document updated 16 years ago, on Aug 26, 2008

API calls for exploring disks-as-whole-disks (not as disembodied partitions), particularly viewing/modifying the partition table and MBR.

CreateFile (see "Physical Disks and Volumes" heading)
DeviceIoControl. Control codes:
- IOCTL_DISK_GET_DRIVE_LAYOUT_EX — Retrieves extended information for each entry in the partition tables for a disk.
- IOCTL_DISK_SET_PARTITION_INFO_EX — Sets partition information for the specified disk partition