System and method for error location in printed wire assemblies by external power on self test (post) commands

A system for detecting and locating failure errors in a printed wire assembly contained in a device performing a power on self test comprised of testing subroutines, said testing subroutines are location detection subroutines, said printed wire assemblies being tracked through a manufacturing process by a factory tracking system, comprising:

• circuitry for connecting with said device to monitor said power on self test for an error signal from said device due to a run error in said power on self test and to deliver a command to said device, said command directing said power on self test to separately execute each of said testing location detection subroutines, wherein said circuitry for connecting is external to said device and said command is input to said device and alerts said power on self test to separately execute each of said testing location detection subroutines;
• circuitry for detecting a subroutine run error during execution of any of said testing location detection subroutines;
• circuitry for determining in which of said testing location detection subroutines said subroutine run error occurs;
• and
• circuitry for communicating to said system in which of said testing subroutines location detection said subroutine run error occurs.

A method for detecting and locating failure errors in a printed wire assembly contained in a device performing a power on self test comprised of testing subroutines, said testing subroutines are location detection subroutines, said printed wire assemblies being tracked through a manufacturing process by a factory tracking system, comprising:

• monitoring said device to determine whether a run error results on execution of said power on self test;
• generating a command to said device in response to detection of said run error, wherein said generating is performed by circuitry external to said device and said command is input to said device and alerts said power on self test to separately execute each of said testing location detection subroutines;
• separately executing each of said testing subroutines in response to said command;
• and
• signalling said system when a subroutine run error occurs during separate execution of said testing location detection subroutines.