Firmware Support for PCI Express Hot-Plug and Windows

Updated: January 4, 2006

File name: BIOS_PCIe_HotPlug.doc
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ExpressCard is the standard for fully hot-pluggable PC modular expansion for desktop and mobile systems. ExpressModule is the standard for fully hot-pluggable server and workstation class computer systems.

To implement a PCI Express (PCIe) hot-plug solution for ExpressCard or ExpressModule on a computer system, the vendor must ensure that the appropriate ACPI firmware is provided for managing the hardware and also account for the different capabilities of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This paper provides recommendations for firmware developers and platform manufacturers who are implementing ExpressCard support on systems that run Windows operating systems.

The information in this paper applies to the following operating systems:
Microsoft Windows Vista and future versions
Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows 2000

Included in this paper:

• Introduction

• Firmware Implementation for ExpressCard

• ExpressCard Insertion and Removal in Windows Vista

• ExpressCard Insertion and Remove and Resource Allocation in Windows XP