Patent ID: 7536598
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for a computer maintaining 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, the first hard disk drive boot device providing a plurality of data stores containing a set of data from the first hard disk drive boot device; providing a plurality of isolated processing environments while booted from the first hard disk drive boot device by enabling access to selective data stores during selective data processing tasks; processing data in an isolated processing environment and storing data in a data store different from a data store accessed by an isolated processing environment; repairing or replacing the processing environment; then, in response to a signal indicating a need for repair of the first hard disk drive boot device during the booting or during any operating state, booting from a second hard disk drive boot device also disposed within the main computer hardware box of the computer prior to the signal indicating a need for repair; and then repairing software on the first hard disk drive boot device while booted from the second hard disk drive boot device and selectively either: (i) maintaining operation of the computer from the second hard disk drive boot device during repairing of the software on the first hard disk drive boot device, or (ii) changing to operation of the computer from the second hard disk drive boot device to the first hard disk drive boot device and providing isolated data processing while booted from the second hard disk drive boot device.