This is probably something obvious that I missed, but when I had a recent disaster, my Ghost recovery diskettes stalled at the Windows 98 screen.  I even recreated them again and the new set gave the same result.  I have MS-DOS on diskette 1 and Ghost.exe on Disk 2. They were created using the Symantect interface.

Booting to Disk 1 gave the Windows 98 screen but never prompted for the next diskette.  It used to; I last tested about 3 years ago and it worked perfectly.  Now it just stops.

What am I missing?

(Windows XP, SP1.  Norton System Works 2003 Pro, Ghost)

I Ghost a new image each week to an external h/w. (Sorry for the confusion.)  No new h/w, I don't think.

What I hadn't tested in 3 years were my boot diskettes.  Now, I have tried various boot disks, including MS DOS and PC DOS.  I created new ones: same result. I even created a boot CD and the boot process bypassed it.  I checked the BIOS to make sure that the CD was read before the h/d, too. I used Roxio and it really only had one file on it. Not sure if it was correct; followed some web instructions. Anyway, why would it hang??

The boot diskettes all execute to a certain point and then just hang.  Since this occurs before the o/s kicks in, what could be stopping it?

Anyway, your web page suggestion is good, but I'm not sure how to move from the boot diskette with DOS on it to a second one that will have the Ghost.Exe in its folder.  Can I remove the first diskette once in DOS and then put in the second?  And, will DOS see all my internal/external h/w (Firewire and USB)?  Obviously I need to get to those to restore my image in case of disaster.

Thx.

I added the two folders (one USB, one FWR) + Autoexec + Config + guest.exe from my old Symantec-created diskettes to the new one (removing QBasic) and the boot halted right after a message "Iomega ASPI USB-EHCI All rights reserved."  This is the same place former attempts have stalled.  What now?

Ben,

It seemed like the first web site was the best fit, so I created that diskette.  I booted to it and was allowed to choose USB or F/W.  The F/W looked like it worked and then I got a bunch of 'failed install' messages.  But, at the end, I put in the Ghost.Exe diskette, brought up the Ghost interface, and was able to view my Ghost image on my external f/w connected drive!  I will have to test my USB one (which I keep at work).

Why did I get all the failed messages if it (seemed) to work.   I did not reinstall the image, but was happy to see it.  Does this confirm that I'm good to go?

Thanks.  Now, why was this so difficult?  The one from Symantec used to work fine.

1.          Quote: “So, you must be setting up your Ghost backup using the Windows interface, and then Ghost shuts down Windows and boots to DOS--finds you external HDD without problems and then boots back to Windows--correct?”   Yes, correct. 

2.         Actually, both my external drives are the same as during my last successful test three years ago.  I have not upgraded either one. 

3.         I have not tested my USB drive at all.  All my tests so far are on the F/W one.

4.         I do not have any memory stick card readers of any kind attached during the process.  I’ve learned that Ghost is very finicky about some USB devices being hooked up, especially if I’m connecting a USB external drive.  I have a USB connected ATI TV Wonder that I typically disconnect for USB backup.  It doesn’t seem to affect firewire, and hence I left it connected during these tests.  Maybe it interfered?  I also have installed a card reader (for my digital camera), but it’s certainly not connected during all of this.

5.         When I ran the diskette Ben suggested, I made the F/w selection.  I have not tested USB at all.   I did notice that it loaded PC DOS.  I discovered that one of the drives (I think the USB one) required MS DOS and the F/W didn’t care.  Is that your experience? Does the flavor of DOS make a difference (PC vs. MS DOS)?

6.         I didn’t know that it could take as long as 5 minutes for anything.  As I noted in my case description, my Symantec/Ghost created diskettes (both old and just created) hang at the Win98 screen, but I didn’t wait more than a minute or so before rebooting; nothing seemed to be happening.  Historically, the first diskette loaded and then immediately prompted for the Ghost.Exe diskette.  No wait.  I don’t think I even saw the Win98 screen in my original tests. Is it normal to see the Win98 screen?? 

7.          Obviously, I want a solid DR plan, so that if I can’t get to Windows, I can boot to diskettes or CD that will allow me to restore my image from either a F/W or USB external drive.  I think my mouse worked on your diskette suggestion.

8.          Yeah, I saw the bootable CD link from the radified site the other day, but it looked lengthy and complicated.  I’d like to be able to download a single zip folder from which I can burn into a CD and go.  Or, is there somewhere I can just download these files instead of having to create them all?  Anything simpler out there?

9.         Where are these Windows detail files that Ghost creates?  Are they accessed from the Ghost Windows interface? I take it they’re not created by the diskette boot process?