An essential utility routine accesses a protected computer system component by making a call to a coprocessor that performs a desired function to avoid security measures imposed by an operating system. Various suitable coprocessors include an additional coprocessor connected to a host processor running the operating system imposing the security measures such as a coprocessor on a add-in card to a computer system, a microcontroller, or a system management mode (SMM) program running on the host processor. The essential utility operates on a computer system having a processor operating under an operating system and a storage. The operating system includes software which limits access to the storage. The utility includes a coprocessor, a software interface and a utility routine. The coprocessor is connected to the storage and operative independent of the operating system for accessing the storage. The software interface is connected to the coprocessor and executes on the processor to control input and output operations on the processor. The utility routine executes on the processor and includes a program code operative via the software interface for activating the coprocessor to access the storage and receiving a response from the coprocessor.