Abstract: An information handling system includes a processor and an embedded controller. The processor executes operations while the information handling system is in an active power state. The embedded controller communicates with the processor. While the information handling system is in the active power state, the embedded controller detects a trigger event. In response to the trigger event, the embedded controller provides a ping command to the processor. Based on a response to the ping command not being received, the embedded controller determines a processor freeze, stores forensic data associated with the processor freeze, and stores an indication to perform a processor freeze recovery during a next boot operation.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, a visual indicator, and a management controller communicatively coupled to the processor and the visual indicator and configured to perform out of band management of the information handling system, the management controller further configured to, responsive to receiving an indication from the processor that the information handling system is attempting to enter a standby mode and prior to the information handling system entering the standby mode, cause the visual indicator to generate a visual indication that the information handling system is attempting to enter the standby mode.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor and a basic input/output system (BIOS) comprising a program of instructions executable on the processor, the basic input/output system configured to, upon occurrence of a predetermined number of failures to complete a power-on/self-test (POST) of the information handling system: for each particular critical boot variable of the BIOS stored in a memory associated with the BIOS, read a backup variable for the particular critical boot variable, if available, and write a value of the backup variable as the critical boot variable; and attempt to reboot the information handling system with values of the backup variables used for the critical boot variables.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a non-volatile storage device communicatively coupled to a boot processor and an application processor. The boot processor, prior to the execution of a hang sensitive transaction, stores information associated with the hang sensitive transaction at a memory device. The application processor is configured to detect a catastrophic failure of the hang sensitive transaction. In response to the detection of the catastrophic failure, the application processor retrieves the information stored at the memory device and store the information at the non-volatile storage device.

Abstract: Motherboard connector failures can be predicted. An embedded controller can be employed on the motherboard to monitor when devices are connected to and disconnected from the motherboard's connectors. The embedded controller can maintain an event log and connector information in which it counts the number of times a device is connected to/disconnected from a connector. The BIOS can leverage the event log and the connector information to notify an end user to take action to correct or prevent possible corrosion. Training records may also be employed to predict connector failure. The training records can track and maintain baseline and periodic device training attributes. When the periodic training attributes deviate from the baseline training attributes, an end user can be notified to take action to remove corrosion.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor and a basic input/output system (BIOS) comprising a program of instructions executable on the processor, the basic input/output system configured to, upon occurrence of a predetermined number of failures to complete a power-on/self-test (POST) of the information handling system: for each particular critical boot variable of the BIOS stored in a memory associated with the BIOS, read a backup variable for the particular critical boot variable, if available, and write a value of the backup variable as the critical boot variable; and attempt to reboot the information handling system with values of the backup variables used for the critical boot variables.

Abstract: Detecting failures using power consumption profiling, including calibrating, at a first time, a system power profile of an information handling system (IHS), including identifying an initial baseline current value of a backlight power of a display device of the IHS; identifying an initial baseline current value of a timing controller of the IHS; calculating, at a second time, an updated system power profile, including: identifying an updated current value of the backlight power of the display device of the IHS; identifying an updated current value of the timing controller of the IHS; determining whether the updated current value of the backlight power of the display device is within a threshold value of the initial baseline current value of the backlight power of the display device.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for securing hot-pluggable ports, such as USB ports, of an information handling system, by isolating a dedicated controller from the operating system of the information handling system. Devices that are to be allowed to be enabled at the ports are determined. A hash signature is created and saved to verify the devices. The controller and ports are held in reset until the devices are authenticated.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, a visual indicator, and a management controller communicatively coupled to the processor and the visual indicator and configured to perform out of band management of the information handling system, the management controller further configured to, responsive to receiving an indication from the processor that the information handling system is attempting to enter a standby mode and prior to the information handling system entering the standby mode, cause the visual indicator to generate a visual indication that the information handling system is attempting to enter the standby mode.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for securing hot-pluggable ports, such as USB ports, of an information handling system, by isolating a dedicated controller from the operating system of the information handling system. Devices that are to be allowed to be enabled at the ports are determined. A hash signature is created and saved to verify the devices. The controller and ports are held in reset until the devices are authenticated.

Abstract: Motherboard connector failures can be predicted. An embedded controller can be employed on the motherboard to monitor when devices are connected to and disconnected from the motherboard's connectors. The embedded controller can maintain an event log and connector information in which it counts the number of times a device is connected to/disconnected from a connector. The BIOS can leverage the event log and the connector information to notify an end user to take action to correct or prevent possible corrosion. Training records may also be employed to predict connector failure. The training records can track and maintain baseline and periodic device training attributes. When the periodic training attributes deviate from the baseline training attributes, an end user can be notified to take action to remove corrosion.

Abstract: Embodiments of information handling systems (IHSs) and computer-implemented methods are provided herein for testing system memory (or another volatile memory component) of an IHS. In the disclosed embodiments, memory testing is performed automatically: (a) during the pre-boot phase each time a new page of memory is allocated for the first time after a system boot, and (b) during OS runtime each time a read command is received and/or an event is detected. By proactively testing each page of memory, as the page is allocated but before information is stored therein, the systems and methods disclosed herein prevent “bad” memory pages from being used.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor and a basic input/output system configured to, responsive to an occurrence of an exception error, triage among various hardware components of the information handling system to determine existence of any signatures of potential hardware failures, write a database structure to a non-volatile memory including the signatures of potential hardware failures, upon boot of the basic input/output system, enable one or more control methods for hardware failure mitigations associated with the signatures of potential hardware failures, and perform the mitigations during execution of an operating system of the information handling system.

Abstract: Embodiments of information handling systems (IHSs) and computer-implemented methods are provided herein for testing system memory (or another volatile memory component) of an IHS. In the disclosed embodiments, memory testing is performed automatically: (a) during the pre-boot phase each time a new page of memory is allocated for the first time after a system boot, and (b) during OS runtime each time a read command is received and/or an event is detected. By proactively testing each page of memory, as the page is allocated but before information is stored therein, the systems and methods disclosed herein prevent “bad” memory pages from being used.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor and a basic input/output system configured to, responsive to an occurrence of an exception error, triage among various hardware components of the information handling system to determine existence of any signatures of potential hardware failures, write a database structure to a non-volatile memory including the signatures of potential hardware failures, upon boot of the basic input/output system, enable one or more control methods for hardware failure mitigations associated with the signatures of potential hardware failures, and perform the mitigations during execution of an operating system of the information handling system.

Abstract: A method may include, during a boot of an information handling system, detecting a soft failure associated with a read request to storage media of the information handling system wherein the soft failure is not visible to an operating system of the information handling system and in response to detecting the soft failure, rewriting a sector of the storage media affected by the soft failure to correct the soft failure.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a non-volatile storage device communicatively coupled to a boot processor and an application processor. The boot processor, prior to the execution of a hang sensitive transaction, stores information associated with the hang sensitive transaction at a memory device. The application processor is configured to detect a catastrophic failure of the hang sensitive transaction. In response to the detection of the catastrophic failure, the application processor retrieves the information stored at the memory device and store the information at the non-volatile storage device.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, an information handling resource communicatively coupled to the processor, and an electrical margining module communicatively coupled to the processor. The electrical margining module may be configured to, during a boot of the information handling system, determine whether a condition has occurred for electrically re-margining the information handling resource, and responsive to determining that the condition has occurred, determine a new receiver equalization setting for receiving signals from the information handling resource and determine a new driver pre-emphasis setting for transmitting signals to the information handling resource.

Abstract: A method may include, during a boot of an information handling system, detecting a soft failure associated with a read request to storage media of the information handling system wherein the soft failure is not visible to an operating system of the information handling system and in response to detecting the soft failure, rewriting a sector of the storage media affected by the soft failure to correct the soft failure.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, an information handling resource communicatively coupled to the processor, and an electrical margining module communicatively coupled to the processor. The electrical margining module may be configured to, during a boot of the information handling system, determine whether a condition has occurred for electrically re-margining the information handling resource, and responsive to determining that the condition has occurred, determine a new receiver equalization setting for receiving signals from the information handling resource and determine a new driver pre-emphasis setting for transmitting signals to the information handling resource.