Thomas Francis Ploski

US Patent:

6625728, Sep 23, 2003

Filed:

Nov 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/431797

Inventors:

George Henry Ahrens - Pflugerville TX
George John Dawkins - Austin TX
Michael Youhour Lim - Leander TX
Thomas Francis Ploski - Tucson AZ
David Lee Randall - Leander TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 126

US Classification:

713 2, 713 1, 713330, 713310, 713340, 713300

Abstract:

A method for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup is disclosed. Each component within the data processing system is assigned a location code. Then, a progress code is associated with a location code and a function being loaded to, tested, or executed in a component. After supplying power to the data processing system, the components of the data processing system are initialized and tested to establish a configuration. During the initialization and testing, a location code of a component and a corresponding progress code are displayed on a display panel. In response to a system hang, a defective component can be identified utilizing the location code and the progress code displayed on the display panel.