Patent ID: 8521781

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for installing and distributing customized content using a first storage medium having a plurality of installed software programs stored therein, wherein the plurality of installed software programs includes at least a first subset and a second subset, the method comprising: obtaining a set of metadata describing the plurality of installed software programs, wherein the set of metadata includes directory information that identifies locations on the first storage medium at which the plurality of installed software programs are stored; receiving selection data that distinguish the first subset of the plurality of installed software programs that is to be unavailable for use by an end user from the second subset of the plurality of installed software programs, wherein the second subset of the plurality of installed software programs are selected software programs that are to be retained and available as installed software programs for the end user; automatically modifying the first storage medium based on the selection data such that, in place of those software programs not relevant to the selected software programs, erased space becomes available for storage of other data, and automatically modifying a portion of the set of metadata into modified directory information metadata, wherein the modified directory information metadata corresponds to the second subset of the plurality of installed software programs to be retained; and writing the modified directory information metadata into storage locations used by an operating system for access to the retained installed software programs such that those selected software programs specified by the selection data are available as installed software programs.