Calling an API function from Bios
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Hi.. I own a Tektronix logic analyzer that was designed for Win95/98 and supported the old APM specification 1.2 for powering the system up and powering down. Under Win95/98 the soft button supported both power up and a safe shutdown/power off mode. After I upgraded to Win2000, both of these features were 'broken'. I discovered the bios issue with Win2000 not being able to turn power off to the analyzer(bios patch) but the only way I can accomplish this is with the traditional Start/Shutdown mouse seq. The front panel button no longer will initiate a shutdown/power off sequence. I am guessing that the bios had an embedded call to the windows function ExitWindowsEx. However, under Win2000 you needed to enable the proper privileges for the API function to properly work. So... hopefully, someone is familiar with what I am asking and can recommend how to force a windows function call from within bios. I am comfortable patching the bios for this sort of thing. I just need some pointers if it makes sense. If this is not possible/feasible what other options do I have? I've studied the APM spec but don't understand how to actually force the Windows OS to initiate a shutdown/power off sequence. If anyone can offer some advice, I would appreciate it. I would love exchanging thoughts on this as I've not been able to find anyone knowledgeable to help. Thanks for listening.. Jim
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Hi.. I own a Tektronix logic analyzer that was designed for Win95/98 and supported the old APM specification 1.2 for powering the system up and powering down. Under Win95/98 the soft button supported both power up and a safe shutdown/power off mode. After I upgraded to Win2000, both of these features were 'broken'. I discovered the bios issue with Win2000 not being able to turn power off to the analyzer(bios patch) but the only way I can accomplish this is with the traditional Start/Shutdown mouse seq. The front panel button no longer will initiate a shutdown/power off sequence. I am guessing that the bios had an embedded call to the windows function ExitWindowsEx. However, under Win2000 you needed to enable the proper privileges for the API function to properly work. So... hopefully, someone is familiar with what I am asking and can recommend how to force a windows function call from within bios. I am comfortable patching the bios for this sort of thing. I just need some pointers if it makes sense. If this is not possible/feasible what other options do I have? I've studied the APM spec but don't understand how to actually force the Windows OS to initiate a shutdown/power off sequence. If anyone can offer some advice, I would appreciate it. I would love exchanging thoughts on this as I've not been able to find anyone knowledgeable to help. Thanks for listening.. Jim
The BIOS (Basic Input Output System), is the code that runs before Windows does. It is also available for certain functions. In the past that included some hardware support and power management. Starting with NT versions of Windows, the BIOS role has greatly diminished. The BIOS cannot call into Windows. The BIOS has no knowledge of what operating system is installed. Can you explain the hardware/software set up in better detail. How were you able to "upgrade" to Windows 2000?
/* Charles Oppermann */ http://weblogs.asp.net/chuckop