Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system that include identifying a sector offset on a storage device and storing an image onto the storage device at the sector offset where the image includes an operating system. The method also includes providing the sector offset to an installation engine and, subsequent to storing the image on the storage device, initiating the installation engine to cause the operating system to be installed on the storage device using the image.

Abstract: A method that includes setting a plurality of switching devices to cause a first plurality of devices to be coupled to a computer system is provided. The method also includes booting the computer system and detecting one or more errors associated with one or more of the first plurality of devices.

Abstract: A system and method that include detecting a reboot request and, in response to detecting the reboot request, removing a first entry associated with a first program from an execute list are provided. The system and method also include rebooting the computer system, and, in response to rebooting the computer system, initiating a second program associated with a second program entry on the execute list.

Abstract: An image is received in response to a specification. The image represents information. In response to the received image, the information is installed onto a first portion of a computer-readable medium. The received image is stored on a second portion of the computer-readable medium so that, even after the information is installed onto the first portion, the stored received image is retained on the second portion for subsequently reinstalling the information onto the first portion.

Abstract: A method that includes setting a plurality of switching devices to cause a first plurality of devices to be coupled to a computer system is provided. The method also includes booting the computer system and detecting one or more errors associated with one or more of the first plurality of devices.

Abstract: A computer system includes a processor; a hard drive connected to the processor and having an image applied thereto, the image including device drivers and executable applications; an installation file stored on the hard drive and executable by the processor, the installation file including a first instruction associated with a first executable application; and a data file stored on the hard drive; wherein upon execution of the first instruction by the processor, a determination is made whether the data file includes a valid section corresponding to the first executable application and including a list of hardware devices that are compatible with the first executable application.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system that include identifying a sector offset on a storage device and storing an image onto the storage device at the sector offset where the image includes an operating system. The method also includes providing the sector offset to an installation engine and, subsequent to storing the image on the storage device, initiating the installation engine to cause the operating system to be installed on the storage device using the image.

Abstract: An image is received in response to a specification. The image represents information. In response to the received image, the information is installed onto a first portion of a computer-readable medium. The received image is stored on a second portion of the computer-readable medium so that, even after the information is installed onto the first portion, the stored received image is retained on the second portion for subsequently reinstalling the information onto the first portion.

Abstract: A system and method that include detecting a reboot request and, in response to detecting the reboot request, removing a first entry associated with a first program from an execute list are provided. The system and method also include rebooting the computer system, and, in response to rebooting the computer system, initiating a second program associated with a second program entry on the execute list.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for factory-installing directories with long filenames while maintaining proper references to the short filename equivalents thereof are described. During a development stage, a determination is made whether any files or directories with long filenames were created by an application installed on a development system for developing an installation package for the application. If so, the development system is queried for the short filenames associated with these long filenames. The development system then creates a factory-install package for the application in which all short filename references to these long filename files and directories are programmatically replaced with tokens that are unique to each long filename. The factory-install package is then uploaded to a factory server.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ensuring that file updates scheduled in a Wininit.ini file are applied with regard to previously existing versions and multiple instances of such updates are described. In one aspect, a computer program is installed on a computer system and executed after all file update entries have been made to a Wininit.ini file, but before the computer system is rebooted. If duplicate entries exist in the Wininit.ini file for a single destination file, the computer program determines which entry contains the newest source file based first on the version of the source file, if any, and then on the date/time stamp for the source file. The Wininit.ini entries referring to older source files, as well as the files themselves, are then marked for deletion and/or deleted before the computer system is rebooted.