US 6,584,561 B1 · System and method to modify CD boot

Abstract

A system and method are presented for restricting a compact disk containing boot software to work only on computer systems for which the boot software has been authorized to operate. The disclosure allows the boot software to run on a particular computer system only if predetermined computer identification criteria are met. An advantage is that, by replacing the boot software stored on the computer system hardware, it provides the flexibility to produce new boot software when required by the introduction of a revised or new operating system. Another advantage is that the verification software's identification criteria can be tailored to the needs of the hardware and software vendors over the product life of the computer system hardware without requiring changes to the identification data stored in the computer system hardware.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for booting a computer system comprising:

recording identification data identifying the computer system in the computer system;
loading into a non-volatile memory device drive included in the computer system a non-volatile memory device including:
verification software including software code to verify the identification data;
and
boot software including software code to boot the computer system;
copying the verification software and the boot software to produce at least one copy of the verification software and at least one copy of the boot software in a memory area of the computer system;
verifying the identification data using a copy of the verification software in the memory area;
and
booting the computer system using a copy of the boot software in the memory area if the identification data is verified by a copy of the verification software.

6 more elements

A computer system comprising:

a processor;
a non-volatile memory device drive coupled to the processor;
identification data identifying the computer system coupled to the processor;
a non-volatile memory device including:
verification software including software code to verify the identification data;
and
boot software including software code to boot the computer system;
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including:
means for copying the verification software and the boot software to produce at least one copy of the verification software and at least one copy of the boot software in the memory;
means for verifying the computer system identification data using a copy of the verification software in the memory;
and
means for booting the computer system using a copy of the boot software in the memory if the identification data is verified by a copy of the verification software.

9 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a memory;
a computer system coupled to the memory;
identification data identifying the computer system coupled to the memory;
a non-volatile memory device drive;
and
a non-volatile memory device including:
verification software including software code to verify the identification data;
and
boot software including software code to boot the computer system;
the memory including:
means for copying the verification software and the boot software to produce at least one copy of the verification software and at least one copy of the boot software in the memory;
means for verifying the computer system identification data using a copy of the verification software in the memory;
and
means for booting the computer system using a copy of the boot software in the memory if the identification data is verified by a copy of the verification software.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method to modify CD boot

Life of this patent

System and method to modify CD boot

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21