System and method for loading diagnostics routines from disk

• US 5,463,766 A
• Filed: 07/14/1993
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Schieve, Eric, Finch, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Canney, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US08/091,498
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 398/700, 398/578, 371/16.1, 371/18, 371/21.1, 371/27
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and method for loading diagnostic routines images from disk for execution in a computer system. The method comprises the steps of (1) executing a boot loading routine stored in non-volatile memory within the computer system, the boot loading routine providing an environment in lieu of an operating system of the computer system within which to execute diagnostic routines, the boot loading routine including a disk access routine, (2) retrieving a diagnostic routine stored as an image on a disk into video random access memory ("RAM") with the disk access routine and (3) executing the retrieved diagnostic routine under control of the boot loading routine. The present invention, in its preferred embodiment, allows relatively large diagnostic routines to be stored in the form of images on a disk drive in the computer system and retrieved, as required, into video RAM for execution, without requiring the computer'"'"'s operating system to function.

Claims

1. A method of loading diagnostic routines in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

executing a boot loading routine stored in non-volatile memory within said computer system, said boot loading routine providing an environment in lieu of an operating system of said computer system within which to execute diagnostic routines, said boot loading routine including a disk access routine;

retrieving a diagnostic routine stored as an image on a disk into video random access memory (RAM) with said disk access routine; and

executing said retrieved diagnostic routine under control of said boot loading routine.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said boot loading routine is functional in a pre-boot state and is independent of said operating system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of verifying an integrity of information in said retrieved diagnostic routine with said boot loading routine prior to performing said step of retrieving.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of testing a functioning of a video subsystem of said computer system to determine whether said video subsystem is capable of operating in conjunction with said diagnostics programs prior to performing said step of retrieving.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a presence of a video monitor of said computer system prior to performing said step of retrieving.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of retrieving a subsequent diagnostic routine image following execution of said retrieved diagnostic routine.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer system is a personal computer.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said non-volatile memory is electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said disk is a hard disk.

10. A system for providing diagnostic routines for use in a computer, comprising:

a boot loading routine stored in non-volatile memory within said computer and including a disk access routine, said boot loading routine providing an environment in lieu of an operating system of said computer within which to execute diagnostic routines; and

a diagnostic routine stored as an image on a disk, said disk access routine retrieving said diagnostic routine into video random access memory (RAM), said boot loading routine initiating execution of said retrieved diagnostic routine.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said boot loading routine is functional in a pre-boot state and is independent of said operating system.

12. The system as recited in claim 10 further comprising a microprocessor for executing said boot loading routine and said retrieved diagnostic routine.

13. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said computer comprises a video subsystem having a monitor and said video RAM, said video subsystem allowing said computer to communicate with a user.

14. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said disk contains a plurality of diagnostic routine images.

15. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said boot loading routine includes a routine for verifying an integrity of information in said retrieved diagnostic routine.

16. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said boot loading routine includes a routine for testing a functioning of a video subsystem of said computer to determine whether said video subsystem is capable of communicating with a user.

17. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said boot loading routine retrieves a subsequent selected diagnostic routine image following execution of said retrieved diagnostic routine.

18. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said computer is a personal computer.

19. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said non-volatile memory is electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

20. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said disk is a hard disk.

21. In a personal computer having a microprocessor, video random access memory (RAM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a disk controller coupled to a disk drive and a bus coupling said microprocessor to said RAM, said EEPROM and said disk controller, a method of performing diagnostic routines, comprising the steps of:

executing, with said microprocessor, a boot loading routine stored in said EEPROM, said boot loading routine providing an elemental operating system to support performance of diagnostic routines and containing a disk access routine; and

retrieving, with said disk access routine, an initial portion of diagnostic routine code stored as an image on a disk in said disk drive, said initial portion loaded into said video RAM for execution by said microprocessor, said boot loading routine retrieving and loading a subsequent portion of diagnostic routine code into said video RAM following execution of said initial portion.

22. The personal computer as recited in claim 21 further comprising the step of verifying an integrity of information in said diagnostic routine code with said boot loading routine prior to performing said step of retrieving.

23. The personal computer as recited in claim 21 further comprising the step of testing a functioning of a video subsystem of said personal computer to determine whether said video subsystem is capable of operating in conjunction with said diagnostic routine code prior to performing said step of retrieving.

24. The personal computer as recited in claim 21 further comprising the step of determining a presence of a video monitor of said personal computer prior to performing said step of retrieving.

25. The personal computer as recited in claim 21 wherein said disk drive is a hard disk drive.

26. A computer memory subsystem in a computer system, comprising:

flash read-only memory (ROM) containing a boot loading routine, said boot loading routine providing an environment in lieu of an operating system of said computer system within which to execute diagnostic routines, said boot loading routine including a disk access routine;

a disk, coupled to said flash ROM, for storing a diagnostic routine as an image;

and

video random access memory (RAM) for storing a retrieved diagnostic routine, said boot loading routine storing said retrieved diagnostic routine in said video RAM and causing execution of said retrieved diagnostic routine.

27. The subsystem as recited in claim 26 wherein said computer system comprises a microprocessor for executing said boot loading routine and said retrieved diagnostic routine.

28. The subsystem as recited in claim 26 wherein said computer system comprises a video subsystem having a monitor and said video RAM, said video subsystem allowing said computer to communicate with a user.

29. The subsystem as recited in claim 26 wherein said disk contains a plurality of diagnostic routine images.

30. The subsystem as recited in claim 26 wherein said boot loading routine includes a routine for verifying an integrity of information in said retrieved diagnostic routine.

31. The subsystem as recited in claim 26 wherein said boot loading routine includes a routine for testing a functioning of a video subsystem of said computer system to determine whether said video subsystem is capable of communicating with a user.

32. The subsystem as recited in claim 26 wherein said boot loading routine retrieves a subsequent selected diagnostic routine image following execution of said retrieved diagnostic routine.

33. The subsystem as recited in claim 26 wherein said computer system is a personal computer.

34. The subsystem as recited in claim 26 wherein said disk is a hard disk.

35. A method of loading diagnostic programs in a personal computer, comprising the steps of:

verifying an integrity of information in a diagnostic routines stored as an image on a disk in a disk drive within said personal computer;

testing a functioning of a video subsystem of said personal computer to determine whether said video subsystem is capable of operating in conjunction with said diagnostic programs;

determining a presence of a video monitor of said personal computer;

retrieving a selected one of said diagnostic routine images from said disk;

storing said retrieved diagnostic routine in video random access memory (RAM) within said video subsystem;

executing said retrieved diagnostic routine; and

retrieving a subsequent selected diagnostic routine image following execution of said retrieved diagnostic routine, said boot loading routine performing said testing, determining, retrieving, storing and executing steps.

36. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein said non-volatile memory is electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

37. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein said disk is a hard disk.

38. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein said personal computer further comprises a keyboard allowing a user to interact with said diagnostic routine.

39. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein said method of loading diagnostics programs is initiated by pressing a reset button on said personal computer twice within a predetermined period of time.

40. A personal computer, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a video subsystem having a monitor and video random access memory (RAM), said video subsystem allowing said personal computer to communicate with a user;

a disk in a disk drive within said personal computer, said disk storing a plurality of diagnostic routine images; and

non-volatile memory, said non-volatile memory containing a boot loading routine, said boot loading routine providing an elemental operating system to support performance of diagnostics on said personal computer and containing;

a routine for verifying an integrity of information in said plurality of diagnostic routine images;

a routine for testing a functioning of said video subsystem to determine whether said video subsystem is capable of communicating with said user;

a routine for retrieving a selected one of said diagnostic routine images;

a routine for storing said retrieved diagnostic routine in said video RAM within said video subsystem; and

a routine for executing said retrieved diagnostic routine, said retrieving routine retrieving a subsequent selected diagnostic routine image following execution of said retrieved diagnostic routine.

41. The personal computer as recited in claim 40 wherein said non-volatile memory is electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

42. The personal computer as recited in claim 40 wherein said disk drive is a hard disk drive.

43. The personal computer as recited in claim 40 wherein said personal computer further comprises a keyboard allowing a user to interact with said retrieved diagnostic routine.

44. The personal computer as recited in claim 40 wherein said boot loading routine is invoked by pressing a reset button on said personal computer twice within a predetermined period of time.