How can you concatenate two huge files with very little spare disk space? [closed]

Answer 1

ok, for theoretical entertainment, and only if you promise not to waste your time actually doing it:

• files are stored on disk in pieces
• the pieces are linked in a chain

So you can concatenate the files by:

• linking the last piece of the first file to the first piece of the last file
• altering the directory entry for the first file to change the last piece and file size
• removing the directory entry for the last file
• cleaning up the first file's end-of-file marker, if any
• note that if the last segment of the first file is only partially filled, you will have to copy data "up" the segments of the last file to avoid having garbage in the middle of the file [thanks @Wedge!]

This would be optimally efficient: minimal alterations, minimal copying, no spare disk space required.

now go buy a usb drive ;-)