SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO CREATE A CLEAN INSTALL OF AN APPLICATION

• US 20130346961A1
• Filed: 06/25/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VMware, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Conover, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,058,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and software for computer application installation. In one example, a method of computer application installation includes executing a computer application installer. The method further provides, interrupting the computer application installer with a clean install mechanism, and forcing installation of all application components even if one or more of the application components was previously installed.

Claims

1. A method of computer application installation, the method comprising:

monitoring for execution of a computer application installer;

interrupting the computer application installer with a clean install mechanism; and

forcing installation of all application components even if one or more of the application components was previously installed.

2. The computer application installation method of claim 1, wherein interrupting the computer application installer with the clean install mechanism comprises:

intercepting a shared application components query from the application installer to an operating system; and

returning to the application installer that there are no shared application components.

3. The computer application installation method of claim 1, wherein interrupting the computer application installer with the clean install mechanism comprises:

obtaining a shared application components query at an operating system from the application installer; and

forcing the operating system to return to the application installer that there are no shared application components.

4. The computer application installation method of claim 1, wherein the clean install mechanism

intercepting a response from a operating system to a shared application components query;

and

returning to the application installer that there are no shared application components.

5. The computer application installation method of claim 1, wherein the application components include directories, registry keys, and all other files necessary to execute an application.

6. The computer application installation method of claim 1, wherein executing a computer application installer comprises initiating an automated application installer based on user selected preferences.

7. The computer application installation method of claim 1, wherein the clean install mechanism comprises a software module.

8. A computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing system, direct the computing system to at least:

monitor for execution of a computer application installer;

interrupt the computer application installer with a clean install mechanism; and

force installation of all application components even if one or more of the application components was previously installed.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to interrupt the computer application installer with a clean install mechanism, directs the computing system to:

intercept a shared application components query from the application installer to an operating system; and

return to the application installer that there are no shared application components.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to interrupt the computer application installer with a clean install mechanism, directs the computing system to:

obtain a shared application components query at an operating system from the application installer; and

force the operating system to return to the application installer that there are no shared application components.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to interrupt the computer application installer with a clean install mechanism, directs the computing system to:

intercept a response from a operating system to a shared application components query; and

return to the application installer that there are no shared application components.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the application components include directories, registry keys, and all other files necessary to execute an application.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to execute the computer application installer, directs the computing system to initiate an automated application installer based on user selected preferences.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the clean install mechanism comprises a software module.

15. A system for installing a computer application, the system comprising:

an application installer configured to at least;

query an operating system for shared application components; and

install application components on a computing system; and

a clean install mechanism configured to;

interrupt the query of the operating system for the shared application components; and

return that the shared application components are not present.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein interrupting the query to the operating system for the shared application components comprises intercepting the query to the operating system before the query is obtained by the operating system.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein interrupting the query to the operating system for the shared application components comprises intercepting a response from the operating system to the query.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the shared application components include directories, registry keys, and all other files necessary to execute an application.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the application installer is further configured to gather install preferences from a user of the computing system.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the clean install mechanism comprises a software module.

21. A method for operating a computer application installer, the method comprising:

executing the computer application installer; and

forcing installation of all application components even if one or more of the application components was previously installed.