1. A method of detecting the validity of configuration data for a computer system, the method comprising: detecting a layout of present configuration data, the present configuration data being stored in a memory device in the computer system; detecting a layout of updated configuration data, the updated configuration data being contained within program code comprising an updated configuration for the computer system; comparing the layout of the present configuration data to the layout of the updated configuration data; if the layout of the present configuration data matches the layout of the updated configuration data, then determining that the present configuration data is valid; and if the layout of the present configuration data does not match the layout of the updated configuration data, then determining that the present configuration data is invalid.