Ghost 12 will operate for 30 days without activation.  Until it is activated according to the manual, you can't use:  copy drive, lights out restore, restore anyware, or convert to virtual disk.

To be honest however, it is hard to image a scenario where you would be using Ghost 12 and you didn't have access to the Internet.  Ghost 12 requires Windows XP or Windows Vista.  Neither of those will really function without being activated and updated with patches and service packs.  So if you never update your Windows pc's, then there's not much need for an image backup program in my opinion.  You can get by with something a lot cheaper if you are in an isolated part of the world and no Internet and no telephones or modems.

The next question might be, "What do you use your computers for if there is no access to the outside world?"

I agree about some internal corporate environments, especially private ones because of security which are totally isolated.  But in those cases, there is an IT department which handles (dictates) computer use, backup policies etc etc etc.

As you said, though, Ghost 12 isn't a enterprise product, so I can't quite place how Ghost 12 and/or a pc would be used without some outside connection.

660207

Quote:

Ghost 12 is oriented for the *consumer--retail* user--you sound like a corporate user that needs a *site* license--apples and oranges!!!

@NightOwl
No, I just wanted to underline that computers without internet-access are nothing special
It depends on the area of responsibility...

@Ghost4me
Thanks. But I think there is just support for problems with internet-activation (if I read the assortment by symantec-page), no point for activation alternatives.

660207,

Please note that there is a difference between the term "activation" and "registration".  Activation installs a code (obtained via Internet or phone call) that ties  fingerprint of that specific computer to that license.  It is completely different from registration.

The reason software vendors have strict activation now, is to prevent someone from purchasing one copy of Ghost 12, and then attempting to activate it once, and then install that code on a lot of computers.  The activation code will only work on ONE computer.

Acronis True Image (which I have as well) also requires activation.  Not sure if they have phone activation or just Internet activation, as I activated over the Internet.