HP Vectra 500 Series - Manual (Page 109)

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4 Summary of the HP/Phoenix BIOS
HP/Phoenix BIOS (BIOS version: GJ.07.xx)
Power-On Self-Test (BIOS version: GJ.07.xx)
This section describes the Power-On Self-Test (POST) routines, which are
contained in the PC’s ROM BIOS, the error messages which can result, and
the suggestions for corrective action.
Each time the system is powered on, or a reset is performed, the POST is
executed. The POST process verifies the basic functionality of the system
components and initializes certain system parameters. The POST performs
the tests in the order described in the table on the next page.
The POST displays a graphic screen with the HP Vectra logo. If the POST
detects an error, the error message is displayed. To see the tests performed
during the POST, press
when the initial HP “Vectra” logo appears, and
the display will switch to text mode. In this mode, a summary configuration
screen will be displayed at the end of the POST. Pressing the PAUSE/
BREAK key at any time will allow you to inspect the screen contents. Press
any key to resume.
Devices such as the slave disks are validated in the Setup program. You are
prompted if a device is found to have gone missing since the previous boot.
During the POST, the BIOS and other ROM data are copied into high-speed
shadow RAM. The shadow RAM is addressed at the same physical location
as the original ROM in a manner which is completely transparent to
applications. It therefore appears to behave as very fast ROM. This
technique provides faster access to the system BIOS firmware.
If the POST is initiated by a soft reset and , the RAM tests
are not executed and shadow RAM is not cleared. In all other respects, the
POST executes in the same way following power-on or a soft reset.
NOTE The POST does not detect when a slave hard disk drive (“HDD 1”
or “HDD 3” in the setup) has been installed or changed.
Shadow Ram (BIOS version: GJ.07.xx)
On HP personal computers, access to certain ROM data is enhanced by
using shadow RAM. During the POST, the BIOS and other ROM data are
copied into high-speed shadow RAM. The shadow RAM is addressed at the
same physical location as the original ROM in a manner which is completely
transparent to applications. This technique provides faster access to the
system BIOS firmware.