Remote software installation and maintenance

A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored computer code which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to install software in a computer system by:

• (a) installing a first version of the software in the computer system by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the computer system;
• and
• (b) installing a second version of the software hi the computer system by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the computer system.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor;
• and
• an installation module which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed, installs software in a second computer system by:
• (a) installing a first version of the software in the second computer system by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the second computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the second, computer system;
• and
• (b) installing a second version of the software in the second computer system by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the second computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the second computer system.

A method for installing software in a computer system, the method comprising:

• (a) installing a first version of the software in the computer system by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the computer system;
• and
• (b) installing a second version of the software in the computer system, the second version being subsequent to the first version, by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the computer system.

A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored computer code which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to install software in a computer system by:

• (a) installing a first version of the software in the computer system by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the computer system;
• and
• (b) installing a second version of the software in the computer system, the second version being subsequent to the first version, by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the computer system.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor;
• and
• an installation module which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed, installs software in a second computer system by:
• (a) installing a first version of the software in the second computer system by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the second computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the second, computer system;
• and
• (b) installing a second version of the software in the second computer system, the second version being subsequent to the first version, by:
• (i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the second computer system;
• and
• (ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the second computer system.