Create an Win2K image on CD-ROM

[waisto]

Tired of having to reload my system from scratch with all the apps and drivers everytime I mess it up (which is often). I would like to create a ghost image on CD that I can use to reload it. I tried with a ghost boot disk that can write to CD-RW (Mine is an ACER 12X8X32), but it always fails (I wasted like 5 disks already). I was trying to run Ghost in Win 2000 so I could save the image to my server, but it doesn't work in Win 2000 for some reason. I tried to create a network boot disk so I could access the server from DOS, but I don't have the DOS driver for the NIC (Davicom PCI ethernet). I think I ran out of options on my own. I need some help please. I know some of you gys have already done that. Ok, I am waiting ... Thanks already!

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waisto

[diurnal]

First off you dont need to keep reloading your os on your harddrive, thats what safe mode and other utilities in windows are for. I know your situation i use to reformat my drive like every week cause i didnt know how to fix it. But stick around here and ask a question and we will help you. As for the server stuff, im clueless on those type questions, i wish we had a networking forum though.

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[ErnieK]

Waisto - I know nothing about Win2K but if Norton Ghost works with it try the following.
Make image onto a partition using Part Magic to partition if needed (or second HDD if you have one) Then when needed boot into DOS (either re-start in dos or with boot disk) and do as follows
C:>cd\ghost - enter
C:ghost\ghost.exe
(remember to verify the image before you attempt to use it)

Or if you are using newer version than me.
Make floppy with the required ghost files. just copy from ghost set up disk(leave out all txt files and manual)

Write image direct to CD's (you can span). When needed boot computer using windows boot disk, then swap over to made disk. Bring up ghost and re-install image. Depending on the size of image only takes 20-3- mins.
Hope this helps

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Ernie

[waisto]

Thanks Guys. You've been pretty helpful. I am going to try to put the image on a second partition as you suggested. We'll see what happens. Thanks again.

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waisto

[kenja]

A key point here: Ghost only works under DOS because it is taking a "snapshot" of your system partition, which would have open (and possibly changing) Windows system files if you were running Windows at the time.

You can't write directly to your CDRW because that model is not supported (http://service2.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/2000032414453025) by Symantec. (They really ought to issue an update. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif )

If you know the chipset of your NIC, try to find another card on Norton's list that uses the same. That worked for me; I had a "+" version of a D-Link NIC that wouldn't work with Norton's supplied driver, but it runs fine with a Kingston driver. Both NICs use the same Realtek chipset.

Making an image on a second partition is what I do most often; the partition must be FAT(16 or 32). Links in the "supported" link above will tell you about putting the image on CD using recording software (I use Easy CD Creator and make it bootable).

[rond36]

I use Power Quest Drive Image I know it supports WinNT but don't know about Win2K

[This message has been edited by rond36 (edited 10-17-2001).]

[rond36]

Ijust found this at Power Quest's web site
Drive Image 5.0 supports all major operating system platforms including:

Windows XP
Windows 95/98
Windows Me
Windows 2000 Professional
NT 4.0 workstation
DOS