A boot image is the sequence of bits on the boot device that interface with computer hardware - usually includes operating system, utilities and diagnostics, boot and data recovery information. It also includes those "applications" used organization-wide. A specialized image for a particular type of user or department is called typically a departmental boot image. Building such an image can take days or weeks, and involve complex decisions about licensing and permissions - including which passwords to store in the boot image and which to require users to type in - and requires experts in software integration to do. A boot device makes a computer work. ...

However, once built, the boot image can be simply copied onto devices, patched within reasonable limits, and remains disposable in case of any problems (computer viruses in particular). This is possible because: In computer security technology, a virus is a self-replicating program that spreads by inserting copies of itself into other executable code or documents (for a complete definition: see below). ...

Unlike other hard drive images (which may contain any data at all), pure boot images contain no mission-critical data. By definition a pure boot image contains no data that cannot be reproduced from configurations or off-the-shelf executables. In particular end user data is not part of a boot image, although some operating systems require that a copy of user preferences or configuration files be kept within the boot image itself, e.g. Microsoft Windows registry. Utilities like Norton Ghost keep a backup copy of the boot image, for quick re-imaging (often called re-installation) in case of problems, to avoid diagnosing specific problems with the image itself." And so on. Microsoft Windows is a range of operating environments for personal computers and servers. ... In computing, the registry is the part of an operating system which records the relationship between hardware, memory space and addressing. ... Ghost is a disk cloning program, originally produced by Binary Research, but purchased by Symantec in 1998. ...

By keeping the boot image entirely separate and disposable, and mandating boot image control, organizations seek to keep their total cost of operations (including its total cost of ownership component) low. Often such organizations look at uptime as a service. A boot image control strategy is a common way to reduce total cost of operations in organizations with large numbers of similar computers being used by users with common needs, e. ... Total cost of ownership (TCO) is a type of calculation designed to help consumers and enterprise managers assess direct and indirect costs as well as benefits related to the purchase of computer software or hardware. ... In computing or telecommunications, uptime as a service expresses the idea that the uninterrupted operation of a system should be considered on a par with other intrinsic functions of the system. ...

One goal of boot image control is to minimize the number of boot images used by an organization to reduce support costs. It includes at least: A boot image control strategy is a common way to reduce total cost of operations in organizations with large numbers of similar computers being used by users with common needs, e. ...

• Specifying the machine hardware to minimize unneeded machine diversity and minimize the resultant number of boot images.
• Upgrading new machine specifications at low additional cost ensures that they will remain useful long past their normal life. Extending the life of desktop machines will reduce the incursion of off-spec machines later in the life-cycle, improving standardization, reducing support costs, minimizing e-waste.
• Organizing the network so that boot images can be efficiently supported, independent of data. Data must not be dependent on boot devices. Use networks to store data on secure servers.
• hardware acceptance testing on each new machine confirms that it is fit for use in a standardized boot image environment.
• boot image installation to ensure that only supportable standardized boot images are used
• troubleshooting and help desk functions employ standardized tests to identify the source of problems: boot, software, or hardware
• desktop system recovery tools and procedures for failed desktop units. These would use backup copies of a boot image created with utilities such as Norton Ghost. In a large organization with many compatible machines, rapid recovery by replacing with a backup boot image may only take a few minutes, with considerable cost savings.
• data backup and recovery procedures ensure data is stored in the right place so that it can be recovered promptly in crisis situations
• installing services for the disabled with a single boot image in a manner that is ubiquitous and cost effective, meeting the needs of all staff regardless of disability, with available technology services.
• telework and secure off-site system access procedures
• facilitating worker transfer by changing boots or authorizations instead of moving machines
• using thin clients for off-spec machines to eliminate the need for special boot images.

Many organizations use thin clients for applications which require high security, involve unreliable users or repurpose older machines for continued use: A boot device makes a computer work. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Ghost is a disk cloning program, originally produced by Binary Research, but purchased by Symantec in 1998. ... Services for the disabled are those government or other institutional services specifically provided to enable people who are disabled to participate on equal grounds in society. ... Telework (known in the USA as Telecommuting) (also e-work) is work performed from a distance, typically over a network such as the Internet, as opposed to work performed directly on site. ... A Thin client is a computer (client) in client-server architecture networks which has little or no application logic, so it has to depend primarily on the central server for processing activities. ...

A cascading strategy involves re-imaging older, off-spec machines to thin client boot images so that they may continue in use for some less demanding or more access-controlled applications.

This is one context in which Linux often replaces Microsoft Windows, as Linux will run fast on older machines with better computer security and technical support. Also almost any Linux boot image fits on a CD-ROM - while a current Windows XP boot image requires DVD-ROM. Tux, a cartoon penguin frequently featured sitting, is the official Linux mascot. ... Microsoft Windows is a range of operating environments for personal computers and servers. ... Computer security is the effort to create a secure computing platform, designed so that agents (users or programs) can only perform actions that have been allowed. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... DVD is an optical disc storage media format that is used for playback of movies with high video and sound quality and for storing data. ...