Patent ID: 8443183

Claim:
A system, comprising: a processor coupled to a plurality of memory devices; system firmware stored in a first memory device of the plurality of memory devices for initializing system hardware; an operating system stored in a second memory device of the plurality of memory devices; an operating system (OS) loader for launching an OS; and a pre-boot loader, operatively coupled between said system firmware and said OS loader, said pre-boot loader configured to reduce system boot time by bypassing at least some of said system firmware function; wherein the pre-boot loader, the OS loader, and the operating system each comprise a separate computer program; wherein a portion of the system firmware loads instructions for the pre-boot loader into a third memory device of the plurality of memory devices and transfers execution to a first instruction within the instructions for the pre-boot loader; wherein a portion of the pre-boot loader loads instructions for the OS loader into the third memory device and transfers execution to a second instruction within the instructions for the OS loader; wherein a portion of the OS loader loads instructions for the operating system into the third memory device and transfer execution to a third instruction within the instructions for the operating system.