Patent ID: 7555679

Claim:
A method comprising: installing a plurality of programs on a primary drive of a computer system, wherein the programs include an operating system and one or more applications; using the programs installed on the primary drive for a first period of time; during the first period of time, storing one or more user data files on the primary drive; creating a first image of the primary drive after the first period of time has elapsed, the creating including storing a copy of the first image on a second nonvolatile storage area accessible from the computer system; in response to creating the first image of the primary drive, using the programs installed on the primary drive for a second period of time; during the second period of time: installing a new application; storing the new application as an application image on the second nonvolatile storage area; and storing one or more additional user data files on the primary drive; rejuvenating the primary drive after the second period of time has elapsed, the rejuvenating including: copying the user data files and the additional user data files from the primary drive to the second nonvolatile storage area; in response to the copying, reformatting the primary drive; copying the first image from the second nonvolatile storage area to the reformatted primary drive; recopying the user data files and the additional user data files from the second nonvolatile storage area to the reformatted primary drive; prompting a user whether to reinstall the new application stored as an application image on the second nonvolatile storage area; in response to the prompting, receiving a response from the user; in response to receiving a yes response, reinstalling the new application from the second nonvolatile storage area to the reformatted primary drive; and in response to receiving a no response, not reinstalling the new application.