JP2007148773A - Bios loaded computer and bios loading program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically determine the sequence of copying of a plurality of loaded device BIOSs in much more system RAM regions for BIOS loading in a computer on which the BIOSs are loaded. <P>SOLUTION: This BIOS loaded computer is provided with an individual loading repetition part 41 for successively repeating the execution of the BIOS individual loading of each of extension BIOS9-1 to 9-n only in a system RAM region 51, when a power is supplied; a CMOS43 for storing the original size of each extension BISO and the reduced size; a size acquisition part 42 for acquiring the original size and the reduced size, and for storing those sizes in a CMOS43 each time the BIOS individual loading is executed by an individual loading repetition part 41; a priority order determination part 44 for determining the loading priority order, based on the original size information and the reduced size information from the CMOS43; and a loading successive execution part 45 for successively executing each BIOS individual loading according to the loading priority order. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer equipped with a BIOS, and more particularly to a technique for copying a BIOS in a BIOS-ROM to a system RAM area of the computer.

  Generally, a computer such as a personal computer or a server computer has a ROM (hereinafter referred to as BIOS-ROM) that stores a basic input / output system (BIOS) that is a program for performing basic input / output of various devices such as a hard disk and a keyboard. ) Is installed.

  The BIOS usually includes a system BIOS and a device BIOS. Generally, the system BIOS is stored in a BIOS-ROM mounted on the motherboard (basic board) of the computer, while the device BIOS is a PCI slot of the computer. It is stored in a BIOS-ROM mounted on an expansion card inserted into the expansion slot. Some device BIOSes are not in such a form and may be stored in a BIOS-ROM on the motherboard. Examples of the expansion card on which the device BIOS is mounted include a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) card, a LAN (Local Area Net-work) card, and a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) card.

  One of the BIOS stored in each BIOS-ROM is copied to a predetermined RAM area in the computer (hereinafter referred to as a system RAM area) when the computer is started by turning on the computer, and the copied BIOS stores the BIOS. Performs predetermined initialization for devices under BIOS control, cuts down some programs that are no longer needed upon completion of the initialization, and rearranges them, thereby reducing the size of the BIOS program and reducing the size. The BIOS loading of all BIOS to the system RAM area is performed by sequentially repeating a series of operations (hereinafter referred to as BIOS individual loading) to be resident in the BIOS, for each BIOS.

  It is known that the BIOS program size at that time is reduced in accordance with the Plug-and-Play standard, and the size of the BIOS resident in the system RAM area after the size reduction (hereinafter referred to as BIOS reduction). The size is smaller than the BIOS size at the time of copying (hereinafter referred to as the BIOS original size) by a predetermined size, but the computer user cannot easily know the size after BIOS reduction.

  The system RAM area to which the device BIOS (hereinafter referred to as expansion BIOS) is copied is generally 128 Kbytes in the address “D0000h” to “EFFFFh” (hexadecimal display) area in a PC / AT compatible machine, for example. , Small capacity. Therefore, when the individual BIOS loading for each BIOS-ROM is performed in a fixed number order such as an expansion slot number into which an expansion card is inserted or a device number uniquely set in the expansion card. When the total amount of program stored in the expansion BIOS copied from each BIOS-ROM exceeds the total capacity of the system RAM area, the expansion BIOS after that point cannot be copied to the system RAM area. The system configuration may be different from the usable form.

  An example of that case will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing BIOS loading into the system RAM area in ascending order of expansion slot numbers, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing BIOS loading into the system RAM area in descending order of expansion slot numbers. Here, an expansion card is inserted into only two slots of expansion slot numbers # 1 and # 3, and the expansion BIOS # 1 (80 KB) and # 3 are inserted on the expansion card inserted in # 1. It is assumed that the expansion BIOS # 3 (70 KB) is mounted on the expansion card inserted in the number.

  In FIG. 4, first, the expansion BIOS # 1 (80 KB) having the smaller expansion slot number is copied to the system RAM area ((a) of FIG. 4), and the size is reduced after initialization by the copied expansion BIOS # 1. Then, the extended BIOS # 1 having a size of 60 KB is made resident ((b) of FIG. 4). Next, an attempt is made to copy the extended BIOS # 3 (70 KB) into the system RAM area where the free area becomes 68 KB. However, the extended BIOS # 3 cannot be copied due to a shortage of the 2 KB system RAM area ((c) in FIG. 4). ). As a result, only one expansion BIOS # 1 can be BIOS loaded in the system RAM area ((d) in FIG. 4).

  On the other hand, in FIG. 5, first, the expansion BIOS # 3 (70 KB) having the larger expansion slot number is copied to the system RAM area ((a) of FIG. 5), and after initialization by the copied expansion BIOS # 3. The extended BIOS # 3 whose size is reduced to 40 KB is made resident ((b) of FIG. 5). Next, the extended BIOS # 1 (80 KB) is copied to the system RAM area where the free area becomes 88 KB ((c) in FIG. 5), and after the initialization by the copied extended BIOS # 1, the size is reduced to 60 KB. The extended BIOS # 1 having the size of 常駐 is made resident ((d) in FIG. 5). As a result, both the extended BIOS # 3 and the extended BIOS # 1 can be normally loaded in the system RAM area.

  As described above, when BIOS loading is performed on each of the mounted expansion BIOS-ROMs in a mere fixed number order, a desired expansion BIOS cannot be BIOS loaded depending on the size of each BIOS, or a large number of expansion BIOS-ROMs. In some cases, the BIOS cannot be BIOS loaded (the former example of FIG. 4).

  Therefore, conventionally, when a plurality of BIOS modules corresponding to a plurality of types of devices (for example, a plurality of types of LAN cards) having different specifications that are exclusively installed are stored in advance in the BIOS-ROM on the motherboard, By detecting the type of the device actually mounted and copying only the BIOS module corresponding to the detected device type to the system RAM area, unnecessary BIOS modules for the non-mounted device are stored in the system RAM area. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technology, it is possible to effectively use a small-capacity system RAM area, and it is possible to copy more types of BIOS modules to the system RAM area.

In addition, when various BIOS, driver programs, application programs, etc. are stored in advance in the ROM so that an arbitrary system depending on the usage environment can be built in the computer, they are set in advance according to the usage environment and stored. By storing the BIOS and various programs in the ROM in the system RAM area in accordance with the priority order according to the selection load information in the system setting file, programs that are originally unnecessary from the usage environment etc. are made resident in the system RAM area. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). Also in this technology, it is possible to effectively use a small-capacity system RAM area, and it is possible to copy more types of various programs corresponding to a desired use environment to the system RAM area.
JP 2001-175477 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-310653

  However, in the former former technique, only the BIOS module corresponding to the type of device detected to be installed in the computer is copied to the system RAM area. The copy order is based on the capacity of each BIOS. If the total amount of BIOS program storage when copying sequentially exceeds the total capacity of the system RAM area, the BIOS module after that point cannot be copied to the system RAM area. .

  In the latter latter technique, the BIOS and various programs in the ROM are stored in the system RAM area in accordance with the priority order based on the selection load information set and stored in advance. In this case, it is necessary to manually set the selection load information each time in consideration of the use environment and the BIOS program size. Therefore, there is a problem that the setting change operation is troublesome when the system is changed. is there. In addition, since the size after BIOS reduction after initialization is not disclosed, there is a problem that it is very difficult to set the size after BIOS reduction.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a BIOS-equipped computer and a BIOS loading program that automatically determine the order in which more device BIOSes of a plurality of mounted devices are copied into the system RAM area and perform BIOS loading. .

  The BIOS-equipped computer according to the first aspect of the present invention copies the extended BIOS stored in the ROM (including the flash ROM) to a predetermined RAM area when the power is turned on, and uses the copied extended BIOS to transfer the device under the extended BIOS control. After the initialization, power is turned on in a BIOS-equipped computer that performs BIOS individual loading for each of the plurality of expansion BIOSes so that the expansion BIOS that has undergone the predetermined BIOS size reduction after initialization is resident in the predetermined RAM area Sometimes, the BIOS individual loading of each of the expansion BIOS is sequentially executed only within the predetermined RAM area, so that the BIOS original size before initialization and the BIOS reduction after the BIOS size reduction for each expansion BIOS are repeated. To obtain the size and the obtained In accordance with the BIOS separate loading each of the loading priority determined based on both the size value respectively, a configuration including a BIOS loading control means for sequentially execute each of the BIOS individual loading.

  The BIOS-equipped computer according to a second aspect is the BIOS-equipped computer according to the first aspect, wherein the BIOS loading control means executes only the BIOS individual loading of each expansion BIOS within the predetermined RAM area when power is turned on. Individual loading repeating means for sequentially repeating the above, BIOS data storage means for storing the original BIOS size and the BIOS reduced size of each of the extended BIOS, and the BIOS individual loading by the individual loading repeating means Each time the execution is performed, the BIOS original size and the BIOS reduced size of the extended BIOS being executed are acquired and stored in the BIOS data storage unit, and the BIOS data from the BIOS data storage unit is stored. Priority determining means for determining the loading priority based on the nominal size information and the size information after BIOS reduction, and the BIOS individual loading sequentially according to the loading priority determined by the priority determining means. Loading sequential execution means to be executed.

  The BIOS-equipped computer according to a third aspect is the BIOS-equipped computer according to the first or second aspect, wherein the loading priority is set higher as the size after the BIOS reduction is smaller, and the size after the BIOS reduction. Are equal, the higher the BIOS original size, the higher the setting.

  A BIOS-equipped computer according to a fourth aspect is the BIOS-equipped computer according to the first and second aspects, wherein the BIOS data storage means is a flash memory or a battery-backed CMOS memory.

  According to the first and second inventions, each BIOS individual loading is executed only in a predetermined RAM area when the power is turned on, and the BIOS original size and BIOS size reduction before initialization of each extended BIOS for each BIOS individual loading are reduced. The size of the BIOS after the reduction is acquired, and the BIOS individual loading is sequentially executed in accordance with the loading priority of each BIOS individual loading determined based on the acquired both size values. BIOS loading can be automatically performed in the order according to the program size before and after initialization.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the BIOS individual loading is performed in preference to the expanded BIOS having a small size after the BIOS reduction after the initialization, so that the system RAM area for another subsequent BIOS individual loading is performed. Therefore, it is possible to load more extended BIOS into the system RAM area than before.

  Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if the BIOS-equipped computer is turned off, the BIOS original size and the size after BIOS reduction can be held in a nonvolatile manner even when the BIOS is turned off. The BIOS original size and the size after BIOS reduction acquired at the previous power-on time can be used, and the process for acquiring the BIOS original size and the size after BIOS reduction every time the power is turned on becomes unnecessary.

  According to the present invention, the BIOS individual loading is sequentially executed according to the loading priority order determined based on the BIOS original size and the BIOS reduced size obtained individually for each expansion BIOS, and the BIOS is stored in the system RAM area. Since loading is performed, BIOS loading of the expansion BIOS can be automatically executed in an appropriate order according to the program size of each expansion BIOS.

  In addition, by performing the BIOS individual loading in preference to the expanded BIOS having a small size after the BIOS reduction after the initialization, it is possible to maximize the free space in the system RAM area for another subsequent BIOS individual loading. Therefore, a larger number of expansion BIOS can be loaded in the system RAM area than before.

  Therefore, even if a computer user inserts an expansion card into the expansion slot without being aware of the size of the expansion BIOS, BIOS loading that can use a larger number of expansion cards than before is automatically executed. This improves convenience when adding expansion cards.

Example 1
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a BIOS-equipped computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for convenience of explanation different from the actual computer configuration, and the predetermined configuration of the computer not directly related to the description of the present invention is omitted.

  In FIG. 1, a BIOS-equipped computer 1 includes a CPU 3 that controls the BIOS-equipped computer 1 on a motherboard 2 that is a basic board of the BIOS-equipped computer 1, a system BIOS 4 that is connected to the bus line 6 of the CPU 3, a main memory 5, and an expansion. Slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n and the like and expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n inserted into expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n It is a configuration. Of course, it is not necessary that the expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n are inserted in all the expansion slots # 1 to 7-1 to #n 7-n. That is. The main memory 5 is generally composed of a semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) having a faster read / write access than a CMOS 43 described later.

  Expansion BIOS (device ROM) 9-1 to 9-n stored in the expansion BIOS-ROM are mounted on the expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n, respectively, and the main memory 5 includes the system BIOS 4 and Each of the extended BIOSs 9-1 to 9-n has a system RAM area 51 that is a BIOS loaded area, and a system BIOS 4 stored in the system BIOS-ROM has a BIOS loading control unit 40. is there.

  The BIOS loading control unit 40 includes an individual loading repeating unit 41 that sequentially repeats the individual execution of the BIOS individual loading of each of the expansion BIOSs 9-1 to 9-n in the system RAM area 51 when the power is turned on, and the expansion BIOS 9-1. 9-n has a CMOS 43 as a BIOS size storage unit for storing the BIOS original size and the size after BIOS reduction.

  The BIOS loading control unit 40 further obtains the BIOS original size and the BIOS reduced size of the expanded BIOS 9-1 to 9-n during the execution of the individual BIOS loading by the individual loading repeating unit 41. The size acquisition unit 42 stored in the CMOS 43, the priority determination unit 44 that determines the loading priority based on the BIOS original size information and the size information after BIOS reduction from the CMOS 43, and the priority determination unit 44 This configuration includes a loading sequential execution unit 45 that sequentially executes the BIOS individual loading according to the loading priority order.

  The system BIOS-ROM storing the system BIOS 4 and the expansion BIOS-ROM storing the extended BIOSs 9-1 to 9-n are not limited to ROM (Read Only Memory), but are non-volatile storage elements (storage media). Generally, a flash memory is used.

  The CMOS 43, which is a BIOS size storage unit, is composed of a battery-backed CMOS memory. However, the stored data can be stored only if it cannot be erased (non-volatile) when the computer is turned off. It may be a flash memory or the like that does not require power supply for holding. Further, although the CMOS 43 is common to the system BIOS-ROM storing the system BIOS 4, it may have a ROM configuration of another form separated from the system BIOS-ROM.

  Furthermore, expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n are physically and electrically coupled by inserting option cards to be added to the computer, that is, expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n. As one of the slots, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slot is widely known. The expansion BIOSs 9-1 to 9-n do not take a form mounted on the expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n. 7-1 to #n No. 7-n may not be used.

  Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the data structure of the CMOS and the data transition according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the BIOS-equipped computer of the present invention.

  For convenience of explanation, regarding the system configuration, the system RAM area 51 is 128 KB, and the expansion card 8-1 whose BIOS original size is 80 KB and the size after BIOS reduction is 60 KB is expansion slot # 1-7. 1 and an expansion card 8-3 having a BIOS original size of 70 KB and a size after BIOS reduction of 40 KB is mounted in expansion slot # 3-7-3. It is not limited by those values or the number of extended BIOS 9-1 to 9-n.

  In FIG. 2, the data structure of the CMOS 43 represented in a tabular format includes an expansion BIOS 9-1 on expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n inserted in expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n. A CHKMODE area indicating ON or OFF of the check mode is defined in which a check operation mode for determining the loading priority for BIOS loading is obtained by acquiring the BIOS original size and the size after BIOS reduction of .about.9-n.

  Further, the CMOS 43 has a CHKSLT area indicating all the expansion slot numbers (in ascending order, descending order, or random order, but ascending order for convenience of description) in the check mode, and expansion for BIOS loading. The BIOS 9-1 to 9-n has an INIT_ODER area indicating the loading priority order (indicated by an expansion slot number for convenience of explanation).

  The CMOS 43 further stores the BIOS original size information corresponding to each of the expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n, and also corresponds to each of the SLT-1_ORG to SLT-n_ORG areas, after BIOS reduction. This structure has SLT-1_INI to SLT-n_INI areas for storing size information. Here, for convenience of explanation, the SLT-1_ORG to SLT-n_ORG area and the SLT-1_INI to SLT-n_INI area are provided with a considerable number of expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n in advance. The BIOS may be increased each time according to the actual number of expansion BIOS 9-1 to 9-n.

  The initial values of all the data in the CMOS 43 are shown in the leftmost column of the table, and states 1 to 10 which are data transitions of these data will be described in correspondence with the subsequent operation description.

  In FIG. 3, when the BIOS-equipped computer 1 is turned on (including restarting), the system 1 of the computer 1 is reset (S1 in FIG. 3), and a POST (Power- on Self Test) ESCD (Extended) showing the installation configuration of expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n in expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n obtained by a predetermined method in a series of processes Based on the information of (System Configuration Data), it is confirmed whether or not the expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n have been mounted on expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n since the last power-on ( S2).

  If it is determined in step S2 that there is a mounting change in expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n (Yes determination), the individual loading repeater 41 starts the check mode and In order to display the execution in progress, the CHKMODE area in the CMOS 43 is set to ON (state 1 in FIG. 2) (S3), and the expansion cards 8-1 and 8-3 that are actually mounted are recognized. The expansion slot numbers of slots # 1 7-1 and # 3 7-3 are set and stored in the CHKSLT area in ascending order (state 2 in FIG. 2) (S4).

  Next, the expansion slot number (# 1 at this time) stored in the head part of the CHKSLT area (the one with the smaller expansion slot number is the head for storage in ascending order) is selected, and the selected expansion card Whether or not the extended BIOS-ROM is mounted on 8-1 is confirmed by a predetermined method of the system BIOS 4 (S5).

  If it is determined in step S5 that the expansion BIOS-ROM is installed (Yes determination), the size acquisition unit 42 is stored in a predetermined area of the expansion BIOS 9-1 stored in the expansion BIOS-ROM. BIOS original size information (that is, 80 KB) is acquired and stored in the SLT-1_ORG area (state 3 in FIG. 2) (S6).

  Note that the BIOS original size information is stored in the system RAM area 51 that is copied immediately after execution of individual BIOS loading in step S7 described later (until the BIOS original size information is rewritten to the size after BIOS reduction). The BIOS original size information stored in the same predetermined area of the extended BIOS 9-1 may be acquired.

  Subsequently, the expansion BIOS 9-1 in the expansion BIOS-ROM is copied to a predetermined area in the system RAM area, and a predetermined initialization is performed on the device under the control of the expansion BIOS 9-1 by the copied expansion BIOS 9-1. It is assumed that the BIOS program size is reduced by truncating and rearranging a part of the program that is no longer necessary upon completion of the initialization, and is made resident in the system RAM area by the reduced extended BIOS 9-1. The individual loading repetition unit 41 starts execution of the BIOS individual loading of a predetermined series of operations (S7). When the BIOS size is reduced, the size value of the predetermined area in which the BIOS original size is stored is rewritten to the size value of the size after BIOS reduction after size reduction.

  After the completion of the BIOS individual loading in step S7, the size acquisition unit 42 acquires the size information after BIOS reduction (that is, 60 KB) of the predetermined area of the extended BIOS 9-1 resident in the system RAM area, and the SLT- Store in the 1_INI area (state 4 in FIG. 2) (S8).

  Next, the individual loading repeater 41 deletes the expansion slot number (# 1 at this time) after the above processing from the CHKSLT area in the CMOS 43 (state 5 in FIG. 2) (S9), and then In the CHKSLT area, it is checked whether there is any remaining expansion slot number (# 3 at this time) to be checked (S10). If it is determined that there is a remaining (No determination), The process returns to step S1.

  The subsequent processing is similar to the processing for the second expansion card 8-3 inserted into the expansion slot # 3-7-3. Steps S1 and S2 are as described above.

  Since there is no mounting change in the middle of expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n, it is determined that there is no mounting change in step S2 based on the information before ESCD ( After No determination is made, the individual loading repeater 41 confirms whether or not the CHKMODE area in the CMOS 43 is ON (S21).

  If it is determined in step S21 that the CHKMODE area is ON (Yes determination), the above-described step S5 is executed again. In step S5, the slot is inserted into expansion slot # 3-7-3. In the next step S6, the size acquisition unit 42 performs BIOS original size information (that is, 70 KB) of the expansion BIOS 9-3 on the expansion card 8-3. Is stored in the SLT-3_ORG area (state 6 in FIG. 2).

  Further, after the completion of the BIOS individual loading in the step S7, in the step S8, the size acquisition unit 42 acquires the size information after BIOS reduction (that is, 40 KB) of the extended BIOS 9-3 to obtain SLT-3_INI. 2 (state 7 in FIG. 2), and in step S9, the individual loading repeater 41 stores the expansion slot number (# 3 at this time) after the above processing from the CHKSLT area. Delete (state 8 in FIG. 2).

  Thereafter, in step S10, it is confirmed again whether or not there remains any other expansion slot number to be checked in the CHKSLT area (no remaining at this point).

  If it is determined in step S10 that there is no remaining expansion slot number (No determination), the priority determining unit 44 determines the expansion slot # 1-7 stored in the SLT-1_ORG to SLT-n_ORG area in the CMOS 43. -1 to #n No. 7-n BIOS original size value and each of the expanded BIOS 9-1 to 9-n based on the respective BIOS reduced size values stored in the SLT-1_INI to SLT-n_INI areas (here Then, the loading priority order of the expansion BIOS 9-1 and 9-3 is determined, and for example, the expansion slot number is sequentially stored in the INIT_ODER area in the CMOS 43 so that the priority order can be recognized (the state in FIG. 2). 9) (S31).

  Since the data stored in the INIT_ODER area only needs to be able to identify its own priority, it may be, for example, an expansion slot address or expansion BIOS-ROM identification information (such as an identification number or address). Further, the storage order may be any of ascending order, descending order, random, and the like, as long as the priority order can be recognized.

  Specifically, the determination of the loading priority in the step S31 is performed by setting the priority higher as the size value after BIOS reduction (each value in the SLT-1_INI to SLT-n_INI area) is smaller. When there is an extended BIOS having the same size value after BIOS reduction, a larger BIOS original size value (value in the SLT-1_ORG to SLT-n_ORG area) is set higher.

  Therefore, in this case, the expanded BIOS 9-3 (SLT-3_INI area value = 40KB) whose size value after BIOS reduction is smaller than the expanded BIOS 9-1 (SLT-1_INI area value = 60KB) has a higher priority. Will be. In this case, since the size values after BIOS reduction of both are not the same value, it is necessary to compare both BIOS original size values (the value of SLT-1_ORG area = 80 KB and the value of SLT-3_ORG area = 70 KB). There is no.

  In step S31, priority is given to the loading of the expansion BIOS for all the expansion cards actually installed in the expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n (here, two expansion cards 8-1 and 8-3). Since the order has been determined, the individual loading repeater 41 changes the setting of the CHKMODE area in the CMOS 43 to OFF (state 10 in FIG. 2) (S32), and returns to step S1 again. The steps S1 and S2 executed again here are as described above.

  Since there is no mounting change in the middle of expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n, it is determined that there is no mounting change in step S2 based on the information before ESCD ( In the subsequent step S21, the CHKMODE area is set to OFF in step S32, and therefore it is determined that the CHKMODE area is not ON (No determination).

  By determining whether the check mode is OFF in step S21, the loading sequential execution unit 45 determines that the loading priority order already stored in the INIT_ODER area in the CMOS 43 (here, there are only two extended BIOSes, the extended BIOS 9-3, In accordance with the order of 9-1), the BIOS individual loading of each of the expansion BIOSs 9-1 to 9-n is executed sequentially (S22), so that they are actually installed in the expansion slots # 1 to 7-1 to #n # 7-n. The BIOS is loaded into the system RAM area 51 of the expansion BIOS 9-1 to 9-n (here, 9-1 and 9-3) on the expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n. In this case, the BIOS loading state to the system RAM area 51 is the same as the BIOS loading state to the system RAM area shown in FIG.

  When the check mode is turned off in step S21, when there is no change in the mounting to expansion slots # 1 7-1 to #n 7-n at the next power-on (No determination in step S2), Since the BIOS loading can be executed immediately in the previous loading priority order that has already been determined and stored in the CMOS 43, the startup start-up time of the BIOS-equipped computer 1 can be shortened.

  In the BIOS loading in step S22, the total program storage amount in the middle of the extended BIOSs 9-1 to 9-n sequentially copied in accordance with the determined loading priority order exceeds the total capacity of the system RAM area (for example, 128 KB). In this case, the individual BIOS loading of the extended BIOS (any one of 9-1 to 9-n) of the priority order at that time is not executed (or stopped), and the BIOS individual loading of the next-order extended BIOS is executed by skipping. You may let them. Of course, this determination may be performed when the loading priority is determined in step S31.

  As described above, the BIOS-equipped computer 1 of the present invention, when the power is turned on, the expansion cards 8-1 to 8-n actually installed in the expansion slots # 1-7-1 to # n7-n. The BIOS individual loading of each of the above expanded BIOSs 9-1 to 9-n is executed only in the system RAM area 51, and the BIOS original size before initialization of each of the expanded BIOSs 9-1 to 9-n is determined for each individual BIOS loading. The BIOS size after the BIOS size reduction is obtained, and the BIOS individual loading is sequentially executed in accordance with the loading priority of each BIOS individual loading determined based on the obtained both size values. Therefore, depending on the program size before and after initialization of the extended BIOS 9-1 to 9-n It can be automatically run the BIOS loading by order.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the BIOS mounting computer of one Example which concerns on this invention. The figure explaining an example of the data structure of CMOS which concerns on this invention, and data transition The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the BIOS mounting computer of this invention. The figure which shows BIOS loading to the system RAM area by ascending order of the expansion slot number The figure which shows BIOS loading to the system RAM area by descending order of the expansion slot number

Explanation of symbols

1 BIOS-equipped computer 2 Motherboard 3 CPU
4 System BIOS
5 Main memory 6 Bus line 7-1 Expansion slot # 1 8-1 Expansion card 9-1 Expansion BIOS
40 BIOS loading control unit 41 Individual loading repetition unit 42 Size acquisition unit 43 CMOS
44 priority determination unit 45 loading sequential execution unit 51 system RAM area

Claims (5)

The expansion BIOS stored in the ROM is copied to a predetermined RAM area when the power is turned on. After the device under the expansion BIOS control is initialized by the copied expansion BIOS, the predetermined BIOS size is reduced after the initialization. In a BIOS-equipped computer that performs BIOS individual loading for causing each of the plurality of expansion BIOSes to make the expansion BIOS resident in the predetermined RAM area,
When the power is turned on, the BIOS individual loading of each of the expansion BIOSs is sequentially executed only within the predetermined RAM area, so that the BIOS original size before the initialization for each expansion BIOS and the BIOS size after the reduction are reduced. BIOS loading control means for acquiring the size after BIOS reduction and sequentially executing the BIOS individual loading according to the loading priority order of the BIOS individual loading determined based on the acquired both size values. A BIOS-equipped computer characterized by the above. The BIOS-equipped computer according to claim 1,
The BIOS loading control means includes:
Individual loading repeating means for sequentially repeating the BIOS individual loading of each of the expansion BIOSs in the predetermined RAM area when power is turned on;
BIOS data storage means for storing the BIOS original size and the BIOS reduced size of each of the extended BIOS;
Each time the BIOS individual loading is executed by the individual loading repeating means, the size acquisition means for acquiring the BIOS original size and the BIOS reduced size of the extended BIOS being executed and storing them in the BIOS data storage means When,
Priority order determining means for determining the loading priority order based on the BIOS original size information from the BIOS data storage means and the BIOS reduced size information;
Loading sequential execution means for sequentially executing the BIOS individual loading according to the loading priority determined by the priority determination means;
A BIOS-equipped computer characterized by comprising: The BIOS-equipped computer according to claim 1 or 2,
The loading priority is set higher as the size after BIOS reduction is smaller, and when the size after BIOS reduction is equal, the loading priority is set higher as the BIOS original size is larger. Onboard computer. The BIOS-equipped computer according to claim 2,
The BIOS data storage means is
A BIOS-equipped computer characterized by being a flash memory or a battery-backed CMOS memory. The expansion BIOS stored in the ROM is copied to a predetermined RAM area when the power is turned on. After the device under the expansion BIOS control is initialized by the copied expansion BIOS, the predetermined BIOS size is reduced after the initialization. A BIOS loading program for a BIOS-equipped computer that performs BIOS individual loading for causing the expansion BIOS to be resident in the predetermined RAM area to each of the plurality of expansion BIOSes,
An individual loading repeating step for sequentially repeating the BIOS individual loading of each of the expansion BIOSs in the predetermined RAM area when power is turned on;
Each time the BIOS individual loading in the individual loading iteration step is executed, the BIOS original size before the initialization of the extended BIOS being executed and the BIOS reduced size after the BIOS size reduction are obtained to obtain the BIOS. A size acquisition step for storing in the data storage means;
A priority order determining step of determining a loading priority order based on the BIOS original size information and the BIOS reduced size information stored in the BIOS data storage means;
A sequential loading step for sequentially executing each of the BIOS individual loadings according to the loading priority determined in the priority determination step;
A BIOS loading program characterized by comprising:

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