FAQs

Q. What is a Post-Probe?

A. It is a card that plugs into the motherboard to diagnose a ‘dead' PC that won't boot up.

Q. What does the Post-Probe do that the diagnostic software doesn't?

A. The system must be able to boot before it can run the software diagnostics. If it can't boot, that's when you use the Post-Probe.

Q. How can it diagnose anything, if the PC won't boot up?

A. During boot-up, the BIOS executes a series of instructions called the POST, or Power-On Self Test, that check out all of the basic functions of the machine. At each step, the BIOS puts a code onto the bus, and that's what the Post-Probe uses.

Q. Does Post-Probe fix the problem?

A. No, you still have to do that part. What it does is show you the last code that the power-on self test was able to put on the bus, and a table in the manual tells you what function was being tested at that time.

Q. How long has the Post-Probe been around?

A. It was first released about 10 years ago, and in 1998 the Universal Post-Probe appeared, with many new features including edge connectors for both PCI and ISA.

Q. I've seen other ‘post' cards. What's different about yours?

A. It's true we've had imitators, but so far nobody else has been able to put PCI and ISA on the same card. Some other unique features are a step-through switch that lets you see if the BIOS is corrupted and doing tests in the wrong order, and multiple displays to make the card easy to use in all motherboard configurations.

Q. Is it really necessary? I usually just swap parts.

A. You can sometimes get by with swapping parts, but if it's an expensive part like the CPU, or something that's soldered to the motherboard, that's not a very practical approach. In any case, it's unprofessional. If repairing PCs is more than a hobby, you should have the proper tools, and that includes a Post-Probe.

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