Abstract: Methods and apparatus to facilitate fast restarts in processor systems are disclosed. An example processor restart method disclosed herein includes recording a log of pre-boot initialization actions, and replaying a portion of the log during subsequent processor restarts to shorten pre-boot initialization time. The example processor restart method disclosed herein may further include creating a log index table for easier referral to portions of the log, storing the log and the log index table in non-volatile memory, using the log index table to reorder the replaying of the log, and reordering the replay of the log to initialize the video graphics adapter earlier in a processor restart sequence.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of configuring a computer system. During a runtime stage or a preboot stage, a device driver for a configurable device exports a set of the configuration information that is resident the buffer during the preboot stage of the computer system. The configuration information is retrieved. The configuration information for said configurable device includes information enabling a callback operation, which allows an operator to dynamically interact with said configurable device. A homepage including a configuration menu for said configurable device is generated and presented to the operator to make configuration selections. The homepage is generated based on the information contained in the buffer. The configuration selections are communicated to the device driver. The configuration selections for said configurable device in a nonvolatile storage module included within said computer system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to facilitate fast restarts in processor systems are disclosed. An example processor restart method disclosed herein includes recording a log of pre-boot initialization actions, and replaying a portion of the log during subsequent processor restarts to shorten pre-boot initialization time. The example processor restart method disclosed herein may further include creating a log index table for easier referral to portions of the log, storing the log and the log index table in non-volatile memory, using the log index table to reorder the replaying of the log, and reordering the replay of the log to initialize the video graphics adapter earlier in a processor restart sequence.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a system and method relating to shrinking, or optimizing, executable images resulting is a savings of storage space. In at least one embodiment, the present invention removes unnecessary fields, or information, from an executable image header before storing the image on a flash for a target platform. The removal of information that is irrelevant to the target platform allows the executable to take up less space on the flash memory. When loaded, the image is interpreted based on the optimized header information. In an embodiment, the image may be further compressed by known methods, to save additional space. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing memory usage. Whether a file stored on a user/hardware accessible portion of a non-volatile memory device in a computing system has been accessed within a predetermined period is determined. If the file has not been accessed within the pre-determined period, the file is purged to enable the recovery of storage space in the user/hardware accessible portion of the non-volatile memory device being occupied by unused or infrequently accessed files.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of configuring a computer system. During a runtime stage or a preboot stage, a device driver for a configurable device exports a set of the configuration information that is resident the buffer during the preboot stage of the computer system. The configuration information is retrieved. The configuration information for said configurable device includes information enabling a callback operation, which allows an operator to dynamically interact with said configurable device. A homepage including a configuration menu for said configurable device is generated and presented to the operator to make configuration selections. The homepage is generated based on the information contained in the buffer. The configuration selections are communicated to the device driver. The configuration selections for said configurable device in a nonvolatile storage module included within said computer system.