Flexible computer initialization

• US 5,261,104 A
• Filed: 11/13/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Ford, Jeffrey V., Cecil, Randal H., Bertram, Randal L., Kozel, Jerry T., Welman, Glenn E., Springhetti, Rodney P., Wright, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATBAB, ABDOLLAH
• Application Number:
  US07/976,648
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 395/700
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A computer system with an internal operating system located in ROM is initialized in that operating system but can also automatically be directly initialized in an operating system of choice such as one located on an external memory, that is, a diskette or fixed disk. The computer system may also automatically be directly initialized in an application running under the internal operating system and, if desired, initialization may automatically directly include a customized version of the internal operating system. These customizing features are obtained through a customization word located in permanent read/write memory.

Claims

1. A computer system with an initialization routine located therein which affords said system the capability of automatically initializing itself in an operating system of choice, comprising:

a data processor;

random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM) and permanent read/write memory, all connected to said data processor, said initialization routine located in said ROM for controlling the initialization of said computer system upon power on;

a default operating system located in said ROM for transfer into said RAM by said initialization routine for controlling the operation of said computer system upon completion of system initialization;

system drive means connected to said processor for holding external memory means such as flexible diskettes and/or fixed disks, said external memory means for holding at least one alternative operating system and applications;

customization word means located in said permanent read/write memory for containing bits including a first set of bits to which said initialization routine refers to determine whether said computer system is to be initialized with said default operating system or with an alternative operating system, and also includes a second set of bits to which said initialization routine refers to determine whether said computer system is to be initialized into a customized version of said default operating system through replacement of the default CONFIG.SYS file and/or the default AUTOEXEC.BAT file in said default operating system with an alternate CONFIG.SYS file or alternate AUTOEXEC.BAT file located in said external memory;

manually operated input means connected to said processor for enabling the user of said computer system to change the state of said first set of bits contained in said customization word means to provide for user selection of an operating system into which said computer system may be initialized, said manually operated means further provided for enabling the user of said computer system with means for changing the state of said system customization bits to provide for user selection of a customized version of said default operating system, said manually operated input means including reset means for resetting said system customization bits to provide for initialization of said computer system with said default CONFIG.SYS file and said default AUTOEXEC.BAT file in said default operating system, said reset means including manually operable indicia means such as a specific key or combination of keys on a keyboard for enabling the user of said computer system to change the state of said system configuration bits to provide for the initialization of said computer system with said default files, said reset means for use during initialization in the event that the computer system does not complete initialization due to an error in said alternate CONFIG.SYS and/or said alternate AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

2. A computer system with an initialization routine located therein which affords said system the capability of automatically initializing itself in an operating system of choice, comprising:

a data processor;

random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM) and permanent read/write memory, all connected to said data processor, said initialization routine located in said ROM for controlling the initialization of said computer system upon power on;

a default operating system located in said ROM for transfer into said RAM by said initialization routine for controlling the operation of said computer system upon completion of system initialization;

system drive means connected to said processor for holding external memory means such as flexible diskettes and/or fixed disks, said external memory means for holding at least one alternative operating system and applications;

customization word means located in said permanent read/write memory for containing bits including a first set of bits to which said initialization routine refers to determine whether said computer system is to be initialized with said default operating system or with an alternative operating system, and also includes a second set of bits to which said initialization routine refers to determine whether said computer system is to be initialized into a customized version of said default operating system through replacement of the default CONFIG.SYS file and/or the default AUTOEXEC.BAT file in said default operating system with an alternate CONFIG.SYS file or alternate AUTOEXEC.BAT file located in said external memory;

manually operated input means connected to said processor for enabling the user of said computer system to change the state of said first set of bits contained in said customization word means to provide for user selection of an operating system into which said computer system may be initialized, said manually operated means further provided for enabling the user of said computer system with means for changing the state of said system customization bits to provide for user selection of a customized version of said default operating system, said manually operated input means further including reset means for resetting said system customization bits to provide for initialization of said computer system with said default CONFIG.SYS file and said default AUTOEXEC.BAT file in said default operating system, said reset means including manually operable indicia means such as a specific key or combination of keys on a keyboard for enabling the user of said computer system to change the state of said system configuration bits to provide for the initialization of said computer system with said default files, said reset means for use during initialization in the event that the computer system does not complete initialization due to an error in said alternate CONFIG.SYS and/or said alternate AUTOEXEC.BAT files;

display means connected to said processor for providing a visual display to the user, said visual display including a menu of selections to be made by the user for choosing how said computer system is to be initialized, said menu including a first item for selecting said default operating system, a second item for selecting an alternative operating system on said external memory from a flexible diskette, a third item selecting an alternate operating system from said fixed disk, a fifth item for selecting said alternate CONFIG.SYS file, and a sixth item for selecting said alternate AUTOEXEC.BAT file, said display means further including cursor means for indicating the user'"'"'s selection from said menu.

3. A computer system with an initialization routine located therein which affords said system the capability of automatically initializing itself in an operating system of choice, comprising:

a data processor;

random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM) and permanent read/write memory, all connected to said data processor, said initialization routine located in said ROM for controlling the initialization of said computer system upon power on;

a default operating system located in said ROM for transfer into said RAM by said initialization routine for controlling the operation of said computer system upon completion of system initialization;

system drive means connected to said processor for holding external memory means such as flexible diskettes and/or fixed disks, said external memory means for holding at least one alternative operating system and applications;

customization word means located in said permanent read/write memory for containing bits including a first set of bits to which said initialization routine refers to determine whether said computer system is to be initialized with said default operating system or with an alternative operating system, said customization word means also including a second set of bits to which said initialization routine refers to determine whether said computer system is to be directly initialized in a user selected application, said customization word also including system customization bits to which said initialization routine refers to determine whether said computer system is to be initialized into a customized version of said default operating system through replacement of the default CONFIG.SYS file and/or the default AUTOEXEC.BAT file in said default operating system with an alternate CONFIG.SYS file or alternate AUTOEXEC.BAT file located in said external memory;

manually operated input means connected to said processor for enabling the user of said computer system to change the state of said first set of bits contained in said customization word means to provide for user selection of an operating system into which said computer system may be initialized, said manually operated means further providing the user means for changing the state of said second set of bits to provide for user selection of said application into which said computer system is to be initialized, said manually operated means further provided for enabling the user of said computer system with means for changing the state of said system customization bits to provide for user selection of a customized version of said default operating system, said manually operated input means further including reset means for resetting said system customization bits to provide for initialization of said computer system with said default CONFIG.SYS file and said default AUTOEXEC.BAT file in said default operating system, said reset means including manually operable indicia means such as a specific key or combination of keys on a keyboard for enabling the user of said computer system to change the state of said system configuration bits to provide for the initialization of said computer system with said default files, said reset means for use during initialization in the event that the computer system does not complete initialization due to an error in said alternate CONFIG.SYS and/or said alternate AUTOEXEC.BAT files;

display means connected to said processor for providing a visual display to the user, said visual display including a menu of selections to be made by the user for choosing how said computer system is to be initialized, said menu including a first item for selecting said default operating system, a second item for selecting an alternate operating system on said external memory from a flexible diskette, a third item for selecting an alternate operating system from said fixed disk, a fourth item for selecting from applications (utility software), a fifth item for selecting said alternate CONFIG.SYS file, and a sixth item for selecting said alternate AUTOEXEC.BAT file, said display means further including cursor means for indicating the user'"'"'s selection from said menu.

4. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a read only memory (ROM) coupled to the processor and storing a default routine for initializing the computer system;

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor and storing user editable information for replacing the default routine with, or modifying the default routine into, a user customized routine for initializing the computer system; and

reset means coupled to the processor for replacing the user customized routine with the default routine in response to a manual input during initialization of the computer system.

5. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the reset means replaces the user customized routine with the default routine in response to a manual input at the initiation of initialization of the computer system.

6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the manual input is made by pressing at least one button on a mouse coupled to the processor.

7. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the manual input is made by pressing at least one key on a keyboard coupled to the processor.

8. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a read only memory (ROM) coupled to the processor and storing an operating system therein;

a fixed disk drive coupled to the processor and capable of storing an operating system therein;

a removable disk drive coupled to the processor and capable of storing an operating system on a disk inserted therein; and

means coupled to the processor for initializing the computer system with an operating system stored in one of the ROM, the fixed disk drive, and the removable disk drive, the means including a non-volatile memory storing a user editable priority for selecting the operating system for initializing the computer system from one of the ROM, the fixed disk drive, and the removable disk drive, the user editable priority one selected from;

A. initializing the computer system with the operating system stored in the ROM;

B. initializing the computer system with the operating system stored in the removable disk drive, if any, and if no operating system is stored in the removable disk drive, initializing the computer system with the operating system stored in the ROM; and

C. initializing the computer system with the operating system stored in the removable disk drive, if any, and if no operating system is stored in the removable disk drive, initializing the computer system with the operating system stored in the fixed disk drive; and

reset means coupled to the processor for replacing the user editable priority, with initializing the computer system with the operating system stored in the ROM, in response to a manual input during initialization of the computer system.