A database is employed for the recording of assigned computer disk drive
letters, but database is distribute across multiple drives and media,
rather than centralizing the database as prior art systems have done.
Fragments of the database are stored within the unused portion of disk
space located after partition tables but before the beginning of a
partition, thereby forming one or more Shadow Partition Tables. In these
Shadow Partition Tables, the drive letter assignments or logical volume
assignments for the particular piece of media and partition are stored. A
method for automatically determining relationship between entries in the
normal partition tables and the Shadow Partition Tables is employed which
is compatible with industry standard disk format definitions, while
allowing enhanced drive letter assignment management especially useful for
removable disk media.
