System and method for updating partition mappings to logical drives in a computer memory device
First Claim
1. A computer comprising:
- at least one processor for running software including operating code;
at least one storage device accessible by the processor, the storage device having at least one partition;
the operating code including a partition table for mapping a logical reference value to a first partition of the at least one partition; and
a routine for dynamically modifying the logical reference value to the first partition by altering the partition table, wherein altering the partition table includes updating a partition mapping to a logical drive using a BIOS Parameter Block data retrieved from a boot record of the first partition, wherein further the operating system logical reference value is modified for the first partition by using the BIOS Parameter Block data of the first partition to update an operating system Drive Parameter Block and by using the BIOS Parameter Block data to update a Drive Data Table;
wherein after the routine alters the partition table, the processor may continue running the operating code without requiring the computer to reboot and when the operating code uses the logical reference to the storage device, the operating code correctly maps to the first partition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for changing partition mappings to logical drives in a memory device of a computer. The computer includes a processor for running operating system code and a hard drive. The hard drive, which can be accessed by the processor, includes at least one partition. When the computer boots up, a logical reference value in the operating system code points to the partition. After the partition has been initialized or modified, a reference-updating routine is run for dynamically updating the logical reference value to correctly map to the partition. The reference-updating routine first locates and flushes any caches in the computer and closes any open files accessible by the operating system code. The routine then loads a boot record for the partition and retrieves specific data therefrom. With the retrieved data, the routine updates the logical reference value. Therefore, after the reference-updating routine has performed the updating, the processor may continue running the operating code without requiring the computer to reboot.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A computer comprising:
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at least one processor for running software including operating code; at least one storage device accessible by the processor, the storage device having at least one partition; the operating code including a partition table for mapping a logical reference value to a first partition of the at least one partition; and a routine for dynamically modifying the logical reference value to the first partition by altering the partition table, wherein altering the partition table includes updating a partition mapping to a logical drive using a BIOS Parameter Block data retrieved from a boot record of the first partition, wherein further the operating system logical reference value is modified for the first partition by using the BIOS Parameter Block data of the first partition to update an operating system Drive Parameter Block and by using the BIOS Parameter Block data to update a Drive Data Table; wherein after the routine alters the partition table, the processor may continue running the operating code without requiring the computer to reboot and when the operating code uses the logical reference to the storage device, the operating code correctly maps to the first partition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for allowing a computer operating system to dynamically reference a recently modified partition of a storage device, the method comprising the steps of:
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locating and flushing any caches for the modified partition accessible by the computer operating system; locating and closing any open files accessible by the computer operating system; loading a boot record for the modified partition and retrieving a BIOS Parameter Block therefrom; and modifying a logical reference value used by the computer operating system with information retrieved from the BIOS Parameter Block, accordingly updating a partition mapping to a logical drive using BIOS Parameter Block data retrieved from the boot record of the modified partition, wherein the operating system logical reference value is modified for the modified partition by using the BIOS Parameter Block data of the modified partition to update an operating system Drive Parameter Block and by using the BIOS Parameter Block data to update a Drive Data Table. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A system for allowing a computer operating system to dynamically reference a modified partition of a storage device, the system comprising:
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means for locating and flushing any caches for the modified partition accessible by the computer operating system; means for locating and closing any open files accessible by the computer operating system; means for loading a boot record for the modified partition and retrieving a BIOS Parameter Block therefrom; and means for modifying a logical reference value used by the computer operating system with information retrieved from the BIOS Parameter Block, accordingly for updating a partition mapping to a logical drive using BIOS Parameter Block data retrieved from the boot record of the modified partition, wherein the operating system logical reference value is modified for the modified partition by using the BIOS Parameter Block data of the modified partition to update an operating system Drive Parameter Block and by using the BIOS Parameter Block data to update a Drive Data Table. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification