Method and system for detection and correction of entrance into an improper MBR state in a computer system

1. A method for detection and correction of entrance into an improper master boot record (MBR) state in a computer system, the method comprising:

providing a proxy MBR at a predetermined location on a storage device of the computer system;

restarting the computer system utilizing the proxy MBR; and

utilizing an original MBR maintained at an original location on the storage device during a reboot operation when the proxy MBR utilization is unsuccessful.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting a state flag in a nonvolatile storage of the computer system to direct the computer system to the predetermined location and proxy MBR.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising resetting the state flag during the restart operation.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the reset state flag directs the reboot operation to the original location and original MBR.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proxy MBR further comprises a modified version of the original MBR.

6. A computer system capable of detection and correction of entrance into an improper master boot record (MBR) state, the computer system comprising:

a mass storage device storing an original MBR at a first location and a proxy MBR at a second location;

a device storing at least one state flag; and

a processor coupled to the mass storage device and the device, the processor directing a boot operation with the proxy MBR when the at least one state flag is set and directing a reboot operation with the original MBR when the boot operation is unsuccessful.

7. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the device further comprises a nonvolatile memory device.

8. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the processor directs the reboot operation with the original MBR when the state flag is reset.

9. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the proxy MBR further comprises a modified version of the original MBR.

10. A computer readable medium containing a computer program for detection and correction of entrance into an improper master boot record (MBR) state in a computer system, the computer program comprising program instructions for:

providing a proxy MBR at a predetermined location on a storage device of the computer system;

restarting the computer system utilizing the proxy MBR; and

utilizing an original MBR maintained at an original location on the storage device during a reboot operation when the proxy MBR utilization is unsuccessful.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the computer program further comprises program instructions for setting a state flag in a nonvolatile storage of the computer system to direct the computer system to the predetermined location and proxy MBR.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the computer program further comprises program instructions for resetting the state flag during the restart operation.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the reset state flag directs the reboot operation to the original location and original MBR.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the proxy MBR further comprises a modified version of the original MBR.

15. A method for detection and correction of entrance into an improper master boot record (MBR) state in a computer system, the method comprising:

setting a state flag in a nonvolatile storage device of the computer system;

providing a proxy MBR, the proxy MBR being stored on a mass storage device at a location separate from an original MBR also being stored on the mass storage device;

directing a boot operation during a computer system restart to the location of the proxy MBR when the state flag is set;

resetting the state flag during the computer system restart;

determining if the computer system restart is successful with the proxy MBR; and

rebooting the computer system when the computer system restart is unsuccessful, the reboot being directed to the original MBR based on the reset state flag.

16. A computer readable medium containing a computer program for detection and correction of entrance into an improper master boot record (MBR) state in a computer system, the computer program comprising program instructions for:

setting a state flag in a nonvolatile storage device of the computer system;

providing a proxy MBR, the proxy MBR being stored on a mass storage device at a location separate from an original MBR also being stored on the mass storage device;

directing a boot operation during a computer system restart to the location of the proxy MBR when the state flag is set;

resetting the state flag during the computer system restart;

determining if the computer system restart is successful with the proxy MBR; and

rebooting the computer system when the computer system restart is unsuccessful, the reboot being directed to the original MBR based on the reset state flag.