System and method for institutional computer restoration

An information handling system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a memory accessible by the processors;
• a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors, wherein the nonvolatile storage device includes a primary drive and a second nonvolatile storage area in a hidden partition;
• and
• a restoration tool having access to the nonvolatile storage device, wherein the restoration tool is effective to:
• store an image on the primary drive, wherein the image includes a plurality of authorized programs that include an operating system and one or more applications;
• store the image on the second nonvolatile storage area;
• receive, after the storage of the image onto the primary drive and the second nonvolatile storage area, one or more patches corresponding to the authorized programs;
• apply the received patches to the authorized programs stored on the primary drive;
• save a copy of the received patches on the second nonvolatile storage area;
• and
• restore the primary drive after a period of use, the restoration of the primary drive further being effective to:
• reformat the primary drive;
• copy the image from the second nonvolatile storage area to the primary drive;
• and
• apply the patches to the authorized programs copied to the primary drive using the copy of the patch saved on the second nonvolatile storage area.

A product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code stored therein, the computer readable program code in said product being effective to:
• store an image on a primary drive of a computer system, wherein the image includes a plurality of authorized programs that include an operating system and one or more applications;
• store the image on a second nonvolatile storage area accessible from the computer system;
• receive, after executing the software code effective to store the image on the primary drive and the second nonvolatile storage area, one or more patches corresponding to the authorized programs;
• apply the received patches to the authorized programs stored on the primary drive;
• save a copy of the received patches on the second nonvolatile storage area;
• and
• restore the primary drive after a period of use, the restoration being effective to:
• reformat the primary drive;
• copy the image from the second nonvolatile storage area to the primary drive;
• and
• apply the patches to the authorized programs copied to the primary drive using the copy of the patch saved on the second nonvolatile storage area.