Method and system for receiving a software image from a customer for installation into a computer system

• US 20040025154A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sedlack, Derek J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a computer system. The method includes receiving an order and a software image via a communications network, building the computer system according to the order, and installing the software image on the computer system.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a first computer system comprising:

receiving an order and a software image via a communications network;

building the first computer system according to the order; and

installing the software image on the first computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the order and the software image via the internet.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the software image via the communications network;

providing a customer associated with the order with a program configured to cause the software image to be provided to a computer manufacturer using the communications network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing the customer with the program in response to a request from the customer.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing the customer with the program in response to the customer logging in to a second computer system associated with the computer manufacturer.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing the customer with the program, the program configured to cause a second computer system associated with the customer to;

create a partition on a storage device of the second computer system, wherein the storage device includes the software image;

copy the software image into the partition; and

provide the software image in the partition to the computer manufacturer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the order and the software image, storing the order and the software image on a second computer system associated with a computer manufacturer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

storing an address associated with the software image as a part of the order.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

installing the software image on the first computer system in response to accessing the software image from a location indicated by the address.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

installing the software image on the first computer system prior to providing the first computer system to a customer.

11. A system comprising:

a first computer system for;

receiving a request to upload a software image from a second computer system associated with a customer;

providing a program to the second computer system in response to receiving the request, the program configured to cause the software image to be uploaded to the second computer system;

receiving the software image from the second computer system in response to providing the program to the second computer system; and

providing the software image for installation on a third computer system ordered by the customer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first computer system is for:

receiving an order and the software image via a communications network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first computer system is for:

receiving the order and the software image via the internet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the request includes a selection of an indicator on a website.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the second computer system to:

create a partition on a storage device of the second computer system, wherein the storage device includes the software image;

copy the software image into the partition; and

provide the software image in the partition to the computer manufacturer.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first computer system is for:

storing the software image.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first computer system is for:

storing an address associated with the software image as a part of an order associated with the third computer system.

18. A method performed by a first computer system comprising:

creating a partition on a storage device, wherein the storage device includes a software image;

copying the software image into the partition; and

providing the software image in the partition to a second computer system.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

booting the first computer system using a boot disk;

creating the partition in response to booting the first computer system using the boot disk.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a first program onto the first computer system; and

in response to receiving the first program onto the first computer system, storing first boot code and a second program onto the boot disk.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

in response to booting the first computer system using the boot disk, removing the first program from the first computer system.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

creating the partition in response to first instructions in the second program; and

copying the software image into the partition in response to second instructions in the second program.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

storing a link onto the first computer system in response to third instructions in the second program; and

storing the image onto the second computer system at a location associated with the link in response to fourth instructions in the second program.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

storing the image onto the second computer system at the location associated with the link in response to the first computer system being rebooted using second boot code stored on the first computer system.