Merging computer partitions
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating creation of a merged partition by combining at least two computer disk partitions, each partition having clusters, a cluster size, a partition type, a right edge, a left edge, system data, and user data, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a target partition;
selecting at least one secondary partition;
choosing a cluster size for the merged partition;
choosing a partition type for the merged partition;
obtaining a space within the target partition large enough to hold the system data for the selected partitions; and
combining target partition system data and secondary partition system data and storing the combined system data within the target partition to create merged partition system data which organizes user data originally found in the target partition and user data originally found in at least one secondary partition, wherein the target partition overlapped the at least one secondary partition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for merging computer disk partitions to reduce the number of partitions. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on FDISK, the invention does not destroy user data on the disk during or after the two or more partitions are merged. Two or more adjoining partitions may be combined. During a merging operation, partitions may have their clusters aligned or resized. The merging partitions may also have their partition type changed. During the merge at least one copy of all system and user data of all partitions is kept on a disk at all times, reducing the risk of data loss.
167 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating creation of a merged partition by combining at least two computer disk partitions, each partition having clusters, a cluster size, a partition type, a right edge, a left edge, system data, and user data, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a target partition;
selecting at least one secondary partition;
choosing a cluster size for the merged partition;
choosing a partition type for the merged partition;
obtaining a space within the target partition large enough to hold the system data for the selected partitions; and
combining target partition system data and secondary partition system data and storing the combined system data within the target partition to create merged partition system data which organizes user data originally found in the target partition and user data originally found in at least one secondary partition, wherein the target partition overlapped the at least one secondary partition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system, containing a target partition and at least one secondary partition, each partition having clusters, a cluster size, a partition type, a left edge and a right edge, and each partition comprising system data in a system data area and user data in a user data area, for producing a merged partition, the system comprising:
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a computer having a processor, a memory, and a storage medium divided into at least two partitions;
a selector, which selects a cluster size and a partition type for the merged partition;
an obtainer which obtains an area on the target partition large enough to contain the combined system data for the at least two partitions;
a combiner which combines the target system partition data and the secondary partition data and then stores the combined data on the target partition, thereby creating a target partition system area which corresponds to the target partition and the secondary partition(s); and
a completer which completes the merge of each secondary partition into the target partition to produce the merged partition, the system preserving all user data in the target partition and preserving all user data in each secondary partition, the system operating at least in part by performing at least one of;
combining the system data and then extending the target partition to overlap the secondary partition(s); and
extending the target partition to overlap the secondary partition(s) and then combining the system data. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. In a computer system containing a partitionable storage medium, the improvement comprising a means for merging two partitions without destroying user data except as requested by a user by performing at least one of:
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combining system data and then extending a target partition to overlap a secondary partition; and
extending a target partition to overlap a secondary partition and then combining system data. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A configured computer program storage medium which contains software to perform method steps for merging disk partitions, the method steps comprising:
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selecting a target partition;
selecting at least one secondary partition;
obtaining a space large enough to hold system data for the selected partitions;
combining target partition system data and secondary partition system data and then storing the combined data within the obtained space; and
completing the merger of each secondary partition into the target partition to produce the merged partition while extending the target partition over each secondary partition. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. A signal embodied in a computer system, the signal including first system data and first user data which were present in an unmodified first partition, a modified partition starting address and a modified partition ending address which delimit a modified first partition, and a second partition holding second system data and second user data, wherein the modified partition starting address and modified partition ending address delimit sectors containing the first system data, the first user data, the second system data, and the second user data, the signal being useful in merging partitions by extending a partition and then merging system data.
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49. A signal embodied in a computer system, the signal including first user data which was present in an unmodified first partition, second user data which was present in an unmodified second partition, and modified system data present in a modified first partition, the modified system data referring to both the first user data and the second user data, the signal being useful in merging partitions by merging system data and then extending a partition.
Specification