Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.p.

Kurt David Gillespie

Jayne E Scott

James F Murray

A system and method for rendering a graphical setup display. A computer system comprises a first non-volatile storage device and a second non-volatile storage device. The first non-volatile storage device comprises a Basic Input/Output System ('BIOS'). The BIOS further comprises a BIOS graphical setup engine. The second non-volatile storage device comprises a setup image file containing a non-critical graphical setup image. The BIOS graphical setup engine selectively renders a basic graphical setup display omitting the non-critical image by using a set of pre-defined parameters stored in the first non-volatile storage device in place of the non-critical image if the non-critical image is not available, and renders an enhanced graphical setup display comprising the non-critical image contained in the setup image file stored in the second non-volatile storage device if the non-critical image is available.

Bios graphical setup engine

Disclosed embodiments relate to communicating operating system booting information. A machine-readable storage medium may include instructions for reading data related to booting of an operating system of an electronic device from a non-volatile storage, instructions for writing the read data to a volatile storage prior to the booting of an operating system on the electronic device, and instructions for communicating the data written to the volatile storage to the electronic device via a serial communication interface. The machine-readable storage medium may further include instructions for receiving data, from the electronic device via the serial communication interface, related to the booting of the operating system of the electronic device and instructions for writing the received data to the non-volatile storage.

Communicating operating system booting information

In accordance with at least some embodiments, a system includes a first processor and a second processor. The system also includes a boot task storage medium that can only be accessed by one processor at a time. A boot process of the system has a first stage and a second stage. During the first stage, the first processor fetches and executes boot tasks without assistance from the second processor. During the second stage, boot task execution performed by first processor overlaps with at least one boot task fetch performed by the second processor.

Overlapped boot task fetches and boot task execution to reduce boot time in an electrical device

A method for supporting pre-boot log in is described herein. The method includes receiving a password, via an operating system of the computer system, selected by a user for use in a pre-boot log in. The method includes determining whether the password can be entered by the user prior to completion of booting of the computer system. If the password cannot be entered by the user prior to completion of the booting, the method includes signaling that the password is unacceptable.

Systems and methods for supporting pre-boot log in

Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to configuring a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of a computing device. An embodiment of a method may present, by the computing device, a first request relating to a first functionality of the computing device controlled by one or more settings of the BIOS, and may receive a first user response corresponding to the first request. The method may also present a second request relating to a second functionality of the computing device controlled by one or more settings of the BIOS, with the second request being selected based on the first user response. The method may then receive a second user response corresponding to the second request. In addition, the method may configure at least one setting of the BIOS based on the first and second user responses. Embodiments of a related computing device and computer-readable storage medium are also disclosed.

Configuration of a basic input/output system (BIOS) based on a series of follow up questions tailored to user type

In a method for reclaiming space occupied by an expired variable record in a non-volatile record storage, a reclaim state data that includes a state of a reclaim operation is maintained. In addition, the state of the reclaim operation is marked to indicate a progress of the reclaim operation at a plurality of stages of the reclaim operation. The reclaim operation is implemented by sliding, one section at a time, the data in a first direction along the plurality of sections and by sliding, one section at a time, the variable records, excluding the expired variable record, in a second direction along the plurality of sections, to thereby remove the expired variable record.

Reclaiming space occupied by an expired variable record in a non-volatile record storage

A computer system comprises a Basic Input/Output System ('BIOS') graphical engine and a BIOS graphics look and feel module. The BIOS graphics look and feel module is separate from the BIOS graphical engine, and comprises a look and feel definition that defines the appearance and behavior of BIOS graphical user interface displays presented to a user before an operating system acquires control of the system. The BIOS graphical engine transforms information to be displayed for a user in accordance with the look and feel definition to provide a uniform appearance and behavior to graphical displays provided to the user.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Kurt David Gillespie