google Hirens Boot Cd.... get ver9 if you can its the better. This is a bootable cd with the tools in a usable gui, to rescue MBR, rewrite MBR, format, and even do low level AV scan. There are also 'burn in' tests for all periph.'s (HD, FD, NIC, sound, video.) do this first; it will report whether you've been rootkit tagged, or worse, if if you do have a mechanical problem with a device. basically it is nearly impossible for outside forces to affect anything lower level than your MBR. Ie. very unlikely that your bios is in trouble as all Bios's are firmware flashed and require special firmware burning progs to change. If some lamer has come up with a way to init a firmware flash via attack, he sould get a Nobel. Yannos