Norton Ghost is crap.... alternatives?

[lordsmurf]

It keep choking at a certain spot. The drive is fine. The files are fine. It's also so anal about being perfect (optimized, etc). And then it refuses to see DVD-RW media. Screw this. Wasted 3 days on this.

Ideas on other software that creates "restore discs" like Ghost does?

[racer-x]

There are lot's of restore softwere out there, but I disagree with Ghost being crap. I've been using it for years with perfect results. It's not user friendly, but it works perfectly when you use it correctly.

I'm still using Norton Ghost 2002. Despite what some may think, it works with NTFS just fine.

[redwudz]

The last time I used Ghost, I backed up the original configuration, just after reformatting and before any other programs were installed. I figured I had a fail safe system for recovery.

Then I managed to screw up my system considerably. I used the recovery disc and it recovered to my screwed up setup, not the clean version I had stored. Sure, I didn't read the manual completely and it's probably all my fault, but I'm a little shy of trying Norton again.

I will try it again, though, after reading all of the manual. But I would like to check into some alternatives to Ghost.

[housepig]

I've been using Acronis TrueImage and having great success with it.

[Northpole]

Agree.
Acronis Trueimage www.acronis.com is fast and reliable. Good UI too. And - it have a trial.

[Craig Tucker]

No problems with Ghost here, I use 2003 and have backed up and restored many times.

[lordsmurf]

I used Ghost several times, 2003 version. But never with XP on this system. It dies. Croaks. Halts. Wasted DVDs, wasted time.

I've got ACRONIS TRUEIMAGE 8 (Corporate Workstation) trial, and cannot find the place where to use DVD-RW media for backup. It wants to make files on another HDD, and that's not an option. Any help? I see nothing in help files or readme's so far.

[stiltman]

Drive Image Pro (AKA Deploy Center) is one of the best around. Multi scripting functions with linux et3 support

Personally, I've always stuck with ghost. I was a beta tester so that was one reason. Smurf, did you search symantec' KB or forums?
Did you do your backup from a floppy or bootable CD?

I have no problems with 2003 and RW media. I would also chech their site for updates too

[Northpole]

It wants to make files on another HDD, and that's not an option. Any help? I see nothing in help files or readme's so far.

I use Acronis True Image myself, and have found it safer to let Acronis do the image file to another HD first, then I verify it and burn it out on DVD-RW after that. In that way I also have the imagefile as a backup in two places, right ?

A couple of times a year I use the image file, and I usually prefer to use the image file that is stored on the computer already, and just have the DVD-RW as an emergency disc - sort of last hope....

[aanaravs]

I also use Ghost 2003. It did choke once, but was fine after I tried to do it again.

[ViRaL1]

I used Ghost several times, 2003 version. But never with XP on this system. It dies. Croaks. Halts. Wasted DVDs, wasted time.

I've got ACRONIS TRUEIMAGE 8 (Corporate Workstation) trial, and cannot find the place where to use DVD-RW media for backup. It wants to make files on another HDD, and that's not an option. Any help? I see nothing in help files or readme's so far.

You say saving to another HDD isn't an option. Do you have another computer on your network that you could save the image to? (Slower than disk-to-disk in same PC but still doable).

[dxj40c]

I had a lot of problems with Ghost when I first installed it especially with it not recognizing media.

Then one day I was using Live Update to update my NAV and it also updated my Ghost. It has worked great since then. You didn't indicate whether you had updated or not. Just a thought.

It has been a lifesaver on several occassions, couldn't imagine what I would do without it.

You didn't say how it works in backing up on another hard drive, or is it just a media recognition problem?

[808smokey]

Norton Ghost 2002... No problems yet with XP Pro SP1. I've done about 6-7 restore/backups with ghost in the last year to a 2nd IDE HD

[lordsmurf]

Ghost 2003 updated 100%.
Another HDD is not an option.
I've not tested another HDD for backup. I only want to backup one drive.

I may end up going with Paragon's Drive Backup 6, as it seems to fair okay on the demo, and it's $30 on special sale right now.

[Paul Simmel]

Ghost 2003 updated 100%.
Another HDD is not an option.
I've not tested another HDD for backup. I only want to backup one drive.

I may end up going with Paragon's Drive Backup 6, as it seems to fair okay on the demo, and it's $30 on special sale right now.

Do it... I went with that after much research. I paid $50.00 about a month ago. Also, use the included software for your bootable recovery stuff. Very handy.

[p_l]

Then one day I was using Live Update to update my NAV and it also updated my Ghost. It has worked great since then. You didn't indicate whether you had updated or not. Just a thought.

I couldn't get it to work either. Several tries and it would always "die, croak, halt." Then, in a last ditch measure of utter desperation, I did the unthinkable: I updated the software and I RTFM. It worked.

So, may I respectfully submit that you might wish to consider trying to

[VideoTechMan]

Ive used Ghost also and I never had any problems although I used CD-R's for the backup. Did one image restore on my laptop and it worked just fine. It does count that there should be a reliable way to backup your data and such, and not have to worry about data loss.

VTM

[ViRaL1]

For those of you who do use Ghost. I recommend ALWAYS doing a check afterward if you plan on making major changes, i.e. repartitioning or formatting.

[stiltman]

Very good point ViRaL1
I always verify every image I create.

[DJ5A]

Hello Everybody:

I've used Norton's Ghost at least 6 or 7 times & no problems since I figured out how to use it. I did have a hard time figuring it all out.

Did you recheck & verify the backed up disk? If it was me, I would copy the disk to another type of disk and try it again.

[lordsmurf]

I just finished using Paragaon Drive Backup 6.
Seems to have worked just fine.

Because it's an Internet purchase, I don't have a book. Need to read PDFs... takes longer. Still not sure how to verify the backup... Not the greatest documentation or dummy-friendly ... BUT IT BURNED OKAY!

[jimmalenko]

Interesting thread ... this is an area where I need to educate myself ...

[greymalkin]

ghost has switches a mile long if you're handy with dos and there is an option to "overlook" errors on the drive.

To the person that said they ghosted a good image then restored a hosed one; impossible. You must have ghosted the drive when it already had a software problem OR there was a hardware problem that still was unresolved after re-imaging.

[lordsmurf]

Interesting thread ... this is an area where I need to educate myself ...

Don't wait too long.