Method and structure for diagnostically testing files in a computer
AssigneeLenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsJoseph W. Freeman, Steven D. Goodman, Randall S. Springfield
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Abstract
There are many files in the current generation of computers, especially on the hardfile, that are not used or used only infrequently during operation. For instance, the system may contain many help text files which may never be accessed. The same applies to the DLL's. Also, some files are accessed only during a boot cycle. The present invention provides a method and program to track the locations of files in a computer which have been accessed so that, when an error occurs, only the files that need to be tested are diagnostically tested for errors, thus saving time and resources.
Claims18
A method of diagnostic testing one or more individually addressable sectors from a group of sectors contained in a main storage device in a computer comprising the steps of:
- keeping a record of any sectors which have been addressed together with any errors found and deselecting only that sector where an error has been found with no substitution therefor;
- selecting the sector or sectors to be diagnostically tested from those sectors which have been addressed and are not deselected;
- performing the diagnostic testing only on the selected sector or sectors;
- and
- returning the test results.
Computer readable media having thereon a method of diagnostic testing one or more individually addressable sectors from a group of files contained in a main storage device in a computer comprising the steps of:
- keeping a record of any sectors which have been addressed together with any errors found and deselecting only that sector where an error has been found with no substitution therefor,
- selecting the sector or sectors to be diagnostically tested from those sectors which have been addressed and are not deselected;
- performing the diagnostic testing only on said selected sector or sectors;
- and
- returning the test results.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.