Can you make a firmware load before the OS starts?

bkribbs

bkribbs

New Member
I ask because I need to load a firmware before the OS takes control of the device. My bluetooth works if I have the firmware in the system, but the only way to do that is boot into windows 7, restart, and boot in this OS. Is there a way I can make it so that the firmware is loaded from somewhere before the OS starts?

Could I flash the BIOS or something weird like that to incorporate this feature?

Sorry for being unaware in this topic.
 
I think you may have firmware mixed up with driver in this case. Firmware is "firm" in that it is loaded into the hardware once and doesn't typically get loaded again unless you update it. Drivers are loaded at runtime so that the OS can interact with the device.

You talk of firmware but then say you restart to load a different OS. What OS are you loading?
 
Well some cards have the firmware built in. Mine does not, so every time I turn on the computer, the firmware is loaded. I guess into RAM. And it stays there until I turn off the computer (i.e. a restart it will stay there.)

And the OS is unimportant. I just need a way to get it loaded before the OS loads.

EDIT: Also, how can I fix this, if I am getting this error?

Code: 
if (libusb_claim_interface(devh, 0) < 0)
		error("Unable to claim interface")
 
Last edited:
In all the years I've been using computers I've never seen or heard of such a device. What is this device so I can do some research about it?
 
strollin said:
In all the years I've been using computers I've never seen or heard of such a device. What is this device so I can do some research about it?
Click to expand...

Its a combo wifi/bluetooth chip. Its the Atheros 9285 wifi, and I believe that is what the bluetooth is called, as it installs an atheros driver for it. But no model for bluetooth outside of that.
 
Not positive it will work, but here's what I would try, since you are running XP:

Place the firmware either on CD or floppy (or USB stick, but I doubt this would work)

Boot up PC and halt it with whatever key it takes to do so for XP (I cannot remember)

Go to command prompt and use DOS to load the firmware

Reboot
 
pane-free said:
Not positive it will work, but here's what I would try, since you are running XP:

Place the firmware either on CD or floppy (or USB stick, but I doubt this would work)

Boot up PC and halt it with whatever key it takes to do so for XP (I cannot remember)

Go to command prompt and use DOS to load the firmware

Reboot
Click to expand...

Actually, I am using 7, how would I do that?

And could i automate the process? like I boot into windows, hit the button, and then a script or something runs telling it to load it and reboot?
 
Cannot say as I do not mess around with Win7 like I did with W2k and XP in the day.

You may wish to look at using FreeDOS from a USB stick for a modern machine with BIOS that will allow booting from one.

Dug this up from a very good manual I haven't had reason to delve into recently -- the same strategy would apply in your case, I believe :

http://manual.aptosid.com/en/bios-freedos-en.htm
 
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