Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2003-02-11
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2122)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
C717S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06519762
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems, and more particularly, to restoration of a hard drive of a computer system.
A hard disk drive (HDD) is characterized by storage addresses ranging from a zero address to a maximum address. At the bottom of a hard disk drive, there is a typically at least one cylinder and a master boot record. The master boot record informs the computer system how to boot-up, and where all the files are. The master boot block record contains file allocation tables (FAT). A file allocation table is a table with information about all of the files, data, their sizes, and locations on the hard disk drive. Depending on the type of file system being used, the HDD will be partitioned into several partitions, such as C: drive and D: drive or as a single partition, for example, C: drive. For a FAT
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file system, the HDD includes one large partition. For any given computer system, an original factory downloaded software image (i.e., resident software) of the computer system typically resides in the lower address portion of the HDD.
At the end of completion of a computer manufacturing process of a given computer system, downloaded to the computer system HDD is what is referred to herein as the factory download or factory downloaded software image. The factory downloaded image thus includes the hard disk drive image as it existed at the time the computer system was shipped from the factory, prior to an initial installation by a customer or user.
Upon receipt of a computer system by a customer, the customer must first install the operating system according to the requirements of the respective operating system. The customer may also install third party software and hardware and software drivers for the hardware, in addition to performing other installations and/or modifications to the original factory downloaded image stored on the hard disk drive. In the course of doing the installation of the software by the customer, the factory download software image may often become corrupted to a major or minor degree. Such corruption might occur for a variety of reasons, for example, as a result of incompatibility between various versions of software. A customer may also inadvertently reformat the hard disk drive without first making a back-up copy of the factory download. A virus may also have been introduced which corrupts the factory download.
Altering the factory download image might also include, for example, a situation where a customer attempts to install a modem which was successfully used in a previous system, and further which is not compatible with current plug-n-play requirements for the operating system and/or the interrupt allocations off the system bus of the new computer system. In such an instance, the operating system of the new computer can become corrupted to the point of where the operating system will no longer run. Still other user activities may corrupt the system in such a manner that the computer system will not function properly when booted-up from the hard disk drive, i.e., the hard disk drive is sufficiently corrupted that the HDD must be completely erased and then restored from the beginning, starting the software installation process over again.
With generic configured computer systems, a customer can purchase a particular operating system (WINDOWS 95™, 98™, NT™) and either a GAME PACK or a BUSINESS PACK software package, which are about the extent of the purchase options of a generic configured computer system. If a customer purchases a particular monitor, the generic system is typically set-up for 640×480 resolution, which may be other than the resolution of the purchased monitor. A set of diskettes containing drivers needed to upgrade the computer system to the driver which will enable the customer to actually use the particular equipment purchased, are then needed to be installed on the computer system. The same applies to particular printer, video card, sound card, etc. In view of one or two generic configurations, a computer manufacturer can easily mass produce generic restore images on a restore CD-ROM, for example, for shipment with each generic computer system.
With built-to-order computer systems, the factory download includes the operating system, applications, hardware and software drivers, etc., as ordered by a customer or needed to support hardware ordered by the customer. Upon an initial power on of the computer by a customer, the user is instructed to install the operating system (Windows 95™, Windows 98™, Windows NT™, or other operating system). Basically, installation of the operating system may include simply the entering of a certificate of authenticity number(s) when requested and implementing other registration and user selectable preferences which may be required. The installation can also include installation of any major software application(s) which were also ordered/purchased with the computer system. Such an installation process can significantly affect or change the original factory download software image (i.e., corrupt the image). That is, during installation certain files may be changed from a compressed state to a de-compressed state, files could become linked with other files, etc., all as a result of the software installation carried out by the customer. The actual image size of the factory download can become larger as a result of the carrying out of the install process. The installation further includes customization of various components, programs, etc., according to user preferences.
For a built-to-order system, any number of variations of factory download software configurations can be realized. For instance, if a particular video card is ordered, then the software driver for that video card is installed on the HDD at the factory. With custom built-to-order computer systems, not only will the customer be sold hardware and software, but the computer system will be configured specifically to the hardware and software items that the customer specifically purchased according to a particular customer configured computer system. In addition, built-to-order computer systems include unique factory download image, one each of a particular built-to-order computer system. In the event of a single customer configuring and purchasing two identical computer systems, the factory download software image stored on the HDD will be individualized for each system because each computer system will be keyed to a unique service tag number burned into each particular computer system.
As mentioned above, one method for restoration of a software image may include a CD ROM based option in which some form of CD ROM is used to distribute the needed restoration software image. The CD ROM option is divided into two major subclasses, either a generic pressed CD ROM made in large numbers, or a recordable CD ROM that is semi-custom prepared for each individual computer system. The generic approach is used by most all computer manufacturers, with only a respective computer system platform specific bundle being available for restoring. The industry standard trend of shipping a generic restore CD ROM with each system is not readily applicable in the instance of custom built-to-order computer systems. The software considerations of custom built-to-order computer systems make this option viable only if the manufacturer foregoes the ideal of restoring the system to the computer system's actual “like factory new” configuration with all of the software that the customer originally purchased.
In view of the unique HDD image of the customer configured built-to-order computer systems, the method of mass producing a generic restore image is not helpful. A restore CD ROM having a generic image will not be very useful for restoring the unique image of the built-to-order system. Creation of a unique CD ROM containing a software restoration image per customer configured built-to-order computer system for shipment with the built-to-order computer system would be needed, however, such a remedy is an unreasonably
Colligan Tom
Ellis Jonathan
Robertson Hunter
Balconi-Lamica Michael J.
Dell USA L.P.
Haynes and Boone LLP
Holmes Michael B.
Powell Mark R.
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