Symantec, the world leader in utility software for business and personal computing, has now launched Norton Ghost 5.1 Personal Edition. This is a PC cloning utility software, and has a powerful disk drive cloning and imaging utility that speeds up and simplifies PC system migration, hardware upgrades, hard disk backups and disaster recovery operations.

The Norton Ghost 5.1 is aimed at home and self-employed computer users while Norton Ghost 5.1 Corporate Edition targets the larger corporate user.

Key facts and features Norton Ghost 5.0 restores disk images when a PC fails, returning it to its original configuration based on a snapshot image taken during 'good times' Migrate data files, applications and system settings when replacing an old PC with a new one; Clone an entire hard disk to a new hard disk when upgrading hardware; Create compressed hard disk backup files; Clones all popular operating systems. The 'ghost' files are compressed by up to 70 per cent.

System requirements

Norton Ghost 5.1 Personal Edition requires an industry-standard PC, DOS 5.0 or higher, 386 SX processor (486 or higher recommended), 4MB (8MB for NTFS) RAM (16 MB recommended) and a VGA monitor.

"With Norton Ghost 5.1 Personal Edition, home users in India can now have more control and greater functionality using the same powerful software utility tools that are used and preferred by the majority of IT managers around the world," said Kerrie-Anne Turner, country manager, Symantec India. The product is similar to back-up utilities, and therefore does not amount to piracy (although it helps users copy applications software), she insists.

How it works: Ghost technology works by creating an exact image of a PC's hard drive, effectively taking a "snapshot" of all the files that make up the operating system, applications and configuration settings. This enables Norton Ghost to make complete back-ups of disks, even copying "in-use" system files that are missed by other backup utilities.

Following the cloning, Ghost performs a check on the files to detect any corruption, and is capable of verifying that a replicated disk contains the same files as the original. Image files can also be password-protected for additional security.

Image files can be saved to local or network drives, as well as removable storage devices such as JAZ drives, ZIP drives, CD-ROM or other removable media. Norton Ghost also permits a disk or partition image to be split across multiple volumes or media, promoting the user to insert another disk (or other media), or permitting the selection of an alternate location. Norton Ghost images can also be saved to, and loaded from, SCSI tape systems, providing an ideal means for implementing a robust disaster recovery solution.

Pricing and availability

Norton Ghost 5.1 Personal Edition is available now at a suggested retail price of Rs. 2,150. from Godrej Pacific Technology Ltd.(telephone 5182431/41) in Mumbai.