Patent ID: 6654851
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for accessing data on disk storage within a disk drive, said disk drive also including a controller, said method comprising the steps of:installing a first, removable disk storage in the disk drive, said first disk storage being capable of random access if formatted for random access and being capable of sequential access if formatted for sequential access, said first disk storage storing a first indication that said first disk storage has been formatted for random access; the storage controller reading said first indication in said first disk storage to learn that said first disk storage has been formatted for random access and subsequently randomly accessing said first disk storage; removing said first disk storage and installing in its place a second, removable disk storage, said second disk storage being capable of random access if formatted for random access and being capable of sequential access if formatted for sequential access, said second disk storage storing a second indication that said second disk storage has been formatted for sequential access; said storage controller reading said second indication in said second disk storage to learn that said second disk storage has been formatted for sequential access and subsequently sequentially accessing said second disk storage.