Abstract: A method of operating a computer including initiating an operating system boot process utilizing critical files stored in associated standard locations on a first peripheral device. After a successful boot, files critical to the standard operating system boot process are copied from the standard locations to a boot image residing on the first peripheral device. The computer can optionally boot from the boot image during a subsequent operating system boot process.

Abstract: A method of operating a computer includes re-directing access requests for a first peripheral device to a boot image residing on a second peripheral device of the computer. A reset is then performed, wherein the computer boots an operating system from the boot image.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing diagnostic indications representing detected failure conditions in a computer system, comprising: generating at least one indicator light waveform to present a predetermined quantity of one or more sequential illuminations of at least one indicator light; and, generating, at approximately the same time and in synchronicity with the at least one indicator light waveform, a corresponding at least one speaker audio waveform presenting, via a speaker, a same quantity of one or more sequential audible enunciations.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus, such as a personal computer, is described comprising main operative functionality and a power provisioning system for powering the apparatus from an external power source, the power provisioning system comprising:—a main power supply output for energizing the main operative functionality of the apparatus when said power provisioning system is connected to said external power source, and a standby power source for energizing a subset of the components of the apparatus when said main power supply output is not energized, the apparatus further comprising a self contained subsystem including a memory for storing at least one parameter reflecting an internal state of the apparatus, said self contained subsystem being powered by said standby power source and including an encoder for encoding the parameters in an output signal and a transducer for generating a wireless transmission from the output signal, which transmission can be detected in the vicinity of the apparatus, so as to enable the p

Abstract: Electronic apparatus, such as a personal computer, is described comprising main operative functionality and a power provisioning system for powering the apparatus from an external power source, the power provisioning system comprising:—a main power supply output for energising the main operative functionality of the apparatus when said power provisioning system is connected to said external power source, and a standby power source for energising a subset of the components of the apparatus when said main power supply output is not energised, the apparatus further comprising a self contained subsystem including a memory for storing at least one parameter reflecting an internal state of the apparatus, said self contained subsystem being powered by said standby power source and including an encoder for encoding the parameters in an output signal and a transducer for generating a wireless transmission from the output signal, which transmission can be detected in the vicinity of the apparatus, so as to enable the p

Abstract: A support system enables a support agent to assist a client to resolve a problem with a client electronic device provided with an Internet capability enabling communication between the device and a support service web application. A two-way communications link is provided between the agent and the same web application. Communication between the client and support agent is provided by a telephone link. Accessible by the device is a diagnostic and/or data harvesting engine which can diagnose and/or harvest data for transfer to the web application and which has access to a LAN software stack which enables the engine itself to establish communication with the web application without requiring user intervention and without requiring communication via a web server provided in the client's device.

Abstract: A support system is provided by which a support agent (10) can assist a user (12) to resolve a problem with a device (14). The support service provides a telephone link (32) between the user (12) and a support agent (10), a call initially being handled by an automated answering service (34) which invites the user (12) to prepare for the call by visiting a support website to run a preparation routine (112) which determines the configuration and state of the client's device (14). Once the data has been harvested, the web application (32) carries out a plurality of sub-routines to determine the operating conditions of the device (14). Where the problem can be corrected automatically, the web application (22) performs this directly. Where this cannot be done, the web application (22) stores the harvested data in memory (25) and provides the user (12) with a location code for that data. The user (12) can then contact the support agent (10) and provide the agent with the location code.

Abstract: A method of detecting a non-virus component in a virus-protected computer system comprising identifying a software trace of the component and conveying the trace to the computer system as a virus pseudo-signature to allow detection of the component by the system's antivirus software.

Abstract: A method of obtaining technical support for a data-processing device, comprising initiating a support session during which device-specific data is conveyed from the device to a support provider to assist the support provider in responding to a support query, and polling the support provider for a response to the query, on a repeated and automated basis, until a response becomes available or the support session is terminated.

Abstract: Electronic Apparatus having Improved Diagnostic Interface Electronic apparatus, such as a personal computer, is described comprising main operative functionality and a power provisioning system for powering the apparatus from an external power source, the power provisioning system comprising:—a main power supply output for energising the main operative functionality of the apparatus when said power provisioning system is connected to said external power source, and a standby power source for energising a subset of the components of the apparatus when said main power supply output is not energised, the apparatus further comprising a self contained subsystem including a memory for storing at least one parameter reflecting an internal state of the apparatus, said self contained subsystem being powered by said standby power source and including an encoder for encoding the parameters in an output signal and a transducer for generating a wireless transmission from the output signal, which transmission can be

Abstract: A validation device for a computer comprising hardware and software, the validation device being operable to;

Abstract: Electronic apparatus, such as a personal computer, is described comprising main operative functionality and a power provisioning system for powering the apparatus from an external power source, the power provisioning system comprising:—a main power supply output for energising the main operative functionality of the apparatus when said power provisioning system is connected to said external power source, and a standby power source for energising a subset of the components of the apparatus when said main power supply output is not energised, the apparatus further comprising a self contained subsystem including a memory for storing at least one parameter reflecting an internal state of the apparatus, said self contained subsystem being powered by said standby power source and including an encoder for encoding the parameters in an output signal and a transducer for generating a wireless transmission from the output signal, which transmission can be detected in the vicinity of the apparatus, so as to enable

Abstract: An electronic apparatus is described with a power provisioning system for powering the apparatus from an external power source, a power button connected to the power management control circuit for enabling a user to initiate transitions of the power provisioning system between at the first and second states, and an LED for providing a visual feedback to the user of the powered state of the computer; in which the LED is wired in series with a transistor to the standby supply output, the conducting state of the transistor being controlled directly by the power button so that the LED provides a direct visual feedback as to the state of the standby power supply output when the power button is actuated.

Abstract: A method of initiating a backup procedure comprising the steps of;

Abstract: Data or a message is displayed in a specific area of a display of a computer or an interactive terminal by using a local access network (LAN) card having processing resources and connected to a network, and a video card having a frame buffer. The LAN card takes control of the video card frame buffer independently of an operating system running into the computer or interactive terminal. Preferably, the LAN card and video card are connected to the computer by a PCI bus and the frame buffer of the video card is controlled by a PCI bus master mode.

Abstract: A method of providing access to computer diagnostic information to an interested party comprising:

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data processing system and method for providing support and maintenance services to a computer with at least reduced and preferably minimal user interaction. Data, that ordinarily would be inaccessible to a non-trusted applet, is, prior to any use of that data by such a non-trusted applet collated with the permission of the user of the computer by a trusted applet. The trusted applet has a greater range of access to system configuration as compared to the non-trusted applet. However, invoking a trusted applet requires user interaction; namely, the user must grant permission for the trusted applet to access the system configuration information and platform identification data. The necessary system configuration information that is required for the provision of support and maintenance services is harvested by the trusted applet and stored within a cookie.

Abstract: An impaired software image associated with a first networked computer is restored by generating a software image request that identifies the software image and the first computer. The software image request is passed to plural other computers on the network. If one of the other computers has the image, the other computer supplies the image to the first computer to restore the impaired image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to computer systems and in particular to a file distribution method and method of manufacture by which a file, representing, for example, software, that has not been approved from a quality assurance perspective is loaded, before shipment of a computer, onto a storage medium of that computer and after shipment, the file or software is enabled to allow it to be utilized appropriately, subject to a corresponding usable version of the file having passed appropriate wuality assurance tests. The embodiments of the invention confer at least two advantages. Firstly, the conventional software quality assurance approval process is avoided prior to shipment, which leads to the avoidance of potential delays in the manufacture of the computer system, and, secondly, the conventional downloads associated with obtaining on-line support and maintenance are avoided.

Abstract: An initialization module for a device driver, the module being operable to: