Abstract: A method and system for automated support in a computer system. The computer system has a service button, and pressing of the service button causes a bit to be set in a register in the chip set. Setting of the bit generates an interrupt signal that is received and processed in a manner dependent on whether the computer system is in a booting state or a non-booting state. If the computer system is in a booting state, the bit is checked at a predetermined point in the booting sequence, and if set, a service application is initiated at that time. If the computer is not in a booting state, a second interrupt is generated, causing the service application to be initiated. A timer is initiated substantially with pressing of the service button, and if the service application reaches a predetermined point before the timer reaches a predetermined value, it will clear the timer. If not, the system will follow a predetermined reboot protocol.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing information handling systems analyzes orders for information handling system configurations to select one or more configurations for imaging. For instance, frequently ordered configurations or configurations that are time consuming to manufacture are selected for imaging. When an information handling system having a selected configuration is manufactured, an image of the manufactured information handling system is saved in an image cache. Subsequent information handling systems having the selected configuration are manufactured by copying the saved image to the information handling system, thus reducing the time for loading software onto the information handling system.

Abstract: A method and system for automated support in a computer system. The computer system has a service button, and pressing of the service button causes a bit to be set in a register in the chip set. Setting of the bit generates an interrupt signal that is received and processed in a manner dependent on whether the computer system is in a booting state or a non-booting state. If the computer system is in a booting state, the bit is checked at a predetermined point in the booting sequence, and if set, a service application is initiated at that time. If the computer is not in a booting state, a second interrupt is generated, causing the service application to be initiated. A timer is initiated substantially with pressing of the service button, and if the service application reaches a predetermined point before the timer reaches a predetermined value, it will clear the timer. If not, the system will follow a predetermined reboot protocol.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing information handling systems analyzes orders for information handling system configurations to select one or more configurations for imaging. For instance, frequently ordered configurations or configurations that are time consuming to manufacture are selected for imaging. When an information handling system having a selected configuration is manufactured, an image of the manufactured information handling system is saved in an image cache. Subsequent information handling systems having the selected configuration are manufactured by copying the saved image to the information handling system, thus reducing the time for loading software onto the information handling system.

Abstract: A method and system for automated support in a computer system. The computer system has a service button, and pressing of the service button causes a bit to be set in a register in the chip set. Setting of the bit generates an interrupt signal that is received and processed in a manner dependent on whether the computer system is in a booting state or a non-booting state. If the computer system is in a booting state, the bit is checked at a predetermined point in the booting sequence, and if set, a service application is initiated at that time. If the computer is not in a booting state, a second interrupt is generated, causing the service application to be initiated. A timer is initiated substantially with pressing of the service button, and if the service application reaches a predetermined point before the timer reaches a predetermined value, it will clear the timer. If not, the system will follow a predetermined reboot protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for disabling and re-enabling peripheral devices (PDs) in a computer system is disclosed. The system includes a CPU, a host bus coupled to the CPU, a host-bus-to-peripheral-device-bus (HB/PDB) bridge coupled to the host bus, at least one PD, at least one peripheral device bus coupling the HB/PDB bridge and at least one PD, and a device, typically in the form of a digital gate, for selectively disabling and re-enabling at least one PD. The disclosed method operates in connection with a computer system having a CPU, a HB/PDB bridge coupled to the CPU and capable of sending a device-configuration-space-access-signal (DCSAS) to the DCSAS input pin of a target PD when attempting an access operation, such as a read or a write operation, on the target PD, and one or more system I/O registers having a CONFIG ENABLE bit that reflects a user's request to disable or re-enable a PD.

Abstract: A system and method for disabling and re-enabling PCI-compliant devices in a computer system is disclosed. The system includes a CPU, a host bus coupled to the CPU, a PCI/Host bridge coupled to the host bus, one or more PCI-compliant devices, a PCI bus coupling the PCI/Host bridge and the PCI-compliant devices, and a device, typically in the form of a digital gate, for selectively disabling or re-enabling one or more of the PCI-compliant devices. The disclosed method operates in connection with a computer system having a CPU, a PCI/Host bridge coupled to the CPU and capable of sending an IDSEL signal to the IDSEL input pin of a target PCI-compliant device when attempting a read or write operation on the target PCI-compliant device, and one or more system I/O registers having a CONFIG ENABLE bit that reflects a user's request to disable or re-enable a PCI-compliant device.