Symantec Norton Ghost 2003 (Symantec-10024696)

• Reviewed by: Anthony008

  Strengths: Clear, step-by-step instruction. Back up entire hard disk or individual partitions. Works with Win 98, Win 2000, Win XP. CD and DVD containing the backup is automatically made bootable.

  Weaknesses: Doesn?t work with Windows Vista. But that isn?t really a weakness as this software was written in 2003.

  Overall: I didn?t try the backup to a hard disk. I only tried the backup to a CD/DVD writer both connected internally and externally. The internal method (connected to a IDE controller) works so smoothly. The external method (connected to a USB port using a SATA/IDE to USB converter), even though meant to be more convenient in some situations, requires some care. Here?s the tricky part: when Ghost restarts the computer in DOS, the DVD burner cable can not be plugged into the USB port, because it causes the computer to hang up. So before Ghost restarts in DOS, unplug the DVD burner cable from the USB port, and then plug it back in when you see the message ?Starting PC DOS?? on the black-n-white screen. From that point on, it will work without any problems. The external method doesn?t work on older machines with CPU speed of 500mhz, though. In my own opinion, Ghost is better than Acronis in professionalism, quality, thinking, and language expression. It?s the solid product to own. If you have some DOS knowledge, you should have no problem using Ghost. If so many people can do it, you simply can not be an exception.

• Reviewed by: lenras

  Strengths: Disk Cloning and backup capabilities

  Weaknesses: None

  Overall: Have used Norton Ghost 2002 and 2003 for the last several years for disk cloning and backup on CD's and DVD's. Never had a problem, always ran flawlessly. It has been GREAT!!

• Reviewed by: Nobesnickr

  Strengths: Great options that you cantu use

  Weaknesses: Crashes everytime i try and run. Support was useless and wasted time.

  Overall: Generel Exception Error 36000!!! Brand new system with brand new backup equipment and software cannot make it work. VERY disappointed in Symantec, as their other products are highly praised. Get you **** together, please!

• Reviewed by: AlexanderAkulick

  Strengths: It has a number of backup options and all work perfectly.

  Weaknesses: None, other than you must read the provided documentation to use it.

  Overall: Oddly, Ghost 2003 comes packaged with System Works Professional 2004. This is quite possibly because, the product does work so well, improvement was not needed. I use it with all my networked XP system computers and it works flawlessly from my 4-1/2 year old Pentium III (800 MHz.)with its 30 and 80 Gb. hard drives (768 Mb. of memory) to my AMD 3000+ running at 2.249 GHz. with its four 80 Gb. hard drives and 1.5 Gb. of memory. It is also running excellent on an AMD 1800+ overclocked from stock to 2.0 GHz. with its 10 and 160 Gb. system drives and 256 Mb. of memory. For those that do not comprehend instruction well, Ghost will be a problem but so will any other program that provides like functions. This is not a click and save program in all applications as it requires the user to interact during the system save or copy and again during its use during a system repair using it. But then no one ever said just because you have some computer time its use would be a left or right mouse click away. Norton provides full documentation in the software which does fully explain its operation and all options. Don't buy this if you have problems with System Restore and commands in Windows - your just not ready for it. When you are, it works great! I use both the stand alone Ghost and the System Works Professional utility version, and both install easily performing as they should. Back up to a DVD or CDs RW/R and restoring from whichever is really simple if done correctly. Cloning drives and using Peer to Peer backup/restore are just two more of its functions. UPDATE 11/26/04: Ghost itself remains unchanged yet again for 2005, but the 2005 version includes new added features that are unavailable on the 2003 and 2004 versions.

• Reviewed by: tsmith35

  Strengths: Easy to use, supports external drives (even firewire!), extremely powerful.

  Weaknesses: Not for folks who have trouble getting around on a PC. Does require knowledge of hard drives, partitioning, logical disks.

  Overall: We've used Ghost for years and years now. It's used by many companys' IT groups to quickly and easily duplicate a pre-configured PC's setup and software to multiple PCs throughout the company.Fantastic for moving from an old PC to a new PC without having to go through and set everything up from scratch. Works great for full disk or full partition backups, even to external or removable drives.