1. A method for installing a first operating system, including a first hardware abstraction layer and other operating system functions, into a client computer; said method comprising the steps of: loading an image of said other operating system functions and a second hardware abstraction layer into said client computer, wherein said second hardware abstraction layer is functionally interrelated with said second hardware abstraction layer in said image; automatically detecting that said second hardware abstraction layer loaded into said client computer is incompatible with said client computer, and in response, automatically replacing said second hardware abstraction layer with said first hardware abstraction layer in said client computer; and subsequently, booting up said first operating system including said first hardware abstraction layer and said other operating systems functions in said client computer.