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Suggestions for POST Diagnostic Cards?

Posted by Cliff on from the determining-your-computer's-health dept.

antis0c asks: "I have a number of PC's of mine, and family that have stopped working, or caused other odd unknown failures such as 4 different harddrives, different brands, all becoming physically damaged in the same computer. General fixing is as easy as removing some hardware until the problem goes away, then putting it back until it comes back, thus narrowing down to the single problem hardware. However more tricky problems require a POST Card. I've never purchased one before and I think I could get more use out of older hardware if I did, and I was wondering if the Slashdot community had any suggestions and comments on the various brands out there such as POSTmortem, MSD PostCodeMaster, and PC Engines. Thanks."

4 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. Get the first one by BoneMarrow · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just go out and buy the 'first POST' card you see.
    Damn, it's just too easy.

    --
    Unfortunately, no one can be told what my sig is...
  2. POST Code Master by ez76 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have had good experience with the POST Code Master.

    A nice touch is that the card will monitor voltage rails and test its own LED segments.

    I also had the opportunity to meet the developer of the card - a nice guy.

    1. Re:POST Code Master by ez76 · · Score: 5, Informative

      I forgot to mention that the PCI POST Code Master can often be had for less than the $65 retail price quoted on MSD's site. Check out this eBay seller.

      (I am not the seller - this is how I bought mine).

  3. Do It Yourself by Tux2000 · · Score: 5, Informative

    The famous german c't Magazine has instructions how to build a very simple ISA-based POST card, using only two GALs, a two-digit seven segment LED display, and 15 resistors. You can buy the programmed GALs at eMedia (order code 9503314PAL, 9,50 EUR, roughly the same in US$). The full article is available online for 0,40 EUR. (If you create a new account, you will get 1,00 EUR to play with. So basically, it is free.)

    I built one POST card myself, and I never leave home without it. ;-)

    --
    Denken hilft.