System and method for selectively executing programs in response to a reboot in a computer system

• US 6,795,914 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Liles, Terry Wayne, Smith, T. Gavin
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANCHUS III, PAUL B
• Application Number:
  US09/769,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 717/174, 717/177, 717/178
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A system and method that include detecting a reboot request and, in response to detecting the reboot request, removing a first entry associated with a first program from an execute list are provided. The system and method also include rebooting the computer system, and, in response to rebooting the computer system, initiating a second program associated with a second program entry on the execute list.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer system comprising:

providing a required list of programs to be initiated and executed in response to a reboot request;

detecting a reboot request;

in response to detecting the reboot request, comparing the required list to an execute list and altering a first entry associated with a first program in the execute list to prevent the first program from being initiated in response to rebooting the computer system;

rebooting the computer system; and

in response to rebooting the computer system, initiating a second program associated with a second program entry on the execute list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to rebooting the computer system, not initiating the first program.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to detecting the reboot request;

altering the first entry by removing the first entry from the execute list; and

adding the first entry to a removed list.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

in response to detecting the reboot request, adding the first entry to the removed list in response to not detecting the first entry on a required list.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

in response to completing a software installation process, returning the first entry to the execute list.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the reboot request in response to installing an application on the computer system.

7. A computer program product comprising:

a computer program processable by a computer system for causing the computer system to;

review a required list of programs to be initiated and executed in response to a reboot request;

detect a reboot request;

in response to detecting the reboot request, compare the required list to an execute list and alter a first entry associated with a first program in an execute list to prevent the first program from being initiated in response to rebooting the computer system;

reboot the computer system; and

in response to rebooting the computer system, initiate a second program associated with a second program entry on the execute list; and

an apparatus from which the computer program is accessible by the computer system.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer program is processable by the computer system for causing the computer system to:

in response to rebooting the computer system, not initiate the first program.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer program is processable by the computer system for causing the computer system to:

in response to detecting the reboot request;

alter the first entry by removing the first entry from the execute list; and

add the first entry to a removed list.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer program is processable by the computer system for causing the computer system to:

in response to detecting the reboot request, add the first entry to the removed list in response to not detecting the first entry on a required list.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer program is processable by the computer system for causing the computer system to:

in response to completing a software installation process, return the first entry to the execute list.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer program is processable by the computer system for causing the computer system to:

detect the reboot request in response to installing an application on the computer system.

13. A system comprising:

a first computer system for;

providing a required list of programs to be initiated and executed in response to a reboot request;

detecting a reboot request;

in response to detecting the reboot request, comparing the required list to an execute list and altering a first entry associated with a first program in an execute list to prevent the first program from being initiated in response to rebooting the first computer system;

rebooting the first computer system; and

in response to rebooting the computer system, initiating a second program associated with a second program entry on the execute list.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first computer system is for:

in response to rebooting the first computer system, not initiating the first program.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first computer system is for:

in response to detecting the reboot request;

altering the first entry by removing the first entry from the execute list; and

adding the first entry to a removed list.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first computer system is for:

in response to detecting the reboot request, adding the first entry to the removed list in response to not detecting the first entry on a required list.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first computer system is for:

in response to completing a software installation process, returning the first entry to the execute list.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first computer system is for:

detecting the reboot request in response to installing an application on the first computer system.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a second computer system coupled to the first computer system, the second computer system for;

causing an application to be installed on the first computer system.