Abstract: An apparatus and method for accessing POST 80h codes using a USB or other port of a computer are described. In one embodiment, POST 80h data is sent in a serial format to a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) port of the computer. This data is output from the GPIO port on one of the data lines (e.g., D+) of the USB port. Additionally, a soft clock is output from the GPIO port on another of the data lines (e.g., D−) of the USB port. An external plug-in device is connected to the USB port via an appropriate connector for receiving the POST 80h data and clock signals and displaying the POST 80h codes on several seven segment display elements thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the data output via the USB port is read into a portable device and transmitted to a technical center for review and analysis.