Multiple operating system quick boot utility

• US 20040210848A1
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: James A. Mckeeth, James L. Vineyard Jr
• Inventors: Vineyard, James L. Jr., McKeeth, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

A computerized user interface for assisting a computer user selects a default operating system for a computer. The computerized interface operates during a current computing session and provides a list of operating systems available. A user can make a selection using standard activatible controls such as icons, alphanumeric lists and highlighting. Once selected, an operating becomes the default operating system software on the computer. Therefore, during the next startup of the computer a selected operating system will boot unless there is some other intervention. In addition to selecting an operating system, this invention can also be used to cause the computer to restart. Restart can be set to execute immediately or to execute upon a change in the default operating system. In addition this invention can be caused to uninstall thereby erasing the program files relating to this invention.

Claims

1. A system for assisting a user in selecting an operating system for use on an electronic device, system comprising:

an electronic device configured to store, display, and proces information;

program code running on said electronic device, the program code configured to perform the method comprising;

providing an interactive menu on a display, said menu comprising a list of operating systems available to run on said electronic device;

providing an activatible control mechanism for selecting one of the operating systems displayed on said menu; and

setting a default operating system for a load utility installed on said electronic device to an operating system selected with the activatible control.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the program code further implements a mechanism to allow a user to set a duration of time comprising a time out period during which the load utility pauses and allows a user to specify an operating system other than the default operating system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code further comprises a mechanism to cause the electronic device to restart, said mechanism for causing the electronic device to restart being executable by a user.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mechanism for causing the electronic device to restart is automatically executed if the default operating system is changed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a change of the default operating system causes a file containing settings for a boot menu to be modified wherein the file specifies the operating system selected.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code additionally comprises a mechanism for uninstalling the program code.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code additionally comprises a mechanism for reinstalling the program code.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein an installation routine for installing the program code surveys the electronic device and determines the presence of operating systems available on said electronic device and the partition on which the operating system resides.

9. A method of specifying an operating system of choice, comprising:

displaying an interactive menu on a display, said display listing the available operating systems;

providing a selection mechanism for selecting an operating system of choice;

selecting an operating system of choice via said selection mechanism; and

setting the default operating system for a load utility installed on an electronic device to the operating system selected with the selection mechanism, said default operating system loading by default upon the next electronic device start up.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising setting a duration of time comprising a time out period during which the load utility pauses and allows a user to specify an operating system other than the default operating system.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising restarting the electronic device in response to an input made via an input device calling for the electronic device to restart.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising causing the electronic device to restart automatically if the default operating system is changed.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a mechanism for uninstalling program code that performs displaying, providing, selecting, and setting.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a mechanism for reinstalling program code that performs the steps of displaying, providing, selecting, and setting.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising surveying the electronic device and determining the presence of operating systems available on said electronic device and the partition on which the operating system resides.

16. An article of manufacture comprising an electronic device usable medium having a readable code means embodied therein for selecting an operating system comprising:

a means for displaying an interactive menu on a display, and display listing the available operating systems;

a means for providing a selection mechanism for selecting an operating system of choice;

a means for selecting an operating system of choice via said selection mechanism; and

a means for setting the default operating system for a load utility installed on an electronic device to the operating system selected with the selection mechanism, the default operating system loading by default upon the next electronic device start up.

17. A user interface for an electronic device displayed by a boot selection program for selecting an operating system, said user interface comprising:

a first display region listing available operating systems; and

a second display region including a user activatible control to select one of the available operating systems, wherein a selected operating system is loaded by the electronic device upon a subsequent electronic device start up.

18. The user interface of claim 17, further comprising a third display region for initiating a command to restart the electronic device, said third region including user activatible controls to specify when the electronic device should restart.

19. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the interface is displayed upon clicking an icon of a boot.

20. A programmed electronic device for selecting an operating system comprising:

a memory for storing executable program code;

a processor for executing executable program code stored in said memory; and

executable program code stored in said memory responsive to a command to select an operating system so as to set a selected operating system as the default operating system of a loaded utility resident on the programmed electronic device.

21. A method of specifying an operating system of choice, comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on a display, said display listing the available operating systems; and

setting the default operating system for a load utility installed on an electronic device to the operating system selected with the graphical user interface, said default operating system loading by default upon the next electronic device start up.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising setting a duration of time comprising a time out period during which the load utility pauses and allows a user to specify an operating system other than the default operating system.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising specifying an operating system of choice on an electronic device and comprising restarting the electronic device in response to an input made via an input device calling for the electronic device to restart.

24. A system for specifying an operating system of choice, comprising:

means for displaying an graphical user interface on a display, said graphical user interface identifying the available operating systems; and

means for setting the default operating system for a load utility installed on an electronic device to the operating system selected with the graphical user interface, said default operating system loading by default upon the next electronic device start up.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for setting a duration of time comprising a time out period during which the load utility pauses and allows a user to specify an operating system other than the default operating system.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means restarting the electronic device in response to an input made via an input device calling for the electronic device to restart.