M-Systems has added the ability to boot a PC from its DiskOnKey flash drives, allowing the device to more easily replace a floppy drive.
The bootability feature is enabled through the system BIOS, which can sense if the key is connected to a Universal Serial Bus port. M-Systems said it licensed the open-source FreeDOS operating system developed by FreeDOS.org.
To enable booting, the DiskOnKey must contain the DOK T4 chip, the company said. Bootability can be enabled through a custom GUI M-Systems developed.
“The Smart DiskOnKey platform demonstrates the next level of advancement and is synonymous for everything that can be developed for this device,” said Blaine Phelps, director of worldwide marketing for M-Systems DiskOnKey Business Unit, in a statement. “The new boot feature extends the capability of the device and gives our partners a solution for those seeking a legacy-free bootable device. Through the platform and with new capabilities in development, we think the DiskOnKey is poised to be the only true multi-purpose technology tool capable of impacting multiple markets.”
In a separate announcement, M-Systems announced Wednesday that it had formed KeyComputing, a new subsidiary charged with taking the DiskOnKey device into new vertical markets, specifically the enterprise, the company said.