CONVERTING A DEVICE FROM ONE SYSTEM TO ANOTHER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of re-purposing a computer using a removable memory comprising:
- installing an installation program, an operating system, and a firmware on the removable memory;
coupling the removable memory to the computer;
executing the installation program;
copying, under control of the installation program, a target firmware on the computer to a backup location;
overwriting the target firmware with a new firmware;
executing the new firmware;
raising an error if operation of the new firmware fails;
redirecting execution to the target firmware at the backup location responsive to raising the error; and
installing the operating system if operation of the new firmware succeeds.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Re-purposing a computer from one operating system to another is both simplified and made less susceptible to error by moving original system firmware to a backup location and then installing both new firmware and the new operating system in one process. Because the original firmware is maintained and accessible, should the new firmware, for example, a BIOS, fail, the original firmware can be restored and the process restarted. To assist in the seamless change from one operating system to another, an inventory of computer assets may be used to built an installation program and removable memory for use in the upgrade.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of re-purposing a computer using a removable memory comprising:
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installing an installation program, an operating system, and a firmware on the removable memory; coupling the removable memory to the computer; executing the installation program; copying, under control of the installation program, a target firmware on the computer to a backup location; overwriting the target firmware with a new firmware; executing the new firmware; raising an error if operation of the new firmware fails; redirecting execution to the target firmware at the backup location responsive to raising the error; and installing the operating system if operation of the new firmware succeeds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A removable computer-readable storage medium comprising:
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a port for coupling to a computer; computer-executable instructions for booting a computer using a first operating system; computer-executable instructions for making a copy of a current BIOS of a computer in a known location; computer-executable instructions for writing a new BIOS over the current BIOS of the computer; computer-executable instructions for installing a new operating system from the removable computer-readable storage medium to the computer when the new BIOS meets an installation criteria; and computer-executable instructions for reverting to the copy of the current BIOS when the new BIOS fails to meet the installation criteria. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of changing a computer executable operating environment comprising:
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installing an installation program, a new operating system, and one or more new firmware components on a removable memory; coupling the removable memory to the computer; booting the computer from a boot module on the removable memory; executing the installation program; copying, under control of the installation program, an existing one or more firmware components on the computer to a backup location, each of the existing one or more firmware components corresponding to the one or more new firmware components; overwriting each of the existing one or more firmware components with the corresponding one or more new firmware components; performing a test of the one or more new firmware components; raising an error if the test fails; restoring the copy of the existing one or more firmware components on the computer from the backup location. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification