Instant-on computer system and method for instantly booting a computer system

• US 20060149956A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitac Technology Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mitac Technology Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chang, Wen Hua
• Application Number:
  US11/272,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149956A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

A method for instantly booting a computer system is provided. In an embodiment, a flag for activation of a first operating system or a second operating system of the computer system is defined. A quick key is enabled to activate the computer system. A BIOS of the computer system is activated. A boot manager is loaded and activated via the BIOS. The boot manager triggers a flag according to the quick key and activates the first operating system or the second operating system corresponding to a flag value.

Claims

1. A method for instantly booting a computer system, comprising:

defining a flag for activation of a first operating system or a second operating system of the computer system;

enabling a quick key to activate the computer system;

activating a BIOS of the computer system;

loading and activating a boot manager via the BIOS; and

the boot manager triggering a flag according to the quick key and activating the first operating system or the second operating system corresponding to a flag value.

2. The method for instantly booting a computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the boot manager is stored into the cylinder 0, head 0, and sector 1 of a boot disk of the computer system.

3. The method for instantly booting a computer system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flag is located ino the sector 1 of the boot disk.

4. The method for instantly booting a computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the boot manager locates kernel codes of the selected operating system according to the flag value and loads and executes the kernel codes to activate the selected operating system.

5. The method for instantly booting a computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flag is located in a memory storing the BIOS.

6. An instant-on computer system, comprising:

a BIOS, capable of activating corresponding hardware peripherals when a quick key is enabled;

a first storage medium, capable of storing the BIOS;

a second storage medium, capable of storing a boot manager, a first operating system, and a second operating system; and

a CPU, capable of loading and activating the boot manager via the BIOS and triggering a flag via the boot manager according to the quick key to activate the first operating system or the second operating system corresponding to a flag value.

7. The computer system capable of an instant booting function as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second storage medium is a boot disk and the boot manager is stored into the cylinder 0, head 0, and sector 1 of the boot disk.

8. The computer system capable of an instant booting function as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flag is stored into the sector 1 of the boot disk.

9. The computer system capable of an instant booting function as claimed in claim 8, wherein the boot manager locates kernel codes of the first operating system, the second operating system, or a third-operating system according to the flag value and loads and executes the located kernel codes to activate a corresponding operating system.

10. An instant-on computer system, comprising:

a BIOS, capable of activating corresponding hardware peripherals when a quick key is enabled;

a first storage medium, capable of storing the BIOS;

a second storage medium, capable of storing a boot manager and a first operating system;

a third storage medium, capable of storing a second operating system; and

a CPU, capable of loading and activating the boot manager via the BIOS and triggering a flag via the boot manager according to the quick key to activate the first operating system or the second operating system corresponding to a flag value.