BleepingComputer.com: BIOS issue: toshiba laptop

niot sure where to place this topic other than here, running XP pro:

Converted a Toshiba a305-s6905 laptop from vista to XP pro.
Got all the drivers installed working like a champ, Toshiba indicated there was a bios update form 1.80 to 2.20
So i ran it, seemed to go fine, then it rebooted, windows splash screen appears momentarily then a quick BSOD that i cannot read, then back to toshiba start screen.

It will continue that cycle if i let it.
Safe mode, last know good config dont work understandably.

during post it shows...insyde H20 bios

What, if anything can i do in this spot?

This post has been edited by BNDAZ: 26 July 2010 - 03:32 AM

I think you have failed updating BIOS...

This post has been edited by abauw: 26 July 2010 - 06:10 AM

I don't have a solution, I don't ever update a BIOS.

But...if the system was not designed to support XP...what made you think that updating your BIOS would do anything positive for your system?

Generally speaking...if the system is working well, I see no reason to update BIOS or drivers.

Windows critical updates are different and relate to system security issues.

Louis

i recorded the blue screen and captured it:
Typical blue screen:
A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to protect it...if this is the first time..etc
check for termination on HDD etc etc
Technical information:
STOP: 0x0000007b (0x0BA4CF524, 0x00000000, 0x00000000 )
went with XP because that is what the owner of the laptop wanted...

I tried to do a repair install by booting from the XP disk it loads all the files and then im meet with a BSOD that stays, same warning but
Technical information:
STOP: 0x0000007b (0xF78D2524, 0x00000000, 0x00000000 )



ALright, entered the bios and changed SATA controller mode from AHCI to compatibility mode and it booted.
Rebooted and am running a chkdsk.

This seems to be a sata driver issue. how do i resolve that or can i just let this run in compatibility mode?

Unless there is (for the average home user) some cogent reason for running in AHCI (I've never found one), I suggest running in compatibility mode.

http://www.techmetica.com/howto/sata-ahci-...hat-does-it-do/

My guess is that your BIOS updated/reverted to what the system had set up initially. Changing the setting provoked the BSOD/STOP error.

http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=106575.0

Louis

This post has been edited by hamluis: 28 July 2010 - 01:36 PM

Yup, works in compatibility mode, have been advised that i can download the intel iata96enu.exe driver and force the install after unpacking it via a cmd line. Well see, if there really isnt any harm other than a possible slight performance decrease by just running compatibility mode, then it may just stay as is.

what i found: Obviously this wasn't actually a bad bios, just the fact that the sata controller wasnt present for AHCI

the driver can be installed POST OS installation:
Download and unpack the correct driver package, running "setup" from these decompressed folders will not work in compatibility mode does not work, so you have to FORCE the machine to accept the driver:
'- Go to Device Manager --> IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. Double-click on the Intel ICH8M 3-port

SATA Controller - 2828... remember, *ONLY* click on the device that ends with 28.

- Go to Driver tab, and choose to Update Driver.

- Tell the Wizard prompts:
- No, not this time
- Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)
- Don't Search. I will choose the driver to install.
- Click the "Have Disk" button. Point it to wherever you extraced the files to.

Manager\Driver (or Driver64).
- Choose the driver you want to install....
- After you install the driver and click OK out of every menu, reboot the laptop.

In my case the driver i need to install was the ICHM9 series

-) During reboot, go into BIOS and turn on AHCI mode"

rebooted and it worked fine.