Method and apparatus for automated operating systems upgrade

• US 20030167354A1
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Peppers, Cherita Arnece, Dyson, David Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/327
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A method for an automated operating system upgrade in an information handling system, from an older version to a newer version, is disclosed. The method includes initiating a preparation for the upgrade from an operating system upgrade preparation media. An eligibility of the information handling system for upgrade in response to the preparation is determined. Lastly, the upgrade proceeds in response to an eligibility determination, otherwise upgrade preparation is terminated.

Claims

1. A method for an automated operating system upgrade in an information handling system, from an older version to a newer version, comprising:

initiating a preparation for the upgrade from an operating system upgrade preparation media;

determining an eligibility of the information handling system for upgrade in response to the preparation; and

proceeding with the upgrade preparation in response to an eligibility determination, otherwise terminating the upgrade preparation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to initiating the preparation, providing a user interface display page, the user interface display page outlining step-by-step upgrade instructions, the instructions including a user-selectable option to continue with the upgrade preparation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface display page includes a web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the preparation for the upgrade includes executing a preparation program from the operating system upgrade preparation media, the program including instructions executable by the information handling system for scanning a current hardware configuration of the information handling system, and wherein determining the eligibility of the information handling system for the upgrade includes comparing the scanned current hardware configuration with a listing of hardware configurations predetermined to be compatible with the newer version of the operating system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the program further including instructions executable by the information handling system for retrieving a system identification from the information handling system, and further wherein determining the eligibility of the information handling system for the upgrade includes comparing the retrieved system identification with a listing of system identifications predetermined to be compatible with the newer version of the operating system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein proceeding with the upgrade preparation in response to a determination of eligibility, the method further comprising:

retrieving a system BIOS Rev from a system memory of the information handling system; and

determining whether the system BIOS Rev is a current version and if not current, then obtaining an upgrade system BIOS Rev from the upgrade media and replacing the system BIOS Rev with the upgrade BIOS Rev.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein replacing the system BIOS Rev with the upgrade BIOS Rev includes flashing the upgrade BIOS Rev.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

retrieving an identification of at least one driver from the information handling system; and

copying an upgrade driver from the upgrade media to the information handling system, the upgrade driver having been selected in response to the retrieved driver identification.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the driver includes at least one of an audio driver, video driver, modem driver, and network driver.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

setting a registry in the information handling system, the registry configured to enable the newer version of the operating system to automatically detect the upgrade driver.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving an identification of at least one software program from a system memory of the information handling system;

determining an incompatibility of the software program with the upgrade operating system; and

providing a user-selectable option for automatically uninstalling the software program in response to an incompatible determination.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing, in response to a completion of the automated operating system upgrade preparation, an upgrade operating system program from an upgrade operating system media.

13. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying upon a display device the current hardware information.

14. A computer program product for implementing an automated operating system upgrade in an information handling system, from an older version to a newer version, comprising:

a computer program processable by an information handling system for causing the information handling system to;

initiate a preparation for the upgrade from an operating system upgrade preparation media;

determine an eligibility of the information handling system for upgrade in response to the preparation; and

proceed with the upgrade preparation in response to an eligibility determination, otherwise terminate the upgrade preparation; and

apparatus from which the computer program is accessible by the information handling system.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer program is processable by the computer system for further causing the computer system to:

prior to initiating the preparation, provide a user interface display page, the user interface display page outlining step-by-step upgrade instructions, the instructions including a user-selectable option to continue with the upgrade preparation.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the user interface display page includes a web page.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein initiating the preparation for the upgrade includes executing instructions for scanning a current hardware configuration of the information handling system, and wherein determining the eligibility of the information handling system for the upgrade includes comparing the scanned current hardware configuration with a listing of hardware configurations predetermined to be compatible with the newer version of the operating system.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

retrieve a system identification from the information handling system, and further wherein determining the eligibility of the information handling system for the upgrade includes comparing the retrieved system identification with a listing of system identifications predetermined to be compatible with the newer version of the operating system.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein proceeding with the upgrade preparation in response to a determination of eligibility, the program further including instructions for causing the computer to:

retrieve a system BIOS Rev from a system memory of the information handling system; and

determine whether the system BIOS Rev is a current version and if not current, then obtaining an upgrade system BIOS Rev from the upgrade media and replacing the system BIOS Rev with the upgrade BIOS Rev.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein replacing the system BIOS Rev with the upgrade BIOS Rev includes flashing the upgrade BIOS Rev.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

retrieve an identification of at least one driver from the information handling system; and

copy an upgrade driver from the upgrade media to the information handling system, the upgrade driver having been selected in response to the retrieved driver identification.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the driver includes at least one of an audio driver, video driver, modem driver, and network driver.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

set a registry in the information handling system, the registry configured to enable the newer version of the operating system to automatically detect the upgrade driver.

24. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

retrieve an identification of at least one software program from a system memory of the information handling system;

determine an incompatibility of the software program with the upgrade operating system; and

provide a user-selectable option for automatically uninstalling the software program in response to an incompatible determination.

25. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

execute, in response to a completion of the automated operating system upgrade preparation, an upgrade operating system program from an upgrade operating system media.

26. The computer program product of 17, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

display upon a display device the current hardware information.

27. A computer program product for implementing an automated operating system upgrade in an information handling system, from an older version to a newer version, comprising:

a computer program processable by an information handling system for causing the information handling system to;

provide a user interface display page, the user interface display page outlining step-by-step upgrade instructions, the instructions including a user-selectable selectable option to continue with the upgrade preparation;

initiate a preparation for the upgrade from an operating system upgrade preparation media, wherein initiating the preparation for the upgrade includes executing instructions for scanning a current hardware configuration of the information handling system;

determine an eligibility of the information handling system for upgrade in response to the preparation, wherein determining the eligibility of the information handling system for the upgrade includes comparing the scanned current hardware configuration with a listing of hardware configurations predetermined to be compatible with the newer version of the operating system; and

proceed with the upgrade preparation in response to an eligibility determination, otherwise terminate the upgrade preparation, wherein proceeding includes executing instructions to retrieve a system BIOS Rev from a system memory of the information handling system, and determine whether the system BIOS Rev is a current version and if not current, then obtaining an upgrade system BIOS Rev from the upgrade media and replacing the system BIOS Rev with the upgrade BIOS Rev; and

apparatus from which the computer program is accessible by the information handling system.

28. A computer program for implementing an automated operating system upgrade in an information handling system, from an older version to a newer version, the computer program processable by the information handling system for causing the information handling system to:

initiate a preparation for the upgrade from an operating system upgrade preparation media;

determine an eligibility of the information handling system for upgrade in response to the preparation; and

proceed with the upgrade preparation in response to an eligibility determination, otherwise terminate the upgrade preparation.

29. The computer program of claim 28, wherein the computer program is processable by the information handling system for further causing the information handling system to:

prior to initiating the preparation, provide a user interface display page, the user interface display page outlining step-by-step upgrade instructions, the instructions including a user-selectable option to continue with the upgrade preparation.

30. The computer program of claim 29, wherein the user interface display page includes a web page.

31. The computer program of claim 28, wherein initiating the preparation for the upgrade includes executing instructions for scanning a current hardware configuration of the information handling system, and wherein determining the eligibility of the information handling system for the upgrade includes comparing the scanned current hardware configuration with a listing of hardware configurations predetermined to be compatible with the newer version of the operating system.

32. The computer program of claim 31, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

retrieve a system identification from the information handling system, and further wherein determining the eligibility of the information handling system for the upgrade includes comparing the retrieved system identification with a listing of system identifications predetermined to be compatible with the newer version of the operating system.

33. The computer program of claim 28, wherein proceeding with the upgrade preparation in response to a determination of eligibility, the program further including instructions for causing the information handling system to:

retrieve a system BIOS Rev from a system memory of the information handling system; and

determine whether the system BIOS Rev is a current version and if not current, then obtaining an upgrade system BIOS Rev from the upgrade media and replacing the system BIOS Rev with the upgrade BIOS Rev.

34. The computer program of claim 33, wherein replacing the system BIOS Rev with the upgrade BIOS Rev includes flashing the upgrade BIOS Rev.

35. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

retrieve an identification of at least one driver from the information handling system; and

copy an upgrade driver from the upgrade media to the information handling system, the upgrade driver having been selected in response to the retrieved driver identification.

36. The computer program of claim 35, wherein the driver includes at least one of an audio driver, video driver, modem driver, and network driver.

37. The computer program of claim 35, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

set a registry in the information handling system, the registry configured to enable the newer version of the operating system to automatically detect the upgrade driver.

38. The computer program of claim 28, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

retrieve an identification of at least one software program from a system memory of the information handling system;

determine an incompatibility of the software program with the upgrade operating system; and

provide a user-selectable option for automatically uninstalling the software program in response to an incompatible determination.

39. The computer program of claim 28, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

execute, in response to a completion of the automated operating system upgrade preparation, an upgrade operating system program from an upgrade operating system media.

40. The computer program of 31, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

display upon a display device the current hardware information.