Patent ID: 7779243

Claim:
A computer system comprising: a processor; a first storage device coupled to the processor, and having stored within a first plurality of programming instructions designed to implement a primary operating system; a second storage device coupled to the processor, and having stored within a second plurality of programming instructions designed to implement a secondary operating system capable of operating the computer system independent of the primary operating system, the secondary operating system having less functions than the primary operating system; and a BIOS module operated by the processor, wherein the BIOS module is configured to receive a user selection of either the secondary operating system or the primary operating system; determine, when the selection indicates the secondary operating system, whether the primary operating system is running or hibernating; determine, when the selection indicates the primary operating system, whether the secondary operating system is running or hibernating; and conditionally load, responsive to the user selection, either the secondary operating system if the primary operating system is not running or hibernating, or the primary operating system if the secondary operating system is not running or hibernating.