Computer-hardware, life-extension apparatus and method

• US 8,806,474 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phillip M. Adams
• Original Assignee: Phillip M. Adams
• Inventors: Adams, Phillip M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAO, THUY CHAN
• Application Number:
  US12/831,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A computer hardware life-extension apparatus and method is disclosed to circumvent hardware-dependent software installation locks, imposed by selected software packages, which may artificially enforce compliance with a minimum set of hardware requirements before allowing installation. Various techniques may be used to circumvent the artificial hardware locks, thereby effectively extending the useful life, and delaying the forced obsolescence, of selected computer hardware. An apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may be used to extend the life of a wide variety of computer hardware, including but not limited to processors, main memory, secondary storage devices, and the like.

Claims

1. A method executed by a processor for circumventing hardware-dependent software installation locks in a computer system environment, the method comprising:

operating, by a computer system environment having a first hardware component set satisfying minimum requirements, imposed by installation requirements of a selected software package, with respect to at least one of the group consisting of processor speed, processor architecture, main memory capacity, and secondary storage capacity;

the operating, wherein the first hardware component set includes a secondary storage device having adequate storage space to satisfy the minimum requirements;

creating a single partitition on the secondary storage device utilizing the entire storage capacity thereof;

installing, by the computer system environment, the selected software package, comprising running software installation routines;

if the first hardware component set indeed satisfies the minimum requirements and the software installation for the first hardware component set is successful, then operating a second computer system environment, having a second hardware component set in place of the first hardware set, wherein at least one hardware component in the second hardware component set does not satisfy the minimum requirements imposed by the installation requirements of the selected software package;

running the selected software package, by the second computer system environment, on the second hardware component set;

if the selected software package successfully runs on the second hardware component set, then recording the second hardware component set as a set for hardware component circumvention of the hardware-dependent software installation locks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein installing the selected software package further comprises shutting down the computer system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein running the selected software package further comprises rebooting the modified computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein first hardware component set further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a processor, main memory, and a secondary storage device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second hardware component set further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a processor, main memory, and a secondary storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first hardware component set includes a sufficient amount of main memory to comply with the minimum requirements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second hardware component set includes an amount of main memory insufficient to satisfy the minimum requirements.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second hardware component set includes a secondary storage device non-compliant with the minimum requirements.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein satisfying minimum requirements includes satisfying minimum requirements with respect to at least one of the group consisting of processor speed, processor architecture, and main memory capacity.

10. A method executed by a processor for circumventing hardware-dependent software installation locks in a simulated computer system environment, the method comprising:

simulating a computer system environment comprising a first hardware component set satisfying minimum requirements imposed by installation requirements, of a selected software package, with respect to at least one of the group consisting of simulated processor speed, simulated processor architecture, simulated main memory capacity, and simulated secondary storage capacity in a simulated secondary storage device having adequate storage space to satisfy the minimum requirements and partitioned in a single partition utilizing the entire secondary storage capacity thereof;

installing, in the simulated computer system environment, the selected software package;

if the first simulated hardware component set indeed satisfies the minimum requirements and simulating the first hardware component set is successful, then simulating a second hardware component set, wherein at least one simulated hardware component in the second hardware component set does not satisfy the minimum requirements imposed by the installation requirements of the selected software package;

running the software package on the simulated computer system environment;

if the simulating the second hardware component set is successful, then recording the second hardware component set as a set for hardware component circumvention of the hardware-dependent software installation locks.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein installing the software package further comprises simulating a shut down within the simulated computer system environment.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein running the software package further comprises simulating a reboot of the simulated computer system environment.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first simulated hardware component set further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a simulated processor and a simulated main memory.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second simulated hardware component set further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a simulated processor and a simulated main memory.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first simulated hardware component set includes a sufficient amount of simulated main memory to comply with the minimum requirements.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second simulated hardware component set includes an amount of simulated main memory insufficient to satisfy the minimum requirements.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the simulated secondary storage device in the second simulated hardware component set is non-compliant with the minimum requirements.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein satisfying minimum requirements includes satisfying minimum requirements with respect to at least one of the group consisting of simulated processor speed, simulated processor architecture, and simulated main memory capacity.

19. A method for circumventing hardware-dependent software installation locks in a computer system environment, the method comprising:

operating, by a computer system environment having a first hardware component set that includes a second storage device having adequate storage space satisfying minimum requirements, imposed by installation requirements of a software package, with respect to at least one of the group consisting of processor speed, processor architecture, main memory capacity and secondary storage capacity;

creating a single partition on the second storage device utilizing the entire storage capacity thereof;

installing, by the computer system environment, the software package, comprising running software installation routines;

if the first hardware component set indeed satisfies the minimum requirements and the software installation for the first hardware component set is successful, then operating a second computer system environment, having a second hardware component set in place of the first hardware set, wherein at least one hardware component in the second hardware component set does not satisfy the minimum requirements imposed by the installation requirements of the software package;

if the software package successfully runs on the second hardware component set, then continuing running the software package, by the second computer system environment, on the second hardware component set.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first hardware component set further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a processor, main memory, and a secondary storage device consitituting the secondary storage capacity.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein satisfying minimum requirements includes satisfying minimum requirements with respect to at least one of the group consisting of processor speed, processor architecture, and main memory capacity.