Patent ID: 8285977
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for extending the boot order specification of a computer system, comprising: for each bootable device that is present in the computer system, including in a current boot order stored in the computer system an entry that has an identifier for the bootable device, wherein the identifier in the entry has a bit length of greater than four bits, and wherein the entry for the bootable device identifies a default boot order of the bootable device; and for at least one bootable device that is not present in the computer system, using a flag in an entry in the boot order specification to identify that the entry is a place holder for a bootable device that is supported by the computer system but not present in the computer system; initiating at a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the computer system a first boot sequence using the default boot order if a system event has occurred; and initiating at the BIOS a second boot sequence using the current boot order if the system event has not occurred.