Ghost 2003 OEM version for Dummies

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.

"Steve P" wrote in message
news
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

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

"philo" NONphiloNONplazaearthNONcomNON wrote in message
...




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

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

"Hank" wrote in message
.com...

"philo" NONphiloNONplazaearthNONcomNON wrote in message
...




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

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
:-)

"John E. Carty" wrote in message
.. .

"Hank" wrote in message
.com...

"philo" NONphiloNONplazaearthNONcomNON wrote in message
...




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

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
:-)

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

Hank wrote:

"John E. Carty" wrote in message
.. .

"Hank" wrote in message
gy.com...

"philo" NONphiloNONplazaearthNONcomNON wrote in message
...


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


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
:-)


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

"Will Dormann" wrote in message
...
Hank wrote:

"John E. Carty" wrote in message
.. .

"Hank" wrote in message
gy.com...

"philo" NONphiloNONplazaearthNONcomNON wrote in message
...


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


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
:-)


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


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 :-)

"Hank" wrote in message
.com...

"John E. Carty" wrote in message
.. .

"Hank" wrote in message
.com...

"philo" NONphiloNONplazaearthNONcomNON wrote in message
...




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

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
:-)

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" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 05:21:20 GMT, "John E. Carty"
wrote:

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.

--
Bill, W6WRT


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 :-)