Method and system for improving computer system boot reliability by executing an application specific test during a boot prior loading an operating system

A method comprising:

• attempting to load a first operating system image in a computer system, the first operating system image being one of plurality of locally-stored alternative operating system images;
• and
• if said first operating system image is not successfully loaded, performing an application-specific test on said computer system;
• and
• determining based on said application-specific test which of said plurality of locally-stored alternative operating system images to attempt to load next.

A computer system comprising:

• computer-executable instructions stored in a memory;
• a processor coupled to said memory to execute said instructions;
• and
• logic circuitry configured to perform a set of functions;
• wherein said instructions are configured to be executed during a boot of said computer system and prior to loading an operating system of said computer system, to apply an application-specific test to determine whether said logic circuitry meets first predetermined criteria before loading said operating system, and, if said application-specific test is not passed according to said first criteria, to automatically cause said computer system to perform a predetermined responsive action according to second predetermined criteria.

A computer system comprising,

• computer-executable instructions stored in a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to said memory to execute said instructions;
• wherein said instructions are configured to attempt a load of a first operating system image, the first operating system image being one of plurality of locally-stored alternative operating system images;
• and
• if said attempted load fails, to perform an application-specific test on said computer system, and determine based on said application-specific test which of said plurality of locally-stored alternative operating system images to attempt to load next.

A machine-readable medium tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions, said instructions when executed by a processor implementing a process comprising:

• during a boot of a computer system, executing an application-specific test of a condition of said computer system, prior to loading an operating system;
• applying first criteria to determine whether said application-specific test was passed;
• and
• if said test was not passed according to said first criteria, automatically causing said computer system to perform a predetermined responsive action according to second predetermined criteria.

A machine-readable medium tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions, said instructions when executed by a processor implementing a process comprising:

• attempting to load a first operating system image in a computer system, the first operating system image being one of plurality of locally-stored alternative operating system images;
• performing an application-specific test on said computer system;
• and
• determining based on said application-specific test which of said plurality of locally-stored alternative operating system images to attempt to load next.

A method comprising:

• during a boot of a computer system, executing an application-specific test of a condition of said computer system, prior to loading a first operating system image;
• determining whether said application-specific test was passed;
• and
• if said application-specific test was not passed, automatically attempting to load a second operating system image different from said first operating system image.