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

• US 5,214,695 A
• Filed: 06/17/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• 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: Woytovech, Peter A., Cronk, Doyle S., Arnold, Lisa R., Paul, John D., Bealkowski, Richard, Dayan, Richard A., Geisler, Douglas R., Smeltzer, Kenneth D., Blackledge, John W. Jr., Zyvoloski, Kevin M., Mittelstedt, Matthew T., Sachsenmaier, Robert, Palka, Matthew S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Application Number:
  US07/716,594
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/23, 380/25, 380/50, 380/49, 371/11.3, 395/425, 395/600, 395/725, 395/700, 395/934
• US Class Current: 713/2
• 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 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/934 Information retrieval or Information management

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 accessing system utilities in a personal computer system, the personal computer system having a system processor for executing an operating system, a read only memory, and a random access memory, said apparatus comprising:

a direct access storage device;

a portion of BIOS being included in the direct access storage device, said portion of BIOS being loaded into random access memory to boot the operating system; and

a portion of system utilities included in the direct access storage device, said system utilities being automatically executed upon detecting an error condition said system utilities including 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 accessing 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;

a loading means for loading data records from the direct access storage device into main memory, 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 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; and

a system utility program image being stored in the direct access storage device, said system utility program being read automatically from the direct access storage device into main memory upon said main memory resident program detecting an error in the system, said system utility program including a program for modifying the configuration of the system or a program for diagnosing the error in the system.

4. An apparatus for accessing system utilities in a personal computer system, the personal computer system having a system processor for executing an operating system, a read only memory, and a random access memory, said apparatus comprising:

a direct access storage device;

a portion of BIOS being included in the direct access storage device, said portion of BIOS being loaded into random access memory to boot the operating system; and

a portion of system utilities included in the direct access storage device, said system utilities being executed upon detecting activation of an indicator, said system utilities including a program for modifying the configuration of the system or a program for diagnosing the error in the system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the direct access storage device comprises a fixed disk.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said indicator is set by a user in response to said computer system activating a visual display.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said visual display comprises moving a cursor to the upper right corner of a screen.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said visual display is activated for a predetermined period.

9. An apparatus for accessing system utilities in a personal computer system, the personal computer system having a system processor for executing an operating system, a read only memory, and a random access memory, said apparatus comprising:

a direct access storage device;

a portion of BIOS being included in the direct access storage device, said portion of BIOS being loaded into random access memory to boot the operating system; and

a portion of system utilities included in the direct access storage device, said system utilities being automatically executed upon detecting an error condition, said system utilities including a program for diagnosing the cause of the error condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the direct access storage device comprises a fixed disk.