Method of and apparatus for duplicating, upgrading and configuring hard disk drives

• US 6,179,492 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Computer Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Computer Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Guy, Gideon, Fugazzi, Terence
• Primary Examiner(s): Lane, Jack A.
• Application Number:
  US09/097,558
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 395/712
• US Class Current: 717/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1446 Point-in-time backing up or restoration of persistent data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for utilizing a computer software program to implement a process of performing optional file operations to a data storage media. The method comprises the steps of: (1) selecting user files to be saved; (2) storing the selected user files; (3) performing optional file operations to the data storage media; and (4) restoring the stored selected user files back to the data storage media. This provides a fast, easy and convenient way to perform said optional data operation to any data storage media while preventing user selected files from being altered during the operation.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a computer software program to implement a process of duplicating complete hard disk drive contents to a multiplicity of workstation hard disk drives over a network, comprising the steps of:

a. creating a collection of upgrade hard disk drive contents on a single personal computer;

b. creating a system overriding file containing system overriding settings;

c. saving an image of said collection of upgrade hard disk drive contents on a network server;

d. selecting user files to be saved;

e. generating a configuration file containing classifications and definitions of said system overriding file and said selected user files;

f. storing said selected user files;

g. duplicating said image of said collection of upgrade hard disk drive contents from said network server to said multiplicity of hard disk drives over said network; and

h. restoring said stored selected user files back to said multiplicity of hard disk drives;

i. whereby said method provides a fast, easy and convenient way to upgrade said multiplicity of hard disk drives while saving said selected user files from being altered during said duplication process.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their association with an application.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their file name extensions.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their directory location.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files on a network storage media.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files on a local storage media.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files in an existing hidden partition in said multiplicity of workstation hard disk drives.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of creating a hidden partition on said multiplicity of workstation hard disk drives for storing said selected user files in said hidden partition.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of compressing said selected user files into a compressed file.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of duplicating includes the sub-step of copying said system overriding file onto said multiplicity of hard disk drives.

11. A method of utilizing a computer software program to implement a process of performing optional file operations on a hard disk drive, comprising the steps of:

a. creating a system overriding file;

b. selecting user files to be saved;

c. generating a configuration file containing classifications and definitions of said system overriding file and said selected user files;

d. storing said selected user files;

e. duplicating an image of a collection of hard disk contents to said hard disk drive; and

f. restoring said stored selected user files back to said hard disk drive;

g. whereby said method provides a fast, easy and convenient way to perform said optional file operations on said hard disk drive while preventing said selected user files from being altered during said process of performing optional file operations.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their association with an application.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their file name extensions.

14. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their directory location.

15. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files on a network storage media.

16. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files on a local storage media.

17. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files in an existing hidden partition in said hard disk drive.

18. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of creating a hidden partition on said hard disk drive for storing said selected user files in said hidden partition.

19. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of compressing said selected user files into a compressed file.

20. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step of duplicating includes the sub-step of copying said system overriding files onto said hard disk drive.

21. A method of utilizing a computer software program to implement a process of performing optional file operations to a data storage media, comprising the steps of:

a. selecting user files to be saved;

b. generating a configuration file containing classifications and definitions of shad selected user files;

c. storing said selected user files;

d. performing said optional file operations to said data storage media; and

f. restoring said stored selected user files back to said data storage media;

g. whereby said method provides a fast, easy and convenient way to perform said optional file operations on said data storage media while preventing said selected user files from being altered during said process of performing optional file operations.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their association with an application.

23. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their file name extensions.

24. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of selecting user files to be saved includes the sub-step of selecting user files based on their directory location.

25. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files on a network storage media.

26. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files on a local storage media.

27. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of storing said selected user files in an existing hidden portion in said data storage media.

28. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of creating a hidden portion on said data storage media for storing said selected user files in said hidden portion.

29. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of storing said selected user files includes the sub-step of compressing said selected user files into a compressed file.

30. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said step of duplicating includes the sub-step of copying a system overriding file onto said data storage media.