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How to create a bootable HD image?

post #1 of 13
10/27/04 at 8:08am
Thread Starter 
hi there, i wonder which program is the best for creating a bootable HD image on CDRW? i *finally* installed everything (spent long hrs) and configured the way i want. before i got more junk or screw it up, I would like to backup the HD into bootable HD image on CDRW. everything in C drive is about 8G. I know itwill take about 10 CDs to back it up but I rather to do that, than next time to format it the hD, reinstall everything one by one.

i have Ghost 9 but it seems it can't create the BOOTABLE cd and store the image. however, it can create backup and store the image on CDs thou.

any ideas would be very helpful. thanks in advance.
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post #2 of 13
10/27/04 at 8:34am
I used the following to create bootable DVD backup disks for a relative's computer using Ghost 8.0:

In DOS typed ghost -ghostoncd -bootcd -auto

bootcd autoexec.bat:
Code:
@echo off
lh mscdex /d:tpcd001 /l:r
cls
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo 1. Restore the original Windows Installation from set of DVD backup discs.
echo    (Caution:  Use this option only if the Dell Restore CD failed!)
echo.
echo.
echo 2. Quit
echo.
echo.
choice /n /c:12 Select Number(1 or 2)%1
if errorlevel==2 goto end
r:ghost -clone,mode=restore,src=@cd,dst=1,sze1=f -sure -fis -rb
:end
cls
echo.
echo.\tCatastrophic drive failure restore operation cancelled.
echo.\tPlease remove disc from drive and reboot computer.
echo.
echo.

bootcd config.sys:
Code:
dos=high,umb
devicehigh=ibmtpcd.sys
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post #3 of 13
10/27/04 at 8:39am
Thread Starter 
thanks. i will try it tomorrow (i mean later today.. tired.. should go back to sleep.. 5am here..PST)
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post #4 of 13
10/27/04 at 8:51am
BTW: To make the first DVD DOS bootable in a I8600 for example requires the floppy drive to be installed in the media bay. This will be the -bootcd that ghost will copy the DOS boot files from and write onto CD or DVD. The files that should be on this bootable floppy are:

autoexec.bat
choice.com
command.com
config.sys
IO.sys
ibmtpcd.sys (generic IBM CD DOS driver)
mscdex.exe

Also, since ghost 8.0 is too large to also fit on this floppy, you would have to initially boot from USB drive to run the ghost -ghostoncd -bootcd -auto from the USB key.

When all is said and done, ghost will make the first backup disc bootable and you will be prompted by ghost to insert any following disc(s) during the burn and when restoring.
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post #5 of 13
10/27/04 at 5:07pm
Thread Starter 
wow. it is just too complicate. i do not have a floppy disk. i assume the way to make the bootable cd is same as the bootable DVD.
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post #6 of 13
10/27/04 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by somms
BTW: To make the first DVD DOS bootable in a I8600 for example requires the floppy drive to be installed in the media bay.
Can I ask a really noob question here? I am thinking of buying Ghost to do this very thing... but... I don't have a floppy drive and I don't have a DVD burner, just a CDR+DVD. Will it still work for me?
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post #7 of 13
10/27/04 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lirianna
Can I ask a really noob question here? I am thinking of buying Ghost to do this very thing... but... I don't have a floppy drive and I don't have a DVD burner, just a CDR+DVD. Will it still work for me?
Ghost can burn to either CD or DVD easily, it only gets complicated and requires a floppy if you want the CD/DVD to also be DOS bootable and execute the ghost scripted restore.
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post #8 of 13
10/27/04 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by somms
Ghost can burn to either CD or DVD easily, it only gets complicated and requires a floppy if you want the CD/DVD to also be DOS bootable and execute the ghost scripted restore.
I was told Ghost 9 is a bootable CD. Do you think I can just boot from the Ghost 9, and restore it (keep swapping the cds) from the CDRW?

i do not have the floppy too.
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post #9 of 13
10/27/04 at 7:04pm
Yes that would work and is much easier than creating a bootable CD that executes ghost.
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post #10 of 13
10/27/04 at 7:54pm
Ghost 9.0 comes with an extra cd that is bootable. you boot to it then inset the backup cd.

also it will restore the image while in windows.

also Ghost 2003/2004 will make the disc bootable with out the need for floppy or another cd. it just must be done in dos mode.

I have used all 3 versions and have yet to have any problems with getting the discs to boot.
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post #11 of 13
10/28/04 at 5:49am
You can use a external FireWire/USB hard drive to store your image. Norton Ghost can create a bootdisk(CD) with the drivers for FW/USB. Another simple and inexpensive way is to buy a 2.5 to 3.5 HD adapter $5-10 and doing the image thing in your desktop.
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post #12 of 13
10/28/04 at 1:09pm
Thread Starter 
I created backup image last night used high compression method. 8G data fits into 6 CD. It booted up the laptop using the Ghost 9 recovery CD. Then I tried to restore the whole image then i failed. When it asked for the files, I swapped the Ghost 9 out and put into the first image CD. the extension is something like '.v2i'. The program could not recongize the CD at all. seems it only looks for the image in the HD or network. sigh.

anyone has experience dealing with Ghost 9; create backup; restore backup successfully? Need lot of help.

During the backup process, it said it could not write to my CD (not the first image CD, the subsequence one).. or the media is not ready. I thought it was because of my cheap cd. i used some brand name cd and it did not work either. I had to try so many times before it could write.
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post #13 of 13
10/28/04 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
thanks for all input. the reason i want to do it on cd (and now, i regret that I did not get a DVD burner) is "portable". I do not have to bring the external HD around with me while travel.
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