JP2000222183A - Initial value setting system for personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an initial value setting system of a computer capable of setting the initial value of a desired environment even without developing a BIOS.ROM every time in the case of changing the initial value data (default data) of the environment setting of a personal computer. SOLUTION: In this initial value setting system of a personal computer, the initial value data for the environment setting stored in a BIOS memory are transferred to a nonvolatile memory, the initial value data after the transfer are partially rewritten and the initial value for the environment setting is set. In this case, the BIOS memory is constituted of a rewritable read only memory 10 and a part of the initial value data stored in the rewritable read only memory is made rewritable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for setting an initial value in an environment setting at the time of starting a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) is started, an environment setting is performed by a power-on self test (hereinafter, referred to as POST) stored in a BIOS ROM (basic input / output system, read-only memory). It is a general method to set an initial value for setting.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a part for setting the environment in a conventional personal computer, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of BIOS setting items, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a power saving menu as an example that can be set by a user.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a personal computer PC includes a control main body 110, a keyboard 120, and a display 130. The control body 110
BIOS / R storing data for initial value setting at the time of factory shipment (default data) and a program for POST
OM 114, a power supply 115 such as a commercial power supply, and C
PU (Central Control Unit) 116, a non-volatile memory 117 including a RAM for storing the initial value setting data and data partially rewritten by a user as desired, and a backup battery 118 for the non-volatile memory 117 And an operation memory (RAM) 119.

The initial value setting data stored in the BIOS ROM 114 includes, for example, a control program for an input / output device such as a keyboard and a display, and a control program for a display language (see FIG. 4; in this case, "Japanese"). Is set). As the user setting data stored in the non-volatile memory 117, for example, there is a power saving operation program set according to the user's preference (see FIG. 5).

Next, the operation of the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. When the power supply 115 is turned on, the control body 110
If a new initial value is not to be loaded to set the environment of the personal computer (step S101: NO), the BIOS / RO
Under the control of the POST program stored in M114, the environment is set based on the environment setting data stored in the nonvolatile memory 117 (step S10).
3).

When loading an initial value into the environment setting of the personal computer (step S101: YES), the BIOS
The initial value setting value data (default data) stored in the ROM 114 is loaded into the nonvolatile memory 117 (step S102), and the POST program refers to the nonvolatile memory 117 partially rewritten by the user, and Environment setting is performed (step S103).

By the way, in a personal computer for Japanese, as shown in FIG. 4, the display of the BIOS / ROM is usually manufactured in Japanese (for example, characters of "system time"). In some cases, the Japanese-language-displayed personal computers are partially changed and exported to foreign countries (for example, French-speaking countries). In this case, for example, it is necessary to change all the Japanese display portions in FIG. 4 to French display (change to export specifications).

[0009]

However, conventionally,
In the case of such export specifications, a BIOS / ROM in which the Japanese portion shown in FIG. 4 is changed to French has been newly developed. In this case, for example, it is necessary to develop a new BIOS / ROM every time the language used changes, and there are drawbacks such as a development cost and a time required to complete the BIOS / ROM as a chip.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to change the initial value data (default data) of the environment setting of a personal computer without developing a BIOS / ROM each time.
An object of the present invention is to provide an initial value setting method for a computer which can set an initial value of a desired environment.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention transfers initial value data for environment setting stored in a BIOS memory to a nonvolatile memory, and partially transfers the initial value data after the transfer. In a personal computer initial value setting method for setting an initial value for environment setting by rewriting the BIOS, the BIOS memory is composed of a rewritable read-only memory, and the initial value data stored in the rewritable read-only memory. Is partially rewritable.

In this way, the BIOS memory is composed of a rewritable read-only memory. For example, in the case of export specifications, it can be dealt with only by rewriting only the language part. Etc. can be extremely reduced.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the BIOS / R in this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the OM, and FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the present embodiment. Since the block diagram to which the BIOS / ROM is applied is the same as that of the conventional example (FIG. 3), the duplicated description is omitted.

The BIOS ROM 10 is composed of a rewritable read-only flash memory (a partially rewritable flash ROM electrically), and has a keyboard 1.
20, an environment setting initial value data area 11 storing a control program for setting the environment of the input / output device such as the display 130 (see FIG. 3), and a POST area 12 storing a POST (power-on self test) program.
And a BIOS area 1 storing a program for a basic input / output system (BIOS)
3 is provided.

The environment setting initial value data area 11 has an area 11a for storing changed initial value data. For this change, a floppy disk 20 storing an initial value data rewriting program is prepared in advance. Rewrite data. For example, data after the display language described in the conventional example is changed (Japanese is changed to French) is stored.

Note that, naturally, BIOS / RO
In M, a control program for an input / output device such as a keyboard and a display is also stored. However, even in the case of export specifications, the control program for the input / output device is used when the user sets a desired environment. No change is necessary since it is not subject to the above.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the case where the initial value is not loaded into the environment setting of the personal computer In this case (step S1: NO), the control body 110
Is the POST program 11a when the power supply 115 is turned on.
Thus, the environment is set based on the environment setting data stored in the nonvolatile memory 117 (step S
5).

When the initial value is loaded into the environment setting of the personal computer, but there is no change in the initial value data In this case (step S1: YES), the BIOS R
The initial value data stored in the environment setting initial value data area 11 of the OM 10 is loaded into the non-volatile memory 117 (step S2), and there is no change in the initial value data (step S3: NO). The environment is set based on the stored environment setting data (step S5).

When an initial value is loaded into the environment setting of the personal computer and the initial value data is changed. This case is an operation according to the gist of the present invention.

In this case, as a precondition, a floppy disk 2 storing a program for rewriting initial value data is used.
Using 0, part of the environment setting initial value data area 11 is rewritten, and the changed initial value data is stored in the changed initial value data storage area 11a. Specifically, for example, B
"Language display" of the setting item of the IOS is changed from Japanese to French (see FIG. 4).

Under the above prerequisites, the case where an initial value is loaded to the environment setting (step S1: YE
S), the initial value data stored in the environment setting initial value data area 11 is loaded into the nonvolatile memory 117 (step S2), and the POST program checks whether the initial value setting value has been rewritten. The changed initial value data storage area 11a is checked, and in this case, the initial value data is changed due to the precondition (step S).
3: YES), the rewritten initial value set value data is written to the nonvolatile memory 117 (step S4). Next, the POST program refers to the non-volatile memory 117 (step S5), and sets the environment setting of the control main body 110 to the initial value by reflecting the changed initial value set value data.

According to the above, when changing the initial value set value data of the environment setting of the personal computer, the BIOS R
A desired environment setting can be performed only by changing a part of the OM storage program. That is, it is possible to change to the BIOS / ROM of the French specification only by rewriting a part of the BIOS / ROM of the Japanese specification without newly developing the BIOS / ROM (chip) of the French specification.

In this embodiment, the case where a display language is used as initial value data to be rewritten has been described. For example, when a personal computer is supplied to a contractor (counterpart) by OEM, for example, the brand name of the counterpart is specified. It is convenient if the name is to be rewritten.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, each time the initial value of the environment setting of the personal computer is changed, the environment of the personal computer can be easily set without re-developing a BIOS / ROM for setting the environment. Initial value of setting The setting value can be changed. Therefore, the development efficiency can be improved by standardizing the BIOS and ROM.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a detailed configuration diagram of a BIOS ROM used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a conventional example, and FIG. 3B is a configuration diagram of a BIOS / ROM used in the conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of setting items of the BIOS / ROM.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a power saving menu which is an item which can be set by a user in the BIOS / ROM.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 BIOS / ROM 11 Environment setting initial value data area 11a Initial value data storage area after change 12 POST program area 13 BIOS area 20 Floppy disk storing initial value data rewriting program

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] February 8, 2000 (200.2.8)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In the case where the initial value is not loaded into the environment setting of the personal computer In this case (step S1: NO), the control body 110
When the power supply 115 is turned on, the environment is set by the POST program based on the environment setting data stored in the non-volatile memory 117 (step S5).

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A personal computer which transfers initial value data for environment setting stored in a BIOS memory to a non-volatile memory, and partially rewrites the initial value data after the transfer to set an initial value for environment setting. In the initial value setting method, the BIOS memory is constituted by a rewritable read-only memory, and a part of the initial value data stored in the rewritable read-only memory is rewritable. Initial value setting method. 2. The rewritable read-only memory comprises a flash ROM.
Initial value setting method for personal computers. 3. Rewriting a part of the initial value data,
3. An initial value setting method for a personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the setting is performed by an externally prepared program. 4. The personal computer according to claim 1, wherein a part of the rewriting target data of the initial value data is a language displayed on a display of the personal computer. Value setting method. 5. A BIOS memory comprising a rewritable read-only memory for storing environment setting initial value data of a personal computer, and a rewriting means capable of partially rewriting the initial value data stored in the BIOS memory. And a non-volatile memory for storing the initial value data after rewriting by the rewriting means.