Abstract: The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\DISK\Information Windows NT registry key contains disk layout information, such as disk letter assignments. During repartitioning of a hard drive, this key needs to be modified to reflect the new partitions. In order to accomplish this, while in Win32 mode, the modified disk layout information is stored in a temporary registry key. Then, while in Windows NT boot mode, direct reads and writes are performed on the registry files (e.g., “system” and “system.alt”) that contain the “Information” registry key and the temporary registry key to replace the “Information” registry key with the temporary registry key.

Abstract: A Windows NT partitioning program partitions a storage device in Windows NT boot mode (i.e., after the Windows NT kernel loads device drivers and before the Session Manager loads the Windows NT user interface). In this mode, the partitioning program is capable of corrupting its own backing store—a Windows NT executable file stored on the storage device—through the partitioning process. Such corruption would generally lead to execution errors in the partitioning program when code or data from the corrupted executable file is paged into the program's in-memory executable image. To avoid such errors, the working set allocated to the executable image is expanded to accommodate all the pageable Windows NT program sections in the executable file. Each pageable program section is then locked into the executable image.

Abstract: The present invention provides tools and techniques for manipulating virtual partitions in a virtual engine environment without necessarily committing each partition manipulation by actually modifying on-disk system structures. A virtual engine, virtual partitions, virtual drives, and other structures in the virtual engine environment permit users to experiment with different partition manipulations in a safe and efficient manner. A batch manager manages a resulting list of partition manipulation operations, which may be optimized. The batch list may also be executed automatically by a conventional partition manipulation engine without requiring additional user input at the end of each list entry. The present invention also provides the ability to manipulate extended partitions automatically and provides support for remote partition manipulation through a two-part user interface architecture.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for copying, moving, and resizing disk partitions that contain advanced file systems. Unlike the conventional approach that relies on FDISK and FORMAT, the invention does not destroy user data by wiping the partition clean after data is copied to tape or other intermediate storage. Advanced file system features, including features such as relocatable file system structures, volume sets, suballocation, and database paradigm structures not found in many FAT file systems, are handled by the invention during "in place" partition manipulation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for implementing partition manipulation tools. One embodiment of a partition manipulation computer system implements an architecture that supports multiple file systems on a computer. The computer system includes a data replicator for replicating data from a selected partition to a modified partition in a partitionable storage medium. The data replicator has an initialization interface for interfacing to initialization modules in a format that is substantially independent of each file system used on the computer system. The initialization modules, which may be specific to one or more file systems, generate sector identifications. A verification interface and a completion interface are also provided, for interfacing with file-system-specific verification and completion modules.