Patent ID: 7111201
Filing Date: 2006-09-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for a computer repairing itself to an operational status at any time during operation, the method comprising the computer-executed steps of: booting from a first hard disk drive boot device disposed within a main computer hardware box of the computer; then, in response to receiving a signal indicating a need for repair of the computer during the booting or during any operating state, booting from a second boot device; the second boot device being physically present within the main computer hardware box of the computer prior to receiving the signal indicating a need for repair; and then repairing software on the first hard disk drive boot device while booted from the second boot device and selectively either: (i) maintaining operation of the computer from the second boot device to restore operational status of the computer during repairing of the software on the first hard disk boot device, or (ii) changing to operation of the computer from the second boot device to the first boot device to restore operational status of the computer, wherein the signal is generated by a user altering the state of a physical switch different from an on-off switch of the computer and exposed on an exterior surface of the main computer hardware box of the computer; and at anytime prior to booting from the second boot device, installing software onto the second boot device and protecting the second boot device from further modification; the step of protecting the second boot device comprising one of: (a) switching the second boot device to a state of unavailability; and (b) switching the second boot device to a read only state.