Ghost 2003 OEM version for Dummies

[Steve P]

The OEM version of Norton's Ghost 2003 came with my motherboard. I had a
pretty good time trying to make it work with Windows XP so I thought I'd
post my adventures to help some other poor soul.

I first read the instructions that came on my CD. Although informative, they
didn't explain how to use the product. I went ahead and copied the ghost.exe
file onto my hard drive. When I tried to run it, I saw txt file and read it.
It said I could only access Ghost from DOS. Fine. I opened a DOS and tried
to run it from there. Still no luck. I then created a system disk (which in
Windows XP is based on Windows ME) and booted from that. Now I couldn't see
NTFS partitions and of course, Ghost was on that drive.

I then turned to the web for help. One user stated 'typing Ghost /?' would
initiate a pretty good help system. It did. But of course it didn't explain
how to see NTFS partitions. I then went to Norton's web site. I found a page
there that said the OEM was responsible for support of Norton OEM products.
I checked the motherboard web site, but no mention of Ghost in the FAQ list.
At Norton's site, I downloaded the full users' manual for Ghost anyway.
Several references to a Ghost Boot Disk Wizard, but my version didn't come
with that. I also found a post from someone saying to copy Ghost to a system
disk, reboot, and run it. It didn't say how it would be able to see the NTFS
partition.

Finally out of frustration I decided to try copying the program the system
disk, reboot, and start the program. Amazingly enough, it saw all the
partitions and the 'ghosting' process was straightforward from there.

 

[Hank]

The OEM version of Norton's Ghost 2003 came with my motherboard. I had a
pretty good time trying to make it work with Windows XP so I thought I'd
post my adventures to help some other poor soul.

I first read the instructions that came on my CD. Although informative, they
didn't explain how to use the product. I went ahead and copied the ghost.exe
file onto my hard drive. When I tried to run it, I saw txt file and read it.
It said I could only access Ghost from DOS. Fine. I opened a DOS and tried
to run it from there. Still no luck. I then created a system disk (which in
Windows XP is based on Windows ME) and booted from that. Now I couldn't see
NTFS partitions and of course, Ghost was on that drive.

I then turned to the web for help. One user stated 'typing Ghost /?' would
initiate a pretty good help system. It did. But of course it didn't explain
how to see NTFS partitions. I then went to Norton's web site. I found a page
there that said the OEM was responsible for support of Norton OEM products.
I checked the motherboard web site, but no mention of Ghost in the FAQ list.
At Norton's site, I downloaded the full users' manual for Ghost anyway.
Several references to a Ghost Boot Disk Wizard, but my version didn't come
with that. I also found a post from someone saying to copy Ghost to a system
disk, reboot, and run it. It didn't say how it would be able to see the NTFS
partition.

Finally out of frustration I decided to try copying the program the system
disk, reboot, and start the program. Amazingly enough, it saw all the
partitions and the 'ghosting' process was straightforward from there.

It's bone head simple. Start ghost in windows pick the source and
destination and then hit next. It reboots into dos mode and all you have to
do is wait. Couldn't be easier.

Hank

 

[philo]

It's bone head simple. Start ghost in windows pick the source and
destination and then hit next. It reboots into dos mode and all you have to
do is wait. Couldn't be easier.

i think not

there is *no* dos access to an NTFS file system

the bootdisk method is the way to go

 

[Hank]

i think not

there is *no* dos access to an NTFS file system

the bootdisk method is the way to go

Let me see if I understand what your saying. To use Ghost to backup or clone
partitions on a NTFS system you first have to create a boot disk and then
boot from that before the program will work properly?

Hank

 

[John E. Carty]

Let me see if I understand what your saying. To use Ghost to backup or clone
partitions on a NTFS system you first have to create a boot disk and then
boot from that before the program will work properly?

Hank

Exactly, you load Ghost from your boot disk and it will then recognize the
NTFS partitions so that you may either create or restore images from them

 

[Hank]

Exactly, you load Ghost from your boot disk and it will then recognize the
NTFS partitions so that you may either create or restore images from them

So what you guys are saying is that when I run Norton Ghost from my NTFS
harddrive to back it up and when it automaticaly reboots into PC DOS and
performs such tasks it's really just my imagination?

Hank

 

[Will Dormann]

So what you guys are saying is that when I run Norton Ghost from my NTFS
harddrive to back it up and when it automaticaly reboots into PC DOS and
performs such tasks it's really just my imagination?

It sure seems like that's what they're saying. And they're mistaken if
that's the case.


-WD

 

[John E. Carty]

It sure seems like that's what they're saying. And they're mistaken if
that's the case.


-WD

I personally only utilize the ghost2k3.exe and use a boot disk. If you ever
need to reload your backup file and Windows won't boot then you will also
need to run Ghost using a boot disk

 

[John E. Carty]

So what you guys are saying is that when I run Norton Ghost from my NTFS
harddrive to back it up and when it automaticaly reboots into PC DOS and
performs such tasks it's really just my imagination?

Hank

Actually, this is my ignorance stemming from my lack of utilizing all the
Ghost suite has to offer. I've always just used the executable on a boot
disk (though I have used Ghost for many years over several versions) and
never even messed with the rest of its capabilities, as I never really
needed felt I needed them

 

[Bill Turner]

I've always just used the executable on a boot
disk

_________________________________________________________

If you want your boot disk to boot faster, use a CD instead of a floppy.
You'll have to create your own using Nero or some such, but the speed up
is amazing. A floppy takes seemingly forever to load (ghost.exe is a
large program) but the CD boots in a few seconds. Works like a charm.

 

[John E. Carty]

_________________________________________________________

If you want your boot disk to boot faster, use a CD instead of a floppy.
You'll have to create your own using Nero or some such, but the speed up
is amazing. A floppy takes seemingly forever to load (ghost.exe is a
large program) but the CD boots in a few seconds. Works like a charm.

Sounds like a plan to me. I've been meaning to put this along with some
other DOS based diagnostics on a CD just to trim the fat from all these old
floppies

 

[Taishi]

Sounds like a plan to me. I've been meaning to put this along with some
other DOS based diagnostics on a CD just to trim the fat from all these old
floppies

The partition and the Disk confuses me when you back it up.

Does it matter which one is chosen if you wanted to restore your programs
and files?

Are both the partition and disk doing the same image?

Is the partition ONLY doing your partition settings--no data/programs?

Thanks..

 

[Bill Turner]

The partition and the Disk confuses me when you back it up.

Does it matter which one is chosen if you wanted to restore your programs
and files?

Are both the partition and disk doing the same image?

Is the partition ONLY doing your partition settings--no data/programs?

Thanks..

_________________________________________________________

Someone else may be better able to explain this than me, but here goes.

I run WinXP home. Backing up either the whole disk or just a partition
does capture all the files, but if you do a partition only and later
restore it, your computer may not boot up. The reason is that the
Master Boot Record may not be included in the partition, so even though
you have all the correct files, no boot. This happened to me a couple
of times till I figured out what was happening, so now I only backup the
whole disk. A coward's way out, but it works every time.

There is a way to repair the MBR using fdisk and also by doing a
"repair" install of XP. If you're going to do a partition only,
experiment with restoring before you *really* need it.

 

[John E. Carty]

_________________________________________________________

Someone else may be better able to explain this than me, but here goes.

I run WinXP home. Backing up either the whole disk or just a partition
does capture all the files, but if you do a partition only and later
restore it, your computer may not boot up. The reason is that the
Master Boot Record may not be included in the partition, so even though
you have all the correct files, no boot. This happened to me a couple
of times till I figured out what was happening, so now I only backup the
whole disk. A coward's way out, but it works every time.

There is a way to repair the MBR using fdisk and also by doing a
"repair" install of XP. If you're going to do a partition only,
experiment with restoring before you *really* need it.

I run a dozen machines and backup the partition to image (C drive) only on
all of them. Never had a problem after performing a restore operation, as
Ghost copies bit-for-bit the entire partition

 

[Will Dormann]

I run a dozen machines and backup the partition to image (C drive) only on
all of them. Never had a problem after performing a restore operation, as
Ghost copies bit-for-bit the entire partition

No it does not. At least not with the default flags.
Only if you use the "-ir" flag will you get a "bit-for-bit" copy.


-WD

 

[Bill Turner]

No it does not. At least not with the default flags.
Only if you use the "-ir" flag will you get a "bit-for-bit" copy.


-WD

_________________________________________________________

Perhaps with the command line version you have to use the -ir flag, but
I use the DOS GUI and it copies bit for bit without any special
instructions.

 

[Hank]

_________________________________________________________

Perhaps with the command line version you have to use the -ir flag, but
I use the DOS GUI and it copies bit for bit without any special
instructions.

And thats a fact Jack!!

Hank

 

[Ralph Wade Phillips]

Howdy!

The partition and the Disk confuses me when you back it up.

Does it matter which one is chosen if you wanted to restore your programs
and files?

Err - Yah.

Are both the partition and disk doing the same image?

Nope. Think of a book with one or more chapters.

Partition gets the chapter - disk gets ALL chapters, the table of
contents, and the covers.

Is the partition ONLY doing your partition settings--no data/programs?

Depends - but why would you have a partition to back up if you have
no data and/or programs on it? I mean, why back up an empty partition?

*looks confused*

RwP

 

[Ralph Wade Phillips]

Howdy!

_________________________________________________________

Perhaps with the command line version you have to use the -ir flag, but
I use the DOS GUI and it copies bit for bit without any special
instructions.

So - if you have a 10G partition, it copies 10G? Even if you've
only used 1G?

Think about "bit for bit" in relation to a whole partition.

And, yes, you DO have to specify the -IR flag to get all of it bit
for bit.

GHOST's default is actually not an image, but an intelligent file
copy.

RwP

 

[Bill Turner]

So - if you have a 10G partition, it copies 10G? Even if you've
only used 1G?

That depends on whether you choose disk-to-disk (yes) or disk-to-image
(no).

Think about "bit for bit" in relation to a whole partition.

I'm thinking.

And, yes, you DO have to specify the -IR flag to get all of it bit
for bit.

Perhaps you have a different version. I'm using Ghost 2003 and the DOS
GUI (which is the default) allows me to use the mouse to choose either
disk-to-disk or disk-to-image. If I choose disk-to-disk I get an exact
identical copy, including the MBR, all files and all blank areas, and I
have *never* used the -ir flag or any other flag. If I choose
disk-to-image I also get an exact copy, but in the form of a file image,
which omits any blank areas. Perhaps we're having a semantics
difference here. If you are using the word "image" in the sense of
"mirror image" then I understand where you're coming from.

I don't claim to be any great expert on this, so if I have erred, please
let me know where.

GHOST's default is actually not an image, but an intelligent file
copy.

Norton calls it an image and so do I. Can you explain how your
definition differs?