Operating system independent support for mixed voltage devices

In a computer comprising a processor electrically connected to a mixed voltage device, a method of providing operating system independent support for said mixed voltage device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) detecting operating system access to setup registers of said mixed voltage device;
• (b) responsive to said detecting, causing said processor to enter system management mode ("SMM");
• (c) detecting a voltage requirement for said mixed voltage device;
• (d) determining whether a voltage level of said mixed voltage device has already been set to said detected voltage requirement;
• (e) responsive to a determination that said voltage level of said mixed voltage device has not already been set, setting said voltage level of said mixed voltage device to said detected voltage requirement;
• and
• (f) causing said processor to exit SMM.

A computer program for providing operating system independent support for a mixed voltage device, the program being stored on a computer-readable medium for execution by a processor electrically connected to said mixed voltage device, the program comprising:

• instructions for causing said processor to enter system management mode ("SMM");
• instructions for detecting a voltage requirement for said mixed voltage device;
• instructions for setting a voltage level of said mixed voltage device to said detected voltage requirement;
• and
• instructions for causing said processor to exit SMM.

In a computer comprising a processor electrically connected to a device capable of operation at more than one voltage level, an apparatus for providing operating system independent support for said device, the method comprising:

• means for causing said processor to enter system management mode ("SMM");
• means for detecting a voltage requirement for said device;
• means for setting a voltage level of said device to said detected voltage requirement;
• and
• means for causing said processor to exit SMM.