Now we have the formal answer from Tony, a little late I would have like to see a new backup program last October or at least November.
I just joined the family of users that windows 8 does not support. I installed windows 8 this morning and when I tried to test Norton Backup 15. It camde back and said that I just started a trial version and when I tried to enter my Product key it came back and said it was invalid. the key is valid. I know from previous problems that Norton Ghost is a procduct that is low on the totem pole when it comes to getting something fixed. I hope this time the solution will be quick.
I doubt Ghost 15 will ever be patched to work correctly with Windows 8. I'm sure Ghost 16 will be released shortly after Symantec System Recovery 2013 is released.
If I understand correctly, something in the Windows registry changed and that is why Ghost cannot save the registration correctly.
Do they work if you have a HD failure?
Sure, just make sure you create System Repair Disc. Look on the left hand side of the Win 7 File Recovery panel for "Create a system repair disc".
Win 7 File Recovery and Win 8's new feature called File History can't save you if there is a HD failure but Windows System Image can. You don't need to create a System Repair Disk as the Win8 DVD works.
But of all the image/restore apps available, Windows System Image would be towards the bottom of the list. Here are a few issues...
It doesn't image FAT/FAT32/Linux partitions. Since most (? all) Dell computers have a OEM Diagnostic partition (FAT16) this won't be included in the image and if you have to restore the image to a new HD (due to HD failure), the Dell Diagnostic partition will be missing.
The images aren't compressed and are roughly double the size of images created by other imaging software.
It can create incremental images. The extra image is added automatically to the base image and you only find out about it when you try to restore as you see a series of dates.
There is no option for resizing the restored partition.
You can't restore into a smaller partition (eg if you want to transfer your OS to a SSD).
The images can't be Validated/Verified.
You can't move the backup image to another folder as the restore process won't find it.
Brian,
System Image is a feature of the Win 7 File Recovery function (it's new name in Win8). You are correct that you need to do the System Image feature to restore from a HD failure and frankly don't need to also do the file backup feature in Win 7 File recovery if you also use the new File History function since that would be redundant. Some of us downloaded Win 8 so either need to make a Win 8 DVD from the iso file (an option at installation) or create the system repair disc. Either way.
Yes, not the most elegant solution but free and usefull enough for most Win 8 users since Ghost 15 no longer works.
ptwilli1 wrote:
since Ghost 15 no longer works.
http://community.norton.com/t5/Other-Norton-Products/Windows-8-and-Ghost-15/td-p/838758
Tony_Weiss wrote:Symantec does not have a Windows 8-compatible version of Norton Ghost at this time. Ghost continues to be fully compatible with the Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista, and Windows 7 platforms. Attempting to install or use Norton Ghost on Windows 8 may result in unexpected results, such as incomplete imaging.
Symantec recommends using Norton Online Backup to protect your important files in a secure, remote location in the cloud. Should you need to back up files using Windows 8, you can use the File History feature of the new operating system. And to refresh and restore your computer, users can use the Advanced Recovery Tools found in the Control Panel. For small businesses, Symantec recommends Symantec System Recovery to create full image backups of your PC. Symantec System Recovery 2013 is planned to be Windows 8 compatible and available in Q1 CY2013.
We will announce updates as they become available. Thank you for your ongoing support and interest in Norton Ghost.
Tony, your last line, "We will announce updates as they become available. Thank you for your ongoing support and interest in Norton Ghost.", does that MEAN there will be an UIPDATE for Ghost that will fix the Windows 8 problems?
Should I be looking for another Imaging solution? It isn't clear at all, and I'm not going to wait until next year as a HOME user for Symantec to come up with a solution either.
ispalten wrote:Should I be looking for another Imaging solution?
Ghost still works as I posted here....
http://community.norton.com/t5/Other-Norton-Products/Windows-8-and-Ghost-15/td-p/838758
Brian_K wrote:
ispalten wrote:Should I be looking for another Imaging solution?
Ghost still works as I posted here....
http://community.norton.com/t5/Other-Norton-Products/Windows-8-and-Ghost-15/td-p/838758
No, that isn't my definition of working. It is a manual method of creating an image. I want the no hassle automated method that I paid for.
Tony never said if this WILL be fixed or not, just that it doesn't work with no specifics other than you might not get a good image. I want to know if it will be fixed, and if so, when.
A new version of Ghost is likely not going to happen by the end of the year. Until a new version of Ghost releases, you can use the Ghost CD to create images as Brian said.
The identical solution to Ghost 15 is SSR 2013 desktop edition, which should release in the coming weeks. I am working with the beta team to allow Ghost users like yourself to download and test this software. If you'd like to be in on that (pending permission from the beta team), drop me a private message.
ispalten wrote:I want the no hassle automated method that I paid for.
ispalten,
Have you tried to do it? The Automated method?
Brian_K wrote:
ispalten wrote:I want the no hassle automated method that I paid for.ispalten,
Have you tried to do it? The Automated method?
Yes, the system was upgraded from W7 and Ghost was installed. All the Ghost settings WERE retained but the part about the license which was asked for and was told it was invalid turning it into a 30 day trial. It 'seems' to running just fine, but I've NOT tried a restore, don't have any place to put it easily. I was VERY concerned by the 'official' announce that Ghost is NOT supported on W8.
=====================
Norton Ghost 15.0 compatibility with Windows 8
Symantec does not have a Windows 8 compatible version of Norton Ghost at this time. Norton Ghost continues to be fully compatible with the Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista, and Windows 7 platforms. Attempting to install or use Norton Ghost on Windows 8 may result in unexpected results, such as incomplete imaging.
Symantec recommends using Norton Online Backup to protect your important files in a secure, remote location in the cloud. Should you need to back up files using Windows 8, you can use the File History feature of the new operating system. And to refresh and restore your computer, users can use the Advanced Recovery Tools that are found in the Control Panel.
=====================
Now I don't know if the RED part is just covering their collective backsides if something unknown should happen or not, but it DOES not instill confidence that it is OK to use it.
ispalten,
I haven't tried creating scheduled automated images with Ghost 15 in Win8. But my manual hot and cold images did restore correctly in my test computer. So in my limited experience it does work but I can certainly understand your concerns.
Not to sound like a jerk, but this is ridiculous. Microsoft is ramping up Windows 8 rapidly and other imaging companies already have solutions that work. I've been a user of Ghost for many years and this is the only piece of software I have that is giving me grief. I'm even using Norton 360, which works great. Since I am in a situation where I cannot go for months without having image backups, I've purchased a third party product to handle my imaging. I would be willing to pay for an upgrade version to keep Ghost if you had it. You have lost one Norton Ghost customer, and will probably lose many more if you don't get a solution soon.
applerule wrote:Since I am in a situation where I cannot go for months without having image backups,
applerule,
Are you saying you can't create backups with Ghost 15 in your Win8 system?
The software will not activate, and is not supported by Symantec. While you may be able to create offline images without activation, this is going to require you to reboot and boot off the CD to create an image. If I wanted to reboot and create offline images, I could use many open source products to do this. A big motivation to use retail vs. open-source solutions is for the support. Since Symantec is providing no support or official solutions to get Ghost 15 to work properly on Windows 8, it is going to drive customers like myself to use other products that are supported and do work. If no new version is coming out until sometime next year, why not buy a competitor product that does work now, and is supported?
I will concede that I tried getting the software to activate (and failed), but it did look like it was still making live images; however, what happens when the software doesn't activate and the 30 days expire? Does it continue to make live images? What happens if I need to restore an image and it doesn't work? Is Symantec going to provide me support for my non-activated, non- supported product?
After finding this forum and finding that the software is not supported and there will be no solution until most likely next year, I decided to go with another product that does work properly. I would probably convert back to Ghost 15 if it becomes supported in Windows 8, but at this point since I am using another product, there is no way that I will go back and purchase a Ghost upgrade since I now have a working product. If a new version of Ghost had already been released that supported Windows 8, I would have purchased it instead.
The longer Symantec holds off with a solution, the more Ghost customers they are going to lose. Simple as that.
I don't know if this will help but because of the type of work I do I have a dual boot PC with both Windows 7 and Windows 8. All I do for my backups, (at the moment until a version of ghost comes out that supports windows 8) is use the version on the Windows 7 drive to do all my backups and restores. Because of of the way I work the time taken being in W7 for the duration of the backups and restores does not bother me.
Bob
Andy,
Thanks for access to the beta.
I've installed it and it looks and feels just like Ghost, other than the REMOTE recovery agent I guess?
After un-installing Ghost 15 and leaving my data, SSR 2103 located and used the old Ghost images and settings/schedules.
I'll assume the license problem is fixed as well, but since this is a 60 day trial I can't tell.
SRD bootable DVD also works as it finds the images, even on my other W7 computer. I have not tried a restore yet though, but I expect it to work.
THANK YOU Andy.
I tried using the Ghost dvd to run without installing it and it wouldn't boot. kept crashing windows. I then used a pirated copy - boot disk and it worked.
I just bought this copy of Ghost from Amazon - to go legal. Should there be 2 disks in the package - install and boot? I have one disk in English and the other in ? French. It is the english one that I tried to boot from.
What are my options? Return it or try the beta? Where can I get it?
It is a shame because it seems to work within Windows 8 - makes backups ok.
Help.