System and method for installing and servicing an operating system in a computer or information appliance

This invention pertains generally to apparatus, system, and method that provide multiple operating system support and a fast or task-specific startup capability in a computer or information appliance device, and more particularly to apparatus, system, and method that permits a user to select and execute one of a plurality of operating systems available on the device at the time of powering on the device and where data generated by an application program executing within one of the plurality of operating systems is available to a different application program executing within a different operating system on the same device. The invention provides apparatus, computer program, and method for multiple operating system support and a fast startup capability in a computer or information appliance. It permits execution of one of a plurality of available operating systems at the time of powering on the device and where data generated within one of the plurality of operating systems is available to a different application program executing within a different operating system on the same device. Provides for unattended file transfers and appliance mode operation for playing back digital audio without the overhead associated with conventional systems. Permit various microprocessor based systems to operate efficiently and with lower overhead. In one aspect, the invention provides a device, such as a computer or information appliance, including a processor and memory coupled to the processor; a storage system coupled to the processor and storing a portion of a first operating system in a first storage region and a portion of a second operating system in a second storage region; the storage system further providing read/write compatible storage and retrieval of data for first and second application programs executing in each of the first operating system and the second operating system respectively; and a boot controller responsive to receipt of a boot control indicator when the processor initiates a boot to an operational state to control booting or the processor into a selected one of the first operating system and the second operating system. Method, computer program, and computer program product are also provided.