Abstract: A method for finding application components installed on a computer system for use in a backup system associated with the computer system includes creating a linked list of application components installed on the computer system. The nested directories are then traced back to find a target directory for each application component in the linked list. Thereafter, a request to find a selected application is received from a calling module. The method may further include the operations of searching the linked list for a target directory for each component of the selected application, and making the target directory for each component of the selected application available to the calling module, preferably by returning the target directories to the calling module. A computer readable media for finding application components installed on a computer system for use in a backup system associated with the computer system also is described.

Abstract: A method for generating a database of data resident on a primary storage device of a computer system for use in a backup system associated with the computer system includes generating a database having information associated with data resident on the primary storage device of the computer system. A graphical user interface is then generated to display the information in the database. The displayed information is preferably configured to be selected by a user to define a backup set of data that is available to be copied from the primary storage device of the computer system to a secondary storage device connected to the computer system. The method may further include the operations of setting a flag to designate selected portions of the database, and writing the selected portions of the database to the primary storage device of the computer system.

Abstract: A method for managing a secondary storage device connected to a computer system having a primary storage device includes hooking a partition session selector device driver in a layered drive structure. An application programming interface call to obtain information related to storage devices connected to the computer system is then performed. The application programming interface call is trapped and the partition session selector device driver is communicated with directly via an interface call to manage a user accessible representation of the primary and secondary storage devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, a system, a computer readable media, and a method for protecting data of a computer system. The method includes: (a) connecting a peripheral storage device to the computer system; (b) preparing a storage media of the peripheral storage device to be a protection enabled media; (c) selecting a backup set of data stored in a hard drive of the computer system, the backup set of data includes a default set of boot files and operating system files; (d) creating a spare tire backup using file-based copying from the hard-drive of the computer system to the storage media of the peripheral storage device; (e) enabling the peripheral storage device to incrementally copy portions of the backup set of data from the hard drive of the computer system during normal use; and (f) booting the computer system from the peripheral storage device when a failure occurs with the hard drive that disables normal booting.

Abstract: A method for generating a footprint image file of a primary storage device connected to a computer system includes calling a footprint module having a set of methods that is configured to generate the footprint image file. The system registry of the computer system is then scanned to ascertain whether a controller is connected to the computer system. Next, the system registry, an application programming interface, and a partition session selector device driver are scanned to ascertain information related to storage devices connected to the controller. The system registry, the application programming interface, and the partition session selector device driver also are scanned to ascertain information related to logical partitions of the storage devices. Finally, a footprint image file containing information regarding the controller, the storage devices, and the logical partitions of the storage devices is generated.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for preparing a backup drive that is connected to a computer system having a primary hard drive is provided. The method includes generating a list of devices that are connected to the computer system. The list of devices includes at least the primary hard drive and a secondary drive. The method then advances to enable the selection of the secondary drive to be the backup drive of the computer system. The backup drive is then partitioned to match a partition arrangement of the primary hard drive of the computer system. Once partitioned, the method proceeds by fake formatting the partitions of the backup drive. The fake formatting is configured to only partially format the partitions of the backup drive. After fake formatting, the method moves to reboot the computer system from the primary hard drive. The partitions of the backup drive are then formatted implementing a complete formatting scheme. Once completely formatted, data from the primary drive is copied to the backup drive.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, a system, a computer readable media, and a method for protecting data of a computer system. The method includes: (a) connecting a peripheral storage device to the computer system; (b) preparing a storage media of the peripheral storage device to be a protection enabled media; (c) selecting a backup set of data stored in a hard drive of the computer system, the backup set of data includes a default set of boot files and operating system files; (d) creating a spare tire backup using file-based copying from the hard drive of the computer system to the storage media of the peripheral storage device; (e) enabling the peripheral storage device to incrementally copy portions of the backup set of data from the hard drive of the computer system during normal use; and (f) booting the computer system from the peripheral storage device when a failure occurs with the hard drive that disables normal booting.