Method and apparatus for software program installation preview directed to system software

• US 6,567,977 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Arvind
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US09/440,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 717/174, 717/168, 717/120, 717/121, 717/157, 717/169, 717/172, 717/177, 717/132, 717/127, 717/128, 717/138, 714/2
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4486 Formation of subprogram jump address

Abstract

A method includes trapping function calls that if executed would modify the configuration of a computer system. The functionality of the trapped function calls is emulated such that the configuration is not modified.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

trapping function calls that if executed would modify the configuration of a computer system;

emulating the functionality of the trapped function calls such that the configuration is not modified, the emulating includes returning values generated by the trapped function calls.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the function calls are made by an installation program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a log identifies changes to the configuration of the computer system which would have occurred if the function calls were executed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the function calls are trapped by a shell program.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the shell program is configured to be extended with a plug-in module to trap additional function calls.

6. A method comprising:

executing a shell program;

the shell program loading an installation program and trapping function calls by the installation program that if executed would modify the configuration of a computer system; and

the shell program emulating the functionality of the trapped function such that the configuration is not modified, the emulating includes returning values generated by the trapped function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a log identifies changes to the configuration of the computer system which would have occurred if the function calls were not trapped.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the shell program is configured to be extended with a plug-in module to trap additional function calls.

9. An article comprising:

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a data processing device, cause the data processing device to;

trap function calls that modify the configuration of a computer system; and

emulate the functionality of the trapped function calls without modifying the configuration, the emulation includes returning values generated by the trapped function calls.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein the sequence of instructions, when executed by the data processing device, further cause the data processing device to trap function calls made by an installation program.

11. The article of claim 9, wherein the sequence of instructions, when executed by the data processing device, further cause the data processing device to keep a log identifying changes to the configuration of the computer system which would have occurred if the function calls were not trapped.

12. The article of claim 9, wherein the sequence of instructions comprises a shell program.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the shell program is configured to be extended with a plug-in module to trap additional function calls.

14. A device comprising:

a processor;

a machine-readable storage medium coupled to the processor by way of a bus, the storage medium storing a sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to

trap function calls that modify the configuration of a computer system; and

emulate the functionality of the trapped function calls without modifying the configuration, the emulation includes returning values generated by the trapped function calls.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the sequence of instructions, when executed by the data processing device, further cause the data processing device to trap function calls made by an installation program.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the sequence of instructions, when executed by the data processing device, further cause the data processing device to keep a log identifying changes to the configuration of the computer system which would have occurred if the function calls were not trapped.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the sequence of instructions comprises a shell program.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the shell program is configured to be extended with a plug-in module to trap additional function calls.

19. A method comprising:

trapping selected function calls; and

performing operations that produce substantially the same transient results as the