Norton Ghost?

[feeco]

Hi, I have to reformat a couple of computers / laptops at home and have tons of software that I will need to reinstall. I would like to make a "ghost" of the machines after I reformat them and add the software so next time I will save a bunch of time by just going back to the ghost of the computer. What is the best and inexpensive way to do this? I use McAfee security on my computer which I would like to stay with. I was looking at Norton Ghost as a starting point...would this work with McAfee? Is this what Norton Ghost does? Is there something better out there? Can I use this on multiple computers? I was planning on putting the ghost on an external harddrive for when I need it. Thanks in advance.

[edhan]

Personally for me, I am using the Acronis TrueImage Backup as you can read from this review - Websites, Products & Books Review

What I did was to install all my necessary files and program software. Once everything is completed, I will then run the Acronis TrueImage Backup to clone the entire O/S and the software as an image file. And for future data of the system, I will backup every week for individual folders I have created to store them.

So, when comes to emergency like crashing or corruption, I will restore the image file that has the complete O/S and software programs. Then I will restore the data.

This really helps to reduce my time when need to restore the entire system.

Hope this helps.

[Peter]

I tried a whole bunch of "free" cloning software out there on the net unless you want to spend a lot of time reading the guides for each free software you picked, wait three hours only for it to fail, get Norton Ghost instead.

[Hsekhar]

Yea, Norton Ghost is a good software for backing up your stuff. I have been using it for 6 months now and it works perfectly. I am not sure about the multiple installations of the same software though, I think they limit the installations per license.

Acronis True Image is another good software for the same purpose.

[ron angel]

Originally Posted by edhan

Personally for me, I am using the Acronis TrueImage Backup as you can read from this review - Websites, Products & Books Review

What I did was to install all my necessary files and program software. Once everything is completed, I will then run the Acronis TrueImage Backup to clone the entire O/S and the software as an image file. And for future data of the system, I will backup every week for individual folders I have created to store them.

So, when comes to emergency like crashing or corruption, I will restore the image file that has the complete O/S and software programs. Then I will restore the data.

This really helps to reduce my time when need to restore the entire system.

Hope this helps.

I agree with this 100%
I use acronis to make an image of my main drive on another drive about once a week. it has been very useful and saved a load of time and trouble quite a few times.It is in my option better than Norton ghost for cloning new hard drives which I have done without problems quite a few times so far. Norton programs lock themselves into services & are sometimes hard to remove. All went downhill when dos was no longer used although before someone points it out a ver of dos still exists behind the pretty GUI of windows.

[wpriley]

I vote for Acronis as well.

[feeco]

thank you for everyone's replies. It sounds like I should read up on Acronis and give it a try. Thanks again for the input.

[bobchrist]

Norton AntiVirus is A Virus, read how you can get rid of this.

[djchase88]

I have tried Norton Ghost and am not a big fan of it....for now I am just using the xp ntbackup on my vista machine....I am really looking for something better!

[redcar]

Another vote for Acronis.

I found Norton Ghost to be very slow. On some Pc's it was quicker to reinstall an OS and all the software than it was to install a Norton Ghost image.

[nichita2008]

Acronis do a better job. I use this software weekly. I vote without doubt for this great software.

[innominds]

You can go for Norton Ghost and backup your hard drive.
If you have Acronis, then better go for it.

[Doc]

I definitely would recommend Acronis. I've used it, and have been very happy with it. I've tried Ghost, and the one time I needed it to work, it didn't!

And it is extremely difficult to get rid of (like most Norton products)!

[CoolGadgetGuy]

Yeah, Acronis is great. I have used this one myself.

[kylelmoon]

I think Acronis will definitely do the job!
Norton is just way too bloated these days...

[edhan]

Yes. I do agree. Acronis TrueImage has done a great job.