Windows Backup/Recovery tutorial

[kooldj]

This tutorial will help you make your windows partition backup and then restore it using N0RT0N GH0ST. It just takes some moments and then you can save loads of time from the repeated Windows/Software/Driver Installations
The tutorial seems to be lengthy b/c the 2nd and 3rd steps are just about booting your PC to DOS b/c this N0RT0N GH0ST works in DOS mode. If you have a Win 98/ME CD or if u can manage to boot to DOS by yourself than you don't need to follow the 2nd and 3rd steps
If u can't manage the CD than you can make a bootable USB using the following simple steps


TASK #1: GET THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARES:
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(1) Win ME bootable files
(2) USB Disk Storage Format
(3) N0RT0N GH0ST
Here is the download: (Filesize: 5MB)
RapidShare: Easy Filehosting
Download and extract this archive using winrar


TASK #2: TO MAKE A BOOTABLE USB USING THE SMALL UTILITY “USB DISK STORAGE FORMAT”
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Procedure to make the USB bootable (BACKUP ALL USB DATA):
1) Install and run the utility "USB Disk Storage Format"
2) Tick marks on "quick format" and "create a DOS startup disk"
3) In the option saying "using DOS system files located at", give the location of the “WinME boot files” folder located in the downloaded archive and click start
4) When done, copy these files from the downloaded archive into the USB:
----All files from “WinME boot files” folder
----GH0ST.exe


TASK #3: TO BOOT THE PC WITH THE BOOTABLE USB WE JUST MADE AND RUN N0RT0N GH0ST FROM IT!
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Procedure to boot through this USB (Referenced from my DQ35JO/D945GNTL motherboards, should be same for new motherboards models):
1) Press del or F2 to start your system BIOS
2) Set the "USB mass emulation type" to "all removable"
3) Enable "boot to removable drive"
4) Enable "USB boot"
5) Set your USB at the first place in the boot order (you might need to use the keys such as + - pageup/pagedown or simply the arrow keys)
6) Restart
7) When boot menu appears select "minimal boot"
8) Type ghost to start N0RT0N GH0ST
9) (Optional: Type pm to start Partition Magic Pro 8.05)
[Options 1-4 may not be same in your motherboard BIOS. But you have to make the USB as removable and booting to removable drives should be enabled. OR try around the USB options and see if your USB boots]
Congrats! N0RT0N GH0ST has now started


IMPORTANT:
READ THE FOLLOWING STEPS VERY CAREFULLY OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT END UP DESTROYING YOUR DATA ON THE HDD BY RESTORING TO WRONG PARTITION. I’LL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CIRUMSTANCES. BETTER PRINT THE FOLLOWING STEPS FOR HANDS ON REFERENCE!!

TASK #4: USING N0RT0N GH0ST
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Newbies must know the following keys before using N0RT0N GH0ST:
1) Arrow keys
2) Backspace
3) TAB (Jump to next button or choice)
4) Shift tab (Jump to previous button or choice)
5) Use Space button to select a choice


BACKUP PARTITION:
After starting GH0ST proceed with the following steps:
(1) NAVIGATE TO:
Local > Partition > To Image
(2) SELECT HDD
Next screen shows you HDD choice. If one HDD than just click OK, otherwise chose the HDD whose partition is to backup
(3) SELECT PARTITION
Now select the partition for backup. You can identify it by its size displayed on the right side
(4) SAVE BACKUP TO:
Next screen wants you to tell where to save the backup file. Type the name of the backup file than from the drop down menu select the drive on which you wanna save the backup file
(5) SELECT COMPRESSION RATE:
Select HIGH for maximum compression so that backup filesize is smaller
Finally click yes to run the backup process.

RESTORE PARTITION:
(1) NAVIGATE TO:
Local > Partition > From Image
(2) LOCATE THE PARTITION BACKUP FILE:
The GH0ST backup file is orange colored. Locate that file on your hard disk
(3) ENTER ON NEXT SCREEN
(4) SELECT HDD
If you have only one Hard Disk than just press enter. If you have more than one HDD than chose the HDD whose partition is to restore
(5) SELECT PARTITION
Now select the partition which has to be restored. You can identify it by its size displayed on the right side
Now click OK to start the restoration process.


SOME NECESSARY TIPS:
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1) Before making backup of windows, first install it fresh on a formatted partition. Than make a preliminary backup right after the windows installation finishes to desktop. After that, install all the necessary softwares and drivers except the antivirus or trial versions. Now you can make a final backup which will be used to restore.
2) The advantage of preliminary backup is that it is portable i.e. it has more chances to restore on other systems.
3) Secondly when you are installing drivers and softwares, your system might get corrupted from a virus or any shit like that, than you can just restore through the preliminary backup to start installing softwares and drivers again.
4) The antivirus is not recommended to install before backup unless it is a licensed copy
5) If you are used to copying your files in "My Documents" than u can set it's path to another partition which will not be formatted. To do this, right click on "My Documents" and select properties, now change the target folder to other partition like D:\My Docs. Now your documents will be intact upon Windows partition restoration

Note: The archive also contains Partition Magic Pro 8.05. You can copy the files in that folder to the USB for using this software. In order to run it you have to type pm when u boot to DOS. In order to navigate in the software, use keys like tab, shift+tab, alt+g etc


ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR RUNNING N0RT0N GH0ST
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PC troubleshooting was never easy before! Check out the All in one Dos Bootable CD "Hiren BootCD". It has numerous utilities which you had ever imagined: http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd
Google for Hiren BootCD's latest version. Download and burn its ISO to CD/DVD. Boot your PC with that CD/DVD and you can find N0RT0N GH0ST under the "Disk Clone Tools" section. This way you donot have to try the USB method described above and directly follow the Task #4

[imadsani]

good one .. repped!

[Dr.Farhan]

very nice..

Repped.. +1

i installed acronis latest.. let seee when my windows goes flip.. then i will write one up fot acronis as well..

[kooldj]

Edit: i have also describes the alternative method at the end of the tutorial. This will also be very helpful

[Ronaldo]

I am planning on installing linux on my system, and from what I am reading, in order to keep your partitions you need to have an in depth knowledge of you partitions. But I do not. So I was wondering if I was able to format my entire hard drive on installation of ubuntu, remove all partitions, and if I'd be able to restore vista by using my system recovery discs. I am planning on installing the newest version of ubuntu. So if someone could help me with this that would be wonderful. And if i can't recover without that partition, can someone give me a tutorial on how to set up this partition in linux. Thanks.Magic Backup