Deploying ghost images from CD/DVD

[acrobson]

Hi all,

Ah, bank holiday weekend at last!

I have been using ghost for many years now and I am now interested in imaging from cd/dvd where the image is spanned (depending on size) across multiple discs, although this does take longer , it can be handy when in the field to save carrying a laptop etc around to carry out a ghost cast sessions, also, we can hand them to staff with an image of their machine on (laptop) if it goes haywire whilst away at a conference etc.

I have tried doing it via Nero, however this is having none of it!

A step by step guide would be handy, and I am expecting there to be some 'additional files', likely to be win98 boot files, these would be handy too.

Thanks,

[tech_guy]

Hi,

We use DriveImage XML:

http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm

It's free and with BartPE it makes stuffing an image back onto a machine a doddle. Works great with DVDs.

BartPE is here:

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

We saved a small fortune switching to this - no more shelling out for Ghost licences.

[DMcCoy]

No multicast though

[acrobson]

We have used BART PE before in various cocktails etc, however, the LEA are not big fans of it because it is free, believe it or not, they prefer to pay for a licensed something which works the same or less than a free version of something which works the same or better,

So, it's a case of it having to be a ghost solution. The annoying thing is, i know this has been done before, however the team member has since left!

[Halfmad]

I have images that span multiple DVDs (one of my images is 12Gb!) and they work fine, it's just split into 2Gb sections by Ghost. What exactly is the problem you're having?

My first disk has the GHO file and the ghost exe, USB drivers, CD/DVD drive drivers and also network boot drivers (if needed - can select from startup menu). Works a treat and I can use any of my DVD images to boot the computers ready for USB ghosting or multicast too.

[acrobson]

The problem is, I have a number of images for just about every Dell model and I usually distribute via Ghost cast etc, however, for certain types of field work it's easier just to carry a DVD with it on and boot from the DVD and then distribute the image from there.

Basically, I would like to burn the images to a bootable DVD/CD and then distribute from that. My first thought was to turn it into an ISO and then burn to disc, however all the experiments I have tried with Nero etc have come back with 'Un-recognised file format' or 'unexpected file format'

[Halfmad]

I used winimage to insert my ghost files into a bootable image and burn it. I don't actually convert them.

More recent ones I've made using Roxio easy CD creator suite, no convertion just drag, drop and burn after telling it to make a bootable DVD.

[acrobson]

Any chance of a step by step guide, i happen to have both and i am looking into it now, however, for speed sake, it would be helpful.

[Halfmad]

I'll try and write one when I get a chance mate, up to my eyeballs at work at the moment

[acrobson]

I know how you feel, holiday time an all!