# What is the best alternative to Norton Ghost? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635 "2012-07-18T16:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/1 "2012-07-18T16:30:58Z")
I’m referencing alternatives to this product: > **[Ghost (disk utility)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_(software))** > > Ghost (an acronym for general hardware-oriented system transfer) is a disk cloning and backup tool originally developed by Murray Haszard in 1995 for Binary Research. The technology was acquired in 1998 by Symantec. > The backup and recovery functionality has been replaced by Symantec System Recovery (SSR), although the Ghost imaging technology is still actively developed and is available as part of Symantec Ghost Solution Suite. > Binary Research developed Ghost in Auckland, New Zealand. After the... Management has asked for lower-cost alternatives. The site has about 150 PC desktops. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/2 "2012-07-18T17:02:44Z")
Google for “disk cloning”. There are many applications, some of them free. It all depends on what exactly you want to do. Paid apps have features like incremental backup, retrieving and storing a disk image from/to the network, have support for more hardware etc. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/3 "2012-07-18T17:13:59Z")
I am afraid I Googled the problem prior to posting the question. I was hoping that I could avoid testing the dozens of solutions out there. ---
**Author:** ![old\_joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58956e/32.png) [@old\_joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/old_joe)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/4 "2012-07-18T17:21:44Z")
works great. Last ime i used it I cloned 4 computers at one time through the network. I hear computer labs and such use it. its my goto app now that I dont use Ghost anymore. ---
**Author:** ![old\_joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/58956e/32.png) [@old\_joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/old_joe)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/5 "2012-07-18T17:39:19Z")
its pretty much TRK but with a very basic wizard interface. Botth work very well. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/6 "2012-07-18T17:50:27Z")
I am a huge fan of acronis true image ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/7 "2012-07-18T17:51:56Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I am a huge fan of acronis true image As far as I can tell, it’s the best solution going, but at $50/head I can’t sell it to the boss. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/8 "2012-07-18T18:41:56Z")
> [@Mr. Slant](#): > > As far as I can tell, it’s the best solution going, but at $50/head I can’t sell it to the boss. If you do not need images but just data backup something like Allway Sync to a shared folder on a server can backup as little or as much as you want. $10/each for the pro licences with premium support lifetime upgrades, yada, yada. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/9 "2012-07-18T18:46:23Z")
Need to image, not back up data. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/10 "2012-07-18T19:02:05Z")
> [@old\_joe](#): > > **Look at Trinity Rescue disk** Doesn’t that include Norton Holy Ghost? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/11 "2012-07-18T19:05:40Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > doesn’t that include norton holy ghost? booooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/12 "2012-07-18T23:10:04Z")
Cramden Ghost is a little more intense, drives like a bus. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/13 "2012-07-18T23:40:15Z")
I’ve used DriveImage XML in the past, and found it reliable. > **[DriveImage XML Backup Software — Data Recovery](http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm)** > > DriveImage XML is an easy to use backup and restore program for Windows. Part of Runtime's Data Recovery Software products. $500 for a 100-user licence Might I ask why all of the machines at the site need this? What is the actual problem you’re solving here? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/14 "2012-07-19T13:21:51Z")
New image roll-outs due to the standard corporate software load changing a LOT, routine system reloads, and management deciding Ghost Rent Is Too Damned High! ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/15 "2012-07-21T04:17:52Z")
how recent are the machines, would it be worth having them all boot to VM’s and have a standard VM image? OR perhaps if you have a lot of rank and file drones just running a handful of apps, thin clients may be a better option. Those who need more powerful machines, fine but if you have 100 users on the same basic loadout, TC’s may be for you. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/16 "2012-07-21T14:48:50Z")
Not looking to migrate to thin client or VMs on the desktop just yet, but good looking out. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/17 "2012-07-21T14:51:17Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > Google for “disk cloning”. There are many applications, some of them free. And many are loaded with unwanted and spammy programs. That’s why the voice of experience is so valuable. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/18 "2012-07-21T22:42:47Z")
> [@Mr.Slant](#): > > New image roll-outs due to the standard corporate software load changing a LOT, routine system reloads, and management deciding Ghost Rent Is Too Damned High! If you’re just using it to push images out, you don’t need a licence for every machine in the estate, do you? I thought most imaging programs could produce standalone output - so you’d only need licences for the machines producing the images, or have I misunderstood something? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/19 "2012-07-21T23:03:09Z")
Yeah, Norton is nowhere NEAR that kind about licensing. This is a message board post, not a cite, but the guy’s experience mirrors mine, and he sums it up: "You _must_ have a license for every machine you image Ghost is, and always has been ever since it was first created, licensed on the basis that once a machine has been deployed to with the Ghost executable VIA ANY MEANS then that machine has a Ghost license attached to it, and your organization must have purchased sufficient client licenses to cover every machine which has been deployed using it. It’s that simple. All of the other tools included in the Ghost Solution Suite - including the management platform itself - are simply adjuncts to that to make it easier for you to deploy machines using the core Ghost executable." Link: [Ghost Licensing | Ghost Solution Suite](http://www.symantec.com/connect/forums/ghost-licensing-0) ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635/20 "2012-07-21T23:37:44Z")
[www.acronis.com](http://www.acronis.com) is my personal favorite. If you’re looking for free options: > **[Must-have backup tools for your PC or hard drive](https://www.techsupportalert.com/the-must-have-backup-tools-for-your-pc-or-hard-drive/)** > > A backup is important to protect your data from being lost forever. There are several backup tools for your PC. Find out more here. ✅ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-alternative-to-norton-ghost/628635.md?page=2)