Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a progress associated with an executing process are disclosed. A progress report is generated in a progress reporting language, the progress reporting language indicating a progress of one or more steps in the executing process. The progress report is then provided to a user interface mechanism capable of interpreting the progress reporting language, where the user interface mechanism is adapted for generating a user interface indicating the progress of the one or more steps in the executing process. The user interface mechanism receives the progress report, ascertains the progress of the steps in the executing process from the progress report, and generates a user interface indicating the progress of the steps in the executing process.

Abstract: A file monitoring and auditing system for dynamically tracking and auditing files in a user level file system in a computer network system. The file monitoring and auditing system includes logic that allows a programmer to “privately” define file entries in a target computer system and to determine what file level changes have occurred on the target system relative to a known baseline file information. A file auditing logic tracks file discrepancies during a file audit capture period and reports these discrepancies in the form of file manifests to the programmer. Each file manifest comprises header information and file entries of all the files designated for auditing.

Abstract: A local computer stores a current program such as an operating system or an application. A network server stores a latest program which is a latest version of the current program, and an identifier program for generating an identification corresponding to the latest program upon interrogation. An updater program is alternatively stored on the local computer or the network server for causing the latest program to be transferred from the network server to the local computer and replace the current computer program. The current program and the latest program each include a startup program configured to interrogate the identifier program, determine if the identification corresponds to the current program, and if the identification does not correspond to the current program, run the updater program.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a progress associated with an executing process are disclosed. A progress report is generated in a progress reporting language, the progress reporting language indicating a progress of one or more steps in the executing process. The progress report is then provided to a user interface mechanism capable of interpreting the progress reporting language, where the user interface mechanism is adapted for generating a user interface indicating the progress of the one or more steps in the executing process. The user interface mechanism receives the progress report, ascertains the progress of the steps in the executing process from the progress report, and generates a user interface indicating the progress of the steps in the executing process.

Abstract: A computer system program including an operating system and a plurality of system service modules generates a number of status messages representing selected milestone events while it is being loaded and run, including progress advisories and technical advisories. User-friendly icons are displayed on a display monitor in response to the progress advisories, indicating which milestone event is occurring and how much of the event has been completed. If there is a failure in loading the system program, a user can provide service personnel with an accurate evaluation of the system condition by reporting which icon was displayed last on the monitor. Technical advisories such as audit records which are not relevant to a user are stored as entries in a silent log for possible later use by service personnel.