Using Ghost 2003 with Windows 7

A while back I did a blog post regarding how to use Ghost 2003 with Windows Vista to do partition based backup and restores. Since Vista came out, you can't install the Ghost 2003 application in windows, and you need to use a bootable CD.

Since then I have upgraded to Windows 7 (and on a side note, i DO notice many improvements over Vista, and it seems to be running pretty stable and smooth). I tested all my old documentation and determined that Ghost 2003 works with Windows 7, just as it did with Vista.

So good news people, you CAN still use that old copy of ghost 2003 to backup/restore your Windows 7 machines.

So here is how to do it:

1. Make sure your system is installed so that you have a C: and a D: partition
   • Note, we set this up so that all your "work files" are on D, so that if you restore a different OS, you can still access all your files.  This way you can have multiple configurations for your computer, one for work, one for games, one for fooling around, etc. and never lose any data.
2. Make a "Bootable ghost CD" (or floppy disk, but our computers don't have disk drives anymore).
   • Here is some info on how to create a bootable ghost cd.
   • FYI you will need the bootable ghost CD because windows vista HATES ghost 2003, so its not easy to install it.  If you have a bootable CD, you have no worries, and just boot from the CD any time you want to backup or restore your system.
   • If you really have a hard time making a bootable ghost cd, email me, and I can help you out (for a small paypal donation).
3. Backup your OS (all windows):
   • Boot up with your "Bootable Ghost CD"
   • Select "Local Partition to Image"
   • Pick your source drive and partition, destination drive and filename.
   • Get coffee.
4. Restore your OS:
   • Windows 9x, 2000, ME, XP, 2003, linux, others:
     • Boot up with your "Bootable Ghost CD"
     • Select "Local Partition From Image"
     • Browse to and pick your ghost disk image
     • Pick the destination drive and partition
     • Get more coffee
     • When done, select "Reset computer"
   • Windows Vista
     • Boot up with your "Bootable Ghost CD" 
     • Quit ghost (should leave you at an A: prompt)
     • Type in "ghost -fdsp" (will re-launch ghost with alternate settings)
       • If your system only has SATA, then also add a "-noide" switch
     • Select "Local Partition From Image"
     • Browse to and pick your vista ghost disk image
     • Pick the destination drive and partition
     • Get more coffee
     • When done, select to "Reset Computer"

If this is helpful for you, please let me know !