Newby here, first post

I just bought Ghost 2003 and it won't work with my USB 2.0 Maxtor external HDD  Even tho Symantec tech article says it will if I upgrade to Version 793.   I started with ver 793 and it still wont work.

If I buy and install a second internal HDD and Clone my primary WinXP HDD, How can I go back and re-clone for weekly or monthly backups it it's impossible to boot XP with two identical HDD's & volume labels :-/

wrote on Oct 31^st, 2005 at 7:06am:

"... How can I go back and re-clone for weekly or monthly backups it it's impossible to boot XP with two identical HDD's & volume labels..."

Sometimes folks start off using the term 'clone' when what they really want to accomplish is better done with a "disk-to-image" Norton Ghost 2003 Backup.  Check out the thread below in its entirety (including links) to see if this might be the case here:

http://radified.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=display;num=1125157548;start=3#3

EP :'(

No, El Pescador, I really meant CLONE.  For us non-techno geeks, all these USB quirks are way beyond me.

I thought it would be much easier to CLONE to an internal HDD skip all the USB mess.

If my primary HDD should fail, I would like to just plug in my CLONE HDD and keep going.  BUT, I would need to keep my Backup HDD up to date with frequent cloning.

So I repeat the question, how can I do multiple cloning using the same source and target HDD's each time, if I can't boot WinXP with two identical HDD's?????

I am not opposed to making an IMAGE on the backup HDD instead of a CLONE, but If my primary HDD fails, how can I restore an IMAGE onto the same HDD that the image is stored on?

:'(

Hello Kwajdog!

I would;

- buy a mobile rack (e.g. ViPower) and install it in a free 5½" bay connected as primary slave (assuming PATA and not SATA).

- always run Ghost 2003 from the Ghost Boot Disks (no running Windows issues)

- always shut down the computer and NOT let Ghost 2003 reset the computer when the cloning task has been completed

- always remove the clone from the mobile rack prior to restarting the computer and Windows (or at least power off the mobile rack)

- reclone whenever I feel the urge

- when the proverbial shit hits the fan, I would open the case and substitute the clone for the original hard disk

The question is what I would do if it is a software failure and not a hardware failure, not having an Image to restore to the fully functional original hard disk?

Clone the clone to the original? Nope, I would buy a third hard disk for the mobile rack and create Images as well!

Christer

wrote on Oct 31^st, 2005 at 10:43am:

"... how can I do multiple cloning using the same source and target HDD's each time, if I can't boot WinXP with two identical HDD's?..."

Both of my Dell Dimension PCs have SATA Master HDDs and I have two SATA external enclosure kits. Should I choose to perform a Norton Ghost 2003 Advanced Clone, I can either: (1) swap out the SATA cable from the external HDD so as to boot from it right away in situ; or (2) dismount the SATA HDD from the enclosure to physically replace the Master HDD.

For what it is worth, consider modifying "Pesky's Trick" in the following manner:

Before performing a Norton Ghost 2003 "disk-to-disk" Advanced Clone, consider the following procedure as a "failsafe" measure to avoid rebooting with two bootable HDDs available - sometimes doing that can cause a real headache:

(1)  Configure your BIOS to set at least one of your onboard bootable drives with removable media as FIRST in the Boot Sequence;

(2)  Whether a 3.5-inch floppy or an optical drive, stand by to place formatted but BLANK media in designated drive (and in all the other removable media drives to be on the paranoid - but safe - side);

(3)  Execute the Ghost Clone procedure and once underway with indication that data is being transferred, then insert BLANK media in said drive with anticipation of any reboot attempt following completion being stymied by the lack of a system disk; and

(4)  When the clone procedure has been completed, turn off your system - and then with the AC power cord physically disconnected - press the PC start button for six seconds before removing/disconnecting the Destination HDD (for you doubters out there, check for any illumination inside your PC case immediately after shutdown).

EP :'(

P.S. Related thread: http://radified.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=display;num=1130365817;start=8#8