JP2006331380A - Starting device and method of personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase starting speed of a general-purpose personal computer. <P>SOLUTION: When a second boot code and second boot strap loader of an external storage device or internal storage device are executed in an original first processing mode by a BIOS-INT 13 of the general-purpose personal computer, the personal computer is initialized by the second boot strap loader so as to start in a second processing mode at a higher processing speed than the original first processing mode. Thereby, the general-purpose personal computer can start at a higher speed than the original starting speed by the external storage device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an activation apparatus and method for a personal computer, and more particularly, to attempt to activate a general-purpose personal computer from an external storage device at high speed.

  In general, a general-purpose personal computer is activated by a startup code BIOS-ROM (BASIC INPUT SYSTEM-ROM) stored in a ROM memory area of a built-in storage device (usually a HDD (Hard Disc Drive) storage device). It is designed to start by booting the operating system.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 proposes a startup method in which this general-purpose personal computer is started up externally by an external storage device.

  As shown in FIG. 30, the boot device includes an external storage device 3 connected to the external connection port 2 of the personal computer 1 and a bootstrap loader (BOOTSTRAP LOADER) stored in the internal storage device 4 of the personal computer 1. ) Copy BSL and operating system data A to F in advance.

  When starting up the personal computer 1, the CPU 5 reads the bootstrap loader BSL of the external storage device 3 into the main memory 6 using the disk startup program BIOS-ROM of the internal storage device 4, and executes it to execute the external storage device 3. Required operating systems A, C, and D are read into the main memory 6 and executed.

Thus, the CPU 5 can start up the operating system by the bootstrap loader BSL stored in the external storage device 3 in advance.
JP 2004-30184 A

  However, according to the configuration of FIG. 30, the bootstrap loader BSL read from the external storage device 3 by the disk boot program BIOS-ROM is a data processing method USB 1.1 (USB Standard 1. 1), the bootstrap loader BSL stored in advance in the external storage device 3 is read into the main memory 6 of the personal computer 1 via the external connection port 2. At the time of execution, the data is transferred at a transfer speed standardized by USB 1.1 (about 1 [Mbyte / s]).

  However, a recent general-purpose personal computer 1 has adopted an external connection port 2 that conforms to the USB 2.0 Standard standard, which has a higher speed than the USB 1.1 standard. If the operating system can be started up using the computer, it is considered that the startup of the general-purpose personal computer 1 can be further accelerated.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an operating system using a high-speed code format standard even for a general-purpose personal computer having a bootstrap loader of a code format that originally has a low transfer rate. It is an object of the present invention to propose a personal computer start-up apparatus and method that can start up a computer at a high speed.

  In order to solve such a problem, the present invention starts by executing the first bootstrap loader with the original first boot code in the first processing mode corresponding to the original first data transfer rate. In addition, in the personal computer 12 capable of transferring data to and from the external storage device 15 at a second data transfer rate higher than the original first data transfer rate via the external connection port 13, the external connection port A second bootstrap loader to be executed by the second boot code is stored in advance in the external storage devices 15 and 41 and the built-in startup data memory 42 connected to 13 (RT1), and the personal computer 12 is started when the personal computer 12 is started up. A second boot code and an external storage device 15 are executed by the disk drive activation program of the computer. By executing the second bootstrap loader, the personal computer 12 is initialized to start up in the second processing mode corresponding to the second data transfer rate (RT4), and then the first bootstrap loader is executed. As a result, the personal computer 12 is activated in the second processing mode (RT5).

  According to the present invention, the second boot coat and the second bootstrap loader of the external storage device are executed in the original first processing mode by the disk drive startup program of the general-purpose personal computer, thereby executing the first processing mode. The bootstrap loader 2 initializes the personal computer so that it can be started in the second processing mode, which is faster than the original first processing mode. It can be started at a higher speed than its original startup speed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a personal computer activation device as a whole. An external storage device 15 (Windows (registered trademark)) is connected to an external connection port 13 of the personal computer 12 via a USB cable 14. ) Consisting of a hard disk having 2000 operating systems).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer 12 is configured such that a central processing unit (CPU) 21 executes a program in a program memory 23 via a bus 22 while using an operation memory 24 having a RAM configuration, so that a user can display a display 25. The instruction input by the input device 26 is executed while watching, and the processing result is stored in the internal storage device 27.

  The personal computer 12 is a general-purpose personal computer having a built-in storage device having an HDD configuration. A program memory 23 is formed in the ROM area, and an operation memory 24 and an internal storage device 27 are formed in the RAM area.

  With respect to the startup data, the internal storage device 27 stores a boot code used to start the personal computer 12 (referred to as “original boot code”) in sector 0 as shown in FIG. At the same time, a bootstrap loader BSL (referred to as “original bootstrap loader BSL”) executed by the original boot code is stored in the sector X, so that when the personal computer 12 starts up alone. The CPU 21 starts up the operating system in accordance with the USB 1.1 standard by executing the “original bootstrap loader BSL” of the sector X by the “original boot code” of the sector 0.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the external storage device 15 has a USB 2.0 boot code of the USB 2.0 standard in sector 0 as startup data for starting the personal computer 12 with the SUB 2.0 standard. In addition, the disk drive activation program USB2.0BIOS executed by the USB2.0 boot code is stored in the sector Y.

  In addition to this, the external storage device 15 stores a boot code used in a general-purpose personal computer in the sector Z (this boot code is the same code as the “original boot code” of the personal computer 12). In addition, the “bootstrap loader BSL” executed by the “original boot code” in the sector X (this bootstrap loader BSL is the same code as the “original bootstrap loader BSL” used in the personal computer 12). Is stored).

  The start-up data of the external storage device 15 is generated by the personal computer 12 before the start-up operation of the personal computer 12 with the USB 2.0 standard by the external storage device 15 shown in FIG. By executing the “setting process procedure” RT1, the setting is made in the external storage device 15.

  When executing this “procedure for setting startup data to external storage device” RT1, “external” (before setting startup data) external storage device 15 is connected to external connection port 13. At the same time, the auxiliary storage device 16 for storing “USB 2.0 boot code” and “USB 2.0 BIOS” is connected to the other external connection port 13X via the USB cable 14X.

  Thus, the processing of the setting processing procedure RT1 in the case of this embodiment is executed by the processing operation of the CPU 21 (operating with the USB 1.0 standard) using the personal computer 12 before the USB 2.0 activation setting is made. The

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the CPU 21 of the personal computer 12 uses the original disk drive activation program BIOS / INT 13 stored in the program memory 23 of the personal computer 12 in step SP1, as shown in FIG. The “original boot code” and the “original bootstrap loader BSL” stored in the sector 0 and the sector X of the internal storage device 27 of the personal computer 12 are copied to the sector 0 and the sector X, respectively.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 copies the “original boot code” copied to the sector 0 of the external storage device 15 in step SP2 back to the sector Z as shown in FIG. 6B, and then in step SP3 the external storage device. The BIOS of the USB 2.0 standard stored in the auxiliary storage device 16, that is, “USB 2.0 BIOS” is written in 15 sectors Y.

  Subsequently, in step SP4, the CPU replaces the “original boot code” (FIG. 6A) copied to the sector 0 with the USB 2.0 standard boot code stored in the auxiliary storage device 16, that is, “USB2”. .0 boot code ", thereby completing the" starting data setting processing procedure for the external storage device "RT1 in step SP5.

  According to such a processing procedure, the external storage device 15 is provided with activation data (FIG. 4) for activating the personal computer 12 in accordance with the SUB2.0 standard.

  In the above configuration, the CPU 21 of the personal computer 12 stores the personal computer 12 in the external storage device 15 in accordance with the “startup processing procedure” RT2 shown in FIG. The personal computer 12 is started at a speed significantly higher than the original startup speed of the personal computer 12 by the startup operation of the startup data having the USB 2.0 code standard.

  When the CPU 21 enters the “startup process procedure” RT2 in response to the start command input from the input device 26 by the user, the CPU 21 executes the disk drive start program BIOS / INT13 stored in the program memory 23 in step SP11. In the next step SP12, the USB 2.0 BIOS is written in the main memory of the operation memory 24 by the USB 2.0 boot code stored in the external storage device 15, and the personal computer 12 is initialized.

  When writing the USB 2.0 BIOS in step SP12, the CPU 21 enters the routine of “USB 2.0 BIOS read processing procedure” RT3 shown in FIG. 8. First, in step SP21, the USB 2.0 boot code is stored in the external storage device 15. It is read from the sector 0 into the main memory of the operation memory 24 and executed.

  Subsequently, in the next step SP22, the CPU 21 stores the USB 2.0 BIOS stored in the sector Y of the external storage device 15 in the main memory of the operation memory 24 by the USB 2.0 boot code read from the external storage device 15. Read.

  Subsequently, in step SP23, the CPU 21 jumps to the head address of the USB 2.0 BIOS and executes it, and then ends the “USB 2.0 BIOS read processing procedure” RT3 in step SP24.

  At this time, the USB 2.0 BIOS is written in the main memory of the operation memory 24 as shown in FIG. 9, and this is the result of the “USB 2.0 BIOS initialization” shown in FIG. It is executed in accordance with “processing procedure” RT4.

  When entering the “USB 2.0 BIOS initialization processing procedure” RT4, the CPU 21 first saves the vector of INT13 in the storage area C2 of the main memory (FIG. 9) in step SP31.

  Thus, when executing the code of the INT 13 of the personal computer 12, the CPU 21 interrupts the initialization process for the original boot code, and then returns to the stored vector so that the original boot code can be executed.

  Subsequently, in step SP32, the CPU 21 changes the current INT13 vector to the INT13 entry processing program (FIG. 11), thereby executing the program of the INT13 entry processing portion written in the storage area C3 of the main memory (FIG. 9). Put it in a state.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 proceeds to step SP33 and initializes the hardware components of the personal computer 12 so that the personal computer 12 can execute processing according to the USB 2.0 BIOS standard via the external connection port 13.

  Thus, after that, when the CPU 21 tries to execute the original boot code, the personal computer 12 can execute the boot code according to the USB 2.0 standard accordingly.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 proceeds to step SP34 to read the “original boot code” stored in the sector Z of the external storage device 15 into the main memory of the operation memory 24, and in the subsequent step SP35, the original boot code. Jump to and do this.

  As a result, the CPU 21 can start the personal computer 12 using the original boot code stored in the external storage device 15 in advance (this boot code is the same as the original boot code of the personal computer 12). initialize.

  Thus, in step SP36, the CPU 21 ends the processing of the “USB 2.0 BIOS initialization processing procedure” RT4.

  When the processing of the USB 2.0 BIOS “initialization processing procedure” RT4 is completed, the CPU 21 returns to the “startup processing procedure” RT2 (FIG. 7), and the original bootstrap stored in the internal storage device 27 in step SP13. The loader BSL is executed.

  At this time, since the personal computer 12 is initialized in a state in which the USB 2.0 BIOS can be executed in step SP12, the original bootstrap loader BSL can be processed according to the USB 2.0 standard.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 executes the BIOS / INT 13 entry process in step SP14, and ends the “startup process procedure” RT2 process in step SP15.

  At this time, in step SP14, the CPU 21 executes the “INT13 entry processing procedure” RT5 shown in FIG. 11 each time an INT13 processing instruction is received. First, in step SP41, it is determined whether or not a USB 2.0 device is connected. Make a decision.

  If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the USB 2.0 standard device is not connected to the external connection port 13, and at this time, the CPU 21 jumps to step SP42 to jump to the original INT13. Is executed to start the personal computer 12 with its original start-up method (that is, USB 1.0 standard start-up method), and in step SP43, the process of the "INT13 entry processing procedure" RT5 is terminated and the process returns to the main routine.

  The start-up time at this time is about 100 seconds because USB 1.1 is regulated to a transfer rate of 1 [Mbyte / s].

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP41, this means that a USB 2.0 standard device, that is, the external storage device 15 is connected to the external connection port 13, and at this time the CPU 21 performs step Moving to SP44, the external storage device 15 is accessed in the USB 2.0 mode.

  In practice, this process executes the contents of the INT 13 command (eg, read command, write command, etc.) using the components of the external connection port 13 of the personal computer 12 initialized in step SP12 (FIG. 7). To do.

  As a result, the startup speed of the personal computer 12 is processed at a processing speed that conforms to the USB 2.0 standard (that is, a processing speed corresponding to a transfer speed of 60 [Mbyte / s]). Will start up with a startup time of about 1 second.

  Thus, when the process of step SP44 is completed, the CPU 21 returns to the main routine from step SP43 to wait for the next process of INT13.

  According to the above configuration, when the user activates the general-purpose personal computer 12 using the input device 26, the CPU 21 is connected to the external connection port 13 so that the CPU 21 can When the original bootstrap loader BSL is executed with the original boot code of the personal computer 12 (steps SP11 and SP13 in FIG. 7), the USB 2.0 standard startup program is stored in advance with the USB boot code stored in the external storage device 15 By starting the USB 2.0 BIOS so as to interrupt the original boot operation (steps SP12 and SP14), the personal computer 12 originally configured according to the USB 1.1 standard can be replaced with the USB boot code of the USB 2.0 standard. And USB 2.0 BIOS It can launch Le computer 12 at high speed.

  In the case of the first embodiment described above, the “original boot code” and the “original BSL” are set for the external storage device 15 using the personal computer 12 to be started at high speed ( The setting of “USB 2.0 boot code” and “USB 2.0 BIOS” (from the internal storage device 27) (FIGS. 5 and 6) is performed, but instead of this, the personal computer 12 to be started at high speed The setting process may be performed using a standard general-purpose personal computer other than the above.

(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 12 shows an activation system according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 13 is different from the external storage device 15 of FIG. 2 in that an external storage device 31 connected to the storage device 13 includes a CDROM storage unit 31A and an HDD storage unit 31B, as shown in FIG.

  The external storage device 31 is composed of a NANO flash memory, of which the CDROM storage unit 31A fixedly stores data in a standard that can be activated by the BIOS / INT 13 of the personal computer 12 according to the operating conditions of the CDROM standard. The HDD storage unit 31B is configured to be able to write and store data according to operating conditions of the hard disk standard that cannot be activated by the BIOS / INT 13 of the personal computer 12.

  The storage area sector 0 of the CDROM storage unit 31A of the external storage device 31 stores a USB 2.0 boot code having the USB 2.0 standard, and the sector X is initially executed by the USB 2.0 boot code. The activation code USB2.0BIOS is stored.

  On the other hand, the original boot code (the same as the original boot code of the personal computer 12) is written in the sector 0 of the HDD storage unit 31B, and the original bootstrap loader BSL ( (This is also the same as the original BSL of the personal computer 12).

  When the user inputs an activation command using the input device 26, the CPU 21 activates the operating system of the personal computer 12 by executing the “activation processing procedure” RT6 shown in FIG.

  When entering the “drive processing procedure” RT6, the CPU 21 executes the BIOS / INT 13 stored in the program memory 23 of the personal computer 12 in step SP51, and in the next step SP52, the BIOS reads the CDROM of the external storage device 31. The “USB 2.0 boot code” in sector 0 of the storage unit 31A is read into the main memory of the operation memory 24 and executed.

  Thereby, the CPU 21 reads “USB2.0BIOS” from the sector X of the external storage device 31 to the main memory of the operation memory 24 by the “USB2.0 boot code” in the next step SP53 and executes it.

  Subsequently, in the next step SP54, the CPU 21 initializes a hardware startup component relating to the external connection port 13 of the personal computer 12 by “USB 2.0 BIOS”.

  As a result, the personal computer 12 becomes ready to start in the USB 2.0 mode. Subsequently, in the next step SP55, the CPU 21 uses the “original boot code” in the sector 0 of the HDD storage unit 31B of the external storage device 31. Z's "original bootstrap loader BSL" is executed.

  At this time, every time an execution instruction of INT13 is issued from the “original bootstrap loader BSL”, the CPU 21 executes entry processing of INT13 in step SP56.

  Thus, when all the entry processes are completed, the CPU 21 ends the activation process procedure RT6 in step SP57.

  The initialization process by “USB 2.0 BIOS” in step SP54 of the activation process procedure RT6 is performed by the CPU 21 executing “UBS 2.0 BIOS initialization process procedure” RT7 shown in FIG.

  When entering the initialization processing procedure RT7, the CPU 21 saves the vector of the INT13 instruction in step SP61, and then changes the vector of the INT13 to an INT13 entry program in step SP62, whereby each time the INT13 instruction is given. Are set to execute the INT13 entry program (FIG. 16).

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 initializes the hardware components used for starting the personal computer 12 so that “USB2.0BIOS” can be executed in step SP63.

  When such initialization is performed, the personal computer 12 becomes ready to respond to the “USB 2.0 bootstrap loader” supplied from the external storage device 31.

  Subsequently, in step SP64, the CPU 21 writes the “original boot code” of the sector 0 of the HDD storage unit 31B of the external storage device 31 on the main memory of the operation memory 24, and in step SP65 the “original boot code”. Jump to and do this.

  Thus, the CPU 21 ends the processing of the “USB 2.0 BIOS initialization processing procedure” RT7 in step SP66.

  The entry process in step SP56 is performed by the CPU 21 executing the “INT13 entry process procedure” RT8 shown in FIG.

  Upon entering the “INT13 entry processing procedure” RT8, the CPU 21 confirms in step SP71 whether or not a USB 2.0 device is connected.

  If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the USB standard external storage device 31 is not connected to the external connection port 13 of the personal computer 12, and at this time the CPU 21 moves to step SP72 and the personal computer. After executing the process of executing the “original boot code” and “original BSL” stored in the internal storage device 12 of the Twelve, the “INT13 entry processing procedure” RT8 is terminated in step SP73.

  Thus, when the external storage device 31 is not connected to the external connection port 13, the CPU 21 performs “original boot code” and “original” corresponding to the USB 1.1 processing mode originally set in the personal computer 12. The boot process is performed using the bootstrap loader BSL.

  The start-up time at this time is about 100 seconds because USB 1.1 is regulated to a transfer rate of 1 [Mbyte / s].

  On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP71, this means that the external storage device 31 is connected to the external connection port 13. At this time, the CPU 21 executes the USB 2.0 mode in step SP74. Then, after the HDD storage unit 31B of the external storage device 31 is accessed, the process returns to the main routine in step SP73.

  In this process, the personal computer 12 is activated by using a hardware component that has been initialized to the USB 2.0 mode.

  Accordingly, in this activation process, since the transfer rate specified in USB 2.0 is 60 [Mbyte / s], the activation speed of the personal computer 12 rises at a high speed of about 1 second accordingly. Become.

  According to the above configuration, even if the external storage device 31 has the HDD storage unit 31B that cannot directly respond to the BIOS / INT 13 of the personal computer 12, the CDROM storage unit 31A that can respond to the BIOS / INT of the personal computer 12 Since the personal computer 12 is activated by using the response operation of this part of the CDROM storage unit 31A, the subsequent processing cannot be activated, but the read / write operation is performed by a large-capacity storage area. It is possible to use the HDD storage unit 31B capable of

  Thus, the range of external storage devices that can be activated by connecting the personal computer 12 to the external connection port 13 can be further expanded.

(3) Third Embodiment FIG. 17 shows an activation system in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts to those in FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, the external storage device 41 connected to 13 stores the original boot code in the sector 0 and the original bootstrap loader BSL executed by the original boot code in the sector X. It has a stored configuration.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19, the internal storage device 27 of the personal computer 12 has USB 2 for driving the initial activation code USB 2.0 BIOS stored in the sector Y in the sector 0 as shown in FIG. 0.0 boot code is stored, and the original boot code for driving the original bootstrap loader BSL stored in the sector X is stored in the sector Z.

  The startup data of the internal storage device 27 is stored in advance in the personal computer 12 before the external storage device 41 is connected to the external connection port 13 of the personal computer 12 and the personal computer 12 is started up using the external storage device 41. And the auxiliary storage device 16 connected to the external connection port 13X are set in accordance with the procedure of the “setting processing procedure of activation data in the internal storage device” RT10 shown in FIG.

  First, in step SP81, the CPU 21 copies the “original boot code” of the sector 0 of the internal storage device 27 to the sector Z as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, and in the subsequent step SP82, the auxiliary storage device. “USB2.0BIOS” stored in the internal storage device 27 is written in the sector Y of the internal storage device 27, and “original boot code” of the sector 0 of the internal storage device 27 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 16 in step SP83. Replace with "USB2.0 boot code".

  Thus, in step SP84, the “procedure for setting the startup data in the internal storage device” RT10 is terminated, and the internal storage device 27 stores startup data for starting up the personal computer 12 as shown in FIG. Will be complete.

  In the above configuration, the CPU 21 of the personal computer 12 does not activate the personal computer 12 according to the “startup processing procedure” RT11 shown in FIG. 27, the personal computer 12 is started at a speed significantly higher than the original startup speed of the personal computer 12 by the startup operation of the startup data having the USB 2.0 code standard stored in the personal computer 27.

  That is, the CPU 21 executes the disk drive activation program BIOS / INT13 stored in the program memory 23 in step SP91 when entering the “activation process procedure” RT11 in accordance with the activation command input from the input device 26 by the user. As a result, in the next step SP92, “USB2.0 BIOS” is written in the main memory of the operation memory 24 by the “USB2.0 boot code” stored in the internal storage device 27, and the personal computer 12 is initialized.

  The initialization process in step SP92 is performed by the CPU 21 executing the “USB 2.0 BIOS reading process procedure” RT12 in FIG.

  First, in step SP101, the CPU 21 reads the “USB 2.0 boot code” from the sector 0 of the internal storage device 27 into the main memory and executes it.

  Thus, in step SP102, the CPU 21 reads “USB2.0BIOS” from the sector Y of the internal storage device 27 into the main memory by the “USB2.0 boot code” read into the main memory.

  Subsequently, in step SP103, the CPU 21 jumps to the head address of “USB2.0BIOS” and executes it, and then ends the “USB2.0BIOS read processing procedure” RT12 in step SP104.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 24, “USB2.0BIOS” is written in the main memory of the operation memory 24, and this is changed from the start address of the program of the initialization processing portion to the “USB2.0BIOS initial value shown in FIG. Initialization process "RT13 initialization process is executed.

  In step SP111, the CPU 21 first saves the vector of INT13 in the storage area C2 (FIG. 24) of the main memory.

  Thus, when executing the code of the INT 13 of the personal computer 12, the CPU 21 interrupts the initialization process for the original boot code, and then returns to the stored vector so that the original boot code can be executed.

  Subsequently, in step SP112, the CPU 21 changes the current INT13 vector to the INT13 entry processing program (FIG. 26), thereby enabling the program of the INT13 entry processing portion written in the storage area C3 of the main memory.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 proceeds to step SP113, and initializes the hardware components of the personal computer 12 so that the personal computer 12 can execute processing in accordance with the “USB 2.0 BIOS” standard.

  Thus, after that, when the CPU 21 tries to execute the “original boot code”, the personal computer 12 can execute the boot code according to the USB 2.0 method accordingly.

  Subsequently, in step SP114, the CPU 21 checks whether or not a USB 2.0 device is connected to the external connection port 13, and when an affirmative result is obtained, the CPU 21 proceeds to step SP115 and performs a sector of the external storage device 41. The “original boot code” of 0 is read into the main memory, and at the subsequent step SP116, the original boot code is jumped to and executed.

  As a result, the CPU 21 starts up the personal computer 12 using the “original boot code” stored in the external storage device 41 in advance (this boot code is the same as the original boot code of the personal computer 12). Thus, the personal computer 12 is initialized so that the “original boot code” of the external storage device 41 can be used to start up the operating system.

  Thus, in step SP117, the CPU 21 ends the processing of the “USB 2.0 BIOS initialization processing procedure” RT13.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP114, the CPU 21 moves to step SP118 and reads “the original boot code in the main memory of the sector Z of the internal storage memory 27 and moves to step SP116, thereby moving to the internal SP. The operating system is started up using the “original boot code” in the storage memory 27.

  When the processing of the “USB 2.0 BIOS initialization processing procedure” RT13 is completed, the CPU 21 returns to the “activation processing procedure” RT11 (FIG. 22) and is stored in the internal storage device 27 (FIG. 17) in step SP93. The “original bootstrap loader BSL” is executed.

  At this time, since the personal computer 12 is initialized in a state in which “USB2.0BIOS” can be executed in step SP92, the “original bootstrap loader BSL” can be processed according to the USB2.0 standard.

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 executes the BIOS / INT 13 entry process in step SP94, and ends the “startup process procedure” RT11 process in step SP95.

  Here, the CPU 21 executes the “INT13 entry processing procedure” RT14 shown in FIG. 26 each time an INT13 processing instruction is received in step SP94. First, in step SP121, is the USB 2.0 device connected to the external connection port 13? Judge whether or not.

  If a negative result is obtained here, this means that a USB 2.0 standard device is not connected to the external connection port 13, and at this time the CPU 21 jumps to step SP122 and jumps to the original INT13. To start the personal computer 12 (the startup time at this time is about 100 seconds), and in step SP123, the processing of the INT13 entry processing procedure RT14 is terminated and the process returns to the main routine.

  On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP121, this means that the USB 2.0 standard device, that is, the external storage device 41 is connected to the external connection port 13, and the CPU 21 at this time The process moves to step SP124 to execute USB 2.0 access processing.

  In practice, the contents of the instruction of the INT 13 (for example, a read instruction and a write instruction) are executed in this process using the components of the personal computer 12 initialized in step SP92 (FIG. 22).

  As a result, the startup speed of the personal computer 12 is processed at a processing speed that conforms to the USB 2.0 standard (that is, a processing speed corresponding to a transmission speed of 60 [Mbyte / s]). It can be shortened to about 1 second.

  Thus, when the process of step SP124 is completed, the CPU 21 returns to the main routine from step SP123 to wait for the next process of INT13.

  According to the above configuration, when the user starts up the general-purpose personal computer 12 using the input device 26, the external storage device 41 is connected to the external connection port 13, and the internal storage device of the general-purpose personal computer 12 has. 27, when the CPU 21 executes the original bootstrap loader with the original boot code of the general-purpose personal computer 12 (steps SP91 and SP93 in FIG. 22), The USB 2.0 code startup program USB2.0 BIOS is interrupted by the USB boot code prepared in the internal storage device 41 and the internal storage device 27 in advance (steps SP92 and SP94). Configured by the original USB 1.1 standard That the personal computer 12 can be activated at high speed by USB boot code and USB2.0BIOS the USB2.0 standard.

(4) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 2, the external storage device 15 having a Windows (registered trademark) 2000 operating system is provided for the general-purpose personal computer 12. In the case of connection, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts to FIG. 2, and as shown in FIGS. 27, 28 and 29, Windows (registered trademark) XP, Linux and Unix (registered trademark) are used as operating systems. Even if the external storage devices 15X, 15Y, and 15Z having the operating system are connected, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  The present invention can be used when an external storage device is connected to a general-purpose personal computer for activation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall configuration of a personal computer activation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a schematic system diagram illustrating a first embodiment. FIG. It is a basic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of the original starting data of an internal storage device. It is a basic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of the starting data of an external storage device. It is a flowchart which shows the setting process procedure of the starting data to an external storage device. (A) And (B) is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the method of setting the starting data to an external storage device. It is a flowchart which shows a starting process procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the reading process procedure of USB2.0BIOS. It is a basic diagram which shows the data arrangement | positioning of USB2.0BIOS written in the main memory. It is a flowchart which shows the initialization process sequence of USB2.0BIOS. It is a flowchart which shows the INT13 entry processing procedure. It is a rough-line system diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of the starting data of an external storage device. It is a flowchart which shows a starting process procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the initialization process sequence of USB2.0BIOS. It is a flowchart which shows the INT13 entry processing procedure. It is a rough-line system diagram which shows 3rd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of the starting data of an external storage device. It is a basic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning of the starting data of an internal storage device. It is a flowchart which shows the setting process procedure of the starting data to an internal storage device. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the method of setting the starting data to an internal storage device. It is a flowchart which shows a starting process procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the reading process procedure of USB2.0BIOS. It is a basic diagram which shows the data arrangement | positioning of USB2.0BIOS written in the main memory. It is a flowchart which shows the initialization process sequence of USB2.0BIOS. It is a flowchart which shows the INT13 entry processing procedure. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment when an external storage device having an OS of Windows (registered trademark) XP is connected. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment when an external storage device having a Linux OS is connected. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment when an external storage device having an UNIX (registered trademark) OS is connected. It is a rough-line system diagram which shows the conventional structure.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,12 ... Personal computer, 2, 13 ... External connection port, 3, 15, 31, 41 ... External storage device, 4, 27 ... Internal storage device, 5, 21 ... CPU, 6 ... Main storage device, 22... Bus, 23... Program memory, 24.

Claims (6)

In the first processing mode corresponding to the original first data transfer rate, it is started by executing the first bootstrap loader with the original first boot code, and the above-mentioned original data is transmitted via the external connection port. In a personal computer capable of transferring data to and from an external storage device at a second data transfer rate higher than the first data transfer rate,
A second bootstrap loader to be executed by a second boot code is stored in advance in the external storage device connected to the external connection port or the internal storage memory of the personal computer,
When the personal computer is activated, the second data is executed by executing the second boot code and the second bootstrap loader from the external storage device by a disk drive activation program of the personal computer. Initialize to start in the second processing mode corresponding to the transfer speed,
Thereafter, the personal computer is started in the second processing mode by executing the first bootstrap loader. In the first processing mode corresponding to the original first data transfer rate, it is started by executing the first bootstrap loader with the original first boot code, and the above-mentioned original data is transmitted via the external connection port. In a personal computer capable of transferring data to and from an external storage device at a second data transfer rate higher than the first data transfer rate,
Means for storing a second bootstrap loader to be executed by a second boot code in the external storage device connected to the external connection port;
When the personal computer is started, the second data is executed by executing the second boot code and the second bootstrap loader from the external storage device by the disk drive start program of the personal computer. Means for initializing to start in the second processing mode corresponding to the transfer speed;
And a means for starting the personal computer in the second processing mode by the first bootstrap loader. In the first processing mode corresponding to the original first data transfer rate, it is started by executing the first bootstrap loader with the original first boot code, and the above-mentioned original data is transmitted via the external connection port. In a personal computer capable of transferring data to and from an external storage device at a second data transfer rate higher than the first data transfer rate,
Of the external storage devices connected to the external connection port, a second bootstrap loader executed by the second boot code is pre-installed in the first storage unit that can be activated according to the data transfer standard of the external connection port. Remember,
When the personal computer is activated, the second bootstrap loader of the first storage unit of the external storage device is executed by the disk drive activation program of the personal computer, thereby causing the personal computer to execute the second data. Initialize to start in the second processing mode corresponding to the transfer speed,
Thereafter, the personal computer is operated in the second processing mode by the first bootstrap loader stored in the second storage unit that cannot be activated depending on the data transfer standard of the external connection port in the external storage device. A method for starting a personal computer, characterized by starting. In the first processing mode corresponding to the original first data transfer rate, it is started by executing the first bootstrap loader with the original first boot code, and the above-mentioned original data is transmitted via the external connection port. In a personal computer capable of transferring data to and from an external storage device at a second data transfer rate higher than the first data transfer rate,
Of the external storage device connected to the external connection port, a second bootstrap loader to be executed by the second boot code is stored in advance in a first storage unit that can be activated according to the data transfer standard of the external connection port Means to
When the personal computer is activated, the second bootstrap loader of the first storage unit of the external storage device is executed by the disk drive activation program of the personal computer, thereby transferring the personal computer to the second transfer. Means for initializing to start in a second processing mode corresponding to speed;
Thereafter, in the external storage device, the personal computer in the second processing mode by the first bootstrap loader stored in the second storage unit that cannot be activated depending on the data transfer standard data of the external connection port. And a means for starting up the computer. An external storage device connected to an external connection port of a personal computer,
The second boot code and the second boot read out via the external connection port by the disk drive activation program of the personal computer in the first processing mode corresponding to the original first data transfer speed of the personal computer Memorize a second bootstrap loader executed by the code;
The second boot code and the second bootstrap loader start the boot unit of the personal computer in a second processing mode corresponding to a second data transfer speed higher than the first data transfer speed. An external storage device characterized by being initialized so that it can be performed. In the first processing mode corresponding to the original first data transfer rate, it is started by executing the first bootstrap loader with the original first boot code, and the above-mentioned original data is transmitted via the external connection port. In a personal computer capable of transferring data to and from an external storage device at a second data transfer rate higher than the first data transfer rate,
A second boot code and a second bootstrap loader to be executed by the second boot code are stored in advance in the external storage device connected to the external connection port or the internal storage memory of the personal computer,
When the personal computer is activated, the second data is executed by executing the second boot code and the second bootstrap loader from the external storage device by a disk drive activation program of the personal computer. Initialize to start in the second processing mode corresponding to the transfer speed,
Thereafter, the personal computer is started in the second processing mode by executing the first bootstrap loader.

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