Abstract: An approach is provided to receive a selection of a displayed window from a group of displayed windows that are visible on a display. The displayed window corresponds to a software application and the displayed window is displayed at a location on the display. Another displayed window is shown visually animating and forming from the first displayed window. An authentication input dialog is displayed on the second displayed window, with the displayed authentication input dialog corresponding to the software application. Authentication data is received at the authentication input dialog and is authenticated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for reloading software images. A copy module copies application metadata for an application image to an application metadata copy. The application metadata and application image are stored on a writable memory of a data processing device. The application metadata copy is stored remotely from the data processing device. A detection module detects an operational anomaly. An erasure module erases at least the application image on the writeable memory in response to detecting the operational anomaly. An identification module identifies the application image from the application metadata copy. A reload module reloads the application image to the writable memory using the application metadata copy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for re-indexing a file system is disclosed. A detection module detects a reconnection of a storage device to an electronic device. The storage device was previously connected to and then disconnected from the electronic device. The storage device comprises a file system and the electronic device stores first metadata indexing the file system. A determination module determines if the file system is changed since the previous connection. An access module accesses the file system using the first metadata in response to the file system not changing since the previous connection. A re-index module re-indexes the file system in response to the file system changing since the previous connection.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for configuring an operating system on a target computer. A configuration module configures a target computer as a diskless client. A boot module boots the target computer to a setup state. A communication module establishes communications between the target computer, a donor storage device of a donor computer, and a virtual disk. A copy module copies a configuration image from the donor storage device to the virtual disk. The configuration image comprises an operating system and a software configuration installed on the donor computer. A modification module modifies the configuration image on the virtual disk to conform to a hardware configuration of the target computer.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for creating a preload. A preload may be stored onto a computer system prior to the computer system being manufactured. One or more attributes of an object of a preload may be defined. Each preload object may be an aggregation of one or more software element objects. A comparison may be made between the attributes in each software element object with the one or more attributes in the defined preload object. Upon identifying one or more software element objects whose attributes comprise the one or more attributes of the defined preload object, one or more part numbers associated with the one or more identified software element objects may be transmitted to a manufacturing system. Software associated with the identified one or more software element objects may be retrieved and installed onto a preload associated with the defined preload object.

Abstract: The hard disk drive of a computer system is loaded with a preloaded image including an operating system, a number of application programs, and a device driver installation routine, all of which are not dependent on the hardware configuration of the computer system. A hidden partition of the hard disk drive is also loaded with a number of device drivers, which are dependent upon the hardware configuration. During the first boot only of the preloaded image, the device drivers are installed by the device driver installation routine.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for creating a preload. A preload may be stored onto a computer system prior to the computer system being manufactured. One or more attributes of an object of a preload may be defined. Each preload object may be an aggregation of one or more software element objects. A comparison may be made between the attributes in each software element object with the one or more attributes in the defined preload object. Upon identifying one or more software element objects whose attributes comprise the one or more attributes of the defined preload object, one or more part numbers associated with the one or more identified software element objects may be transmitted to a manufacturing system. Software associated with the identified one or more software element objects may be retrieved and installed onto a preload associated with the defined preload object.

Abstract: The hard disk drive of a computer system is loaded with a preloaded image including an operating system, a number of application programs, and a device driver installation routine, all of which are not dependent on the hardware configuration of the computer system. A hidden partition of the hard disk drive is also loaded with a number of device drivers, which are dependent upon the hardware configuration. During the first boot only of the preloaded image, the device drivers are installed by the device driver installation routine.