Abstract: A method for acquiring and monitoring hardware data of a computer system is disclosed, which executes a hardware monitoring program to acquire data of selected hardware device from an associated input/output port of the computer system. The method includes reading an user interface definition file by the hardware monitoring program, the user interface definition file containing a number of pre-defined input/output device control sections each containing execution functions and set parameters of each particular input/output device; and the hardware monitoring program communicating with the input/output device via an input/output control file, the input/output control file performing functions of “open input/output port”, “read input/output port” and “write input/output port” to access the input/output port in order to acquire the data of the input/output device of the computer system.

Abstract: A method of automatic program installation for a computer device is disclosed, which detects an optical disk containing driver programs of input/output devices of the computer device and displays a setup menu to allow a computer user to select the desired driver programs. The following steps are then proceeded: determining the operating system of the computer; performing driver program installation execution file of the operating system and reading the contents of an installation bootstrap file; executing the driver program associated with the computer chipset contained in the installation bootstrap file; and sequentially installing the driver programs contained in the installation bootstrap file. During the installation, it is automatically determined if re-booting of the computer is required. If it is, then the computer is re-booted when necessary and the installation process continues thereafter to have the process completely done.