Automatic software installation and cleanup

A method for automatically installing to a computer and removing from the computer a software application on a computer-readable medium, the method comprising:

• starting an event monitor;
• detecting by the event monitor the insertion of the computer-readable medium;
• starting an autorun program to install the software application;
• detecting by the event monitor the removal of the computer-readable medium;
• and
• signaling the autorun program to remove the software application and release at least a subset of the resources acquired by the software application, said signaling occurring from the event monitor to the autorun program.

A first computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to perform a method for releasing resources acquired by an application installed on a computer having an operating system, the method comprising:

• detecting the removal of a second computer-readable medium from the computer;
• and
• removing an application previously installed from the second computer-readable medium and releasing at least a subset of the resources acquired by the application;
• wherein removing the application further comprises signaling an autorun program to remove the application, said signal comprising an action selected from the group consisting of:
• sending a pre-defined message to the autorun program, setting a semaphore, setting a value in a shared memory location, and issuing an operating system signal.

A first computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to perform a method for automatically installing to a computer and removing from the computer a software application on a second computer-readable medium, the method comprising:

• starting an event monitor;
• detecting by the event monitor the insertion of the computer-readable medium;
• starting an autorun program to install the software application;
• detecting by the event monitor the removal of the computer-readable medium;
• and
• signaling the autorun program to remove the software application and release at least a subset of the resources acquired by the software application, said signaling occurring from the event monitor to the autorun program.

A computer comprising:

• a processor;
• a first computer-readable medium;
• an operating system executed by the processor from the first computer-readable medium, said operating system operative to control and maintain resources;
• an event monitor that invokes an autorun program in response to a signal from the operating system that a second computer-readable medium has been inserted into the computer and a signal that the second computer readable medium has been removed from the computer, said autorun program operative to install an application from the second computer readable medium when the medium is inserted and release resources acquired by the application when the second computer readable medium is removed.