Personal computer employing reset button to enter ROM-based diagnostics
AssigneeDell USA, L.P.
InventorsEric W. Schieve, Richard W. Finch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are a system and method for providing user-invocable, non disk-based diagnostics routines for a personal computer. The method comprises the steps of (1) storing a diagnostics routine capable of performing diagnostic tests on portions of the personal computer in ROM, (2) monitoring a status of a reset button coupled to the personal computer and (3) executing the diagnostics routine if the reset button is pressed twice within a preselected period of time. The disclosed system and method allow a user to control the invocation of a diagnostics routine that needs a minimum of functioning computer hardware to execute.
Claims21
A system for providing a user-invocable, non disk-based diagnostic routine for a personal computer, comprising:
- main memory within said personal computer, said main memory storing a first diagnostics routine capable of performing diagnostic tests on portions of said personal computer;
- and
- a microprocessor CPU coupled to said main memory and within said personal computer, said CPU monitoring a status of a reset button coupled to said CPU, said CPU executing said first diagnostics routine when said reset button is pressed twice within a preselected period of time, said CPU rebooting said personal computer and executing a second diagnostics routine when said reset button is pressed only once within said preselected period of time.
A system for providing a user-invocable, non disk-based diagnostic routine for a personal computer, comprising:
- means for storing a first diagnostics routine capable of performing diagnostic test on portions of said personal computer;
- and
- means, coupled to said storing means, for monitoring a status of a reset button and executing said first diagnostics routine when said reset button is pressed twice within a preselected period of time, said monitoring means rebooting said personal computer and executing a second diagnostics routine when said reset button is pressed only once within said preselected period of time.
A method of providing a user-invocable, non disk-based diagnostic routine for a personal computer, comprising the steps of:
- storing a first diagnostics routine capable of performing diagnostic tests on portions of said personal computer;
- storing a second diagnostics routine on said personal computer;
- monitoring a status of a reset button coupled to said personal computer;
- executing said first diagnostics routine when said reset button is pressed twice within a preselected period of time;
- and
- executing said second diagnostic routine when said reset button is pressed once.
A method of providing a user-invocable, non disk-based diagnostic routine for a personal computer, comprising the steps of:
- detecting when a reset button coupled to said personal computer has been depressed;
- initializing a timeout counter with a preselected value representing a preselected period of time within which said reset button must again be depressed to invoke said diagnostics routine;
- pausing to detect a second depression of said reset button until said timeout counter times out;
- executing said diagnostics routine if said reset button is depressed a second time before said timeout counter times out;
- and
- rebooting said personal computer if said timeout counter times out without said reset button having been depressed said second time.
A computer system, comprising:
- read-only memory within said system for storing embedded diagnostics routines;
- a reset button capable of transmitting a signal to a reset circuit within said system when said button is depressed;
- a timeout counter, coupled to said circuit, capable of being initialized and decremented to count a preselected period of time, said system (1) executing said diagnostics routines if said button is depressed a second time within said preselected period of time and (2) initiating a hardware reset of said system if said preselected period of time passes without said button having been depressed said second time;
- a CPU, coupled to said read-only memory and said circuit, capable of accessing said read-only memory to retrieve and execute said embedded diagnostics routines if said button is depressed said second time within said preselected period of time;
- a video monitor coupled to said CPU capable of displaying information to a user concerning operation of said diagnostics routines;
- and
- a bus controller within said system and coupled to said CPU for setting said CPU and other components within said system to a reset state when said preselected period of time passes without said button having been depressed said second time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.