Semiconductor memory configured to emulate floppy and hard disk magnetic storage based upon a determined storage capacity of the semiconductor memory

Semiconductor storage for use in an information processing system having a CPU, a main storage for programs and data, and configured to access auxiliary storage devices, comprising:

• auxiliary storage interface means for transferring data between said CPU and auxiliary storage devices, being configured to access at least one auxiliary magnetic storage device;
• semiconductor storage means connected to said auxiliary storage interface means, for receiving, storing, and retrieving data and programs;
• BIOS storage means coupled to said CPU and said semiconductor storage means for storing at least a portion of a BIOS that controls said semiconductor storage means so as to respond to said auxiliary storage interface means in the same manner as said auxiliary magnetic storage device;
• determination means, coupled to said semiconductor storage means, for determining a storage capacity of said semiconductor storage means and for outputting one of a first and second signal indicative of said determination;
• detection means, coupled to said determination means, for detecting when said semiconductor storage means is to be treated as one of a floppy disk type and hard disk type magnetic storage, said detection means, upon receiving said first signal from said determination means, detecting that said semiconductor storage means is to be treated as said floppy disk-type magnetic storage, and said detection means, upon receiving said second signal from said determination means, detecting that said semiconductor storage means is to be treated as said hard disk type magnetic storage;
• and
• ID information storage means, connected to said semiconductor storage means and said detection means, for storing ID information used by said BIOS storage means to initialize and configure said semiconductor storage means in one of a plurality of predetermined storage formats corresponding to the type detected by said detection means.

A method for providing semiconductor type auxiliary storage for an information processing system having a CPU and a main program and data storage unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an auxiliary storage interface for transferring data between said CPU and auxiliary storage devices, said auxiliary storage interface being configured to access at least one auxiliary magnetic storage device;
• connecting at least one semiconductor memory device to said auxiliary storage interface for receiving, storing, and retrieving data and programs;
• providing a least a portion of a Basic Input/Output Operating system (BIOS) in communication with both said CPU and said auxiliary storage interface for controlling said semiconductor memory device so as to respond to said auxiliary storage interface in the same manner as said auxiliary magnetic storage device;
• determining a storage capacity of said semiconductor memory device and outputting a first and second signal indicative of said determination;
• detecting when said semiconductor memory device is to be treated as one of a floppy disk type and hard disk type magnetic storage, wherein upon receiving said first signal being outputted in said determining and outputting step, detecting that said semiconductor memory device is to be treated as said floppy disk type magnetic storage, and wherein upon receiving said second signal being outputted in said determining and outputting step, detecting that said semiconductor memory device is to be treated as said hard disk type magnetic storage;
• storing ID information comprising predetermined operating parameters for a plurality of magnetic storage formats corresponding to the type detected in said detecting step;
• and
• initializing said semiconductor memory device using said BIOS so as to configure said semiconductor memory device in one of said plurality of storage formats based upon the type detected in said detecting step.

A method of utilizing semiconductor type auxiliary storage in an information processing system while permitting the utilization of existing software configured for use with conventional magnetic storage memory, comprising the steps of:

• providing a semiconductor storage device for receiving, storing, and retrieving data and programs and having ID information stored therein corresponding to memory format structures for said conventional magnetic storage memory;
• determining a relative storage capacity for said semiconductor storage device and providing a first and second signal indicative of said determination;
• selecting a predetermined one of said memory format structures based on said ID information for said semiconductor storage device in response to the determined capacity by treating said semiconductor storage device as a floppy disk type magnetic storage when said first signal is provided in said determining and providing step, and treating said semiconductor storage device as a hard disk type magnetic storage when said second signal is provided in said determining and providing step;
• initializing said semiconductor storage device to configure said semiconductor storage device in one of said memory format structures based upon the memory format structure selected in the selecting step;
• capturing access requests for said conventional magnetic storage memory;
• translating addresses in the access requests to addresses for said semiconductor storage device by employing said ID information;
• and
• executing the translated access requests.