Method for providing a single preloaded software image with an ability to support multiple hardware configurations and multiple types of computer systems
First Claim
1. A computer readable medium within a computing system having first and second structures of computer readable code recorded thereon for providing program instructions for use within said computing system, whereinsaid first structure includes a plurality of device drivers associated with devices within said computing system, said second structure is bootable within said computing system, said second structure includes an operating system, executable within said computing system, and a device driver installation routine, executable within said computing system to install device drivers in said plurality of device drivers when said second structure is booted for the first time, said device driver installation routine includes a first step causing installation of said device drivers when said second structure is booted for the first time, and a last step causing said operating system to be booted, and following said installation of said device drivers, said first step is modified to cause said operating system to be booted.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The hard disk drive of a computer system is loaded with a preloaded image including an operating system, a number of application programs, and a device driver installation routine, all of which are not dependent on the hardware configuration of the computer system. A hidden partition of the hard disk drive is also loaded with a number of device drivers, which are dependent upon the hardware configuration. During the first boot only of the preloaded image, the device drivers are installed by the device driver installation routine.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A computer readable medium within a computing system having first and second structures of computer readable code recorded thereon for providing program instructions for use within said computing system, wherein
said first structure includes a plurality of device drivers associated with devices within said computing system, said second structure is bootable within said computing system, said second structure includes an operating system, executable within said computing system, and a device driver installation routine, executable within said computing system to install device drivers in said plurality of device drivers when said second structure is booted for the first time, said device driver installation routine includes a first step causing installation of said device drivers when said second structure is booted for the first time, and a last step causing said operating system to be booted, and following said installation of said device drivers, said first step is modified to cause said operating system to be booted.
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9. A method for providing program instructions for use within a computing system during a system initialization process, wherein said method comprises:
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a) following a first initialization routine, determining if said system initialization process is occurring for a first time; and
b) in response to determining that said initialization process is occurring for a first time, performing the following steps c) and d);
c) installing device drivers from a first structure of computer readable code stored within a hard disk drive of said computing system; and
d) resetting code indicating that said initialization process is occurring for a first time to indicate that said initialization process has occurred before, wherein step d) is followed by loading an operating system, wherein following said first installation routine, a process executing in said computing system reads a master boot record, wherein before step d) occurs, said master boot record directs said process executing in said computing system to step c), and wherein step d) includes rewriting said master boot record to point to a step beginning a process of loading said operating system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for providing program instructions for use within a computing system, wherein said method comprises:
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storing device drivers corresponding to devices within said computing system in a first structure of computer readable code within a hard disk drive of said computing system; and
storing a device driver installation routine and an operating system in a second structure of computer readable code within said hard disk drive, wherein said device driver installation routine is executable within said computing system to install said device drivers when said second structure is booted for the first time, wherein said device driver installation routine includes a first step causing installation of said device drivers when said second structure is booted for the first time, and a last step causing said operating system to be booted, and wherein, following said installation of said device drivers, said first step is modified to cause said operating system to be booted. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer system comprising:
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a microprocessor;
a system memory;
a hard disk drive including a computer readable medium having first and second structures of computer readable code recorded thereon for providing program instructions for use within said computing system, wherein said first structure includes a plurality of device drivers associated with devices within said computing system, said second structure is bootable within said computing system, and said second structure includes an operating system, executable within said computing system, and a device driver installation routine, executable within said computing system to install device drivers in said plurality of device drivers when said second structure is booted for the first time, said device driver installation routine includes a first step causing installation of said device drivers when said second structure is booted for the first time, and a last step causing said operating system to be booted, and following said installation of said device drivers, said first step is modified to cause said operating system to be booted. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification