Using Ghost 03 w/ghost.ini or spanimg files for backup

Greetings:

 

I used to use Ghost 2002 to create images of fresh installs using a serparate file - I called in SPANIMG.TXT - with various instructions contained in it. Now, for whatever reason, it does not work any longer. This leads me to ask if I can use the Ghost.ini file to instruct Ghost what exactly I want it to do. I just recently discovered Ghost's OPTIONS in its interface, tried implementing some of them but do not understand how to get Ghost to use them during the imaging process.

 

I acquired a copy of Ghost 2003 recently from eBay since I was led to believe it could write from NTFS partitions to NTFS partitions. Even using this release doesn't help me in achieving my goal.

 

Here are the instructions I've used in the SPANIMG.TXT:

 

-SPLIT=2048

-autoname

-z1

-clone,mode=pdump,src=1:1,dst=D:\backup\back.gho

-FX

 

Previously the first instruction was set to 690 MBs given that back in those days CD-ROMs had limited capacity. I increased it to what I came to learn was Ghost's maximum file splitting capacity since I want to save copies of my installs on a DVD-ROM, which is, of course, much greater.

 

I have the Norton Ghost PDF Guide but do not see anywhere how Ghost.ini is used or if it is used in this fashion.

 

The whole idea behind creating images after install is to save a basic install for later use should I get zapped by a virus or other problem. Several times this has come in handy to restore my system almost immediately. And now these days with Windows XP requiring registration and activation after install - and I have only an OEM version, that is all that is available now - I want to create an image that has been activated, thus avoiding being turned down by Microsoft or charged to reinstall the operating system.

 

Your help would be greatly appreciated.