Norton Ghost 2003

ok i have Norton Ghost 2003 and im hoping to use it to create a bootable and installable backup of my computer on a reritable DVD that i can put in the computer and boot it to reinstall every thing i know it can be done but have no idea how can someone help please

 

I have used Ghost 2003 on Windows XP, and it is a fairly easy process (but it can take some time on slower systems). What OS are you running?

 

windows xp pro on a AMD 3000 semperon with 1gig off ddr

 

Easy then. Before you do anything with Ghost (and I am assuming you have Ghost installed), I recommend the following actions:

1) Delete any and all programs you don't want.

2) Use a program like CCleaner (free, available on this site) to remove junk/temp files on your PC. If you have been online, I recommend you run programs like Ad-Aware (like CCleaner, available on this site and free). I will assume that you are running a firewall and an anti-virus application . . . If not, we have deeper concerns here . . .

3) If your PC is working ok, delete all restore points (except the most recent one ) by opening "My Computer" and right clicking on your C drive - or the drive XP is running from - and selecting the option "Disk cleanup. ' Do all the options there (especially deleting restore points).

4) Right-click on the hardrive XP is on and do a defragment (EVEN if XP says you don't need too).

5) Shut down your computer, and once off, manually disconnect it from the internet.

6) Restart, and activate the Ghost program.

7) Put a recordable DVD in your RW drive, and have others close to hand, along with some means of marking/numbering the disks. If an autoplay screen pops up, close it.

8) Select the "Back up Wizard" from the Ghost menu.

9) You need to pick a back up location, and as you stated you want "Recordable CD or DVD." Once you have selected that option, Hit "Next"

10) Ignore this screen (it gives you the option to name the image, if you want to), and hit "Next" again.

11) Unless you are saving your image to a USB drive you can also ignore the "Advanced Settings" screen. Hit "Next" again.

12) Home plate! When you hit "Next" at the 'Important Information' screen your PC will reboot and begin creating the back-up image. If your image is too large for one DVD, the program will ask you to insert fresh media. Make sure you properly mark the disks. When Ghost is finished with the image-burn, it will restart.

13) DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP Once your computer has restarted, go back to the Ghost program. In the Norton Ghost menu, select the "Ghost Advanced" option. Select the "Image Integrity Check" and follow the prompts (it runs pretty like making a back-up image). Did I mention you cannot skip this step?

I think I have covered everything I have encountered while using Ghost 2003. If you have questions, ask me and I'll try and clear them for you.

Hope this helps!

 

thanks ill do this tomorrow and ill let ya know

 

Good luck - and I hope I have covered everything. I've had few problems with Ghost - except when I didn't do step 13!!!!!!

 

1 more thing i have to plug in a floppy drive to get windows to recognise my hard drive cause i have to put this via sata raid driver on is there a way to include it in windows so it doesnt need to ask?

 

Sorry . . . I was spouting Ghost (as you wanted). I have limited knowledge of SATA stufff . . . I have no idea what you mean . . . What are you trying to do? I have SATA machines, but I am not a pro in this venue. Define what you want help with.

 

wellwhen i install windows it asks if i have any extrnal drivers or something and push f6 to load em well in order to be able to install windows on my hard drive i must plug in a floppy drive and give it the driver on there it seems to only want it from a flopy is there a way to include those drivers in the windows installer so it dosent have to ask for them??

 

I have no idea. I recommend you use your XP Pro CD and do a clean install. It sounds like your current set-up is skewed

A clean install of XP Pro is your best option, based on what you have told me. Once you have a fresh XP Pro OS, then install Ghost 2003 and follow my instructions concerning creation of restore CD's.

 

no my windows install is fine i have one of those new serial drives and have to give windows the driver when i install windows or it wont recognise the drive

 

ok tried what ya said but it wold only write 32k to each rewritable dvd b4 asking for another. why is that