a method for upgrading an operating system on a computing system without system interruption begins by installing an upgraded os . a boot pointer is set to point to a memory location that points to the upgraded os . the computing system is booted into the upgraded os , and the upgraded os receives and processes commands . the boot pointer on the computing system &# 39 ; s disk is updated to point to the upgraded os if a user instructs the computing system to make the upgraded os permanent , whereby the os is upgraded without interrupting the computing system . the os may also be upgraded automatically , without instruction from the user , if predetermined criteria are satisfied .