1. A method for managing a target computing device, comprising: loading, over a communication network from a remote location, a service operating system into non-persistent memory of the target computing device having a persistent memory that is devoid of the service operating system and is devoid of a functional operating system, the service operating system including a global shell agent embedded therein; and executing the global shell agent thereby configuring the target computing device for remote management within an interactive command shell function before loading an operating system into persistent memory of the target computing device, wherein the global shell agent is operable to examine and modify filesystems on the target computing device, and wherein the global shell agent is operable to refrain from periodically collecting and registering an inventory of installed patches until after the functional operating system is stored in persistent memory of the target computing device.