Automatic system recovery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for selecting a bootable partition of memory for execution by a computer, comprising:
- a first programmable memory adapted to include a plurality of bootable images, and further comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion; and
a second programmable memory adapted to include status information indicating which one of the plurality of bootable images is selected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system includes system memory, containing BIOS instructions, having multiple bootable partitions and the ability to enable Automatic System Recovery (ASR) protection during an early phase of the boot process. Early ASR allows errors occurring during the boot process to be handled by established ASR techniques. Multiple BIOS partitions allows a user to upgrade and/or test new system routines without the potential of losing the functionality of their existing system.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selecting a bootable partition of memory for execution by a computer, comprising:
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a first programmable memory adapted to include a plurality of bootable images, and further comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion; and a second programmable memory adapted to include status information indicating which one of the plurality of bootable images is selected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for executing a bootable image of memory, comprising:
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a first programmable memory adapted to include a plurality of bootable images, and also comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion; a second programmable memory adapted to include status information indicating which one of the plurality of bootable images is preselected; and a computer processor, operably coupled to the first and second programmable memories, adapted to execute the preselected bootable image. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of executing a bootable image of a memory in a computer system, comprising:
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preselecting one of a plurality of bootable images stored in memory which further comprises a non-programmable boot-block portion; testing the preselected bootable image; executing the preselected bootable image if the preselected bootable image successfully passes the test; and selecting a second bootable image stored in memory if the preselected bootable image fails the test. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of booting a computer system, comprising:
- preselecting one of a plurality of different bootable images stored in memory, said memory further comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion;
testing the preselected bootable image;
executing the preselected bootable image if preselected bootable image successfully passes the test;
selecting a second different bootable image stored in memory if the preselected bootable image fails the test;
testing the second bootable image; and
aborting the boot process if the second bootable image fails the test. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- preselecting one of a plurality of different bootable images stored in memory, said memory further comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion;
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33. A method of booting a computer system, comprising:
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preselecting one of a plurality of different bootable images stored in memory, said memory further comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion; preselecting an early system recovery option; determining if an immediately prior computer system boot operation was successful; and selecting a second bootable image stored in memory if the immediately prior computer system boot operation was not successful. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of booting a computer system, comprising:
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preselecting one of a plurality of bootable images stored in memory;
said memory further comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion;
preselecting an early system recovery option;determining if an immediately prior computer system boot operation was successful; selecting a second bootable image stored in memory if the immediately prior computer system boot operation was not successful; testing the second bootable image after it is selected and before it is executed; and
aborting the boot process if the second bootable image fails the test; and
whereinaborting the boot process includes storing an indicator in a further memory indicating that the computer system boot operation was not successful. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A method of booting a computer system, comprising:
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preselecting one of a plurality of different bootable images stored in first memory, said memory further comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion; preselecting an early system recovery option; determining if an immediately prior computer system boot operation was successful by reading an indicator from a further memory; and selecting a second bootable image stored in said first memory if the immediately prior computer system boot operation was not successful. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A computer system comprising:
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a bus; a processing unit operatively coupled to the bus; a first programmable memory operatively coupled to the bus and adapted to include a plurality of bootable images, said first programmable memory further comprising a non-programmable boot-block portion; and a second programmable memory operatively coupled to the bus and adapted to include status information indicating which one of the plurality of different bootable images is selected for loading at computer system start-up. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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Specification