Rom Bios; Power-On Self-Test; Runtime Services - HP Compaq SP700 Reference Manual

2-10 Compaq Setup and Diagnostic Software

ROM BIOS

Your workstation contains a set of software called Basic Input/Output System
(BIOS), which is stored in Read Only Memory (ROM) on the system board.
The BIOS contains a set of routines for running Power-On Self-Test (POST)
and for accessing hardware specific information. The ROM is upgradable via
the ROMPaq software utility.

Power-On Self-Test

When you turn on your workstation, the BIOS runs a number of tests called
Power-On Self-Tests (POSTs). These tests check and initialize many hardware
components. The basic sequence for POST is:
1. Check and initialize low level hardware.
2. Count memory.
3. Initialize processor(s).
4. Detect and spin up all drives.
5. Boot from, in sequence, either a CD, a diskette, or the hard drive.
Refer to Appendix D, "POST Error Messages," for a listing of POST error
codes and steps you can take to resolve an error condition.

Runtime Services

After your workstation boots to the operating system, the BIOS still provides
some runtime services to the operating system. For instance, the BIOS provides
information to the operating system on how many processors are installed, how
the system interrupts are configured, and information on the disk drives. BIOS
also provides information about your workstation's configuration and
maintenance.