CN100442231C - Starting device and method for computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a starting device and a method of a computer system, wherein the starting device comprises a basic input and output system, a processing unit, a north bridge chip and a central processing unit, wherein the basic input and output system stores a plurality of setting parameters and a starting program code. The method is that the processing unit generates a reading address signal corresponding to one of the setting parameters, so as to drive the north bridge chip to read the corresponding setting parameter for setting, and drive the central processing unit to read the boot program code of the basic input and output system through the north bridge chip. If the CPU can not read the boot program code, the processing unit sends another read address signal to let the north bridge chip read another corresponding setting parameter, and the process is repeated until the CPU can read the boot program code and execute it to stabilize the boot.

Description

Device and method for starting computer system

technical field

The present invention relates to a booting device and method for a computer system, in particular to a booting device and method for a computer system, which utilizes at least one reading method to obtain setting parameters that match a central processing unit, thereby completing boot process.

Background technique

In recent years, the rise of the technology industry has brought the whole world into the era of technology applications. Various technology products are constantly being introduced. Among them, the most important and fastest-updating products are currently the most widely used computer systems. Due to the wide range of uses of computer systems, not only many companies use computer systems to increase operational efficiency, but also many families configure computer systems to provide entertainment and handle affairs at home. Moreover, due to the development of the Internet, the penetration rate of computer systems is increasing day by day, which also leads to the increasing demand of consumers for computer system equipment. computer system equipment.

The central processing unit is the core equipment of the computer system, and the motherboard is used for all computer system equipment to connect all computer system equipment so that the computer system equipment can be matched with each other and operate normally. Therefore, the importance of the motherboard is no less than that of the computer system. central processing unit. Also because of this, the industry has invested a lot of resources in order to develop a central processing unit and a motherboard with better performance. When the computer system is turned on, the central processing unit will drive the north bridge chip to read the stored setting parameters through the south bridge chip to the basic input and output system of the motherboard, so as to set the north bridge chip and match it with the central processing unit, so that the central processing unit The boot program code stored in the basic input and output system can be retrieved, and the boot program can be executed to operate.

Due to the rapid development of the central processing unit nowadays, in order to improve the processing speed of the computer system, users will replace the central processing unit on the motherboard, so it is easy to happen that the setting parameters stored in the basic input and output system of the motherboard cannot match the replacement central processing unit. In this way, the central processing unit cannot correctly retrieve the boot program code stored in the BIOS, so the central processing unit cannot correctly execute the boot program, so the computer system cannot be normally booted and operated. At present, most users download and update the BIOS, so that the setting parameters stored in the BIOS can match with the central processing unit, so that the central processing unit can execute the booting procedure. However, users often update the BIOS due to updating errors, which causes the BIOS to fail to operate normally, and the computer system to fail to operate normally, thus causing inconvenience to the users.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a booting device for a computer system, which includes a basic input and output system for storing multiple setting parameters; a processing unit for generating multiple read address signals relative to the setting parameters of the basic input and output system to read the corresponding setting parameters; a north bridge chip, used to read the corresponding setting parameters according to a read address signal sent by the processing unit for setting; and a central processing unit, through the north bridge chip to read Get the boot program code of the basic input output system to execute the boot program, wherein, when the central processing unit executes the boot program code error, the processing unit reads a second index signal from the basic input output system and the previous time The generated first read address signal is used to send a second read address signal, so that the north bridge chip reads another corresponding setting parameter. After the central processing unit reads and executes the boot program code, it will send a confirmation value to the north bridge chip. The boot device also includes a counting unit for counting a counting time. The north bridge chip waits for the central processing unit to send a confirmation value within this counting time. If the north bridge chip does not receive the confirmation value within this counting time, it is determined that the central processing An error occurs when the unit executes the boot program code; a storage unit is used for storing setting parameters.

The present invention provides a kind of booting method of computer system again, and method of the present invention is applicable to the computer system that a central processing unit reads a boot program code of a basic input and output system by a north bridge chip, basic input and output system of the present invention comprises A plurality of setting parameters are used to set the north bridge chip. The present invention first generates a reading address signal corresponding to one of the setting parameters; then, reads the corresponding setting parameter according to the reading address signal to set the north bridge chip; then, drives the central processing unit to read through the north bridge chip fetching the boot program code of the basic input output system to execute the boot program of the computer system, and when the central processing unit executes the boot program code error, a second index signal read from the basic input output system and the first read The address signal is taken to send a second read address signal, so that the north bridge chip reads another corresponding setting parameter. If the setting parameters are matched with the central processing unit, the central processing unit can capture and execute the boot program code, and then the central processing unit sends a confirmation value to the north bridge chip. If they do not match, the Northbridge chip cannot receive the confirmation value, and it is determined that the central processing unit executes the boot program code in error, that is, another read address signal is generated to allow the Northbridge chip to read another corresponding setting. Parameters are set until the central processing unit can actually capture the boot program code and send a confirmation value to the north bridge chip.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Description of reference symbols

10 central processing unit

20 north bridge chips

23 storage units

25 processing units

27 count units

30 south bridge chip

40 basic input output system

Detailed ways

First, please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a boot device for a computer system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the boot device of the present invention includes a central processing unit 10, a north bridge chip 20, a storage unit 23, a processing unit 25, a counting unit 27, a south bridge chip 30 and a basic input output system 40, The storage unit 23 , the processing unit 25 , and the counting unit 27 are arranged on the north bridge chip 20 , the north bridge chip 20 is connected to the central processing unit 10 and the south bridge chip 30 , and the south bridge chip 30 is connected to the BIOS 40 .

The processing unit 25 is used to send multiple read address signals to drive the south bridge chip 30 to read the setting parameters of the basic input output system 40; the storage unit 23 is used to store the setting parameters of the basic input output system 40 to set the north bridge Chip 20, so that the central processing unit 10 can read the boot program code through the north bridge chip 20 and via the south bridge chip 30 to the basic input and output system 40 and execute it to execute the boot program. The boot program code of the present invention enables the central processing unit 10 to operate When executing, return a confirmation value to the north bridge chip 20 earlier, so that the north bridge chip 20 knows that the central processing unit 10 has correctly executed the boot program code and carries out the boot program; the counting unit 27 is used for counting a fixed time, to wait for the central processing unit 10 to reply The confirmation value is used to confirm whether the computer system can be started normally according to the currently set setting parameters.

When the computer system is turned on, the central processing unit 10 sends a starting signal to the north bridge chip 20, and the north bridge chip 20 receives the starting signal sent by the central processing unit 10, and correspondingly sends an address signal to the south bridge chip 30 to pass the south bridge chip 30 reads an index signal from the BIOS 40 according to the address signal, and then sends the index signal to the north bridge chip 20 . In the computer system of the prior art, the north bridge chip 20 directly reads the setting parameters through the south bridge chip 30 to the basic input output system 40 according to the index signal, and the setting parameters are stored in a specific address. When the processing unit 10 does not match, the computer system cannot be started normally.

However, in this embodiment, the index signal of the BIOS 40 is sent to the processing unit 25, and then the processing unit 25 generates a first read address signal according to the index signal and sends the first read address signal to the south bridge chip 30 , and read a first setting parameter of the basic input output system 40, and transmit it to the north bridge chip 20 and store it in the storage unit 23 of the north bridge chip 20, to set the north bridge chip 20, wherein a preferred implementation of the processing unit 25 For example, it can be set on the north bridge chip 20 . The basic input and output system 40 of the present invention stores multiple sets of setting parameters, and the processing unit 25 generates a plurality of reading address signals corresponding to each set of setting parameters according to the number of setting parameters stored in the basic input and output system 40 The storage address of the parameter. In this way, the computer system can execute the program of reading the setting parameters multiple times when starting up, so as to select the setting parameters matching the central processing unit 10 for starting up, so as to ensure that the computer system can start up normally and operate.

After the north bridge chip 20 reads the first setting parameter and completes the setting, it sends a reset signal to the central processing unit 10 to drive the central processing unit 10 to read the boot program code stored in the basic input output system 40 and execute it. implement. The counting unit 27 starts counting for a fixed time when the north bridge chip 20 sends a reset signal. If the central processing unit 10 can retrieve the correct boot program code, the central processing unit 10 will be fixed here after executing the correct boot program code. Sending a confirmation value to the north bridge chip 20 within the time means that the first setting parameter matches the central processing unit 10, that is, the first setting parameter set by the north bridge chip 20 can make the central processing unit 10 pass through the north bridge chip 20. The correct boot program code is retrieved to execute the boot program normally, and then the counting unit 27 ends counting and resets to zero.

The length of this fixed time should be enough for the CPU 10 to read and execute the boot program code, so as to ensure that the confirmation value of the CPU 10 can be received by the north bridge chip 20 . If the fixed time is too short, then the north bridge chip 20 may misjudge that this set of setting parameters is wrong, and read the next set of setting parameters again, which will cause the computer system to still fail to start normally. If the fixed time is too long, although it can be guaranteed that the confirmation value will be received by the north bridge chip 20 without error, it will cause too long boot time, which does not meet the user's expectations. Therefore, the selection of the fixed time should be based on the principle that the CPU 10 can execute the boot program code, and should be carefully considered.

If after the central processing unit 10 captures the boot program code, when the fixed time counted by the counting unit 27 ends, the north bridge chip 20 has not yet received the confirmation value sent by the central processing unit 10, which means that the first setting parameter and the central processing The units 10 do not match, so that the CPU 10 does not capture the correct boot code and does not send a confirmation value to the north bridge chip 20 . The counting unit 27 resets to zero after counting ends, and the north bridge chip 20 then sends a restart signal to the central processing unit 10, so that the central processing unit 10 sends a boot signal to the north bridge chip 20 again to re-read the setting parameters again.

Following the above, after receiving the power-on signal, the north bridge chip 20 also sends an address signal to the south bridge chip 30 to read the index signal from the BIOS 40 and transmits it to the processing unit 25 of the north bridge chip 20 . The processing unit 25 generates a second read address signal according to the index signal and the first read address signal generated last time and sends the second read address signal to the south bridge chip 30 to read the BIOS 40 The second setting parameter is transmitted to the north bridge chip 20 and stored in the storage unit 23. At this time, the previously stored first setting parameter will be overwritten by the second setting parameter. The north bridge chip 20 also sends a reset signal to the central processing unit 10 to drive the central processing unit 10 to retrieve the boot program code of the BIOS 40 to carry out the boot process and complete the booting of the computer system.

If within the fixed time counted by the counting unit 27, the central processing unit 10 captures and executes the correct boot program code, and sends a confirmation value to the north bridge chip 20, it means that the second setting parameter matches the central processing unit 10. If the north bridge chip 20 still has not received the confirmation value, repeat the above-mentioned related operations until the north bridge chip 20 receives the confirmation value, so that the north bridge chip 20 can be read and set the setting parameters matched with the central processing unit 10 , so that the central processing unit 10 can retrieve and execute the correct boot program code to complete the computer system boot operation.

In addition, after receiving the confirmation value from the central processing unit 10, the north bridge chip 20 can retain the corresponding set of parameters in the storage unit 23, and when the computer system is powered on next time, when the central processing unit 10 sends a power-on signal, Let the north bridge chip 20 directly send a reset signal to the central processing unit 10 to drive the central processing unit 10 to retrieve the correct boot program code to perform the boot process. In this way, it is convenient for the user to directly execute the correct boot program code when turning on the computer system in the future. Since the BIOS 40 of the mainboard of the present invention stores multiple sets of setting parameters, when the user wants to update the central processing unit 10, the booting procedure can be executed normally without replacing the mainboard.

The basic input/output system 40 of this embodiment can preset multiple sets of setting parameters according to actual needs, so as to support various types of central processing units 10 , which is convenient for users to replace the central processing units 10 . The processing unit 25 of the north bridge chip 20 also sends multiple read address signals correspondingly according to the number of preset setting parameters, and each read address signal is respectively corresponding to each set of setting parameters, so that the motherboard can be matched with various types of The central processing unit 10 is used to improve the compatibility of the computer system.

Please also refer to FIG. 2 , which is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the booting method of the present invention. As shown in the figure, at first, as shown in step S1, when the computer system is about to be started, the central processing unit 10 sends a start signal to the north bridge chip 20; then, as shown in step S2, after the north bridge chip 20 receives the start signal, Send an address signal to the south bridge chip 30; then, the south bridge chip 30 executes step S3, reads an index signal to the north bridge chip 20 according to the address signal to the basic input and output system 40; then, as shown in step S4, the processing unit 25 Generate a read address signal according to the index signal and send it to the south bridge chip 30; afterward, the south bridge chip 30 reads the corresponding setting parameters of the basic input output system 40 according to the read address signal and sends it to the south bridge chip 30 as shown in step S5. stored in the storage unit 23 of the north bridge chip 20 .

Afterwards, as shown in step S6, the north bridge chip 20 sends a reset signal to the central processing unit 10, so that the central processing unit 10 reads the boot program code of the basic input output system 40 through the north bridge chip 20 and through the south bridge chip 30 to Execute booting; then, as shown in step S7, if central processing unit 10 can capture correct boot program code and carry out indeed, and produce confirmation value to north bridge chip 20, then as shown in step S8, represent north bridge chip 20 The setting parameters set by reading are matched with the central processing unit 10, so that the central processing unit 10 can correctly retrieve and execute the boot program code to allow the computer system to start normally; but if the central processing unit 10 does not send a confirmation value, then Indicates that the set parameters read by the north bridge chip 20 do not match the central processing unit 10. At this time, the north bridge chip 20 promptly drives the central processing unit 10 to repeatedly execute step S1 to send a boot signal, and execute steps S2 to step S7 again. That is to make the processing unit 25 send a second read address signal to read a second setting parameter of the BIOS 40 , and so on until the central processing unit 10 sends a confirmation value to the north bridge chip 20 . As mentioned above, the north bridge chip 20 drives the central processing unit 10 to execute step S1 again by sending a restart signal to the central processing unit 10 to drive the central processing unit 10 to send a power-on signal.

In summary, the present invention proposes a booting device and method for a computer system aimed at the existing problems, which can not only improve the shortcoming that the set parameters of the northbridge chip do not match the central processing unit and cannot be booted, but also increase the use of Or in the convenience of updating the central processing unit. The booting device and method of the computer system of the present invention include multi-setting parameters through the basic input and output system, so that a single motherboard can match multiple types of central processing units, and after the central processing unit is installed on the motherboard , the present invention can automatically set the setting parameters that match the central processing unit, so as to drive the central processing unit to retrieve the correct boot program code and perform normal boot operation, so as to achieve the purpose of stable booting of the computer system.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent changes and modifications are made according to the shape, structure, characteristics and spirit of the claims of the present invention. , should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. the opening device of a computer system comprises:

One Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) stores a plurality of setup parameters and a boot-strap program code;

One processing unit, the described setup parameter of this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) produces corresponding a plurality of address signals that read relatively;

One north bridge chips, this read address signal and read this corresponding setup parameter according to this processing unit transmits; And

One CPU (central processing unit) reads this boot-strap program code of this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) and also carries out by this north bridge chips,

Wherein, when this CPU (central processing unit) is carried out this boot-strap program code and is made mistakes, this processing unit is according to one second index signal that reads from this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) and preceding first reading address signal and send one second and read address signal of once producing, so that this north bridge chips reads another corresponding this setup parameter.

2. opening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein this north bridge chips produces an address signal according to a start signal of this CPU (central processing unit), and send this address signal to one South Bridge chip, order about this South Bridge chip and read one first index signal of this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) according to this address signal, this processing unit produces this according to this first index signal and first reads address signal.

3. opening device as claimed in claim 1 wherein behind this this boot-strap program code of CPU (central processing unit) successful execution, sends an affirmation value to this north bridge chips; When this north bridge chips does not receive this affirmation value, then be judged to be this CPU (central processing unit) and carry out this boot-strap program code and make mistakes.

4. opening device as claimed in claim 3 also comprises a counting unit, and in order to count a gate time, this north bridge chips waits for that in this gate time this CPU (central processing unit) transmits this affirmation value.

5. opening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein this opening device also comprises a storage element in order to store this setup parameter.

6. the starting-up method of a computer system, be applicable to that a CPU (central processing unit) reads the computer system of a boot-strap program code of a Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) by a north bridge chips, this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) stores a plurality of setup parameters and a boot program, and this method comprises the following step;

Produce corresponding described setup parameter one of them one first read address signal;

First read address signal and read this corresponding setup parameter according to this, to set this north bridge chips;

Order about this CPU (central processing unit) reads this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) by this north bridge chips this boot-strap program code and execution; And

When this CPU (central processing unit) is carried out this boot-strap program code and is made mistakes, the one second index signal that reads from this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) and this first reads address signal and sends one second and read address signal, so that this north bridge chips reads another corresponding this setup parameter.

7. starting-up method as claimed in claim 6, before wherein producing one first of one of corresponding described setup parameter and reading the step of address signal, this CPU (central processing unit) sends a start signal to this north bridge chips, sends address signal to a South Bridge chip to order about this north bridge chips; This South Bridge chip reads one first index signal of this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS) according to this address signal, first reads address signal to produce this according to this first index signal.

8. starting-up method as claimed in claim 6, wherein order about this CPU (central processing unit) and also comprise by the step that this north bridge chips reads this boot-strap program code of this Basic Input or Output System (BIOS):

Send a replacement signal to this CPU (central processing unit), order about this CPU (central processing unit) and read this boot-strap program code;

Wherein send the step of this replacement signal, be by this north bridge chips after reading this setup parameter, send this replacement signal to this CPU (central processing unit).

9. starting-up method as claimed in claim 6 wherein behind this this boot-strap program code of CPU (central processing unit) successful execution, sends an affirmation value to this north bridge chips; This north bridge chips is waited for this affirmation value in a gate time, when this north bridge chips does not receive this affirmation value, then be judged to be this CPU (central processing unit) and carry out this boot-strap program code and make mistakes.

10 starting-up methods as claimed in claim 6, wherein this setup parameter can be stored in a storage element of this north bridge chips.

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