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Norton Ghost 10.0
The latest version of
Norton Ghost has finally been sighted on the PC that once again
proves that this software package is the leader of the pack when it
comes to backing up.
For
those that have been living in a cave or have only recently connected to
the internet, Norton Ghost 10.0 allows the user to backup selected
files, directories or an entire hard drive (even consumables) or network
drive to a wide gamut of different storage formats that include USB
drives, FireWire devices, CD/DVD drives or your local hard drive to
ensure that your information is secure and readily accessibly if a
disaster does occur.
The installation of
Norton Ghost 10.0 was a breeze and it simply auto-installed the software
when the the CD was detected by the computer. For those users that have
a previous version of Ghost on their systems, the installation wizard
prompts the user whether or not it should uninstall an existing version
(this is essential if you wish to replace your existing version) which
makes the upgrade extremely easy to replace. Norton Ghost 10.0 also
scans your system for all different types of storage devices on the
installation to ensure that the program is 100% ready once it has been
installed.
Ghost also installs an icon into your system tray that not only monitors
your system but is also used as a way of accessing the program that
automatically loads. It is also a great feature for those people who are
new to the computer. Fortunately Windows XP also has a feature to hide
these icons (a blessing for the more advanced user).
Key Features
-
Backs up everything on your computer - digital music, photos,
financial documents, applications, settings, operating system, etc.
- in one easy step.
Recovers your system and data even when you can't restart your
operating system.
-
Makes incremental backups to maximize space and save time.
-
Makes backups on the fly, without restarting your system.
-
Backs up to almost any media, including CDR/RW and DVD+-R/RW drives,
USB and FireWire® (IEEE 1394) devices, and Iomega® Zip® and Jaz®
drives.
-
New Features
-
Automatically creates an initial backup schedule based on your
computer's configuration.
-
Automatically detects storage devices, analyzes your system, and
offers "best practice" backup advice during installation.
-
Automatically monitors and optimizes backup disk space.
-
Triggers backups on key events, like new program installations or
user logins.
Creates new backups on demand with One Button "Back Up Now".
-
Encrypts backups to help keep them secure.
-
Task-based interface simplifies management and monitoring.
-
Displays all scheduled backups - plus the degree of backup
protection for each drive on your computer - in one convenient view.
-
One-step setup wizard makes installation and configuration quick and
easy.
Begins backing up to Maxtor external drives by simply pressing the
Maxtor OneTouch™ button.
The
interface for Norton Ghost 10.0 is extremely reminiscent of the previous
version with just a few new tweaks of the interface to make this version
the easiest to use yet. With that said, just about all the backups are
done through the easy to use wizards that not only allow users to backup
their local hard drives but also network drives if available. Novice
computer users will be pleased to know that the new one button "backup
now" feature allows for hassle free backing up with just a click of the
mouse.
The automatic backup
feature is probably the most useful feature of this current incarnation
that provides minimal user input for backups. Although the more advanced
users will also be pleased that the backup scheduler allows you to set
your own time and date for backups, for instance, every Sunday morning
at 3:00am or on the 25th of each month.
We
tested the program by backing up our hard drive partition of 20GB that
took roughly 30 minutes which then gave us the option of copying these
files onto CD's or DVD's. Even though the backups may be a lengthy
process, Windows XP was still 100% accessible during this time, unlike
some software backup programs that make your operating system totally
unavailable.
As with Windows XP, the installation
disc for Norton Ghost 10.0 can also be used to attempt to restore your
PC if a disaster does happen but hopefully your system will already be
backed up on your own person CDs and DVDs which can then restore your
system perfectly with all your files and installed software packages.
Another new ability of Norton is that you can also transcend all
boundaries of time and space to retrieve files from your past, even if
they have been deleted from your computer.
Although Norton Ghost 10.0 comes with a comprehensive help file, users
also have access to an extensive knowledge base on the Symantec website
for any issues or features that the user wishes to explore.
As
with all Symantec products, Norton Ghost 10.0 gives the user a 12-month
subscription to any updates that are available to the application that
is activated from the first day that the software was installed. Best of
all, Norton comes with a real printed manual that is a real godsend in
these days of the new information age.
The security features
of this product have been vastly improved over its predecessors with
Ghost
10.0 supporting 128, 192 and 256-bit encryption to prevent the thieves
from decrypting your backups that is also a true godsend for businesses
who have issues of privacy.
In conclusion, Norton Ghost 10.0 is a brilliant software package that
offers hassle free backups and restorations through its inbuilt wizards
and also some great advanced features for the more adept user. As with
all new editions of Norton, this program has been specifically designed
for Windows 2000 and above. Norton Ghost 10.0 has truly evolved into an
interesting useful piece of software. |
