Axol Electronics Ltd.
Operation Instructions
Overview
The Axol POST card interfaces to the computer via 2 edge connectors. One for EISA/ISA and the other for PCI.
The card cannot be accidentally inserted into the wrong slot as they have different dimensions and keying.
It can be accidentally inserted backwards as both slots are symmetrical. While the card is designed to resist damage
from this it is not recommended as it may still result in damage to the card or the computer under test.
In tests, the worst that we have had happen is that the PC will refuse to boot if the card is inserted backwards,
but damage cannot be absolutely ruled out. It is
also important not to insert or remove the card while the computer is powered up as this may also damage both.
The correct orientation is shown on the back of the card, the switches on the card should be away from the
edge of the motherboard. This applies to both EISA/ISA slots and PCI slots.
The user interface consists of 3 parts:
The sounder, which beeps to confirm certain actions, has a volume
control which allows it to be turned off in case it is annoying. The main use of the sounder is to create
a more positive click when the keys are pressed and to indicate that some action has taken place when the
card is in a system where the display cannot be seen.
The liquid crystal display is the main output device and allows the user to see the results of all
tests and to setup the card.
There are 2 switches, they are identified on the top silk-screen as SW1 (the bottom switch) and SW2
(the top switch). The switches perform different functions depending on the state of the card and
how long they are pressed. Both switches may be pressed briefly or pressed and held for 1,2 or 3+ seconds.
A different action will result from each of these. If a switch is held then the sounder will beep each second
to confirm that the new action is now to be performed.
Usually, where the switches have a different function they will work as follows:
The top switch (SW2) will select/accept/modify the item on display
The bottom switch (SW1) will move onto the next item.
So for navigating a menu the bottom switch cycles through the available options and the top switch will
accept that option.
Within the menus a right arrow 
at the bottom right of the display
indicates that, if selected by pressing the top switch, this menu item leads on to another sub-menu.
Items without the right arrow
are at the end of a menu branch and will be selected or modified by pressing the top switch.
Quick tests
For full operating instructions this whole page should be read. But, for a quick introduction to what
the Axol POST card can do, this section contains enough information to get started.
As set up when delivered, with the factory defaults, the card is capable of performing most of the
tests of other POST cards without needing to be configured. The display will show
last POST code hex value and the last measured voltage
on all of the available power lines during the test.
To start a test:
Plug the POST card into the machine to be tested, either PCI or ISA/EISA slot observing
the orientation marked on the back of the card. The card will determine which type of slot it is in.
Press and
hold either switch for 1-2 seconds, the card will beep, beep-beep.. then release the switch. Holding for
more than 2 seconds (the card will be-eep) will perform other functions and not begin a test.
Switch on
the PC under test and the POST card will perform all of the default tests for the slot it is plugged into.
When the PC has stopped booting, briefly press either of the 2 switches to end the current test. The data is now
held in the POST card memory and can be reviewed.
A brief press of either key will step through the results
obtained from the test. If the LCD cannot be seen then the PC must be switched off and the POST card removed
from the PC. The results can then be reviewed externally.
The order in which the results are displayed is as follows. Click on the item to get a description of the
result. Not all of these items are available as the unnecessary tests are suppressed (e.g. the PCI slot has no -5V
supply so -5V is not included in the PCI results list).
Shortcuts
There are a few simple shortcut key combinations to help.
When the card is in any state, except within the configuration menu, pressing and holding either key for
1 second will begin a new test. This works even if the card is already in the middle of a test
(it will be abandoned and the test restarted) or if the card is powered down
(the card will power up, initialise, then begin a test). This allows tests to be started when the card is
in place in a machine and the display is not visible and only one of the two keys is accessible.
If the POST card is accidentally switched to use a second language and the user cannot understand it, or if
a download is interrupted causing the selected language data to become corrupted, then the card can be
returned to the default of the built-in English language by holding both keys for 2+ seconds.
In order to select a menu item, the bottom key is used to cycle through to the required item and the top
key is pressed to select that item. To move back up the menu tree, either key can be held pressed and
after each 1 second delay the card will move up the menu tree back to the top and eventually to shutdown
the card. It is advisable to get into the habit of using the bottom key to move back up the menus as the
top key, when first pressed, may select/deselect/alter whatever is currently being displayed and this will
not usually give the expected result. The bottom key will also perform its function first, but this is just
to move to the next item, never to alter it.
The POST card menu structure
The POST card operation follows a reasonably simple menu structure outlined below. Click on the menu item
of interest to get a fuller description.
Main menu
Enter test mode
Configure card
Shutdown menu item
Miscellaneous information
Main menu
This is the highest level menu on the POST card. The card will power up in this state and can be got back
to this state from anywhere by holding down either of the switches for long enough. Exactly how long the switch needs
to be held depends on the state of the card when the switch is first pressed. Keep an eye on the display to see when
the Main Menu has been reached.
When first entering the Main Menu, the title "Main Menu" will appear. But subsequent cycling through
the options within the main menu will not display the title again but only the options within the menu.
From here, both keys act in the same manner and will follow the following sequence:
- Brief press: move to next item in menu.
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main Menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Shutdown
In this state the POST card is shutdown to conserve the battery. With a fully charged battery the
card will still be usable after months of shutdown without the need to recharge the battery
before performing a new test. Should the card be left too long and the battery become fully discharged, it
can be recharged by plugging it into a PCI or ISA slot in a working computer and the battery will recharge
from the computer's +12V supply. A full charge will be reached in about an hour but 2 minutes is enough to
allow tests to be run. Usually there will be no need to explicitly recharge the battery as every time the
card is plugged into a powered on computer it will charge. The battery cannot be overcharged in normal use.
It is safe to leave the card in a powered up machine indefinitely.
The current configuration may be lost if the battery is allowed to discharge fully. If this occurs
then the card will revert to the factory default configuration.
The card will automatically enter the shutdown state after 10 minutes without a key being pressed.
This will not occur if the card is currently performing a test as soak testing of the power supply may take many
hours so it would be inappropriate to shut the card down. This should not cause problems as the computer will
be powered up at this time so the battery will be charging. The POST card will typically run a test for about
5 hours on a fully charged battery if the +12V line fails.
From here, both keys act in the same manner and will follow the following sequence:
- Brief press: power up to Main Menu.
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: shutdown.
Shutdown menu item
This is a Main Menu item.
Selecting this item with the top key will powerdown the POST card to conserve the batteries.
The bottom key will move to the next Main Menu item.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in Main menu (miscellaneous information).
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Enter test mode
This is an option in the Main menu. Selecting this option DOES NOT begin a test, it switches the card to
the test results review mode. From here the results of the last test performed can be looked at. These
results are never overwritten until a new test is explicitly started.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Top key
- Brief press: enters test mode to review results.
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in Main menu (configure).
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Configure card
This is an option in the Main menu. Selecting this option enters the configuration menu. Within the
configuration menu a test will NOT begin if a key is held for 1 second, this is the only time when
this short cut will not work. It is necessary to exit the configuration menu first before a test can be
started.
From within the configuration menu, the top key will select/accept/modify the item on the display and the
bottom key will move on to the next item, if any, in that menu. If either key is held then the POST card will
move up the menu one place, then to the Main Menu and then shutdown. It is advisable to use the bottom key
to exit the configuration menu as the top key will usually alter the item currently on the display and
then begin to exit the menu. This will not usually give the expected results. Using the bottom key will
never alter the item on display, so it will exit configuration in the expected way.
Within the menus a right arrow at the bottom right of the display
indicates that, if selected by pressing the top switch, this menu item leads on to another sub-menu.
Items without the right arrow
are at the end of a menu branch and will be selected or modified by pressing the top switch.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Top key
- Brief press: enters configuration menu.
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in Main menu (shutdown).
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
ISA port address
This is an option in the Configuration menu. Selecting this option allows the port address to be used when
in an ISA/EISA slot to be chosen from the 7 built it addresses.
The display will show the currently selected port address, if it is correct then there is no need to set it.
If it is incorrect then pressing the top switch will enter a sub menu which will allow
the address to be
altered. The bottom switch will then cycle through the available addresses, pressing the top switch will accept
the address shown on the display and return to the Set ISA port address menu item.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (set PCI address).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press: Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Set ISA port address
This is an option in the Configuration menu/ISA port address sub menu. Selecting this option
(using the top switch) chooses the port address on the display as the port address to use when the
POST card is in an ISA/EISA slot. This address will remain in effect for ISA slots until it is
reselected or the user or default configurations are restored. A different port address may be in
effect for PCI slots. The bottom switch will cycle through the available ISA port addresses.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next port address in the list.
- 1 sec. press: return to ISA port address sub menu.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
PCI port address
This is an option in the Configuration menu. Selecting this option allows the port address to be used when
in a PCI slot to be set.
The display will show the currently selected port address, if it is correct then there is no need to set it.
If it is incorrect then pressing the top switch will enter a Set PCI address screen
which will allow the address to be altered.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (set volume).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press: Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Set PCI port address
The port address to use when in a PCI slot can be set to any address on a 32 bit boundary.
There are 4 digits in the address and the address is entered in hex.
On entry to this screen the current PORT address will be shown with the cursor over the first digit.
The top switch will increment this digit and the bottom switch will move the cursor on the next digit.
The last digit will count through the sequence 0,4,8,C,0.. as the address must be on a 32 bit boundary.
This address will remain in effect for PCI slots until it is
altered, or the user or default configurations are restored. A different port address may be in
effect for ISA slots.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Top key
- Brief press: increments the digit at the cursor position.
- 1 sec. press: increments the digit at the cursor position then returns to PCI port address sub menu.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
- Bottom key
- Brief press: move cursor to next digit of address.
- 1 sec. press: increments the digit at the cursor position then returns to PCI port address sub menu.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Volume
This is an option in the Configuration menu. Selecting this option allows the volume of the on card sounder
to be set.
The display will show the currently selected volume, if it is correct then there is no need to set it.
If it is incorrect then pressing the top switch will enter a Set new volume screen
which will allow the volume to be altered.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (show during test).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press: Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Set Volume
The on card sounder volume may be set to a value from 0 (off) to 8 (loudest). The bottom switch
will cycle through the possible settings, the top switch is used to accept the setting.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Top key
- Brief press: accepts the currently displayed volume then returns to Volume menu item.
- 1 sec. press: accepts the currently displayed volume then returns to Volume menu item.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
- Bottom key
- Brief press: increments the volume level.
- 1 sec. press: increments the volume level then returns to Volume menu item.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Show during test
During a test the POST card measures and records a number of items including POST codes, voltages and
clock frequencies. Any of these items can be selected to be shown on the display while a test is in progress.
The item currently selected for display will be shown on the display.
This sub menu allows the desired item to be set for display. The top switch enters
this menu to allow the item to be selected.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (show after test).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Item to show during test
In this sub menu the item to be shown during a test is selected. The bottom switch will cycle through the
options available and the top switch will select that option.
The following items are available:
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
Display items after test
During a test the POST card measures and records a number of items including POST codes, voltages and
clock frequencies. All of these items can be reviewed after the test has been completed. Briefly pressing
either key during a test will end that test and enter the test results review mode.
The default setting will usually be the most appropriate. All measured items are cycled through with those
items which are not available being suppressed e.g. the OSC clock is not present on a PCI slot so the POST card
will not display OSC if it is in a PCI slot.
However, there may be too much information to display and in some circumstances it will be useful to skip
the display of that information e.g. if only the current voltages and the CLK signal are of interest then
the other 12 items just get in the way and require the user to press the bottom key 8 times unnecessarily
to see the CLK data.
This menu allows each individual item to be displayed or skipped in the review of the results. So in the
above example, only the "POST code and all voltages" and "BCLK data" will be set to "yes", the others will
be set to "no". Then, after a test, a single key press will show all the information that is of interest.
this menu to allow the item to be selected.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (tests to be done).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Display after test menu
In this sub menu the results of each test can be selected for display after a test is completed or can be
suppressed from being displayed.
The top switch toggles the item between "yes" if the item is to be shown and "no" if that item is to be
suppressed. The bottom switch cycles through all of the available items.
The last item in the list is not a measured parameter but allows the POST card to automatically suppress
data which is not relevant to the slot in which the card performed the test. If set to "yes" then the
unmeasured items are not displayed. If set to "no" then all items are displayed even if they have not
been measured during the last test.
The following items are available:
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
Tests to be done
This menu only applies to voltage rail tests. All other tests are always done regardless of the settings in
this menu.
Normally, the POST card will measure all available voltage rails. +5V, +12V, -5V, -12V for an ISA/EISA
slot and +5V, +12V, +3.3V. +Vio, -12V for a PCI slot. The on board Analogue to Digital converter can
only do about 30,000 measurements per second and this rate is shared equally between all of the voltage rails
to me measured. So the actual measurement rate is about 7.5kHz for ISA and 6kHz for PCI.
If there is a suspicion of one of the voltage rails then this menu allows that one rail to be measured at
the full converter rate of 30kHz. Of course, the other voltages will not be measured during this time.
The display shows the current setting. If it is correct there is no need to set it again. If is in incorrect
then pressing the top switch will enter the selection menu allowing it to be set.
One note of caution:
The POST card will normally power down the interface logic automatically if the PC +5V line is out of spec.
and power it up again and reinitialise it when the +5V line returns to spec.
This is to prevent the POST card from driving the unpowered logic on the PC motherboard. In practice, this
will rarely, if at all, be a problem as the currents involved are small and the logic chips can easily
handle it. But the POST card will switch the interface logic off anyway, just in case.
However, when only one voltage rail is being monitored and that is not the +5V line, then the POST card can
no longer monitor whether the +5V line is in spec. So the best it can do is to monitor the +5V line to make
sure it is in spec during power up and then assume the line remains in spec for the duration of the test.
If the +5V line drops out of spec during the test then the logic will not power down and, in the case of
a PCI slot, will not power up again when the +5V comes back into spec so the POST code and clock frequency
measurements may be invalid.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (store user configuration).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Tests to be done menu
In this menu the bottom key cycles through the options of which voltage rails to test.
The top key selects that option
The following items are available:
- All voltages to be measured
- Only +5V to be measured
- Only +12V to be measured
- Only -5V to be measured
- Only -12V to be measured
- Only +3.3V to be measured
- Only Vio to be measured
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
Store user configuration
This menu option allows the user to store the current configuration in non-volatile memory. All user selectable
parameters are stored so that when retrieved the card will be in exactly the same state.
There are 3 different configurations within the card.
The factory default configuration is hard coded into
the POST card and will set when the user specifically requests it or if the batteries are allowed to become
discharged and the card forgets the current configuration.
The current configuration is stored in volatile memory on the card and is the active configuration. i.e. it
is the configuration actually used by the POST card. But, being in volatile memory, it can be lost.
There is then the stored user configuration. This is a copy of the current configuration which is kept in
non-volatile memory. The current configuration can be copied to and from non-volatile memory and
allows the user to quickly restore the preferred configuration at any time.
Pressing the top switch will write the current configuration to non-volatile memory.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Top key
- Brief press: copies the current configuration to non-volatile memory.
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (retrieve user configuration).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Retrieve user configuration
This menu option allows the user to retrieve the configuration previously stored in non-volatile memory
and to copy it to the current configuration. All user selectable
parameters are stored so that when retrieved the card will be restored to exactly the same state.
There are 3 different configurations within the card.
The factory default configuration is hard coded into
the POST card and will set when the user specifically requests it or if the batteries are allowed to become
discharged and the card forgets the current configuration.
The current configuration is stored in volatile memory on the card and is the active configuration. i.e. it
is the configuration actually used by the POST card. But, being in volatile memory, it can be lost.
There is then the stored user configuration. This is a copy of the current configuration which is kept in
non-volatile memory. The current configuration can be copied to and from non-volatile memory and
allows the user to quickly restore the preferred configuration at any time.
Pressing the top switch will read the current configuration from non-volatile memory.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Top key
- Brief press: copies the stored configuration from non-volatile memory.
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (restore defaults).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Restore defaults
This menu option allows the factory default configuration to be restored.
This configuration is hard coded into the POST card and is automatically restored if the batteries are
allowed to become fully discharged and the current configuration is lost.
Pressing the top switch will set the factory defaults.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Top key
- Brief press: restores factory default configuration.
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (select new BIOS).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Select new BIOS
The POST card can hold between 7 and 15 BIOS text files in non-volatile memory. These are used to hold the
text of the POST codes so that plain text messages can be displayed instead of just the POST code hex value.
This menu option allows the selection of one of the stored BIOSes for use.
Pressing the top switch will enter the selection menu.
Changing the BIOS selected only affects how the stored POST codes are looked up, it doesn't clear
out any of the stored values. If a test is run with the wrong BIOS selected, then using this option
to select the correct BIOS will allow the currently stored POST codes to be correctly interpreted
without needing to run the test again.
Care should be taken with BIOS selection as having the wrong BIOS file for the computer under test
could cause a lot of confusion by suggesting the wrong cause of the problem. It is advisable to
always use the "Unknown BIOS" as one of those loaded into the POST card so that if the card is
used in a machine which uses a BIOS not currently available in the card then selecting "Unknown BIOS"
will prevent mis-identifying problems. The "Unknown BIOS" takes up 1 of the maximum of 15 BIOSes
that can be stored in the POST card but does not take up any text storage space as none of the
POST text messages are needed. They are all displayed as, e.g. "Undefined POST code 2F".
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (download BIOS info).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Select new BIOS menu
The bottom switch will cycle through the currently loaded BIOSes. Pressing the top switch will select the BIOS to use.
The displayed name of the BIOS is the name given in the second line of the BIOS file
used by the AXOLPOST.EXE download software.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
Download new BIOS info.
The POST card needs to be able to load information from a PC in order to update the
BIOS and language files in its non-volatile memory. The files are sent to the POST
card by the AXOLPOST.EXE software which can be loaded from this site.
The procedure required to download information is as follows:
Turn on the POST card and navigate to the "Download new BIOS info." menu item.
Press the top switch to prepare the card for download, the display will show "press any key to begin download".
Plug the card into the computer to be used. The computer should be OFF at this time.
Boot the computer and run the AXOLPOST.EXE program.
Use the software to choose the files to be downloaded to the POST card.
Press either key on the POST card to begin the download.
Note: it is important that this is done immediately before starting the download as the POST card address is usually shared with a DMA controller and any DMA activity occuring between the card being told to wait for the download and the software actually starting the download will corrupt the data and confuse the POST card so the download will not take place correctly.
Tell the software to begin the download.
After 20 to 40 seconds the download will be complete and the POST card will BEEP and display a completion message.
Exit the software and switch off the PC.
Remove the POST card. It is now ready to use.
There is a known problem with downloading to the Axol POST card using a PCI slot on some modern computers.
Check here for details.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (Select language).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Ready to download new BIOS files
The POST card is now about to receive the BIOS and language data. Touching either
key will begin the download, although the software must also be told to send the data.
If the PC is not powered up at this time then the card will abort the download with
a message that the "PC must be powered up".
The download can be aborted by touching either key provided the flow of data has stopped
(i.e. the software has stopped sending the data) otherwise the download will continue
until complete.
If the download is aborted for any reason before it is completed then the data in the POST
card non-volatile memory may not be valid and could cause problems. If the downloaded language
file is corrupt and the second language is selected on the POST card then it is possible
that the card will become completely unusable as the displayed messages may be corrupted,
displaying garbage or blank screens. To recover from this, press both POST card keys
simultaneously and hold for 2 seconds. This will restore the card to it's built in English
language messages and will allow the download to be tried again.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Both keys
- Brief press: begins download if PC is powered up.
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Select Language
This is an item in the Configuration menu.
The POST card has built in English language messages but can be configured to use a second,
downloadable language. This has 2 uses. First, the obvious of allowing the POST card to run
in a language other than English for those who prefer another language. Second, some messages
may need to be altered, e.g. if the ISA decoder is replaced to give non-standard ISA port
addresses then the second language file can be produced to reflect the changes so the displayed
message still correctly reflect the port address in use.
Note: it is not expected that Axol will produce these files but we will probably provide software
to allow the user or distributors to produce them.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in configuration menu (Set ISA port address).
- 1 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 2 sec. press:Shutdown.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Select Language menu
The user can select the built in English messages or the user defined language file which is
downloadable. The exact name of this language file is determined by the file itself.
Pressing the bottom key cycles between the 2 languages.
Pressing the top key selects the language on the display.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
Miscellaneous Information
This is an item in the Main menu.
This will lead to a short list of miscellaneous information. Press the top key to enter
this list, the bottom key will return the "enter test mode" Main menu item.
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in Main menu (Enter test mode).
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Miscellaneous Information list
This displays a short list of miscellaneous information. Press the top key to enter
this list, the bottom key will return the "enter test mode" Main menu item.
The information is :
Axol Electronics copyright message
Axol website address
POST card serial number
From here, the keys act in the following sequence:
- Bottom key
- Brief press: goto next item in miscellaneous information.
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
Test results review mode.
In this mode both keys act the same. A brief press of either will display the next result in the sequence
taking into account the user's preferences and the slot in which the test was run. The full list of results
available for display is as follows:
Not all of the above items will be cycled through as not all of them are valid for every test. e.g. if
the card is in a PCI slot then OSC is not available to be measured so the OSC result will be skipped.
Similarly, if the card is in an ISA slot then the +3.3V line is not available so it will be skipped.
The exact list of results through which the card cycles can be entirely set by the user during configuration
as all defaults can be overridden, but the card
defaults are probably good for most tests.
By default the card will display all items which should be
available on the slot in which the test was performed and will automatically skip those items which are
not available in that slot.
From here, the both keys act in the following sequence:
- Brief press: display the next result in the sequence.
- 1 sec. press: begin a test using the current configuration.
- 2 sec. press: return to Main menu.
- 3+ sec. press: Shutdown.
POST code and all voltages.
The display will show the HEX value of the last POST code received along with the last measured voltage
of all relevant supply lines. This is the default display during a test but the user can choose any
measured item for display during a test. The order of the data is:
ISA slot:
Top: POST code HEX value, +5V,+12V
Bottom: -12V,-5V
PCI slot:
Top: POST code HEX value, +5V,+12V
Bottom: -12V,+3.3V,+Vio
Text of latest POST code.
The display will show the text of the last received POST code as looked up in the currently selected BIOS.
If the POST code is undefined then the message will be "Undefined POST code xx", where xx is the HEX value
of the POST code.
Be aware that the text is limited to the 32 character size of the display and some POST code texts are very
long. The text shown in such cases is an abbreviated version of the full text from the BIOS manufacturer.
The BIOS manufacturers list of POST code cannot therefore be done away with as they may provide more
information than can be displayed by the card.
List of latest POST codes.
The display will show the hex values of the last 10 received POST codes. The list is in the reverse order to
that which they were received, i.e. the first on the display is the last POST code received then the 2nd last
etc. .
Two things to note about this display. First, the I/O port used by most POST cards (80H) is also used by the
DMA controller of the PC so not all POST codes in the list are necessarily real, some may be DMA register
values. Second, because some post codes are VERY quick the POST card will sometimes miss it,
e.g.Phoenix BIOS 4.0 POST code 9Eh is "Enable hardware interrupts" which is a single CPU instruction which
may execute in a very short time (<< 1microsecond). If the following POST code is sent immediately
afterwards then the 9EH may be missed by the POST card and will not appear in the POST code list. This is
not a big problem because, if the PC was to crash at this point, the POST card will ALWAYS get the last POST
code sent so the 9Eh will be shown correctly.
Last stored POST code text+1.
Last stored POST code text+2.
Last stored POST code text+3.
The display will show the text of the POST code received 1,2 or 3 codes before the last, as looked up in the
currently selected BIOS.
If the POST code is undefined then the message will be "Undefined POST code xx", where xx is the HEX value
of the POST code.
Be aware that the text is limited to the 32 character size of the display and some POST code texts are very
long. The text shown in such cases is an abbreviated version of the full text from the BIOS manufacturer.
The BIOS manufacturers list of POST code cannot therefore be done away with as they may provide more
information than can be displayed by the card.
These 3 previous POST code texts need to be included to allow the user to resolve the sequences of POST
codes sent out by some BIOSes to indicate the location of specific faults.
e.g.Phoenix BIOS 4.0 will output a repeating sequence such as 2C 00 02 2C 00 02.. to indicate that a RAM
address line has failed (POST code 2C) and the line is 00 02, i.e bit 2 of the RAM address is faulty. But the
POST code on the screen at the end of the test may be any of the 3 bytes, 00,02 or 2C. Showing the POST code
text of the previous 3 codes therefore allows the user to determine what the true POST code is when such
repeating sequences are used.
Voltage data.
The display will show the data for the selected power supply. There are 6 potential power supplies
(+5V, +12V, -5V, -12V, +Vio, +3.3V) but not all are present on all busses. The data shown is the same for each.
First, a voltage ID (in this case the +12V line is shown) then "t= XXX.XmS" gives the 10% to 90% rise time of
this line in milliseconds. The limits are 0.1mS to 990mS to a resolution of 0.1ms. Typical "good" values range
from 3.0 to 30ms but being outside this range does not necessarily indicate a bad supply. Each system will
have it's own characteristics.
Unloaded supply lines tend to be poorly regulated, so -5V and -12V will often vary more than the +5V and +12V
lines which are heavily loaded.
The lower line of the display shows the minimum, current and maximum measured voltages on the line. This
allows the supplies to be monitored closely to detect dips or spikes which may cause problems.
The algorithm used is as follows:
When the test begins the power supply is not yet turned on so all voltages are at around zero.
The POST card monitors all voltages and when the individual supply line reaches 10% of the rated voltage the
card begins to time. The rise time given is the time taken for the supply line to reach 90% of its rated
voltage from the time it passed 10%. If the supply takes more than 990ms then there is something very wrong
and the POST card will indicate 999ms as the rise time, This figure,999ms, indicates that the actual rise time
was beyond the range of the card. Each line is independently timed and measured.
When trying to measure power supply rise times it is important to leave the PC turned off long enough for the
voltages to fall below the 10% values otherwise the POST card will give an inaccurate result.
1 second after the 10% voltage level of the +5V line is reached the POST card begins to monitor the supply
line for minimum and maximum deviations. This allows for the low voltage during startup to be excluded
from the minimum measurements.
The analogue to digital converter used will take about 30,000 measurements per second. When monitoring ISA
busses there are 4 voltage lines so the measurement rate for each line is about 7.5kHz. For PCI busses there
are 5 voltages to measure so the measurement rate is about 6kHz for each line. The POST card can be configured
to monitor a single line if needed in which case that single voltage will be measured at the full 30kHz.
Clock data.
There are 2 clocks on the ISA bus (CLK and OSC) and one on the PCI bus (CLK).
The POST card will measure these clocks to a resolution of 0.01MHz and upto a maximum
of 50MHz for OSC (which should never vary much from 14MHz) and upto 70MHz for CLK.
The display shows the clock ID, in this case CLK is shown, then the current clock frequency
in MHz. The lower line of the display gives the minimum (mn) and maximum (mx) measured
frequency since 1 second after the +5V line rose past 10% of its rated value. This allows
for the clocks to stabilise after power on before being monitored for min/max.
Axol POST card full description.
Known problems and other issues.
(c)2000 Axol Electronics Ltd.
Registered in England, company registration no. 3155627.
Registered office 35 Grindon Lane, Sunderland SR3 4EU