Patent ID: 6226740
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An information processing apparatus comprising:a processor;a storage device;a first power supply coupled to the processor and the storage device;a host controller connected to said processor and said first power supply for reading out basic input/output system codes stored in said storage device to boot the apparatus when said first power supply is turned on;a high speed storage element which can be read out at a speed higher than that for said storage device wherein said high speed storage element is a cache memory used during a normal operation for which said first power supply is on and wherein said host controller copies the codes used for booting read out from said storage device into said high speed storage element during the period from a system terminating operation at the host controller until the time said first power supply is turned off, sets a write protect thereafter, reads the codes used for booting from said cache memory when said first power supply is turned on and cancels said write protect thereafter; anda second power supply for supplying power to each of said host controller and said high speed storage element at all times whether said first power supply is on or off; andwherein said host controller reads out BIOS codes stored in advance in said high speed storage element having the same storage contents as those in said storage device to boot the apparatus when said first power supply is turned on.