Ghost or TrueImage

[jgombos]

I know the enterprise version has greater network capabilities but I'm curious to know what problems you have encountered.

I mapped a samba share over the network to a drive letter. All my DOS apps treated that drive letter as if it were a local drive, except Ghost. Ghost refused to work with a samba share directly (I don't recall what the error was, but I remember that it was clearly refusing to work over the network). It objected to the \\server\path syntax, which is why I tried mapping it next. The drive mapping only fooled Ghost for a minute. I was able to get further into the dialog after it asked for the destination, but when it came time to transmit the image, it crapped out. I recall trying some other things to make the samba share transparent to the operation, but Ghost was able to discover the network connection every time. This was around 2002-2003 that I was doing this, and the documentation I was reading at the time specifically told me networking was available exclusively in the corporate edition.

[RLT69]

I recall trying some other things to make the samba share transparent to the operation, but Ghost was able to discover the network connection every time. This was around 2002-2003 that I was doing this, and the documentation I was reading at the time specifically told me networking was available exclusively in the corporate edition.

Thanks for the information. The mapped network drive approach should have worked, certainly in Ghost 2003. Did Ghost produce an error log? Sometimes those are helpful. Could also be something with the Samba configuration.

Looks like later versions of Ghost work well with Samba shares:

http://www.kickstartnews.com/reviews/utilities/norton_ghost_9.html

[jgombos]

Thanks for the information. The mapped network drive approach should have worked, certainly in Ghost 2003. Did Ghost produce an error log? Sometimes those are helpful. Could also be something with the Samba configuration.

Looks like later versions of Ghost work well with Samba shares:

Samba was configured correctly. I was able to move information through the Samba share from DOS. It was clear to me that Ghost was deliberately blocking network use. It wouldn't accept samba share syntax, and when I mapped a drive, it would not list that drive as a destination option in the GUI. I'm going from memory here, but I believe I had to specify the network drive by using a full commandline to bypass the GUI in order to force it to reference that drive letter, or something like that, and finally it gave me an honest error message to the effect of 'this version does not support networks'.. I knew I had to be sneaky in my strategy all along, because I was doing this after the documentation told me I could not. It may not have been a current version of Ghost at the time. My first attempts were using the rebadged version of Ghost that was packaged with a Plexwriter, under the brand name CDresQ. Then I tried everything again using a version of Ghost that I believe was bundled with their Systemworks package, and I don't think the version number had a year. It may have been version 8. At the time, folks in forums were telling me I needed the corporate edition.

[ipdave]

I use TrueImage server version, which allows me to backup on the fly from within Windows XP/2003. I backup, then do incrementals until my HD partition fills up, then do a complete backup again. By copying the backup files to a DVD made bootable with a WBT image of TrueImage, I can boot from DVD and restore from the same on the fly (or from my other HD partition since it's available and faster). The DVD does work, though. Ghost is only needed if multicasting to multiple PCs in my opinion...

[RLT69]

I'm going from memory here, but I believe I had to specify the network drive by using a full commandline to bypass the GUI in order to force it to reference that drive letter, or something like that, and finally it gave me an honest error message to the effect of 'this version does not support networks'.. I knew I had to be sneaky in my strategy all along, because I was doing this after the documentation told me I could not.

Geez. It sounds like the functionality was there in the version you were using but that Symantec decided to turn it off or something to that effect. Too bad but nice approach at a work around.

I have to say the multicast server, in enterprise edition, is very nice. Cloning multiple computers at the sametime is a real time saver.

[Tbag]

Is there a limit of how many times the product key can be entered into acronis true image 9 when installing, i know there is on norton ghost.

[Scorpion King]

Correction: I use Ghost 2002, not 2003.

I'm older than I though

[Poppa_Meth]

I haven't noticed any limit. Acronis can be a bit screw when installing new versions so it's generally best to uninstall the old and install the new after reboot. Sometimes this requires you to reinput the serial number. I've had to do it 4 or 5 times so far with no issues.

[Tbag]

I haven't noticed any limit. Acronis can be a bit screw when installing new versions so it's generally best to uninstall the old and install the new after reboot. Sometimes this requires you to reinput the serial number. I've had to do it 4 or 5 times so far with no issues.

thanks

[v-sharp]

Is there a limit of how many times the product key can be entered into acronis true image 9 when installing, i know there is on norton ghost.

I haven't noticed any limit. Acronis can be a bit screw when installing new versions so it's generally best to uninstall the old and install the new after reboot. Sometimes this requires you to reinput the serial number. I've had to do it 4 or 5 times so far with no issues.

Another question, do I have to go online to activate product like in WinXP or just input the serial number? Thanks.

[Poppa_Meth]

Just input the serial. Originally the first work PC we put it on didn't have internet connection and installed and activated fine.

[Tbag]

Is an external hard drive the only way the only way I can create a backup of my whole hard drive using true image?
I just looked too see how much space it takes and it was 12.88GB, the My Documents folder only has about 1GB in there so the rest probably is programs and windows xp.... i think

[RLT69]

Is an external hard drive the only way the only way I can create a backup of my whole hard drive using true image?
I just looked too see how much space it takes and it was 12.88GB, the My Documents folder only has about 1GB in there so the rest probably is programs and windows xp.... i think

No but it might be the most practical.

If you have a DVD burner, this is approximately the number of discs you will need:

Single layer DVD (capacity 4.38GB) - approx 3 DVDs
Double layer DVD (capacity 7.92GB) - approx 2 DVDs

Now that's uncompressed. If you employ compression you may be able to bring the number of discs down. In any event, when creating an image of your hard drive the image program you use should allow you to span DVDs. Thus you do not need to store your image on a HD.

Just be aware as the size of your hard drive grows so to does the number of blank DVDS you will need. That's why in many cases, saving an image to another HD is better.

[Tbag]

Is an external hard drive the only way the only way I can create a backup of my whole hard drive using true image?
I just looked too see how much space it takes and it was 12.88GB, the My Documents folder only has about 1GB in there so the rest probably is programs and windows xp.... i think

No but it might be the most practical.

If you have a DVD burner, this is approximately the number of discs you will need:

Single layer DVD (capacity 4.38GB) - approx 3 DVDs
Double layer DVD (capacity 7.92GB) - approx 2 DVDs

Now that's uncompressed. If you employ compression you may be able to bring the number of discs down. In any event, when creating an image of your hard drive the image program you use should allow you to span DVDs. Thus you do not need to store your image on a HD.

Just be aware as the size of your hard drive grows so to does the number of blank DVDS you will need. That's why in many cases, saving an image to another HD is better.

yes i do have a dvd burner (not dual layer) but i didnt know that i could use more than 1 disk to do this, does true image support this?

[INFRATOM]

most of these programs are for ease of use and compression it gives. One can always copy straight from drive to drive if don't want compression and it would be the fastest. Maybe with price of HD in these days xcopy would be cheapest, off course it won't fit on any dvd and doesn't worth to span. if we turn off the system restore win xp with basic programs will compress down to few gigs and would fit on one dvd.

[RLT69]

yes i do have a dvd burner (not dual layer) but i didnt know that i could use more than 1 disk to do this, does true image support this?

I don't use True Image, I use Ghost, but according to this information it does:

http://www.acronis.com/oem/company/inpress/2006/06-20-ati.html

I would recommend reading their documentation. They also let you download a demo version. You might want to try the demo and see if you like the program.

[Tbag]

yes i do have a dvd burner (not dual layer) but i didnt know that i could use more than 1 disk to do this, does true image support this?

I don't use True Image, I use Ghost, but according to this information it does:

http://www.acronis.com/oem/company/inpress/2006/06-20-ati.html

I would recommend reading their documentation. They also let you download a demo version. You might want to try the demo and see if you like the program.

thank i'll try it

[Poppa_Meth]

I'm setting up a new system for a friend today and I'll test the disc spanning on it if I get the chance.

[Tbag]

I'm setting up a new system for a friend today and I'll test the disc spanning on it if I get the chance.

Did you test it?

[Poppa_Meth]

Yeah, sorry about that. It's been such a busy week I forgot to post back. Disk spanning seemed to work just fine. I put his newly configured system on two DVDs with no issues. I haven't had cause to use the archive to see if it works, but the built in archive tester says it is fine.

[Tbag]

on the normal compress setting do you know how much 17GB can be compressed into?

[Poppa_Meth]

This system had about 15GB on the HDD and I'd say it compressed to about 5-6GB. I just barely had to use a second DVD. This was all at default settings.

[ntscuser]

I use True Image purely because it doesn't require the .Net framework which I've had trouble with in the past.

[RLT69]

I use True Image purely because it doesn't require the .Net framework which I've had trouble with in the past.

Yeah what's up with Ghost requiring the .NET framework, anybody know why?

That's why I'm stickin' with Ghost 2003. For my needs I don't need much more. But the whole .NET thing just put me off. There is no reason any client application needs .NET framework unless it's a VB application.

[Tbag]

This system had about 15GB on the HDD and I'd say it compressed to about 5-6GB. I just barely had to use a second DVD. This was all at default settings.

thanks, i still need to get round to doing my first backup

[jgombos]

Here is a good tutorial on how to boot a Knoppix CD and clone a drive with "dd" - done entirely with freeware:

http://www.mckeay.net/secure/2004/10/using_dd_to_clone_a_hd.html

If you're making an image rather than cloning, skip the parts talking about partition sizes and fdisk, and change the "of" parameter to the name of the destination file.