Software & Apps Windows 46 46 people found this article helpful What Is a POST Error Message? by Tim Fisher VP and General Manager, Lifewire.com Tim Fisher has 30+ years' professional technology experience. He focuses on support and Microsoft topics but is an expert in all areas of tech. He's also the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. our editorial process Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Tim Fisher Updated on March 31, 2021 Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide A POST error message is an error message displayed on the monitor during the power-on self test if the BIOS encounters some kind of problem while starting the PC. It will only display on screen if the computer is capable of booting this far. If the POST detects an error before this point, a beep code or POST code will be generated instead. POST screen with BIOS version. POST error messages are usually fairly descriptive and should give you enough information to begin troubleshooting whatever problem the POST found. How to Fix Problems that Occur During the POST If you're seeing POST error messages, then the problem is very likely related to some sort of hardware malfunction. A stop at this step in the boot-up process means the computer hasn't even loaded the operating system, so POST errors aren't related to Windows, MacOS, or Linux. A POST error message is sometimes called a BIOS error message, POST message, or POST screen message. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up. Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit