Since this is the #1 back up question forum now, I turn to you!

[ratchet]

The answer to my first question may render the rest of my questions moot, however, let me start. A few months ago I purchased Ghost 10 on ebay for $27. I know Norton gets ripped pretty hard but I really like it and the price was great. The interface is easy (even for me) to follow and the owners manual, although huge, is very easy to understand. I even received an answer from support in less than an hour when I asked if I needed to remove the Maxtor software before using the Ghost software to back up to the Maxtor Mini OneTouch. Anyway, according to the owners manual, I can boot with the Ghost CD, so do I need any other backup media?
My XP reinstall disc is SPI. I see there are applications that can slip stream all the current HF onto the SP2 discs, so my next question is can the SPI disk be upgraded (slip streamed) with the SP2 files? A friend did reformat for me in the fall with the SPI disc without any problems but then I had to download SP2 plus all the HF.
I got a new PC at work this past fall and have the XP Pro CD. Can I make an image of that onto my HD and then burn the image to a CD or is that what pirating is?
Last, could I just reformat with the work CD if I had to? Thank You!

[bigc73542]

I use Ghost and all I have ever used is the ghost bootable install disc. It has never failed me.

[Brian K]

-{ Quote: "Anyway, according to the owners manual, I can boot with the Ghost CD, so do I need any other backup media?
" }-
ratchet,

Can you boot to the Ghost 10 Recovery Environment? If so, you can restore Ghost 10 images.

-{ Quote: "can the SPI disk be upgraded (slip streamed) with the SP2 files? " }-
Easily.




Have you installed the SP2 update on your computer?

[ratchet]

"Have you installed the SP2 update on your computer?"
Thank you both for replies. Yes my PC is all up to date and works fine. I just want to be prepared for worst case, just not sure of the best approach but it sounds like I'm set with Ghost.

[greencoconut]

hello, check out msfn.org for instructions on slipstreaming sp2 into your xp install disc. theres a couple of tools, like nLite and ryanvm's tool that can automate the process, and even include all windows updates after sp2 into the disc as well.

[pugmug]

You can make a copy for personal use and be legit.This makes it very fast and easy to slipstream. http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.shtml

[HAN]

pugmug's link looks like an excellent one to learn how to use AutoStreamer. I used AutoStreamer last year to blend my original XP SP1 disk with SP2 and it went smooth as silk.

[ratchet]

Thank you all for the great info!

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
You don't need special programs to slipstream. You can do it yourself...
A few simple commands.
Mrk

[pugmug]

Walk us threw it Mrk.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,

'Ere we go (includes bootable CDs, how to make BartPE / UBCD4WIN boot from USB and more...):

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/livecd.html

And more importantly (slipstreaming):

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

Mrk

[pugmug]

What you state is true about no programs needed but you call it simple?I think not for 90% of computers users.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,

No different than baking a cake - a few lines of recipe.

Copy Windows CD.
Download SP2.
Extract SP2.
Patch the SP2 onto XP files.
Extract boot information.
Burn bootable CD.

You learn to use command line.
You learn to play with files and such.
You control the product fully.
You get what you want.

Mrk