Patent attributes
System, method and program for installing a first operating system, including a first hardware abstraction layer and other operating system functions, into a client computer. An image of the other operating system functions and a second hardware abstraction layer is loaded into the client computer. The second hardware abstraction layer is functionally interrelated with the second hardware abstraction layer in the image. There is automatic detection that the second hardware abstraction layer loaded into the client computer is incompatible with the client computer. In response, the second hardware abstraction layer with the first hardware abstraction layer is automatically replaced in the client computer. Subsequently, the first operating system including the first hardware abstraction layer and the other operating systems functions is booted up in the client computer. In one example, the operating system is Windows XP, the first hardware abstraction layer is adapted for an ACPI PIC type client computer, and the second hardware abstraction layer is adapted for an ACPI APIC type client computer.