Ok guys, I know I need a computer - will come shortly. However, the current problem. 1. I have a dual boot with 98/Xp Home as my hardware (scanner) and some of my CD progs won't work with XP home even in compatable mode and with correct OS drivers. 2. I use ghost to back up C housing 98, however, it is my understanding ghost will not ghost an NTFS partition. My two questions straight to the point, will ghost work on the Xp D drive if it is installed as non NTFS, (fat32). If not, what back up software will, Drive Image, etc. and what is the best and most cost effective. Thanks again.

The most recent version of Drive Image will certainly work. You can also use Acronis True Image. I don't know which version of Norton Ghost you have. However, a later version of Norton Ghost (version 10) should also work. ___________________________________________ ☺ When everything else fails, read the instructions.

Based on comments here by others with significant experience of Ghost + XP... I'd be inclined to go with the Acronis util. http://www.softpanorama.org/Unixifi... details the history of Ghost... and from which it may be seen that Ghost-7 (much preferred/favoured b the gurus here) is apparently OK with ntfs; and obviously OK with fat32. The gurus here (re' Ghost) seem to advise that later versions are not so cool (to use an old phrase) with XP...; and so I'd be inclined to use Acronis - unless you can get a copy of Ghost-7? Incidentally are you intending to buy a hew system - or jsut a new hard-drive? If the latter then the drive will have software to allow you to transfer (as in clone) the old drive you have now to the new...; thus no need of Ghost etc...?

I agree with trvlr. Currently I personally use drive image. Howevever I have heard a lot of good things said about Acronis and have been meaning to getting round to play with it. Problem is because Drive Image always works for me, it gets a back seat. ___________________________________________ ☺ When everything else fails, read the instructions.

Thanks. I am an olf faithful user of Ghost for many years, it has never failed me!!!! on a non NTFS partition. However, I did read and did try backing up an NTF partition of Xp and that did fail. I then did research and read that it will back up I think only files or folders or some issue, not the whole clone if XP is installed NTFS. Although, I have not reinstalled XP in a non NTFS state to try it out. I do have the old versions and prefer to use Ghost. However, I am open to drive image as I would like to back up my D (XP Home) which is in the extended partition as D. Windows 98SE is on primary as C as I have dinasour equipment and tv card that just won't work in Xp even with driver updates and compatability mode. I would like to try Drive Image and Acronis. However, I would be skeptical of Ranish from what I have heard. I will do some research and post back. Thanks all!

These two posts are very informative/with pros and cons: http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/... http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/...

And these directly from Symantec! http://entkb.symantec.com/security/... http://entkb.symantec.com/security/... What detail. They sure have to complicate everything in XP, although I read installing fat 32 is a lot less headaches than NTFS!!!!