The services to be provided by a basic input/output system (BIOS) of a computer system are implemented via a number of independently executable service components. Additionally, the BIOS is provided with a decompression dispatcher for decompressing and dispatching the service components into random access memory (RAM) of the computer system for execution on an as needed basis, and optionally removing the dispatched service components when they are no longer needed. As a result, the service components may be stored in a non-volatile storage in a compressed state, allowing more services to be implemented without requiring more non-volatile storage.