GHOST Mishap - Where To Start?? :(

[Migration User]

Warning...this is a l o n g one; and I'm not sure where and how I got off track (that's why I'm here)...but I've made a complete mess of things.

OK...I have a client, who has an HP RP5700, dual-core 1.8, 4G, running Win7 Pro. I bought a refurbed RP5700, dual-core 1.8, 4G, loaded with Win7 Pro 64-bit...though the machines, were not identical model numbers.

I've Ghosted and re-imaged machines, hundreds of times; but with my company, everything was "standardized". Same boxes, same images, etc.

So I wanted to run a simple test, just to get back in the swing of things. I made an image of the refurbed box, made some minor changes...and then tried to restore.

I keep getting error 25058 "unable to locate enough contiguous space to load run. Increase the destination partitiion size or run Ghost with -NTEXACT switch"

So then...I made a Ghost of my client's machine, to see if I could restore that (since that was the ultimate goal anyway); and that actually appeared to run. But on re-boot, I got a \Boot\BCD error.

Made a System Repair Disk, and couldn't get the machine back up and running.

Ugh...help?

[Edward Tippelt]

OK, with Windows 7, there are two partitions involved - the hidden 100Mb partition at the beginning and the main system partition normally known as the C:\ drive.

If you are getting a boot/BCD error then almost certainly this is caused by a missing 100Mb hidden partition.

Equally, if you try to restore a C:\ drive image to the first partition, it is going to fail as it's only 100Mb.  I think that might be where you are running into problems.

You have also omitted to include what version of Ghost you are using.

[Migration User]

EdT, first; thanks for getting back to me. I was beginning to think, my issue was so low-rent; so elementary...that no one might bother.

Ever see the movie Philadelphia? Denzel Washington's character says "explain this to me, like I'm a 5 year-old"...lol. Won't be quite that bad; but I will need some hand-holding through this.

The "good" news: I take direction well, and will do EXACTLY as you (or others) say (in other words, I won't veer off-course...making your job, that much harder).

 

OK...so first thing I can answer, that's been asked: I'm using 11.5.

[Migration User]

So...should I just start with, trying to restore the machine's original image; using the -ntexact switch?

I have NO idea...how to run Ghost, from a command line :(

[Migration User]

No Love :(

[Edward Tippelt]

Sorry, bit slowing getting back to you.

I know this may be a challenging question, but have you consulted the manual for Ghost?  Here are a couple of links that will help you if the documentation is not to hand:

https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.HOWTO48877.html

ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/products/symantec_ghost_solution_suite/2.5/manuals/Ghost_imp_guide.pdf

Having established that you are using Ghost 2.51, are you using a DOS or WinPE boot environment?  DOS is realistically not able to handle SATA disks or really large disks, so I'm going to assume you are using WinPE.  If you are working with the version of WinPE shipping in Ghost 2.51, it is based on the Vista kernel so will need you to supply Vista 32 bit drivers for the SATA chipset in your machine. Without this, the Ghost program will not be able to "see" the hard disk to make a working image.

Ghost can be started and used interactively from a WinPE command line, so you don't necessarily need to work with command line switches.

I don't specifically know the details of your machines, but if they have a UEFI bios, you need to turn off UEFI before imaging, both on backup and on restore. Ghost 2.51 does not support UEFI due to its age hence the need to turn it off.  Also, I cannot recall whether it supports Advanced Format hard disks or not - I think it doesn't, so it's really something for you to check out hardware-wise.

Be aware that Ghost has recently been released in a much updated version - now at 3.1, and is more compatible with modern hardware in a lot of ways.  There were also several hotfixes to 2.51 which you can find out more about in the sticky posting at the top of this forum, but can be difficult to get hold of if you don't have a current maintenance agreement.

Personally, I have been using Paragon Partition Manager 15 in recent times as it's both low cost and bang up to date. You can find it here:

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/pm-personal/eshop.html

Ultimately, it all depends on whether your needs are corporate or more "domestic".

[Migration User]

Ed...thanks for hanging in there with me; I was about to give up.

Listen...I am such an amatuer at this; but things used to be pretty automated, when I've done them in the past.

I have a Ghost Boot CD. I start a machine up with it, boot into Ghost...and then just go through the GUI

So...most of what you're saying; is all Greek to me :(

 

[Migration User]

Well...I'm tired, of waiting for the post police; to catch up.

I made a post, with a pic; it took like 2 days to get published. Then...I went to edit it, with another pic; still hasn't come back.

In the meantime...I found this:

1. Reboot the computer with the proper boot package in the drive.
   Note: this can be a floppy, CD, USB (or PXE) for DOS, Windows PE is not loadable from floppy.
   
   2. Once Ghost loads and you see the Ghost User Interface, select quit.
   Note: If the boot package is DOS based then this will return you to a DOS command prompt similar to the following:
   
   A:\Ghost>
   
   If the boot package is Windows PE based then this will return you to a command prompt similar to the following:
   
   X:\Windows\System32>
   
   You will need to change the focus to the x:\Ghost directory by entering" \Ghost".
   
   3. To enter a Ghost command line, you must start with the name of the correct executable.
   If you are unsure of which version you have, Type DIR at the command prompt, then press Enter. Review the list of files to see which executable is present on the boot disk.
   Possible executable names are:
   In DOS : Ghost.exe unless you have manually added a diffrent executable.
   In Windows PE: Ghost32.exe, Gdisk32.exe or Ghwalk32.exe and others.
   
   4. Add a space after the executable name, then add your command line switches.
   
   The following example shows a command line using the -split switch. This particular example directs Ghost.exe to not split the image file into 2gig pieces in a DOS environment.
   
   Ghost.exe -split=0
   
   The following example is a command line needed when imaging IBM/Lanovo systems to capture addition information needed to successfully clone a client from the image from a Windows PE boot environment.
   
   Ghost32.exe -ib
   
   The following example is a command that can be run after a successful clone that will use Ghostwalker to change a systems SID.
   
   Ghwalk32.exe /sure
   
   
   5. To run a task from the Ghost Console
   For the Ghost console, the switches are added to the definition for a task or backup regime.
   
   To add switches to a Clone task
   1. Right-click the task you want to modify, then click Properties.
   2. On the Clone tab, click Advanced.
   3. Add the switches, separated by spaces, in the space provided, then click OK.
   
   
   To add switches to an Image Create task

1. Right-click the Create New Image task definition, then click Properties.
2. Click Advanced.
3. Add the switches, separated by spaces, in the space provided, then click OK.
Note: When using a switch here Ghost.exe or Ghost32.exe is assumed and you just add the switch.
For example when creating an image of an IBM or Lenove you would use the "-ib" switch.


To add switches to a backup regime
1. Right-click on the backup regime definition you want to modify, then click Properties.
2. Add the switches, separated by spaces, in the space provided, then click OK.

Again...for the moment; I think I just need to figure out, how to run Ghost from a command line...so I can implement the -NTEXACT switch.

If this, is old-hat for anyone...and can help?

[Edward Tippelt]

There are 15 examples of command lines here:  https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH106615.html

Just add -ntexact to the one that most closely resembles your situation.

I can't see anything awaiting publishing in this forum but then I don't have the same admin rights as the forum moderators. Due to the level of spam postings and adverts that have invaded Connect in the past, there is now a very strict bit of sotware that puts anything remotely suspect into a moderation queue. This tends not to be checked at weekends, and if I recall correctly, there was also some maintenance work scheduled Sat/Sun.

As for your CD - if you try to read it on a windows PC - how much space are the files taking up?  If it's only a couple of Mb -ish then it's a DOS boot. If there are around 200Mb of files then it's WinPE.

With a DOS based boot, if that's what you have, are you able to see the source and target drives and are the capacities reported correctly?  If not, then forget about experimenting with the command line as you will need to get to a WinPE boot CD before you will make any progress.  Hope that's basic enough for you to determine the best way forward.

[Migration User]

It's definitely WinPE-based

If the boot package is Windows PE based then this will return you to a command prompt similar to the following:

X:\Windows\System32>

[Migration User]

Sorry...but it's really not. The post that is taking FOREVER, has screen-shots of the GUI.

That's all I've ever worked with. Instructions I've read, say exit the GUI, get to the X:\\Window\System32> prompt...and change to \Ghost

 

Can't even figure out, how to do that! And then...how do I run a Ghost, and tell it what image, where I want it copied; and...with the -NTEXACT switch???

[Migration User]

OK...I may have made some progress. Stay tuned.

[Migration User]

OK...I wasn't able to Ghost, to the image I was trying to; but I was finally, able to restore the box back...to the image I made, before I started.

So...thread "solved"; except...I still need to figure out, why I can't restore the other image.

It's obvious, I need the training-wheels forum. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Edward Tippelt]

There is no training wheels forum, but there is ample documentation. The best way to learn is to practice on a spare machine with a couple of hard disks. There are also plenty of articles on Ghost topics within Connect - just use the search engine.

It was easier in the past when all systems had IDE hard disks and there were no drivers required, but things have moved on a long way and have got a lot more complex.  Also, the version of Ghost you are using is many years old and also lacks support for some of the newer technologies such as UEFI bioses.  If you want to stick with the Ghost product it may be worth updating to the latest 3.1 version which is still undergoing some rapid development.  If you just want a retail product that is GUI driven and somewhat simpler to use then Paragon Partition Manager 15 is probably a cheaper and easier to use solution.