Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending initialization of a personal data processing system using multiple levels of bootstrap code is provided. The first level of bootstrap code is stored in a non-volatile memory device associated with a processor of the data processing system. The second level of code is stored on a system partition or other section of a fixed disk memory storage device. The second level of bootstrap code is user configurable, and also provides access to a file system. A first initialization procedure is performed by executing the first level of bootstrap code, where the first initialization procedure performs a memory check self-test of the data processing system and conditions the data processing system for a program load. The second level of bootstrap code is then executed performing a second initialization procedure which performs specific initialization steps according to the configuration of the second level of bootstrap code.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a processor for processing information; a processor bus, a first expansion bus; a host bridge for coupling the processor bus to the first expansion bus; a second expansion bus; a first bus bridge for coupling the first expansion bus to the second expansion bus; a plurality of input/output (I/O) devices coupled to the second expansion bus; and a first storage device for storing a first set of configuration data for the plurality of I/O devices; a second storage device for storing additional configuration data. The first storage device includes a register for storing a pointer for pointing to addresses in the first storage device for forwarding addresses sent from the processor to the I/O devices.