Information processing apparatus and computer readable storage medium

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a volatile memory;

a BIOS-ROM configured to store a basic input/output system (BIOS) and an embedded operating system; and

an interface to which a nonvolatile memory is removably connectable,

wherein the embedded operating system is configured to cause the processor to execute:

a process for connecting the information processing apparatus to a server via a network; and

when the server sets a first operating system as an operating system in the information processing apparatus by switching from the embedded operating system, and the nonvolatile memory connected via the interface stores a second operating system used at previous startup of the information processing apparatus, transitioning to a process for loading the second operating system into the volatile memory and starting the second operating system,

wherein the second operating system is configured to cause the processor to execute while the second operating system operates:

a process for downloading the first operating system from the server; and

wherein the second operating system is further configured to cause the processor to execute while the second operating system operates:

when the server changes the operating system to be used in the information processing apparatus to a third operating system during a process of downloading the first operating system from the server,

interrupting the process for downloading the first operating system from the server,

transitioning to a process for downloading the third operating system from the server, and

transitioning to a process for storing the downloaded third operating system in the nonvolatile memory.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the embedded operating system is further configured to cause the processor to execute: when the server changes the operating system to be used in the information processing apparatus to a third operating system during a process of downloading the first operating system from the server, and the nonvolatile memory does not store the third operating system, a process for checking whether any other operating system different to the third operating system is being downloaded from the server.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the embedded operating system is further configured to cause the processor to execute: when the server sets the second operating system as the operating system in the information processing apparatus by switching from the embedded operating system, and the nonvolatile memory stores the second operating system, a process for loading the second operating system stored in the nonvolatile memory into the volatile memory and starting the second operating system,

and wherein the second operating system is configured to cause the processor to execute while the second operating system operates:

when the server changes the operating system in the information processing apparatus from the embedded operating system by switching from the second operating system to the first operating system, a process for downloading the first operating system from the server and storing the downloaded first operating system in the nonvolatile memory.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second operating system is further configured to cause the processor to execute while the second operating system operates:

when the server permits storing the first operating system in the nonvolatile memory, a process for downloading the first operating system from the server and storing the downloaded first operating system in the nonvolatile memory; and

when the server prohibits storing the first operating system in the nonvolatile memory, not transitioning to downloading the first operating system from the server.

5. A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a program which is executable by a computer, the program controlling the computer to execute:

a process for connecting the computer to a server via a network; and

when the server sets a first operating system as an operating system to be used in the computer by switching from an embedded operating system stored in a BIOS-ROM, and a nonvolatile memory connected to the computer via an interface stores not the first operating system but a second operating system used at previous startup of the computer, a process for loading the second operating system into a volatile memory and a process for starting the second operating system comprising instructions for downloading the first operating system from the server while the second operating system operates,

and the program further controlling the computer to execute under the second operating system;

when the server changes the operating system to be used in the information processing apparatus to a third operating system during a process of downloading the first operating system from the server, interrupting to download the first operating system from the server, transitioning to download the third operating system from the server, and transitioning to store the downloaded third operating system in the nonvolatile memory while the second operating system operates.

6. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the program controls the computer to further execute: when the server changes the operating system to be used in the information processing apparatus to a third operating system during a process of downloading the first operating system from the server, and the nonvolatile memory does not store the third operating system, a process for checking whether any other operating system different to the third operating system is being downloaded from the server.