Windows XP forum: My BIOS isn't working

If you told us what the Blue Screen of Death says, may be we would have a better handle on the problem.

Mark

If it not yet obvious, every number you see is critical information. What was posted is only enough to blame a very long list of suspected - wild speculation.

When you booted from the CD-Rom, some critical start up files get executed from that CD-Rom. But eventually software must go to the hard drive for other critical files. The BSOD message says specifically where a failure is or was detected - especially the numbers. Without that, nobody can be helpful. Only says what to do to get useful facts.

Many machines offer a boot selection Window that is available by pressing repeatedly F2, F5, F8, F12, Del, etc. Those boot options may offer booting in safe mode, booting diagnostics, building a boot log, etc.

Well, it does boot. That means you can load and execute diagnostics. Half of the suspects are in hardware. Other half are in Windows. So eliminate half the suspects and learn what does work.

For example, download the hard disk diagnostic from Hitachi. Or get the same diagnostics from the UltimateBootCD website. Basically make a bootable CD so that you can see problems without being confused by Windows. IOW boot and execute the computer without Windows complications. See what Hitachi says about their disk drive.

Break a problem into simple and 'easier to understand' sections. Learn what does and does not work. Diagnostics do that. Report back. Get useful replies.

Only the more responsible computer manufacturers provide comprehensive hardware diagnostics for free on the machine, on a CD, and on their web site. All computer manufacturers have them. But only some bother to make then available. With comprehensive diagnostics, the answer and solution would be almost immediate. You might search the Toshiba web site. But manufacturers who cut costs rather than provide useful tools often do not provide their diagnostics - that already exist. So download diagnostics from the individual hardware manufacturers. The Hitachi disk diagnostic is a good place to start.

This is most important. The numbers you least understand are often facts that say the most. Always collect and record facts - especially numbers. Only way to get replies from the most informed computer geeks is post numbers; not subjective symptoms.

Can you boot into Safe Mode? If yes, then you go to system (event) logs. Windows sees problems, records the event, and then works around the problem. You are expected to go back later and learn what has failed.

If you do not know where to find these logs (and other information), then use Windows Help.

Also confirm in Device Manager that everything is functional.

Is the Record a Boot Log available? Then try booting with that option. The boot log is often stored in the root directory under a name (I current forget it) such as Bootlog.txt.

In Command Prompt, enter DIR to see programs available to discover or fix problems. Do not try to fix anything until after information has been corrected (ie Hitachi disk drive diagnostic, system logs, etc).

And what of your search for comprehensive hardware diagnostics from the computer manufacturer? Are they available? Get the disk drive diagnostic. Does not matter if anything is working. You still need those facts and numbers. Especially when the system is currently easy to get facts.