Methods are provided for detecting the validity of configuration data and recovering configuration data in a computer system. A layout of present configuration data is detected in the computer system. The present configuration data is stored in a memory device which may be a non-volatile random access memory ("NVRAM") device. Next, a layout of updated configuration data for the computer system is detected. The updated configuration data is stored within program code, such as a BIOS, which includes an updated configuration for the computer system. Next, the layout of the present configuration data is compared to the layout of the updated configuration data in the computer system. If the layout of the present configuration data matches the layout of the updated configuration data, then it is determined that the present configuration data is valid configuration data for the computer system. If the layout of the present configuration data does not match the layout of the updated configuration data, then it is determined that the present configuration data is invalid configuration data and the present configuration data is either reset to a default state or recovered into an updated memory location in the NVRAM.