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AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsDon R. James, Randall L. Hess, Mark A. Piwonka
Estimating the term…
A method for easily restoring CMOS parameters in a computer having a multi-function power button is provided. In one embodiment, the method for restoring CMOS parameter values in a computer includes (a) pressing the power button for a predetermined time delay while the computer is performing a power-on self test (“POST”), thereby placing the computer in an OFF state; and (b) momentarily pressing the power button to turn on the computer. Pressing the power button for four seconds preferably invokes a power button override function. The power button override function unconditionally forces the computer to a “soft-off” state. The BIOS is preferably configured to determine if the power-override function was invoked during the POST in the previous boot-up, and if so, to replace the CMOS parameter values with backup parameter values before proceeding with the current boot-up. The CMOS parameter values are preferably backed up only if they have changed and the BIOS has successfully completed the POST procedure with the changed values. This ensures that the backup values will allow the computer to boot when CMOS parameter restoration is needed.
A method for restoring CMOS parameter values in a computer having a power button, wherein the method comprises:
A method for restoring a CMOS memory to a backup condition in a computer having a power switch, wherein the method comprises:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
At system level: boot up procedures
At system level: resetting or repowering
Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in hardware: where the redundant component is memory or memory area
Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in hardware: using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by…
Term ended 22 Sep 2021 (estimated)
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to making computer systems more user-friendly. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for conveniently restoring the default basic input/output system (“BIOS”) parameter settings from a nonvolatile memory in a computer.
A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a computer system;
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the computer system of FIG. 1;
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
In addition, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections.
Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 shows a computer system 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment comprising a computer chassis 102 coupled to a display device 104 and a user input device 106. The computer chassis 102 preferably has a power button 108 and may also have a power indicator 110 such as a light emitting diode (“LED”). When the power button 108 is momentarily pressed, power indicator 110 illuminates and computer system 100 boots up. Momentarily pressing power button 108 a second time preferably places the computer system 100 in a reduced-power state.