Symantec has released version 10 of Norton Ghost. (Thanks to Pleonasm for the heads-up). We're still trying to determine an official release date and what differentiates it from previous versions, other than the number printed on the box. Features posted here. However, I still recommend Ghost 2003, which is the last version of real Ghost, the program originally developed by Binary Research (a wonder-company based in Auckland, New Zealand). ••• continued ••• Starting with version 9.0 (2004), Norton Ghost is actually based on a product called Drive Image, originally developed by Powerquest (same folks who brought you Partition Magic, the finest program of its kind). Powerquest was purchased by Symantec in December 2003. I detail my feeling why (DOS-based) Ghost 2003 is more reliable than subsequent (Windows-based) Drive Image-based versions .. see here: Norton Ghost v9.0 & Hot-Imaging. Of course, some disagree. But we here at RADIFIED welcome opposing positions, which help the reader make better-informed decisions. Ghost v10.0 comes with a copy of Ghost 2003 included in the same retail box. That's the best thing about v10, imho. If you've not yet seen the world-famous Radified Guide to Norton Ghost, shame. It is the original Radified guide (first published June 2000), and still the site's single most requested feature (updated today, with input from a reader who resides in Eastern Bavaria). Countless gurus from all over the planet have contributed to the insights it contains, which might be why its popularity continues to grow. If you've ever lost a hard drive, you know there's no better back-up protection than an image stored on a separate hard disk. It can save you *days* worth of system restoration (and untold tears). And if you haven't, well, just wait... Update: Looks like v10 will be able to *encrypt* image files, not merely password-protect them, like previous versions. Encrypting infers the image-files would also have to be decrypted: another opportunity for problems to arise. Call me paranoid. The official press release from Symantec is posted here. We have an on-going discusion about Ghost 10 in the forums here:> Symantec Norton Ghost v10. I share some of my thots on version 10 HERE. The short version seems to be: Ghost 10 = Ghost 9 + encryption |
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