Master boot record management

• US 20080184022A1
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Peacock, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,037,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures

Abstract

In one embodiment a computer system comprises a processor and a memory module coupled to the processor and comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium. The logic instructions, when executed, configure the processor to initiate power on self test processing in the basic input/output system of a computing device, compare a first identifier derived from a master boot record on the computing device with a second identifier stored in a memory location on the computing device, and implement a master boot record recovery process when the first identifier does not correspond with the second identifier.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

initiating power on self test processing in the basic input/output system of a computing device;

comparing a first identifier derived from a master boot record on the computing device with a second identifier stored in a memory location on the computing device; and

implementing a master boot record recovery process when the first identifier does not correspond with the second identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing a first identifier derived from a master boot record of the computing device with a second identifier stored in a memory location on the computing device comprises:

computing a first identifier associated with the master boot record on the computing device, wherein the identifier comprises at least one of a checksum, a cyclical redundancy check, or a digital signature;

retrieving, from the memory location, a second identifier obtained with a previous instance of the master boot record on the computing device, wherein the identifier comprises at least one of a checksum, a cyclical redundancy check, or a digital signature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing a master boot record recovery process comprises overwriting a portion of the master boot record.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein implementing a master boot record recovery process comprises requesting confirmation from a user before overwriting a portion of the master boot record.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising calculating a new identifier associated with the master boot record.

6. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory module coupled to the process and comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to;

initiate power on self test processing in the basic input/output system of a computing device;

compare a first identifier derived from a master boot record on the computing device with a second identifier stored in a memory location on the computing device; and

implement a master boot record recovery process when the first identifier does not correspond with the second identifier.

7. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to:

compute a first identifier associated with the master boot record on the computing device, wherein the identifier comprises at least one of a checksum, a cyclical redundancy check, or a digital signature;

retrieve, from the memory location, a second identifier obtained with a previous instance of the master boot record on the computing device, wherein the identifier comprises at least one of a checksum, a cyclical redundancy check, or a digital signature.

8. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to overwrite a portion of the master boot record.

9. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to request confirmation from a user before overwriting a portion of the master boot record.

10. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to calculate a new identifier associated with the master boot record.

11. A method, comprising:

initiating an operating system update process on a computer system; and

implementing a master boot record recovery process when the operating system update process is complete.

12. The method of claim 11, initiating an operating system update process on a computer system comprises at least one of:

downloading an operating system update via a network connection;

installing an operating system update from a computer readable storage medium.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein implementing a master boot record recovery process comprises overwriting a portion of the master boot record.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein implementing a master boot record recovery process comprises requesting confirmation from a user before overwriting a portion of the master boot record.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising updating a boot configuration data store.

16. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory module coupled to the process and comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to;

initiate an operating system update process on a computer system; and

implement a master boot record recovery process when the operating system update process is complete.

17. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to:

download an operating system update via a network connection;

installing an operating system update from a computer readable storage medium.

18. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to overwrite a portion of the master boot record.

19. The computer system of claim 18, further comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to request confirmation from a user before overwriting a portion of the master boot record.

20. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed, configure the processor to calculate a new identifier associated with the master boot record.