International Business Machines Corporation

Kim V Lam

Duy Q Huynh

Loc Tien Tran

This invention relates to personal computers having the capability for the usual system controlling processor to be reset, initialized and then isolated if an alternate system controller is provided for the system. In accordance with this invention, a personal computer system has a high speed local processor data bus; an input/output data bus; a microprocessor coupled directly to the local processor bus; a connector coupled directly to the local processor bus for accommodating reception of an alternate system controller; and a bus interface controller coupled directly to the local processor bus and directly to the input/output data bus for providing communications between the local processor bus and the input/output data bus. Provision is made for setting a status bit to identify to software such as diagnostic software which microprocessor is functioning as the system controlling processor.

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Lake Worth, FL, United States of America

Kim V Lam