Abstract: A method of distributing advertisement content. One embodiment of the invention comprises a distribution server that is connected to a network of personal computers via a network. The distribution server receives advertising data from advertisers and formats the advertisement data for storage and display on the personal computers during or before bootloading a user selected application environment. Upon the occurrence of one or more events, the distribution server distributes the advertisement data to the network of personal computers. The personal computers receive the distributed advertisement content and store the advertisement data on a storage device. Upon the bootloading of the user selected application environment, the advertising data is displayed to the user.

Abstract: A personal computer system displays digital content received from a content delivery server. The content delivery server provides the digital content as a result of being contacted by a server-contacting program stored on a disk drive in the computer and initiated by the drive firmware. The digital content can be any of a number of file types including AVI, MPEG, or MP3.

Abstract: A computer network connects a personal computer system to a content delivery system for delivering digital content to the personal computer. The personal computer comprises a disk drive which includes a network address for the content delivery system and a server-contacting program. The disk drive comprises firmware installed during manufacturing of the drive which initiates execution of the server-contacting program to enable the network connection and facilitate delivery of content to a large number of personal computers.

Abstract: A content delivery server delivers digital content to a personal computer having a disk drive which stores a network address and server-contacting program for establishing a connection between the content delivery server and the personal computer. The content delivery system provides a variety of digital content including AVI, MPEG and MP3 format files to the personal computer and periodically refreshes the content according to user preferences.

Abstract: A disk drive is manufactured with a stored server-contacting program and a network address. Preferably, a protected area is provided for retaining the server-contacting program and the network address in the disk drive while it travels through a distribution channel to be installed in a user's personal computer system. The disk drive has firmware installed during manufacturing to initiate execution of the server-contacting program at an appropriate time, preferably when a selected condition has been met.