Patent ID: 6604238
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
A method for fulfilling an order for a personal computer (PC) that is preloaded with a functional operating system, said PC being configured to order (CTO) and delivered with requested software applications from third-party vendors, said software being loaded but not installed at the time of delivery, and said method comprising:loading the files required to install the third-party software applications onto the PC; and loading configuration information onto the PC, said configuration information indicating third-party software applications to be installed; generating an initialization file that indicates the status of the third-party software installation; and editing the initialization file to update the progress of the third-party software installation, wherein upon the first boot up of the PC after delivery, the configuration information is examined and each of the third-party software applications are sequentially installed and, if required, the PC is rebooted after each third-party software application is installed, and wherein if no initialization file exists when the computer is booted, examining the configuration information and creating the initialization file indicating the total number of third-party software applications to be installed and the sequence in which they are to be installed.