Norton Ghost (or somethin else)

[ollie]

Basically, i reformat way to often, and its a pain in the arse having to reinstall windows, all my drivers, change windows settings, and then install little bits of software.

So i was thinking, would it be posible using norton ghost, to reformat my pc now, install my drivers, change the windows settings to how i want it, and then install light applications. Then once i have my system just as i want it, using norton ghost, copy everything on my harddrive as it is, to a blank cd/dvd, then when i wish to reformat, just pop the cd/dvd into my drive, then it will format my pc to how i want it with all the settings and everything how they should be.

If norton cannot do this, is there any application available to do so.

But on seconds thoughts... after windows has isntalled it takes up a few gig of HD space so i dont think its posible.

But can someone tell me how norton ghost works? and what you have to do?


thanks

 

[Dave_W]

I aquired a copy of Norton Ghost with exactly the same thoughts as you. The problem being is that the file it creates is something like 60gb when I tried to do it. Not sure what it would be without program files etc, but I can't see it being that useful without being able to reduce it to something like 6GB so it can go on a DVD

I'd like to know other peoples thoughts on it too!

 

[BenWall]

it is possible, the images can be a few GB, if you have a 2nd HD in ur PC then save the image onto that and then boot up using Norton Ghost, either with a CD or floppy and go the location of the image and then it will do the rest

 

[Stuart.Atkinson]

i use this method with ghost aas im always re-formatting.
i install the OS wih all updates. do a few minor tweeks, then take an image.
i update my software too much to make an image of a whole OS + ms office etc etc. its a pain having to uninstall and reinstall new updated sofware.

plus this way it only takes up about 1 or 2 dvd's max !

 

[Stuart.Atkinson]

oh forgot to say... check the image once its created using ghost. ive had one complete (out of 50+) but fail on the check.
Full restore usually takes ~10 mins unattended!

 

[ollie]

cheers for the replies, but one other thing.

So i can boot from the norton ghost disk, then once ive booted from the disk, i can select the image of windows + all the changes i made from a second hard drive??


Thanks

 

[ollie]

Any takers?

 

[Stuart.Atkinson]

Yes you can. you can even load network support and load an image from anywhere on the network.

 

[ollie]

Quality, thanks mate!