Abstract: A set top box for a television includes a hard drive, a random access memory, and a non-volatile memory. To maintain functionality of the device after a crash of the hard drive, the non-volatile memory includes an executable program for downloading a secondary operating system from a remote server or other secondary storage during a startup when the primary operating system in the hard drive is not accessible. The secondary operating system is stored in the random access memory and is a functional subset of the primary operating system to allow the use of the primary functionality of the set top box until the hard disk drive is repaired or replaced.

Abstract: A client device is connectable to a server via a communication network for receiving new software packages. The client device includes a pair of system partitions designated as current and backup system partitions and at least one package partition on which all installed system packages are saved. A central processing unit of the client device uses the contents of the current system partition. In response to an startup failure or a runtime failure, the client device reboots using the backup system partition and allows a user to selectively install any of the software packages saved on the at least one package partition.

Abstract: A set top box for a television includes a hard drive, a random access memory, and a non-volatile memory. To maintain functionality of the device after a crash of the hard drive, the non-volatile memory includes an executable program for downloading a secondary operating system from a remote server or other secondary storage during a startup when the primary operating system in the hard drive is not accessible. The secondary operating system is stored in the random access memory and is a functional subset of the primary operating system to allow the use of the primary functionality of the set top box until the hard disk drive is repaired or replaced.

Abstract: A client device is connectable to a server via a communication network for receiving new software packages. The client device includes a pair of system partitions designated as current and backup system partitions and at least one package partition on which all installed system packages are saved. A central processing unit of the client device uses the contents of the current system partition. In response to an startup failure or a runtime failure, the client device reboots using the backup system partition and allows a user to selectively install any of the software packages saved on the at least one package partition.