Apparatus and method for loading a system reference diskette image from a system partition in a personal computer system

• US 5,128,995 A
• Filed: 07/23/1990
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bealkowski, Richard, Dayan, Richard A., Woytovech, Peter A., Geisler, Douglas R., Cronk, Doyle S., Smeltzer, Kenneth D., Blackledge, John W. Jr., Zyvoloski, Kevin M., Mittelstedt, Matthew T., Sachsenmaier, Robert, Palka, Matthew S. Jr., Arnold, Lisa R., Paul, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Application Number:
  US07/557,334
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/23, 380/25, 380/50, 364/976.4, 364/975.2, 364/976, 364/265.6, 364/268.5, 371/11.32
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/08 Error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation, e.g. by using checking codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/22 Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

A personal computer system according to the present invention comprises a system processor, a random access memory, a read only memory, and at least one direct access storage device. A direct access storage device controller coupled between the system processor and direct access storage device includes a protection mechanism for protecting a region of the storage device. The protected region of the storage device includes a master boot record, a BIOS image and a system reference diskette image. The BIOS image includes a section known as Power on Self Test (POST). POST is used to test and initialize a system. Upon detecting any configuration error, system utilities from the system reference diskette image, such as set configuration programs, diagnostic programs and utility programs can be automatically activated from the direct access storage device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting system utilities in a personal computer system, the personal computer system having a system processor for executing an operating system, a read only memory, a random access memory, and at least one direct access storage device, said apparatus comprising:

a direct access storage device controller having a protection means for protecting a region of the direct access storage device, said protection means allowing access to the protected region in response to a reset signal;

a portion of BIOS being included in the protected region of the direct access storage device, said portion of BIOS being loaded into random access memory to boot the operating system, said portion of BIOS activating said protection means to prevent access to the protected region of the direct access storage device during normal operations of the operating system; and

a portion of system utilities included in the protected region of the direct access storage device, said system utilities being automatically executed upon detecting an error condition in the loading of the operating system and further wherein said portion of system utilities comprises a program for modifying the configuration of the system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the direct access storage device comprises a fixed disk.

3. An apparatus for protecting a system utility program in a personal computer system, the personal computer system having a system processor, a read only memory, a main memory, and at least one direct access storage device capable of storing a plurality of data records, said apparatus comprising:

a first program being included in the read only memory, said first program initializing the system processor, said first program further initiating the generation of a reset signal to the direct access storage device to permit access to the data records;

a loading means for loading data records from the direct access storage device into main memory, said loading means being stored in a protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said loading means being read from the direct access storage device into main memory by said first program, wherein said first program activates said loading means;

a main memory resident program image being stored in the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said main memory resident program image being read from the direct access storage device into main memory by said loading means to produce a main memory resident program;

means for protecting the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said protection means being activated by said main memory resident program to prevent unauthorized access to said loading means and said main memory resident program image; and

a system utility program image being stored in the protectable partition of the direct access storage device, said system utility program being read automatically from the direct access storage device into main memory for execution upon said main memory resident program detecting an error in the system wherein said system utility program image includes a program for modifying the configuration of the system.