Ghost, XP and SP2 help

[mcs328]

I downloaded SP2 on Win XP. I have Ghost 2003 OEM(it came with my motherboard). Before I install SP2 I want to use Ghost to back up what I have. Ghost doesn't seem to run as a GUI in XP. It tells me to restart in DOS mode. I don't get that option when I try to restart my computer and when I do restart I don't see an option to start it up in DOS Mode. I get regular start, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with network support and a list of other but none say DOS. So how do I restart in DOS mode in Win XP?

Also does Ghost recognize drives bigger than 137 or do I have to partition my 180 gig drive? My drive is hooked up to a USB enclosure...will it recognized in DOS mode when I restart?

Thanks.

[OremuS]

What you need to do with Ghost is create a Ghost boot disk from within the Ghost program in Windows XP. Then boot your computer off of the disk and you should be able to get to all of the functionality that you need. For a single PC, this is usually the easiest way to use Ghost. Also, Ghost should be able to recognize your drive without a problem. Hope this helps.

[redcolours]

like he said.

or maybe simply use that ghost disc itself - it may be bootable.

i have ghost 2002 (i think), and i can either install it in XP, or simply run it on the disc itself (without even installing it). i boot to the CD-ROM when i startup, then it will ask to load drivers for firewire, USB, ZIP, or none. i choose none, and it takes me to the A:\ (dos mode). i then navigate (or change directories) to the ghost SUPPORT folder, and run ghost.exe from there. the GUI in DOS mode will start, and from there i ghost my drive, either to a CD burner, or to another physical drive.

[DarkFury]

Ghost doesn't seem to run as a GUI in XP. It tells me to restart in DOS mode. I don't get that option when I try to restart my computer and when I do restart I don't see an option to start it up in DOS Mode. I get regular start, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with network support and a list of other but none say DOS. So how do I restart in DOS mode in Win XP?

Also does Ghost recognize drives bigger than 137 or do I have to partition my 180 gig drive? My drive is hooked up to a USB enclosure...will it recognized in DOS mode when I restart?

Thanks.
Well pretty much your questions are answered in the replies above...

The reason Ghost has to go down to DOS mode to run is that the XP shell of Ghost can't copy while the O/S is running (it would have to be able to copy itself if that was the case), therefore, it either builds itself into a "virtual partition" to run outside of the main O/S partition or you run it from the DOS boot disk and copy your files.

Ghost will recognize whatever drives you have regardless of the size... you just have to make sure that wherever you are copying the file to has enough space to handle the copy. Personally, this is another reason why I use partitions on my main drive. By keeping my O/S partition small (I set mine to 30 GB on my 120 GB drive), I can back up only that 30GB and save that image either to the 2nd partition on that same drive or I can save it to one of the other hard drives in my PC. On top of that, I always use "high compression" when creating the copy.

Good luck and happy ghosting... :thumb:

[Dave_7]

And you need to copy to a FAT/FAT32 partition if you want to save the image as a (.gho) file.

Unless in the 2003 version it can read NTFS partitions from DOS.

I keep a 6 gig FAT32 partition on my drive just for that.


Dave.

[Sesshomaru]

Unless in the 2003 version it can read NTFS partitions from DOS.

Dave.

It can read NTFS partitions. Tested it on my laptop.

[DarkFury]

And you need to copy to a FAT/FAT32 partition if you want to save the image as a (.gho) file.

Unless in the 2003 version it can read NTFS partitions from DOS.

I keep a 6 gig FAT32 partition on my drive just for that.


Dave.
Yup... Ghost 2003 can do all of that. No problems with seeing NTFS partitions from DOS. :thumb:

I used to keep like a 30GB FAT32 partition for ghost files, but I don't do that anymore now that it isn't necessary. :D

[Dave_7]

Cool! Time for me to upgrade! ;)


Dave.