Methods and systems for managing data

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing an index database. In one exemplary method, an index database is stored on a machine readable volume with an operating system and the files which have been indexed, and then the volume is, after the storing, made available for distribution to licensees or customers. In this manner, the volume will include a previously created index database, allowing a user to begin use of the index database without having to perform an indexing operation.

1 . A method for handling data, the method comprising:
 establishing a connection with a server system;   receiving from the server system, by a data processing system for storage on a machine readable volume, at least a portion of an Operating System (OS) and files of different file types and an index created from the files.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the connection uses an Internet Protocol and is through at least one network, and wherein substantially all files are indexed into the index. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the index is searchable and the machine readable volume is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the machine readable volume and wherein the machine readable volume also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the files are not help files and are user accessible. 
   
   
       6 . A machine readable storage medium storing executable instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method for handling data, the method comprising:
 establishing a connection with a server system;   receiving from the server system, for storage on another machine readable storage volume, at least a portion of an Operating System (OS) and files of different file types and an index created from the files.   
   
   
       7 . The machine readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the connection uses an Internet Protocol and is through at least one network, and wherein substantially all files are indexed into the index. 
   
   
       8 . The machine readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the index is searchable and the another machine readable storage medium is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the another machine readable storage medium and wherein the another machine readable storage medium also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files. 
   
   
       9 . The machine readable storage medium of  claim 8  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type. 
   
   
       10 . The machine readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the files are not help files and are user accessible. 
   
   
       11 . A data processing system comprising:
 means for establishing, by a hardware device, a connection with a server system;   means for receiving from the server system, for storage on a machine readable volume, at least a portion of an Operating System (OS) and files of different file types and an index created from the files.   
   
   
       12 . The data processing system of  claim 11  wherein the connection uses an Internet Protocol and is through at least one network, and wherein substantially all files are indexed into the index. 
   
   
       13 . The data processing system of  claim 11  wherein the index is searchable and the machine readable volume is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the machine readable volume and wherein the machine readable volume also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files. 
   
   
       14 . The data processing system of  claim 13  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type. 
   
   
       15 . The data processing system of  claim 11  wherein the files are not help files and are user accessible. 
   
   
       16 . A method for handling data, the method comprising:
 establishing a connection with a licensee;   transmitting to the licensee, by a data processing system for storage on a machine readable volume, at least a portion of an Operating System (OS) and user related files and an index created from the files wherein substantially all user related files are indexed in the index.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the connection uses an Internet Protocol and is through at least one network. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the index is searchable and the machine readable volume is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the machine readable volume and wherein the machine readable volume also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the files are not help files and are user accessible. 
   
   
       21 . A machine readable storage medium storing executable instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method for handling data, the method comprising:
 establishing a connection with a licensee;   transmitting to the licensee, for storage on another machine readable storage volume, at least a portion of an Operating System (OS) and user related files and an index created from the files wherein substantially all user related files are indexed in the index.   
   
   
       22 . The machine readable storage medium of  claim 21  wherein the connection uses an Internet Protocol and is through at least one network. 
   
   
       23 . The machine readable storage medium of  claim 21  wherein the index is searchable and the another machine readable storage medium is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the another machine readable storage medium and wherein the another machine readable storage medium also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files. 
   
   
       24 . The machine readable storage medium of  claim 23  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type. 
   
   
       25 . The machine readable storage medium of  claim 21  wherein the files are not help files and are user accessible. 
   
   
       26 . A data processing system comprising:
 means for establishing, by a hardware device, a connection with a licensee;   means for transmitting to the licensee, for storage on machine readable volume, at least a portion of an Operating System (OS) and user related files and an index created from the files wherein substantially all user related files are indexed in the index.   
   
   
       27 . The data processing system of  claim 26  wherein the connection uses an Internet Protocol and is through at least one network. 
   
   
       28 . The data processing system of  claim 26  wherein the index is searchable and the machine readable volume is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the machine readable volume and wherein the machine readable volume also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files. 
   
   
       29 . The data processing system of  claim 28  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type. 
   
   
       30 . The data processing system of  claim 26  wherein the files are not help files and are user accessible.