Abstract: Method of operating a computer system with a central processing unit and a hard disk system coupled with the central processor, the method comprising the steps of: partitioning the hard disk into at least a bootable partition and a second partition; determining a write protection for the bootable partition; using the second partition as a write cache thereby maintaining the bootable partition; if a write protection is not set, then flushing the write cache to the bootable partition during a shutdown procedure.

Abstract: Method of operating a computer system with a central processing unit and a hard disk system coupled with the central processor, the method comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A system and method are presented for restricting a compact disk containing boot software to work only on computer systems for which the boot software has been authorized to operate. The disclosure allows the boot software to run on a particular computer system only if predetermined computer identification criteria are met. An advantage is that, by replacing the boot software stored on the computer system hardware, it provides the flexibility to produce new boot software when required by the introduction of a revised or new operating system. Another advantage is that the verification software's identification criteria can be tailored to the needs of the hardware and software vendors over the product life of the computer system hardware without requiring changes to the identification data stored in the computer system hardware.

Abstract: A personal computer is BIOS configured to boot from an installed CD-ROM storing multiple operating systems in different partitions of the medium. The computer is initially booted from a user selected or default partition emulating a logical drive. With the original boot partition maintained active, emulation of additional partitions as other drives is performed when needed. This is accomplished in BIOS with multiple device tables, each dynamically associated with a logical drive letter. Hence, the system files found in only the original boot partition remain available to the system when other logical drives are called.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a new partition in a hard disk drive of a computer system and installing software (e.g., system software) into the new partition. The method of the disclosed invention reads a diskette for a unique diskette signature which, if present, indicates that the diskette contains software to be installed in a new partition. If the unique diskette signature is found to be present on a diskette, then a new partition is created on the computer system's hard disk drive. The new partition can be of any size, and the size can, for example, be either fixed based upon predetermined settings or user-selected. After the new partition is created, it is assigned to logical drive 80h, the DOS boot drive. Once assigned to logical drive 80h, the invention boots to the diskette and the partition installation software contained on the diskette is executed. The installation software contained on the diskette then installs the software into the new partition.

Abstract: In a computer operating a bootable CD-ROM or other bootable media having the capability of emulating one or more real drives, BIOS emulation parameters, such as drive number, memory partitioning and mapping are moved from BIOS and stored in a protected region of main memory. Upon a change of media, e.g., hard file, diskette, etc., as the computer undergoes a warm boot with new BIOS emulation parameters to enable DOS to process the change, the protected region of memory is not cleared. This preserves the BIOS emulation parameters which are restored to BIOS for the remainder of the boot sequence.

Abstract: In a data processing system of a type including a basic input/output system (BIOS) circuit for carrying out prescribed functions including a power-on self-test (POST) which not only enables the system memory but checks the system configuration based on device register values, the device register values are stored in a non-volatile memory. A novel POST routine responds not only to change of system configuration determined by comparing device register values with values previously stored in the non-volatile memory, but also any change of state of a cabinet switch indicating that a cover of the cabinet housing the PC has been opened. If there has been a change of system configuration and the cover has not been opened since the last boot, the POST routine signals a device error. However, if the cover has been opened, the change of configuration is presumed intentional, i.e.

Abstract: In a computer system including a video subsystem, a method for storing and displaying a power on graphical image, comprises the steps of: storing a compressed graphical image in a programmable read-only memory (PROM); initializing a power-on self test (POST); decompressing the compressed graphical image;loading the decompressed graphic image into a random access memory (RAM); and displaying the graphical image during the POST. Also in accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for adding a user selected graphic image to a system ROM image, comprises the steps of: searching the Flash image file for the graphical image signature (GIS); locating the actual graphical image data with the graphical image header; reading the new graphical image data; overlaying the old graphical image data into a Flash image file; and recalculating the system ROM checksum.

Abstract: A computer system includes a system processor, an information storage apparatus, at least one booting device from which the computer system can be booted, and a detection apparatus for detecting a computer virus during a boot sequence for the computer system. The information storage apparatus contains information including cyclic redundancy check values for a Master Boot Record and for an operating system selected for booting. These CRC values are computed when the Master boot record and the operating system boot record are known to be free from computer viruses.