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Message started by mandy88 on Nov 12th, 2011 at 4:43am

Title: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 12th, 2011 at 4:43am
Hi Everyone .. :)

     I want the bootable Disk that upon booting display a small menu like this ..eg :-

- press 1 to backup c to d ( make the complete disk image  of  c and store in D: )

- press 2 to restore the image From d to c ( Restore the image file back to c from d )

It is helpful for simply  Backup & restore Pc's.

Can some one please provide me the bootable disk with the above menu for Nghost 2003 or any version ...


- Regards
   Mandy88   

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by NightOwl on Nov 12th, 2011 at 11:55pm
@ mandy88

Welcome to Radified forums.


Quote:
I want the bootable Disk that upon booting display a small menu like this ..eg :-

Your question/request is a common one--and it is so easy to type several lines outlining what you want the boot disk to do.

And, in truth, it is a fairly easy thing to accomplish--but, only if you have spent some time learning about DOS batch files, Ghost command line switches, and how to put the two things together.


Quote:
Can some one please provide me the bootable disk with the above menu for Nghost 2003 or any version ...

But, I guess you're hoping someone will do the *heavy lifting* for you......

Now, I said it was *fairly easy* (and it is), but I didn't say it wouldn't take some *effort*!  There's just a bunch of details you have to keep track of to make this project happen:

1-1.  *bootable Disk*--are we talking *floppy disk* or *optical disc*?

1-2.  Does your system have a floppy drive--it is often easiest to test DOS boot programs on floppies than on optical discs--easy to edit and save changes until you have a *final*, bug free boot sequence.

2. 
Quote:
( make the complete disk image  of  c and store in D: )

Is *c* and *d* two partitions on the same HDD, or are they two different HDDs--(need to know because the Ghost Command Line switches will be different depending on where *c* and *d* are located)?

3.  What file system are in use on *c* and *d*--(need to know because the Ghost Command Line switches will be different depending on the file system)?

4. 
Quote:
for Nghost 2003 or any version ...

Do you have a licensed copy of Ghost 2003--or any version? 

The full Ghost Windows program includes a Boot Disk creator sub-program.  These boot disks can be edited and modified to carry out your *automated* commands for image creation and restores.

The DOS menu will stay the same regardless of the version of Ghost being used, but how to create the boot media may have to vary because different versions of Ghost are of different size--and you have to change how you do things if the size of Ghost gets too large for the available space on a floppy disk or bootable optical disc.

5.  What operating system is being used?  Sometimes you have to make changes to the Ghost Command Line switches depending on if you're using Windows and what version of Windows it is.  And, sometimes you have to make changes to the Windows boot setup in order for Ghost to work successfully.

So, just to get started, the *devil is in the details*!  So, provide some answers, and then there will be more questions  ;) !


Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 13th, 2011 at 8:39am
firstly thanks for your reply ...

  Now as we move to the project details here they are ..

- I need a bootable CD which upon booting disply the above mentioned menu .

- Yes, *c* and *d* two partitions on the same HDD having NTFS file system.

- Yes, i am having the copy of 2003 which i got it from my friend back in 2004/05 i think.

" sir, In simple words, i want the CD to run on win-Xp and Win-7 upon booting from CD i t should display two options 1 & 2 and upon selection it should perform the task mentioned in the script... as we talked above "  :)

Here is the link for the Bootable 2003 disk iso i am using :- [url]Link Removed[/url]

[edit]Edit by NightOwl:  Removed link to download iso file--it appears to contain a copyrighted Ghost program.

Is this something you posted on Rapid Share--or a file you found already on the internet?

To protect our forum from possible lawsuits--we avoid allowing/promoting the distribution of copyrighted material that is not in the public domain.[/edit]

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by NightOwl on Nov 14th, 2011 at 8:51am
@ mandy88

So, as I said--as soon as I have some answers, expect *more questions*!


NightOwl wrote on Nov 12th, 2011 at 11:55pm:
1-2.Does your system have a floppy drive

I didn't see an answer to that question.


mandy88 wrote on Nov 13th, 2011 at 8:39am:
- Yes, i am having the copy of 2003 which i got it from my friend back in 2004/05 i think. 

Do you have Ghost 2003 installed on a system?  Do you have access to the Ghost *Boot Wizard* for creating boot floppy disks?



Quote:
" sir, In simple words, i want the CD to run on win-Xp and Win-7 upon booting from CD

Are we talking different machines--or, a dual booting machine? 

Ghost 2003 can work on a Win7 system--but, you have to make changes to how you initially install Win7--or changes in how you use Ghost 2003--it can not be quit the same as what you do on a WinXP system.  Ghost 2003 was abandoned as far as updating somewhere back in 2004 or 2005--and Ghost 2003 has no knowledge of the new boot files and/or boot partitions that Vista and Win7 use.

So, you can not install Win7 using its default settings for setting up a new system and also expect Ghost 2003 to work in it's default settings--they are not compatible--but, one can make changes to the *default* settings so they can work together.

So, a few more answers and then we may be ready to proceed.

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 14th, 2011 at 11:51pm
ok...

- i am not having floppy drive in my system

- for your second Qn.  i am already having bootable ghost disk iso image that i have uploaded it on Rs, as the link attached in my above reply. forgive it i didn't given attention towards that...

- yes i am talking of two different machines .

and for both machines it should work in imaging the c:/ drive  and backing it in D:/ drive in case of failure we can restore it using the second option from our boot disk menu that we are creating.... i hope i have answer your query.

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by NightOwl on Nov 15th, 2011 at 9:40am
@ mandy88

Okay, no floppy drive.

Didn't see an answer to these two questions:


Quote:
Do you have Ghost 2003 installed on a system?  Do you have access to the Ghost *Boot Wizard* for creating boot floppy disks?


The reason I'm asking--do you have the ability to modify the DOS boot files (autoexec.bat and config.sys) and create bootable optical discs with those new files?  If so, then is all you want is the DOS command lines to create the *menu* and the Ghost Command line to perform the task--and you will add them to your boot files?

Or,


Quote:
already having bootable ghost disk iso image

are you using a bootable iso from some other source--and you are not able to make changes to the boot files--and need a bootable disc with the DOS and Ghost command lines already embedded in the iso?


Quote:
- yes i am talking of two different machines .

Are you going to change the *default* Win7 install so the boot files are located on the same partition as the OS--and edit the boot files so they act in a similar fashion as did WinXP's boot files--if not, then the backup and restore features of Ghost 2003 will have to be modified with different command lines from what is used for a WinXP system--and you will have the boot partition as well as the OS partition to backup.  So, there will have to be two different boot CD's--one for WinXP and one for Win7.


Quote:
for both machines it should work in imaging the c:/ drive  and backing it in D:/ drive in case of failure we can restore it using the second option from our boot disk

*Failure* of what?  If you mean a *corrupt* OS--then a backup image on a second partition on a single HDD will be restorable to solve that problem.  But, if you are talking about a *HDD failure*--this backup scenario will do you *no good*!  The HDD failure that takes down your OS will also cause loss of your second partition and the stored Ghost image.  To protect against that problem, you have to save the image to a second media, separate from the HDD that you are making the image of.

And, saving an image file to the *D:\* partition--do you intend to save the file(s) to the *root directory*--or to a *sub-directory* that is under the root directory?

So, again, a few more questions to answer--and then we can begin working on the details of a solution.

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 16th, 2011 at 3:14am
okay sir here are more details ...

-Do you have Ghost 2003 installed on a system ?

>  No. i am just having the ghost boot CD that link i have shared w/ you. if you want me to install ghost 2003 again then i need to search my friend's house for that( N.Ghost setup CD).

- are you using a bootable iso from some other source-

> i got it from my friend. last 5 months back i think ! :-?

- -and you are not able to make changes to the boot files--and need a bootable disc with the DOS and Ghost command lines already embedded in the iso?

> yes .

-Are you going to change the *default* Win7 install so the boot files are located on the same partition as the OS--and edit the boot files so they act in a similar fashion as did WinXP's boot files--if not, then the backup and restore features of Ghost 2003 will have to be modified with different command lines from what is used for a WinXP system--and you will have the boot partition as well as the OS partition to backup.  So, there will have to be two different boot CD's--one for WinXP and one for Win7.

> i am a bit confused with this .... But what i need is i will give u an example of my system ...
   I am having system with 2 partition's C:/ and D:/ , on C:/ i have installed win xp OS and i have kept D:/ for other stuff like backup etc etc ... so on Disk D:/ i want to store the whole c:/ drive image ( eg:- BACKUP.GHO) i case of Corrupt OS i can therefore restore it backup from D:/ .
( C:/ partion is of 15 GB and D:/ is of 64 GB )

and same is the case with WINDOWS 7 Machine both are using NTFS file system....


- And, saving an image file to the *D:\* partition--do you intend to save the file(s) to the *root directory*--or to a *sub-directory* that is under the root directory?

> No i want to store the file to the *sub-directory* ( BackUp Folder) that is under the root directory D:/  !

To clear the air i am attaching a link of page where it is explaining the task quite similar to that of mine ...
>> http://www.pcexhaust.com/MamboLite/content/view/28/47/




I hope i cleared your queries... ::)

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 18th, 2011 at 10:58am
still at the edge of seat sir... just waiting for your advice!

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by NightOwl on Nov 19th, 2011 at 11:44am
@ mandy88

Hang in there!  My personal schedule has prevented me from spending additional time on this + I ran into some technical difficulties working with your ISO that I didn't expect--those I have worked out late last night.

I should have something later this weekend.

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 19th, 2011 at 11:37pm
thank you ...

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by NightOwl on Nov 20th, 2011 at 1:15am
@ mandy88

Have you used your boot disc to run Ghost manually on your WinXP system?

If so, how is the WinXP OS partition (C:) identified in the DOS Ghost interface when you choose it as the *source* partition?

And, how is the data D: partition identified in the DOS Ghost interface when you choose it as the *destination* partition?

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 20th, 2011 at 11:26pm
Have you used your boot disc to run Ghost manually on your WinXP system?

> yes all manual process loading ghost from Ghost boot disk and all routine work...

WinXP OS partition (C:) is identified as Primary in the DOS Ghost interface.

and D:\ is identified as Logical ( when choosen as destination drive)

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by NightOwl on Nov 27th, 2011 at 10:15pm
@ mandy88

I haven't forgotten you!  This last week was our *Thanksgiving* holidays here in the USA, and family and friends, etc--life happens and I had to put this aside for awhile.  But I'm working on the project as I post this response to you.



Thanks for your last response--that's helpful information.


Quote:
WinXP OS partition (C:) is identified as Primary in the DOS Ghost interface.

and D:\ is identified as Logical ( when choosen as destination drive)

But, is the WinXP OS partition (C:) listed as *1.1*, and the D:\ partition listed as *1.2*?

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 27th, 2011 at 11:21pm
ok welcome back ...

yes you are true they are listed as :-   partition is (C:) listed as *1.1*, and the D:\ partition  is listed as *1.2*
do you got any of the script ready for this menu ...

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by NightOwl on Nov 28th, 2011 at 1:09am
@ mandy88

Okay, so this is going to have to be somewhat of a *tutorial*--because, I can not re-post your *Iso* with the modified boot files with the *menu* you want.  The reason--your Iso has the copyrighted Ghost 2003 executable--and we can not put that on the forum for downloading.

So, I am removing your Ghost 2003 program from your Iso, modifying the boot files with the new menu items, and then I will make a new bootable Iso--but, without the Ghost 2003 program.  You will have to follow the tutorial steps that I will provide that explain how you can get your Ghost 2003 program from your Iso and transfer it to the new Iso I post.  Or, you can copy the Ghost 2003 program from your installation disc of Ghost 2003 to the new Iso.  Either way can work.

So, let's get started!  I will probably be posting the steps in several separate posts so no one post is excessively long.

You will need to be able to work with Iso files.  The program that I have found that seems to work in most cases is the *share-ware* program MagicIso (aka Magic Iso Maker):  Download MagicISO

So, download the program and install it on your system.  Start the program and then load (Open) your Iso.  You do that by clicking on the the menu item *File*, and then clicking on *Open ...*, navigate to your Iso file and select it--then press the *Open* button.  You should get the following:



As you will see, MagicIso shows the name of the Iso as *Ghost Boot CD* in the left side screen and MagicIso says the Iso is *Bootable*, but, you will see no files listed in the right side screen.  This is were I was stumped, as I mentioned in an earlier post.  In the past, boot Iso's that I have worked with showed the boot files in the right side screen.  But, not this one! 

(Did you create this Iso?  What program did you use?  I will have to do some more research and testing to see if I can figure out what's different about this Iso vs other Iso's I've worked with!)

But, I finally figured out what needed to be done.......

In MagicIso, with your Iso opened in the program--go to the menu item *Tools* and click on it.  Then select *Save Boot Image ...*, select a location (I created a folder on the Desktop named *Iso Project* to save all the files for this project), give it a *File name*--be sure to add the *.bif* to the name, because for some unknown reason MagicIso fails to add it by default--even though the program selects that file type in the *Save as type:* entry--I used *bootimage.bif*, and keep the default *Save as type:* as a *.bif* (boot image file) file type.

Now, go to MagicIso's menu item *File* and click on it, then select the *Open ...*, navigate to the *.bif* file you just created, but it will not be listed until you change the *Save as type:* file type to *Disk Image files* which includes the *.bif* as one of the disk image file types.  Select it and press the *Open* button.  You should now have the following:



You can now see your *boot files* listed in the right side screen.  The *Ghost2k3.exe* is your Ghost 2003 program.  The *autoexec.bat* is one of the boot files responsible for telling your system what to do when booted to DOS--that's where we will put the Ghost command lines.  Your boot Iso does not have a second boot file--*config.sys*--that is not needed in many instances for simple DOS boot discs--but, we will have to add it to the new boot Iso in order to have a menu to make choices from.

So, now single click (don't double click--that will make your system try to *run* that file and you will probably get one or more error messages), and then right mouse click that highlighted file--you will get the following:




Select *Extract ...*, select the location you wish to use (I'm using that *Iso Project* folder on my Desktop), and then press the *OK* button.  You can now use any file management program, such as Windows Explorer, to look and see that *autoexec.bat* is now in the location that you have chosen.

You should go back to MagicIso, and single click on the *ghost2k3.exe* file to highlight it, then right mouse click, select *Extract ...*, and again select the location you wish to use, and then press the *OK* button.  Now your Ghost program should be in your selected location.  You will need that to add it back to the new menu boot Iso when it's ready.

So, I'm stopping here.  As I said, this is to be a *tutorial*--I'm going to show how to create a boot menu using the needed DOS commands so others can do this on their own if they want to--and they can *customize* it as well!  When I'm done, I will post the Iso that has what you have requested--but, again, you will have to work with the Iso to *add-back* your Ghost program.

Work with MagicIso and let me know if you can do the steps outlined above with your Iso file and/or ask needed questions--I will post more in the next day or two.

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by mandy88 on Nov 28th, 2011 at 7:13am
yes sir, all your steps till here is completed just waiting for next steps ....

Title: Re: Automate batch file for bootable ghost Disk ...
Post by NightOwl on Dec 4th, 2011 at 12:04am
@ mandy88

I got your PM (Private Message) stating that you had solved your bootable disc with a DOS menu to select automated Ghost 2003 backups and restores for WinXP--congratulations!

Why don't you share your *config.sys* and *autoexec.bat* with the forum so we can see your working solution?  I plan on continuing my posts with my solution to complete this thread--but it would be interesting to compare notes.

To answer your other question in the PM--probably any version of Ghost will work with Win7 if all you plan on doing is *partition* backups and restores of the Win7 OS only.  It's only if you want to do *whole HDD* backups and restores--either to an existing HDD on the system, or to a *new* HDD replacing a dead old HDD--then, probably only Ghost 11.5 or later that has been updated to understand how Win7 uses a SRP (System Reserve Partition) for booting, and the disk ID has to be maintained so the Win7 boot files will continue to allow the newly restored *whole HDD* to recognize the new HDD and correctly boot from it--at least without a *boot repair* using the Win7 bootable installation CD--will be compatible.

Ghost 2003 was last updated in late 2003 or early 2004--and it has no idea about Win7's boot files and the SRP (actually, Ghost 2003 doesn't understand Win Vista either!)  You can change how Win7 is installed and the boot files can be altered to *act like* the old WinXP boot files--and that allows for Ghost 2003 to be used successfully with Win7 when doing *whole HDD* backups and restores--but, you have to actively plan ahead for that and make changes in how Win7 is installed for that to be successful.

But, again, *partition* backups and restores should work fine.

More later!

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