Method for accessing data storage locations having addresses within a hidden logical address range

A physical disk drive connectable to a host computer having an operating system which maintains a file system, comprising:

• means for reporting a user logical address range in relation to booting the host computer or configuring the operating system for maintaining the file system, and not reporting a hidden logical address range in relation to booting the host computer or configuring the operating system;
• means for creating a virtual disk drive, wherein the virtual disk drive has a virtual logical address range that is reported to the operating system for maintaining the file system;
• means for invoking a driver program for relating addresses of storage locations in the virtual logical address range with addresses for storage locations in the hidden logical address range, wherein the driver program is executed when the file system makes a disk request directed to accessing a file having an file address range associated with the virtual logical address range;
• means for remapping the disk request from the virtual logical address range to the hidden logical address range;
• and
• means for transmitting a command to the physical disk drive to access data in the hidden logical address range for responding to the disk request.

A computer system comprising:

• a host computer having an operating system which maintains a file system;
• and
• a physical disk drive, coupled to the host computer, having
• physical disk drive means for reporting a user logical address range in relation to booting the host computer or configuring the operating system for maintaining the file system, and not reporting a hidden logical address range in relation to booting the host computer or configuring the operating system;
• means for creating a virtual disk drive, wherein the virtual disk drive has a virtual logical address range that is reported to the operating system for maintaining the file system;
• means for invoking a driver program for relating addresses of storage locations in the virtual logical address range with addresses for storage locations in the hidden logical address range, wherein the driver program is executed when the file system makes a disk request directed to accessing a file having an file address range associated with the virtual logical address range;
• means for remapping the disk request from the virtual logical address range to the hidden logical address range;
• and
• means for transmitting a command to the physical disk drive to access data in the hidden logical address range for responding to the disk request.