Abstract: Information handling system functions performed with an information handling system operating system in a quiescent state, such as ROM flashing, diagnostics BIOS warning screens and hard disc drive backup, are supported through an operating system quiescent state initiated by a simulated power down state which leaves one or more processing components of the information handling system operational. For instance, an operating system utility sets a BIOS flag and pointer so that an ACPI S3 power down state places the operating system in a quiescent state but an S3 suspend call from the operating system is intercepted and a quiescent state function called by the BIOS. Recovery of the operating system from the quiescent state is initiated with the BIOS so that a reboot of the information handling system is avoided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for implementing S2D functions using a dedicated S2D partition of a fixed, minimum size, in combination with an extended partition of adjustable size are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a hierarchy of pointers is constructed for indicating the location of the blocks of disk space comprising the extended partition, which may be located in a native OS partition of the hard disk, some other available space on the hard disk, or both, and may or may not comprise contiguous hard disk space. A root block stored in the S2D partition comprises a plurality of pointers, each of which indicate the location of a pointer block. Each pointer block comprises a plurality of pointers, each of which point to a data block.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for implementing a checksum technique for verifying the integrity of hard disk space reserved for use in implementing S2D capabilities is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a root block stored in a dedicated, fixed-size S2D partition comprises a plurality of entries each of which contains a pointer to the location of a corresponding pointer block located and a checksum for use in verifying the integrity of the pointer block. Similarly, each pointer block comprises a plurality of entries each of which contains a pointer to the location of a corresponding data block and a checksum for use in verifying the integrity of the data block.