Patent ID: 6016402
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computer system comprising a processor, a removable media drive and a BIOS, wherein the BIOS supports a computer system wherein a first floppy disk drive attached to the computer system is configured as drive ""A"" and second floppy drive attached to the computer system is configured as drive ""B,"" wherein a first fixed disk drive attached to the computer system is configured as drive ""C"" and a second fixed disk drive attached to the computer system is configured as drive ""D,"" and wherein the BIOS boots an operating system from one of drive ""A"" and drive ""C"" into the processor, a method of adapting the computer system so that the operating system recognizes the removable media drive as the drive ""A,"" comprising the steps of:(a) configuring the removable media drive and the BIOS such that the BIOS recognizes the removable media drive as the drive ""C"";(b) starting a boot sequence in which the BIOS requests a master boot record from the drive ""C"";(c) transferring a substitute master boot record from the removable media drive to the processor; and,(d) executing said substitute master boot record such that the operating system is loaded and is modified to recognize the removable media drive as drive ""A""(i) loading the operating system from one of the removable media drive and another fixed disk drive;(ii) changing the removable media drive assignment within the operating system from the drive ""C"" to the drive ""A"".