Abstract: When recording data to optical media, data to be recorded is selected using a client application. An image mastering application programming interface is provided which is comprised of a collection of COM objects and integrated into the operating system. The plurality of COM objects includes a disc master, a file, a disc recorder, and a burn engine. The data selected for recording is sent through an application format interface to the file that is part of the image mastering application interface. The selected data in the file is recorded to optical media directly from Kernel Mode of the operating system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the recording of data to an optical media are provided. In one example, a method includes the selection of data to be recorded by a client application. After interface with an image mastering application programming interface, the selection of an optical media format, and the selection of an optical media recording device, the selected data is sent to a stash file. A task list of operations to be performed in the recording of the selected data is created, and the data is recorded by executing the task list from Kernel Mode of an operating system. In another example, an image mastering application programming interface is provided. The image mastering application programming interface is a collection of COM objects including a disk master, a stash file, a disk recorder, and a burn engine. In another example, a computer readable media having program instructions for the recording of data to an optical media is provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for backing up data from a storage device having one or more partitions. Each partition has a plurality of clusters that include one or more sectors capable of storing data to be backed up. A number of sectors are specified for a block such that a partition to be backed up is defined in terms of a plurality of the blocks. A block map is then generated to indicate whether each of the blocks in the partition contains any data to be backed up. The block map is then traversed and the blocks that are indicated in the block map to contain the data are backed up from the partition while the blocks having no data are not backed up.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for backing up image data from one or more partitions of a storage device onto one or more backup media. Each backup medium defines backup volume having a predetermined storage capacity with each partition having a plurality of sectors.