What is 'posting'?

[wee]

I frequently see posts saying someone's 'system will not post'. I
assumed that this means that boot-up will not even begin - that the
CRT raster remains blank. Is this correct?

Thanks

 

[Andy Foster]

I frequently see posts saying someone's 'system will not post'. I
assumed that this means that boot-up will not even begin - that the
CRT raster remains blank. Is this correct?

Power On Self Test

 

[Vanguardx]

I frequently see posts saying someone's 'system will not post'. I
assumed that this means that boot-up will not even begin - that the
CRT raster remains blank. Is this correct?

Thanks

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/bios/bootPOST-c.html

 

[wee]

Power On Self Test

Thanks

But is Power On Self Test what happens at the very beginning of a boot
up? You know, CRT/Video ID & RAM testing?

 

[wee]

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/bios/bootPOST-c.html

Thank you - It tells me what I wanted to know.

 

[kony]

I frequently see posts saying someone's 'system will not post'. I
assumed that this means that boot-up will not even begin - that the
CRT raster remains blank. Is this correct?

Thanks

Yes

In simplest terms that's right, it won't boot and no video.
There are other reasons it might not boot or might not show
video though, like video card or monitor failure or bios
misconfiguration, drive misconfiguration.