WinPE Partition for Chrome OS Installation on UEFI Hardware
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturers face challenges in installing Coreboot and Chrome OS on UEFI BIOS-based computing devices due to pre-programmed motherboards, lack of network interface cards, and the inability to boot into Windows PE after installing Chrome OS, requiring a unified manufacturing process for both UEFI BIOS-supported and non-UEFI BIOS operating systems.
Innovation Solution
A WinPE-based installation process that includes creating a special partition on the Chrome OS image to enable booting into both Windows PE and Chrome OS, allowing for the installation of Coreboot and Chrome OS on devices with pre-installed UEFI BIOS, using a single disk image and leveraging existing diagnostic tests to automate the installation without human interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single manufacturing process is used to install both UEFI BIOS-supported OS and non-UEFI BIOS OS, then manufacturing cost is reduced and process simplicity is improved, but the complexity of the installation process increases due to needing to support multiple BIOS types and boot scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal manufacturing process that can install both UEFI BIOS-supported operating systems and non-UEFI BIOS operating systems using the same WinPE-based environment and diagnostic test suite. The special partition mechanism enables a single disk image to support multiple boot scenarios, making the manufacturing process multi-functional without requiring separate processes for different OS types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the disk into a special partition for storing WinPE and a regular partition for the operating system image. This segmentation allows the WinPE environment to be isolated from the OS installation, enabling the same manufacturing process to handle both UEFI and non-UEFI OS installations without interference between the two systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Coreboot and Chrome OS are installed on UEFI BIOS-based devices, then device versatility is improved, but the ability to boot into Windows PE for diagnostic tests is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-installing WinPE in the special partition before the operating system installation. This ensures that the boot capability for diagnostic tests is preserved in advance, allowing devices to boot into WinPE for testing even after Coreboot and Chrome OS are installed on the same hardware platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The special partition acts as an intermediary that stores WinPE separately from the main operating system. This intermediary structure allows the device to access WinPE for diagnostic purposes without interfering with the Coreboot and Chrome OS installation, mediating between the need for OS versatility and the need for reliable boot capability.
3Reliability
If separate manufacturing processes are used for UEFI BIOS and Chrome OS systems, then each process can be optimized for its specific requirements, but manufacturing cost and time increase due to duplication of resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the manufacturing processes for UEFI BIOS and Chrome OS systems into a single unified process. By combining the same WinPE-based environment, diagnostic tests, and installation procedures for both OS types, the patent eliminates resource duplication and improves manufacturing efficiency while maintaining the reliability of optimized processes for each OS type.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal manufacturing process uses a single disk image with a special partition that can install both UEFI and non-UEFI operating systems. This multi-functionality allows the same manufacturing infrastructure, test suites, and procedures to be used for both OS types, significantly improving productivity by eliminating the need for separate manufacturing lines.
Data Source
AI summary
As an example, a computing device having a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) may boot into a preinstallation environment (associated with a first operating system), determine that a second operating system is to be installed on the computing device, and write an image of the second operating system to the boot disk. The image may include a special partition. The computing device may write the preinstallation environment (associated with first operating system) to the special partition of the image of the second operating system, and create a boot entry in the UEFI to cause the computing device to boot into the preinstallation environment (Windows PE). After booting into the preinstallation environment, the computing device may execute one or more diagnostic tests, delete the boot entry, and reboot the computing device to install a basic input output system (Coreboot) to replace UEFI and install the second operating system (Chrome OS).