Dell USA L.p.

Dell Products Inc.

Thomas Vrhel, Jr

Gary Douglas Huber

Roy William Stedman

Gaston M Barajas

Krishnamurthy Venkatramani

James Van Artsdalen

Paul J Maia

William Paul Hyden

Gavin T Smith

W D Todd Nix

A method and system for automated support in a computer system. The computer system has a service button, and pressing of the service button causes a bit to be set in a register in the chip set. Setting of the bit generates an interrupt signal that is received and processed in a manner dependent on whether the computer system is in a booting state or a non-booting state. If the computer system is in a booting state, the bit is checked at a predetermined point in the booting sequence, and if set, a service application is initiated at that time. If the computer is not in a booting state, a second interrupt is generated, causing the service application to be initiated. A timer is initiated substantially with pressing of the service button, and if the service application reaches a predetermined point before the timer reaches a predetermined value, it will clear the timer. If not, the system will follow a predetermined reboot protocol.

Method and system for automated technical support for computers

A method for automatically generating a software stack in an information handling system. The information handling system includes a software process partition. The method includes generating a manifest identifying software stack contents, creating a target partition within the information handling system, installing the specified software stack components into the target partition, configuring the target partition as active and bootable and the software process partition as hidden, booting into the target partition, setting up and configuring the software components within the target partition, and configuring the software process partition as active and bootable and the target partition as inactive. The generated software stack optionally may be captured for later use.

System for automated generation of config to order software stacks

A computer system manufacturing process is disclosed in which a customer may order a computer system having one of several defined or base configurations of hardware and software components. After specifying the base configuration of hardware and software components, the user may identify custom hardware or software components to be added to the system. During the manufacturing process, the computer system accesses a network for retrieving a data record of the customer order and downloading the software of the computer system. The software to be downloaded will include the software of the base configuration and any custom software. Following the installation of the custom hardware and software components, the computer system will be tested to evaluate the function of the system components and the integration of the custom components and the components of the base configuration. Following a successful test, test software and networking software are removed from the computer system before the operating system of the computer system is resealed and the computer system is shipped to the customer.

Method and system for installing and testing build-to-order components in a defined configuration computer system

A method and system for integrated support for solving problems with personal computer systems comprises monitoring operating system functionality to determine if a computer system failure exists, to identify the computer system failure and to provide a solution of the computer system failure. A robust user interface, including a simple-to-use user button interface, supports single touch user input to indicate a computer system problem or question. Watchdog timers compare the time of hardware and operating system functionality, such as boot sequence operation, against predetermined time periods to determine whether or not a computer failure exists. A computer system failure is determined if a watchdog timer expires upon completion of a predetermined time period without being cleared. A hardware problem is identified on initial boot if the watchdog timer is not cleared by an operating system service routine. An operating system hang-up is determined if a watchdog timer is not cleared by an application run in association with the operating system. If a computer failure is detected, a service mode is initiated with a service mode operating system to allow in-depth analysis and problem resolution. Service mode operation is also monitored to detect problems.

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

System and methods for recovering memory for computer systems are disclosed. A method for recovering physical memory within a computer system having a memory device is disclosed. The method includes detecting an event associated with the system, allocating memory based upon the detected event, and accessing at least one portion of physical memory in association with the allocated memory. Upon accessing physical memory the method further includes deallocating at least one portion of physical memory, wherein the deallocated physical memory is operable to be used in association with the event.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Thomas Vrhel, Jr