Basic input/output system updating method

• US 20030120908A1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,000,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4403 Processor initialisation

Abstract

The invention is to provide a basic input/output system updating method that divides a memory in an electronic device into a system program area and a boot program area, wherein a basic input/out system (BIOS) program is stored in the said system program area and an initialization sequence is stored in the boot program area. When the initialization sequence in the said system program area is destroyed and the BIOS program is lost, the invention enables a user to toggle a switch to a closed position to connect the said microprocessor to the said boot program area to read the initialization sequence stored therein.

Claims

1. A basic input/output system updating method comprising the steps of:

dividing a memory in an electronic device into a system program area and a boot program area;

storing a basic input/out system (BIOS) program in the said system program area such that when a microprocessor of the said electronic device reads the said program, the said microprocessor executes a system initialization sequence of the said electronic device;

storing an initialization sequence into said boot program area, while the said system program area be destroyed and the BIOS program is lost, a switch is able to be switched to an ON position to connect the said microprocessor to the said boot program area and thereby enables the reading of the said initialization sequence in the said boot program area.

2. As mentioned in claim 1 of the basic input/output system updating method, wherein the said microprocessor, during the said initialization sequence, activates the hard disk drive connected to the said electronic device, reads the said BIOS program stored in the said hard disk drive, and records the said BIOS into the said system program area.

3. As mentioned in claim 1 of the basic input/output system updating method, wherein the said microprocessor, during the said initialization sequence, activates an integrated drive electronics (IDE) interface of the said electronic device, reads a BIOS program stored in the said IDE-interface connected to the said hard disk drive, and records the said BIOS read from the said IDE-interface into the said system program area.

4. As mentioned in claim 1 of the basic input/output system updating method, the said microprocessor, during the said initialization sequence, links with a local area network (LAN), downloads a BIOS program stored in the said LAN, and records the said BIOS downloaded from the said LAN into the said system program area.

5. As mentioned in claim 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the basic input/output system updating method, wherein the said electronic device is a notebook computer.

6. As mentioned in claim 5 of the basic input/output system updating method, wherein the said memory is a flash read-only memory (ROM).

7. As mentioned in claim 5 of the basic input/output system updating method, wherein the said switch is a manually operated shunting component.

8. As mentioned in claim 5 of the basic input/output system updating method, wherein, when the power supply of the said electronic device is switched on, the said microprocessor issues an address signal via a decoder which is sent after decoding to the said system program area and the said boot program area, thereby enabling the said microprocessor to respectively assign the starting position of the said system program area and the said boot program area.