Ghost or Drive Image

[kathanon]

Hi, just wondering what people think about using ghost or drive image. I have a new pc and want to image the drive. I am not sure what the differences are between the two programs and what are the advantages and disadvantages.

Thanks

Kathy

 

[alohageek]

Kathy,

I have never used Norton Ghost. I have, however, been using Power Quest Drive Image for the past 4 years and I love it. I am in an environment where we replace 1/3 of our PC's every year. We never use a factory load, so the first thing I do when I get a new PC is delpart and load Windows 2000 from scratch along with all service packs, security patches, and user apps. Once I do this for a particular make and model of PC I just use Drive Image to create an image that I use to clone the rest of the same make/model. All I have to do is change the computer name on each one and it's ready to go as a network workstation. Occasionally I use it for backup, too.

Best regards,
Celeste

 

[jeremybarker]

To give another opinion, I've only used Ghost and find it very helpful. From an administrative perspective, it allows you to push or pull an image to/from a pc from one location say the server. If you don't need specific computer names, ghost will generate a completly random name for you. It works with windows sysprep clearing sid's which can be a factor when working with domains.

 

[TheClueless]

I too use Ghost. I have found it to cut time on rebuilds down significantly. I also use it to resize partitions and mirror HDDs.

Advantages: You can deploy over the network, from a CD, or to another HDD located in the same machine.

Disadvantages: Hard to use with Laptops with PCMCIA network cards. Forgetting to do a sysprep.

Also make sure the Mainboards on the machines are VERY similar and if you use NT try to keep the other hardware components similar too.


The Clueless

 

[kathanon]

Thanks everyone, that is really helpful. I am going to try both out. I already know a bit about Drive Image and like it, but have heard very good things about Ghost too.

Kathy