Dynamically configurable portable computer system

In a computer system including a processor, system memory, a housing, provisions for connecting one or more peripheral devices such as disk drives, serial printers, or modems into the computer system internal or external to the housing and peripheral status data storage means for storing data relating to any connected peripheral devices, a dynamic configuration means for automatically initializing system peripheral configuration data on system power-up, said dynamic configuration means comprising:

• (a) system configuration status means for storing data indicative of internal and external peripheral device status;
• (b) former status means for storing data indicative of the status of internal and external peripheral devices when the system was last used;
• (c) current status means for determining the current status of internal and external peripheral devices and developing data indicative thereof;
• (d) means coupled to said former status means and said current status means for determining differences between said data of said former status means and said current status means;
• and
• (e) means coupled to said difference determining means and said system configuration status means for automatically updating said data stored in said system configuration status means based upon said determined differences between said former status data and said current status data.