Patent ID: 7428633

Claim:
An embedded, unpassword-protected device including a data storage unit having stored therein a configuration setting data and user data, said embedded, unpassword-protected device having a hard reset mode that when selected initializes said embedded, unpassword-protected device by deleting said user data from said data storage unit, said embedded, unpassword-protected device having a soft reset mode that when selected initializes said embedded, unpassword-protected device while preserving at least a portion of said user data in said data storage unit, said embedded, unpassword-protected device comprising: a first memory of the data storage unit to provide a storage area as an operating system installation area, and, where selected, an application program installation area; a second memory of the data storage unit to store environment set-up data, application programs, working data of a user, and to provide an operation area to temporarily store program data related to operation of the operating system; and an unpassword-protected controller receiving a hard reset selection signal, and providing, in response to said hard reset selection signal, a confirmation message alerting a user of said embedded device of selection of said hard reset mode and a warning message that the hard reset selection signal deletes all user data and configuration including all data on which the user has been working, wherein said unpassword-protected controller provides a selection menu having a hard reset mode and a soft reset mode through said visual user interface screen in response to a reset signal received without indication of selection of said hard reset mode or said soft reset mode, said unpassword-protected controller performing the user selected reset mode, and wherein the hard reset mode and the soft reset mode are displayed together in the selection menu.