problem with Ghost image use on Dell, BIOS related

>> It will basicly freeze up on boot up,

Ghost 9 runs from within Windows (but it is not a server version), so I'm not sure about your boot up issue?  If you have scsi devices and you are booting from the Ghost 9 CD, you can press F6 to add your scsci drivers form floppy.  Also Ghost 9 requires .NET framework so make sure those updates are there.

I think Ghost 9 requires Windows XP or Windows 2000.

As you mentioned, Acronis True Image also has a server/enterprise version similar to Ghost's.

The System Requirements for Ghost 9 are:
Windows 2000 Pro/XP Home/XP Pro

Ghost 9 User Manual (see page 11)
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/products/ghost/9.0/manuals/userguide.pdf

I was able successfully do Ghost image on Dell poweredge 1800 machine with winSBS2003 on it, as well on some other Dell (demension 8400)with winXP.
And I'm pretty sure, from those expirences, that Ghost does not care what OS is installed on machine( and what make beauty by using Ghost), it does image on BIOS level.
the only problem , is that some BIOS versions preventing Ghost to run.
For example , when I had Dell demension 8400 with A01 BIOS on it , I had no problem do image, but as soon I upgrade to A09, it start "freezing up" ghost image.
There is was several reasearch done, and some people advise modify CD-rom drivers in BIOS in order to bypass this problem, but I never follow througth.
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/search?ticket=YlXFCXTcouim_-1&submitted=true&q=ghost+image+

Sorry, but I don't think I have the answer for you; maybe someone else will.  

Your BIOS update may be related to change in the hard drive controller, which might explain the difficulties with Ghost 9 and Windows 2003 server.  From your link, I found this article referring to Ghost 9 and Dimension 8400:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_harddrive&message.id=76168&query.id=112345#M76168

I would reccommend that you get software that specifically states it will work with Windows 2003 Server.  You have important data on the server and you want a trusted good way to make an image backup.  Ghost 9 is a consumer software product--it has been replaced by Ghost 10 and Ghost 12 as well as Norton Save & Restore for consumers.

The products for servers are Backup Exec for Windows Servers (Symantec).  
http://www.symantec.com/smb/products/overview.jsp?pcid=bu_rec&pvid=bewin_svr

Also, Acronis (and others) have Server backup softare.
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/ATISWin/

They are more expensive to handle not only the backup, but restore complexities of a server.

Thanks.
I will have to try all others option, of couse stil would like to make ghost 9 work, very nice soft, to restore whole system of 6-9Gb for 20-30 min, and not to worry about all other specific configuration and mess with troubleshooting diffrent issue, that just the best way.

> some of ghost or image capture to our hardisk not all be successful, maybe there's a problem with the disk or any hardware parts that some conflict. i read about this software try, you can try this one if you want to, the "HDClone".

goodluck!

Since Ghost is not supported on W2K3 and not open-source, you may never figure out what's blocking the boot.  The best way would be to go Veritas System Recovery (bare metal restore in 30 minutes) or Acronis Server.

If you had Ghost working but failed after BIOS upgrade, you may want to simply try BIOS downgrade.  At least some Dell BIOS versions let you do that (without checking if you're advancing or decreasing BIOS version).

When it hangs, what step was it at (loading USB driver or something)?

Ghost does not care what OS is installed( Iwas able do image of servers, but diffrent hardware).
It is only issue with some versions of BIOS.
It will stop on:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starting PC DOS
Iomega ASPI USB-EHCI 1.0 V13 09May2003
Copyright (C) 2003 Iomega corporation
All right reserve
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And if it is compatable BIOS version , it will get to GUI.

That's right Ghost doesn't care about OS but Symantec does. :-)  If you tell the support that you're ghosting a W2k3 they'd slam the door shut.  But of course you can always tell them you're doing a XP instead.

After USB-EHCI usually Ghost loads Firewire driver and it often hangs at that step on some hardware (my experience).  My suggestion is to take out the Firewire driver when you create the boot CD/floppy/USB unless you're ghosting to a 1394 external drive.  That helps sometimes.

Not sure what u mean by "take out Fireware driver"? By disable USB support in BIOS? Physically unplug USB CD-ROM? By deleting drivers under OS?
It does the same way regardless fireware CD-ROM driver presents.
It all comes down to failure initiate GUI, base on BIOS version.
Ghost 9 was very nice, easy to use when it works on certain BIOS version.
Cannot see any alternative to it( not sure , how Ghost10 perform, but believe it would be limitation base on OS version).Acronic/Veritas is expencive solution, and regare installation in windows.
looks like HDclone is the best solution( but not sure wich version of it, and way they can be used with diffrent OS), unless there is other better one.

>> I can't speak for sure for version 9 since I pretty much ditched Ghost before that version due to other issues.  But I can't imagine Ghost would drop the functionality to create your own boot media.

Ghost 9 contained a Symantec proprietary boot process.  With Ghost 10, Symantec started using a customized Win-PE boot process for the cd.  Starting with Ghost 10, there have been more problems identifying usb drives, etc. which worked with the Ghost 9 Recovery CD.

Ghost 9, 10, Save and Restore do not allow you to create your own boot media.  Ghost 12 added the capability to customize the Recovery CD with your unique drivers; that was a big step forward.

Of course you can't create backups by booting from the Recovery CD; just emergency restore.

>>Ghost 9, 10, Save and Restore do not allow you to create your own boot media.

Again it's my law of frustration: Right when you think a vendor can't get any worse, it just did.  :-)

Looks like you're more stuck than I thought.

Ghost 9, 10, 12, Save & Restore, all require the .NET framework.  Also, they are all "hot-imaging" products and run from within the operating system.  A cold-imaging software product would run off a separate boot cd and backup in an offline mode.

At least is getting much clear now.
I was able get to Ghost9 GUI , when I  have all USBs devices unplugged/disabled in BIOS, on Dell 1950(there is no PS/2) .
After that , when I check mark use hard drive as ghost recognizable , I was able to re-enable USB keyboard/mouse(was not at first), but not USB DVD-RW ( used to create an image, when internal CD-ROM only).
In other words, Ghost 9 will allow get to GUI, as long you have USB disabled/unpaged and have internal DVD/CD recorder(in some hardware it will work fine with external USB DVD/CD RW).
Base on that, it will be save to say, that if you have box with PS/2 and internal R/RW  drive, should be no problem to create  an image as long USB port in BIOS will be disabled at first time of use.
All other hardware combination of USB devices, probably will freeze on:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starting PC DOS
Iomega ASPI USB-EHCI 1.0 V13 09May2003
Copyright (C) 2003 Iomega corporation
All right reserve
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is Ghost 12 totaly cover same way as 9?Compare to HDclone, is Ghost 12 will be more beneficiary to use or what would be diffrent otherwise?

I'm not familiar with HDclone.  None of the Ghost versions j(9, 10, 12, Save & Restore) mentioned in this thread are certified for Windows 2003 Server.

Ghost Solution Suite 2.0 supports Windows 2003 servers, and is $39.20 per license seat, according to the website.
http://www.symantec.com/smb/products/overview.jsp?pcid=cli_mgmt&pvid=ghost

HDClone is OS agnostic and the functionality is on par with Ghost.

Ghost Solution Suite is more towards client OS deployment.  I never used it but I doubt its compatibility of backing up/restoring W2k3 based system, just judging by its documentation.

I think we'd done a great deal of research here. Personally for me, HDclone the way to go, by efficiency and no need multiple licensing, as well no need to be attached to version of OS.
Thank you all.

Hi dkarpekin,
Hope you were not trying to split points to me b/c it seems a bit strange to split points among 2 answers from Expert4XP.

Hate to lose any points intended. ;-)

what the way it should be done?

dkarpekin, I think from reading through the thread and your initial questions, that the points would be split 50/50 between techhealth and myself:
1. half points to me for answering your questions about Ghost and recovery cd issues.
2. half points to techhealth for providing answers and a solution using HDclone.

That would be a fair split in my opinion.

Thanks for your kindness, Expert4XP.  That's what I meant.  I was just wondering why dkarpekin went through the trouble of splitting if he intends to only award the points to you.

I thought, I did split half by half.Looks like I did assign all points to expert4XP?, if so , sorry for that , let me know how to correct this.

This is a link to the frequently asked questions.  There is a section there on adjusting points:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hs1

You can also post a 0 point question/thread in the Community Support section asking for moderator to correct the split.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Community_Support/General/