Method and apparatus for automated operating systems upgrade

• US 7,237,238 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Peppers, Cherita Arnece, Dyson, David Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROMANO, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US10/087,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 717120-123
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A method for an automated operating system upgrade in an information handling system, from an older version to a newer version including initiating a preparation for the upgrade from an operating system upgrade preparation media. An eligibility of the information handling system for upgrade in response to the preparation is determined. The upgrade proceeds in response to an eligibility determination, otherwise upgrade preparation is terminated.

Claims

1. A method for an automated operating system upgrade in an information handling system, from an older version to a newer version, comprising:

preparing a target information handling system for an upgrade using an upgrade preparation program;

the program identifying the target system to determine whether a new operating system supports the target system;

the program identifying an operating system manufacturer end version and determining if the version is older than a current required version;

the program downloading the new operating system if required;

copying the new operating system to a directory structure;

the program scanning for all drivers on the target system;

the program downloading any additional required drivers to the new directory structure if needed to support the new operating system;

the program scanning to identify any factory installed software that are incompatible with the new operating system;

in response to identifying incompatible factory installed software, the program prompting the target system for an approval to uninstall the incompatible software; and

in response to a denial of the approval, the program advancing to a next step without uninstalling incompatible software.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to the approval, the program automatically uninstalling the incompatible software.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the program comparing data received from the target system against a table.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising:

the table containing compatible results obtained from independent testing.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

the program using results of the comparing to determine which applications and drivers of the target system are compatible with the new operating system.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

the program initiating removal of incompatible software.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the drivers include at least one of an audio driver, video driver, modem driver, and network driver.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying upon a display device any current hardware information.

9. A computer program product for implementing an automated operating system upgrade in an information handling system, from an older version to a newer version, comprising:

a computer program processable by a target information handling system for causing the information handling system to;

identify the target system to determine whether a new operating system supports the target system;

identify an operating system manufacturer and version and determine if the version is older than a current required version;

download the new operating system if required;

copy the new operating system to a directory structure;

scan for all drivers on the target system;

download any additional required drivers to the new directory structure if needed to support the new operating system; and

scan to identify any factory installed software that are incompatible with the new operating system;

apparatus from which the computer program is accessible by the information handling system;

in response to identifying incompatible factory installed software, prompt the target system for an approval to uninstall the incompatible software; and

in response to a denial of the approval, advance to a next step without uninstalling the incompatible software.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program Is processable by the information handling system to:

in response to the approval, automatically uninstall the incompatible software.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

compare data received from the target system against a table.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the table contains compatible results obtained from independent testing.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the program is processable by information handling system to:

use results of the compared data to determine which applications and drivers of the target system are compatible with the new operating system.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

initiate removal of incompatible software.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the drivers include at least one of an audio driver, video driver, modem driver, and network driver.

16. The computer program product of 9, wherein the program further comprises instructions executable by the information handling system to:

display upon a display device any current hardware information.