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    Rare feature: ROM circuit to boot up computer after hard drive format?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by CF27user, Oct 10, 2009.

  1. CF27user

    CF27user Notebook Guru

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    I got my vintage laptop Sharp PC-6200 for primarly old DOS games. Anyway please see my thread of it in Sharp laptop discussions.

    So, I found out that there is ROM circuit holding MS-DOS 4.01 plus all the factory setups, diagnose, utility and all other factory programs. So everytime when I format the hard drive, there is no problem to boot it up. You have always access to the boot setup where you can switch C: to be ROM and hard drive being D: and after installing all the content of ROM, you can switch hard drive back to C: and you're ready.

    This is the only computer I have ever heard of having ROM circuit for factory default setups. Is there any other computer which have also ROM circuit?

    Mostly similar feature is used with hard drive partitions so it format only other partition and you can install windows recovery from other, but I am just afraid that since it's located in hard drive anyway, isn't it vulnerable to viruses and other malware? I would consider ROM circuit being better option as you cannot affect on permanent memory so it is always in safe there and it also leaves more space to hard drive, but is it just too expensive feature in these days? It makes me wondering because in practice it would be much better to include Windows on ROM because you can always copy CD but can't install windows from ROM to other computers so isn't it safer option to make sure only buyer of the computer can use it?
     
    CF27user, Oct 10, 2009
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  2. CF27user

    CF27user Notebook Guru

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    Bump.

    No-one interested of this?
     
    CF27user, Oct 15, 2009
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  3. Kamin_Majere

    Kamin_Majere =][= Ordo Hereticus

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    Intresting yes, it would be an amazing feature to have, but no one is using the tech anymore and i dont know of a ROM circuit large enough to hold windows anymore.

    But yeah i would love to have a spare "drive" of somekind stuck in my system thats sole purpose is to house a back up image of my OS (and possibaly the C: drive in its entire form) but that is pretty much impossible with installs reaching the 15+GB range. Though i think If Intel can bring out Briarwood that it might be a really good testing ground for an idea like this
     
    Kamin_Majere, Oct 15, 2009
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