Norton Ghost / Win XP Pro users,

i've read several of the questions and replies for norton ghost related
problems (or solutions maybe) but i've not found a situation described as i'm
experiencing so i'm soliciting your input on this matter:

i have a dell inspiron 2500 laptop with an internal 11GB Hitachi drive
running Win XP Pro SP2 with all s/w (critical/security) updates as of
12/26/2005. I installed Norton Ghost 2003 on it and proceeded to execute the
backup operation. I connected my Datastor 20 GB Ultra external drive via USB
to the laptop prior to executing the backup operation. Norton recognized the
USB drive and accepted it as the destination for the backup *.gho file. Upon
reboot to what should have been the Ghost.exe application (under PC-DOS) the
program failed and displayed this error message upon reboot: "missing
operating system" on a black screen. only available option is ctrl-alt-del
keyboard sequence and the result is the same. I booted off of my WinXP Pro
installation cd and ran the recovery console program. The windows XP
installation is installed and valid on the hard drive and i can view the
files on the hard drive in the command line interface of the recovery
console. I have data on the laptop drive that in want to save onto the
datastor drive (which is enabled under the windows executive through the usb
port) but unfortunately, the recovery console only operates in Windows system
directories. I can't change directory to the Program files dir and the to the
application directory where the data is. I've about resigned myself to try
using the fixbr and fixmbr commands for repairing the boot record or the
master boot record on the drive but am concerned that will make the rest of
the data on the drive inaccessible.
Has anyone had experience using the recovery console and being successful in
restoring a missin goperating system? Thanks for your replies.

BL

From: "bearded lizard" <beardedlizard@discussions.microsoft.com>

| Norton Ghost / Win XP Pro users,
|
| i've read several of the questions and replies for norton ghost related
| problems (or solutions maybe) but i've not found a situation described as i'm
| experiencing so i'm soliciting your input on this matter:
|
| i have a dell inspiron 2500 laptop with an internal 11GB Hitachi drive
| running Win XP Pro SP2 with all s/w (critical/security) updates as of
| 12/26/2005. I installed Norton Ghost 2003 on it and proceeded to execute the
| backup operation. I connected my Datastor 20 GB Ultra external drive via USB
| to the laptop prior to executing the backup operation. Norton recognized the
| USB drive and accepted it as the destination for the backup *.gho file. Upon
| reboot to what should have been the Ghost.exe application (under PC-DOS) the
| program failed and displayed this error message upon reboot: "missing
| operating system" on a black screen. only available option is ctrl-alt-del
| keyboard sequence and the result is the same. I booted off of my WinXP Pro
| installation cd and ran the recovery console program. The windows XP
| installation is installed and valid on the hard drive and i can view the
| files on the hard drive in the command line interface of the recovery
| console. I have data on the laptop drive that in want to save onto the
| datastor drive (which is enabled under the windows executive through the usb
| port) but unfortunately, the recovery console only operates in Windows system
| directories. I can't change directory to the Program files dir and the to the
| application directory where the data is. I've about resigned myself to try
| using the fixbr and fixmbr commands for repairing the boot record or the
| master boot record on the drive but am concerned that will make the rest of
| the data on the drive inaccessible.
| Has anyone had experience using the recovery console and being successful in
| restoring a missin goperating system? Thanks for your replies.
|
| BL

Please explain what you are doing.

Are you creating a Ghost image of the notebook hard disk to the External USB hard disk ?
If yes, are you using a Ghost Boot Disk ?

It would be best to state what you are trying to accomplish and the steps you are taking to
accomplish it.
Then, based upon those details, it can be determined if you are doing it correctly.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

Dave,
in response to your query; yes, i'm creating a Ghost image of the notebook
hard disk to the External USB hard disk. Yes, I have a standard Ghost Boot
Disk but that is not supposed to be required present in the floppy drive as
Ghost 2003 creates a virtual partion of ~ 2 MB in SDRAM and is supposed to
boot into pc-dos and present the backup operation gui and proceed with teh
backup operation.

BL

"David H. Lipman" wrote:

> From: "bearded lizard" <beardedlizard@discussions.microsoft.com>
>
> | Norton Ghost / Win XP Pro users,
> |
> | i've read several of the questions and replies for norton ghost related
> | problems (or solutions maybe) but i've not found a situation described as i'm
> | experiencing so i'm soliciting your input on this matter:
> |
> | i have a dell inspiron 2500 laptop with an internal 11GB Hitachi drive
> | running Win XP Pro SP2 with all s/w (critical/security) updates as of
> | 12/26/2005. I installed Norton Ghost 2003 on it and proceeded to execute the
> | backup operation. I connected my Datastor 20 GB Ultra external drive via USB
> | to the laptop prior to executing the backup operation. Norton recognized the
> | USB drive and accepted it as the destination for the backup *.gho file. Upon
> | reboot to what should have been the Ghost.exe application (under PC-DOS) the
> | program failed and displayed this error message upon reboot: "missing
> | operating system" on a black screen. only available option is ctrl-alt-del
> | keyboard sequence and the result is the same. I booted off of my WinXP Pro
> | installation cd and ran the recovery console program. The windows XP
> | installation is installed and valid on the hard drive and i can view the
> | files on the hard drive in the command line interface of the recovery
> | console. I have data on the laptop drive that in want to save onto the
> | datastor drive (which is enabled under the windows executive through the usb
> | port) but unfortunately, the recovery console only operates in Windows system
> | directories. I can't change directory to the Program files dir and the to the
> | application directory where the data is. I've about resigned myself to try
> | using the fixbr and fixmbr commands for repairing the boot record or the
> | master boot record on the drive but am concerned that will make the rest of
> | the data on the drive inaccessible.
> | Has anyone had experience using the recovery console and being successful in
> | restoring a missin goperating system? Thanks for your replies.
> |
> | BL
>
> Please explain what you are doing.
>
> Are you creating a Ghost image of the notebook hard disk to the External USB hard disk ?
> If yes, are you using a Ghost Boot Disk ?
>
> It would be best to state what you are trying to accomplish and the steps you are taking to
> accomplish it.
> Then, based upon those details, it can be determined if you are doing it correctly.
>
> --
> Dave
> http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm
>
>
>

Are you able to look and post here the contents of C:\boot.ini?
Depending on the present contents, it may be necessary to edit it so
that booting takes place from the appropriate OS files, rather than
Ghost's Virtual Partition.

I can't refuse an opportunity to repeat my claim that Ghost 2003 is
often a source of great headaches - at laest when used with USB devices
(are you there, Anne?) Do yourself a favour and try out Acronis True
Image.

On 28/12/2005 "bearded lizard" <beardedlizard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>Norton Ghost / Win XP Pro users,
>
>i've read several of the questions and replies for norton ghost related
>problems (or solutions maybe) but i've not found a situation described as i'm
>experiencing so i'm soliciting your input on this matter:
>
>i have a dell inspiron 2500 laptop with an internal 11GB Hitachi drive
>running Win XP Pro SP2 with all s/w (critical/security) updates as of
>12/26/2005. I installed Norton Ghost 2003 on it and proceeded to execute the
>backup operation. I connected my Datastor 20 GB Ultra external drive via USB
>to the laptop prior to executing the backup operation. Norton recognized the
>USB drive and accepted it as the destination for the backup *.gho file. Upon
>reboot to what should have been the Ghost.exe application (under PC-DOS) the
>program failed and displayed this error message upon reboot: "missing
>operating system" on a black screen. only available option is ctrl-alt-del
>keyboard sequence and the result is the same. I booted off of my WinXP Pro
>installation cd and ran the recovery console program. The windows XP
>installation is installed and valid on the hard drive and i can view the
>files on the hard drive in the command line interface of the recovery
>console. I have data on the laptop drive that in want to save onto the
>datastor drive (which is enabled under the windows executive through the usb
>port) but unfortunately, the recovery console only operates in Windows system
>directories. I can't change directory to the Program files dir and the to the
>application directory where the data is. I've about resigned myself to try
>using the fixbr and fixmbr commands for repairing the boot record or the
>master boot record on the drive but am concerned that will make the rest of
>the data on the drive inaccessible.
>Has anyone had experience using the recovery console and being successful in
>restoring a missin goperating system? Thanks for your replies.
>
>BL

This "seems" to be normal since there are TWO Ghost 2003 disk (at least on my
version.) The first one is the DOS boot disk and the second is the Ghost
Program disk. DOS has/had a very annoying problem, it retains the location of
the COMMAND.COM start-up. Since there are two Ghost 2003 disk, it tries to
locate the program on the current floppy disk, which is usually the Ghost 2003
program disk. This does not normally have the COMMAND.COM file.

--
---

Y.

From: "bearded lizard" <beardedlizard@discussions.microsoft.com>

| Dave,
| in response to your query; yes, i'm creating a Ghost image of the notebook
| hard disk to the External USB hard disk. Yes, I have a standard Ghost Boot
| Disk but that is not supposed to be required present in the floppy drive as
| Ghost 2003 creates a virtual partion of ~ 2 MB in SDRAM and is supposed to
| boot into pc-dos and present the backup operation gui and proceed with teh
| backup operation.
|
| BL
|

I have always found that it always works best by creating a Ghost boot Disk. In your case
it would have to be build 793 so it Ghost best support USB and create a Ghost Boot Disk with
USB support and then boot from the Ghost Boot Disk and using the DOS Ghost, create an image
of "C:" on the "D:" drive.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

"bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
news:1135773756.561068.312520@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
> Are you able to look and post here the contents of C:\boot.ini?
> Depending on the present contents, it may be necessary to edit it so
> that booting takes place from the appropriate OS files, rather than
> Ghost's Virtual Partition.
>
> I can't refuse an opportunity to repeat my claim that Ghost 2003 is
> often a source of great headaches - at laest when used with USB devices
> (are you there, Anne?) Do yourself a favour and try out Acronis True
> Image.


Hi Bill:
I guess you're referring to me Bill. First of all, with respect to the OP's
problem, God knows what he's been doing as it relates to his problem.

Bill, I know you're probably tired and even possibly annoyed, of again
seeing my positive comments re using the Ghost 2003 program for the purposes
of cloning the contents of an internal HD to a USB/Firewire external HD, but
I can only reiterate my experience with this program.

We use, as I've mentioned many times, the Ghost 2003 bootable floppy disk
(or Ghost bootable CD on occasion) to perform the direct disk-to-disk
cloning operation. We ordinarily do not use the Windows GUI for this
purpose. We simply prefer the simplicity and portability aspects of using
the media I've referred to.

During the three years or so that we've been using the Ghost 2003 program I
guess we've cloned to & from USB/Firewire drives hundreds of times. In doing
so, we've used hard drives from virtually every manufacturer on the market
together with dozens of different USB/Firewire enclosures. And rarely have
we encountered a problem in this area that we could attribute to a
deficiency of the Ghost 2003 program. What more can I say but relate my own
experiences with this program in the way we've used it?

Can I say the program is flawless? Of course not. But by & large it has
served us well for our purposes with the way we use it. As I have commented
many times before, I wish every piece of software that we use was as simple
to use, straightforward in design, and effective in what it does as the
Ghost 2003 program.

As David Lipman has pointed out, it is important to be using the Ghost
2003.793 (the latest version). There were problems with the initial releases
of the Ghost 2003 program as they related to disk imaging (cloning) certain
USB external hard drives, but that was rectified by the subsequent "builds"
including the 793 build in the early part of 2003 as I recall.

Again, as I've previously mentioned, while the program is not flawless,
whatever problems we've encountered in this area are invariably due to one
or more of the following...
1. Cloning corrupted system files from one drive to another. (If you clone
garbage, garbage is what you'll get).
2. Defective source or destination disk, or improper configuration of these
devices.
3. User error in improperly using the program.

I understand that for one reason or another you feel strongly about the
inadequacy of this program, and of course I'm not attempting to change your
mind about it. All I can do is simply relate to you and others my experience
with the program.
Anna

Anna wrote:
> "bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
> news:1135773756.561068.312520@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
> > Are you able to look and post here the contents of C:\boot.ini?
> > Depending on the present contents, it may be necessary to edit it so
> > that booting takes place from the appropriate OS files, rather than
> > Ghost's Virtual Partition.
> >
> > I can't refuse an opportunity to repeat my claim that Ghost 2003 is
> > often a source of great headaches - at laest when used with USB devices
> > (are you there, Anne?) Do yourself a favour and try out Acronis True
> > Image.
>
>
> Hi Bill:
> I guess you're referring to me Bill. First of all, with respect to the OP's
> problem, God knows what he's been doing as it relates to his problem.
>
> Bill, I know you're probably tired and even possibly annoyed, of again
> seeing my positive comments re using the Ghost 2003 program ...

Not even a little bit.

(...snip...)

> I understand that for one reason or another you feel strongly about the
> inadequacy of this program, and of course I'm not attempting to change your
> mind about it. All I can do is simply relate to you and others my experience
> with the program.
> Anna

Hi anna,

Apologies for not remembering your name correctly.

Let me assure you that my reference to you was made in jest. If I sound
as if I'm upset about your frequent favourable references to Ghost
2003, I assure you that I'm not. I accept what you say in that it has
been fulfilling its purpose for you. As I've mentioned in the past,
when it comes to USB devices this product can be a real pain, and I
take this post as being just another example.

Please do not take my post too seriously. At most, you can take it as
"see? I told you so", but all in good fun. Nothing harsh intended here.

Bill

bxf,

here are the contents of the boot.ini file: created 9/8/05 (when i first
installed XP I guess) and size is 221 bytes

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi<0>disk<0>rdisk<0>partition<1>\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi<0>disk<0>rdisk<0>partition<1>\Windows="Micro soft Windows XP
Professional"
/fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

thanks for your help
BL

"bxf" wrote:

> Are you able to look and post here the contents of C:\boot.ini?
> Depending on the present contents, it may be necessary to edit it so
> that booting takes place from the appropriate OS files, rather than
> Ghost's Virtual Partition.
>
> I can't refuse an opportunity to repeat my claim that Ghost 2003 is
> often a source of great headaches - at laest when used with USB devices
> (are you there, Anne?) Do yourself a favour and try out Acronis True
> Image.
>
>

Dave,

I successfully used my Ghost boot disk to image the C: drive to my USB D:
drive this morning. However, upon reboot I still have the "missing operating
system" message from the C: drive. I suspect then that I would have the same
problem if I restored the image from the D: drive back to the C: drive. Im
using Ghost build 2003.775

I have successfully imaged my home desktop, work desktop and several other
pc's with this build of Ghost and using the Ghost GUI to set all the
parameters up before restarting and Ghost starts up with pc-dos and away it
goes. Same thing I did when I went to image this laptop except it coughed on
the reboot.

Thanks fior your help.
BL

"David H. Lipman" wrote:

> From: "bearded lizard" <beardedlizard@discussions.microsoft.com>
>
> | Dave,
> | in response to your query; yes, i'm creating a Ghost image of the notebook
> | hard disk to the External USB hard disk. Yes, I have a standard Ghost Boot
> | Disk but that is not supposed to be required present in the floppy drive as
> | Ghost 2003 creates a virtual partion of ~ 2 MB in SDRAM and is supposed to
> | boot into pc-dos and present the backup operation gui and proceed with teh
> | backup operation.
> |
> | BL
> |
>
> I have always found that it always works best by creating a Ghost boot Disk. In your case
> it would have to be build 793 so it Ghost best support USB and create a Ghost Boot Disk with
> USB support and then boot from the Ghost Boot Disk and using the DOS Ghost, create an image
> of "C:" on the "D:" drive.
>
> --
> Dave
> http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm
>
>
>