Abstract: A programmable bootstrap loader device for loading or transferring programs nto the main memory of a computer system includes a processor-peripheral interface for decoding instructions of the computer system and for generating control signals to operate peripheral equipment coupled to the system. An alterable or programmable memory stores a set of instructions which makes up a bootstrap loader program, is not lost when power to the system is shut off. An alterable memory access circuit is coupled between the processor-peripheral interface and the alterable memory to enable an operator to alter discrete instructions of the stored bootstrap loader program.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing information to be used by a data processing system ch employs a mini computer, where the mini computer is incapable of addressing more than a specified maximum number of discrete storage locations. The apparatus includes a plurality of memory modules for providing a number of information storage locations which exceeds the specified maximum number of the mini computer, each memory module including a plurality of memory sections, each memory section for providing a number of information storage locations which does not exceed the specified maximum number. The apparatus further includes a component for generating memory select signals, each of the memory select signals corresponding to a different one of the memory sections.