCSI Connector Pinouts (Differential) IDC-50 Male

pin     assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment

01      (open)    |02     GND     |27     GND     |28     GND

03      +DB0      |04     -DB0    |29     +ATN    |30     -ATN

05      +DB1      |06     -DB1    |31     GND     |32     GND

07      +DB2      |08     -DB2    |33     +BSY    |34     -BSY

09      +DB3      |10     -DB3    |35     +ACK    |36     -ACK

11      +DB4      |12     -DB4    |37     +RST    |38     -RST

13      +DB5      |14     -DB5    |39     +MSG    |40     -MSG

15      +DB6      |16     -DB6    |41     +SEL    |42     -SEL

17      +DB7      |18     -DB7    |43     +C/D    |44     -C/D

19      +DBP      |20     -DBP    |45     +REQ    |46     -REQ

21      DIFFSENS  |22     GND     |47     +I/O    |48     -I/O

23      GND       |24     GND     |49     GND     |50     GND

25      TERMPWR   |26     TERMPWR





Macintosh SCSI Connector Pinouts (Single Ended) DB-25S Female

pin    assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment|pin  assignment

01     -REQ      |08     -DB0    |14      GND    |20      -DBP        

02     -MSG      |09     GND     |15      -C/D   |21      -DB1        

03     -I/O      |10     -DB3    |16      GND    |22      -DB2        

04     -RST      |11     -DB5    |17      -ATN   |23      -DB4        

05     -ACK      |12     -DB6    |18      GND    |24      GND         

06     -BSY      |13     -DB7    |19      -SEL   |25      NC (TERMPWR)

07     GND  





PCI Cards Universal/3.3V/5V and 32/64 bit

pin assignment |pin assignment |pin assignment |pin assignment

B1  -12V       |A1   TRST#     |B48  AD[10]    |A48  Ground

B2  TCK        |A2  +12V       |B49 Ground     |A49 AD[09]

B3  Ground     |A3  TMS        |B50 (KEYWAY2)  |A50 (KEYWAY2)

B4  TDO        |A4  TDI        |B51 (KEYWAY2)  |A51 (KEYWAY2)

B5  +5V        |A5  +5V        |B52 AD[08]     |A52 C/BE[0]#

B6  +5V        |A6  INTA#      |B53 AD[07]     |A53 +3.3V

B7  INTB#      |A7  INTC#      |B54 +3.3V      |A54 AD[06]

B8  INTD#      |A8  +5V        |B55 AD[05]     |A55 AD[04]

B9  PRSNT1#    |A9  reserved   |B56 AD[03]     |A56 Ground

B10 reserved   |A10 +Vi/o      |B57 Ground     |A57 AD[02]

B11 PRSNT2#    |A11 reserved   |B58 AD[01]     |A58 AD[00]

B12 (KEYWAY1)  |A12 (KEYWAY1)  |B59 Vi/o       |A59 +Vi/o

B13 (KEYWAY1)  |A13 (KEYWAY1)  |B60 ACK64#     |A60 REQ64#

B14 reserved   |A14 reserved   |B61 +5V        |A61 +5V

B15 Ground     |A15 RST#       |B62 +5V        |A62 +5V

B16 CLK        |A16 Vi/o       |B63 reserved   |A63 Ground

B17 Ground     |A17 VNT#       |B64 Ground     |A64 C/BE[7]#

B18 REQ#       |A18 Ground     |B65 C/BE[6]#   |A65 C/BE[5]#

B19 +Vi/o      |A19 reserved   |B66 C/BE[4]#   |A66 +Vi/o

B20 AD[31]     |A20 AD[30]     |B67 Ground     |A67 PAR64

B21 AD[29]     |A21 +3.3V      |B68 AD[63]     |A68 AD[62]

B22 Ground     |A22 AD[28]     |B69 AD[61]     |A69 Ground

B23 AD[27]     |A23 AD[26]     |B70 +Vi/o      |A70 AD[60]

B24 AD[25]     |A24 Ground     |B71 AD[59]     |A71 AD[58]

B25 +3.3V      |A25 AD[24]     |B72 AD[57]     |A72 Ground

B26 C/BE[3]#   |A26 IDSEL      |B73 Ground     |A73 AD[56]

B27 AD[23]     |A27 +3.3V      |B74 AD[55]     |A74 AD[54]

B28 Ground     |A28 AD[22]     |B75 AD[53]     |A75 +Vi/o

B29 AD[21]     |A29 AD[20]     |B76 Ground     |A76 AD[52]

B30 AD[19]     |A30 Ground     |B77 AD[51]     |A77 AD[50]

B31 +3.3V      |A31 AD[18]     |B78 AD[49]     |A78 Ground

B32 AD[17]     |A32 AD[16]     |B79 +Vi/o      |A79 AD[48]

B33 C/BE[2]#   |A33 +3.3V      |B80 AD[47]     |A80 AD[46]

B34 Ground     |A34 FRAME#     |B81 AD{45]     |A81 Ground

B35 IRDY#      |A35 Ground     |B82 Ground     |A82 AD[44]

B36 +3.3V      |A36 TRDY#      |B83 AD[43]     |A83 AD[42]

B37 DEVSEL#    |A37 Ground     |B84 AD[41]     |A84 +Vi/o

B38 Ground     |A38 STOP#      |B85 Ground     |A85 AD[40]

B39 LOCK#      |A39 +3.3V      |B86 AD[39]     |A86 AD[38]

B40 PERR#      |A40 SDONE      |B87 AD[37]     |A87 Ground

B41 +3.3V      |A41 SBO#       |B88 +Vi/o      |A88 AD[36]

B42 SERR#      |A42 Ground     |B89 AD[35]     |A89 AD[34]

B43 +3.3V      |A43 PAR        |B90 AD[33]     |A90 Ground

B44 C/BE[1]#   |A44 AD[15]     |B91 Ground     |A91 AD[32]

B45 AD[14]     |A45 +3.3V      |B92 reserved   |A92 reserved

B46 Ground     |A46 AD[13]     |B93 reserved   |A93 Ground

B47 AD[12]     |A47 AD11]      |B94 Ground     |A94 reserved



Notes:

Pins 63-94 exist on 64 bit PCI implementation only

KEYWAY1 exists on Universal and 3.3V boards, they are Ground on 5V boards

KEYWAY2 exists on Universal and 5V boards, they are Ground on 3.3V boards

+Vi/o is 3.3V on 3.3V boards, 5V on 5V boards, and define signal rails

  on the Universal board.







Q) 8.2  *Where are benchmark programs located. What do they mean?



Q) 8.3  What is Plug and Play?



[From: leefi@microsoft.com (Lee Fisher)]



Plug and Play is the name of a technology that lets PC hardware and attached

devices work together automatically, reducing end-user complexity. Plug and

Play technology is implemented in hardware, in operating systems, and in

supporting software such as drivers and in the systemboard's BIOS. Microsoft

will support Plug and Play starting with Windows "Chicago" and Windows NT

"Cairo". Today there is a solution for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows 3.x using

software from Intel which works with the Plug and Play hardware. There are a

variety of Plug and Play technologies, today including BIOS, ISA cards, SCSI,

IDE CD-ROM, PCMCIA, drivers.



Many specifications are available via anonymous ftp at 

ftp.microsoft.com:/drg/Plug-and-Play.



Email the PlayList@Microsoft.COM alias to get on a list for announcements

regarding new specifications, informations on workshops, etc.



The Compuserve Plug and Play forum (GO PLUGPLAY) is available for technical

support issues regarding hardware and driver design issues.



For more related information, on ftp.microsoft.com, see 

/drg/Plug-and-Play/readme and /drg/Developer-Info/devinfo.zip.



Microsoft is starting a "Plug and Play Hardware Catalog" to showcase Plug and

Play hardware, entries are being accepted for the initial issue. Send hardware

and company information to:

    Plug and Play Catalog

    c/o Microsoft Corporation

    Hardware Vendor Relations Group, building 6

    One Microsoft Way

    Redmond, WA 98053-6399 USA



Q) 8.4  What size should I set my DOS partitions to be?

[From: Mike Long ]

[Some corrections by: Osmo Ronkanen ]



This depends on what cluster size you want.  A smaller cluster size is

better, because a small file takes up a whole cluster if there is even

one byte in it; the leftover space is called "slack."  If you have N

files on your drive, and your cluster size is S bytes, then you can

expect to lose N*S/2 bytes to slack space on the average.



The table below shows the maximum partition size to get clusters of a

given size.  You cannot format a hard drive under DOS with a cluster

size less than 2K.



+-------------------+-----------+-------+

|   Cluster size    | Partition |  FAT  |  Notes

|                   |   size    | type  |

+-------------------+-----------+-------+

|  4K  (4096 bytes) |     16 MB | FAT12 |

|  2K  (2048 bytes) |     32 MB | FAT16 | (DOS versions < 4.0)

|  2K  (2048 bytes) |    128 MB | FAT16 | (DOS versions >= 4.0)

|  4K  (4096 bytes) |    256 MB | FAT16 |

|  8K  (8192 bytes) |    512 MB | FAT16 |

| 16K (16384 bytes) |      1 GB | FAT16 |

| 32K (32768 bytes) |      2 GB | FAT16 |

| 64K (65536 bytes) |      4 GB | FAT16 |

+-------------------+-----------+-------+



Another consideration is backup.  If you backup to tape, you should

have disk partitions smaller than the capacity of a single tape for

ease in backup.



[From: Osmo Ronkanen ]



The 32 MB limit actually didn't have anything to do with the

cluster size or FAT it was because the number of sectors in

the partition was stored in boot record as a 16 bit number. 







Q) 8.5  Why won't my system boot from the hard drive?



If you can boot from a floppy and see the files on your hard drive,

then chances are there's something wrong with your MBR (Master Boot

Record) / partition table.  The first thing you should try is: "FDISK

/MBR".  This will fix the master boot record without effecting the

contents of your disk.  If this doesn't work, the next thing to try is

verifying that you have your Primary DOS Partition set active.  To do

this, enter "FDISK" and chose "Set active partition" (usually the

second option) then pick "Primary DOS Partition".  Then exit and

reboot.  This too will not effect the contents of your disk.



The next thing to try is replacing the files required for DOS to boot;

they may have been corrupted or deleted.  To do this, run "SYS C:".

This may or may not be possible as DOS versions before 5.0 required

these files be located at a certain place on your hard drive and that

spot may no longer be available.  Either way, this will not otherwise

effect the contents of your disk.



If neither of these things work, then the next thing to try is

reformatting your hard drive (FORMAT C: /SYS).  Note that this will

erase all of the files on your hard drive, so back up anything you

want to save first!!!  If all three of these suggestions fail, then

chances are you have a more serious problem.



Q) 8.6  How do I clean my computer?



Clean the outside with a damp (not wet) cloth with a mild dish washing

detergent after unplugging the system.  Let it dry completely before

plugging your system in.  Do not clean the inside - computer

components are not susceptible to common house hold dust.  Unless you

have special equipment, you will more likely cause more harm than help

to your computer if you try.



Q) 8.7  *What OS's are available for the PC? Which are free?



[this section being worked on]



Q) 8.8  *How can I transfer files between my PC and a Unix system?



[this section being worked on]



Q) 8.9  What tape backup software is available?



[From: herbst@techunix.technion.ac.il (Herbst OMR)]



 JUMBO TAPE

 ----------

Small. Not many features but does the job. Seems to work only with

Colorado drives.  Latest version is 4.03 and can be found by Archie

jumbo403.zip.



>From "Stan Faullin":

 

Useful DOS program.  Has very basic Backup (total, modified,

selected), Restore, Compare, Erase and Format functions.  Some

versions come with a Windows scheduler, but it will NOT run in the

background in a DOS window.  The compression scheme used in some

previous versions is NOT compatible with their latest release, so you

may not be able to read backups made with version 3.x with version

4.x.  Separate versions of this software are available for their

internal model or the parallel port model.

 

Windows:

 

The Lite version supports both parallel port versions and internal

versions.  The only Windows backup program for a parallel port device,

but only supports the Colorado Trakker unit.  Can run in the

background. Can be found by Archie, cbwlite.exe.

 

>From "gregb@oclflt.den.mmc.com (gregb)":

 

CMS Trakker 250 is supplied with a "generic" software package:

it performs backup, restore, selective backup & restore, compression,

compare. It works with DOS and Windows 3.1. 

For an additional $49.95 ($39?) you can purchase their fancier version.

 

 Central-Point backup

 --------------------

Large with many, many features and confusing directory

selections. Works with most drives.



 Conner Basic 1.0

 ----------------

>From "Moshe Braner   braner@emba.uvm.edu":

useless -- only backs up entire drive.

 

 Conner Basic 1.1

 ----------------

>From: pjk@netcom.com (Phil Koenig)



If you got the low-power backup software bundled in -- Conner Backup

Basics -- and it is V1.0, you are entitled to a free upgrade from Conner.

The new version has an only slightly better addendum to the manual, but

the software now is about as flexible as most users would want -- partial

backup and restore by directory or file, etc.  It has worked well for us,

and I recommend that you ask for your copy.

 

>From: dmiller@im.lcs.mit.edu (Dick and Jill Miller)

 

I emphasize that v1.1 of Conner Backup Basics fixes many of the prior

problems, although its prompts, on-line help and printed documentation 

still deserve improvement.

 

 Conner Exec

 -----------

>From "Moshe Braner   braner@emba.uvm.edu":

 

Very large (2.5 megs for DOS version, windows version even larger).

Did not work with my parallel-port Conner 250meg QIC-80 drive.



 QICstream==Conner "Simply Safe Software Backup Basics version 3.0P"

 -------------------------------------------------------------------

Small and works fine. Works with parallel port Conner drive.

 

 Symantec Norton Backup

 ----------------------

This is included with Norton Desktop for Windows, which is a much

better deal than purchasing Norton Backup for Windows alone.

 

 Symantec Norton Backup for Windows

 ----------------------------------



 GNU-Tar

 -------



Q) 8.10  Why doesn't my new device work as fast as it should?



The performance of individual components in your system are highly

dependent the rest of your system.  For instance, the transfer rate of

drives, usually measured in megabytes per second, can depend on the

drive controller, bus type and OS.  Video card speed, sometime

measured in Winmarks, highly depends on the speed of your main CPU as

well as the OS.  When ever you see a statement on the speed of the

device, be sure to check the small print to determine what type of

system and under what conditions the speed was measured.  Don't be

fooled by benchmark numbers.  Another important corollary of this is

*never* post benchmarks - they offer little to no information for

comparison with other systems.  Benchmarks are only useful for

comparison purposes when run in a controlled environment, and even

then to a limited degree.



Q) 8.11  My drive lists a MTBF of 300,000 hours. Will it really last 34 years?



[From: swwalters@fl51mail.space.honeywell.com  (Steve Walters)]



Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) is a statistical calculation

indicating the mean time between randomly occurring hardware failures.

Two parameters are necessary to fully describe how long a piece of

hardware will last.  The first parameter is MTBF which is a measure of

frequency in which random hardware failures will occur.  The second

parameter is mean operating life which defines how long the hardware

will last before an anticipated wearout phenomena will occur.  These

two parameters combined together give the true projection of the

'real' life of the drive.  As an example of how these parameters

interrelate, assume your drive has an MTBF of 300,000 hours and an

operating life of 5 years.  The drive will operate uninterrupted until

failure (such as a file server, for example).  This is telling you

that your drive should be very reliable until wearout occurs since the

MTBF greatly exceeds the mean life.  However, after 5 years (on the

average), expect it to fail due to wearout.  In this example, the

actual chances of the drive lasting 3 years is 92%, 4 years is 88%, 5

years is 56% and 6 years is 35%.



Q) 8.12  How do I find pin 1 on my chip/card/cable/connector?



Pin 1 is always marked in one way or another to avoid confusion due to

symmetry (after which known numbering schemes can be used).  The most

important thing to note is that the orientation of the letters or

numbers printed on the chip have absolutely nothing to do with the

actual orientation of the pins.  Never assume that all chips should be

readable from the same angle!



The most obvious marking for pin 1 is a small number '1'.  The first

thing you should do is look very carefully for it.  Ribbon cables are

often marked with a blue or red stripe on pin 1.  Some chips are

marked with a dot, notch or small angled cut in the material just

above pin 1.  Rectangular chips are usually marked with a notch on one

of ends; the first pin counter clockwise from this notch is pin 1.  If

you can't find a marking on the socket or connector, then try looking

at the pads (the holes in the board the socket or connector is

soldered into).  For through-hole devices, pin 1 has a square pad, the

rest should be round.



Q) 8.13  I've run out of power connectors, what can I do?



Assuming your power suply is actually strong enough to power all of

your devices, you can pick up a Y-adapter at your local Radio Shack.





S) 9.0 References



Q) 9.1  What other FAQ's are out there?

The following is a partial list of official FAQs which may be useful

for more information on PC related items.  All of these FAQs are

archived on news.answers, though the frequency in posting and

availability are subject to the maintainers' whims.



If you are retrieving these by anonymous ftp, those items listed with

Archive-name's can be found under the news.answers directory under the

archive name.  The others can be found in their respective hierarchy's

directory under the Subject line's name.  For more information on how

to retrieve these items and how to find other FAQs, refer to the

article "Introduction to the *.answers groups" periodically posted to

news.announce.newusers.



Note: all *.answers groups have been removed from the Newsgroups lines



		------ Hardware Related FAQs ------



Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.chips,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.systems,

	    comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc,comp.sys.intel

Subject: Personal Computer CHIPLIST 7.0 part * of *

From: offerman@einstein.et.tudelft.nl (Aad Offerman)

Summary: This list contains the various CPU's and NPX's and their features,

	 used in the IBM PC, IBM PC/XT, IBM PC/AT, IBM PS/2 and compatbles,

	 and the differences between them.

Archive-name: pc-hardware-faq/chiplist

--

Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.comm

Subject: MS-Windows COM and Ns16550A UART FAQ

From: rjn@fc.hp.com (Bob Niland)

Summary: Improving Windows 3.x COM performance and reliability.

Archive-name: windows-com-faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware

Subject: The Serial Port, rel. *, part * / *

From: chbl@stud.uni-sb.de (Christian Blum)

--

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,

	    comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy,comp.os.os2.advocacy,

	    comp.sys.intel,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.hardware

Subject: Mac & IBM Info-Version *

From: bgrubb@scf.nmsu.edu (Bruce Grubb)

--

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard

Subject: Generic IBM PC Soundcard FAQ periodic posting

From: plutchak@porter.geo.brown.edu (Joel Plutchak)

Summary: Non-product-specific information about IBM PC soundcards

Archive-name: PCsoundcards/generic-faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard,comp.music,rec.music.synth,

	    comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware

Subject: FAQ: Gravis Ultrasound ("GUS") FAQ v*

From: Matthew E. Bernold 

Summary: A list of Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) concerning

	 the Gravis Ultrasound (GUS) sound card for IBM PC's. 

Archive-name: PCsoundcards/gravis-ultrasound/faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps,comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.mac.system,

	    comp.sys.mac.wanted,comp.sys.mac.hardware

Subject: Introductory Macintosh frequently asked questions (FAQ)

From: erh0362@tesla.njit.edu  (Elliotte Rusty Harold)

Summary: This document answers a number of the most frequently asked

 questions on Usenet about Macintosh computers.  To avoid wasting

 bandwidth and as a matter of politeness please familiarize yourself

 with this document BEFORE posting.

Archive-name: macintosh/general-faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware,comp.sys.mac.misc

Subject: Macintosh PowerPC FAQ

From: Schechter.1@osu.edu

Summary: This posting contains a list of questions and (often speculative)

	 answers about PowerPC and its relation to the Macintosh.

Archive-name: macintosh/PowerPC-FAQ

--

Newsgroups: comp.unix.sys5.r4,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,comp.sys.intel,

	    comp.os.linux.announce

Subject: PC-Clone UNIX Hardware Buyer's Guide

From: esr@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond)

Summary: Tips on how and where to buy hardware for your UNIX.

Archive-name: pc-unix/hardware



		------ OS Related FAQs ------



Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions,comp.unix.shell

Subject: Unix - Frequently Asked Questions (Contents) [Frequent posting]

From: tmatimar@empress.com (Ted M A Timar)

Archive-name: unix-faq/faq/contents

--

Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions,comp.unix.shell

Subject: Unix - Frequently Asked Questions (* / *) Digest [Frequent posting]

From: tmatimar@empress.com (Ted M A Timar)

Archive-name: unix-faq/faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.unix.sys5.r4,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,comp.unix.bsd,

	    comp.os.linux.announce

Subject: PC-clone UNIX Software Buyer's Guide

From: esr@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond)

Summary: A buyer's guide to UNIX versions for PC-clone hardware

Archive-name: pc-unix/software

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.announce

Subject: FAQ: 386BSD/NetBSD Compatible tape drive list

From: Bob Kemp 

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.announce

Subject: [comp.os.386bsd] Berkeley Net Release/2 derived BSD for

	 PCs FAQ (Part * of *)

From: burgess@hrd769.brooks.af.mil (Dave Burgess)

Archive-name: 386bsd-faq/part1

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux

Subject: ** Linux Documents Explained for Newbies **  Weekly Post

From: jay-m@equinox.unr.edu (J.A. MacDonald)

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce

Subject: LILO FAQ, version *

From: almesber@nessie.cs.id.ethz.ch (Werner Almesberger)

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce

Subject: Linux FTP and BBS List #* (LONG)

From: Zane H. Healy 

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux

Subject: [comp.os.linux.announce] Guidelines for posting

From: mdw@sunSITE.unc.edu (Matt Welsh)

Archive-name: linux/announce/guide

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.admin

Subject: Linux * HOWTO

From: vince@victrola.wa.com (Vince Skahan)

Comment: The following article are currently being posted (archive

	names, in parentheses, are in the "linux/howto" archive

	directory): Electronic Mail (mail); News (news); UUCP (uucp).

Archive-name: linux/howto/mail

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.linux.admin

Subject: Linux * HOWTO

From: mdw@sunsite.unc.edu (Matt Welsh)

Summary: HOWTO on configuration of TCP/IP networking and SLIP under Linux.

Archive-name: linux/howto/networking

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.linux.admin

Subject: Linux HOWTO Index

From: mdw@sunsite.unc.edu (Matt Welsh)

Summary: Index of HOWTO documents about Linux.

Archive-name: linux/howto/index

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.admin

Subject: Linux Ethernet HOWTO

From: Paul Gortmaker 

Archive-name: linux/howto/ethernet

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.admin

Subject: Linux Printing HOWTO

From: gtaylor@cs.tufts.edu

Summary: HOWTO on printing under Linux

Archive-name: linux/howto/printing

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.help

Subject: Linux Frequently Asked Questions with Answers

From: ijackson@nyx.cs.du.edu (Ian Jackson)

Summary: Please read this before posting to comp.os.linux.help.

Archive-name: linux/faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.help

Subject: Linux INFO-SHEET

From: johnsonm@stolaf.edu

Summary: This posting contains a quick summary of the features and abilities

	 of the Linux operating system.  It is a supplement to the

	 comp.os.linux FAQ and META-FAQ, and should be read by those

	 wishing to learn about and/or install Linux.

Archive-name: linux/info-sheet

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.help

Subject: Linux META-FAQ

From: johnsonm@stolaf.edu

Summary: This is a quick summary of the information available about the

	 Linux operating system, explaining where other information can

	 be found.  This should be read by anyone wishing to install

	 Linux, and by anyone who wishes to find other sources for

	 information on Linux.

Archive-name: linux/meta-faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.help,

	    comp.os.linux.development,comp.os.linux.admin,comp.os.linux.misc

Subject: Welcome to the comp.os.linux.* hierarchy!

From: mdw@TC.Cornell.EDU (Matt Welsh)

Archive-name: linux/announce/intro

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.mach

Subject: comp.os.mach Frequently Asked Questions

From: fgray@owlnet.rice.edu (Frederick Earl Gray)

Summary: Answers to questions frequently asked on the USENET newsgroup

	 comp.os.mach

Archive-name: mach-faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.minix

Subject: Changes to MINIX Frequently Asked Questions

From: overby@plains.nodak.edu (Glen Overby)

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.minix

Subject: Changes to MINIX Information Sheet

From: overby@plains.nodak.edu (Glen Overby)

Summary: Everything you ever wanted to know about Minix on the networks,

	but never dared to ask!

--

Newsgroups: comp.unix.msdos

Subject: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for comp.unix.msdos

From: fnx!vpix-faq@uunet.UU.NET (VP/IX FAQ maintainance)

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer

Subject: comp.os.msdos.programmer FAQ part * of *

From: brown@NCoast.ORG (Stan Brown)

Archive-name: msdos-programmer-faq/part3

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc,comp.os.os2.apps

Subject: OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions List Rel. * (* of *)

From: sip1@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)

Archive-name: os2-faq/user/part1

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.programmer.misc,comp.os.os2.programmer.porting

Subject: FAQ: OS/2 Programming FAQ v*

From: jgarzik@pantera.atl.ga.us (Jeff Garzik)



		------ Windowing System Related FAQs ------



Newsgroups: comp.sources.x

Subject: How to get X sources for free.

From: argv@sun.com (Dan Heller)

--

Newsgroups: comp.windows.x

Subject: X Servers for DOS, Microsoft Windows, OS/2, Macs, Amigas, Atari

From: mccoy@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (Daniel J. McCoy)

--

Newsgroups: comp.windows.x

Subject: comp.windows.x Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) * / *

From: dbl@visual.com (David B. Lewis)

Summary: useful information about the X Window System

Archive-name: x-faq/part*

--

Newsgroups: comp.windows.x.i386unix,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,

	    comp.unix.bsd,comp.windows.x

Subject: X on Intel-based Unix Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]

From: steve@ecf.toronto.edu (Steve Kotsopoulos)

Summary: X options for Intel-based Unix (SYSV/386, 386BSD, Linux, Mach)

Archive-name: Intel-Unix-X-faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.apps,

	    comp.os.ms-windows.setup,comp.os.ms-windows.misc,

	    comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.misc,

	    comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools,

	    comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win32,

	    comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.misc,bit.listserv.win3-l

Subject: INFO: A guide to the Windows newsgroups

From: tomh@metrics.com (Tom Haapanen)

Archive-name: ms-windows/newsgrp.guide

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.ms-windows.apps,comp.os.ms-windows.misc,

	    comp.os.ms-windows.setup,bit.listserv.win3-l

Subject: Windows FAQ: How to get it

From: tomh@metrics.com (Tom Haapanen)

Archive-name: ms-windows/faqwin.how-to

--

Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.desqview

Subject: DESQview/QEMM Frequently Asked Questions: READ BEFORE POSTING

From: danb@bunt.sps.mot.com

Summary: FAQ list for the MS-DOS multitasker DESQview and memory manager QEMM

Archive-name: desqview-faq



		------ Miscellaneous FAQs ------



Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc,

	    comp.os.ms-windows.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,alt.cd-rom,

	    alt.sys.pc-clone.gateway2000,alt.sys.pc-clone.zeos,

	    alt.sys.pc-clone.dell,comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d,

	    comp.binaries.ibm.pc.wanted

Subject: PC-Clone Hardware Newsgroup Pointer

From: grohol@alpha.acast.nova.edu (John M. Grohol)

Summary: Newsgroup subject pointer for PC-clone hardware

Archive-Name: finding-groups/pc-hardware

--

Newsgroups: comp.sources.wanted,alt.sources.wanted

Subject: How to find sources

From: jik@security.ov.com (Jonathan I. Kamens)

Archive-name: finding-sources

--

Newsgroups: comp.std.internat,comp.std.misc,comp.protocols.iso

Subject: Standards FAQ

From: unrza3@cd4680fs.rrze.uni-erlangen.de (Markus Kuhn)

Summary: Answers to questions such as what are ISO standards, where can I

	 get standards, what are ISO/ITU/ANSI/etc., what standards are

	 there relevant to computing, ...? This is a periodic posting in

	 comp.protocols.iso, comp.std.misc and comp.std.internat.

Archive-name: standards-faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.announce,rec.games.misc

Subject: PC GAMES FAQ <- Guide To The Gaming World (Part * of *)

From: appelo@dutiba.twi.tudelft.nl (Jurgen Appelo)

Summary: This FAQ has answers to common questions and other useful

	 information that all new readers of the comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.*

	 newsgroups should read before posting.

Archive-name: PC-games-faq/part1

--

Newsgroups: comp.virus

Subject: VIRUS-L/comp.virus Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

From: "Kenneth R. van Wyk" 

Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions,

	 and their answers, about computer viruses.  It should be read

	 by anyone who wishes to post to VIRUS-L/comp.virus.

Archive-name: computer-virus-faq

--

Newsgroups: misc.forsale

Subject: Welcome to Misc.forsale - Frequently Asked Questions (please read!)

From: murray@sun13.scri.fsu.edu (John Murray)

--

Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers,misc.forsale.computers.d

Subject: misc.forsale.computers.d FAQ

From: "Peter W. De Bonte" 

--

Newsgroups: comp.archives.msdos.announce,comp.archives.msdos.d

Subject: comp.archives.msdos.{announce,d} FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

From: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi)

Archive-name: msdos-archives/faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.archives.msdos.d,comp.binaries.ibm.pc.wanted,

	    comp.os.msdos.apps,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc

Subject: Useful MSDOS Programs at SIMTEL20 and Garbo (Part * of *)

From: sko@wimsey.bc.ca (Samuel Ko)

Summary: A list of recommended msdos programs available from major ftp sites

Archive-name: msdos-archives/part*

--

Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc

Subject: v*inf*: charter, CBIP newsgroups charter (part * / *)

From: cbip@cs.uml.edu (CBIP Moderator)

Archive-name: admin/charter

--

Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript

Subject: PostScript monthly FAQ v* *-*-* [* of *]

From: jgm@cs.brown.edu (Jonathan Monsarrat)

Summary: Useful facts about the PostScript graphics programming language

Archive-name: postscript/faq/part*

--

Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi

Subject: comp.periphs.scsi FAQ

From: vail@tegra.com (Johnathan Vail)

Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked

	     Questions (and their answers) about SCSI.  It

	     should be read by anyone who wishes to post to the

	     comp.periphs.scsi newsgroup.

Archive-name: scsi-faq

--

Newsgroups: comp.protocols.nfs,comp.protocols.tcp-ip

Subject: (PC)NFS & related topics FAQ [part * / *]

From: rawn@lead.aichem.arizona.edu (Rawn Shah)

Summary: This is the FAQ list about PC & Macintosh based NFS & TCP/IP

	 products for readers of comp.protocols.nfs &

	 comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc

Archive-name: pcnfs-faq/part1

--

Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc

Subject: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

From: aboba@netcom.com (Bernard Aboba)

Summary: Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) about TCP/IP on

		   PC-compatible computers.

Archive-name: ibmpc-tcp-ip

--

Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom,comp.multimedia

Subject: alt.cd-rom FAQ

From: rab@cdrom.com

Summary: Frequently asked questions about CD-ROMs

Archive-name: cdrom-faq

--

Newsgroups: alt.emulators.ibmpc.apple2

Subject: alt.emulators.ibmpc.apple2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

From: vera@anna.stanford.edu (James Vera)

Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions

	 (and their answers) about emulating Apple ][ computers (or //e

	 ...) on other computers (like PCs or UNIX boxes).  Please

	 read before posting questions.

Archive-name: emulate-apple2-faq



===============

Ralph Valentino  (ralf@wpi.wpi.edu)

Hardware Engineer,  Worcester  Polytechnic  Institute


Continued in part 5