METHODS, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND DEVICE FOR UTILIZING POINTERS OF A ROM IMAGE THAT MAY BE STORED IN VARIOUS FORMATS

Methods, computer systems, and devices provide for the use of pointers of various formats stored in a ROM image that is initially stored in an on-board ROM device of a computer system. The pointers may be stored in either a first format such as segment:offset or a second format such as flat 32-bit. The flat 32-bit format allows the ROM device and ROM image to exceed one megabyte in size, which permits many modules to be included to allow the ROM image to provide support for a full spectrum of hardware of the computer system. The segment:offset format allows backward compatibility with legacy type systems and software. The format of the pointers is determined so that first format pointers are converted to second format pointers for use in accessing modules of the ROM image. Pointers already stored in the second format are utilized as is to access the modules.