Abstract: A system and method of selectively installing software onto a computer system which includes reading a configuration file that contains computer system information, determining an encryption key from data contained in the configuration file, and deciphering data stored on a nonvolatile storage device using the encryption key. The computer system information includes system specific information that may be used to determine whether the computer system was purchased from a particular vendor. In a Windows™ based application, the configuration file includes a BIOS/DOS file that includes computer system specific information and the encryption key is optionally stored in a registry file to provide for repeated uses of the encryption key if more than one data file are being deciphered. In another embodiment, the data file is stored on a World Wide Web page accessible over a global computer network, such as the Internet, to install and decipher encrypted data files stored on a Web server.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided with a BIOS and an baseboard management controller. The baseboard management controller is provided with non-standard functionality that enables the BIOS to request sensor data records of a specific type. Thus the BIOS can ask for specific kinds of sensor data, such as those for memory sensors only. By limiting the amount of data retrieved by the BIOS from the BMC, slow moving traffic between the BIOS and the BMC can be reduced, thereby increasing overall system performance.