System for automatic recovery from software problems that cause computer failure

• US 6,381,694 B1
• Filed: 02/18/1994
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Yen, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Banankhah, Majid A.
• Application Number:
  US08/198,343
• Time in Patent Office: 2,993 Days
• Field of Search: 395/700, 364/200, 380/4
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures

Abstract

A system for recovering from certain types of system software startup problems employs a user-hidden secondary startup volume stored in the computer. During a normal startup procedure, if an error is detected which would normally result in a startup failure, the computer'"'"'s startup routine branches to an alternate startup application stored in the secondary volume. This startup application boots the computer from a minimal operating system stored in the secondary volume. As a result, the user is not left with a non-functioning computer. As further features of the invention, the startup application can attempt to automatically fix the detected problem, or it can suggest possible steps to be taken by the user, in order to fix the problem that resulted in the need to use the alternate startup application.

Claims

1. In a computer, a system for recovering from software problems that interfere with proper startup of the computer, comprising:

a storage mechanism having at least a main storage area from which operating system software is normally retrieved and loaded into working memory during startup of the computer, and a secondary area storing at least those portions of said operating system software which are necessary to start the computer;

means for detecting a software problem that interferes with proper startup of the computer;

means for attempting to fix a detected software problem; and

means responsive to the detection of said problem for loading the portions of the operating system stored in said secondary area into said main area when the problem is not fixed by said attempting means; and

means for rebooting the computer after said portions of the operating system have been loaded into said main area, to thereby enable the computer to be started.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said problem is the absence of operating system files in said main area of the storage mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said problem is corruption of an operating system file stored in said main area of the storage mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said problem is the detection of a file which should not be loaded during startup.

5. The system of claim 1 further including means for attempting to fix the problem before loading said portions of the operating system stored in said secondary area.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said secondary area is normally hidden from user access.

7. The system of claim 1 further including means for indicating the problem to a user of the computer.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said indicating means includes means for recording events that occur during a failed startup, and means for identifying an event which was not successfully completed during the failed startup.

9. A method for recovering from problems associated with software that prevent normal startup of a computer, comprising the steps of:

establishing a secondary area in a storage mechanism of the computer which is separate from a main area that is normally accessed to obtain operating system files during startup procedures, and storing in said secondary area at least those portions of said operating system which are necessary to start the computer;

detecting a software-related problem that prevents normal startup of the computer;

attempting to automatically fix a detected problem;

loading said portions of the operating system stored in said secondary area into said main area upon detection of said problem when said detected problem is not automatically fixed, and

rebooting the computer to enable it to be started with the operating system loaded from the secondary area into the main area.

10. The method of claim 9 further including the step of providing a computer user with an option to shut down the computer instead of having the computer booted from the portions of the operating system stored in the secondary area.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said secondary area is normally hidden from user access.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said problem is the absence of an operating system files in said main area of the storage mechanism.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said problem is corruption of an operating system file stored in said main area of the storage mechanism.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said problem is the detection of a file which should not be loaded during startup.

12. A method for recovering from problems associated with software that prevent normal startup of a computer, comprising the steps of:

establishing a secondary area in a storage mechanism of the computer which is separate from a main area that is normally accessed to obtain operating system files during startup procedures, and storing in said secondary area at least those portions of said operating system which are necessary to start the computer;

initiating a first startup of the computer;

detecting a first failure of the computer to start;

initiating a second startup of the computer;

monitoring tasks performed during said second startup of the computer;

detecting a second failure of the computer to start;

attempting to automatically fix a detected problem;

booting the computer from said portions of the operating system stored in the secondary area when said detected problem is not automatically fixed; and

indicating a problem associated with a task that was not performed during the second startup.

16. A method for recovering from problems associated with software that prevent normal operation of a computer, comprising the steps of:

establishing a user-hidden secondary area in a storage mechanism of the computer which is separate from a main area that is normally accessed to obtain software files employed during operation of the computer, and storing in said secondary area at least those portions of software files which are necessary to perform a desired operation with the computer;

detecting a software-related problem that prevents normal operation of the computer;

attempting to automatically fix a detected problem;

loading the portions of the software files stored in said secondary area into said main area when said detected problem is not automatically fixed; and

operating the computer with the files loaded from the secondary area into the main area.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of providing a computer user with an option to shut down the computer instead of having said software files loaded into the main area.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said problem is a failure of the computer to properly boot upon startup, and said software files stored in the secondary area comprise a minimum bootable operating system.

19. The method of claim 16 further including the step of attempting to fix the detected problem before operating the computer with said software files stored in the secondary area.

20. In a computer, a system for recovering from software problems that interfere with proper startup of the computer, comprising:

a storage mechanism having at least a main storage area from which operating system software is normally retrieved and loaded into working memory during startup of the computer, and a secondary area storing at least those portions of said operating system software which are necessary to start the computer;

means for detecting a software problem that interferes with proper startup of the computer;

means responsive to the detection of said problem for loading the portions of the operating system stored in said secondary area into said main area; and

means for rebooting the computer after said portions of the operating system have been loaded into said main area, to thereby enable the computer to be started.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said problem is the absence of operating system files in said main area of the storage mechanism.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said problem is corruption of an operating system file stored in said main area of the storage mechanism.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein said problem is the detection of a file which should not be loaded during startup.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein said secondary area is normally hidden from user access.

25. A method for recovering from a problem that prevents normal startup of a computer, comprising the steps of:

establishing a secondary area in a storage mechanism of the computer which is separate from a main area that is normally accessed to obtain operating system files during startup procedures, and storing in said secondary area at least those portions of an operating system which are necessary to start the computer;

determining whether software necessary to boot the computer is stored in said main area;

attempting to locate said software if it is not stored in said main area;

copying the software to said main area if it is located and booting the computer from said copied software; and

booting the computer from said portions of the operating system stored in the secondary area if said software cannot be located.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said secondary area is normally hidden from user access.

27. A method for recovering from problems associated with software that prevent normal operation of a computer, comprising the steps of:

establishing a user-hidden secondary area in a storage mechanism of the computer which is separate from a main area that is normally accessed to obtain software files that are loaded into working memory for operation of the computer, and storing in said secondary area at least these portions of software files which are necessary to perform a desired operation with the computer;

detecting a software-related problem that prevents normal operation of the computer;

loading the portions of the software files stored in said secondary area into said main area upon detection of said problem; and

operating the computer with the files loaded from the secondary area into the main area.

28. The method of claim 27 further including the step of providing a computer user with an option to shut down the computer instead of having said software files loaded into the main area.