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Disk to disk cloning

Hello!

I am trying to perform a disk to disk cloning on windows XP machine using Norton Ghost 2003.
The problem is that I need to start in DOS mode to do that. I used a floppy formatted by Windows to start in dos mode. It starts in a:/> but I cant find my hardisk in order to run ghost.exe.

I tried typing all possible drive letters like c: d: e: f: etc but no luck!

Any ideas? The purpose here is to clone the XP enviroment on another HD of same specs and to install it on
another machine of exactly same specs .

Please advise.

Regards,

Omi

rindi

copy ghost and whatever is needed for it to run to your floppy. Dos isn't compatible to ntfs partitions. You could also use the wizard inside ghost to to create a ghost bootable floppy.

Omidarule

ASKER

Ok, I am trying the wizard right now...

Member_2_760301

Make a bootable ghost diskette from Ghost..the windows program. It has in the advanced mode this ability. It will copy drivers need for all the opertation. After that boot the A:\ after a restart.

http://www.vetusware.com/download/Norton%20Ghost%202003/?id=215

Good luck,
cheers

Omidarule

ASKER

I have tried creating boot disk using Symantec Ghost Boot wizard. I enabled LPT/uSB support.
It started loading drivers ok until it got stuck just before loading ghost.exe. It remains hanging.

I will creating a boot using nodramas link, shown above...

rindi

There is otherwise a much simpler tool than ghost, and it isn't expensive. There is a trial period after which you can't restore images you made using it, but otherwise it is fully functional during that time. You can also use it to change partition sizes etc. I suggest you try that, bootit-ng.

http://terabyteunlimited.com/

rindi

Also, floppies sometimes aren't very good quality, so try another, or you can also make a bootable CD.

Omidarule

ASKER

I tried the file supplied on http://www.vetusware.com/download/Norton%20Ghost%202003/?id=215 by nodramas but not much luck. It loaded Norton ghost screen and freezed there. I cant understand why.

I will now try bootit-ng suggested by rindi...

Omidarule

ASKER

Already tried another floppy...

Rindi are you sure bootit-ng can do cloning?

Maybe I need to use Imaging for Windows?

rindi

Bootit-ng can clone, create images, manipulate partitions, and if necessary also includes a boot manager which allows you to have more than 4 primary partitions per drive. You can create a boot cd or floppy with it. When you boot from the CD or floppy, first select ESC (don't install the software), then select partition work. Now select the partition you want to clone, right click it and select "Copy" (or just press "C"). Then select the disk you want to copy to, right click it and select "Paste" (or just press "P"), and then the partition will get cloned. You have to repeat that for every partition.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

matrixnz

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Omidarule

ASKER

Hi matrixnz,

the "-fni" extension work great thanks. I managed to clone the disks, which are identical make and specs and now I placed the cloned disk on the new machine.

Unfortunately it doesnt detect it! Something wrong with my cloning process?

rindi

Make sure the jumpers on the disk are set correctly.

Member_2_760301

The drives are sata?

Member_2_760301

I had 2 times problems with ghost 2003 and sata drives---seems to be incompatible with sata hdd this version-

Omidarule

ASKER

Yes drives are sata. Bytheway, what kind of imaging mode do you suggest?
"Image All", Image Boot" or "Image Disk"??

Member_2_760301

:)
I'm afraid you won't do nothing if drives are sata...you must try another version or other program.
For disk to disk I'd recommand you to try COPYR.DMA Build013, it copies sector by sector. It's a good program.
You can find it on Hiren's boot cd.
And for your question...I personally use Image ALL. For windows terminals is enough.

Good luck,
cheers

Omidarule

ASKER

Done it, partially. Ok, basically there is no problem with SATA drives. The reason it would load is cause I accidentally burned the cloned HD while trying to install it on new machine. I used another one and cloned it using "image all" and it now finds the HD boots windows and remains hanging in the middle.

I think I will skip cloning and go for standalone installation for the rest of the PCs!

Thanks everyone for helping!

matrixnz

Hi Omidarule

What I recommend is using Sysprep before Ghosting, downloaded from here https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3E90DC91-AC56-4665-949B-BEDA3080E0F6&displaylang=en

After you've created your Sysprep.inf add the following section to the bottom of your inf file
[SYSPREPMASSSTORAGE]

Then Run:SYSPREP.EXE -BMSD
To Build your Mass Storage Devices

Then run Sysprep: C:\SYSPREP.EXE -RESEAL -MINI -PNP -QUIET

This will take a little while then shuts the computer down

Now restart the computer with the Ghost Boot Disk and take your image, make sure you don't let it start first otherwise you'll need to redo it.

Hope that helps, thanks for the points.

Cheers