Methods and systems for automated system support

• US 8,607,328 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Hodges
• Original Assignee: David Hodges
• Inventors: Hodges, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Yalew, Fikremariam A
• Application Number:
  US11/073,249
• Time in Patent Office: 3,203 Days
• Field of Search: 726/15, 713/165
• US Class Current: 726/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/568 eliminating virus, restoring damaged files

Abstract

Systems, methods, and machine readable media for repairing data processing systems. In one exemplary embodiment, a computer software utility has the ability to repair a personal computer (PC) using a bootable storage medium (e.g. CD). This utility can connect to the Internet and create an encrypted virtual private network (VPN) tunnel to an automated support server network and to other PCs running a similar version of the utility. This utility, in conjunction with the automated support server network, checks the system files (e.g. DLL and system configuration files, etc.) on a PC being repaired and obtains information to perform the checking from the automated support server network and may obtain replacement system files from the automated support server network or the other PCs.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

booting a computer system into an alternate operating system environment that is separate from said computer system'"'"'s main operating system environment;

retrieving first data from a database that is external to said computer system, said first data representing content of a clean version of a file;

comparing said first data with second data, said second data representing content of an instance of said file that exists on said computing system and has been installed on said computing system, wherein, said file remains on said system and is not transmitted externally from said system in order to support the comparing process;

identifying said instance of said file as being corrupt because said first data is different than said second data;

in response to said identifying, receiving at said computer system a clean replacement file for said file; and

,

replacing said instance of said file with said clean replacement file on said computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said alternate operating system environment is booted from a removable hard disk.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said removable hard disk is a read only memory.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said alternate environment includes at least one of:

a virus scanner;

an Ad ware scanner;

a scan disk utility.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises said computer system connecting to a network after said booting and before said retrieving.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising said computer system prompting a user of said computer system to perform any of:

signing in;

logging in;

signify use of a free mode of operation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data is a first checksum and said second data is a second checksum.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said file is a DLL file.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said comparing is performed on said computer in said alternate operating system environment.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises:

after said replacing of said instance of said file with said clean replacement file, performing the following;

operating said computer system within said main operating system environment, said replacement file available for use within said main operating system environment;

operating any of a virus scanner, an Ad ware scanner and a scan disk utility within said main operating system environment to detect changes to files and/or registries used within said main operating system environment;

reporting notification of at least one of said changes over a network to a computing system maintenance service.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer system is a client of a networked service that performs said transmitting of said replacement file, and wherein, said replacement file is taken from another client of said networked service.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving through a network a configuration of said computer system;

comparing said configuration against a known good configuration; and

,

in response to said comparing, modifying said configuration of said computer system through said network.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising verifying that a software instance on said computer system is properly licensed.

14. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media having program code stored thereon that when processed by one or more processors causes a method to be performed, said method comprising:

booting a computer system into an alternate operating system environment that is separate from said computer system'"'"'s main operating system environment;

retrieving first data from a database that is external to said computer system, said first data representing content of a clean version of a file;

comparing said first data with second data, said second data representing content of an instance of said file that exists on said computing system and has been installed on said computing system, wherein, said file remains on said system and is not transmitted externally from said system in order to support the comparing process;

identifying said instance of said file as being corrupt because said first data is different than said second data;

in response to said identifying, receiving at said computer system a clean replacement file for said file; and

,

replacing said instance of said file with said clean replacement file on said computer system.

15. A medium as in claim 14 wherein said alternate operating system environment is booted from a removable hard disk.

16. A medium as in claim 15 wherein said removable hard disk is a read only memory.

17. A medium as in claim 15 wherein said alternate environment includes at least one of:

a virus scanner;

an Ad ware scanner;

a scan disk utility.

18. A medium as in claim 14 wherein said method further comprises said computer system connecting to a network after said booting and before said retrieving.

19. A medium as in claim 14 further comprising said computer system prompting a user of said computer system to perform any of:

signing in;

logging in;

signify use of a free mode of operation.

20. A medium as in claim 14 wherein said first data is a first checksum and said second data is a second checksum.