Method and system for providing bootcode support in a data processing system that uses a communications port that utilizes a first communications protocol, an external device that utilizes a second communications protocol, and a device driver that is loaded in response to booting to communicate with the external device through the communications port

A data processing system with bootcode support for communicating with a noncompliant external device , said data processing system comprising:

• a motherboard, a non-volatile memory connected to said motherboard, a volatile memory, processing resources, a communications port that utilizes a first communications protocol, and one or more buses interconnecting said non-volatile memory, said volatile memory, said processing resources, and said communications port;
• startup instructions that load a device driver for an external device from said non-volatile memory into said volatile memory, wherein said external device utilizes a second communications protocol;
• and
• a diagnostic application that utilizes said device driver to communicate with said external device via said communications port.

A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for providing bootcode support for communicating with a noncompliant external device, said computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable medium;
• instructions on the computer-readable medium for booting a data processing system having a motherboard, a non-volatile memory connected to said motherboard, a volatile memory, and a communications port that utilizes a first communications protocol;
• instructions on the computer-readable medium for, in response to said booting, loading a device driver for an external device from said non-volatile memory into said volatile memory, wherein said external device utilizes a second communications protocol;
• instructions on the computer-readable medium for utilizing said device driver to communicate with said external device via said communications port.