Method of restarting a computer platform

1. A method for restarting a computing platform to a state in which applications run in less time than an initial start, comprising:

powering on a computing platform comprising a plurality of devices;

identifying one or more devices of the plurality of devices which are not critical to running applications;

storing information about the non-critical devices;

restarting the computing platform;

retrieving the information about the non-critical devices;

disabling the non-critical devices;

enabling devices of the plurality of devices which are not non-critical devices; and

enabling the non-critical devices after the restart is completed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying step occurs after at least one of initial boot-up, a configuration change, and detection of a device error.

3. A method for a computing platform to mark devices not critical to running an application, wherein the computing platform has an operating system (OS) that uses the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI); comprising:

providing an ACPI control method for identifying non-critical devices;

powering on the computing platform comprising a plurality of devices;

providing ACPI tables with all devices enabled;

passing control to the OS;

booting the OS with all devices;

invoking the ACPI control method to identify devices which are not critical for running an application as non-critical devices; and

storing information about the non-critical devices.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the invoking step occurs after at least one of initial boot-up, a configuration change, a reset to default settings, and detection of a device error.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

restarting the computer platform;

retrieving the information about the non-critical devices;

providing ACPI tables wherein:

all devices are identified;

non-critical devices are disabled; and

devices which are not non-critical are enabled;

passing control to the OS;

booting the OS with the critical devices;

enabling the non-critical devices in the ACPI tables;

sending an event to the OS to use an on-line add operation to add each non-critical device; and

using an on-line add operation to add each non-critical device after booting the OS with the critical devices has been completed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the invoking step occurs after at least one of boot-up, a configuration change, and detection of a device error.