Setting a system indication in response to a user when execution of the system setup program is desired

• US 6,986,034 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Tyner, Benjamen G., Wong, Andy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): SURYAWANSHI, SURESH
• Application Number:
  US10/120,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20030196079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 713/1, 713/100, 714/2, 714/15, 714/25, 714/30, 714/36
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of executing a system setup program in an information handling system which includes setting a system setup indication during operation of the information handling system. The system setup indication is persistent and reboots the information handling system. The system setup indication indicates a desire for the information handling system to execute the system setup program and executes the system setup program if the system setup indication so indicates. The invention relates to an information handling system which includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a basic input output system (BIOS) stored on the memory. The memory includes a volatile portion and a non-volatile portion. The non-volatile portion includes a storage location for a system setup indication. The basic input output system (BIOS) examines the system setup indication during booting of the information handling system and determines whether the information handling system should execute a system setup program. Further, the invention relates to an apparatus for executing a system setup program in an information handling system. The information handling system includes setting a system setup indication during operation of the information handling system. The system setup indication is persistent and reboots the information handling system. The system setup indication indicates a desire for the information handling system to execute the system setup program and executes the system setup program if the system setup indication so indicates.

Claims

1. A method of executing a system setup program in an information handling system comprising

setting a system setup indication in response to a user during operation of the information handling system, the system setup indication being persistent, the system setup indication indicating whether to execute the system setup program;

rebooting the information handling system;

determining whether the system setup indication indicates a desire for the information handling system to execute the system setup program; and

,

executing the system setup program if the system setup indication so indicates, the executing the system setup program enabling changing setup options of the information handling system, the system setup program being executed prior to execution of an operating system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

clearing the persistent system setup indication after the system setup program executes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein

the determining is performed by a basic input output system (BIOS) of the information handling system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein

the determining is performed during a power on self test (POST) operation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein

the system setup indication is a force setup flag.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein

the system setup indication is stored in non-volatile memory of the information handling system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein

the system setup indication is set via software by an operating system executing on the information handling system.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein

the operating system causes the rebooting upon setting of the system setup indication.

9. An information handling system comprising

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including a volatile portion and a non-volatile portion, the non-volatile portion including a storage location for a system setup indication, the system setup indication indicating whether to execute a system setup program;

a basic input output system (BIOS) stored on the memory, the BIOS examining the system setup indication during booting of the information handling system to determine whether the information handling system should execute the system setup program, executing the system setup program enabling changing setup options of the information handling system, the system setup program being executed prior to execution of an operating system, the operating system setting the system setup indication in response to a user when execution of the system setup program is desired.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein:

the BIOS clears the persistent system setup indication after the system setup program executes.

11. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein

the BIOS examines the system setup indication during a power on self test (POST) operation.

12. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein

the system setup indication is a force setup flag.

13. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein

the system setup indication is stored in the non-volatile memory portion of the memory.

14. An apparatus for executing a system setup program in an information handling system comprising

means for setting a system setup indication in response to a user during operation of the information handling system, the system setup indication being persistent, the system setup indication indicating whether to execute the system setup program;

means for rebooting the information handling system;

means for determining whether the system setup indication indicates a desire for the information handling system to execute the system setup program; and

,

means for executing the system setup program if the system setup indication so indicates, the system setup program enabling changing setup options of the information handling system, the system setup program being executed prior to execution of an operating system.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

means for clearing the persistent system setup indication after the system setup program executes.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

the means for determining includes a basic input output system (BIOS) of the information handling system.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

the means for determining operates during a power on self test (POST) operation.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

the system setup indication is a force setup flag.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

the system setup indication is stored in non-volatile memory of the information handling system.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

the system setup indication is set via software by an operating system executing on the information handling system.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein

the operating system causes the rebooting upon setting of the system setup indication.