Re-loading operating systems

• US 6,948,099 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Tallam, Madhukar
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHU, GABRIEL L
• Application Number:
  US09/365,093
• Time in Patent Office: 2,244 Days
• Field of Search: 714/6, 714/3, 714/24, 714/21, 714/23, 714/38
• US Class Current: 714/38.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures

Abstract

An operating system may be stored in a reprogrammable memory. The memory may store a primary operating system and recovery operating system. The recovery operating system may automatically obtain a new operating system to replace a corrupted or outdated operating system. In some embodiments, this avoids the need to call upon the user to load the new operating system through a disk drive and to undertake a time consuming installation procedure.

Claims

1. A memory comprising:

a first portion storing a primary operating system; and

a second portion storing a recovery operating system and instructions adapted to obtain a new operating system from outside said memory.

2. A memory comprising:

a first portion storing a primary operating system;

a second portion storing a recovery operating system and instructions adapted to obtain a new operating system from outside said memory; and

wherein said memory is a FLASH memory.

3. The memory of claim 2 further storing the basic input/output system.

4. The memory of claim 2 wherein the kernel for said recovery operating system is smaller than the kernel for said primary operating system.

5. A processor-based system comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a reprogrammable memory coupled to said microprocessor, said reprogrammable memory storing a primary operating system and a recovery operating system adapted to obtain a new operating system from outside said processor-based system.

6. A processor-based system comprising:

a microprocessor;

a reprogrammable memory coupled to said microprocessor, said reprogrammable memory storing a primary operating system and a recovery operating system adapted to obtain a new operating system from outside said processor-based system; and

a system memory and a FLASH memory storing said primary operating system and said recovery operating system.

7. The processor-based system of claim 6 wherein said FLASH memory also stores the basic input/output system.

8. The processor-based system of claim 7 further storing an application program adapted to obtain a new primary operating system by accessing a network.