Computer disposal apparatus, system, and method
View Patent ↗An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for autonomically disposing a computer such as a workstation. The computer's local persistent storage medium is configured with pre-boot image which is configured with a set of functional modules that facilitate disposal or recycling of the computer to the next user. The disposal and recycle methods are automated, require minimal user intervention, and facilitate moving configuration options and data to a different computer. The entire process may execute from the pre-boot image on the computer's local persistent storage medium without ever booting the primary operating system.
1. An apparatus to automatically dispose of a computer, the apparatus comprising:
a pre-boot executable image comprising a plurality of executable modules including:
an interface module configured to prompt the user with at least one disposal option;
an archive module configured to store user data contained on a local persistent storage medium to a remote location; and
a disposal module configured to securely erase the local persistent storage medium.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an executable module of the plurality of executable modules resides within a pre-boot region of the local persistent storage medium.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the pre-boot region is selected from the group consisting of a pre-boot sector and a pre-boot partition.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an executable module of the plurality of executable modules resides within a bootable ROM.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the disposal module is further configured to remove the computer from asset records.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the archive module is further configured to authenticate the user.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the archive module is further configured to store at least one password.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the disposal module is further configured to securely remove the at least one password.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the archive module is further configured to copy user data to a remote storage location.
10. An apparatus to automatically dispose of and recycle a computer, the apparatus comprising:
a pre-boot executable image comprising a plurality of executable modules including:
an interface module configured to prompt the user with at least one disposal option;
a disposal module configured to securely erase a local persistent storage medium; and
a recycle module configured to initiate retrieval of user data corresponding to a new user from a remote location.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the recycle module is further configured to authenticate the new user.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the recycle module is further configured to boot the computer from a downloadable image.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the recycle module is further configured to write retrieved user data to the local persistent storage medium.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the recycle module is further configured to update asset records corresponding to the computer.
15. An method to automatically dispose of a computer, the method comprising:
executing a pre-boot image configured to prompt the user with at least one disposal option;
storing user data contained on a local persistent storage medium to a remote location during a pre-boot phase while executing the pre-boot image; and
erasing the local persistent storage medium.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising updating asset records.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising authenticating the user.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising storing at least one password.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising securely removing the at least one password.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising copying user data to a remote storage location.
21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising downloading an install image.
22. An apparatus to automatically dispose of a computer, the apparatus comprising:
a pre-boot executable image comprising:
means for prompting a user with at least one disposal option;
means for archiving user data contained on a local persistent storage medium to a remote location; and
means for securely erasing all data on the local persistent storage medium.
23. A system to automatically dispose of a computer, the system comprising:
a computer having a pre-boot executable image comprising a plurality of executable modules including:
an interface module configured to prompt the user with at least one disposal option,
an archive module configured to store user data contained on a local persistent storage medium to a remote location, and
a disposal module configured to securely erase a local persistent storage medium;
an archive server configured to archive the user data; and
a remote install server configured to provide an install image to the computer.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein at least one module of the plurality of executable modules resides within a pre-boot region.
25. The system of claim 23 , wherein at least one module of the plurality of executable modules resides within a bootable ROM.
26. A software medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations to dispose of a computer, the operations comprising:
operations for executing a pre-boot image configured to prompt the user with at least one disposal option;
operations for storing user data contained on a local persistent storage medium to a remote location during a pre-boot phase while executing the pre-boot image; and
operations for securely erasing the local persistent storage medium.