Methods and devices for expandable storage

A storage device for enabling expansion of a storage capacity in the storage device, the device comprising:

• (a) a storage memory having at least one partition;
• and
• (b) a memory controller configured:
• (i) to designate a reserved-storage area and an enabled-storage area in said at least one partition;
• (ii) to store a partition size in a file allocation table (FAT) of said storage memory, wherein said partition size corresponds to a size of said enabled-storage area;
• (iii) to increase, upon authorization, said partition size to include sectors in said reserved-storage area, thereby enabling expansion of the storage capacity in the storage device,
• (iv) updating an enabled capacity stored in a memory-management area in said storage memory to include an increased partition size.

A business method for providing expandable storage capacity, the business method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a storage device including:
• (i) a storage memory having at least one partition;
• and
• (ii) a memory controller configured:
• (A) to designate a reserved-storage area and an enabled-storage area in said at least one partition;
• (B) to store a partition size in a file allocation table (FAT) of said storage memory, wherein said partition size corresponds to a size of said enabled-storage area;
• and
• (C) to increase, upon authorization, said partition size to include sectors in said reserved-storage area, thereby enabling expansion of a storage capacity in said storage device;
• (D) to update an enabled capacity stored in a memory-management area in said storage memory to include an increased partition size;
• and
• (b) offering said storage device for sale.