Abstract: In a system wherein a peripheral computer is utilized to lighten the load on a central computer or to perform a special function which cannot be performed by the central computer, method and apparatus is provided whereby the central computer can be utilized to program the peripheral computer. A volatile memory is programmed by the central computer and then the volatile memory is switched to the peripheral computer to allow the peripheral computer to run the program set up in the volatile memory to determine if the program is operational. Once the program has been determined to be operational, the program is transferred to a nonvolatile memory which is associated with the peripheral computer system and the program is then available for use in the peripheral computer system.