Windows Driver Kit: Kernel-Mode Driver Architecture
ACPI BIOS
The integrated power management features supported by Microsoft Windows operating systems are available only on computers that have an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) BIOS.
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 require that an ACPI BIOS be dated January 1, 1999 or later. However, if one of these Windows versions determines that such a BIOS is known to exhibit ACPI problems, the loader disables ACPI and instead uses Advanced Power Management (APM). Beginning with Windows Vista, the operating system supports only a computer with an ACPI-compliant BIOS that is dated January 1, 1999 or later.
Device Manager shows whether an individual computer supports ACPI.