Error Messages and Beep Codes 
89 
4.5  Port 80h POST Codes 
During the POST, the BIOS generates diagnostic progress codes (POST codes) to I/O 
port 80h.  If the POST fails, execution stops and the last POST code generated is left 
at port 80h.  This code is useful for determining the point where an error occurred. 
Displaying the POST codes requires a POST card that can interface with the Debug 
header.  The POST card can decode the port and display the contents on a medium 
such as a seven-segment display. Refer to the location of the Debug header in 
Figure 1. 
T
he following tables provide information about the POST codes generated by the 
BIOS: 
•  Table 54 lists the Port 80h POST code ranges 
•  Table 55 lists the Port 80h POST codes themselves 
•  Table 56 lists the Port 80h POST sequence 
 
NOTE 
In the tables listed above, all POST codes and range values are listed in hexadecimal. 
Table 54.  Port 80h POST Code Ranges 
Range Subsystem 
0x00 – 0x05  Entering SX states S0 to S5.   
0x10, 0x20, 0x30, 
0x40, 0x50 
Resuming from SX states (0x10 –0x20 – S2, 0x30 – S3, etc.) 
0x01 – 0x0F  Security (SEC) phase  
0x11 – 0x1F  PEI phase pre MRC execution 
0x21 – 0x29  MRC memory detection 
0x2A – 0x2F  PEI phase post MRC execution 
0x31 – 0x35  Recovery 
0x36 – 0x3F  Platform DXE driver 
0x41 – 0x4F  CPU Initialization (PEI, DXE, SMM) 
0x50 – 0x5F  I/O Buses:  PCI, USB, ATA etc. 0x5F is an unrecoverable error. Start with PCI. 
0x60 – 0x6F  BDS 
0x70 – 0x7F  Output devices:  All output consoles.  
0x80 – 0x8F  For future use 
0x90 – 0x9F  Input devices:  Keyboard/Mouse. 
0xA0 – 0xAF  For future use 
0xB0 – 0xBF  Boot Devices:  Includes fixed media and removable media. Not that critical since 
consoles should be up at this point.  
0xC0 – 0xCF  For future use 
0xD0 – 0xDF  For future use