Patent ID: 8171275

Claim:
A method of verifying an operating system of a gaming device, the method comprising: initializing a BIOS stored in a first ROM of the gaming device; initializing a secure loader stored in the first ROM responsive to a command by the BIOS, wherein scattered partitions of a decryption key are steganographically hidden about the secure loader; transferring control from the BIOS to the secure loader; locating the decryption key stored in scattered portions about the secure loader; decrypting an encrypted operating system with the decryption key, thereby yielding the operating system; verifying a plurality of check codes responsive to decrypting the encrypted operating system, wherein the plurality of check codes are dispersed about the operating system, wherein the check codes are unrelated to the operating system; and transferring control from the secure loader to the operating system responsive to verifying the plurality of check codes.