Abstract: A method for booting a user station in a computer network in which a boot sequence is initiated by retrieving boot parameter information from a remote boot server. If the boot server fails to supply information for at least one boot parameter, it is determined whether a default value may be used for the boot parameter. If a default value may be used, a default value is retrieved from local nonvolatile storage. Each entry in the boot parameter table may include a default indicator for determining whether the default value is used if the boot server fails to supply a value for the associated boot parameter. The boot parameter table may include an override indicator to indicate whether a parameter value retrieved from the boot server is overridden.

Abstract: Method, article of manufacture and apparatus for controlling the operation and appearance of browsers. A controlled browser window comprises a display area for rendering viewable content received from received from network locations. A controlling browser window is configured to control aspects of the controlled browser window. In one embodiment, a program implementing the controlling browser window comprises event handlers which produce a predetermined result in response to events occurring with respect to the controlled browser window. The event handlers may be re-established for each domain change of the controlled browser window.

Abstract: A combination editable and fixed entry input menu field may be used to set up options and preferences for a computer system, such as in a menu for booting the computer system. The menu field provides flexibility in switching and/or selecting between various selections such as operating system(s). The menu field uses less non-volatile memory for storing strings that specify the boot path and filenames and also uses less space on the menu for displaying the strings that specify the boot path and filenames. Entry fields comprise various selections such as at least one editable selectable field and at least one fixed selectable field. The user is able to choose within the selected selectable field between various selections such as between an editable field with editable entries and a fixed field with fixed entries as being the selected entry field.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the boot process of a data processing system. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, data detailing each operation performed during a boot process of a data processing system is stored within a memory of the data processing system. All the stored data is then displayed in response to a halting of the boot process, such that step-by-step details of the boot process are available to a user prior to operation of the data processing system by an operating system.