I'm having trouble doing a partition to partition restore using the command line.  Here is the basic set-up:

Ghost 8.0.0.984
Disk 1:1 - Dell utility partition - FAT
Disk 1:2 - Operating System(WinXPwithSP2) - NTFS
Disk 1:3 - Ghost Image(ghost.exe is this partition as well) - FAT32

I am able to do a restore using a Win98 boot disk and the Ghost GUI but can't get the syntax down for the command line.  I would eventually use the command line to do an automated restore.

Here is the syntax i have been using:

ghost -clone,mode=load,src=1:3\image.gho,dst=1:2

The error message is:
Usage Error 684
The location of the File Preservation Metadata File conflicts with the destination of the clone.  Use the -PFILE switch to specify a different location for the File Preservation Metadata File.

I have use the -pfile switch with no luck(probably user error).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

That is the correct syntax.  Thanks for all your help!!

scj6771

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No--you can not use Ghost32 that is running from the active OS to over-write that OS partition--it would over-write and stop all OS functions including Ghost32!

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Your syntax for the command line would not work as typed--Ghost starts the numbering of the HDDs on a system with *1* and not *0* for a HDD with NTFS partitions--so *C:* would be 1:1 and *D:* would be 1:2--so your command line would need to be altered to reflect that numbering system.

Other examples of command lines are shown at the end of this Symantec FAQ:  Switches: Cloning

scj6771

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This is doable--takes some setting up, but works fine once you get there--and, *yes*, it can probably be done from a BartPE partition--I'm not a BartPE person so don't know the details, but I've seen it referenced as doable--you need to put the needed commands in a batch file in the startup folder that references the needed batch file to run the needed steps as outlined below.

You would have to add a primary partition and make it bootable--if you want to use Ghost32, then you would have to boot with BartPE so you have a Windows based OS available.  Or, you could use *ghost.exe*--the DOS based Ghost and then you create a bootable partition that is DOS based.

You then use a Master Boot Record (MBR) program that allows for running it from a command line.  You  place the commands inside a batch file.  The commands would be to change the current OS partition to *inactive* and *hidden*, and then the make your Ghost partition *unhidden* and *active*.  The final command in the batch file would be to *re-boot*.  Once Windows closes down and re-boots the system, you would now be booting from your Ghost partition.

You would have the needed commands in place to run a batch file that tells whichever version of Ghost you are using to create the Ghost image file you want, and when completed, your batch file would run the MBR program again (which you would also have on the Ghost partition) to re-set the partitions so the Ghost partition is now *inactive* and *hidden*, and your Windows partition is *unhidden* and *active*--and the final command is to re-boot.  This then brings you back to your original OS.

You can then create a shortcut that you click to start the whole process of calling that Windows batch file--and, I've not done this, but I assume if you have *remote* access to a system, then you can remotely connect to the Windows OS, execute that batch file--and everything goes from there!

Lots of details to keep track of!  You need to get comfortable with the MBR program and changing boot partitions from *active* to *inactive* and from *unhidden* to *hidden*.  You have to be able to create an additional primary partition for booting from.  And, if using BartPE, you will have to figure out how to transfer it to a HDD partition for booting from--instead of from a flashdrive or optical disc.

Then, you just have to figure out the necessary command lines, and where to put them in batch files that will run the commands when you need them.

scj6771

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Well, it's out for sure if you use the *std boot loader* that's used by Microsoft.  As a standard, each HDD can have a max of 4 primary partitions.  You can use one of those primary partitions to create an *extended* partition--which can contain as many *logical partitions* as the number of available drive letters will allow.

So, your OS has to use one primary, if you have a second partition for data--that will use another primary (either as a primary partition--or as the needed extended partition to hold additional logical partitions), so there's two primary partitions still available--unless you have a Dell or other manufacturer who adds *utility and/or restore partitions* in addition to the basic OS partition--you will have to make decisions and choices about keeping those...

But, there are other boot loaders available that can actually use extended partitions for booting from--and having unlimited *primary partitions*.  You can learn more here:

Understanding MultiBooting and Booting Windows from an Extended Partition

BootIt NG (Next Generation)


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The simplest way is to use one of the available 4 primary partitions as an imaging boot partition used exclusively for performing the imaging procedures.  Another option for using Ghost32 and not using BartPE could be installing another functioning WinXP OS into that imaging boot partition--once you have hidden and made the main WinXP partition inactive--you can use Ghost32 from that unhidden and active imaging partition to do all of Ghost's procedures as long as it does not include over-writing or saving an image of that imaging partition to that imaging partition (you can save an image of the inactive, hidden WinXP partition though).  But, that method will obviously require a much larger partition to hold the whole WinXP system--BartPE or a DOS partition can be much smaller in size!

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Well, it all depends on what you want to set up--and under what circumstances you intend to start the Ghost process--i.e. are you going to start the process while booted to the main WinXP system--then you can simply run a batch file by clicking on a shortcut that calls it.  But, if your needs are for a system that's been *whacked* by the user so you can no longer boot into Windows--then you will have to have a booting solution that doesn't need an active WinXP that allows you to boot to it--i.e. an emergency boot option such as a floppy disk, bootable optical disc, bootable flash drive, or a boot loader other than the Microsoft way that allows you to boot to another bootable partition (See the Multibooting information above!).

If you're booted to WinXP--and you want to switch to the imaging boot partition--I use the following technique:

I use the program MBR Wizard v1.53 (the Windows version, not the DOS version):

Download page for MBRWizard - The MBR Management Utility

The MBR Wizard program should be placed in the root directory of the C: drive so it is found when you run the batch file.

Using NotePad, I create the following text file:

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And then save it as *reboot.bat* to my root directory of C:

Then create a shortcut to that file that I place on my desktop called *Reboot to Ghost Imaging Partition*.  The above assumes that my WinXP OS is on partition 0 (zero)--MBRWiz starts partition numbering at zero), and my Ghost imaging boot partition is the third primary partition--so number 2 (my data partition is the 2nd partition--so partition 1 based on starting at zero).

You can find Windows shut down commands by Goggling:  SHORTCUTS TO SHUTDOWN & RESTART WINDOWS 2000 & XP

The above instructed the MBR Wizard program to change the current Active, Unhidden WinXP partition #0 to be Hidden, and Inactive (upon next re-boot!), and to make my Ghost imaging partition the Active partition on next re-boot.  That imaging partition has to be bootable and have whatever program files and command lines that are needed to perform whatever Ghost task I want--or one could simply run Ghost manually if you don't want an automated procedure.  You would have BartPE for Ghost 32--or a DOS boot partition for DOS *ghost.exe*.

You would then need a similar set of commands for MBR Wizard in the Ghost imaging partition to change everything back to the WinXP OS partition as being Active and Unhidden.  If the Ghost imaging partition is a DOS partition--then you would use the DOS based MBR Wizard program v1.52: 

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Note, you need a DOS based re-boot program if in DOS.  And, the MBR Wizard command to make a partition *active* automatically *unhides* it as well.

Fair warning--practice the above on a *non-essential* system or spare HDD until you are comfortable with the results--you want to be able to recover from a bad command made by mistake, etc. !