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Abstract

A method and apparatus for extending initialization of a personal data processing system using multiple levels of bootstrap code is provided. The first level of bootstrap code is stored in a non-volatile memory device associated with a processor of the data processing system. The second level of code is stored on a system partition or other section of a fixed disk memory storage device. The second level of bootstrap code is user configurable, and also provides access to a file system. A first initialization procedure is performed by executing the first level of bootstrap code, where the first initialization procedure performs a memory check self-test of the data processing system and conditions the data processing system for a program load. The second level of bootstrap code is then executed performing a second initialization procedure which performs specific initialization steps according to the configuration of the second level of bootstrap code. A file system containing any required test and initialization code may be accessed by the second initialization procedure. After initialization is complete, the initial program load of an operating system is executed.

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First Claim