System and method to modify CD boot

• US 6,584,561 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Merkin, Stanley L., Dart, Charles R. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/663,976
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

A system and method are presented for restricting a compact disk containing boot software to work only on computer systems for which the boot software has been authorized to operate. The disclosure allows the boot software to run on a particular computer system only if predetermined computer identification criteria are met. An advantage is that, by replacing the boot software stored on the computer system hardware, it provides the flexibility to produce new boot software when required by the introduction of a revised or new operating system. Another advantage is that the verification software'"'"'s identification criteria can be tailored to the needs of the hardware and software vendors over the product life of the computer system hardware without requiring changes to the identification data stored in the computer system hardware.

Claims

1. A method for booting a computer system comprising:

recording identification data identifying the computer system in the computer system;

loading into a non-volatile memory device drive included in the computer system a non-volatile memory device including;

verification software including software code to verify the identification data; and

boot software including software code to boot the computer system;

copying the verification software and the boot software to produce at least one copy of the verification software and at least one copy of the boot software in a memory area of the computer system;

verifying the identification data using a copy of the verification software in the memory area; and

booting the computer system using a copy of the boot software in the memory area if the identification data is verified by a copy of the verification software.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the copying includes;

copying the verification software and the boot software to produce a first copy of the verification software and a first copy of the boot software in a first part of the memory area; and

copying the first copy of the verification software and the first copy of the boot software to produce a second copy of the verification software and a second copy of the boot software in a second part of the memory area;

the verifying uses the second copy of the verification software; and

the booting includes;

copying the second copy of the boot software to produce a third copy of the boot software in the first part of the memory area; and

booting the computer system using the third copy of the boot software.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first part of the memory area is designated for execution of the boot software.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the verifying includes comparing the identification data to verification criteria included in the verification software and in each copy of the verification software produced by copying the verification software.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the identification data identifies the computer system as a member of a particular set of computer systems; and

the verification software verification criteria are satisfied if the identification data identifies the computer system as being a member of the particular set of computer systems.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the identification data uniquely identifies the computer system; and

the verification software verification criteria are satisfied if the identification data identifies the computer system as being the uniquely identified computer system defined by the verification criteria.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-volatile memory device is a compact disk and the non-volatile memory device drive is a compact disk drive.

8. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a non-volatile memory device drive coupled to the processor;

identification data identifying the computer system coupled to the processor;

a non-volatile memory device including;

verification software including software code to verify the identification data; and

boot software including software code to boot the computer system;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including;

means for copying the verification software and the boot software to produce at least one copy of the verification software and at least one copy of the boot software in the memory;

means for verifying the computer system identification data using a copy of the verification software in the memory; and

means for booting the computer system using a copy of the boot software in the memory if the identification data is verified by a copy of the verification software.

9. The computer system of claim 8 wherein:

the means for copying includes;

means for copying the verification software and the boot software to produce a first copy of the verification software and a first copy of the boot software in a first part of the memory; and

means for copying the first copy of the verification software and the first copy of the boot software to produce a second copy of the verification software and a second copy of the boot software in a second part of the memory;

the means for verifying uses the second copy of the verification software; and

the means for booting includes;

means for copying the second copy of the boot software to produce a third copy of the boot software in the first part of the memory; and

means for booting the computer system using the third copy of the boot software.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the first part of the memory is designated for execution of the boot software.

11. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the means for verifying includes means for comparing the identification data to verification criteria included in the verification software and in each copy of the verification software produced by copying the verification software.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein:

the identification data identifies the computer system as a member of a particular set of computer systems; and

the verification software verification criteria are satisfied if the identification data identifies the computer system as being a member of the particular set of computer systems.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein:

the identification data uniquely identifies the computer system; and

the verification software verification criteria are satisfied if the identification data identifies the computer system as being the uniquely identified computer system defined by the verification criteria.

14. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the non-volatile memory device is a compact disk and the non-volatile memory device drive is a compact disk drive.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a computer system coupled to the memory;

identification data identifying the computer system coupled to the memory;

a non-volatile memory device drive; and

a non-volatile memory device including;

verification software including software code to verify the identification data; and

boot software including software code to boot the computer system;

the memory including;

means for copying the verification software and the boot software to produce at least one copy of the verification software and at least one copy of the boot software in the memory;

means for verifying the computer system identification data using a copy of the verification software in the memory; and

means for booting the computer system using a copy of the boot software in the memory if the identification data is verified by a copy of the verification software.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the means for copying includes;

means for copying the verification software and the boot software to produce a first copy of the verification software and a first copy of the boot software in a first part of the memory; and

means for copying the first copy of the verification software and the first copy of the boot software to produce a second copy of the verification software and a second copy of the boot software in a second part of the memory;

the means for verifying uses the second copy of the verification software; and

the means for booting includes;

means for copying the second copy of the boot software to produce a third copy of the boot software in the first part of the memory; and

means for booting the computer system using the third copy of the boot software.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first part of the memory is designated for execution of the boot software.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means for verifying includes means for comparing the identification data to verification criteria included in the verification software and in each copy of the verification software produced by copying the verification software.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

the identification data identifies the computer system as a member of a particular set of computer systems; and

the verification software verification criteria are satisfied if the identification data identifies the computer system as being a member of the particular set of computer systems.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

the identification data uniquely identifies the computer system; and

the verification software verification criteria are satisfied if the identification data identifies the computer system as being the uniquely identified computer system defined by the verification criteria.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the non-volatile memory device is a compact disk and the non-volatile memory device drive is a compact disk drive.