Norton Ghost "out of space" error when creating image

[Len]

Using Norton Ghost 2002 (the one included with System Works 2002), I'm trying to create a backup image of one hard disk onto another hard disk (FAT32). I'm NOT cloning the disks but rather creating a ghost image (.GHO file) of the one hard disk onto the other hard disk for backup purposes. I'm running Ghost from the bootable floppy Ghost creates for you.

Everything works fine until the ghost image file (.GHO) on the destination drive becomes 2GB in size. At that point, an error appears basically saying there is no available space on the destination disk volume. Not true since there is 16+ GB still left on the dest disk. Ghost should be automatically creating as many 2GB image files as needed like it does when the image is written to CDRW but that isn't happening. I tried turning on "spanning" and "auto file naming" but no help.

The Ghost documentation mentions a -SPLIT option which sets the size of each image file ghost creates. I tried -SPLIT=1500 (1.5 GB) and Ghost gave the out of space error after 1.5 GB instead of 2GB. It seems that Ghost can't a second image file when needed.

Any idea how to overcome this problem?

[Jon]

Are you using compression?

[Len]

Yes, I'm using 'high' compression. Just to clarify, I get the out of space error when the compressed ghost "image" file reaches 2GB. That usually around 3.5GB of the original uncompressed disk.

[Jon]

How much space is available on the drive you are making the backup of?

[Len]

Originally posted by Jon
How much space is available on the drive you are making the backup of?

The error message specifically mentions the destination drive as the one 'out of space'. The source drive, actually a partition, is 85GB with about 75GB free. The destination drive (single FAT32 partition) is 20GB with about 16GB free. The Ghost image files should be about 5-6GB in size so I would think that there is plenty of actual space available.

[Jon]

Well, I found something that may solve your problem.

Try using boot files from a true DOS boot disk other than using the PCDOS that Nortons comes with. Win95/98 boot disk should have these files or try BootDisk.com (http://www.bootdisk.com) for a floppy image file.

Once you have the files you need, go here (http://service4.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/2000042409333225) and do what needs to be done to replace the PCDOS files with true DOS.

Hope this helps.

[Len]

Jon,

I made a new Norton Ghost Boot disk containing boot files from a Win98SE startup disk and now it works great! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.