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    Norton Ghost or similar software

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by lafguy, Jan 27, 2007.

  1. lafguy

    lafguy Notebook Guru

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    I have a desktop with NTFS and XP Pro SP2 it has downloaded programs installed on it. I want to transfer them to my new laptop. My laptop is Fat 32 and XP Pro SP2. I only want to transfer a few things not whole drive. Any suggestions on a good program to do this? I saw Norton Ghost but, not sure if its good or not?
     
    lafguy, Jan 27, 2007
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  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Norton Ghost is good for entire drive backups. In any event, transferring an XP+programs installation is going to work ONLY if you are transferring between the same two models of computers. Otherwise, it will most likely fail.

    For the data I'd suggest just burning a CD/DVD or pulling out that USB key. You'll have to start over with the programs.
     
    Greg, Jan 27, 2007
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  3. Arla

    Arla Notebook Deity

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    lafguy,

    Basically if you want to copy the installers for the downloaded programs, then any CD/DVD writer should be fine to put them to CD and then copy elsewhere. Because of registry entries and the like you have to install the programs fresh onto the laptop rather than just "copying them" (at least for most programs, really depends on the programs).
     
    Arla, Jan 27, 2007
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  4. Infinity

    Infinity Notebook Enthusiast

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    I never use Ghost before so I have a question before I install it
    Can Ghost make an Image of the hard drive onto a partition so every time we want to ghost the system, we only need to double-click on it ( Like install a program )
     
    Infinity, Jan 27, 2007
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  5. Arla

    Arla Notebook Deity

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    The older versions of Ghost use DOS to run and you need to boot into a DOS mode and run it. I've not had experience with newer versions of Ghost that I believe can run from Windows.

    You can script the older versions (I have a boot USB Key that I can boot with and it will automatically make an image of my C drive onto a D drive).
     
    Arla, Jan 27, 2007
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  6. Infinity

    Infinity Notebook Enthusiast

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    The problem is that I am currently using Windows XP and it doesn't have a real DOS but a, let's say, a lower level of DOS with some commands, so how can I use DOS for Norton ??
     
    Infinity, Jan 27, 2007
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  7. Arla

    Arla Notebook Deity

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    If you have Norton (at least the older versions) it will come with either a bootable disk, or a way to create a bootable disk.

    This will use a proper version of DOS to allow you to use it.
     
    Arla, Jan 28, 2007
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  8. BENDER

    BENDER EX-NBR member :'(

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    GHOST would not work as the desktop and the laptop are two completely different architectures. Most of the hardware, if not all, are different. Even if you transfer a ghost image of your desktop to the laptop, it won't simply boot. And if by any miracles it did, you would have to reactivate windows and a lot of things would be broken =/

    Windows XP comes with a nifty feature called the File & Settings Transfer Wizard. It would transfer all your settings and files to your laptop, but you would have to reinstall your applications.

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/crawford_november12.mspx
    http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset.mspx
     
    BENDER, Jan 28, 2007
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