I want to create a bootable winxp dvd-r with ghost...

[nissmo300]

I want make a bootable winxp dvd-r with ghost but I also want to have some apps installed so I dont have to keep re-installing them every time I reformat.

I want to reformat and re-install winxp sp1 with all the updates and install all the latest drivers, etc. Then I want to install a few apps like winrar, winzip, etc. Then make a bootable ghost image.

I want this to fit all on one DVD-R. My question is how much space does a windows xp installation take? And if I add a few more apps will ghost be able to make a image to fit one dvd-r?

[Faustus]

Why not just use norton ghost 2003 with your DVD burner to make a restore DVD for it. That should do the trick.

[Solarjetman]

If you are saying you want to put Windows on a DVD-r, You are going to need lots more than Ghost. In fact you will have to do some serious scripting. Its not as simple as copying the system files to disk.

Now, if you want to make a simple DOS boot disk so you can run Ghost, that is easy. What you need to do is first create the floppy from Norton to get the files. Then go into Nero and choose File -> New. Then pick bootable DVD. You will want to select the floppy you just made as the logical source. Then add the files from the floppy and any others you wish. Now all you have to do is burn it.

[nissmo300]

No, you probably misunderstood what I want to do. For example:

1. I reformat xp. Install a clean xp installation.
2. I install all the latest update for xp plus drivers.
3. I install winzip for now (I will add more).

Burn this on a DVD-R as a ghost image of the HD. This is what I want to do.

Let say after a month my computer is all packed with software and causes a problem and I have to reformat again. Can't I just pop this ghost disc I made and it will return to the clean installation I made above with winzip installed and the latest updates already there without needing to do all that work again?

[HillJack]

This is how I currently do it:

1) Create the .gho image using Norton Ghost.
2) Start to create a bootable DVD in NERO using Windows ME boot floppy as source (you can get the Windows ME image from bootdisk.com).
3) Add \Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\*.exe to the root of the DVD I'm creating in NERO.
4) Add the .gho image created in step #1 to the bootable DVD in NERO.
6) Burn

When required, I:

1) Boot from that DVD-R and choose the "Boot Computer With CD-ROM Support" boot menu option.
2) cd to my DVD drive
3) Run Ghost.exe
4) Choose Local/Partition/From Image and load the .gho image from the DVD.

Poof, my system is restored