CN1184568C - Device and method for protecting BIOS data of notebook computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a device and method for protecting the BIOS boot program area data of a notebook computer, which can avoid the problem of being unable to boot up due to damage to the BIOS boot program area data of the computer system; the method of the present invention includes providing a microcontroller containing a BIOS monitoring program to perform the backup of the BIOS boot program area data and the operation of repairing the BIOS data; when the BIOS boot program area data is damaged or the data update fails, a repair switch manually operated by the user is used, and after the computer is restarted next time, the BIOS boot program area data is repaired under the operation of the BIOS monitoring program of the microcontroller.

Description

Device and method for protecting BIOS data of notebook computer

technical field

The present invention relates to a device and method for protecting the data in the BIOS startup program area, in particular to a notebook computer, which uses a micro-controller to back up the BIOS startup program of the computer system before starting the computer system for the first time. The data in the area can be used to avoid the problem that the data in the BIOS boot program area of the computer system is damaged and cannot be turned on.

Background technique

BIOS (Basic Input Output System, Basic Input Output System), it is a program placed on the read-only memory (ROM), which contains many basic subroutines for computer input and output, and after the computer power is turned on, the system test work , and read the data in the CMOS (such as the size of the hard disk, whether there is a CD-ROM, the system time, whether to use Shadow RAM, etc.). The early BIOS had a space of 64KB. At present, due to the popularity of flash BIOS, the BIOS can be upgraded by software. Now there are 1MB and 2MB BIOSes, but when the capacity of the BIOS reaches 8Mb or above, the memory chip usually uses Manufactured by Thin Small Outtine Package (TSOP) technology, most of the chips in TSOP package are directly adhered to the surface of the printed circuit board, although some manufacturers provide chip sockets (Socket) for such chips, but the cost Will be very expensive.

Generally, the BIOS that can be upgraded by software has the ability to back up the original program before the upgrade, such as backing up the BIOS to an emergency repair disk, but this emergency repair disk only backs up the general program area (mail blocks), not the boot Program area (boot blocks). In addition, there is also a known BIOS protection technology. For example, Gigabyte Technology in China has proposed a dual BIOS (Dual BIOS) technology. This technology is mainly to design two BIOS on the motherboard, which is divided into main BIOS (Main BIOS). And backup BIOS (Backup BIOS), its function is that when the data of the first BIOS is lost or damaged, the system will automatically enable the second BIOS to continue the booting action and restore the data of the first BIOS. This method is currently only used in motherboards of general desktop PCs (Desktop PCs), but has not been used in notebook computers, because its cost will be much higher than that of desktop PCs.

Contents of the invention

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for protecting the data in the BIOS boot program area of a notebook computer without increasing too much cost.

The method of the present invention is by providing a kind of micro-controller (micro-controller, μ C) that contains a BIOS monitoring program, in order to carry out the backup of the boot block of BIOS, and repair the BIOS boot block. The operation of data; And the microcontroller that the present invention proposes mainly carries out the backup and repair operation of BIOS data to System ROM by bus.

The characteristics of this case also include dividing a part of the space in the read-only memory of the microcontroller as a backup location for the data in the BIOS boot program area, and a section of BIOS monitoring program built in the program code of the controller is responsible for monitoring Whether the boot process of the BIOS is successful, in addition to performing the backup of the data in the boot program area of the BIOS, it is also necessary to perform a repair operation when the data in the boot program area of the BIOS is lost or damaged. Since the microcontroller's ROM is used as a backup data location, it does not add much cost.

The present invention provides a device for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer, used to protect the system BIOS data stored in the system ROM, which includes:

A microcontroller, including a read-only memory, a random access memory, and a BIOS monitoring program stored in the read-only memory, the microcontroller is used to perform a backup operation including BIOS data of a computer system, and After the BIOS data is lost, damaged, the boot process fails, or the data update fails, the BIOS data repair operation is completed by restoring the backup data to the system ROM;

A bus switcher, controlled by the microcontroller, is used to control the switching of the data transmission path between the bus of the system ROM and the read-only memory of the microcontroller; and

A recovery switch, normally set in an invalid position, can be manually switched by the user to an enabled position, used to start the microcontroller at the beginning of the computer system restart by restoring the backup data to the system ROM Repair operation of BIOS data.

The microcontroller can perform backup and repair operations of BIOS data on the read-only memory and system ROM of the microcontroller through an I2C bus.

Said this recovery switch can be set at an invalid position when carrying out the data backup of BIOS, and this micro-controller then makes the bus line of system ROM be connected with the read-only memory of this micro-controller through this bus switcher, and to this The read-only memory of the microcontroller performs a writing operation, and the BIOS data in the system ROM is backed up to the read-only memory of the microcontroller.

Before the repair switch starts to perform the data repair operation of the BIOS, the repair switch can be moved to the enabling position, and the microcontroller makes the bus of the system ROM and the read-only system of the microcontroller pass through the bus switcher. The memory is connected, and then the system BIOS is written into the system ROM, and the BIOS data backed up in the read-only memory of the microcontroller is restored to the system ROM to complete the recovery of the BIOS data.

The present invention provides a method for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer. It provides a microcontroller containing a BIOS monitoring program, and according to the following steps, the BIOS data stored in the system ROM is backed up and restored. operation, the steps include:

(1), the step of backing up the data of BIOS, at the beginning of starting computer system for the first time, the data of system BIOS is backed up to the read-only memory of this microcontroller; And

(2), the step of repairing the data of BIOS is used for when the startup program of BIOS fails, a warning message is sent by the microcontroller, prompting the user to set a repair switch to an enabled position, and then restart the computer When the system is activated, the BIOS repair program of the microcontroller is started to restore the BIOS data backed up in its read-only memory to the system ROM.

The microcontroller can perform backup and repair operations of BIOS data on the read-only memory and system ROM of the microcontroller through an I2C bus.

The method for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer can also include a step of updating the BIOS data, mainly at the beginning of starting to update the BIOS data, backing up the old version of the BIOS data to the read-only memory of the microcontroller, and then Write the new version of the BIOS data into the system ROM. If the writing fails, perform the aforementioned steps to restore the BIOS data.

The method for the BIOS data of described protection notebook computer, it also can comprise a step of updating BIOS data, and it comprises:

(1), first enter the BIOS setting screen, and wait for the user to update the BIOS data request;

(2), after confirming that the user has started the program for updating the BIOS data, back up the old version BIOS data originally stored in the system ROM to the read-only memory of the microcontroller, otherwise skip to step (9);

(3), if the old version of the BIOS data backup is successful, then write the new version of the BIOS data in the system ROM, otherwise, repeat the backup of the old version of the BIOS data, if the cumulative three backups all fail, then end the update operation of the BIOS data;

(4), if the new version of BIOS data is successfully written into the system ROM, then skip to step (9), otherwise continue to perform the next step;

(5), a warning message is sent by the micro-controller, prompting the user to cut off the power supply of the computer first, then switch the repair switch to an enabled position, and then turn on the power supply of the computer again;

(6) Store the old BIOS data backed up into the system ROM;

(7), by this micro-controller, send the message of a successful return storage to the user, prompting the user to cut off the power supply of the computer first, then switch the repair switch to an invalid position, and then turn on the power supply of the computer again;

(8), wait for the user to re-enter the BIOS setting screen of the step (1), otherwise just enter the normal boot operation after the BIOS self-check is completed, and end the step of updating the data of the BIOS;

(9), update the main boot program area of the BIOS data, if the update is successful then end the data step of updating the BIOS, otherwise continue to the next step;

(10), a warning message is sent by the microcontroller, prompting the user to cut off the power supply of the computer first, then switch the repair switch to an enabling position, and then turn on the power supply of the computer again;

(11), storing the main startup program area stored in an emergency repair disk into the system ROM; and

(12), by this micro-controller, send the information of a return storage success to the user, remind the user to cut off the power supply of the computer first, then switch the repair switch to an invalid position, then turn on the power supply of the computer again, and then Skip to that step (8).

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a system block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the main steps of the present invention, showing the steps of backing up and restoring the data (BootBlock) of the system BIOS.

FIG. 3 is a partial flowchart of the present invention, showing the steps of updating the boot program area of the BIOS.

FIG. 4 is a partial flow chart of the present invention, showing detailed steps for updating the boot program area of the BIOS.

FIG. 5A is a system block of the present invention, showing the positions of the repair switch and the bus switch when performing BIOS data backup.

FIG. 5B is a system block of the present invention, showing the positions of the repair switch and the bus switch when the BIOS data is repaired.

Detailed ways

At first please refer to Fig. 1, the designed device of the present invention comprises:

A microcontroller 10 includes a read-only memory (Flash ROM) 11, a random access memory (RAM) 12, and a BIOS monitoring program 13 stored in the read-only memory 11. This microcontroller 10 is Control the backup operation of the BIOS data of the computer system through an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) bus, and assist the user to perform the repair operation of the BIOS data after the BIOS data is lost, damaged, the boot process fails, or the data update fails;

A bus switcher 14 is controlled by microcontroller 10 to switch the data transmission path of the bus of System ROM 30;

A repair switch 20 is manually operated by the user to start the microcontroller 10 to repair the BIOS data (that is, the data in the Boot Block) when the computer system is restarted.

Under normal circumstances, that is, under the situation of not repairing the BIOS data, the repair switch 20 is set at an invalid (disable) position (as shown in Figure 1), and the ROM (hereinafter referred to as the System ROM) 30 will also be connected with the bus of computer main system 40 by a bus switcher 14, in order to carry out normal startup operation.

When carrying out the data backup of BIOS, repair switch 20 still maintains in the invalid (disable) position, and now microcontroller 10 will start bus switcher 14, makes the bus of System ROM 30 and the read-only memory of microcontroller 10 11 is connected (as Fig. 5A), and the read-only memory 11 of microcontroller 10 is written into, the BIOS data among the System ROM 30 is backed up among the read-only memory 11 of microcontroller 10;

On the contrary, before starting the data recovery operation of BIOS, the recovery switch 20 will be manually operated by the user to move to an enable (enable) position (as shown in FIG. 5B ), and at this time, the microcontroller 20 will switch the bus switch The data transmission direction of 14 makes the bus of System ROM 30 be connected with the read-only memory 11 of microcontroller 10, and then System ROM 30 is carried out the writing operation of the BIOS data of system, will be backed up in the read-only memory of microcontroller 10 The BIOS data in 11 is restored to the System ROM 30 again, and the repair of the BIOS data is completed.

The main method of the present invention is to provide a microcontroller 10 containing a BIOS monitoring program, and perform backup and repair operations on system BIOS data according to the following steps. As shown in Figure 2, these steps include:

1. The step of backing up the BIOS data is to automatically back up the BIOS data in the system BIOS to the read-only memory 11 of the microcontroller 10 at the beginning of starting the computer system for the first time (switching the data bus by the microcontroller 10 data transmission path, and the operation of writing into the ROM 11 of the microcontroller 10); and

2. The step of repairing the BIOS data is used to send a warning message by the micro-controller 10 to remind the user to set the repair switch 20 to an enabling (enable) position when the booting procedure of the BIOS fails, and then restart the device next time During the computer system, start the BIOS repair program of the microcontroller 10, in order to return the BIOS data backed up in its read-only memory 11 to the System ROM 30.

Basically, the preferred embodiment of the aforementioned step of backing up BIOS data is that the computer system manufacturer backs up the BIOS data of the system once before the computer leaves the factory, so as to ensure that the computer is in the process of transportation. If the BIOS data is damaged, the consumer can still restore the backup BIOS data to the System ROM 30 according to the repair operation instructions in the user manual, so as to start the computer normally.

Please continue referring to FIG. 3 , the method disclosed in the present invention further includes a step of updating BIOS data, which is used to back up the old version of BIOS data to the read-only memory 11 of the microcontroller 10 at the beginning of the execution of the BIOS update program. Write the new version of the BIOS data into the System ROM30 again, if the writing fails, then perform the aforementioned steps of repairing the data of the BIOS.

And the detailed step embodiment of the data of relevant update BIOS, as shown in the step flowchart of Fig. 4, it comprises:

1. First enter the BIOS setting screen, and wait for the user to update the BIOS data request. The way to enter the BIOS setting screen is usually at the beginning of turning on the computer, for example, by pressing a "del" key by the user. Enter the BIOS setting screen, of course, computers of different brands may have different preset buttons;

2. After determining to start updating the data of the BIOS, at first the old version BIOS data stored in the System ROM30 is backed up to the read-only memory 11 of the microcontroller 10, otherwise skip to step 9;

3. If the old version of the BIOS data backup is successful, the new version of the BIOS data is written into the SystemROM 30, otherwise, the backup of the old version of the BIOS data is repeated, and if the cumulative three backups all fail, the update operation of the BIOS data is terminated;

4. If the new version of the BIOS data is successfully written into the System ROM 30, then skip to step 9, otherwise proceed to the next step;

5. A warning message is sent by the micro-controller 10, and the user is prompted to cut off the power supply of the computer first by displaying text, sending a sound or a light signal, and then switching the repair switch 20 to an enable position , and then turn on the power of the computer again;

6. The microcontroller 20 stores the backed-up old version BIOS data into the System ROM 30;

7. Microcontroller 10 sends a successful message to the user, prompting the user to cut off the power of the computer, then switch the repair switch 20 to the disabled position, and then turn on the power of the computer again;

8. Wait for the user to re-enter the BIOS setting screen in step 1, otherwise, enter the normal boot operation after the BIOS self-check is completed, and end the step of updating the BIOS data;

9. Update the main boot program area (main blocks) of the BIOS data. If the update is successful, the step of updating the BIOS data is completed, otherwise continue to the next step;

10. A warning message is sent by the microcontroller 10, and the user is prompted to cut off the power supply of the computer first, and then switch the repair switch 20 to an enable position by, for example, displaying text, emitting a sound or a light signal , and then turn on the power of the computer again;

11. The microcontroller 10 stores the main boot program area stored in a rescue floppy into the System ROM 30, and;

12. Microcontroller 10 sends a successful message to the user, prompting the user to cut off the power of the computer first, then switch the repair switch 20 to the disabled position, then turn on the power of the computer again, and jump Go to step 8.

Claims (8)

1. A device for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer, used to protect the system BIOS data stored in the system ROM, characterized in that it includes: A microcontroller, including a read-only memory, a random access memory, and a BIOS monitoring program stored in the read-only memory, the microcontroller is used to perform a backup operation including BIOS data of a computer system, and After the BIOS data is lost, damaged, the boot process fails, or the data update fails, the BIOS data repair operation is completed by restoring the backup data to the system ROM; A bus switcher, controlled by the microcontroller, is used to control the switching of the data transmission path between the bus of the system ROM and the read-only memory of the microcontroller; and A recovery switch, normally set in an invalid position, can be manually switched by the user to an enabled position, used to start the microcontroller at the beginning of the computer system restart by restoring the backup data to the system ROM Repair operation of BIOS data. 2. The device for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller carries out backup and repair operations of the BIOS data to the read-only memory and the system ROM of the microcontroller through an I2C bus . 3. The device for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the repair switch is set at an invalid position when performing BIOS data backup, and the microcontroller passes through the bus switcher, The bus of the system ROM is connected to the read-only memory of the microcontroller, and the read-only memory of the microcontroller is written, and the BIOS data in the system ROM is backed up to the read-only memory of the microcontroller among. 4. The device for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the repair switch will be switched to the enable position before starting the data repair operation of the BIOS, and the microcontroller Then, by the bus switcher, the bus of the system ROM is connected to the read-only memory of the microcontroller, and then the system BIOS is written into the system ROM, and the BIOS in the read-only memory of the microcontroller is backed up. The data is restored to the system ROM to complete the restoration of the BIOS data. 5. A method for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer, characterized in that a microcontroller containing a BIOS monitoring program is provided, and according to the following steps, the data of the BIOS stored in the system ROM is backed up and Repair operation, this step includes: (A), the step of backing up the data of BIOS, at the beginning of starting computer system for the first time, the data of system BIOS is backed up to the read-only memory of this microcontroller; And (B), the step of repairing the data of BIOS is used for when the startup procedure of BIOS fails, a warning message is sent by the microcontroller, prompting the user to set a repair switch to an enabled position, and then restart the computer When the system is activated, the BIOS repair program of the microcontroller is started to restore the BIOS data backed up in its read-only memory to the system ROM. 6, the method for protecting the BIOS data of notebook computer as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that this microcontroller is to carry out the backup and repair operation of BIOS data to the read-only memory and system ROM of this microcontroller by an I2C bus . 7. The method for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes a step of updating the BIOS data, mainly at the beginning of updating the BIOS data, backing up the old version of the BIOS data to the microcontroller Then write the new version of the BIOS data into the system ROM. If the writing fails, perform the aforementioned steps of repairing the BIOS data. 8. The method for protecting the BIOS data of a notebook computer as claimed in claim 5, comprising a step of updating the BIOS data, which includes: (1), first enter the BIOS setting screen, and wait for the user to update the BIOS data request; (2), after confirming that the user has started the program for updating the BIOS data, back up the old version BIOS data originally stored in the system ROM to the read-only memory of the microcontroller, otherwise skip to step (9); (3), if the old version of the BIOS data backup is successful, then write the new version of the BIOS data in the system ROM, otherwise, repeat the backup of the old version of the BIOS data, if the cumulative three backups all fail, then end the update operation of the BIOS data; (4), if the new version of BIOS data is successfully written into the system ROM, then skip to step (9), otherwise continue to perform the next step; (5), a warning message is sent by the micro-controller, prompting the user to cut off the power supply of the computer first, then switch the repair switch to an enabled position, and then turn on the power supply of the computer again; (6) Store the old BIOS data backed up into the system ROM; (7), by this micro-controller, send the message of a successful return storage to the user, prompting the user to cut off the power supply of the computer first, then switch the repair switch to an invalid position, and then turn on the power supply of the computer again; (8), wait for the user to re-enter the BIOS setting screen of the step (1), otherwise just enter the normal boot operation after the BIOS self-check is completed, and end the step of updating the data of the BIOS; (9), update the main boot program area of the BIOS data, if the update is successful then end the data step of updating the BIOS, otherwise continue to the next step; (10), a warning message is sent by the microcontroller, prompting the user to cut off the power supply of the computer first, then switch the repair switch to an enabling position, and then turn on the power supply of the computer again; (11), storing the main startup program area stored in an emergency repair disk back into the system ROM; and (12), by this micro-controller, send the information of a return storage success to the user, remind the user to cut off the power supply of the computer first, then switch the repair switch to an invalid position, then turn on the power supply of the computer again, and then Skip to that step (8).

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