Self-test on the Pioneer series

The Bert series: HP-10B, HP-20S and HP-21S

The Bert models of the Pioneer series have two test modes. One test mode which goes step by step through the display tests and one mode which continuous runs these steps.

The first self-test is activated by the following key sequence:

• While pressing the ON key the fourth key of the top row is pressed and released.

The display will show a subset of the LCD segments. When a key is pressed or after about 23 seconds a next pattern will be displayed. See pictures below as an example for the HP-20S. There is a cycle of 4 different patterns.
After this cycle the text: COPr. HP 1987 will be displayed for a few seconds and the keyboard test starts. The keys of the keyboard must be pressed once in order from left to right and top to bottom.

When all keys react as expected the display will display the model number followed by Good. When an error is detected the calculator will display the model number followed by FIAIL and and error number. A list with error numbers is not available.

This test mode is stopped by the following key sequence:

• While pressing the ON key the third key on the top row is pressed and released.

The second self-test mode is activated by the following key sequence:

• While pressing the ON key the fifth key on the top row is pressed and released.

This mode will continues cycle through the steps described above, but skips the keyboard test.

This test mode is stopped by the following key sequence:

• While pressing the ON key the third key on the top row is pressed and released.

 

 

The Sacajawea series: HP-14B, HP-22S, HP-32S and HP-32SII

The Sacajawea models of the Pioneer series have two test modes. One test mode which goes step by step through the display tests and one mode which continues runs these steps.

The first self-test is activated by the following key sequence:

• While pressing the ON key the fourth key on the top row is pressed and released.

The display will show 12 vertical bars. When a key is pressed a next pattern will be displayed. See pictures below as an example for the HP-32SII. There is a cycle of 8 different patterns. This cycle is closed with the text CORP. HP 87,90. This text is only shown for a few seconds.
Now the keyboard test starts. The keys of the keyboard must be pressed once in order from left to right and top to bottom. When all keys react as expected the display will message for instance: 32SII-OK. If it fails an error message is displayed.

The test mode is exit by the following key sequence:

• While pressing the ON key the third key on the top row is pressed and released.

The second self-test mode is activated by the following key sequence:

• While pressing the ON key the fifth key on the top row is pressed and released.

This mode will continues cycle through the steps described above, but skips the keyboard test. This test can be stopped by pressing a key.

 

 

The Lewis series: HP-17B, HP-17BII, HP-27S and HP-42S

The Lewis models of the Pioneer series have more test modes.

The self-test is activated by the following key sequence:

• While pressing the ON key the fourth key on the top row is pressed and released.

This will result in the following display:

The first test mode is activated by the first top row key. This test will return:

Speed measurement of the CPU. See also here. The number in the display can vary.

The second test mode is activated by the second top row key. This mode will sound the beeper for a few seconds. The display shows:

The third test mode is activated by the third top row key. The mode toggles through a set of 6 different display patterns to check the display for bad pixels.

The fourth, fifth and sixth are activated by the fourth, fifth and sixth top row keys. The modes check the internal memory. The fourth test mode checks the ROM contents. The fifth mode the DRAM (data memory) and the sixth mode the VRAM (video memory).

The keyboard test mode is activated by the first key of the second row. All keys must be pressed once in order from left to right and top to bottom. When all keys react as expected the display will message for instance: KBD OK.

The next self-test is activated by the second key on the second row. This test will display the text ESD in the screen and the beeper starts beeping. This test can be stopped by pressing a random button. Where ESD stands for and what is tested is unclear for me.

The third key of the second row displays the OK text. Example for the HP 17BII model.

All the other keys will step though the test modes above, starting with the SPD and ending with OK screen, skipping the ESD test. The calculator ends the self-test itself.

The results of the self-tests can be printed by the HP 82240 printer. Next pictures show the results for an HP 17BII and an HP 42S calculator self test. The HP 17BII has an additional ROM (ROM2).

Links related to Self test

• Site of Mike Sebastian (RSkey)