Computer system capable of supporting a plurality of independent computing environments

Abstract

A method for a computer repairing itself to an operational status at any time during operation, the method comprising the computer-executed steps of: booting from a first hard disk drive boot device disposed within a main computer hardware box of the computer; then, in response to a signal indicating a need for repair of the computer during the booting or during any operating state, booting from a second hard disk drive boot device also disposed within the main computer hardware box of the computer prior to the signal indicating a need for repair; and then repairing software on the first hard disk drive while booted from the second hard disk drive boot device and selectively either: (i) maintaining operation of the computer from the second boot device to restore operational status of the computer during repairing of the software on the first hard disk device, or (ii) changing to operation of the computer from the second boot device to the first boot device to restore operational status of the computer.