Patent ID: 7603442

Claim:
A method for maintaining service dependency relationships between executable predefined service components of an operating system of a computer comprising the steps of: maintaining a dynamic service consistency file in the operating system containing entries to identify predefined service components that are currently available in the operating system of the computer, wherein: the currently available predefined service component entries are linked according to their dependency, the dynamic service consistency file comprising a first representation in any one from the group of a tree, a graph, a linked list, or a table; and the linking for each currently available predefined service component entry indicates a first currently available service component from which each currently available predefined service component depends, and the linking indicates a second currently available service component that depends on the each currently available predefined service component, the each currently available predefined service component corresponding to the each currently available predefined service component entry; comparing the dynamic service consistency file to a reference file in the operating system containing entries to identify the predefined service components of the operating system of the computer, wherein: the predefined service component entries are linked in the reference file according to their dependency, the reference file comprising a second representation in any one from the group of a tree, a graph, a linked list, or a table; and the linking for each predefined service component entry in the reference file indicates a first predefined reference service component from which each predefined service component depends, and the linking indicates a second predefined reference service component that depends on the each predefined service component, the each predefined service component corresponding to the each predefined service component entry; determining whether an inconsistency exists between service component entries within the dynamic service consistency file and the reference file; and starting any lost predefined service component to correct any inconsistency based upon the determining step.