They'd be extremely handy as a diagnostic
tool, especially when there's
a
problem with a video card or memory, and instead
of having to count a
bunch of stupid beeps to determine what the error code is, you can just
read it off the front panel.
Those front panels had value that was overlooked when the modern
machines
were ushered in.
I wouldn't say that!
Some of the PS/2s, A popular WYSE 286 machine and
so one have had LCD diagnostic panels
Add this:
Early high end Dell series (I think!) had this dot matix that glows
yellow and rare motherboards that had POST display built in.
Most of time these devices have limited value beside usual 'easy'
failures for POST stuff to detect and often POST cards and bios
built in post does miss rare unusual failures. I have one that
passed 100% but unexplained failures. Used a expensive diagnostic
tool by Ultra-X called Post Hardware Diagnostic 16 with it's special
bios in place of original bios, was able to find bad IRQ 1 on chipset
itself on first try.
Jason D.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at
http://www.hotmail.com
email: jpero(a)cgo.wave.ca
Pero, Jason D.