Method for executing embedded diagnostics from operating system-based applications

• US 5,748,877 A
• Filed: 03/08/1995
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Dollahite, Bill, Finch, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Decady, Albert
• Application Number:
  US08/401,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 395/183.01, 395/183.07, 395/183.08, 395/183.12, 395/182.21, 364/267
• US Class Current: 714/36
• 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

Abstract

Method and apparatus for transparently executing embedded PC diagnostics from an OS-based application is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, responsive to a user request to execute diagnostics code embedded in BIOS memory, an OS-based utility of the present invention calls an OS-independent BIOS routine for saving the state of the PC to a hard disk thereof, resetting the PC and initiating execution of the embedded diagnostics code. The embedded diagnostics code runs to completion from PC reset, saving failure and status information to a nonvolatile storage device, and resets the PC once more. The PC boots normally from reset and restores the state of the PC from the hard disk, thereby restoring the OS-based utility, which may then be used to access the saved failure and status information and display, print or otherwise act on the information.

Claims

1. In a computer comprising a hard disk and a memory device for storing BIOS code, a method for executing hardware diagnostics code embedded in said memory device, the method comprising,

saving a state of said computer to said hard disk responsive to a request for execution of said embedded diagnostics code;

automatically resetting said computer without additional user input;

responsive to said resetting, executing said embedded diagnostics code;

storing results of said executing to a nonvolatile storage device of said computer;

automatically resetting said computer a second time without additional user input after said storing; and

responsive to said second resetting, restoring said computer to said saved state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to said first resetting, setting a TEST flag for causing said embedded diagnostics code to be executed responsive to said computer being reset.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, prior to said second resetting, clearing said TEST flag.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying said stored results.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing said stored results.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said request for execution of said embedded diagnostics code is generated from a remote terminal electrically connected to said computer, the method further comprising accessing said stored results with said remote terminal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said saving is executed by an operating system (OS)-independent BIOS function.

8. In a computer comprising a hard disk and a memory device for storing BIOS code, a method for executing hardware diagnostics code embedded in said memory device:

requesting execution of said embedded diagnostics code from an operating system (OS)-based applications program;

responsive to said requesting execution of said embedded diagnostics code, executing a BIOS function for saving a state of said computer to said hard disk;

resetting said computer;

examining a TEST flag of said computer to determine whether said TEST flag is set or clear;

responsive to said TEST flag being set;

executing said embedded diagnostics code;

saving results of said executing to a nonvolatile storage device of said computer;

resetting said computer a second time after said saving;

responsive to said TEST flag being clear;

restoring said computer state from said hard disk.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said executing said BIOS function further comprises setting said TEST flag.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said executing said embedded diagnostics code further comprises clearing said TEST flag.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising displaying said stored diagnostics results.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising printing said stored diagnostics results.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said requesting is initiated from a remote terminal, the method further comprising accessing said stored diagnostics results at said remote terminal.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said requesting comprises making a BIOS function call.

15. Apparatus for performing a series of hardware diagnostics tests in a computer comprising a processor, a hard disk, BIOS memory and a nonvolatile storage device electrically interconnected via at least one bus, the apparatus comprising:

BIOS code for execution by said processor and stored in said BIOS memory, said BIOS code comprising code for implementing an operating system (OS)-independent function for executing a suspend-to-disk (S2D) operation to save a state of said computer responsive to a request for performance of said hardware diagnostics tests, setting a TEST flag, and resetting said computer;

diagnostics code for execution by said processor and stored in said BIOS memory, said diagnostics code comprising code for performing said hardware diagnostics tests, storing results of said hardware diagnostics tests in said nonvolatile storage device, clearing said TEST flag and resetting said computer a second time after said storing;

said BIOS code further comprising code for execution by said processor examining said TEST flag responsive to said computer being reset, executing said diagnostics code if said examined TEST flag is set, and executing a resume-from-disk (RFD) operation to restore said saved computer state if said examined TEST flag is clear.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising OS-based utility code executable by said processor for calling said OS-independent function responsive to a user-initiated request for performance of said hardware diagnostics tests.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising OS-based utility code executable by said processor for accessing said stored test results.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a printer connected to said computer system for printing said stored test results.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a display for displaying said stored test results.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a remote terminal electrically connected to said computer for requesting performance of said hardware diagnostics tests and accessing said test results.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said BIOS memory is a read-only memory.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said BIOS memory is a flash memory.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said BIOS memory is an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

24. In a computer comprising a hard disk and a memory device for storing BIOS code, an apparatus for executing hardware diagnostics code embedded in said memory device, the apparatus comprising:

means responsive to a request for execution of said embedded diagnostics code for saving a state of said computer to said hard disk and resetting said computer;

means responsive to said resetting for initiating execution of said embedded diagnostics code;

means for storing results of said executing to a nonvolatile storage device of said computer;

means for resetting said computer a second time subsequent to said storing; and

means responsive to said second resetting for restoring said computer to said saved state.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said means for saving and resetting further comprises means for setting a TEST flag to cause said embedded diagnostics code to be executed responsive to said computer being reset.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said means for initiating execution further comprises means for clearing said TEST flag.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising means for displaying said stored results.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising means for printing said stored results.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said request for execution of said embedded diagnostics code is generated from a remote terminal electrically connected to said computer, the apparatus further comprising means for accessing said stored results using said remote terminal.

30. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said means for saving and resetting comprises an operating system (OS)-independent BIOS function.