JP2010044503A - Computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a non-administration region being a region other than a restricted specific region, and to improve the convenience of a user in that case, in a computer system in which the administration region of a main memory which is controlled by an operating system is restricted to a specific region. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU automatically performs setting to validate a PAE (Physical Address Extension) mode when installing an RAM disk driver in a computer system. Afterwards, the CPU performs the mapping of an non-administration region 130 of a main memory 100 in a virtual address space 200 of the RAM disk driver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer program and a recording medium.

  For example, when a computer system (x86 computer system) equipped with an Intel x86 32-bit CPU (or compatible CPU) uses the physical address space of the main memory, in the normal physical addressing mode, 32-bit addressing is performed. Only the physical address space up to 4 GB that can be expressed by However, by using a physical address extension (PAE) mode that is an extended function of the CPU, a wider physical address space exceeding 4 GB can be used. By mapping this to the virtual address space for each process, the upper limit of the virtual address space per process remains 4 GB, but the entire system can utilize a memory capacity exceeding 4 GB. Microsoft's Windows operating system (hereinafter also referred to as “OS”) has a PAE mode setting. In particular, in the Windows OS for server editions, the PAE mode is set to be effective, as described above. The memory capacity exceeding 4 GB can be utilized in the form.

Special table 2002-539555 gazette US Pat. No. 5,802,605 US Pat. No. 6,032,240

  However, in the general-purpose personal computer edition and the workstation edition of Windows OS, although the PAE mode setting is implemented, the physical address range managed by the Windows OS itself is limited to 4 GB.

  In addition, in recent years, computers equipped with main memory of 4 GB or more have become available at low cost due to the performance improvement of computer chip sets and the increase in capacity and price of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). However, the current mainstream editions for personal computers and editions for workstations have a problem that a memory area exceeding 4 GB cannot be used.

  In many x86 computer systems, a reserved area, that is, a memory area for inputting / outputting various hardware components mounted on the computer, is provided in an area of about several hundred MB in the physical address space of the main memory. BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) programs and data areas are mapped. Therefore, the memory area in the physical address range that overlaps with these reserved areas cannot be used. In order to avoid this, a physical address remapping function is prepared in the BIOS in many x86 computer systems, and the overlapping memory area can be relocated to a physical address space of 4 GB or more. By using this function, for example, in an x86 computer system equipped with a 4 GB main memory, a memory having a capacity of about several hundred MB corresponding to the reserved area is relocated to a physical address space after 4 GB. . However, since the Windows OS of the edition for personal computers and the edition for workstations cannot use the memory area exceeding 4 GB as described above, the relocation range of about several hundred MB is eventually accessible. In spite of the fact that the system is equipped with a 4 GB main memory, there is a problem that only a memory having a capacity of several hundred MB less than 4 GB can be used.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is an area other than the limited predetermined area in a computer system in which the management area of the main memory managed by the operating system is limited to the predetermined area. An object is to make it possible to use an unmanaged area and to improve the convenience of the user at that time.

  The present invention can be realized as the following forms or application examples in order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems.

  Application Example 1 In a computer system in which a management area of a main memory managed by an operating system is limited to a predetermined area, a computer for making an unmanaged area that is an area other than the predetermined area of the main memory available A setting function for enabling a physical address expansion mode for extending a memory area managed by the operating system to the non-management area, and a setting for enabling the physical address expansion mode. A computer program for causing a computer to realize a mapping function for mapping the non-managed area of the main memory to a virtual address space when the computer is in the middle.

  When the computer program of the application example 1 is executed by the computer, the setting for enabling the physical address extension mode is performed without the user performing difficult setting work for the user who is not familiar with the computer system, and the main memory is managed. The outside area can be made available. In other words, in the computer system in which the management area of the main memory managed by the operating system is restricted to a predetermined area by the computer program of Application Example 1, an unmanaged area that is an area other than the restricted predetermined area can be used. In addition, the convenience of the user at that time can be improved.

  [Application Example 2] The computer program according to Application Example 1, which further causes the computer to realize a function of backing up data stored in the non-management area to an external storage device at a predetermined timing. Computer program.

  When the computer program of the application example 2 is executed by the computer, it is possible to prevent the data stored in the unmanaged area of the main memory from being lost. The predetermined timing for backing up the data stored in the unmanaged area to the external storage device may be the timing when the backup instruction by the user is input to the computer, or is independent of the backup instruction by the user. It may be a proper timing.

  [Application Example 3] The computer program according to Application Example 2, wherein the predetermined timing is a timing at which an energized state of the main memory shifts to a non-energized state.

  Application Example 4 The computer program according to Application Example 2, wherein the predetermined timing is a timing when data is written to the non-management area.

  When the computer program of application examples 3 and 4 is executed, the latest data stored in the unmanaged area is automatically backed up to an external storage device at a timing unrelated to the backup instruction by the user. Can do. The timing at which the energized state of the main memory shifts to the non-energized state includes, for example, when the computer system is shut down, restarted, or shifted to the hibernation state.

  [Application Example 5] The computer program according to any one of Application Examples 2 to 4, wherein the computer further realizes a function of restoring data backed up in the external storage device to the non-management area. Computer program.

  When the computer executes the computer program of Application Example 5, the data backed up in the external storage device can be restored to the unmanaged area. Note that the restoration timing includes, for example, when the computer system is activated and when the computer is restored from the hibernation state.

  [Application Example 6] The computer program according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 5, wherein the setting function determines processing contents at the time of setting according to a type of an operating system running on the computer system. A computer program that includes a switching function.

  When the computer program of the application example 6 is executed by a computer, an appropriate setting process can be performed according to the type of operating system such as Windows XP or Windows Vista of Microsoft Corporation. Furthermore, the processing content at the time of the setting may be switched according to the environment of the computer system, such as the main memory and CPU type.

  Application Example 7 The computer program according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 6, wherein the computer includes a 32-bit microprocessor, and the operating system is an operating system corresponding to the 32-bit microprocessor. And the capacity of the predetermined area is 4 gigabytes.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms such as the above-described configuration as a computer program, a recording medium storing the computer program, a data signal including the program and embodied in a carrier wave. The recording medium includes a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, a punch card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device of a computer (RAM or Various types of computer-readable media such as a memory such as a ROM and an external storage device can be used.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Computer system (outline of the invention):
B. Various processing:
B1. RAM disk driver installation process:
B2. PAE mode setting process:
B3. Initialization processing:
B4. Automatic recognition, restoration, and formatting of installed memory capacity:
B4.1. Restore processing:
B4.2. Format processing:
B4.3. Backup process:
B5. Read / write processing:
B6. Non-energized state transition processing:
B7. Energized state recovery processing:
B8. Device stop processing:
B9. RAM disk driver uninstall process:
B10. PAE mode release processing:
C. Variation:

A. Computer system (outline of the invention):
The computer system of this embodiment is a general-purpose personal computer, and includes a CPU, a RAM (main memory), a ROM, a hard disk, a keyboard, a mouse, a display, and the like. In this embodiment, the CPU is an Intel x86 32-bit CPU (or a compatible CPU), and the RAM has a memory capacity of 8 GB. The computer system of this embodiment is assumed to include a Windows OS (32-bit version) (hereinafter, simply referred to as “OS”) for a general-purpose personal computer manufactured by Microsoft Corporation.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing the outline of the present invention. In the computer system of this embodiment, the physical address space of the main memory 100 is not managed by the OS in the OS management area 110 managed by the OS, the reserved area 120 used by the BIOS, and the normal physical addressing mode (access). (Not) OS non-management area 130. The OS management area 110 is limited to about 3 to 3.5 GB. The reserved area 120 is about 0.5 to 1 GB. Further, an area exceeding 4 GB other than the OS management area 110 and the reserved area 120 in the main memory 100 is an OS non-management area 130.

  In the computer system of this embodiment, the CPU executes the RAM disk driver as the computer program of the present invention, so that the OS unmanaged area 130 of the main memory 100 can be used as a disk image memory area. Specifically, as indicated by the rectangle surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line in the figure, the RAM disk driver maps the memory area corresponding to the location to be read / written on the disk image to the virtual address space 200 as necessary, The OS can access the non-OS management area 130 via the RAM disk driver.

  Further, in the computer system of the present embodiment, the data stored in the virtual address space 200 (corresponding non-OS management area 130) of the RAM disk driver is transferred to the hard disk 300 at a predetermined timing regardless of the user backup instruction. You can backup to the automatic backup file created above. In addition, data stored in the virtual address space 200 (corresponding non-OS management area 130) of the RAM disk driver can be backed up to a manual backup file created on the hard disk 300 in accordance with a backup instruction from the user. .

  Further, in the computer system of this embodiment, the data backed up in the automatic backup file on the hard disk 300 is transferred to the virtual address space 200 (corresponding OS) of the RAM disk driver at a predetermined timing without depending on a user restore instruction. It is possible to automatically restore to the non-management area 130). In addition, data backed up in the manual backup file can be restored to the virtual address space 200 (corresponding non-OS management area 130) of the RAM disk driver in accordance with a user restore instruction.

  Hereinafter, various processes executed by the CPU using the RAM disk driver in the computer system of this embodiment will be described.

B. Various processing:
B1. RAM disk driver installation process:
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of RAM disk driver installation processing. This process is a process that is automatically executed by the CPU when a RAM disk driver and a recording medium on which a RAM disk driver setting utility is recorded are inserted into a drive included in the computer system.

  First, the CPU displays a setting screen (not shown) for selecting an installation destination folder for the RAM disk driver setting utility on the display (step S100). When necessary setting information is input by the user on this setting screen, the CPU performs a PAE mode setting process described later (step S110). By this PAE mode setting process, the PAE mode is validated, and the OS unmanaged area 130 of the main memory 100 can be used as a disk image memory area after the OS is restarted.

  Next, the CPU installs a RAM disk driver in the system (step S120). Next, the CPU installs a RAM disk driver setting utility in the system (step S130). Then, the CPU restarts the OS (step S140). With the above processing, the RAM disk installation processing is completed.

B2. PAE mode setting process:
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the PAE mode setting process in step S110 of FIG.

  First, the CPU determines the type of OS running in the computer system (step S200), and switches subsequent processing contents according to the type of OS. In this embodiment, it is determined whether the OS is Windows Vista or Windows XP. When the OS is Windows Vista, the CPU executes a “bcdedit / set pae ForceEnable” command to perform setting for enabling the PAE mode, and ends the PAE mode setting process.

  In step S200, if the OS is Windows XP, the CPU reads the contents of the [operating systems] section of the OS boot.ini file (step S220), and the [operating systems] section contains two or more boot entries. Is determined (step S230). For example, when a plurality of types of OSs are installed in the computer system and there are two or more boot entries in the [operating systems] section (step S230: YES), the CPU adds the PAE mode setting. A selection screen (not shown) for the user to select a boot entry is displayed on the display (step S240). When the user selects a boot entry for adding the PAE mode setting on the selection screen, the CPU adds the “/ PAE” option to the boot entry selected by the user (step S250), and the edited boot entry. Is overwritten in the boot.ini file (step S260).

  In step S230, if there is only one boot entry in the [operating systems] section (step S230: NO), the CPU adds the “/ PAE” option to the boot entry (step S250) and edits it. The boot entry is overwritten on the boot.ini file (step S260). With the above processing, the PAE mode setting processing is completed.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing how the boot.ini file is edited in the PAE mode setting process. FIG. 4A shows an example of the contents of the boot.ini file before editing. FIG. 4B shows an example of the contents of the edited boot.ini file. Here, the case where a one-line boot entry exists in the [operating systems] section is shown. 4A and 4B, the “/ PAE” option is added to the boot entry in the [operating systems] section by the PAE mode setting process, as indicated by the dashed line and the alternate long and short dash line. The

  When the RAM disk setting utility is started after the installation process described above, the CPU displays the display screen WD1 as the graphical user interface shown in FIG. 5 on the display.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen WD1 that the CPU displays on the display when the RAM disk setting utility is activated. As shown in the figure, the display screen WD1 includes a “manual backup” button, a “manual restore” button, an “delete automatic backup file” button, an “operation setting” button, and an “uninstall” button. Be placed.

  When the “manual backup” button is pressed by the user on the display screen WD1, the CPU creates a manual backup file designated by the user on the hard disk 300, and the contents of the current disk image memory area are designated. Back up to a manual backup file. This calls "backup processing" to be described later by specifying a file name.

  When the “manual restore” button is pressed by the user on the display screen WD1, the CPU restores the contents of the manual backup file specified by the user existing on the hard disk 300 to the disk image memory area. . In this method, “restoration processing” to be described later is called by specifying a file name.

  On the display screen WD1, when the “delete automatic backup file” button is pressed by the user, the CPU deletes the automatic backup file existing on the hard disk 300, and enters the drive state immediately after “format processing” described later. return. This is to prevent the damaged automatic backup file from being restored when the contents of the RAM disk are damaged. This calls up “automatic recognition, restoration, and format processing of installed memory capacity” described later.

  On the display screen WD1, when the “operation setting” button is pressed by the user, the CPU displays an operation setting screen WD2 described later on the display, and prompts the user to set the operation of the RAM disk driver.

  On the display screen WD1, when the “uninstall” button is pressed by the user, the CPU executes an “uninstall process” to be described later. “Uninstallation process” is a process of uninstalling the RAM disk driver and the RAM disk driver setting utility from the system.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the operation setting screen WD2. As shown in the drawing, a pull-down menu for designating a drive letter of the RAM disk driver and a check box for setting ON / OFF of “backup function setting” are arranged on the operation setting screen WD2. In this embodiment, as a check box for setting “backup function setting”, a check box for enabling (ON) the “automatic backup function” of the RAM disk driver and further, “always backup function” is enabled. It is assumed that a check box for turning on (ON) is arranged. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the “always backup function” can be enabled (ON) only when the “automatic backup function” is enabled (ON). When the “automatic backup function” is set to valid (ON), as will be described later, when the energized state of the main memory 100 shifts to the non-energized state, “backup processing” described later is performed. Further, when the “always backup function” is set to be valid (ON), as will be described later, every time data is written to the RAM disk, a “backup process” described later is performed.

B3. Initialization processing:
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of the initialization process. This processing is executed by the CPU when the PAE mode is valid and the AddDevice function of the RAM disk driver is called from the OS.

  First, the CPU performs automatic recognition, restoration, and formatting of the installed memory capacity (step S300). These processes will be described later.

  Next, the CPU performs initialization setting of the RAM disk driver (step S400). Since the initialization process of the RAM disk driver is a general initialization process of the RAM disk driver, such as addition of a device or addition of a drive letter, detailed description thereof is omitted.

B4. Automatic recognition, restoration, and formatting of installed memory capacity:
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of automatic recognition, restoration, and formatting processing of the installed memory capacity in step S300 of FIG.

  First, the CPU automatically recognizes the OS unmanaged area 130 of the main memory 100 installed in the system (step S310). Examples of this method include a method of acquiring information on a free memory area using a BIOS command, and searching for a range where data is not destroyed by actually trying to write / read. If the OS unmanaged area 130 cannot be recognized (step S320: NO), the automatic recognition of the installed memory capacity, the restoration, and the formatting process are terminated as an error. On the other hand, when the OS unmanaged area 130 can be recognized (step S320: YES), the CPU determines whether or not an automatic backup file exists on the hard disk 300 (step S330).

  If an automatic backup file exists on the hard disk 300 (step S330: YES), the CPU performs a restore process described later (step S340). Then, the CPU determines whether or not the restore process is successful (step S350). When the restore process fails because the capacity of the OS unmanaged area 130 and the capacity of the automatic backup file are inconsistent, that is, the capacity of the automatic backup file is larger than the capacity of the OS unmanaged area 130 Is handled as an inconsistency error, and the automatic recognition, restoration, and formatting of the installed memory capacity are terminated. If the restoration process is successful, the automatic recognition of the installed memory capacity, restoration, and formatting process are terminated. If the restore process fails due to reasons other than inconsistency between the capacity of the OS unmanaged area 130 and the capacity of the automatic backup file, a format process described later is performed (step S360).

  Next, the CPU determines whether or not the constant backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (see FIG. 6) (step S370). When the constant backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S370: YES), the CPU creates an automatic backup file on the hard disk 300 (step S380), and performs a backup process described later (step S390). Then, the automatic recognition of the installed memory capacity, restoration, and formatting process are terminated. On the other hand, when the constant backup function of the RAM disk driver is OFFf (step S370: NO), the automatic recognition of the mounted memory capacity, the restoration, and the formatting process are finished as they are.

  In step S330, if the automatic backup file does not exist on the hard disk 300 (step S330: NO), the process proceeds to step S360, and the CPU performs format processing described later, and then performs the processing in steps S370 to S390. Do.

B4.1. Restore processing:
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of restore processing in step S340 of FIG.

  First, the CPU determines whether the capacity of the OS unmanaged area 130 matches the capacity of the automatic backup file, that is, whether the capacity of the OS unmanaged area 130 is greater than or equal to the capacity of the automatic backup file ( Step S500). If the capacity of the OS unmanaged area 130 is less than the capacity of the automatic backup file (step S500: NO), it is determined that an inconsistency error has occurred (step S510), and the restore process is terminated. If the capacity of the OS unmanaged area 130 is greater than or equal to the capacity of the automatic backup file (step S500: YES), the CPU uses the MMMapIoSpace function of the OS to set the disk image memory area to be processed as a RAM disk. Mapping to the virtual address space 200 of the driver (step S520).

  Then, the CPU reads the data of the automatic backup file area on the hard disk 300 corresponding to the offset address / size range of the mapped area into the mapped area (step S530). Then, the CPU unmaps the mapped area using the MmUnmapIoSpace function of the OS (step S540).

  Then, the CPU determines whether there is an unprocessed memory area (step S550). If there is an unprocessed area (step S550: YES), the process returns to step S520. On the other hand, if there is no unprocessed area (step S550: NO), the restore process is terminated.

B4.2. Format processing:
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the formatting process in step S360 of FIG.

  First, the CPU maps the disk image memory area to be processed to the virtual address space 200 of the RAM disk driver using the MMMapIoSpace function of the OS (step S600). Then, the CPU fills the mapped area with zero (step S610). Then, the CPU unmaps the mapped area using the MmUnmapIoSpace function of the OS (step S620).

  Then, the CPU determines whether there is an unprocessed memory area (step S630). If there is an unprocessed area (step S630: YES), the process returns to step S600. On the other hand, if there is no unprocessed area (step S630: NO), the CPU constructs a file system in the FAT32 format (step S640) and ends the formatting process.

B4.3. Backup process:
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of backup processing in step S390 of FIG.

  First, the CPU maps the disk image memory area to be processed into the virtual address space 200 of the RAM disk driver using the MMMapIoSpace function of the OS (step S700). Then, the CPU writes the data in the mapped area to the automatic backup file area on the hard disk 300 corresponding to the offset address / size range (step S710). Then, the CPU unmaps the mapped area using the MmUnmapIoSpace function of the OS (step S720).

  Then, the CPU determines whether there is an unprocessed memory area (step S730). If there is an unprocessed area (step S730: YES), the process returns to step S700. On the other hand, if there is no unprocessed area (step S730: NO), the backup process is terminated.

B5. Read / write processing:
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of read / write processing. This process is executed by the CPU when the PAE mode is valid and the disk read / write process (IRP_MJ_READ, IRP_MJ_WRITE) of the RAM disk driver is called from the OS.

  First, the CPU maps the disk image memory area corresponding to the offset address / size range instructed by the OS into the virtual address space 200 of the RAM disk driver, using the MMMapIoSpace function of the OS (step S800). .

  Next, the CPU determines whether the process called from the OS is read or write (step S810). When the process called from the OS is a read, the CPU copies the data in the mapped area to the buffer passed from the OS (step S820), and uses the OS's MmUnmapIOSpace function to perform mapping. The area is unmapped (step S860), and the read / write process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the process called from the OS is write in step S810, the CPU copies the data passed from the OS to the mapped area (step S830). Then, the CPU determines whether or not the constant backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S840).

  When the RAM disk driver always backup function is OFF (step S840: NO), the mapped area is unmapped using the OS MmUnmapIOSpace function (step S860), and the read / write processing is performed. finish. On the other hand, when the regular backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S840: YES), the CPU stores the automatic backup file area on the hard disk 300 corresponding to the offset address / size range instructed by the OS. Data passed from the OS is written (step S850). Then, the CPU unmaps the mapped area using the MmUnmapIoSpace function of the OS (step S860), and ends the read / write process.

B6. Non-energized state transition processing:
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the non-energized state transition process. This process is performed when the PAE mode is valid and the OS notifies the RAM disk driver that the energized state of the main memory 100 shifts to a non-energized state (shutdown, restart, hibernate). This is a process executed by the CPU.

  First, the CPU determines whether or not the automatic backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (see FIG. 6) (step S900). If the automatic backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S900: YES), the CPU further determines whether or not the constant backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S910). If the constant backup function of the RAM disk driver is OFF (step S910: NO), the CPU performs the backup process shown in FIG. 11 (step S920), and then notifies the OS of successful migration (step S920). S930), the non-energized state transition process is terminated. On the other hand, when the regular backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S910: YES), the CPU notifies the OS of the success of the transition without performing the backup process (step S930), and the transition to the de-energized state is made. The process ends.

  In step S900, if the automatic backup function of the RAM disk driver is OFF (step S900: NO), the CPU notifies the OS that the migration is impossible (step S940), and ends the de-energized state migration process. To do.

B7. Energized state recovery processing:
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the energized state return process. This process is executed by the CPU when the PAE mode is valid and the OS notifies the RAM disk driver of the return from the non-energized state to the energized state. In this process, the CPU performs automatic recognition, restoration, and formatting of the installed memory capacity shown in FIG. 8 (step S1000), and ends the energization state return process.

B8. Device stop processing:
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of device stop processing. In this process, when the PAE mode is valid and the OS notifies the RAM disk driver of the stop / removal of the main memory 100 (IRP_MN_QUERY_STOP_DEVICE / IRP_MN_QUERY_REMOVE_DEVICE), or the DriverUnload function of the RAM disk driver is called from the OS. Is a process executed by the CPU.

  First, the CPU determines whether or not the automatic backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S1100). When the automatic backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S1100: YES), the CPU further determines whether or not the constant backup function of the RAM disk driver is ON (step S1110). If the always-on backup function of the RAM disk driver is OFF (step S1110: NO), the CPU performs the backup process shown in FIG. 11 (step S1120) and ends the device stop process.

  If the RAM disk driver automatic backup function is OFF in step S1100 (step S1100: NO), and if the RAM disk driver always backup function is ON in step S1110 (step S1100: YES). ) End the device stop process without performing the backup process.

B9. RAM disk driver uninstall process:
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of the RAM disk driver uninstall process. This process is a process executed by the CPU when an “uninstall” button is pressed by the user on the display screen WD1 shown in FIG.

  First, the CPU deletes the RAM disk driver from the system (step S1200). Next, the CPU deletes the RAM disk driver setting utility from the system (step S1210). Next, the CPU performs a PAE mode release process described later (step S1220). Then, the CPU restarts the OS (step S1230). With the above process, the RAM disk uninstall process is completed.

B10. PAE mode release processing:
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of PAE mode release processing in step S1220 of FIG.

  First, the CPU determines the type of OS running on the computer system (step S1300). In this embodiment, it is determined whether the OS is Windows Vista or Windows XP. When the OS is Windows Vista, the CPU executes a “bcdedit / set pae ForceDisable” command to cancel the PAE mode of the physical addressing mode, and ends the PAE mode canceling process.

  In step S1300, if the OS is Windows XP, the CPU reads the contents of the [operating systems] section of the OS boot.ini file (step S1320), and the boot entry having two or more lines in the [operating systems] section. Whether or not exists is determined (step S1330). If there are two or more boot entries in the [operating systems] section (step S1330: YES), the CPU displays a selection screen (not shown) for the user to select a boot entry for canceling the PAE mode setting. It is displayed on the display (step S1340). Then, the CPU deletes the “/ PAE” option of the boot entry selected by the user on this selection screen (step S1350), and overwrites the edited boot entry in the boot.ini file (step S1360).

  If there is only one boot entry in the [operating systems] section in step S1330 (step S1330: NO), the CPU deletes the “/ PAE” option of the boot entry (step S1350) and edits it. The boot entry is overwritten on the boot.ini file (step S1360). With the above processing, the PAE mode release processing is completed.

  By executing the RAM disk driver described above by the CPU, the setting for enabling the physical address expansion mode (PAE mode) is performed without the user performing difficult setting work for a user who is not familiar with the computer system. It is possible to make the OS unmanaged area 130 of the main memory 100 available. That is, the RAM disk driver of the present embodiment can use an unmanaged area that is an area other than the limited predetermined area in a computer system in which the management area of the main memory managed by the operating system is limited to the predetermined area. In addition, the convenience of the user at that time can be improved.

  Further, according to the RAM disk driver of the present embodiment, data stored in the OS unmanaged area 130 can be transferred to the OS unmanaged area 130 when the main memory 100 is switched from the energized state to the non-energized state. Since data can be automatically backed up to the hard disk 300 when data is written, it is possible to avoid losing data stored in the OS unmanaged area 130.

C. Variation:
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible.

C1. Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, in the PAE mode setting process shown in FIG. 3, the processing contents are switched according to the type of OS running on the computer system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Furthermore, the processing contents at the time of the setting may be switched according to the environment of the computer system such as the main memory 100 and the type of CPU. In this case, in the above embodiment, the contents of the boot.ini file are changed. However, for example, the BIOS settings may be changed.

C2. Modification 2:
In the above embodiment, the CPU realizes various functions such as the automatic backup function and the automatic restore function in addition to the PAE mode setting function by executing the RAM disk driver. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the automatic backup function and the automatic restore function may be omitted.

C3. Modification 3:
In the above embodiment, data is backed up to an automatic backup file on the hard disk 300 at the time of automatic backup processing, but the present invention is not limited to this. An automatic backup file may be created on another external storage device, and data may be backed up to this automatic backup file.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of this invention typically. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the installation process of a RAM disk driver. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a PAE mode setting process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of edit of the boot.ini file in a PAE mode setting process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of display screen WD1 which a CPU displays on a display when the setting utility of a RAM disk is started. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of operation setting screen WD2. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of an initialization process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the automatic recognition of a mounted memory capacity, a restoration, and a format process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a restore process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a format process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a backup process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a read / write process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a non-energized state transfer process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an energization state return process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a device stop process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the uninstallation process of a RAM disk driver. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of PAE mode cancellation | release process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Main memory 110 ... OS management area 120 ... Reserved area 130 ... Non-OS management area 200 ... Virtual address space 300 ... Hard disk

Claims (8)

In a computer system in which a management area of a main memory managed by an operating system is limited to a predetermined area, a computer program for making available an unmanaged area that is an area other than the predetermined area of the main memory,
A setting function for setting to enable a physical address expansion mode for extending a memory area managed by the operating system to the non-management area;
A mapping function for mapping the non-managed area of the main memory to a virtual address space when the setting for enabling the physical address extension mode is made;
A computer program for realizing a computer. The computer program according to claim 1, further comprising:
A computer program for causing the computer to realize a function of backing up data stored in the non-management area to an external storage device at a predetermined timing. A computer program according to claim 2,
The predetermined timing is a timing at which an energized state of the main memory shifts to a non-energized state.
Computer program. A computer program according to claim 2,
The predetermined timing is a timing when data is written to the non-management area.
Computer program. The computer program according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising:
A computer program for causing the computer to realize a function of restoring data backed up in the external storage device to the unmanaged area. A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The setting function includes a function of switching processing contents at the time of setting according to the type of operating system running on the computer system.
Computer program. A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The computer comprises a 32-bit microprocessor;
The operating system is an operating system corresponding to the 32-bit microprocessor;
The capacity of the predetermined area is 4 gigabytes,
Computer program.   8. A recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 1 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

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