Patent ID: 6049663
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computer system having a storage area in which a set of existing files is stored, a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:a) providing a computer program package having multiple files for installation on the computer system, said computer program package having a number of different possible installation configurations wherein which of the multiple files of the computer program package are installed depends on which installation configuration is performed;b) determining that a selected one of the installation configurations is to be performed;c) identifying a list of files that may be affected by performing the selected installation configuration, the identification comprising:i. performing a mock installation that processes the selected installation configuration but that does not actually install any files;ii. generating the list of files during the mock installation, the list of files including a file reference to each file processed in the mock installation, the file reference being associated with an action that would have been performed on the file if the mock installation had been an actual installation;d) finding each corresponding file on the computer system that matches a file reference listed in the list of files;e) storing a backup copy of each corresponding file in the storage area;f) storing the file reference of each stored backup copy in an information file; andg) performing the actual installation of the selected installation configuration.