Abstract: A method and system for multitasking BIOS initialization tasks are disclosed. The BIOS utilizes preemptive multitasking and cooperative multitasking. The preemptive multitasking and the cooperative multitasking increase utilization of the processing power of a processor and ensure higher priority valued tasks are executed with less interruption than lower priority valued tasks. During execution, each task is able to request a particular waiting period.

Abstract: A multi-task boot strap system and method for expediting boot up initialization processes are presented. In one embodiment, a multi-task boot strap method includes accessing interrupt vector table information stored in a non-volatile memory. For example, an interrupt vector table and corresponding interrupt service routine information associated with a system management (SM) bus controller operation are accessed from a read only memory (ROM). A program interrupt controller (PIC) is initialized to interpret the interrupt information from the non-volatile memory. This permits the operation of the system management bus controller to be performed in a multi-tasking environment (e.g., operating the SM bus controller in an interrupt mode). A processor can be configured to retrieve the boot up information (e.g., serial presence detect data) and process interrupts with interrupt service routine information retrieved from non-volatile memory.