Method for pre-installing software programs which allows customizable combinations of configurations

• US 6,453,413 B1
• Filed: 03/29/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Kou, Hao-Feng, Chao, Hung-Feng, Chen, Hsuan-Tung, Lin, Kuang-Hsin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Rijue
• Application Number:
  US09/280,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 709/222, 709/220, 709/221, 710/8, 710/9, 710/10, 710/61, 714/21, 714/47, 711/202, 711/206
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for pre-installing software program. First create a configuration file according to the demand of software programs in each destination disk drive. Then the server of a local area network creates an operating system image file and an application file package. The files are sent to the local area network station to pre-install the software. Using the method, the pre-installation of software program can be realized. Also, the user may select the programs freely without partitioning and formatting the hard disk. At the same time, the installation of software can be done in a large number of new machines automatically.

Claims

1. A method for pre-installing software programs into a hardware, comprising the steps of:

creating at least one configuration file relating to an operating system and a plural of application programs;

creating an image file of the operating system;

mapping the image file to the hardware;

copying the application programs to the hardware; and

re-booting the hardware;

wherein the step of creating the image file further comprises the following sub-steps;

loading valid terms of the file allocation table sequentially;

checking if the valid terms are zero or not;

calculating offsets between the valid term address and first term address;

creating an index;

compressing and creating the image file; and

checking if all the valid terms in the file allocation table are processed.

2. The method for pre-installing software programs as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of creating the configuration file further comprises:

checking the position and status of the hardware;

selecting a desired combination of software programs;

determining the compatibility of the software and the hardware; and

reading the addresses of the software program.

3. The method for pre-installing software programs as recited in claim 1 wherein the configuration file includes a hardware path, an operating system path and a software program path.

4. The method for pre-installing software programs as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of mapping the image file to the hardware further comprises:

verifying the hardware according to the demand of the configuration file;

loading the operating system image file; and

creating the hardware partition and format.

5. The method for pre-installing software programs as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of copying the software program selected by the configuration file to the hardware further comprises:

copying the application file package through the local area network to a corresponding position in the hardware on demand of the configuration file; and

copying the system registration of the application program.

6. The method for pre-installing software programs as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of copying the software program selected by the configuration file to the hardware further comprises:

copying the application file package through the local area network to a corresponding position in the hardware on demand of the configuration file; and

installing the application program by batch mode, which installs basic items of program without selecting items by users.

7. A method for installing software through the local area network comprising the following steps:

creating an image file of a hard disk drive which consists of an operating system;

creating a file package after an application program is installed in the hard disk drive;

transmitting the image file and the file package to a server;

making the server decide the software program selected by a configuration file; and

transmitting the selected application program to a workstation for pre-installation;

wherein the step of creating the image file comprises the following sub-steps;

loading valid terms of the file allocation table sequentially;

determining whether the valid terms are zero or not;

calculating offsets between the valid term address and first term address;

creating an index;

compressing and creating the image file; and

determining whether all the valid terms in the file allocation table are processed.

8. The method for installing software through the local area network as recited in claim 7 wherein the step of creating the configuration file further comprises:

determining the position and status of the hardware;

selecting a combination of software programs;

determining the compatibility of the hardware and the software; and

loading the address of the software.

9. The method for installing software through the local area network as recited in claim 7 wherein the configuration file includes a hardware path, an operating system path and a software program path.