Patent ID: 7395453

Claim:
A software tool stored on a computer storage medium which splits a source image each having a plurality of files into two or more image pieces each having at least two of the plurality of files, each of the image pieces fitting onto a computer readable medium having an available storage capacity which is smaller than the size of the source image, said software tool comprising: a selecting tool responsive to user input for designating certain of the plurality of files of the source image to be included in a first image piece and for designating remaining files of the plurality of files of the source image to be included in a second image piece wherein the second image piece is independent from the first image piece so that each of the first and second image pieces is configured to be modified, updated, viewed, read or restored independently of the other image piece and without reassembly of the first and second image pieces; a splitting tool which groups the designated files into their corresponding image piece; and a chaining tool which labels each of the image pieces; wherein one or more of the image pieces includes a bootable combination of files and wherein the bootable combination of files are a unique portion of one of the image pieces so that the files do not take up duplicate space on the computer readable medium on which the image piece is stored.