Disk based bios

• US 5,864,698 A
• Filed: 09/15/1997
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Packard Bell NEC
• Inventors: Gohr, Donald William, Krau, Michael Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavis, John Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/932,808
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 395/652
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and apparatus enables the BIOS to be stored on a mass storage device, such as a hard disk, to enable a computer system to be booted even during conditions of disk failure. A fully functional version of the BIOS, such as a first production version of the BIOS, provided on a non-volatile memory device, such as a MASKED ROM memory device or a one time programmable (OTP) memory device, is used to initially boot the computer system. An upgraded or newer version of the BIOS may be loaded into an unprotected area of the hard disk by way of a floppy disk. Initially, during installation, the system checks to determine if the upgraded version of the BIOS is compatible with the computer system and newer than the BIOS version currently stored in the computer system. If so, the upgraded BIOS is copied to the hard disk and treated like any other file. After the BIOS is copied to the hard disk, the system is rebooted to install the upgraded version of the BIOS. In the event of a disk crash, the fully functional or first production version of the BIOS in the OTP device enables the computer system to be rebooted and diagnostics to be run in order to ascertain the cause of the disk failure. By utilizing a fully functional or first production version of the BIOS stored in an OTP device for initial startup, the production cycle for manufacturing a personal computer can be reduced, as well as providing optimal utilization of OTP devices.

Claims

1. A system for enabling an initial version of a basic input output system (BIOS) stored on a predetermined memory device in a predetermined computer system to be upgraded without removal or reprogramming of the predetermined memory device, the predetermined computer system having a volatile memory and a mass storage device, such as a hard disk drive, the system comprising:

means for booting the computer system using the initial version of the BIOS from the predetermined memory device, wherein the initial version of the BIOS is fully functional for enabling the computer system to be booted to an operational state during a failure of the mass storage device;

means for enabling the storage of an upgraded version of the BIOS on the mass storage device;

means for loading said upgraded BIOS from the mass storage device into predetermined address locations in the volatile memory during predetermined conditions; and

means for enabling the computer system to be automatically rebooted and execute said upgraded BIOS from said predetermined address locations in the volatile memory subsequent to said upgraded BIOS being loaded into the volatile memory.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said upgraded BIOS is stored in a predetermined mass storage device.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said predetermined non-volatile memory device is a MASKED memory device.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes means for determining one or more predetermined characteristics of said first predetermined version of said BIOS and comparing the same with corresponding characteristics of a second predetermined upgraded version of BIOS.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said predetermined characteristics is the manufacturer of said computer system.

6. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said predetermined characteristics is the model number of said computer system.

7. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said predetermined characteristics is the version number of said BIOS.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes means for copying an upgraded version of BIOS from a floppy disk to the mass storage device under predetermined conditions.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, further including means for installing said upgraded version of BIOS.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes means for copying said upgraded version of BIOS from an external device such as a floppy disk to the mass storage device.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes means for rebooting the computer system after said upgraded version of BIOS is copied to said predetermined address location in the volatile memory space.

13. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for disabling at least one interrupt prior to loading said upgraded BIOS into the predetermined address locations.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for enabling the initial version of the BIOS to initiate BIOS execution at said predetermined address locations upon detecting a warm boot.

12. A method for enabling the basic input output system (BIOS) to be updated in a predetermined computer system having a volatile memory and a mass storage device, such as a disk drive, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first predetermined version of BIOS stored in predetermined non-volatile memory, said first predetermined version of BIOS said computer system to be booted to an operational state during conditions of failure of said mass storage device;

(b) providing means for enabling the storage of an upgraded version of BIOS to be copied to the mass storage device under predetermined conditions; and

(d) installing said upgraded version of BIOS in said computer system by loading said upgrade BIOS into the volatile memory at predetermined address locations during predetermined conditions to enable the resident BIOS to cause the computer system to be rebooted and execute said upgraded version of BIOS from said predetermined address locations in said volatile memory subsequent to said upgraded BIOS being loaded into the volatile memory.

15. A method of upgrading basic input output system (BIOS) software in a computer system having a volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a mass storage device, comprising:

providing an initial version of BIOS stored in the non-volatile memory, said initial version of BIOS being capable of enabling the computer system to be booted to a operational state during failure of the mass storage devices;

storing an upgraded version of BIOS on the mass storage device subject to at least one predetermined condition;

storing said upgraded version of BIOS in a memory buffer;

disabling at least one interrupt; and

installing said upgraded version of BIOS into the computer system by transferring said upgraded BIOS from said buffer memory to the volatile memory subsequent to disabling the interrupts.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said initial version of BIOS disables said at least one interrupt.