Patent ID: 7490318

Claim:
A computer platform operating system compatibility management method for use on a computer platform of the type equipped with a memory unit having a T-segment, a Logical CPU Memory Type Range Register, an Extended Multi-Processor Configuration Table, and a function call parameter storage area that stores parameters of a system memory map, where the T-segment is preset to serve as a storage area for storing system management interrupt handling routines and related data, with the purpose of allowing the computer platform to be selectively bootable between an old-version operating system and a new-version operating system; computer platform operating system compatibility management method comprising: detecting whether the old-version operating system is being user-selected for installation to the computer platform; if YES, activating an old-version operating system compatibility enabling procedure; and if NO, activating an old-version operating system compatibility inhibiting procedure; wherein the old-version operating system compatibility enabling procedure includes: a T-segment definition clearing procedure, which is used to clear all preset T-segment definitions in every Logical CPU Memory Type Range Register in the computer platform; a T-segment memory hole defining procedure, which is used to define the T-segment as a memory hole in the Extended Multi-Processor Configuration Table in the computer platform; and a T-segment memory unavailability defining procedure, which is used to define the T-segment as a memory hold in the Extended Multi-Processor Configuration Table in the computer platform; and a T-segment memory unavailability defining procedure, which is used define the T-segment as an unavailable memory area in the function call parameter storage area in the computer platform; and wherein the old-version operating system compatibility inhibiting procedure includes: a T-segment memory cacheability defining procedure, which is used to define the T-segment as a cacheable memory area in Logical CPU Memory Type Range Register in the computer platform; a T-segment memory hole defining procedure, which is used to define the T-segment as a memory hole in the Extended Multi-Processor Configuration Table in the computer platform; and a T-segment memory unavailability defining procedure, which is used to define the T-segment as an unavailable memory area in the function call parameter storage area in the computer platform.