This invention relates to personal computers, and more particularly to personal computers in which capability is provided for the usual system controlling processor to be reset, initialized and then isolated if an alternate system controller is provided for the system. In accordance with this invention, a personal computer system has a high speed local processor data bus; an input/output data bus; a microprocessor coupled directly to the local processor bus; a connector coupled directly to the local processor bus for accommodating reception of an alternate processor; and a bus interface controller coupled directly to the local processor bus and directly to the input/output data bus for providing communications between the local processor bus and the input/output data bus, with the bus interface controller providing for detection of the presence of an alternate processor received in the connector and, in response to detection of the presence of an alternate processor, transferring control of the local processor bus from the microprocessor to the alternate processor.