Method and apparatus for storing compressed file data on a disk where each MDFAT data structure includes an extra byte

摘要

A method and apparatus for storing compressed file data stored on a disk. The method includes an improved format for the Compressed Volume File (CVF), and more specifically, 10 an improved format for the MDFAT data structure stored within the CVF. The improved format includes using an additional byte for maintaining each entry in the MDFAT data structure which increases the number of sectors within the Sector Heap that can be addressed and accessed. The improved format further allows compressed clusters to be stored in fragments in various portions of vacant storage space located throughout the Sector Heap. The new format for the MDFAT data structure includes a bit that identifies whether each cluster is being stored in fragments. The method stores the locations of each of the fragments in a Fragment Pointer List located in the first sector of the first fragment.