AUTOMATIC SYSTEM CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

An automatic configuration system automatically analyzes a user's computer system configuration and recommends a more optimal configuration of components. The system determines the hardware and software components currently contained in the user's computer including versions of hardware and software components. The system uses a knowledge base of previously identified problems to determine an overall problem index value for the user's particular configuration. Generally, the overall problem index value is generally indicative of the quantity and/or severity of the problems associated with the user's computer. The automatic configuration system then varies the configuration (e.g., the versions of software) and determines a new overall problem index value for each variation. The system selects the configuration with the lowest overall problem index value, which generally will have the fewest and/or less severe problems and recommends that configuration to the user.