1. In a computing environment, a computer-implemented method for evaluating the effects of a volume revert without actually performing a volume revert operation, the method comprising:
receiving a request to preview a volume revert operation that corresponds to reverting from a current state of a storage volume to an earlier state of the storage volume;
changing to a revert preview mode in response to the request, including separately maintaining write data corresponding to write requests, and handling read requests by accessing the write data for data that has been written or accessing shadow copy data corresponding to the earlier state of the storage volume for data that has not been written;
storing at least some of the write data corresponding to write requests, such that upon exiting the revert preview mode, the write data is configured to replace the current state storage volume data corresponding to the write data; and
overwriting at least a portion of current state storage volume data with write data corresponding to at least one of the write requests received during the revert preview mode.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining the write data comprises writing data to free storage and maintaining pointers to that write data.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein changing to the revert preview mode further includes providing a visual indication to indicate that the revert preview mode is active.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, exiting the revert preview mode.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising cleaning up from the revert preview mode, including discarding the separately maintained write data.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein changing to the revert preview mode further includes providing a visual indication to indicate that the revert preview mode is active, and wherein exiting the revert preview mode includes modifying the visual indication to indicate that the revert preview mode is not active.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage volume comprises a boot volume of a computer system in the computing environment, and further comprising, identifying a set of at least one file that is needed for changing to an earlier state of the storage volume such that the set will be loaded upon reboot, and rebooting the computer system.
8. At least one recordable-type computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform the method of claim 1.
9. In a computing environment including a storage volume, a system for evaluating the effects of a volume revert without actually performing a volume revert operation, the system comprising:
a redirector component that can recreate a state of the storage volume at a particular earlier instance of a set of one or more earlier instances;
a revert preview mechanism that operates during a revert preview mode to preview a revert operation, including working with the redirector copy component to recreate a state of the storage volume at a particular earlier instance including separately maintaining write data corresponding to write requests, and handling read requests by accessing the write data for data that has been written or accessing shadow copy data corresponding to the earlier state of the storage volume for data that has not been written;
a storing mechanism configured to store at least some of the write data corresponding to write requests, such that upon exiting the revert preview mode, the write data is configured to replace the current state storage volume data corresponding to the write data; and
an overwriting mechanism configured to overwrite at least a portion of current state storage volume data with write data corresponding to at least one of the write requests received during the revert preview mode.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the redirector component and the revert preview mechanism are incorporated into a driver.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the driver is loaded to intercept communications between the file system and the storage volume.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein the revert preview mechanism maintains the updated data by maintaining a table of pointers to the updated data.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein the storage volume comprises a boot volume.
14. At least one recordable-type computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising:
receiving a request to preview a volume revert operation that corresponds to reverting from a current state of a storage volume to an earlier state of the storage volume;
changing to a revert preview mode in response to the request, including separately maintaining write data corresponding to write requests, and handling read requests by accessing the write data for data that has been written or accessing shadow copy data corresponding to the earlier state of the storage volume for data that has not been written;
storing at least some of the write data corresponding to write requests, such that upon exiting the revert preview mode, the write data is configured to replace the current state storage volume data corresponding to the write data; and
overwriting at least a portion of current state storage volume data with write data corresponding to at least one of the write requests received during the revert preview mode.
15. The recordable-type computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein separately maintaining the updated data comprises writing data to free storage and maintaining pointers to that write data.
16. The recordable-type computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising discarding the separately maintained updated data upon providing access to data corresponding to another state of a storage volume.
17. The recordable-type computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising saving at least some of the updated data upon providing access to data corresponding to another state of a storage volume.
18. The recordable-type computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising, identifying a set of at least one file that is needed for providing access to data corresponding to an earlier state of a storage volume, such that the set will be loaded upon reboot, and rebooting the computer system.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A device for incubating a slide containing an array of biological materials, comprising:
a first slide having an array of biological materials comprising microdots deposited thereon;
a fluid containing a substance capable of reacting with at least one of said microdots introduced to said array;
a second slide for covering at least a section of said first slide which contains said array;
and means for moving said fluid over said first slide such that said fluid is moved relative to said first slide in order to incubate said first slide.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for introducing said fluid to said first slide.
3. The device of claim 2, further comprising means for removing said fluid from said first slide.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein said fluid introduction means and said fluid removing means each comprise a syringe pump.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said first slide has a rectangular shape.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said second slide has a circular shape.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid moving means comprises rotating said second slide and moving said second slide along said first slide through the portion of said first slide which contains said array.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein said first slide has a circular shape.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein said array is positioned on said first slide in a toroidal shape.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein said second slide has a toroidal shape corresponding to the arrangement of said array on said first slide.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein said fluid moving means comprises rotating said second slide on said first slide.
12. The device of claim 1, further comprising an external enclosure surrounding said first slide, said fluid, and said second slide in order to inhibit evaporation.
13. The device of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure, adjacent said first slide, for containing said fluid over said array and partially filled by said fluid such that an air bubble is formed within said enclosure.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein said fluid moving means causes said air bubble within said enclosure to move back and forth within said enclosure.
15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a second immiscible fluid within said enclosure, said second fluid containing magnetic particles.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein said fluid moving means comprises a magnetic field.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid contains magnetic particles and said fluid moving means comprises a magnetic field.
18. A method for incubating a slide containing an array of biological materials, comprising the steps of:
selecting a first slide having an array of biological materials comprising microdots deposited thereon;
introducing a fluid containing a substance capable of reacting with at least one of said microdots to said array on said first slide;
covering said array on said first slide with a second slide;
and rotating said second slide on said first slide to move said fluid over said array in order to incubate said first slide.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:
moving said rotating second slide back and forth along said first slide over said array.