Patent ID: 7096370
Filing Date: 2006-08-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a personal computer having encryption hardware and a processor, a method of storing data on one or more magnetic or optical data storage media in an encrypted form comprising: storing an identification code in a non-erasable memory during manufacture of the personal computer, wherein said identification code is defined at least in part by information associated with components of said personal computer; retrieving the identification code from the non-erasable memory in said personal computer; receiving user input; generating a cryptographic key derived at least in part from said identification code and the received user input; retrieving a checksum from a configuration register in a bus-to-bus bridge in the personal computer, the bus-to-bus bridge storing information identifying which of the one or more magnetic or optical data storage media is selected to receive encrypted data; verifying the generated cryptographic key, wherein verifying comprises determining a checksum of the generated cryptographic key; retrieving information from a memory location; disabling encryption of data routed to one of the one or more magnetic or optical data storage media in response to said retrieved information; encrypting and decrypting data based on the disabling step, for storage on and retrieval from one of the one or more magnetic or optical data storage media using the the generated cryptographic key, wherein the data is transmitted by the processor and is encrypted in the personal computer by the encryption hardware; and storing the data in the one or more magnetic or optical data storage media either in encrypted form or non-encrypted form based on the disabling step.