Tag: BIOS

Categories
Windows 7 Windows 8 Windows Vista Windows XP

Fix : Frequent Windows is not responding error message in Windows 7 & Vista

After reading this post you will learn a few ways to troubleshoot the frequent “not responding” problem with your Windows computer. This post applies to fixing those Windows PCs which often show the not responding message for the opened Windows or programs. If it’s a rare problem, I am sure you don’t need to read any further. Your PC is just fine & does not need any fixing. On the other hand, if you are facing this issue quiet often you should follow the steps mentioned herein:

Check Your Hard Drive

  • Make sure you have enough space available on your hard disk, to do this :
  • Go to Computer
  • Right Click your root drive ( C: or any partition where you have installed Windows )
  • Click on Properties
  • Check the used & free space

 

  • Check your Drive for errors
  • Go to command prompt by typing command in your start menu search box ( right Click –> run as administrator )
  • Navigate to your system partition by typing the drive letter of your system partition ( example : C:\ )
  • type CHKDSK /f
  • type CHKDSK /r
  • You might get a message that disk check will be scheduled on next reboot

 

  • Also, make sure that your hard disk drive is defragmented
  • Type defragment in start menu search box
  • Run disk defragmenter
  • If it’s a desktop computer
  • Try changing the hard disk data cable
  • NOTE: If you don’t know how to change the HDD cable, get it done by a computer hardware professional.

 

Check your RAM ( Memory )

  • If you have a demanding usage of system resources & you like to multitask
  • make sure that you have adequate RAM installed.

 

  • Check your system RAM for errors
  • Go to start menu
  • type Windows Memory diagnostics (in the start menu search box)
  • Run the program
  • This will restart your computer
  • Check your RAM for errors & display a report after you login the next time.

 

Windows Update

  • Make sure your Windows is up to date
  • Go to start menu
  • In the start menu search box type Windows Update
  • Click on Check for updates
  • Select recommended updates
  • also select any driver updates from Optional updates section

 

Drivers & BIOS

NOTE: Please perform any BIOS update operation at your OWN risk, BIOS update, if not done properly, or for any other reason, it fails, can crash your computer system & damage your hardware. Troubleshootwindows.com or I, the author of this post will not be responsible for any damage whatsoever.

  • SATA/AHCI drivers
  • Go to your motherboard / system manufacturer’s support website
  • Locate the support page for your computer /motherboard model
  • Download and Install the SATA / AHCI / IDE ( STORAGE drivers )
  • & also install the latest chipset & Display drivers from that support site.

 

  • BIOS updates
  • You can check the support site, if any new BIOS updates for your system has been released.
  • Read the documentation associated with the BIOS release to make sure that it addresses any problems that your might be facing.
Categories
Windows 7 Windows 8 Windows Vista Windows XP

Fix : Stuck brightness controls / hotkeys not working in Windows 8 , 7 , Vista & XP

After reading this post you will be able to solve a problem where you cannot use the hotkeys on your keyboard to adjust brightness controls, volume controls etc. These hotkeys mostly located on your functions keys & are activated by a key marked as Fn on your keyboard. These keys are colour coded for user’s reference. Many time due to a software glitch these keys stop working & with that otherwise functionality that these hotkeys render is left unusable. Follow the steps below to fix the above said problem:

  • Only sleep & no shutdown
  • sometimes when we just let our computer sleep when we don’t use it & we do not use shutdown for a long time, this type of problem might occur due to data corruption. a simple restart should solve your problem right here.

 

  • Buggy Drivers
  • Try updating the following drivers :
  • Power manager driver ( if any )
  • Chipset drivers ( make sure you are installing the complete package )
  • Graphic Drivers
  • You can run Windows update or any system update program that came with your computer.
  • A better idea is to uninstall the current set of drivers & then download / install fresh / updated drivers from your system / motherboard manufacturer.

  • Hotkey management software
  • Almost every manufacturer provides a proper hotkey management software that can be download off their support website.
  • Make sure to checkout any Microsoft package that might be required by your computer for proper hotkey integration ( refer documentation / support site )

  • BIOS Update
  • If this is a frequent problem with your system, do check out your system manufacturer’s support site for any BIOS updates.
  • Refer the documentation first and/or make sure to read any related support forums for bug check.
  • Note : BIOS update might harm your computer & you should perform the BIOS update procedure at your own risk.

 

  • Checking Services
  • Go to run ( Windows key + R )
  • type services.msc
  • press ctrl + shift + enter
  • Look for hotkey start-up services or HID Human Interface services
  • Double click
  • set the startup type to automatic
  • Restart your computer
Categories
Windows 7

BSOD: Resolving Stop Error : BIOS not ACPI Compliant, Windows 7

This article explains the possible real world resolution to STOP error 0x000000A5 with a message “STOP: BIOS not fully ACPI compliant”

The error was seen in Windows XP & the resolution therein used to be somewhat different than in Windows 7. In Windows XP this error used to occur due to a power setting problem in Windows or incorrect BIOS settings. Though this error occurs in Windows 7 due to somewhat different reasons & similarity only being the BIOS.

Possible Symptoms, cause & resolution

  • You have a old system and you upgraded from Windows XP or Vista to Windows 7
  • Your system is new and you installed Windows 7 for the first time & bam, you have a BSOD ( Stop error )
  • You have a running system, you updated your Windows installation and you get this error.

Resolution

  • If you can still boot into Windows After restarting your system. Go to your Motherboard or system Manufacturer’s website and download the latest BIOS update for your system Model/make/version.
    Make sure you read the BIOS update caution guide available on the download/support page of your System/Motherboard manufacturer.
  • If you cannot not boot into Windows you will have to download the new BIOS file and Dos based updater software from your Motherboard/System Manufacturer’s website, burn a bootable disc and update your BIOS.

Few other resolution that worked for a few people

  • If you have a desktop system, change the motherboard battery & load setup defaults
  • If you have a laptop/notebook/netbook/ultra book, & it has a removable battery, remove it & try pressing the power button without battery & charger plugged in, for a few seconds (10-15 seconds). Release the power button, plug the battery in and check.
  • Another thing you can try is that you can Press DEL/F2/F10 to go into BIOS at the time of system start up & locate the option called ACPI mode/version & set it to the highest value. (example : ACPI 2.0 or ACPI 3.0)
  • A few people have tried to set custom serial port resources/location in the BIOS to 2F8/IRQ3.

These are a few things you can try, if the problem persists, post your question on Microsoft Answers forum or down in comments section here on this page.

**Updating of BIOS or any above mentioned tips should be done on your own risk. This website will not be liable for any damage or loss of data. Though All of the above mentioned methods are safe to do, if done properly following instruction in your user manual or System/Motherboard Manufacturer’s website Support service.