Power-On Self-Test (Post); Post Error Messages - Compaq Armada E500 Series Maintenance And Service Manual

2.3 Power-On Self-Test (POST)

The Power-On Self-Test (POST) is a series of tests that run every time
the computer is turned on. POST verifies that the system is configured
and functioning properly.
To run POST, complete the following steps:
1. Complete the preliminary steps (Section 2.1).
2. Turn on the computer.
If POST does not detect any errors, the computer beeps once or twice to
indicate that POST has run successfully. The computer boots from the
hard drive or from a bootable diskette if one is installed in the diskette
drive.

2.4 POST Error Messages

If the system is not functioning well enough to run POST, or if the
display is not functioning well enough to show POST error messages,
refer to the Troubleshooting tables in Section 2.6.
If POST detects an error, one of the following events occurs:
A message with the prefix "WARNING" appears, informing you
where the error occurred. The system pauses until you press F1 to
continue.
produce WARNING messages.
A message with the prefix "FATAL" appears, informing you
where the error occurred. After the message, the system emits a
series of beeps, then stops.
2-4 Troubleshooting
You should be able to correct problems that