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Symantec Ghost 8 and Norton Ghost 2003 (Part 1)
Topics on this page: [1] Introduction [2] Running Norton Ghost 2003 in Windows [3] Creating Ghost boot disc(s)
In Part 2: [4] Running Norton Ghost 2003 in Windows to backup and restore a Windows partition
In Part 3: [5] Running Norton Ghost 2003 in DOS to backup and restore a Windows partition
[6] Running Norton Ghost in DOS to clone a hard disc to a new hard disc [7] Running Norton Ghost in DOS to back up and restore peer-to-peer networked computer drives
[8] Norton Ghost and Ghost 8 (ghost.exe): DOS Options
1. IntroductionThis tutorial shows you how to use Symantec Ghost and Norton ghost 2003 to back up and restore your Windows XP partition. They are more robust and faster cloning tool than Windows XP's native NTBackup utility and can be used with Windows System Preparation Tool (Sysprep). Starting with Norton Ghost 2003, it can read and write back to NTFS partitions and unlike Ghost PE, it does not require typing any DOS commands unless you wish to add advanced features. In DOS mode, Norton Ghost 2003 is quite similar to Symantec Ghost 8 for the simple tasks of backing up and restoring to local hard discs (on the same computer) and network drives. For this article, material and illustrations will be taken from both versions. Installing Symantec and Norton Ghost in Windows XP is straight forward. Norton Ghost has a Windows GUI which lets you set up what to do in Windows and then it automatically reboots in DOS and run ghost.exe to do it. Symantec Ghost Console, the Windows GUI for Symantec Ghost, is quite different from Norton Ghost's GUI; you cannot set it up to run ghost.exe but have to use the ghost floppy discs. After installation in Windows, create a start up floppy disc or you can also make a Ghost bootable CD (see below). If your primary master hard disc already has four primary (or three primary and an extended) partitions (reaching the maximum of four allowed in basic volumes) you cannot set up Norton Ghost in Windows GUI. Instead, you have to boot straight into DOS with the Ghost boot disc. Using boot discs in DOS just as easy as the GUI in Windows. At the time of writing, a new version of Ghost (Ghost 9, with extra features taken from Drive Image) is going to be released; but you don't need it to do the basic backups in Windows XP unless you really want the "hot imaging" capability. I will not cover how to make a Ghost automatic recovery CD; it is a lot more involved and there is simply no such need. This is only a basic guide; for more detailed instructions, read the Ghost help file and watch the animated tutorials.
2. Running Norton Ghost 2003 in WindowsThis does not apply to Symantec Ghost 8. When you start Norton Ghost in Windows, the Ghost Basic window appears. It allows you to configure backup and restore by clicking the Backup and Restore icons to start the corresponding wizards (fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Norton Ghost 2003, Ghost Basic
Click the Ghost Advanced for setting advanced options (fig. 2) and Ghost Utilities for making a boot floppy disc (see below).
Fig. 2. Norton Ghost 2003, Ghost Advanced
3. Creating Ghost boot floppy discs3.1 Norton Ghost 2003 boot floppy discNormally one floppy disc is sufficient but if you need to add USB, network and other device drivers, it may run over to a second disc. The boot floppy does not require Ghost to be installed on the hard disc to work; i.e. it will work on other computers (subject to licence and having the right drivers installed). USB 2 support is better in Symantec Ghost 8 than Norton Ghost 2003 but apparently this has also improved in recent product updates (according to some users). For making a boot disc with Peer-to-Peer network support, go to Part 3. Start Norton Ghost in Windows. Go to Ghost Utilities, click the Norton Ghost Boot Wizard icon (fig. 3).
Fig. 3. Norton Ghost 2003, Ghost Utilities
Choose Standard Ghost Boot Disk for ordinary backup tasks on the local computer not on a network (fig. 4).
Fig. 4. Ghost Boot Wizard
The particular version of DOS (PC DOS or MS-DOS) Ghost uses should not matter. The default choice is PC DOS which comes with Ghost (fig. 5). This prompt will appear every time you run the Boot Wizard, unless you have previously configured this setting in Options (click the button on the yellow taskbar). If you choose MS-DOS you need to supply an MS-DOS startup floppy disc.
Fig. 5. Norton Ghost Boot Wizard - DOS Version
3.2. Symantec Ghost 8 boot floppy discsThe steps have some similarities but are not identical to Norton Ghost 2003. You need to make two floppy disc to run Ghost.exe in DOS to backup on the local computer; you cannot set it up in Windows. Even for the standard boot disc, you need two floppies rather than one. In Start, All Programs, Symantec Ghost, click Ghost Boot Wizard. There are more options in the wizard but for the purpose of backing up on the local computer, choose Standard Ghost boot disk. Click Next to bypass the next window for Peer-to-Peer Options (USB and LTP) and SCSI Options unless you need these. The DOS Version window is similar to Norton Ghost's. Accept the path for the ghost.exe. In the External storage support window, you may or may not need to tick the options to Override BIOS USB control and Override BIOS Firewire control. Check the settings and provide two floppies when prompted.
3.3. Burning a Norton Ghost 2003 boot CD in Nero 5.5.9.x to 6.x.Booting with CD is faster than floppy and is particularly useful when your computer or laptop doesn't have a bootable floppy drive. To use the space on the rest of the CD fully you can copy other data files up to the limit permitted. Test the boot floppy first to make sure Ghost.exe can start and run in DOS. Refer to my tutorial on burning a boot CD in Nero for general instructions. Specific details are as follows. In Nero Burning ROM, New Compilation, choose CD-ROM (Boot). In the Boot tab, Source of image data, use the Ghost boot floppy disc as the Bootable logical drive (floppy boot image). Put the floppy in drive A and take A:\ as the path, for example. In Boot, Expert Settings, choose Floppy Emulation 1.44 MB.
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Copyright © 2004 by Kilian. All my articles including graphics are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. I hereby disclaim all warranties with regard to the information provided. In no event shall I be liable for any damage of any kind whatsoever resulting from the information. The articles are provided in good faith and after some degree of verification but they may contain technical or typographical errors. Links to other web resources may be changed at any time and are beyond the control of the author. Articles may be added, removed, edited or improved at any time. No support is provided by the author. This is not an official support page for any products mentioned. All the products mentioned are trademarks of their companies. Created 23 Aug 2004; last updated 28 Aug 2004 |
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