BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, an information processing apparatus tends to take a longer time to be activated. One of its causes is that, along with increasing functions provided with the information processing apparatus, an amount of data to be loaded from a read only memory (ROM) to a random access memory (RAM) when the information processing apparatus is activated has been increased.

To address this problem, a technique has been developed in which, when a user turns off a power switch, the data in the RAM is retained as it is and thus, when the user turns on the power next time, the data does not have to be loaded from the ROM to the RAM, thereby reducing the time required for activation. As such a technique, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-34578 discusses a technique referred to as “suspend” for retaining the data in the RAM by continuing energizing the RAM.

Further, as such a technique, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-82014 discusses a technique referred to as “hibernation” for retaining the data in the RAM by temporarily saving the data in the RAM into a hard disk (HDD). By such techniques described above, the power of the apparatus seems to be completely turned off from the user, however, the time required for activation can be reduced.

Generally, the information processing apparatus includes a display unit capable of displaying a setting screen via which the user sets an operation of the information processing apparatus and a service mode screen via which a service person performs fine adjustment of the operations. Such screens are set to a display state by the user's operation, and until the user's operation is completely ended, the screens are kept displayed on the display unit.

To such an information processing apparatus, if the above-described technique for reducing the time required for the activation is applied, a problem described below will arise. Specifically, when the user turns off the power switch with the setting screen and the service mode screen displayed, and when the user turns on the power switch next time, the setting screen and the service mode screen are kept displayed. That is because the above-described technique for reducing the time required for the activation retains the data in the RAM as it is, and thus the screen displayed on the display unit is also maintained as it is.

For example, when the user leaves a computer after he turns off the power switch and then, when another user turns on the power switch, the screen set by the previous user is kept displayed, which is not preferable. Particularly, if a user having little knowledge operates the service mode screen, an erroneous adjustment value may be set for the information processing apparatus. Thus, it is desirable that the service mode screen is not displayed again considering security.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an information processing apparatus and a control method thereof capable of displaying an appropriate screen when the information processing apparatus is activated, while reducing a time required for activating the information processing apparatus.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

