Multiple operating system quick boot utility

• US 6,727,920 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1999
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McKeeth, James A., Vineyard, James L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/266,325
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 345/352, 345/348, 345/333, 345/326, 345/336, 345/339, 345/810, 345/846, 345/762, 345/764, 345/839, 345/765, 717/11, 717/174
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

A computerized user interface for assisting a computer user selects a default operating system for a computer. The computerized interface operates during a current computing session and provides a list of operating systems available. A user can make a selection using standard activatible controls such as icons, alphanumeric lists and highlighting. Once selected, an operating becomes the default operating system software on the computer. Therefore, during the next startup of the computer a selected operating system will boot unless there is some other intervention. In addition to selecting an operating system, this invention can also be used to cause the computer to restart. Restart can be set to execute immediately or to execute upon a change in the default operating system. In addition this invention can be caused to uninstall thereby erasing the program files relating to this invention.

Claims

1. A computerized user interface for assisting a computer user in selecting an operating system for use on a computer comprising:

a computer for storing, displaying, and processing information;

computer program code running on said computer, the computer program code operating in a current computing session and implementing in the computer the steps of;

providing an interactive menu on a display, said menu comprising a list of operating systems available to run on said computer;

providing an activatible control mechanism for selecting one of the operating systems displayed on said menu; and

setting a default operating system for a load utility installed on said computer to an operating system selected with the activatible control.

2. The computerized user interface of claim 1 wherein the computer program code further implements a mechanism to allow a user to set a duration of time comprising a time out period during which the load utility pauses and allows a user to specify an operating system other than the default operating system.

3. The computerized user interface of claim 1 wherein the computer program code further comprises a mechanism to cause the computer to restart, said mechanism for causing the computer to restart being executable by a user.

4. The computerized user interface of claim 3 wherein the mechanism for causing a computer to restart is automatically executed if the default operating system is changed.

5. The computerized user interface of claim 1 wherein a change of the default operating system causes a file containing settings for a boot menu to be modified wherein the file specifies the operating system selected.

6. The computerized user interface of claim 1 wherein the computer program code additionally comprises a mechanism for uninstalling the computer program code.

7. The computerized user interface of claim 1 wherein the computer program code additionally comprises a mechanism for reinstalling the computer program code.

8. The computer user interface of claim 1 wherein an installation routine for installing the computer program code surveys the computer and determines the presence of operating systems available on said computer and the partition on which the operating system resides.

9. A method for specifying during a current computing session a computer operating system of choice comprising:

displaying an interactive menu on a computer display, said display listing the available operating systems;

providing a selection mechanism for selecting an operating system of choice;

selecting an operating system of choice via said selection mechanism; and

setting the default operating system for a load utility installed on said computer to the operating system selected with the selection mechanism, said default operating system loading by default upon the next computer start up.

10. The method for specifying an operating system of choice on a computer of claim 9 further comprising setting a duration of time comprising a time out period during which the load utility pauses and allows a user to specify an operating system other than the default operating system.

11. The method for specifying an operating system of choice on a computer of claim 9 further comprising restarting the computer in response to an input made via an input device calling for the computer to restart.

12. The method for specifying an operating system of choice on a computer of claim 9 further comprising causing the computer to restart automatically if the default operating system is changed.

13. The method for specifying an operating system of choice on a computer of claim 9 further comprising providing a mechanism for uninstalling computer program code that performs the steps of displaying, providing, selecting, and setting.

14. The method for specifying an operating system of choice on a computer of claim 9 further comprising providing a mechanism for reinstalling computer program code that performs the steps of displaying, providing, selecting, and setting.

15. The method for specifying an operating system of choice on a computer of claim 9 further comprising surveying the computer and determining the presence of operating systems available on said computer and the partition on which the operating system resides.

16. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable code means embodied therein for selecting an operating system comprising:

a computer readable code means for displaying an interactive menu on a computer display, said display listing the available operating systems;

a computer readable code means for providing a selection mechanism for selecting an operating system of choice;

a computer readable code means for selecting an operating system of choice via said selection mechanism; and

a computer readable code means for setting the default operating system for a load utility installed on said computer to the operating system selected with the selection mechanism, said default operating system loading by default upon the next computer start up.

17. A user interface for a computer displayed by a boot selection program for selecting an operating system, said user interface comprising:

a first display region listing available operating systems; and

a second display region including a user activatible control to select one of the available operating systems, wherein a selected operating system is loaded by the computer upon a subsequent computer start up.

18. The user interface of claim 17 further comprising a third display region for initiating a command to restart the computer, said third region including user activatible controls to specify when the computer should restart.

19. The user interface of claim 17 wherein the interface is displayed upon clicking an icon of a boot.

20. A programmed computer for selecting an operating system comprising:

a memory for storing computer executable program code;

a processor for executing computer executable program code stored in said memory; and

computer executable program code stored in said memory responsive to a command to select an operating system so as to set a selected operating system as the default operating system of a load utility resident on the programmed computer.