| US 7,457,945 B2 | ||
| System and method for providing a secure firmware update to a device in a computer system | ||
| James E. Dailey, Round Rock, Tex. (US); Anthony L. Overfield, Austin, Tex. (US); and James L. Walker, Cedar Park, Tex. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, Tex. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 23, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/806,562. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0216753 A1, Sep. 29, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. G06F 15/177 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 713—2 | 15 Claims |
| 1. A method for performing a firmware update on a device of a computer system, comprising the steps of:
saving a firmware update application and firmware to the computer system;
verifying that the firmware update application has the authority to perform the firmware update, wherein verifying comprises
the step of determining whether the firmware update application has access to a predetermined encryption key utilized by the
computer system;
encrypting validation data associated with the firmware update application and the firmware, wherein encrypting comprises
the step of encrypting the validation data with a second encryption key that includes some content derived from an administrative
password associated with the computer system;
restarting the computer system;
locating the firmware update application and the firmware;
decrypting the validation data; and
initiating the firmware update application.
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