Granted Patent B1

US 8,732,690 · App. 13/283,298 · Granted May 20, 2014

Abstract

Claims (40)

1. A computing device configured for installing an application, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:

determine whether an application instruction length is one of a first instruction length and a second instruction length, wherein the first instruction length is shorter than the second instruction length;

run an application installer on the computing device in a first instruction length mode if the application instruction length is the first instruction length, and if the application instruction length is the second instruction length, then:

determine whether an operating system instruction length is one of the first instruction length and the second instruction length;

disable a compatibility module on the computing device if the operating system instruction length is the second instruction length; and

run the application installer on the computing device in a second instruction length mode;

wherein the application installer and the application instruction length are received from a second computing device.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first instruction length is 32 bits.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the second instruction length is 64 bits.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the compatibility module runs an application in the first instruction length mode in an operating system that operates in the second instruction length mode.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable to enable the compatibility module after the application installer has run in the second instruction length mode.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable to determine if the compatibility module has been disabled by another entity, and if the compatibility module has been disabled by another entity, then the compatibility module is not disabled and not enabled.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable to terminate and report an error when the application instruction length is the second instruction length and the operating system instruction length is the first instruction length.

8. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein disabling the compatibility module does not comprise accessing a registry.

9. A method for installing an application on a computing device, comprising:

reading instructions from a memory of a computing device, wherein the memory is in electronic communication with a processor;

executing the instructions to perform the following:

determining whether an application instruction length is one of a first instruction length and a second instruction length, wherein the first instruction length is shorter than the second instruction length;

running an application installer on the computing device in a first instruction length mode if the application instruction length is the first instruction length, and if the application instruction length is the second instruction length, then:

determining whether an operating system instruction length is one of the first instruction length and the second instruction length;

disabling a compatibility module on the computing device if the operating system instruction length is the second instruction length; and

running the application installer on the computing device in a second instruction length mode;

wherein the application installer and the application instruction length are received from a second computing device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first instruction length is 32 bits.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second instruction length is 64 bits.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the compatibility module runs an application in the first instruction length mode in an operating system that operates in the second instruction length mode.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises enabling the compatibility module after the application installer has run in the second instruction length mode.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises determining if the compatibility module has been disabled by another entity, and if the compatibility module has been disabled by another entity, then the compatibility module is not disabled and not enabled.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises terminating and reporting an error when the application instruction length is the second instruction length and the operating system instruction length is the first instruction length.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein disabling the compatibility module does not comprise accessing a registry.

17. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium for installing an application, comprising executable instructions for:

determining whether an application instruction length is one of a first instruction length and a second instruction length, wherein the first instruction length is shorter than the second instruction length;

running an application installer on a computing device in a first instruction length mode if the application instruction length is the first instruction length, and if the application instruction length is the second instruction length, then:

determining whether an operating system instruction length is one of the first instruction length and the second instruction length;

disabling a compatibility module on the computing device if the operating system instruction length is the second instruction length; and

running the application installer on the computing device in a second instruction length mode;

wherein the application installer and the application instruction length are received from a second computing device.

Assignments (29)