System and method for reading and writing disks formatted for an operating system foreign to the host computer

A file transfer method performed in a computer having an operating system, comprising the steps of:

• reading files from a first disk having a first file format using:
• a computer;
• means for reading the first disk;
• and a read process separate from and bypassing the operating system and the read process controlling a reading operation of the first disk by the means for reading and which bypasses the operating system;
• and
• writing the files to a second disk having a second file format using:
• the computer;
• means for writing the second disk and a write process separate from and bypassing the operating system and for transforming contents read from the first disk into the second file format and the write process controlling writing operations to the second disk by the means for writing and which bypasses the operating system and, further comprising asking a user to specify the first and second file formats and performing the transforming of the files from the first format to the second format responsive to the user specifying the first and second formats.

A file transfer method performed in a computer having an operating system, comprising the steps of:

• reading files from a first disk having a first file format using:
• a computer;
• means for reading the first disk;
• and a read process separate from and bypassing the operating system and the read process controlling a reading operation of the first disk by the means for reading and which read process bypasses the operating system;
• and
• writing the files to a second disk having a second file format using:
• the computer;
• means for writing the second disk and a write process separate from and bypassing the operating system and for transforming contents read from the first disk into the second file format and the write process controlling writing operations to the second disk by the means for writing and which write process bypasses the operating system, and
• wherein said reading step includes determining the first file format from contents of the first disk and said writing step includes determining the second file format from contents of the second disk and the reading and writing steps including the steps of reading and writing the files responsive to the determined first and second formats, respectively.

A file transfer method performed in a computer having an operating system, comprising the steps of:

• determining a first file format from contents of a first disk;
• determining a second file format from contents of a second disk;
• reading files from the first disk, the files having the first file format using the:
• computer;
• disk reading means for reading the first disk;
• and a read process separate from and bypassing the operating system and the read process controlling reading operations of the first disk by the disk reading means and which read process bypasses the operating system;
• storing first disk file contents of the files obtained during reading on a source file contents ring;
• storing first disk directory contents of the files obtained during reading on a source directory ring;
• creating a two-dimensional list from the directory contents having a first dimension coordinating a first directory structure of the first disk and having a second dimension coordinating a second directory structure of the second disk;
• storing second directory contents for the second file contents on a destination directory ring based on the second directory structure of the two dimensional list for maintaining correct directory order;
• transferring the contents of the source file contents ring to a destination file contents ring;
• creating headers for the files and directories for the second disk;
• writing the files from the destination field contents ring, directories from the destination directory ring and the headers to the second disk having the second file format using:
• the computer;
• disk writing means for writing the second disk;
• and a write process separate from and bypassing the operating system and the write process controlling writing operations to the second disk by the disk writing means which write process bypasses the operating system;
• and
• controlling access to the rings and the list.

A file display method using a computer having an operating system, comprising:

• reading a file having contents from a disk using a disk reading means having a read process separate from and via bypassing the operating system, with the file contents having a first file format with a first file format definition including a first directory structure and a first file structure;
• transforming, separate from and via bypassing the operating system, the file contents from the first file format to a second file format with a second file format definition including a second directory structure and a second file structure using the computer by maintaining a directory hierarchy of the first disk in the second format and converting record formats;
• and
• displaying the file contents having the second file format used by the computer using a display means for displaying.

A file format transform apparatus, comprising:

• a disk drive for accessing first and second disks;
• and
• a computer having an operating system, connected to said drive and comprising transform means, separate from and bypassing the operating system, for transforming files on the first disk from a first file format to a second file format by reading first disk contents, transforming from the first file format to the second file format and writing format transformed contents onto the second disk and said transform means comprising:
• means for determining, prior to the reading and during the transforming, the first file format from contents of the first disk;
• and
• means for determining, prior to the writing and during the transforming, the second file format from contents of the second disk.

A file format transform apparatus, comprising:

• a disk drive having a disk;
• and
• a computer having an operating system, connected to said disk drive and comprising transform means, separate from and bypassing the operating system, for transforming files on the disk from a first file format to a second file format by reading disk contents, transforming from the first file format to the second file format and writing format transformed contents onto the disk, and said transform means comprises:
• source file look-up means for determining the location of files on the first disk;
• source directory location means for determining the location of directories of the files on the first disk;
• source block reading means for reading blocks from the first disk and storing files of the blocks on the source data ring and directories of the files on a source directory ring;
• source directory search means for creating file and directory entries in a file description listing from the directories on the source directory ring;
• translate means for translating the files on the source data ring from the first file format into the second file format and storing the files on a destination data ring;
• destination directory location means for locating directories on a second disk;
• header build means for building headers for files and directories listed on the file description list;
• destination directory build means for building directories from the entries on the file description list and directories on the second disk and storing the directories on a destination directory out ring;
• destination block write means for writing files from the destination data ring, directories from the out ring and headers onto the second disk in the second file format;
• destination directory create means for creating directories on the second disk;
• buffer control means for controlling access to the list and rings;
• and
• process control means for controlling execution sequence of the above-listed means.

A file transfer system, comprising:

• file storage means for storing files;
• and
• a computer connected to said file storage means and transferring files within said storage means responsive to a two-dimensional file description list storing file and directory build order for the files of said file storage means and for maintaining correct directory order during the transferring, and said file storage means including a destination disk and said computer further including:
• a source data ring storing files during the transferring and listed in said list;
• a source directory ring storing directories during the transferring and listed in said list;
• and
• a directory out ring storing directories during the transferring and listed in said list and from the said destination disk.

A disk file transfer system, comprising:

• file storage means for storing files and comprising a source disk and a destination disk;
• and
• a computer connected to said file storage means and including:
• a two-dimensional file description list storing file and directory entries in source disk directory structure hierarchical order and destination disk directory build order during a transfer;
• a source data ring storing files listed in said list from the source disk during the transfer;
• a source directory ring storing directories listed in said list from the source disk during the transfer;
• a destination data out ring storing translated contents of said source data ring during the transfer;
• a directory out ring storing directories listed in said list and from a destination disk during the transfer;
• a source location window storing source disk location information for the files listed in said list during the transfer;
• a destination location window storing location information for the files listed in said list and files from the destination disk during the transfer;
• an allocation control list window storing indicators of allocated space on the destination disk during the transfer;
• and
• an index control list window storing indicators of indexes allocated on the destination disk during the transfer.