5. Range Of Features And Practical Use, Continued

In a few cases, like with the Thinkpad A30P, the height of the integrated LED proves problematic, as the card extends a few inches beyond the case of the notebook.

Too "thick": the LED doesn't lie flush with the case but instead protrudes from it, as the free-standing coin proves.

If you aren't careful when setting the notebook down on a table, you may damage the card.

Once you've installed the P.H.D. MiniPCI successfully, the notebook will then only boot from the card.

If the notebook doesn't boot due to an error or hardware defect, meaning that the diagnostic software can't start up from the Flash ROM, the error test will be run using the POST codes. These are scanned from interfaces 80 and 81 with the help of the 7-segment display. Three LEDs indicate the status of the critical parameters, such as +3.3V operating and AUX voltages, the hardware reset condition and the system clock controller.

The Ultra-X card features a four-digit, seven-segment display and three LEDs for additional information.

This lets you see in advance whether the major malfunction preventing the notebook from starting up lies with the CPU, the memory or the system.

The card requires no time at all to start and the software, too, is ready straight away.

If the user doesn't hit anything on the keyboard within 10 seconds, a complete system check occurs automatically.

Automatic system test after 10 seconds

Hitting any key interrupts the automatic test and the main menu appears as a blue box in the bottom left-hand side of the monitor. The menu is divided into five categories: Q.Inventory, Configuration, Diagnostics, Burn-IN and Help. Selecting a category takes you to the corresponding submenus, such as the Peripherals menu.

The main menu lets you access any of the five submenus