After reading Ghost 15 - How do I import previous backed up recovery points/sets
Here is the link.
I was surprised that Norton has not addressed or corrected this problem with the backup image history file in Ghost 15. The first time I saw this problem in Ghost 12.0 thought I lost some backup image files but that was not the case.
Here is a summary of how I use to create backup images using Norton Ghost 9.0 and the problem with Norton Ghost 12.0 backup image history file.
When I used Norton Ghost 9.0 I would create backup images of my partitions on a weekly basis or as needed.
Here is an example of my configuration what I would do
C: Windows XP and Installed Software (physical hard drive1)
D: Backup Image Drive (physical hard drive 2)
E: Data_01 (partition on hard drive 1)
F: Data_02 (partition on hard drive 1)
G: Data_03 (partition on hard drive 1)
H: Data_04 (partition on hard drive 1)
On my D: drive I created 5 folders called Drive C: Drive E: Drive F: Drive G: Drive H:. Usually on a weekly basis I would create a folder with the date (i.e. Jan 03 2010). I would then copy this empty folder into the Drive C: Drive E: Drive F: Drive G: Drive H: folders.
I would then create a backup image file of
Drive C: storing it into D:\Drive C:\Jan 03 2010\
Drive E: storing it into D:\Drive E:\Jan 03 2010\
Drive F: storing it into D:\Drive F:\Jan 03 2010\
Drive G: storing it into D:\Drive G:\Jan 03 2010\
At the beginning of the next month I would repeat this process and delete the folders from the previous month. I found this to be simple and effective way of maintaining Norton Ghost images (i.e. by date).
Please note: Always use a second physical hard drive to store your backup images to.
Since then I had upgraded to Norton Ghost 12.0 and created backup jobs limiting the number of backup images to 4. I created a schedule as follows.
Backup image of Drive C: every Sunday at 4pm
Backup image of Drive E: every Sunday at 5pm
Backup image of Drive F: every Sunday at 6pm
Backup image of Drive G: every Sunday at 7pm
Backup image of Drive H: every Sunday at 8pm
The problem that I found with this schedule is that since the Norton Ghost history log is stored on C: drive. You will lose the backup image history for drives C: E: F: G: H: if drive C is restored. The backup image files are still present and can be restored
Here is an example
If after the fourth backup image is created C_Drive004.v2i you decide to restore C_Drive003.v2i the Norton Ghost history log will show that C_Drive004.v2i, E_Drive004.v2i F_Drive004.v2i G_Drive004.v2i H_Drive004.v2i are not present. This is not a big problem. The backup images are still present and can be restored. The one thing that you should note is that these files are orphaned. So when Norton Ghost makes the next backup image file (C_Drive005.v2i) it only sees C_Drive001.v2i, C_Drive002.v2i, C_Drive003.v2i and C_Drive005.v2i. This is the same for Drive E: F: G: and H:. Norton Ghost will only delete C_Drive001.v2i when C_Drive006.v2i is created. You will have to manually delete C_Drive004.v2i, E_Drive004.v2i, F_Drive004.v2i, G_Drive004.v2i and H_Drive004.v2i but I would wait till at least the 10th backup image.
A better schedule is
Backup image of Drive H: every Sunday at 4pm
Backup image of Drive E: every Sunday at 5pm
Backup image of Drive F: every Sunday at 6pm
Backup image of Drive G: every Sunday at 7pm
Backup image of Drive C: every Sunday at 8pm
But the problem still exist if you recover C: drive you will lose the backup image history for drive C:
My solution is to create two batch files
The first one I call backup.bat
xcopy /y /s/e C:\"Documents and Settings"\"All Users"\"Application Data"\"Symantec"\"Norton Ghost"\*.* D:\"Ghost.settings"\"Symantec Recovery Points"\
The second I call recover.bat
xcopy /y /s/e D:\"Ghost.settings"\"Symantec Recovery Points"\*.* C:\"Documents and Settings"\"All Users"\"Application Data"\"Symantec"\"Norton Ghost"\
Please note: check the path of your installation.
The Norton Ghost history file should be located in C:\"Documents and Settings"\"All Users"\"Application Data"\"Symantec"\"Norton Ghost".
Also you may need the change the drive letter for the backup destination if it is not D.
Once you have created the two batch files place them on the backup destination hard drive.
So the next time you go to recover you C: drive
Enter the recovery disk and wait till the main menu comes up
Home
Recover
Analyze
Network
Utilities
Select analyse drive
Select open command shell window
Select the backup destination drive (D:)
Type backup.bat
Type exit
Go back to the main menu
Recover your C: Drive (do not select reboot when complete)
Go back to the main menu
Select analyse drive
Select open command shell window
Select the backup destination drive (D:)
Type recover.bat
Type exit
Select exit on the main menu
The computer will reboot
Now you have not lost any of the Norton Ghost backup history files.
Please note: that this process does not work if Norton Ghost has been reinstalled. (you cannot port or transfer the history file of Norton Ghost from one installation to another)
NotaCanada