Dell Products Inc.

Dell USA L P

Paul J Maia

Alan E Beelitz

Shree A Dandekar

Alok Pant

Gaston M Barajas

Michael K Padilla

Richard C Lawrence

Thomas Vrhel, Jr

Reva Tolliver

Jon Boede

Tad S Goodwin

Joe Bryan

Steve Romohr

W D Todd Nix

A fixed image factory installation system which enables installation and launching of additional partitions or volumes. The fixed image factory installation system further enables customization and configuration of additional operating systems with corresponding drivers and software applications stack. The additional partitions can be hidden and do not require a visible descriptor.

Method and apparatus to customize and configure multiple operating systems on a server

A method for registering and initiating a pre-boot environment for enabling partitions. The method provides a basic input output system (CIOS) with an application program interface (API) that accesses a Logical Clock Address (LCA) sector number when a boot configuration flag is set, the LCA sector number stores an operating environment manager which then boots the information handling system to an appropriate partition.

System for registering and initiating pre-boot environment for enabling partitions

A system and method for restoring a master boot record in association with accessing a hidden partition is disclosed. According to one aspect, a method of restoring a master boot record for a storage device is disclosed. The method can include initiating access to a hidden partition stored within a storage device. The method can also include disassociating a visible partition descriptor from a visible partition of the storage device. The method can also include associating the visible partition descriptor with the hidden partition and accessing the hidden partition using the visible partition descriptor. The method can also include reassociating the visible partition descriptor with the visible partition while accessing the hidden partition.

System and method for restoring a master boot record in association with accessing a hidden partition

A system for factory installation of software that configures the storage resources in one or more file servers as a &ldquo;cache.&rdquo; The factory installation system includes at least one file server coupled to a storage management engine (SME) which is coupled to a library server. A target customer system being loaded with software is coupled to the file servers and library server. The library server will have sufficient storage capacity to maintain all of the software that may be requested by a target customer system. The storage management engine will determine which software programs included on the file server memory have been the least recently used and delete those files, thus causing the remaining files on the server memory to be the most recently used. When a target customer computer is being loaded, a request is first made to the file severs for the desired software. If the desired programs are located on the file servers, then a download to the customer computer is implemented. However, if the requested software is not present, the customer computer then sends a request to the library server for the desired software and a download from the library server to the customer computer occurs. When the target customer system requests the file from the library server, the request is logged in a directory in the library server. Periodically, the SME will read the logged requests and then update the file server memories with software which has been requested by the customer computers.

Factory software management system

A build-to-order manufacturing method for producing a custom configured computer system includes obtaining a customer order. Hardware for the custom configured computer system is assembled in accordance with the customer order. The assembled hardware is then tested using software tools and utilities. Next, software is downloaded to the computer system in accordance with the customer order, the software including an operating system (OS). Lastly, a fully integrated system test is performed, the fully integrated system test including the execution of an OS setup for fully integrating the hardware and software of the custom configured computer system and testing of the fully integrated hardware and software from the OS' perspective prior to shipment to a customer.

Method and apparatus for testing custom-configured software/hardware integration in a computer build-to-order manufacturing process

A computer system includes a processor, at least one computer-readable media drive, and manufacturing process code. The manufacturing process code includes executable instructions for causing the processor to determine a drive letter designation of the at least one computer-readable media drive. The computer system further includes an operating system and a system descriptor record, wherein the operating system includes a desktop suitable for implementation of shortcuts and menu selections to computer-readable media drive based software applications. The drive letter designation of the computer-readable media drive is further a function of the operating system and the system descriptor record. Still further, the manufacturing process code enables a determination of the computer-readable media drive letter designation by the processor to be operable prior to the operating system desktop becoming fully initialized, further for enabling a binding of computer-readable media drive based software applications in an establishing of the shortcuts and menu selections on the desktop.

Method and apparatus for determining the drive letter assignment of a CD-ROM drive during initial system setup of a computer system

A system for specifying, ordering, and building a build-to-order computer system. After initiating an ordering session, a user such as a purchaser or designer is presented with a list of options such as a list of operating systems offered by a computer system vendor or manufacturer that may be implemented on a targeted computer system. After receiving an indication of a selection from a first list of options, the system accesses a computer system readable master data base to generate a second list of options such as software programs wherein each option of the second list is compatible with the selection from the first list. The master data base includes entries for every option offered by the computer system vendor or manufacturer and includes at least one tag indicating compatibly with other entries in the master data base. The system can be used to present to the user a plurality of lists wherein all of the options presented are compatible with the previous selections. The system writes indications of the selections in a data file. The data file is provided to manufacturing wherein the selections are implemented on a targeted computer system using the data file. The system may also include a sniffing feature used to determine particular hardware parameters of the targeted computer system. The system uses the determined parameters in generating the compatible lists of options. The system enables a purchaser to buy and order a computer system over a computer network such as the Internet.

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Cedar Park, TX, United States of America

Paul J Maia