Abstract: A Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) secure data management system includes a BIOS that is configured to perform a boot process. At least one memory system is configured to provide a System Management (SM) memory location that is only accessible by the BIOS. A trusted platform module (TPM) includes at least one register and is configured to store sealed first secure data. The TPM is configured to use at least one first value in the at least one register that depends on the boot process to unseal the sealed first secure data to provide unsealed first secure data, and provide that unsealed first secure data to the BIOS for storage in the SM memory location. The BIOS is configured to retrieve the unsealed first secure data from the SM memory location and use the unsealed first secure data to perform a security function.

Abstract: A Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) secure data management system includes a BIOS that is configured to perform a boot process. At least one memory system is configured to provide a System Management (SM) memory location that is only accessible by the BIOS. A trusted platform module (TPM) includes at least one register and is configured to store sealed first secure data. The TPM is configured to use at least one first value in the at least one register that depends on the boot process to unseal the sealed first secure data to provide unsealed first secure data, and provide that unsealed first secure data to the BIOS for storage in the SM memory location. The BIOS is configured to retrieve the unsealed first secure data from the SM memory location and use the unsealed first secure data to perform a security function.

Abstract: A method for supporting pre-boot log in is described herein. The method includes receiving a password, via an operating system of the computer system, selected by a user for use in a pre-boot log in. The method includes determining whether the password can be entered by the user prior to completion of booting of the computer system. If the password cannot be entered by the user prior to completion of the booting, the method includes signaling that the password is unacceptable.

Abstract: In a method for reclaiming space occupied by an expired variable record in a non-volatile record storage, a reclaim state data that includes a state of a reclaim operation is maintained. In addition, the state of the reclaim operation is marked to indicate a progress of the reclaim operation at a plurality of stages of the reclaim operation. The reclaim operation is implemented by sliding, one section at a time, the data in a first direction along the plurality of sections and by sliding, one section at a time, the variable records, excluding the expired variable record, in a second direction along the plurality of sections, to thereby remove the expired variable record.

Abstract: In a method for reclaiming space occupied by an expired variable record in a non-volatile record storage, a reclaim state data that includes a state of a reclaim operation is maintained. In addition, the state of the reclaim operation is marked to indicate a progress of the reclaim operation at a plurality of stages of the reclaim operation. The reclaim operation is implemented by sliding, one section at a time, the data in a first direction along the plurality of sections and by sliding, one section at a time, the variable records, excluding the expired variable record, in a second direction along the plurality of sections, to thereby remove the expired variable record.

Abstract: Code (104) is run in a computer (100) to establish a pre-operating system (OS) environment. Video data is generated in the pre-OS environment for display at a display device (122), where the video data has a first video resolution. A video resolution of the video data is modified to provide a second video resolution, where the video data having the second video resolution is output for display at a display device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method for supporting pre-boot log in pertain to receiving a password selected by a user for use in a pre-boot log in, determining whether the password can be entered by the user prior to completion of booting of the computer system, and if the password cannot be entered by the user prior to completion of the booting, signaling that the password is unacceptable.