Operating system replacement for in-vehicle computing system

A method of replacing an original operating system with a new operating system for an in-vehicle computing system, the method comprising:

• receiving an image file system (IFS) and initial program loader (IPL) files at an external storage device interface of the in-vehicle computing system during operation of the in-vehicle computing system under the original operating system;
• storing the IFS and the IPL files in a first memory location of the in-vehicle computing system;
• rebooting the in-vehicle computing system while operating under the original operating system;
• moving the IFS and the IPL files from the first memory location to a second memory location;
• rebooting the in-vehicle computing system while operating under the original operating system;
• and
• automatically restarting the in-vehicle computing system under the new operating system.

An in-vehicle computing system comprising:

• an audio device interface for communicating with one or more audio devices of a vehicle;
• a storage device;
• an external device interface;
• a memory device configured to store instructions;
• a processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• receive an image file system (IFS) and initial program loader (IPL) files at the external storage device interface during operation of the in-vehicle computing system under an original operating system;
• install an application for installing a new operating system within the original operating system;
• reboot the in-vehicle computing system while operating under the original operating system;
• run the application to rewrite the IFS and the IPL files from a first memory location to a second memory location;
• reboot the in-vehicle computing system while operating under the original operating system;
• and
• automatically restart the in-vehicle computing system under the new operating system.