Computer won't boot

[mattvol]

my sony vaio computer will not boot.  i get a screen that mentions the bios "award medallion BIOS v6.0, an Energy Star Ally Copyright (C) 1984 - 2001 Award Software, Inc.

ACPI BIOS Revision 1001

Intel (R) Pentioum (R) 4 2533 MHz Processor
Memory Test:  516096K OK  + 8192K shared memory

Award Plug and Play BIOS Extension v1.0A
Initialize Plug and Play Cards...
PNP Init Completed

Detecting Primary Master ... ST3120023A
Detecting Primary Slave ... None
Detecting Secondary Master ... TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SD - R5002
Detecting Secondary Slave ... ASUS CD-S400/A

the computer stops right here when I try to boot.


HELP!!!!!!!!!!

[folklore]

What was the last thing that happened before this error came up? Did you install any new hardware?

There are several things that can cause similar behaviour, depending on when exactly this behaviour starts.

(1) If this happens RIGHT before the operating system is supposed to start up, then it could be a boot-sector virus, or your operating system's boot-up files may be damaged. To test this, boot with a normal Windows boot disk (write protected, of course) and if that works, it means your operating system is not well.

(Does the floppy drive's light go on before the computer hangs up?)

(2) If this happens while it is still performing the BIOS' POST checks, it could be some malfunctioning hardware. This can be tested by

(a) Removing any recently installed computer hardware
(b) Load failsafe or default options in your bios configuration.

Try these few things, and if it stilld doesn't work, I'll scratch head some more

Regards,

FolkLore

[mattvol]

the floppy light does not come on...i cannot get to BIOS (using F2 key).  the computer just stops after "Detecting Secondary slave...ASUS CD-S400/A


I have not recently intalled anything