Norton Ghost 2003 - please help with confusion

[tamba1]

Hi have been setting up my Fatherinlaws refurb laptop and it came with Norton Ghost 2003..

My FIL was told by the PC Engineer it was VERY easy to use and would take a backup of the whole PC once he had the PC setup to how he wanted... with no probelms and very user friendly..and restring the backup woudl be a piece of cake too !

The PC is now setup and I am wanting to use this NG2003 to do the full backup.

Today I attched my seagate 320GB external HD to the laptop and was about to commence the backup process .. BUT NG told me to make a boot disk with a FLOPPY disk..

There is no floppy disk on this laptop ... as far as I could find out it seems that you can only test your backup image using the bootdisk ..? is this correct

I also read somewhere that if backing up to CD/DVD NG would automatically make the 1st disk a bootdisk but I am trying to backup to USB External Hard Drive - so I guess this is not gogin to be the case ...

Also I read somewhere that some people seem to have problems using a USB mouse with the NG 2003..and are often left with no mouse use ?

So if there is anyone out there who can help me gain a better understnading of this and how to do what I need to do I woudl be very greatful

Also any hints /tips on using NG2003 would be greatly appreciated too ...

Many Thanks
tamba1

[Peter2150]

Originally Posted by tamba1

Hi have been setting up my Fatherinlaws refurb laptop and it came with Norton Ghost 2003..

My FIL was told by the PC Engineer it was VERY easy to use and would take a backup of the whole PC once he had the PC setup to how he wanted... with no probelms and very user friendly..and restring the backup woudl be a piece of cake too !

The PC is now setup and I am wanting to use this NG2003 to do the full backup.

Today I attched my seagate 320GB external HD to the laptop and was about to commence the backup process .. BUT NG told me to make a boot disk with a FLOPPY disk..

There is no floppy disk on this laptop ... as far as I could find out it seems that you can only test your backup image using the bootdisk ..? is this correct

I also read somewhere that if backing up to CD/DVD NG would automatically make the 1st disk a bootdisk but I am trying to backup to USB External Hard Drive - so I guess this is not gogin to be the case ...

Also I read somewhere that some people seem to have problems using a USB mouse with the NG 2003..and are often left with no mouse use ?

So if there is anyone out there who can help me gain a better understnading of this and how to do what I need to do I woudl be very greatful

Also any hints /tips on using NG2003 would be greatly appreciated too ...

Many Thanks
tamba1

Hi Tamba1

I am not going to go off topic by suggesting another program, but Ghost 2003, is antiquated, and not the easiest to use. Also the restores are deathly slow.

You will probably not be able to make an external USB hard drive bootable with Ghost. Someone might know an easier way, but way back I did make a bootable CD to use in place of the floppy, but if I remember right, I had to first make the floppy.

Pete

[tamba1]

Hi Pete

Thanks for your reply - I have just seen it ..

Hmmmm I was wondering if someone might say that .... I too was unsure of the Ghost as it was 2003 .. BUT the Engineers convinced me / well tried to that this was the EASIEST, Simplest solution for my FIL...

THAT being said not only have I spent severala flippin HOURS today trying to get Ghost backup to work inlcuding speaking to the Engineer .. I also asked the Engineer HOW I could use Ng 2003 without a floppy boot disk.. He told me I did not use one and just to burn my Ghost backup to CD ( hmm yes I know it took 7 CD's )

So wanting to try and get this resolved for my FIL asap I followed their instructions and have just finished now... BUT I have no confirmation all is ok with my backup , and as far as I am aware I cannot test it without a bootdisk .. so YES I am frustated ...

OK so I guess I need to use something else .. I have ATI 10 but ...have not installed it on FILs laptop ..and am now thinking maybe that is what I should do ..

BUT yes I admit I have been a chicken with the sware as I have read way too many posts on ATI backups not working and have been too chicken to use it ..

Instead I have been taking manual backups .. of my docs etc ..

So I guess I should take the leap to using ATI then unless you have strong suggestions not to ..

I look forward to your reply
tamba1

[Huupi]

Don't no if it is of any help ?

http://radified.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi

[Peter2150]

Hi tamba1

I bet you imaged to the CD. Yep arduous and many CD's. What I am talking about is a CD you need to have to boot the system should the hard drive die.

You might want to paw thru this forum. There are lots of discussions about imaging solutions.

Pete

[lucas1985]

Originally Posted by Peter2150

What I am talking about is a CD you need to have to boot the system should the hard drive die.

Or the system becomes unbootable
Ghost 2003 is a fine imaging app, providing it works well with your hardware and you aren't concerned about its speed (a bit slow)

[Ragzarok]

Hello,
As a former user of Ghost, I can provide a few points.
1. Ghost has a learning curve, but once you've gotten comfortable with it, it is rock solid and unfailing like most other back up utilities you will find on this forum.
2. The best way to boot Ghost when you're recovering is to use Hiren's boot disk. Google and download that, burn it to a disc, and then you can use it to boot and restore your Ghost image. No mouse is needed because key board navigation would suffice.

[Peter2150]

Originally Posted by Ragzarok

Hello,
As a former user of Ghost, I can provide a few points.
1. Ghost has a learning curve, but once you've gotten comfortable with it, it is rock solid and unfailing like most other back up utilities you will find on this forum.
2. The best way to boot Ghost when you're recovering is to use Hiren's boot disk. Google and download that, burn it to a disc, and then you can use it to boot and restore your Ghost image. No mouse is needed because key board navigation would suffice.

Ragzarok

As a previous user of Drivesnap Shot, IFW/IFD, Some of the Acronis versions, and currently ShadowProtect, I would say your statement in point one, is rather unsubstantiated. I know users of Paragon would also agree.

Just for the record.

Pete

[Ragzarok]

Hello Peter,
What is unsubstantiated here? Perhaps you didn't understand what I said. Either way, my experience with ghost has been that everytime I need it to boot and restore, it will absolutely do it. Some other imaging software I've tried have not always done so. But as I said, there are other solid imaging software discussed here on this forum.

[tamba1]

Hi Ragzarok thanks for the advice .. I have googled it and gone to http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd but I must be going completely mad as I cannot seem to find a download button or link there ...

Assuming I am in the correct place - the info says "Hiren's BootCD 9.3 is an All in one Dos Bootable CD which has all these utilities" and then lists 60 or more utilities .. Is this the correct place .. if so please could you show me where I need to be to download it...
Many Thanks
tamba1

Originally Posted by Ragzarok

Hello,
As a former user of Ghost, I can provide a few points.
1. Ghost has a learning curve, but once you've gotten comfortable with it, it is rock solid and unfailing like most other back up utilities you will find on this forum.
2. The best way to boot Ghost when you're recovering is to use Hiren's boot disk. Google and download that, burn it to a disc, and then you can use it to boot and restore your Ghost image. No mouse is needed because key board navigation would suffice.

[tamba1]

Hi Pete yep again you are right that's what I did and yes a disk to "rescue my system should it "die" is where my frustrations started..

Some say I needed it others say I don't ? Yet nearly all online refs I found seem to confirm I cannot check to see if my Image is successful /verified without using a floppy Boot Disk .. which is why I was trying to find out how to make one . or better still a Boot CD .. Naiveley as I dont have a floppy drive in this laptop I thought I could just create a boot CD sadly that seems not to be the case ...

In addition as I said Norton Ghost will not let me backup to external USB HD ... anyway I will continue to trawl through Wilders and read more .. Hmm yes I spent a VERY long time going through ATI posts on this forum previously. I guess sometimes too much info can be a "scary thing" too and make us paranoid ..

All I want is a Quick, User Friendly , Reliable , Full backup that can be used in the event of my PC dying or some other disaster recovery situation...

thanks again for your help
tamba1

Originally Posted by Peter2150

Hi tamba1

I bet you imaged to the CD. Yep arduous and many CD's. What I am talking about is a CD you need to have to boot the system should the hard drive die.

You might want to paw thru this forum. There are lots of discussions about imaging solutions.

Pete

[midway40]

Unfortunately it looks like the only place you can get this is from the "underworld". I saw this posted in a forum about 9.3's release:

Even though Hiren's Boot CD contains free software and abandonware, which are still copyrighted, from the DOS era, it should be noted that there are also a significant number of unlicensed proprietary software on Hiren's Boot CD; therefore, Hiren's Boot CD is considered warez. This makes the entire disc illegal in most jurisdictions. Hiren no longer offers a download link to the disc image.

[tamba1]

Hi Lucas

Thanks for your comments - unfortunately although the backup seems to have completed OK I cannot tell whether it IS ok until I have the bootdisk situation resolved.. and I can check it ..

However as you will see Ragzarok has posted suggestion re using Hiren's boot disk, which hopefully may solve things .. fingers crossed

tamba1

Originally Posted by lucas1985

Or the system becomes unbootable
Ghost 2003 is a fine imaging app, providing it works well with your hardware and you aren't concerned about its speed (a bit slow)

[Peter2150]

Originally Posted by Ragzarok

Hello Peter,
What is unsubstantiated here? Perhaps you didn't understand what I said. Either way, my experience with ghost has been that everytime I need it to boot and restore, it will absolutely do it. Some other imaging software I've tried have not always done so. But as I said, there are other solid imaging software discussed here on this forum.

Hi Roqzorak

This time you said it differently, and it was very clear. All users have had problems with various software, and that also includes Ghost 2003. It is very individual. I mainly wanted it clarified for the new reader who might misinterpret what was said.

Pete

[Ragzarok]

Hello,

The last time I saw Hiren's CD, it was on some torrent sites like demonoid, the pirate bay..etc...
If you're not familiar with torrent technology, PM me.

[tamba1]

Hi Midway thanks for this I honestly thought I was losing the plot when I could not find a download link LOL .
tamba1

Originally Posted by midway40

Unfortunately it looks like the only place you can get this is from the "underworld". I saw this posted in a forum about 9.3's release:

[Johnny123]

Originally Posted by tamba1

Hi Lucas

Thanks for your comments - unfortunately although the backup seems to have completed OK I cannot tell whether it IS ok until I have the bootdisk situation resolved.. and I can check it ..

However as you will see Ragzarok has posted suggestion re using Hiren's boot disk, which hopefully may solve things .. fingers crossed

tamba1

Have you read the help file in Ghost? It's very informative and quite thorough. Some of the things you believe you can't do are indeed possible. You can check the integrity of your backup by starting Ghost in Windows and then clicking on Ghost Advanced. There you will see Image Integrity Check. If you are backing up to a USB external drive you should open the advanced settings and add the USB drivers. Not having mouse support when booting from the DVD/CD is not a big problem, you can use the keyboard navigation.

BTW, Ghost 2003 is very dependable, I've been using it for a while now and I've never gotten a corrupt image and restoration has never failed to work. As to the comments about it being slow, I can restore my C partition in around five minutes. Since this isn't something you do every day, that seems like a reasonable speed to me.

Personally I would only use an imaging app for the system partition and back up data partitions to an external drive using something like SyncToy, which is free from MS and works very well.