TH16111A - Tools and methods for encapsulating images of reference soft media recordings from system partitions in a personal computer system. - Google Patents

Abstract

A personal computer system, according to this invention, consists of a system processor, random access memory, read-only memory, and at least one set of direct-access storage devices. The direct-access storage controller, which is fused between the system processor and the direct-access storage, contains a protection mechanism for guarding the protected area of the storage device. The protected area of the storage device contains the boot record, the BIOS master image, and the image of the BIOS system reference soft memory. The BIOS image contains a section known as the Power on Self-Test (POST). The POST is used to test and process the system startup. When any appearance errors are detected, system utilities from the system reference soft memory, such as appearance configuration programs, diagnostic programs, and other utilities, can be automatically activated from the direct-access storage device.

Claims (3)

1. System Utility Components in Personal Computer Systems: A personal computer system has a processor for operating the operating system, read-only memory, random access memory, and at least one set of direct-access storage devices. These components include: a direct-access storage controller; security tools to protect areas of the direct-access storage device; a portion of the BIOS included in the protected area of the direct-access storage device; a portion of the BIOS loaded into random access memory for booting; a portion of the BIOS that triggers security tools to prevent access to the protected area of the direct-access storage device during normal operating system operation; and system utility components loaded into the protected area of the direct-access storage device. These utility components are automatically executed when operating system loading errors are detected, and include programs for modifying the system's appearance. 2. The instrument under claim 1, which is a direct-access storage device consisting of a fixed data disk. 3. Security Tools for System Utility Programs: In a personal computer system, which has a system processor, read-only memory (OOK-only), main memory, and at least one direct-access storage device (DAS) capable of storing a large number of data records, these security tools consist of: the initial program embedded in OOK-only memory; the initial program that initiates the startup process for the system processor; the initial program that generates a reset signal to the DAS, allowing access to the data records; the encapsulation tool for loading data records from the DAS into main memory; the encapsulation tool stored in the protected area of the DAS; the encapsulation tool that is read from the DAS into main memory by the initial program, which then triggers the encapsulation tool; the permanent program image in main memory stored in the protected area of the DAS; the encapsulation tool that is read from the DAS into main memory by the encapsulation tool to produce the permanent program in main memory; and the security tool for the protected area of the DAS, which is triggered by the permanent program in main memory to prevent unauthorized access to the encapsulation tool and to the permanent program image in main memory. And images of system utility programs are stored in a protected area of direct-access storage devices. These system utility programs are automatically read from the direct-access storage device into main memory for execution when a persistent program in main memory detects a system error. Images of these system utility programs include programs for modifying the system's appearance.