Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!cert.sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: chap@art-sy.detroit.mi.us (j chapman flack) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Re: PREVENTION of Drive A: boots - Suggestions Please (PC) Message-ID: <0007.9105021354.AA27981@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 1 May 91 16:23:50 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 39 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu davidsen@crdos1.crd.ge.COM (Wm E Davidsen Jr) writes: >I mailed this to the original poster, but here's my idea. I suggested >it to a vendor, but they haven't used it, or at least not yet. > >Have in the CMOS a "boot path" which works like the PATH variable, and >specifies which devices are to be tried, in what order. This allows >disable of floppy boot, as well as boot from B: if A: fails or if you >have one 5-1/4 and one 3-1/2, etc. > >Use a password to allow access to change the configuration. If the >password takes too much room, save three bytes of CRC20 plus a value >for length range 1-15 characters. Length zero could mean "no >password." AST Research implements all of this. They included every detail needed to make a workable system: 1) you can set a boot path in the CMOS, 2) the setup program is in firmware, so you can change the boot path if you can't boot, 3) a password can be required to get into the firmware setup. Then they added a "feature": if the hard drive won't boot, it will automatically override your boot path and boot the diskette. Grr. Furthermore, if your hard drives are on a SCSI, it NEVER believes you have a hard drive, so it ALWAYS overrides your boot path. GRR. This is because it only checks the CMOS to see if you have a hard disk, rather than following the drive parameter table vector to see if there's a table. This is /* flame ON */ inexcusable, because there are tons of disk subsystems, not just SCSI, that have their own firmware and build their own parameter tables. This is common knowledge. *Sigh*. They were close... I think IBM got it all right in the PS/2 firmware. But you have to buy a PS/2 to get it.... - -- Chap Flack Their tanks will rust. Our songs will last. chap@art-sy.detroit.mi.us -Mikos Theodorakis Nothing I say represents Appropriate Roles for Technology unless I say it does.