Abstract: A computer system which includes certain minimum capabilities in a system ROM. Device driver software is located in the system ROM or adapter ROM's. On boot the computer system collects these device drivers from ROM to develop a minimal system. If a removable medium such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM is present a configuration mode is entered when final driver files and operating system modules are stored on a selected hard disk. After this storage the device driver modules and operating system modules necessary to develop a boot image of the operating system are gathered and linked. The boot image is generated and stored, allowing use on the following boot operations. The computer system detects device changes and rebuilds the boot image as necessary. If the devices have remained the same the previously stored boot image is loaded and operating system execution commences.