Abstract: Method and apparatus for transparently executing embedded PC diagnostics from an OS-based application is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, responsive to a user request to execute diagnostics code embedded in BIOS memory, an OS-based utility of the present invention calls an OS-independent BIOS routine for saving the state of the PC to a hard disk thereof, resetting the PC and initiating execution of the embedded diagnostics code. The embedded diagnostics code runs to completion from PC reset, saving failure and status information to a nonvolatile storage device, and resets the PC once more. The PC boots normally from reset and restores the state of the PC from the hard disk, thereby restoring the OS-based utility, which may then be used to access the saved failure and status information and display, print or otherwise act on the information.