| Previous | Next |
| STATUS_ABIOS_NOT_LID_OWNER | STATUS_ABIOS_INVALID_LID |
STATUS_ABIOS_INVALID_COMMAND
ABIOS request blocks carry a function as well as the device Logical ID
IBM documents the ABIOS request block as a common set of functional parameters followed by service-specific parameters. The common fields include request-block length, Logical ID, unit, function, return code, and timeout. STATUS_ABIOS_INVALID_COMMAND is therefore best diagnosed by preserving the function field and the LID/device context that interpreted it. A command can be meaningful in one firmware service and invalid in another.
This is different from STATUS_ABIOS_INVALID_LID. A malformed or unsupported function targets the command side of the request contract; changing the LID without understanding the request may simply send the same invalid function to a different device. Likewise, a valid function number is not sufficient if the request-block length or service-specific parameters belong to a different ABIOS interface revision. The public NTSTATUS catalog does not expose a table of Windows-specific ABIOS command numbers, so decode the function against the firmware documentation for the actual device/service.
For historical driver analysis, capture the entire request block before firmware dispatch, not just the return status. Compare function, unit, block length, and any service-specific fields with the function-transfer table and device block associated with the current LID. If the failure follows a machine or emulator change, compare supported ABIOS services rather than assuming the old function set is universal across PS/2 models.
What to inspect
- Save the full ABIOS request block, especially LID, unit, function, and length.
- Decode the function against the addressed device/service documentation.
- Check interface revision or emulator changes before treating the status as hardware failure.
References
- IBM: Advanced BIOS (ABIOS) manual
- IBM: ABIOS for PS/2 computers and compatibles
- IBM: PS/2 Hardware Interface Technical Reference
- Microsoft Open Specifications: NTSTATUS values
Looking for a different code? Search another status or error code.