TWI556172B - Computer and booting method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Computer device and booting method thereof

The present invention relates to a computer device and a booting method thereof, and more particularly to a computer device having a Universal Extensible Firmware Interface Basic Input/Output System (UEFI BIOS) and a booting method thereof.

The BIOS plays a very important role in the booting process of the computer device. Generally, the BIOS is burned in the read only memory (ROM) on the motherboard of the computer device, and is used as a hardware and operating system. (Operating Sysyem; OS) bridges between each other. After the user presses the power of the computer system, the BIOS initializes and tests the hardware of the computer device. For example, the BIOS will be the central processor. The chipset, the motherboard and the memory are sequentially initialized, and it is determined that the foregoing initialization is correct, and the BIOS also assists in starting the operating system to implement the booting process.

However, the BIOS may be damaged by viruses and the BIOS may be damaged. The BIOS may also cause the BIOS to be damaged due to the computer device being powered off when the BIOS is not updated. If the BIOS is damaged, the computer device will not operate smoothly. Therefore, to avoid The above situation occurs. The conventional technology uses multiple memories to store multiple BIOSes. That is to say, in addition to the main BIOS used to boot, a backup BIOS is also stored. When the main BIOS is damaged, the computer system is Perform a backup BIOS to boot up smoothly.

Although the storage of the backup BIOS can solve the problem that the BIOS cannot be booted, the use of additional read-only memory will increase the hardware cost. In addition, if the backup BIOS is also damaged, the computer system cannot perform the backup BIOS to complete the boot process. Add more backup BIOS to ensure that all backup BIOSes are not corrupted at the same time. Using multiple read-only memory will result in a significant increase in hardware costs.

In view of this, the present invention provides a computer device and a booting method thereof.

In an embodiment, the computer device includes a memory and a processor. The memory includes a first address space and a second address space. The first address space stores a read-only backup BIOS, the backup BIOS includes a backup SEC code, the second address space stores a main BIOS, and the main BIOS includes a main SEC. Code. The processor is electrically connected to the memory. After the processor reads the backup SEC code from the first address space, the processor reads the main SEC code from the second address space, and the processor adds the main SEC code. Determine whether the main SEC code is wrong. If the main SEC code is wrong, the processor executes the backup BIOS.

In an embodiment, the backup SEC code includes a jump instruction, and the main BIOS further includes a main PEI code. After the processor reads the jump instruction of the backup SEC code, the processor transfers from the first address space according to the jump instruction. The address to the second address space reads the main SEC code and the main PEI code, the processor adds the main SEC code and generates a sum, and the processor adds the main PEI code and generates another sum, the processor compares The sum is combined with the preset to determine whether the main SEC code and the main PEI code are incorrect. If any of the main SEC code and the main PEI code is wrong, the processor executes the backup SEC code.

In an embodiment, the backup BIOS further includes a backup PEI code and a backup DXE code. If any of the main SEC code and the main PEI code is wrong, the processor performs backup SEC code, backup PEI code and backup. DXE code.

In an embodiment, the main BIOS is writable, and the memory receives the write protection signal, so that the main BIOS converts from writable to read-only according to the write protection signal.

In an embodiment, the booting method of the computer device includes the processor reading the backup SEC code of the backup BIOS from the first address space of the memory, and the backup BIOS is read-only, and the second address of the processor is from the memory. The space reads the main SEC code of the main BIOS, the processor adds the main SEC code to determine whether the main SEC code is wrong, and if the main SEC code is wrong, the processor executes the backup BIOS.

In an embodiment, the backup SEC code includes a jump instruction, and the main BIOS further includes a main PEI code. The booting method further includes: after the processor reads the backup SEC code, the processor is based on the jump instruction from the first address. The space is transferred to the second address space. After the processor reads the main SEC code, the processor reads the main PEI code from the second address space, and after the processor adds the main SEC code, the processor adds The main PEI code determines whether the main PEI code is wrong. If any of the main SEC code and the main PEI code is wrong, the processor executes the backup BIOS SEC code.

In one embodiment, the main BIOS is writable, and after the memory receives the write protection signal, the main BIOS converts from writable to read-only according to the write protection signal.

In an embodiment, the backup BIOS further includes a backup PEI code and a backup DXE code. If any of the main SEC code and the main PEI code is incorrect, the processor executes the backup SEC code and backs up the PEI code. Back up the DXE code.

In summary, the computer device according to the present invention simultaneously stores the BIOS and the backup BIOS from different address spaces in one memory, and when the BIOS is damaged, the computer device can be successfully booted by executing the backup BIOS, and the BIOS is backed up. For read-only, at least the backup BIOS cannot cause the computer device to fail to boot due to damage, and the computer device uses a memory to reduce the hardware cost.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer device according to the present invention, illustrating a computer device 1 . The computer device 1 includes a processor 11 and a memory 12.

In this embodiment, the computer device 1 can be a personal computer, a tablet computer or a mobile phone. The memory 12 of this embodiment is a read-only memory (ROM) and can be a serial interface (SPI) flash memory, a programmable read-only memory (PROM) or a battery. Erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The processor 11 can be an embedded controller, a microprocessor, an I/O controller, or any component having similar functions.

In terms of the address space of the memory 12, the memory 12 is planned to contain at least two address spaces (for convenience of description, hereinafter referred to as a first address space and a second address space), the first address The space and the second address space are respectively used to store the backup BIOS 121 and the main BIOS 120. Here, the processor 11 is electrically connected to the memory 12, and the processor 11 can execute the backup BIOS 121 and the main BIOS 120 stored in the memory 12 to complete the booting process of the computer device 1. If the program code of the main BIOS 120 is not damaged, the processing is performed. The processor 11 executes the main BIOS 120 to complete the booting process. If the program code of the main BIOS 120 is corrupted, the processor 11 can execute the backup BIOS 121 to complete the booting process.

Here, the code of the backup BIOS 121 is used as a backup of the code of the main BIOS 120. When the computer device 1 is shipped from the factory, the code of the main BIOS 120 stored in the memory 12 and the code of the backup BIOS 121 are the same as the factory settings. If the user of the computer device 1 changes the factory setting of the main BIOS 120 or the user updates the factory BIOS 120 after the factory, the code of the main BIOS 120 and the backup BIOS 121 will be different, even if the main BIOS 120 and the backup BIOS 120 Differently, when the main BIOS 120 is damaged, the user can smoothly turn on the computer device 1 according to the factory-set backup BIOS 121.

However, in order to prevent the backup BIOS 121 from being damaged, when the main BIOS 120 is damaged, the processor 11 cannot execute the backup BIOS 121 to complete the booting process, and the memory 12 includes a write protection terminal (not shown) and has a write protection function, and the memory 12 The data stored in part of the address space can be set to be read-only according to the signal received by the write protection terminal. For example, the address space of the memory 12 is in the range of 0x000000 to 0xFFFFFF, and is stored in one-half of the address space in the total address space of the memory 12 (ie, 0x000000~0x7FFFFF or 0x800000). The data in ~0xFFFFFF) can be set to read-only. The prefix "0x" here means the constant of hexadecimal, so the address space 0x000000~0x7FFFFF can be mapped to the first address space, so that The backup BIOS 121 can be set to read only, that is, the user of the computer device 1 cannot change the backup BIOS 121 by updating the backup BIOS 121 or changing the original settings of the backup BIOS 121, and the backup BIOS 121 is not damaged by viruses.

In practice, the processor 11 generates a write protection signal to turn on the write protection function of the memory 12, and is electrically connected to the processor 11 and the memory by a general purpose output input device (General Purpose I/O; GPIO). Between 12, the firmware control processor 11 generates a write protection signal, and the processor 11 transfers the write protection signal to the write protection end of the memory 12. The write protection signal is generated according to the logic trigger level of the write protection function of the memory 12. For example, if the write protection function is active low, the processor 11 generates a logic "0". Write the protection signal.

The partial address space that can be set as read-only in the memory 12 of the present embodiment is exemplified by one-half of the total address space, but the present invention is not limited thereto, according to the specification of the memory 12. The partial address space may also be one quarter, one eighth, or any range specified in the address space.

In this embodiment, the micro-control code (Microcode) 1204 and 1214 are respectively stored in the first address space and the second address space of the memory 12. The designer of the computer device 1 can design the micro control code 1204. 1214 controls the processor 11 via firmware.

The main BIOS 120 and the backup BIOS 121 belong to the UEFI BIOS. The UEFI BIOS boot process can be divided into a first boot phase and a second boot phase. The first boot phase includes a security (SEC) boot phase and a pre-EFI (Pre-EFI; PEI) In the boot phase, the second boot phase includes the boot phase after the PEI boot phase, such as the Driver Execution Environment (DXE) boot phase and the Boot Device Selection (BDS) boot phase.

Here, the main BIOS 120 includes a main SEC code 1201, a main PEI code 1202, and a main DXE code 1203. The backup BIOS 121 includes a backup SEC code 1211, a backup PEI code 1212, and a backup DXE code 1213. The processor 11 can execute the main SEC code 1201 or the backup SEC code 1211 to complete the SEC boot phase, and the processor 11 can execute the main PEI code 1202 or the backup PEI code 1212 to complete the PEI boot phase to complete the first boot phase. The processor 11 can execute the main DXE code 1203 or the backup DXE code 1213 to perform the second boot phase.

After the computer device 1 is powered on, the booting process cannot be completed to prevent the main BIOS 120 from being damaged. The processor 11 reads the backup SEC code 1211 from the address of the backup SEC code 1211 in the first address space of the memory 12 to start execution. SEC boot phase. The backup SEC code 1211 includes a jump instruction. After the processor 11 reads the backup SEC code 1211, the processor 11 transfers the address from the first address space to the second according to the information of the address offset in the jump instruction. The address space reads the main SEC code 1201 and determines whether the main SEC code 1201 is wrong. After the processor 11 reads the backup SEC code 1211, the processor 11 also reads the main PEI code 1202 and determines the main PEI program. Is the code 1202 wrong?

The processor 11 determines whether the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 are incorrect by performing a checksum. That is, the processor 11 adds the total SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 to the toughness. The bytes of the firmware file system (FFS) respectively generate two sums, and the processor 11 compares the two sums with the preset sum to check whether the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 are wrong.

In practice, the firmware control processor 11 can perform a sum check and the control processor 11 compares the two sums with a preset sum. The preset sum can be pre-written in the firmware, and the processor 11 instantly combines the two sums. The preset sum is compared. If the processor 11 determines that the two sums are equal to the preset sum, it indicates that the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 have no errors, and if the processor 11 determines either of the two sums and the preset If the sums are not equal, it indicates that the main SEC code 1201 or the main PEI code 1202 is incorrect. For example, assuming that the preset sum is 1, the processor 11 adds the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202, respectively, and generates a first sum and a second sum, respectively, if the first sum and the second sum are 0. Indicates that the primary SEC code 1201 and the primary PEI code 1202 are incorrect. Conversely, if the first sum and the second total are 1, the primary SEC code 1201 and the primary PEI code 1202 have no errors.

Here, the processor 11 may determine whether the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 are wrong after generating the first sum and the second sum, or the processor 11 may determine the main SEC code after generating the first sum. Is 1201 wrong? At this time, if the main SEC code 1201 is wrong, the processor 11 can directly perform the subsequent booting process without adding the main PEI code 1202.

In the normal boot process, after the processor 11 reads the backup SEC code 1211 and the backup PEI code 1212, the processor 11 executes the main SEC code because the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 have no errors. 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 complete the first boot phase. Moreover, when the processor 11 executes the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202, the processor 11 reads the main DXE code 1203 and determines whether the main DXE code 1203 is wrong, and the processor 11 adds the main DXE code 1203. The byte of the firmware file system (FFS) is checked for sum. The sum check has been described in detail above and will not be described here. After the first boot phase is completed, if the main DXE code 1203 has no errors, the processor 11 executes the main DXE code 1203 to perform the second boot phase.

However, in the abnormal booting process, if the processor 11 determines that any of the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 is incorrect, the main BIOS 120 is incorrect. At this time, the processor 11 sequentially executes the backup BIOS 121. The SEC code 1211, the backup PEI code 1212, and the backup DXE code 1213 are backed up to perform the first boot phase and the second boot phase. If the processor 11 determines that the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 are not in error and the main DXE code 1203 is wrong, the processor 11 executes the backup DXE code 1213 of the backup BIOS 121 to perform the second boot phase, that is, The processor 11 executes the first boot phase of the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202. Then, the processor 11 executes the backup DXE code 1213 for the second boot phase. In practice, the backup DXE code 1213 can be read to perform the second by setting a flag in the micro control code 1204 to cause the processor 11 to be addressed from the second address space to the first address space. Boot phase.

Therefore, when either of the main SEC code 1201, the main PEI code 1202 or the main DXE code 1203 is in error, the processor 11 can execute the backup BIOS 121 to start the operating system via the BDS phase to make the computer device 1 successful. The device can be powered on without the need for a boot information table, and the computer device 1 can include an indicator light (not shown). The indicator light can be used to indicate that the main BIOS 120 is damaged. The user of the computer device 1 can learn the main indicator by the indicator light. The BIOS 120 is corrupted and the main BIOS 120 is updated to perform a normal boot process.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a flow chart of an embodiment of a booting method of a computer device according to the present invention. After the processor 11 reads the backup SEC code 1211 from the first address space of the memory 12 (step S01) to start the booting process of the computer device 1, the processor 11 transfers the memory to the memory 12 according to the backup SEC code 1211. The second address space reads the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 (step S02); before executing the main BIOS 120 to continue the boot process, the processor 11 first determines whether the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 are If the result of the determination is "NO", it means that the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 have no errors, and the processor 11 executes the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 (step S04). To continue the boot process. After the processor 11 executes the step S04, the processor 11 reads the main DXE code 1203 from the second address space of the memory 12 (step S05) to determine whether the main DXE code 1203 is wrong (step S06), if it is determined If the result is "NO", the processor 11 executes the main DXE code 1203 (step S07) to continue the boot process and enter the BDS boot phase of the UFEI BIOS to start the operating system.

In short, if the main BIOS 120 is not damaged without error, the processor 11 sequentially executes the main SEC code 1201, the main PEI code 1202, and the main DXE code 1203 to perform a normal booting process of the computer device 1.

Next, the following describes the case where the main BIOS 120 is erroneous, and the main BIOS 120 has two types of errors. One is the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code error 1202, and the processor 11 determines the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code. If 1202 is wrong (step S03), if the determination result is "Yes", it indicates that either of the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 is wrong, and the processor 11 executes the backup SEC code 1211 and the backup in sequence. The PEI code 1212 (step S08) and the backup DXE code 1213 (step S09) are used to perform the boot process; another possibility is that the main SEC code 1201 and the main PEI code 1202 have no errors and the main DXE code 1203 is incorrect. After the processor 11 executes the steps S04 and S05, the processor 11 determines whether the main DXE code 1203 is wrong (step S06). If the determination result is YES, the processor 11 executes the backup DXE code 1213 of the backup BIOS 121 to continue. The booting process of the computer device 1. In short, when the processor 11 determines that the main SEC code 1201, the main PEI code 1202 and the main DXE code 1203 are in error, the processor 11 executes the backup BIOS 121 to perform a booting process to enable the computer device 1 to operate smoothly. Moreover, as long as the main SEC code 1201 or the main PEI code 1202 is wrong, the processor executes the backup BIOS 121 to perform the boot process without determining whether the main DXE code 1203 is incorrect.

In this embodiment, the main DXE code 1203, the main PEI code 1202, the main SEC code 1201, the backup DXE code 1213, the backup PEI code 1212, and the backup SEC code 1211 are the lower address space of the memory 12. The present invention is not limited thereto, as long as the processor 11 can execute the program codes in the main BIOS 120 and the backup BIOS 121 in the memory 12 according to the booting method of the embodiment.

In summary, the computer device according to the present invention simultaneously stores the BIOS and the backup BIOS from different address spaces in one memory, and when the BIOS is damaged, the computer device can be successfully booted by executing the backup BIOS, and the BIOS is backed up. For read-only, at least the backup BIOS cannot cause the computer device to fail to boot due to damage, and the computer device uses a memory to reduce the hardware cost.

The present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, and it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended patent application.

1‧‧‧Computer equipment
11‧‧‧ Processor
12‧‧‧ memory
120 ‧‧‧Main BIOS
1201‧‧‧Main SEC code
1202‧‧‧Main PEI code
1203‧‧‧Main DXE code
1204‧‧‧Microcontrol code of the main BIOS
121‧‧‧Backup BIOS
1211‧‧‧Backup SEC code
1212‧‧‧Backup PEI code
1213‧‧‧Backup DXE code
1214‧‧‧Backup BIOS micro-control code Step S01‧‧‧Read backup SEC code Step S02‧‧‧Read main SEC code and main PEI code Step S03‧‧‧Due main SEC code and main PEI Is the code error? Step S04‧‧‧Executing the main SEC code and the main PEI code Step S05‧‧‧Reading the main DXE code Step S06‧‧‧Determining whether the main DXE code is wrong Step S07‧‧‧Executing the main DXE Code Step S08‧‧‧Secure backup SEC code and backup PEI code Step S09‧‧‧Send backup DXE code

[FIG. 1] A block diagram showing an embodiment of a computer device according to the present invention. [Fig. 2] is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a booting method of a computer device according to the present invention.

1‧‧‧Computer equipment

11‧‧‧ Processor

12‧‧‧ memory

120‧‧‧Master BIOS

1201‧‧‧Main SEC code

1202‧‧‧Main PEI code

1203‧‧‧Main DXE code

1204‧‧‧Microcontrol code of the main BIOS

121‧‧‧Backup BIOS

1211‧‧‧Backup SEC code

1212‧‧‧Backup PEI code

1213‧‧‧Backup DXE code

1214‧‧‧Backup BIOS micro control code

Claims (8)

A computer device includes: a memory, a first address space and a second address space, wherein the first address space and the second address space are respectively used to store a backup BIOS and a host BIOS. The backup BIOS is read-only, the backup BIOS includes a backup SEC code, the main BIOS includes a main SEC code, and a processor is electrically connected to the memory, and the processor firstly starts in a booting process. The first address space reads the backup SEC code, the processor then reads the main SEC code from the second address space, and the processor adds the main SEC code to determine the main SEC program. If the code is wrong, if the main SEC code is wrong, the processor executes the backup BIOS. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the backup SEC code includes a jump instruction, the main BIOS further includes a main PEI code, and the processor reads the jump instruction of the backup SEC code, the process Transmitting, according to the jump instruction, the first address space to the second address space to read the main SEC code and the main PEI code, the processor summing the main SEC code and generating a sum. And the processor sums the main PEI code and generates another sum, the processor compares the sums with a preset sum to determine whether the main SEC code and the main PEI code are wrong, if the main SEC program The code is incorrect with any of the primary PEI codes, and the processor executes the backup SEC code of the backup BIOS. The computer device of claim 2, wherein the backup BIOS further comprises a backup PEI code and a backup DXE code, and if the main SEC code and the main PEI code are incorrect, the processor executes the The SEC code, the backup PEI code and the backup DXE code are backed up. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a write protection terminal, and the backup BIOS is set to be read only according to one of the write protection signals received by the write protection terminal. A booting method of a computer device, comprising: a processor first reading a backup BIOS from a first address space of a memory in a booting process; the backup BIOS is read only; After the processor reads the backup SEC code, the processor reads a primary SEC code of a primary BIOS from a second address space of the memory; the processor adds the primary SEC code to determine the Whether the main SEC code is wrong; and if the main SEC code is wrong, the processor executes the backup BIOS. The booting method of the computer device according to claim 5, wherein the backup SEC code includes a jump instruction, the main BIOS further includes a main PEI code, and the booting method further comprises: reading the backup SEC by the processor After the code is coded, the processor transfers from the first address space to the second address space according to the jump instruction, after the processor reads the main SEC code, the processor is from the second address The space reads the main PEI code, after the processor adds the main SEC code, the processor adds the main PEI code to determine whether the main PEI code is wrong, if the main SEC code and the Any one of the main PEI codes is incorrect, and the processor executes the backup SEC code of the backup BIOS. The booting method of the computer device according to claim 5, wherein the memory comprises a write protection end, the booting method further comprises: the write protection end of the memory receiving a write protection signal to enable the backup BIOS Set to read-only according to the write protection signal. The booting method of the computer device of claim 6, wherein the backup BIOS further comprises a backup PEI code and a backup DXE code, and if the main SEC code and the main PEI code are incorrect, the process is The backup SEC code, the backup PEI code and the backup DXE code are executed.