CN1371051A

CN1371051A - BIOS update method in computer system

Info

Publication number: CN1371051A
Application number: CN 01104724
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赖勇元
Original assignee: Giga Byte Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Giga Byte Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-02-20
Filing date: 2001-02-20
Publication date: 2002-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-20
Also published as: CN1183451C

Abstract

A method for updating a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) in a computer system includes providing a BIOS memory for recording a computer program for starting up the computer system and configuration settings and a flash program for reprogramming the BIOS memory, b) executing the computer program for starting up the computer system and configuration settings, interrupting the execution of the computer program in response to a trigger signal, executing the flash program, and reprogramming the BIOS memory with a data structure for recording BIOS update information. Through the operation of the fast program, the data of the BIOS updating information is reprogrammed to the BIOS memory to complete the updating of the BIOS.

Description

BIOS update method in the computer system

The relevant a kind of method of in a computer system, upgrading Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (BIOS) of the present invention.

In the framework of computer system, (basic input-output system BIOS) is most basic software in the computer system basic operation to Basic Input or Output System (BIOS).BIOS mainly is made up of the instruction set of a succession of low order, the characteristic of the most basic hardware testing, definition computer system and handle basic work when computer system operation is provided.Such as when the computer system power-on, the start selftest of computer system detects peripheral device such as hard disk and the keyboard basic with management, and the transmission or the like of information between the connectivity port.Initial running all was to carry out running according to the content of BIOS when therefore, department of computer science's unification was started shooting.If BIOS goes wrong, just the unified start of department of computer science can't be carried out the detection as internal memory (RAM), hard disk (HD), central processing unit (CPU) etc., just then computer system can't be finished boot program smoothly.

Also because BIOS has possessed consequence like this in computer system, generally be with the bios program quick storage one can permanent power-source free non-voltile memory in, as Flash ROM, EEPROM etc., and will be built in the motherboard of computer system in this type of BIOS internal memory, make its content not influenced by the power supply supply and can forever preserve its content.

Because the continuous progress of The present computer technology, BIOS also need constantly to upgrade in case can measuring ability more powerful central processing unit (CPU) with possess more hardware management functions.Like this, in order to upgrade the content of BIOS at any time, the BIOS internal memory is normally provided by the internal memory that can write again, as short-access storage (flashmemory).The manufacturer of BIOS can be stored in the content of BIOS in one card memory, and provides the quick program (flash utility) of user BIOS to upgrade the usefulness of BIOS in order to the user.

When the manufacturer of BIOS has delivered the BIOS of more recent version, manufacturer just can download BIOS with update calculation machine system by network for the user voluntarily with the quick program of BIOS and the updating files that comprises the update BIOS program code.After the user is downloaded to the main frame of local side with BIOS manufacturer quick program that is provided and updating files (the being generally scale-of-two archives) automatic network that comprises bios program code, just the quick program that can utilize BIOS with the updating files reprogramming (reprogram) of BIOS to the BIOS internal memory, to override perhaps newly-increased new BIOS content in original BIOS, finish the refresh routine of BIOS.

Generally speaking, BIOS is when the operation of upgrading, and the environment of its operation must be simple more good more, in order to avoid other program implementation has influence on BIOS qualification rate fast.So general all is the startup disk that utilizes an operating system when carrying out the renewal of BIOS, after executing bios program, the boot program of load operation system activates quick program again and upgrades operation.But, be not the function that all now operating system can both provide the boot program backup.If the startup disk start that can't use operating system just can't be carried out the refresh routine of BIOS to carry out quick program.

Therefore, the applicant thinks its necessary BIOS update method that develops in a cover computer system, can just can directly carry out the quick program of BIOS to finish the renewal of BIOS by the triggering of a hot key for computer system user stage in the execution bios program behind computer system power-on.

A purpose of the present invention is to provide the update method of the BIOS in the computer system, and the user can carry out the renewal of BIOS by the triggering of a hot key.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the update method of the BIOS in the computer system, quick program is recorded in the BIOS internal memory, and activates described quick program with a hot key, with the updating files reprogramming BIOS internal memory of BIOS by the user.

For achieving the above object, the method that in a computer system, is used to upgrade a Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) (BIOS) of the present invention, be characterized in, described method comprises the following steps: to provide a Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) internal memory, described Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) internal memory is put down in writing running and the configuration and setting that a computer program is used to start described computer system, and the quick program of putting down in writing is used for the described Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) internal memory of reprogramming; Carry out described computer program to start described computer system operation and configuration and setting; Respond the generation of a trigger pip, interrupt the execution of described computer program and carry out described quick program; And with the record one updating BIOS information the described Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) internal memory of data structure reprogramming.

According to the method in order to renewal BIOS of the present invention, described method does not need the boot program of operating system loaded in the internal memory of inside computer system to be carried out, but in stage that bios program is carried out, triggering by a defined hot key in the bios program, interrupt the execution of bios program and activate the quick program that is recorded in the BIOS internal memory, the bios program that the BIOS updating files reprogramming BIOS internal memory that is recorded in peripheral storage device is put down in writing partly; At last, computer system is started shooting again (reboot), the bios program that execution has been upgraded is to start the running and the configuration and setting of computer system.

For can be to BIOS internal memory reprogramming, the BIOS internal memory be necessary for the non-voltile memory of a programmable and forms as a short-access storage.And hot key is to be arranged on a basic input media such as the keyboard, and the key of its representative is defined in the bios program.

After the user activated quick program with hot key, the user can specify and be stored in a peripheral storage device as the source of the archives that comprise the BIOS lastest imformation in a diskette sheet, a hard disk, a discs, a ZIP disk sheet or the LS-120 disk sheet as Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) internal memory as described in the reprogramming.And behind the source of selected updating files, updating files will be loaded the some of the internal memory (as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) that is arranged in inside computer system from described peripheral storage device.And fast program will be come the part of the bios program put down in writing in the described BIOS internal memory of reprogramming to be stored in updating files in the internal memory.

After finishing the step of reprogramming, computer system will be started shooting again, starts the running and the configuration and setting of computer system with the bios program that upgraded, and so the side finishes the renewal of BIOS.

For clearer understanding purpose characteristics of the present invention and advantage, preferred embodiment of the present invention is elaborated below in conjunction with accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is the functional block diagram of the computer system in the renewal BIOS computer approach of the present invention; And

Fig. 2 is the process flow diagram of renewal BIOS computer approach of the present invention.

BIOS update method in the computer system of the present invention can be understood fully by following embodiment explanation, and person skilled in the art person can be implemented to finish in view of the above, and right the present invention is not limited to the mode of present embodiment.

See also Fig. 1, because the method for existing renewal BIOS, must be earlier come load operation system boot program in internal memory 12 by the startup disk of record starting operating system program, again by the user carry out be stored in peripheral storage device 15 quick program (flash utility) with BIOS updating files reprogramming to BIOS internal memory 13.For the renewal that makes BIOS can be independent of the running of operating system, the quick program of BIOS is described in a certain sector address interval of BIOS internal memory.The quick program of BIOS is made up of a series of instruction set, and in order to allow the user just can carry out the renewal of BIOS in the BIOS execute phase, the bios program of being put down in writing in the BIOS internal memory has defined one " hot key ".The user is if the stage of carrying out bios program in computer system 10 start backs is supressed certain button from basic input media 14 as keyboard, and the scan code of the button of being pressed (scan code) will be transferred into central processing unit (CPU) 11 and handle.At this moment, bios program can capture the scan code of the button that triggers and judge.If scan code that the user pushed button is consistent with the scan code of the defined hot key of bios program, the execution of bios program promptly is interrupted, and the quick program place that skips to another section place, address begins to carry out quick program.If the user does not trigger the defined hot key of bios program, then bios program will continue to carry out, and after bios program was complete, the operating system of activating computer system 10 was to begin to carry out the running of computer system 10.

When quick program was carried out, the user can import the path and the filename of BIOS updating files.The BIOS updating files comprises the bios program code that desire is upgraded, and it typically is scale-of-two archives (binary file).Specify the path and filename of BIOS updating files as the user after, just be stored in peripheral storage device 15 can be loaded the internal memory 12 (being generally a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) of computer system 10 inside as the BIOS updating files of diskette sheet, hard disk, discs, ZIP disk sheet or LS-120 disk sheet certain part.

At this moment, the user just can begin to carry out the renewal of BIOS.When carrying out the renewal of BIOS, certain the BIOS updating files partly that is arranged in described internal memory 12 will write the part of BIOS bios program that internal memory is put down in writing with it by quick program, comprises the archives of bios program code to override or to increase newly some.After renewal finished, computer system 10 will be started shooting (reboot) again, started the running and the configuration and setting of computer system 10 with the bios program that upgraded, so just finished the renewal of BIOS at last.Fig. 2 shows in the computer system of the present invention the process flow diagram that upgrades the BIOS method, and the detailed description of each step among the figure is not given unnecessary details so do not add in addition at this as previously mentioned.

The characteristics of BIOS update method of the present invention are that the quick program with bios program and BIOS all is recorded in the BIOS In depositing, and in bios program, defined a hot key. If the user supresses hot key in the stage that bios program is carried out, The program of BIOS is carried out the quick program place of just interrupting and skipping to BIOS and is begun to carry out. Specify BIOS more by the user The path of new archive and filename, program just can override the BIOS updating files original BIOS archives or newly-increased fast The BIOS archives. After the BIOS renewal is finished, computer will again be started shooting and be carried out the bios program that has upgraded. Like this The BIOS update method is to utilize the quick program with bios program and BIOS all to be recorded in the BIOS internal memory. The user Can not need the quick program of the boot program reactivation BIOS of first load operation system, but in stage that BIOS carries out Activate the quick program of BIOS, the difficulty that meets with so as to overcoming prior art with a hot key.

Claims

1. A method for updating a basic input output system (BIOS) in a computer system, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

a) providing a BIOS memory that records a computer program for enabling the operation and configuration of the computer system, and records a flash program for reprogramming the BIOS output system memory;

b) executing the computer program to activate the computer system operation and configuration setting;

c) interrupting execution of the computer program to execute the fast program in response to generation of a trigger signal; and

d) reprogramming said BIOS memory with a data structure that records BIOS update information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the BIOS memory is composed of a programmable non-volatile memory.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the programmable non-volatile memory comprises a flash memory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger signal is generated by pressing a hotkey.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hotkey is provided on a basic input device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said basic input device comprises a keyboard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data value represented by the trigger signal is defined in the computer program recorded in the BIOS memory.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) comprises the steps of:

d1) providing a peripheral storage device, the peripheral storage device records a data structure including update information of a BIOS;

d2) selecting said data structure as a source for reprogramming said BIOS memory;

d3) loading the data structure into a portion of a memory from the peripheral storage device; and

d4) reprogramming the portion of the computer program in the BIOS memory with the flash program to reprogram the data structure from the portion of the memory.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the peripheral storage device is composed of one of a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD, a ZIP disk, and an LS-120 disk.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises a DRAM.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

e) Rebooting the computer to execute the reprogrammed computer program to activate the operation and configuration settings of the computer system.

12. A method for updating a basic input output system (BIOS) in a computer system, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

c) interrupting execution of the computer program and executing the quick program in response to generation of a hotkey; and

d) providing a peripheral storage device, the peripheral storage device records a data structure including a BIOS update information;

e) selecting said data structure as a source for reprogramming said BIOS memory;

f) loading said data structure including a BIOS update information into a portion of a memory from said peripheral storage device; and

g) reprogramming said data structure from said portion of said memory with said flash program to said portion of said computer program in said BIOS memory.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the data value represented by the trigger signal is defined in the computer program recorded in the BIOS memory.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the peripheral storage device is composed of one of a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD, a ZIP disk, and an LS-120 disk.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

h) Rebooting the computer to execute the reprogrammed computer program to activate the computer system operation and configuration settings.