Patent ID: 7814307

Claim:
At least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising: partitioning a hard disk in a non-virtualized manner to include a first special purpose operating system in a first partition and a second, different general purpose operating system in a second, different partition on the hard disk, each hard disk partition containing a set of executable operating system code configured to load the partition's respective operating system from the hard disk partition into a computer system memory; and managing input and output of each of the partitions to operate computer system hardware, the managing including: receiving an indication from a user that a selected functionality is to be provided; in response to receiving the indication, booting to the selected special purpose operating system configured to provide the user-selected functionality; receiving a request for additional functionality; determining that the requested additional functionality cannot be provided by the special purpose operating system; and based on the determination, switching to the general purpose operating system that was at least partially loaded in the background while the special purpose operating system is running, wherein the general purpose operating system is partially loaded to the extent necessary to perform the requested additional functionality.