jameshanley39@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
> I've got 2 MBRDs. Both have the same problem.
>
> They power up but I get no BIOS screen and no steady green light.
> Depending on monitor I use, with Dell monitor I get steady amber and
> alternating black screen and "no signal". With IBM monitor I get a
> flashing amber and black screen.
> But I guess the key is no BIOS screen at all, or steady green light.
> Another broken MBRD gets a brief green light off the IBM monitor, but
> no BIOS screen, and it soon goes flashing amber.
>
>
> Clearly both these MBRDs aren't giving a signal. I'm interested in
> where the fault lies, even though the MBRD is probably permanently
> damage and needs to be replaced.
>
> Would a POST card show me?
>
> Or would it show me nothing since the MBRD isn't POSTing?
>
> I know some POST cards are really expensive, so they must be some
> use!! What use are they?
>
> I tested the RAM, and it's ok.(that's no hassle, I wouldn't need a POST
> card to test that). I suppose the problem could be the CPU, but I hate
> replacing that, what with all the paste and cleaning the paste off.
> Would a POST card tell me if the CPU is causing the problem?
> And would a POST card tell me which part of the MBRD is broken? ('cos
> i'm just interested)
>

There are some Ebay sellers, who sell POST cards at reasonable prices.
You don't have to pay $100 a unit to get one. Hardware-wise, the cards
are pretty simple, and there isn't a good reason for them to be
expensive. The cheap ones come straight from Hong Kong:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pc-Analyzer-main...QQcmdZViewItem

The big question, is whether they typically tell you anything. I've
read people's reports from their use of a POST card, tried to look
up the POST code, based on the BIOS type they are using, and the
codes are not listed. A BIOS designer can use codes not in the list,
and then a POST card user will be getting useless info.

http://www.bioscentral.com/

Certainly, seeing "00" or "FF" on the display, tells you
no BIOS code is being executed, so I suppose that is some
consolation. But if you were hoping for a report like "your
XXX is busted", that hardly ever seems to happens. Examine the
POST code listings on bioscentral, and see if they are meaningful
to you. Then look for a cheap Ebay seller, if you want a good deal,
as buying a POST card at a local store, you'll pay "retail" for it,
if you can find one.

Paul