HP Diagnostic Tools

Module 1: POST Test

August 2021

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Welcome to the HP Diagnostic Tools training. This training highlights the various HP diagnostic tools you can use
to diagnose and resolve computer issues customers might have.
This module, POST Test, is one of 5 separate modules that you need to review on your way to completing this HP
Diagnostic Tools course.
It will take about 15 minutes to complete this module.

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 HP Diagnostic Tools
Module map

Module 1: Module 4:
POST Test HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI

Module 2: Module 5:
HP Support Assistant Other Diagnostic Apps and Tools

Module 3:
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics for Windows

The HP Diagnostic Tools training course consists of 5 separate modules, and each module discusses a diagnostic
tool that will enable you to understand when and how to use the specific tool to diagnose and resolve computer
hardware and software issues.

The modules are available in SABA as separate courses that you can take at any time.

You don’t have to take the modules in numerical order, you can choose to complete them according to their
relevance to your role, or just your preference.

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 Navigating the presentation

Interactivity
Attachments

URL links

Recommended training
Slide notes

Course resources
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If you already know how to navigate this training, skip this slide to move on.
This pointer will be used to guide you to important points discussed on a slide. To view the notes for the slides,
click the notes icon on the bottom right of the screen. To review or download the attachments, click the
Attachments tab.
As you go through this training you will encounter interactive slides that require your input. You should pause the
presentation and follow the instructions on the slide.
You will see links that you can click for more information. Feel free to open these as you need.
You will also see references to pre-requisite training courses on SABA. You can pause the presentation at any
point to follow links, review pre-requisite courses, or make your own notes.
A course resources page is provided at the end of this training that summarizes the links and resources available
to you.

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 Module 1: POST Test
Learning map

• Diagnostic tools overview

• POST Test
• Post Test results

In this module, POST Test, you will learn about the available HP diagnostic tools, and the POST test.

After completing the training for this module, you should be able to:
• Identify the various HP diagnostics tools and how to use them,
• Identify the key features of the POST test, and
• Specify different ways in which the computer presents POST test results.

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 What are diagnostic tools?
• Diagnose and fix hardware and network issues
• Includes:
– Tests that run as part of the BIOS
– Pre-boot utilities independent of the OS
– Support applications

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Diagnostic tools are software tools that perform a computer health check to diagnose and fix any hardware and
network issues.

HP diagnostic tools fit into several broad categories and include:

• Tests that run as part of the computer firmware (BIOS)
• Pre-boot utilities that run independently of the computer operating system, and
• Support applications that supplement the operating system

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 Purpose of diagnostic tools
• Detect malfunctioning hardware
• Check hardware is functioning properly
• Check for software issues
• Provide alerts through error messages
– LEDs
– Beep codes
• Generate test logs

NOTE: Run diagnostics before replacing hardware. Check

with region for the local process.

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The purpose of both Windows and non-Windows diagnostic tools is to:

• Detect any malfunctioning hardware on the computer
• Provide assurance that the hardware is functioning properly
• Determine that a problem can be caused by software issues
• Provide alerts through error messages, LEDs, or beep codes if a hardware component is malfunctioning
• Generate test logs of Pass ID codes and Failure ID codes for components

NOTE: You should run diagnostic tests before replacing any hardware. Be sure to check with your region for the
local process.

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 Type of HP diagnostic tools

Run as part of computer firmware Pre-boot diagnostic tool that uses the
UEFI specification and performs advanced
hardware tests

Built-in tool with automated fixes, Hardware diagnostics tests that run
updates, and support independently of the OS from bootable code
on external media

Diagnostic tool that run in the OS, but are

independent of the OS
- Windows 7, 8.1, 10 & 11 OS only

HP provides a range of diagnostic tools that you can use to check computer health.
The BIOS diagnostics tool includes hardware diagnostics tests, such as the power-on self-test (or POST), that
run as part of the computer firmware.
HP Support Assistant (or HPSA) is an HP support application that is bundled with the Windows OS. HPSA provides
automated updates, onboard diagnostics, product information, guided assistance to help maintain optimal
performance, and proactively sends alerts to optimize the customer experience.
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics for Windows includes post-boot hardware diagnostics tools that run in the OS but
is independent of the OS. HP PC Hardware Diagnostics runs on the Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and
Windows 11 operating systems.
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) includes pre-boot hardware diagnostic tools that are built on the Unified
Extensible Firmware Interface (or UEFI) specification, which provides an interface between the OS and platform
firmware. These diagnostic tools perform sophisticated hardware tests without loading the OS.
Vision diagnostics provides hardware diagnostics tests that run independently of the operating system from
bootable code on external media such as, an optical disk or USB disk-on-key. On HP desktops, these
applications include HP Vision Diagnostics.
In this module, we’ll look at the POST test, a BIOS diagnostic test, in more detail.

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 Power-on self-test (POST)
What is it?
• Diagnostic tests that run automatically with system
power-on
• Stored in the NVRAM
• Provides alerts through error messages, LEDs or beep
codes
• First diagnostic resource

QuickBoot (configurable option)

Skips select POST tests

Power-on self-test ( or POST) is a series of diagnostic tests that run as part of the computer firmware or BIOS.
POST tests run automatically when you power on a computer.
The POST is stored with the BIOS in the computer's non-volatile random-access memory (or NVRAM). If the tests
encounter any errors or hardware failures, it alerts you of potential problems through error messages, LED
diagnostics, or beep codes.
When troubleshooting a computer, POST is your first diagnostic resource.
You can also set the computer to a run quicker boot. To do this, you select the QuickBoot option in the BIOS Setup
Utility. With a quick boot, however, some POST tests are skipped

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 What does it test?
• Installed hardware
• Memory
Intel Optane
• Cache cache

• PCI data path

• Flash ROM
Graphics card
• CPU Memory
module
• SCSI devices
• Power supply
• Graphics cards (PCI/AGP/PCI-Express)

Hard drive
CPU

POST tests can differ, depending on how the BIOS is configured, but usually POST runs basic tests on the
system’s components. These include installed hardware, memory, cache, PCI data path, flash ROM, processor,
small computer system interface or SCSI devices, the power supply, and graphics cards, such as PCI, AGP or, PCI-
Express.

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 How does POST work?
Successful POST Unsuccessful POST

System boots into OS Error!

• Beep code
• LED code
• Error message

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If the tests are successful, the computer will boot into Windows.
If an error occurs during POST, the computer indicates the error through the following alerts:
• A beep code
• A LED code
• An error message describing the problem

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 Responding to a POST error
Click the icons to learn about how to respond to a POST error.
F2 key
F10 key
Ignore the message
and continue. F1 key

Run the HP PC
Hardware Diagnostics
UEFI.

Run F10 Setup to

correct a system
configuration error.

View details about Enter

the message.

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POST LED and beep codes can be very useful for isolating a hardware error. Depending on the configuration of
the computer you can respond to a POST message through a range of keyboard options.
This is an interactive slide. Pause the presentation and click the icons on-screen to learn about how to respond to
a POST error.
Press Play when you are ready to continue the training.

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 Observing the computer at POST
During or after POST, check the following:
System boots? LED codes? Sound and beep codes?
• Initial screen display and cursor • Power LED—On or flashing • Hard drive and/or fan activity
• Computer does not boot after POST • LEDs flash properly at start-up • Optical drive activity
• POST error codes—audible and visual

NOTE:
POST messages, LED codes, and beep codes are different for HP desktops, notebooks, and tables. To decode a POST error code for a
specific model, refer to the
• Maintenance and Service Guide for a specific model.
• LED codes for HP business computers, available on WISE

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During or after the POST test, you should check if the computer displays any of the following behaviors:

• Check that the system boots into, the initial screen displays, and the cursor is present.

• Check if the computer passes POST but does not boot.

Look for the power LED. If the power LED is lit, the computer is receiving power. If the power LED is flashing,
the computer might be in standby mode. If not, check the AC power. Check that the notebook, tablet, or
keyboard LEDs flash correctly at start-up.

• Listen for any hard drive, and/or fan activity.

• Listen for the sound of the optical drive stepper motor, spinning the DISC in the drive while the computer
identifies the drive.

• Listen for audible POST error codes and look for visual POST error codes displayed on the monitor. See HP
tools for an explanation of the error codes and the recommended corrective action.

Note that the POST messages, LED codes, and beep codes are different for HP desktops, notebooks and tablets,
and can vary between models as well. To decode a POST error code, refer to the documentation, such as the
Maintenance and Service Guide, for that specific model. You can also locate the LED codes for many HP
business computers on the WISE SharePoint.

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 Customer scenario
A customer calls and complains that their computer is beeping but not starting up. Other than a malfunctioning part,
what could the most common causes of beep codes be?
Enter your answer in the space provided.

A customer calls and complains that their computer is beeping but not starting up. Other than a malfunctioning
part, what could the most common causes of beep codes be?
Enter your answer in the space provided.

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 Customer scenario
A customer calls and complains that their computer is beeping but not starting up. Other than a malfunctioning part,
what could the most common causes of beep codes be?
Enter your answer in the space provided.

You should inform the customer that a common cause of LED and beep codes is heat-related failures
caused by a build-up of dust in critical cooling areas. Over time, dust can collect in a computer's cooling
vents and clog the pathways that are part of the thermal cooling design. This can cause heat-sensitive
components, such as the processor and memory modules, to overheat and fail. If the computer is
beeping but not starting up, advise the customer to check for and remove any dust that might have
accumulated around or inside the computer.

You should inform the customer that a common cause of LED and beep codes is heat-related failures caused by
a build-up of dust in critical cooling areas. Over time, dust can collect in a computer's cooling vents and clog the
pathways that are part of the thermal cooling design. This can cause heat-sensitive components, such as the
processor and memory modules, to overheat and fail. If the computer is beeping but not starting up, advise the
customer to check for and remove any dust that might have accumulated around or inside the computer.

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 Resources

URLs Recommended training

• HP Support Assistant • HP Support Assistant Fundamentals - HPSA 9.x (Course

ID: 02020007)
• HP PC Hardware Diagnostics
• HP PC Hardware Diagnostics for Windows (Course ID:
• HP Support website 01075376)
• WISE • HP Diagnostic Tools Overview (Course ID: 0001092656)
• LED/beep code recovery actions for HP notebooks • HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI (HPU Course ID
• LED/beep code recovery actions for HP desktops 00699664)

• HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (HP Supports Assistant)

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Refer to the onscreen URLs and SABA courses for additional information about the POST and how to interpret
error messages for different devices.

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 Thank you

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Thank you for completing this training!

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