Toshiba A-100 laptop asks for bios pass word upon starting

check whwther you have set password while booting if so enter bios pw

Dear beanbean,
This "lovely black screen" is a BIOS password screen. This shows up because somebody has set a boot-up password in the BIOS Setup. If you're lucky, the BIOS Setup is still unprotected, and you can access it as follows:
When you turn it on, look for something that says "Press [button] to enter Setup" or "Press [button] to enter Setup Utilities." Press the corresponding button on your keyboard, and you should enter BIOS Setup.

Now two things can happen. Either you are permitted to access Setup, or you are prompted for the password.
If you can access Setup, navigate to the Security tab and clear all set passwords.If not... then you can either reset BIOS by unplugging the computer, taking off the back, and removing the CMOS Battery (unrecommended), or you can call Toshiba support and ask for the master password (Most manufacturers have a master password, which will allow you to access Setup and remove the boot-up password)
Hope this helps,Ericthecmh

The bios password only appers when you press F2 or Del upon powering it ON, so don't press anything when turning it on.

the bios password can be reset and remove its previous password by opening the laptop and remove the CMOS battery inside it, not the physical battery of the laptop, the CMOS battery is a 1inch round battery inside a laptop and computer.

Sounds like you enabled the BIOS Password in that case. Here's a Guide to fixing it:

http://www.technibble.com/how-to-bypass-or-remove-a-bios-password/

No, the laptop is not ruined. Only a little sick. At bootup press F2 and enter the BIOS. On the first screen you will find an option for Auto detecting the HDD. Use it to detect the HDD. Once HDD is detected, save the settings and reboot.

The BIOS password is removed by the BIOS configuration, you need the BIOS password to get into the BIOS configuration.But if you do not have the BIOS password then you need to construct this dongle device.
TOSHIBA BIOS PASSWORD DONGLE
You can build a dongle that plugs into the printer port.Purchase a 25 pin male D sub connector and solder insulated wires to the various pins as listed below. The pins are numbered on the connector
http://www.tilman.de/sonstiges/toshiba/dongle1.jpg this is a picture of the finished dongle


Wire the pins as follows :-1-5-10, 2-11, 3-17, 4-12, 6-16, 7-13, 8-14, 9-15
Plug the finished dongle in the printer port and power up the laptop. The password will be reset, go into the BIOS configuration to check the BIOS password, you may have to disable the BIOS password..
OR there are other places that will sell you a "Key" for a price.
OR you can provide "Proof of Ownership" to Toshiba, and they will sell you a "Code" to remove the Anti-Tamper, Anti-theft, protection.

as i recall, ntloader is software for the OS load, after hardware boot, so you already passed up your chance to enter bios, which you realize. i used to have a toshiba laptop, was it the delete key or F2 to enter BIOS? try delete, and make sure youre pressing it from restart like once a second as it's booting to make sure you hit it in the windows of time it's looking for key presses before it's time to load the operating system. you'll be fine. it's just unnerving to be locked out like that...

I'm not clear on your description, so here goes:

If it showed the Toshiba start screen, then asked for a password, then your hard drive is password protected.

If it showed the Toshiba screen, then asked for password, and you entered it, and then it goes "insert disk", then your hard drive is passworded and wiped.

If the first thing it does is ask for a password, then the password is in the BIOS.

How to clear an unknown BIOS password. Information and help with clearing an unknown BIOS password. ... On the computer motherboard locate and remove the CMOS battery .

Good Luck/Please dont for get to Vote.Thank You.