Re: Startup code

On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 21:23:56 -0500, Jack Klein <jackklein@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>How do you do a complete memory test before calling the C start-up
>code that requires at least some memory be working? How do you test
>the watchdog chip by forcing a reset?
>
>Don't any of you do serious POST testing of your hardware?

While all kinds of self tests are nice, but the real question is what
to do, if the test fails.

For a critical redundant control system, the only thing would be to
take the device off-line and let the redundant system(s) take over and
let them raise the alarm. For other systems, in which faulty data can
be harmful, some means of checking the device integrity is needed.

For a harmless toy (and "toy" is here used in a broader sense), if the
POST detects a problem, what could the user do, especially if there is
no display. So realistically, why test something, if there are no
actions to be taken to rectify the problem other than throwing the
malfunctioning device away ?

Paul

.