The GHOST is in MY MACHINE :)
Written: Jan 21 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: No other software backs up your PC data more completely and effectively in this manner.
Cons: Network boot diskettes can be hard to create. Novices may need tutorials.
The Bottom Line: The only backup software that truly protects my data and backs it up in a standalone manner. Every good techy should own GHOST.
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| dougmjones's Full Review: Symantec Norton Ghost 2002 7.0 Full Version for PC... |
I recall the first time I ever demonstrated Ghost software years ago in a huge WindowsNT convention. It was a revolutionary product in the PC and server market because, let's face it, windows has the worst built in backup software ever invented. Most other brands of PC backup software run under windows and DO NOT backup your system properly regardless of their claims. Let me explain. This is very important to understand.
I spent years explaining to mainframe computer customers that online backups of system disks are not supported or effective. Sure it is better than having no backup at all but when you have an emergency and need restore your system disk you may run into problems.
Whenever you backup a PC while windows is booted many of the files on your system disk are being used and are locked by windows or other programs. This means the backup software cannot backup this file and may skip it. After 20 years in computers I am convinced you cannot backup any operating system effectively while it is running. Period.
Now, let me explain how Ghost works. I will start with the most simple methods.
INSTALLING:
When you recieve the CDrom you install Norton Ghost onto at least one PC. This is usually only installed on one main PC so the utilities and tools are available. This does not have to be installed to use ghost backups. Only a bootable floppy diskette is needed to do the actual backups.
USING GHOST DISKETTES:
Click the "Ghost Boot Wizard" program and create a Ghost boot diskette for each of the PCs you want to back up. Now simply reboot a PC or laptop to the diskette and the Ghost program will fill the screen with a Grey simple interface. The mouse will also work. You can now select your harddrive and back it up with several methods depending on your personal needs and equipment. It is very simple to learn and operate. Below are some methods.
HDD to HDD CLONE BACKUPS- I have one PC server with 2 identical harddrives installed. I simply backup the main one to the spare. Then if my main HDD ever fails I have a spare ready to go with the software already on it and ready to boot. I simply swap the master and slave jumpers on the disks and shazam !
HDD TO HDD IMAGE BACKUPS - Have one main harddrive in the system and one spare hard drive. Backup the entire main harddrive to an image FILE on the second harddrive. The file is compact so many backups can be contained on the spare HDD. If the main disk fails simply replace it and restore it's data using ghost boot floppy and the image contained on the second spare HDD. This is my favorite and fastest method for my professional work PCs. A backup or complete restore can take less than 15 minutes ! I also backup my system quickly before I make any changes to windows or install any new software that could damage my windows. This has saved me many times.
HARD DRIVE to CDRW BACKUPS - I have a laptop I use for work. It is very important. It only has one harddrive and a CDRW. I simply boot to the GHOST floppy diskette and then backup from HDD to my burner. The CDR blanks are 20 cents each and it takes about 10 of them to backup my harddrive. The backup takes about 5 minutes per CDR but it goes by pretty fast. I then wrap a diskette and the stack of CDRs in plastic food wrap and keep them in my computer case. If I am on the road and my windows crashes I have a full backup on the spot and can be back up and running with a restore in 45-60 minutes. This is hard to beat.
MULTICAST NETWORK BACKUPS - My high tech family has a few PCs in the house and we have a LAN network with DSL and a router. So all the PCs in my house see each other and share the internet. From time to time the kids ruin windows and I have to reload it. I run the Ghost "Multicast Server" program from my main PC. Then I go downstairs to the kids PC and boot to a Ghost network boot diskette that I created with the "Ghost Boot Wizard". This allows me to backup the kid's entire harddrive to a nice neat compressed file on my system. To save space on my harddrive I usually break up that file with ghost explorer into 640mb pieces and copy them to CDRW for later use. After compression my son's basic system fits on one CDR. I have had to restore his system on a number of occassions and it has been a life saver.
ADVANCED FEATURES: There are many more advanced features for rolling out and backing up hundreds of PCs in professional environments and there is a personal and corporate edition. Chances are you will not require anything more than personal edition for your home use.
SUMMARY: I owned Norton Ghost 2002 for a while and was too lazy to sit down and figure it out but after about 30 minutes in the tutorials and help information I figured it out and I have never been happier. I don't know how I could survive without this product.
COMPLAINTS: When creating network boot disks with the Boot Disk Wizard I have trouble with some brands and models of network cards. If you are smart you will only buy 3-COM , DLINK or only models listed in the Ghost Boot Wizard program. There is a list in there. I am also having trouble building a workable boot diskette that supports my laptop and it's onboard NIC and also the Wireless NIC. It works off the cardbus and Norton seems to have left us on our own to create these. I am hoping version 2003 might include more boot disk options. This is the only portion I think a novice might have trouble with.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
dougmjones
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Location: Atlanta , Ga
Reviews written: 78
Trusted by: 24 members
About Me:
Computers, Music, Quality toys and gadgets. Like to review products that I demo or purchase.
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