Please help me access the BIOS on my HP

**ratty** · 07-07-2010, 12:02 AM

Please help me access the BIOS on my HP Pavilion

When my computer powers up it comes up with an error and gives me the choice to start windows normally, use safe mode etc. Whichever option I choose it eventually stops loading (the furthest it will get is to the Windows startup loading screen) and then comes up with a BSOD sying there has been a problem detected, "check for viruses" etc. I have inserted the Windows CD (Windows XP Professional) but it will not boot up from CD. I want to access the BIOS to check the boot order but I've tried pressing f2, f6, f8, f10, f12 etc (every function key basically) repeatedly and it will not load. I am using a PS2 keyboard. Please advise on how I can access the BIOS or make the windows cd boot up.

Thank you!

**Speedy Gonzales** · 07-07-2010, 12:06 AM

Try the del key, or F1. Whats the Stop error code?

**8ftmetalhaed** · 07-07-2010, 12:19 AM

my pavilion is f1. a210a here.

**Alex B** · 07-07-2010, 02:08 AM

It should be F10, you havn't changed the bios from ACHI (or what ever it is) to IDE mode in the bios?

F9 should be boot menu, F11 should give you the factory recovery partition.

**ratty** · 07-07-2010, 11:58 AM

Hi,

I've tried all the F keys now pressing them constantly from when the PC turns on with no result, I can still access the windows startup screen when you can choose safe mode etc, this seems to work when pressing f8 or f5. Esc didn't work to access the BIOS either. I figure if I can access the BIOS I can get the PC to boot into CD first, then load up Windows Setup and get it to repair the system files, then get back into Windows and remove any viruses, software issues etc from there.
I don't believe I have changed any modes in the BIOS, given I don't know the difference between them and would not mess about in the BIOS.

Stop error code is as follows:
0x0000007B.
The rest of the code is
(0xF7A2D528),(0xC0000034),(0x00000000),(0x00000000 ).

I have not made any recent hardware changes.

Thank you!

**Agent_24** · 07-07-2010, 12:33 PM

0x0000007B = INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
It means there is a problem with the drive controller driver for the hard drive you are booting from.

This can happen if you switch from IDE mode to AHCI\SATA mode which requires different drivers. If the drivers were not already installed, it won't be able to access the device.

If you haven't changed the controller mode from IDE to AHCI or anything then it would be something else, possibly corrupt or missing driver (has happened randomly to a friend once)

It may also be a boot sector virus.

Does the stop error message list any name of a driver file?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324103

**pctek** · 07-07-2010, 01:09 PM

7B can often be fixed by chkdsk /p /r.
try it.

**wratterus** · 07-07-2010, 01:26 PM

I've had three 7Bs in the last few days, not the INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE, they have all had no info about the error. The first two turned out to be AVG messing things up. Still looking at the third. Chkdsk didn't help. Had to do a repair-reinstall then remove AVG, problems were gone.

Do you have AVG on this machine?

**GR8Metal** · 07-07-2010, 02:14 PM

It's either f1 or f10. I know you've already pressed them but try an hit the f1 or f10 key continuously as soon as the PC is powered up. I've seen some HP Pavilions take ages to fire up the display screen, and when it eventually comes to life, it's already loading windows (not in your case...) and you miss the "hit ?? to enter setup" screen...