Abstract: A mechanism for creating secure storage for firmware for a computing device. A designated secure storage area holding firmware that is executable prior to a loading of an operating system for the computing device is created during a build of a ROM image. The creating marks one or more files as requiring encrypted storage and the one or marked files are combined during the build into the designated secure storage area. The designated secure storage area is located outside the ROM image and includes, during the build of the ROM image, a reference to the designated secure storage area in a build of firmware placed in the ROM image. The reference includes a flag indicating a current encrypted status of the designated secure storage area.

Abstract: A mechanism for creating and accessing a secure storage area for firmware that stores a “Virtual ROM” module reference or pointer in the actual ROM that includes a unique identifier for the virtual ROM module to be retrieved is discussed. The actual ROM image also contains a generated unique identifier for the whole machine. In retrieving a Virtual ROM module, both the module identifier and the machine identifier are used. Once retrieved, the module is validated using a message digest stored in the Virtual ROM module reference. If required, the Virtual ROM module is then decrypted using a secret key that is stored elsewhere in the actual ROM. Updates to the Virtual ROM module are made in memory by pre-boot code. At a point in time when these updates are complete, the Virtual ROM module is written back out to the location from which it was retrieved.

Abstract: A method for performing a quick boot and a general boot at a basic input output system (BIOS) stage is described. A computer is powered on. An embedded controller firmware or a BIOS determines whether a quick boot key is pressed. If the quick boot key is not pressed, a boot flag is changed from Quick Boot to General Boot. If the quick boot key is pressed, the BIOS determines whether the boot flag is set to Quick Boot. If it is determined that the boot flag is set to Quick Boot, an initialization of drivers preset by the quick boot is performed, and uninitialized drivers are initialized at a stage when an operating system is started. If it is determined that the boot flag is set to General Boot, an initialization of all drivers is performed.

Abstract: A method for updating a keyboard controller in a notebook computer is introduced. The notebook computer has a keyboard controller which further includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM). Firstly, the updating method has the keyboard controller receive a command for updating the firmware. Then, a keyboard status and a command byte of the keyboard controller are stored into the RAM. The method has the keyboard controller enter into an idle status and/oror proceed to update the ROM. Further, the method determines whether or not the ROM has been completely updated. If the ROM has not been completely updated, the method will wait until the ROM is completely updated. Otherwise, a shutdown identifier is set and the keyboard controller is reset. Thereby, the notebook computer system will not be shut down and the associated keyboard and mouse can still function after the firmware for the keyboard controller is updated under the Windows environment.

Abstract: A method for updating a keyboard controller in a notebook computer is introduced. The notebook computer has a keyboard controller which further includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM). Firstly, the updating method has the keyboard controller receive a command for updating the firmware. Then, a keyboard status and a command byte of the keyboard controller are stored into the RAM. The method has the keyboard controller enter into an idle status and/oror proceed to update the ROM. Further, the method determines whether or not the ROM has been completely updated. If the ROM has not been completely updated, the method will wait until the ROM is completely updated. Otherwise, a shutdown identifier is set and the keyboard controller is reset. Thereby, the notebook computer system will not be shut down and the associated keyboard and mouse can still function after the firmware for the keyboard controller is updated under the Windows environment.

Abstract: A method for updating a basic input/output system (BIOS) in a notebook computer is introduced. The notebook computer includes a keyboard controller and a read only memory (ROM) storing the BIOS. A foreign computer is utilized to update the BIOS of the notebook computer. The method includes a step of resetting the keyboard controller, a step of determining whether or not the BIOS needs to be updated, a step of initializing the keyboard controller for preparing the ROM to be updated in the case that the BIOS needs to be updated, a step of the keyboard controller handshaking a foreign computer for receiving a command and a data and updating the ROM, and a step of determining through the foreign computer whether or not the ROM has been completely updated. If the ROM has been completely updated, then the method goes back to the step of resetting the keyboard controller.