Method and computer system for detecting and correcting a failure in a computer application program during startup

• US 6,675,295 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2000
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: LeVine, Eric, Greenberg, Steven Miles, Marcelais, Michael R., Hill, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nieves, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/596,591
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 713/200, 713/1, 714/1, 714/2, 714/38
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering

Abstract

Methods and systems for detecting and correcting computer software problems that cause an application program to crash upon startup are provided. Unsafe startup actions that are costly to initiate in terms of processor time and memory are handled by placing an unsafe startup action marker into the system registry prior to attempting startup. If an unsafe program module starts or boots successfully without causing the software application to crash, the unsafe startup action marker is deleted from the system registry. If loading the unsafe program module causes the application to crash, then startup actions, including corrective actions, are written into the unsafe startup action marker and are used on subsequent startup of the crashed application program to instruct the application on how to fix the problem. Other unsafe startup actions that are not costly in terms of processor time and memory are initially handled by an exception handler. If the application crashes as a result of such an unsafe startup action, then an unsafe startup action marker is written to the system registry as described above. Corrective startup actions are written to the marker for use by the application upon reboot.

Claims

1. A method for detecting and correcting a failure in a computer application program during startup, the method of comprising the steps of:

attempting a startup of the computer application program;

preparing a startup marker for identifying the attempted startup;

identifying an unsafe action for performing as part of the step of attempting startup;

preparing an unsafe action marker for identifying the unsafe action;

attempting the unsafe action;

if the unsafe action is performed without causing a startup failure, deleting the unsafe action marker;

if the computer application program is started without failure, deleting the startup marker; and

if the unsafe action is performed without causing a startup failure, writing into the unsafe action marker startup actions for correcting a failure associated with the unsafe action upon the next attempted startup of the computer application program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

attempting a second startup of the computer application program; and

performing the startup actions for correcting the failure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of writing into the unsafe action marker startup actions for correcting a failure associated with the unsafe action upon the next attempted startup of the computer application program, includes the step of:

writing an instruction to disable performance of the unsafe action upon the next attempted startup of the computer application program.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of attempting the unsafe action, includes the step of:

loading a program module into the computer application program.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of performing the startup actions for correcting the failure, includes the step of:

disabling loading the program module into the computer application program.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the program module is a third party add-in function adding to the functionality of the computer application program.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of attempting the unsafe action, includes

customizing operating settings for the functionality of the computer application program.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of performing the startup actions for correcting the failure, includes the step of:

disabling customizing operating settings for the functionality of the computer application program.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of disabling customizing operating settings for the functionality of the computer application program, includes the step of:

setting operating settings for the functionality of the computer application program to default settings.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform the method of claim 1.

11. A computer system operative to perform the method of claim 1.

12. A method for detecting and correcting a failure in a computer application program during startup, the method comprising the steps of:

attempting startup of the computer application program;

identifying an unsafe action for performing as part of the step of attempting startup;

preparing an unsafe action marker for identifying the unsafe action;

determining there is a failure in the application program, said failure preventing startup of the application program;

preparing startup actions for correcting the failure on the next attempted startup of the application program;

attempting a second startup of the computer application program; and

performing the startup actions for correcting the failure.

13. The method of claim 12, prior to the step of determining there is a failure in the application program, including the step of:

preparing a startup marker for identifying the attempted startup.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of performing the startup actions for correcting the failure includes the step of:

disabling the unsafe action prior to attempting a second startup of the computer application program.

15. The method of claim 12, prior to the step of attempting startup of the computer application program, including the steps of:

identifying an unsafe action for performing as part of the step of attempting startup; and

assigning an exception handler for processing a failure associated with performing the unsafe action.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform the method of claim 12.

17. A computer system operative to perform the method of claim 12.

18. A method for detecting and correcting a failure in a computer application program during startup, the method comprising the steps of:

attempting a startup of the computer application program;

preparing a startup marker for identifying the attempted startup;

identifying an unsafe action for performing as part of the step of attempting startup;

performing the unsafe action;

if the unsafe action is performed causing a startup failure, preparing an unsafe action marker for identifying the unsafe action; and

writing into the unsafe action marker startup actions for correcting a failure associated with the unsafe action upon the next attempted startup of the computer application program.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of identifying an unsafe action for performing as part of the step of attempting startup, includes the step of:

identifying an exception handler for managing performance of the unsafe action.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform the method of claim 18.

21. A computer system operative to perform the method of claim 18.

22. A method for detecting and correcting a failure in a computer application program during startup, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying an unsafe action for performing as part of the step of attempting startup; and

assigning an exception handler for processing a failure associated with performing the unsafe action;

attempting startup of the computer application program;

determining there is a failure in the application program, said failure preventing startup of the application program;

preparing startup actions for correcting the failure on the next attempted startup of the application program;

attempting a second startup of the computer application program; and

performing the startup actions for correcting the failure.