Self repairing computer detecting need for repair and having switched protected storage

• US 7,111,201 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vir2us, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Self Repairing Computers Incorporated
• Inventors: More, Anthony B., Largman, Kenneth, Blair, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US10/090,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 714/23, 714/36, 714/57, 713/2, 713/100
• US Class Current: 714/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1446 Point-in-time backing up or restoration of persistent data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot

Abstract

The invention may backup, maintain backups, or recover data associated with a computing system. The computing system may include any number of components including hardware and software, and any memory accessible to the computing system. The computing system may focus on a user computing system and potentially the supporting environment which stabilizes the functionality of the user computing system (e.g., operating system, BIOS, etc.). Typically data associated with the computing system is identified by a variety of characteristics, the data is stored as a backup, and subsequently data within the backup may be restored or used to evaluate an existing computing system.

Claims

1. A method for a computer repairing itself to an operational status at any time during operation, the method comprising the computer-executed steps of:

booting from a first hard disk drive boot device disposed within a main computer hardware box of the computer;

then, in response to receiving a signal indicating a need for repair of the computer during the booting or during any operating state, booting from a second boot device;

the second boot device being physically present within the main computer hardware box of the computer prior to receiving the signal indicating a need for repair; and

then repairing software on the first hard disk drive boot device while booted from the second boot device and selectively either;

(i) maintaining operation of the computer from the second boot device to restore operational status of the computer during repairing of the software on the first hard disk boot device, or (ii) changing to operation of the computer from the second boot device to the first boot device to restore operational status of the computer,

wherein the signal is generated by a user altering the state of a physical switch different from an on-off switch of the computer and exposed on an exterior surface of the main computer hardware box of the computer; and

at anytime prior to booting from the second boot device, installing software onto the second boot device and protecting the second boot device from further modification;

the step of protecting the second boot device comprising one of;

(a) switching the second boot device to a state of unavailability; and

(b) switching the second boot device to a read only state.

2. A method for a computer repairing itself to an operational status at any time during operation, the method comprising the computer-executed steps of:

booting from a first hard disk drive boot device disposed within a main computer hardware box of the computer;

then, in response to receiving a signal indicating a need for repair of the computer during the booting or during any operating state, booting from a second hard disk drive boot device;

the second hard disk drive boot device being physically present within the main computer hardware box of the computer prior to receiving the signal indicating a need for repair; and

then repairing software on the first hard disk drive boot device while booted from the second hard disk drive boot device and selectively either;

(i) maintaining operation of the computer from the second boot device to restore operational status of the computer during repairing of the software on the first hard disk device, or (ii) changing to operation of the computer from the second boot device to the first boot device to restore operational status of the computer;

wherein the signal is generated by a user altering the state of a physical switch different from an on-off switch of the computer and exposed on an exterior surface of the main computer hardware box of the computer; and

at anytime prior to booting from the second hard disk drive boot device, installing software onto the second boot device and protecting the second boot device from further modification;

the step of protecting comprising one of;

(a) switching the second boot device to a state of unavailability; and

(b) switching the second boot device to a read-only state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of repairing software comprises:

automatically repairing software on the first boot device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of automatically repairing software comprises:

automatically repairing software on the first boot device without further direction from the user.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of automatically repairing software comprises:

repairing software on the first boot device according to preset preferences.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the repairing according to preset preferences comprises:

repairing according to whether

to recover data;

to run a virus check;

to reformat the first boot device;

to revert to a backup;

or

to run diagnostics.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of repairing software comprises:

reformatting the first boot device; and

then copying software onto the first boot device.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of repairing software comprises:

resetting parameters in a persistent memory; and

then copying software onto the first boot device.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

directing a user to re-boot from the first boot device.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein before the step of booting from the second boot device, the following step is performed:

installing software onto the second boot device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of installing software onto the second boot device comprises one method from the following set of methods:

a. installing software onto the second boot device;

b. copying installed software onto the second boot device;

c. copying installation software onto the second boot device; and

d. writing onto the second boot device a version of an operating environment running as a result of the boot from the first boot device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the version of the operating environment comprises a template of an operating environment.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein after the step of installing and before the step of booting from the second boot device, the following step is performed:

updating the software installed onto the second boot device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein after the step of installing and before the step of booting from the second boot device, the following step is performed:

protecting the second boot device from further modification.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein before the step of repairing software the following step is performed:

offering a user a choice of thoroughness of repair.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein before the step of booting from the second boot device, the following step is performed:

automatically monitoring an operating environment running as a result of the booting from the first boot device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

detecting an undesirable change in the operating environment; and

generating the signal indicating a need for repair in response to the detection.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein before the step of booting from the second boot device, the following step is performed:

automatically searching for boot devices.

19. A method for a computer repairing itself to an operational status at any time during operation, the method comprising the computer-executed steps of:

booting from a first hard disk drive boot device disposed within a main computer hardware box of the computer;

then, in response to receiving a signal indicating a need for repair of the computer during the booting or during any operating state, booting from a second hard disk drive boot device;

the second hard disk drive boot device being physically present within the main computer hardware box of the computer prior to receiving the signal indicating a need for repair; and

then repairing software on the first hard disk drive boot device while booted from the second hard disk drive boot device and selectively either;

(i) maintaining operation of the computer from the second boot device to restore operational status of the computer during repairing of the software on the first hard disk device, or (ii) changing to operation of the computer from the second boot device to the first boot device to restore operational status of the computer;

wherein before the step of repairing software the following step is performed;

offering a user a choice of thoroughness of repair selected from the set of repairs consisting of a quick repair that re-installs or copies template software without first re-formatting, a better repair that performs a high-level re-format before that copy or re-installation of software, and a best repair that performs a low-level re-format before copying over or re-installing software.

20. A computer that repairs itself to an operational status at any time during operation, the computer comprising:

a main computer hardware box;

a bootable first hard disk drive boot device disposed within the main computer hardware box;

a bootable second hard disk drive boot device, the bootable second hard disk drive having software installed onto the second boot device at anytime prior to booting from the second hard disk drive boot device that is protected from further modification by at least one of (a) switching the second boot device to a state of unavailability;

or (b) switching the second boot device to a read-only state;

a switching logic responsive to receiving a signal indicating a need for repair of the computer during the booting or during any operating state, that controls booting of the computer from a second hard disk drive boot device;

the second hard disk drive boot device being physically present within the main computer hardware box of the computer prior to receiving the signal indicating a need for repair; and

means for repairing software on the first hard disk drive boot device while booted from the second hard disk drive boot device that selectively either;

(i) maintains operation of the computer from the second boot device to restore operational status of the computer during repairing of the software on the first hard disk device, or (ii) changes to operation of the computer from the second boot device to the first boot device to restore operational status of the computer; and

a switch, different from an on-off switch of the computer and exposed on an exterior surface of the main computer hardware box of the computer, adapted to generate the signal when operated by an external user to altering the state of the switch.

21. A method for a computer repairing itself to an operational status at any time during operation, the method comprising the computer-executed steps of:

booting from a first hard disk drive boot device disposed within a main computer hardware box of the computer;

then, in response to receiving a signal indicating a need for repair of the computer during the booting or during any operating state, booting from a second boot device;

the second boot device being physically present within the main computer hardware box of the computer prior to receiving the signal indicating a need for repair; and

then repairing software on the first hard disk drive boot device while booted from the second boot device and selectively either;

(i) maintaining operation of the computer from the second boot device to restore operational status of the computer during repairing of the software on the first hard disk device, or (ii) changing to operation of the computer from the second boot device to the first boot device to restore operational status of the computer;

wherein before the step of repairing software the following step is performed;

offering a user a choice of thoroughness of repair selected from the set of repairs consisting of a quick repair that re-installs or copies template software without first re-formatting, a better repair that performs a high-level re-format before that copy or re-installation of software, and a best repair that performs a low-level re-format before copying over or re-installing software.