Ghost Switches

Enterprise Support - Symantec Corp.
- Switches: Alphabetical list of switches Page 1 of 20
Switches: Alphabetical list of

switches
Article: Created: 1998-01-26 Updated: 2010-01-26
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TECH130961 08:58 UTC 05:43 UTC
Article Type
Technical Solution
Product(s)
• Ghost Solution Suite (index?page=landing&key=52023) -> 2.0 -> 2.5

• Ghost Solution Suite (index?page=landing&key=52023) -> 2.0
• Ghost Solution Suite (index?page=landing&key=52023) -> 1.1
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Environment
• Microsoft -> Windows XP -> 5.2

• Microsoft -> Windows Server 2003 -> Standard Server
• Microsoft -> Windows NT -> 3.5 Server
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Languages
• English
Problem
http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH130961&local... 9/26/2010
Enterprise Support - Symantec Corp. - Switches: Alphabetical list of switches Page 2 of 20
You want to know more about the Ghost switches.
Solution
This document lists Ghost's command-line switches in alphabetical

order. This list is not complete. For a complete list of the Ghost
command-line switches, see the following documents:
• For Symantec Ghost Solution Suite 1.0 and Symantec Ghost

8.0, see Symantec Ghost Reference Guide
(ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/products/ghost/manuals/symghost_8/Ghost_ref_guide.pdf) ,
Appendix A.
• For Norton Ghost 2003, see Norton Ghost 2003 User's Guide
(ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/products/ghost/manuals/ghost2003_guide.pdf) , Appendix A.
Switches and hyphens

When a switch is both preceded by and followed by a hyphen, such
as with -NTC-, the second hyphen means that the feature is
disabled. Such switches are normally not used without the second
hyphen. For instance, -NTC- forces Ghost to disable the allocation
of NTFS contiguous cluster runs. -NTC is not used because Ghost
enables the allocation of NTFS contiguous cluster runs by default.
Switches and versions
• The version information is not complete. Some switches are not

available in all versions.
• Usually, a switch available in one version will also be available
in later versions, but not always.
• Unless otherwise stated, most of the following switches are
used on the Ghost command-line with Ghost.exe, Ghostpe.exe,
or Ghostwks.exe.
Switch Type Description
@filename Specifies a file that contains additional command

that Symantec Ghost should read. Filename indicates the pa
and file name of the command-line switch file. The command
line switch file can include any Symantec Ghost command

switch. The Symantec Ghost command-line switch file must
a text file with each switch on a
separate line. This lets you exceed the DOS command
limit of 150 characters.
@MCsessionname Connect to Multicast sessionname. See the document
Switches: Cloning
(http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082413392025)
@MTx Designates which tape device to use (0 through n).

-#E=filename.ENV Designates the filename of your ENV file for registration
purposes.
-AFILE=filename Diagnostic Replaces the default abort error log file name, Ghosterr.txt,
with the directory and file given in filename.
-AUTO Image file Automatically names spanned image files during

Using this switch avoids the user prompt that asks for
confirmation of the next destination location for the remainde
of the image file that is being restored.
This switch is the default behavior for Symantec Ghost.
-BATCH User Prevents abort messages from waiting for user
intervention acknowledgment, and removes user interaction
return value of Ghost.exe must be checked to identify wheth
the operation was successful. Symantec Ghost returns 0 on
success and 1 or higher on failure or error.
-BFC=x Bad disk Handles bad FAT clusters when writing to disk. If this switch
set, and the target partition is FAT, Symantec Ghost checks
and works around bad sectors and all free sectors are verifie
This option may slow Symantec Ghost operation substantial
-BLIND Batch mode Prevents any GUI display. The blind switch must be used wi
processing switches that do not require any user input, for example, the
clone switch. Using this switch lets you execute
operations on a computer with no video adapter.
-BLKSZE=x Image file Sets the block size to x K for writing to image files.
-BOOTCD Clone / CD- When writing an image directly to a CD/DVD writer, this mak
R and CD- the CD/DVD bootable. A bootable floppy disk is required in
RW drives drive A. If you use the -SURE switch with -bootcd, and a flop
disk is not in drive A, then a non-bootable CD/DVD is create
-BUFFERSIZE=x Network Ghost creates an image file using a buffer of size x where x
number of KB. The default size of the buffer is automatically
calculated by Symantec Ghost. The buffersize switch lets yo
override this size. You can set the buffer size value from 1 to
32.
-CHKIMG,filename Image File Checks the integrity of the image file that is indicated by the
filename.
-CLONE Clone Ghost.exe operation switch. This switch allows automation o

Ghost.exe operations and has a series of arguments that
define the operation parameters.
-CNS Image File Reverts the naming of spanned files to the system
versions of Symantec Ghost prior to Symantec Ghost 6.5. If
this switch is not used, then the naming of spanned files
conforms to Microsoft application guidelines. You do not nee
to use this switch when reading an existing file. Use this swit
when the first five characters in a file name must be unique.
For example:
With -CNS: (Allows you to save in long file name format.)

This is a long file name.gho
This is a long file name.001
This is a long file name.002
Without -CNS:
Filename.gho
Filen001.ghs
Filen002.ghs
-CRC32 CRC32 / This switch creates an image file with CRC values and then
Image verifies the list against the original or a copy. The purpose is
verification allow both quick listing of the contents of an image file and
verification that a disk created by Symantec Ghost contains
same files as the original.
-CRCIGNORE CRC32 / CRC errors indicate data corruption. This switch overrides
Image CRC error
verification detection and may allow a corrupted image file to be used.
Using this switch leaves the corrupted files in an
state. You can use this switch to help you extract files from a
corrupted image file.
-CVTAREA FAT Creates a file, Cvtarea.tmp, that is the location of the MFT
partitions when the FAT32 partition is converted to NTFS. This switch
operates in a similar manner to the cvtarea program that
Microsoft provides in Deploy.cab on the Windows XP
installation CD. For more information, see the Microsoft Web
site:
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/tech/storage/ntfs
preinstall.asp (http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/tech/storage/ntfs
The file is created in the root directory of the partition during

partition or disk restore and is created as a contiguous space
on the disk. The largest size allowed is 4 GB. If the file is larg
than this, it is truncated to 4 GB.
Consult the Symantec Ghost Reference Guide for informatio

on the syntax and default settings.
-DD Diagnostic Dumps disk metrics information to the dump log file,
Ghststat.txt. The file location can be altered using the
dfile=filename switch.
-DFILE=filename Diagnostic Changes the path and file name of the dump log file created
using the -dd switch.
-DI Diagnostic Display diagnostics.
-DL=number Disk Access Specifies the number of hard disks present. Valid numbers a
between 1 and 8. This may help when the BIOS does not
report the number of drives correctly.
Use this switch in the following circumstances:
• When Ghost does not detect a fixed disk. Use

switch to force Ghost to detect fixed disks that are on
higher numbered slots. To search all slots, use
-DL=255
• When Ghost stops responding immediately after start
Ghost. This may be due to problems with higher slot
numbers. Use -DL with values less then 146.
usable value would be 127 plus the number of physic
drives on the computer. For instance, if the computer
has 2 drives, the command would be: ghost
-DLIST=drives Disk Access Specifies a list of drives to search for span files. If a span file
cannot be found, then the drive letters in dlist are substituted
one by one to look for the file on other drives.
For example, the command ghost -dlist=CDEFG instructs
Norton Ghost to look for files on C, D, E, F, and G drives. Th
path remains the same.
DST Clone Used as a parameter with the -CLONE switch. Defines
location of the destination partition, disk, or image file. See th
document Switches: Cloning
-F32 FAT Lets Symantec Ghost convert all FAT16 volumes to FAT32
partitions volumes when the destination partition to convert is larger th
256 MB in size. Ensure that the installed operating systems
can access the volumes that will be converted to support
FAT32.
-F64 FAT Lets Symantec Ghost resize FAT16 partitions to be larger th
partitions 2047 MB using 64 KB clusters. This is only supported by
Windows NT and Windows 2000. Do not use on
with other operating systems.
-FATLIMIT FAT Limits the size of FAT16 partitions to 2047 MB. Useful when
partitions Windows NT FAT16 partitions are present on the disk and 6
KB clusters are not wanted.
-FCR CRC32 / Creates a CRC file, Ghost.crc, while making an image file. T
Image is the same CRC file that is created when using one of the
verification create actions on the -CRC32 switch.
-FDC Forces Ghost to check for a dongle. In Ghost versions prior

2.09, Ghost automatically checked for a dongle.
-FDSP Clone Force Disk Signature Preserve. Use to resolve bootup failure
after cloning a disk on a Windows 2000/XP computer,
especially when the disk and controller are the same in the
source and destination computers, but the partition sizes or
layout are different. This switch preserves the signature byte
on the destination disk when performing a disk-to
-to-disk cloning operation. This switch prevents Ghost from
automatically forcing a disk initialization, which Ghost does b

default when imaging a Windows 2000/XP disk.
-FDSZ Clone Force Disk Signature to Zero. Use to resolve bootup failures
after cloning a partition on a Windows 2000/XP computer,
especially when the disk and controller are the same in the
source and destination computers, but the partition sizes or
layout are different. This switch configures Ghost to force a
disk initialization.
-FEMAX Clone When Ghost creates an extended partition during a
Disk or Image-to-Disk operation, the FEMAX switch ensures
that the extended partition takes up all free space.
Limitation: The extended partition needs to be at the end of t
disk to keep the remaining Unallocated Space within the
extended partition.
-FFATID Partition ID Changes the partition ID of the FAT partition to the

recommended partition ID for the FAT partition. The
is stored in the partition table.
This switch only works when Ghost creates and saves an

image file or when Ghost clones dynamically (such as with a
Disk-to-Disk or Partition-to-Partition operation). This switch h
no effect when Ghost restores an image file to a disk or
partition.
For example, if you clone a partition of type 0xA0 (which is a

unknown
partition ID), and Ghost sees the partition as a valid FAT
partition (that is, FAT12, FAT16, or FAT32), then Ghost
changes the partition ID from 0xA0 to an ID that is valid for
FAT12, FAT16, or FAT32.
This was default Symantec Ghost behavior before Symantec

Ghost 7.5. This switch allows for backward compatibility.
-FFI Disk Access Prefers the use of direct IDE access for IDE hard disk
operations.
-FFS Disk Access Prefers the use of direct ASPI/SCSI disk access for
disk operations.
-FFX Disk Access Prefers the use of Extended Interrupt 13h disk access for ha
disk operations.
-FINGER Information Shows the fingerprint details written on a hard disk created b
Symantec Ghost. The fingerprint details include the process
used to create the disk or partition and the time, date, and di
on which the operation was performed. See the document
to determine whether Ghost wrote to a disk or partition
-FIS Disk Access Uses all available disk space when creating partitions. By
default, Symantec Ghost often leaves a small amount of free
space at the end of the disk. Because partitions must be
aligned to cylinder boundaries, Symantec Ghost may leave u

to 8 MB free even when -fis is specified.
-FNA Disk Access Turns off asynchronous Input/Output. When -FNI solves a di
access problem, -FNA and -FNU can be used to help diagno
the disk access problem.
-FNI Disk Access Disables direct IDE access support for IDE hard
operations.
-FNS Disk Access Disables direct ASPI/SCSI access support for SCSI hard dis
operations.
-FNU Disk Access This switch prevents Ghost from accessing the IDE
means of Ultra DMA and forces Ghost to access the drive by
means of PIO instead. For information on Ghost's drive acce
methods, see the document Description of Ghost Diagnostic
Error File
When -FNI solves a disk access problem, -FNA and

be used to help diagnose the disk access problem.
-FNX Disk Access Disables extended INT13 support for hard disk operations.
-FORCE1394 Disk Access Forces FireWire support to start, even when the
controller is being run by something else. -FORCE1394
attempts to take over the FireWire Host Controller. To enabl
native BIOS support you must restart the computer.
Note the following:
• Use this switch with caution.

• Avoid using the force1394 switch to take over a FireW
controller from a driver, for example, Iomega FireWire
drivers. You may encounter problems if you do
-FORCEUSB Disk Access Forces USB support to start, even when the USB controller i
being run by something else. -FORCEUSB attempts to take
over the USB Host Controller and then attempts to return it t
the previous state once the Ghost operation is complete. Th
works for controllers as follows:
• EHCI controllers with BIOS support are taken over an

then returned to the BIOS.
• UHCI controllers with BIOS support are taken over an
then returned to the BIOS.
For example, the keyboard is returned after
operation is finished.
• OHCI controllers with BIOS support are taken over bu
not returned to the BIOS.
Note the following:
• Use this switch with caution.

• Avoid using the forceusb switch to take over a
controller from a driver, for example, the Ghost peer
peer USB driver. You may encounter problems if you
this.
-FRO Bad disk Forces Ghost to continue cloning even if the source contains
bad clusters.
-FX User Causes Ghost to exit to DOS after an operation is complete.

intervention default,
Ghost prompts the user to restart or exit when the operation
has finished. If Ghost is run as part of a batch file, it is
sometimes useful to exit back to the DOS prompt after
completion so that further batch commands are processed.
-GHOSTONCD Clone Includes Ghost.exe on a CD/DVD when writing an image to
CD/DVD.
-H or -? or -HELP Information Shows the Ghost command-line switch Help page.
-IA Clone The Image All switch forces Ghost to perform a sector
sector copy of all partitions. By default, when copying a
partition from a disk to an image file or to another disk, Ghos
examines the source partition and decides whether to
the files and directory structure, or to do a sector
copy. If it understands the internal format of the partition, it
defaults to copying the files and directory structure.
Generally this is the best option. However, if a disk has been
set up with special hidden security files that are in specific
positions on the partition, the only way to reproduce them
accurately on the target partition is through a sector
copy. If you use this switch to create an image of a dynamic
disk, then the image must be restored to a disk with identica
geometry.
-IAL Clone / Forces a sector-by-sector copy of Linux partitions. Other
Linux partitions are copied normally.
-IB Clone When creating an image or copying disk to disk, the

(Image Boot) forces a copy of the entire boot track; not just
boot sector.
Use this switch when applications, such as some boot

utilities, use the boot track to store information.
• You cannot perform partition-to-partition or partition

image operations with the -IB switch.
• Partition sizes cannot be altered when using the

switch.
-ID Clone When creating an image or copying disk to disk, the

(Image Disk) forces a sector-by-sector copy, and copies the
entire boot track, extended partition tables, and unpartitioned
space on the disk.
• Partition sizes cannot be altered when using the

switch.
-IGB Boot Ignore Ghost Boot partition.

partition
When creating an image file, the -IGB switch tells Ghost to
exclude the Ghost boot partition. That is, when the source di
includes a Ghost boot partition and you use the
the resulting image file does not include the Ghost boot
partition.
When writing an image file to a disk, the -IGB switch tells

Ghost to ignore the boot partition that is on the destination d
That is, when the destination disk includes a Ghost
partition and you use the -IGB switch, Ghost does not write
over the existing Ghost boot partition.
The Ghost Enterprise Console in Ghost 6.0 and later use the
IGB switch by default.
Related information:
• The switch -SGB.

• The document Will Ghost Console overwrite the Ghos
boot partition or create two Ghost boot partitions?
(http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/2000081015185
-IMGDESC Adds a single-line image file description to the image file. Th

has the following restrictions:
• Cannot include any new lines

• Cannot be used with -imgdescfile
• Must be used with the clone switch
• Clone switch mode must be create, dump, prcreate, o
pdump
-IMGDESCFILE = filename Specifies a text file that contains an image file description to
added to the image file.
This has the following restrictions:
• Cannot be used with -imgdesc

• Must be used with the clone switch
• Clone switch mode must be create, dump, prcreate,

pdump
-INT41 Drive Use DOS drive table for determining drive geometry.
detection
-IR Clone The Image Raw switch copies the entire disk, ignoring the
partition table. This is useful when a disk does not contain a
partition table in the standard PC format, or you do not want
partitions to be realigned to track boundaries on the
disk. Some operating systems may not be able to access
unaligned partitions. Partitions cannot be resized during rest
and you need an identical or larger disk.
-JA=sessionname GhostCast Connects to the GhostCast Server using the specified sessio
name. Set the disk and possibly partition to be cloned on the
GhostCast Server.
-JADDR= GhostCast Use this switch to specify the IP address of the computer tha
runs the GhostCast Server or Ghost Console.
-JL:x=filename GhostCast Creates a log file to assist in diagnosing GhostCasting and
TCP/IP peer-to-peer problems. The amount of information
logged is set by the log level x. The log level x can be E
(errors), S (statistics), W (warnings), I (information), or A
increasing order of logging detail. The file name indicates the
path and file name of the log to be created. In general,
error and statistic levels do not affect session performance. A
other levels may reduce performance and should be
diagnostic purposes only.
-JM=[U|D|M] GhostCast Use unicasting, direct broadcast, or multicasting.
-JS=n GhostCast Specifies the maximum number of router hops between the
client computer and Ghost server. In older Ghost versions, th
maximum allowed is 10 hops.
Used to increase the number of hops required to contact the
Ghost Multicast Server. For instance, when Ghost is set for
JS value of 1, the packet will make it through 1 router only, a
be stopped at a second router.
Ghost's ability to successfully clone over many hops is
dependent on timing issues and router and switch restriction
The fewer hops, the greater likelihood of a successful GHOS
connection.
-LOCKINFO BIOS Lock Shows the type code and information stored in the BIOS or t
Pentium III Processor ID.
See also the -LOCKTYPE switch.
-LOCKTYPE=Type BIOS Lock Lets you lock an image file for use with a specific set of
computers defined by the type chosen and the source
computer.
For example, ghost -locktype=P creates an image that can b
used only on systems that have the same product name type
as the source computer.
On computers with multiple processors the processorID bios
lock option does not work as intended when running
Ghost32.exe. In this situation do not create or restore image
with the -locktype parameter set to I. Other -locktype values
work as intended.
See also the -LOCKINFO switch.
-LPM Peer to peer The LPT master mode switch causes Ghost to automatically
into LPT master mode, and is the equivalent of selecting LPT
Master from the main menu.
-LPS Peer to peer The LPT slave mode switch causes Ghost to automatically g
into LPT slave mode, and is the equivalent of selecting
Slave from the main menu.
-MEMCHECK Diagnostic Displays a diagnostic memory dump for technical support

issues.
-MODE Clone Used as a parameter with the -CLONE switch. Takes the
values COPY, LOAD, DUMP, PCOPY, PLOAD,
the document Switches: Cloning
-NBM Launch Ghost as NetBIOS Master.
-NBS Launch Ghost as NetBIOS Slave.
-NO1394 Disk Access Disables Firewire 1394 support.
-NOAUTO Image File Disables the automatic naming of spanned image files durin
creation. The user is prompted for confirmation of the next
destination location for the remainder of the image file that is
being restored.
-NOAUTOSKIP Image File Includes the hibernation and skip files in the image file. Thes
files are excluded by default.
-NOFILE User Disables the Image File Selection dialog box. Useful when
intervention opening directories with large numbers of files and slow links
-NOIDE Disables access to IDE devices. This is equivalent to

IDE disks, but noide also affects ATAPI CD writers, tape driv
and other IDE devices.
-NOINDEX Prevents Ghost from creating an index when creating an ima

file. This slightly reduces the size of the image file and saves
memory but Ghost Explorer is much slower in reading the
image file. This switch is useful if you are saving an
from a large disk with very little memory.
-NOLILO Clone / Does not attempt to patch the LILO or GRUB boot loader aft
Linux a clone. If you use the -NOLILO switch, you can restart your
computer from a floppy disk or CD after a clone and then
run /sbin/lilo or the GRUB install script as the root user to
reinstall the boot loader.
-NOUSB Disk Access Disables USB support.
-NOSCSI Disk Access Disables access to SCSI devices using ASPI. This is
equivalent to -fns for SCSI disks, but noscsi also affects SCS
CD writers, tape drives, and other SCSI devices.
-NTC- NTFS Disables NTFS contiguous run allocation.

partitions
-NTCHKDSK NTFS Force CHKDSK to run when restarting a computer that uses
partitions NTFS on the boot partition.
Ghost prevents CHKDSK from running on the client compute

after cloning a Windows NT/2000 computer. To force
to run, use the -NTCHKDSK switch.
-NTD NTFS Enable NTFS internal diagnostic checking.
partitions
-NTEXACT NTFS Enable an exact restore of the NTFS source volume

partitions
-NTIC NTFS Ignore the NTFS volume CHKDSK bit.
partitions
-NTIID NTFS Ignores the partition's System ID and clones based on the
partitions underlying file system, instead of defaulting to a sector
sector Image All cloning.
The -NTIID switch enables the Windows NT volume set

partitions to be intelligently cloned file by file, which allows
resizing. However, using the -NTIID switch with volume and
Stripe sets is not recommended.
-NTIL NTFS Ignore non-empty NTFS Log File check (Inconsistent volume
partitions
-NTN NTFS Inhibit CHKDSK on NTFS volume boot. In Ghost 6.5 and late
partitions Ghost does this automatically.
-NTX:x NTFS Set the size of Ghost's NTFS volume memory cache to x KB
partitions The default is 8000.
-OR Clone The override switch allows the override of internal space and
integrity checks and lets you put a very big image into a sma
partition. The operation fails if it is unable to write to the limit
partition size. This switch lets you override spanning, which
fails if there is limited space. Avoid using this switch.
-PFILE= Clone / File Saves the File Preservation Metadata File that holds the
Preservation location of preserved files to a specified location. By default,
is saved to the current directory.
-PMBR Image File Specifies that the master boot record of the destination disk
preserved when performing a Disk-to-Disk or Image
operation.
-PREFGHST File System Attempts to use internal Ghost file system access
to using the operating system for file system access. This
switch is intended for use under instruction from Symantec

Technical Support when troubleshooting.
-PREFOS File System If Symantec Ghost has a choice, it attempts to use the
operating system for file system access as opposed to using
the internal Ghost file system access.
-PRESERVE=filepath[=newpath][,filepath File List of files/directories to preserve during a clone.
[=newpath]...] Preservation An error will be generated if the files/directories do not
-PRESERVEIFEXISTS=filepath[=newpath] File List of files/directories to preserve during a clone.
[,filepath[=newpath]...] Preservation No error will be generated if the files/directories do not exist.
-PRESERVEDEST=n File Specify the partition on the destination disk that preserved
Preservation files/directories will be preserved in.
- File If image file is being preserved, delete it after the clone has
PRESERVEDIMAGEDELETEAFTERCLONE Preservation completed.
-PWD Image file Prompt for a password when creating an image
• When you restore the image file (that is, you have Gh
write the image file over a disk or partition), Ghost wil
require that you enter this password.
• The password can be up to 10 characters long.
• Using a password longer than 10 characters might
prevent Ghost from restoring the file.
-PWD=password Image file Use this password on the Ghost command line when you ha
Ghost create the image file.
• When you restore the image file (that is, you

write the image file over a disk or partition), Ghost wil
require that you enter this password.
• The password can be up to 10 characters long.
• Using a password longer than 10 characters might
prevent Ghost from restoring the file.
-QUIET User Disables status updates and user intervention.

intervention
-RB User Forces an automatic reboot after completion. After completin

intervention a restore or copy operation, the target computer must be
restarted so that the operating system can restore
disk/partition information. Normally, Ghost prompts the user
restart or exit. -RB tells Ghost to restart automatically after it
completes the restore or copy.
This is useful when automating Symantec Ghost in a batch
command file.
-RECOVER Clone / File Sets the default to recover preserved files if a previous resto
Preservation has failed and the File Preservation Metadata File still exists
this switch is not used the default is set to abort.
-SCRIPT=filename User Instructs Ghost to execute the Ghost command lines that are
Intervention listed in the file specified. Ghost executes the commands in
order that they are listed in the text file.
-SGB Boot Tells Ghost Multicast Server to ignore the Ghost boot partitio
partition That is, when you write an image to a disk and use the
switch, Ghost Multicast Server will not write over the existing
Ghost boot partition. See the related switch, -IGB.
-SKIP=filename Image File This switch causes Ghost to skip the indicated files during a
create or restore operation. A skip entry can specify a single
file, a directory, or multiple files using the * wildcard. File
names must be given in short file name format and all
names are absolute. Only FAT system files can be skipped.
is not possible to skip files on NTFS or other file systems. Th
skip switch may only be included in the command line once.
specify multiple skip entries, they must be included in a text
indicated using -skip=@skipfile. The format of the skip text fi
skipfile, matches the format used with the CRC32 vexcept
option.
-SLEEP Slows down the execution of Ghost.
-SLOWFILE This switch causes Ghost to use different functions for image
file Input/Output. This resolves problems with some network
interface cards. This switch has no effect when
Ghostpe.exe. See the document Switches: -SLOWFILE and
BUFFERSIZE
-SPAN Image file Enables spanning of image files across volumes.

Do not use this switch if you are running Ghost.exe to write a
image file directly to a CDR/RW. Ghost.exe automatically
spans CD-R/RW disks if required.
-SPLIT=x Image file Splits image file into x MB spans. Use this switch to create a
forced-size volume set. For example, if you want to force
smaller image files from a 1024 MB drive, you could
200 MB segments. The maximum value for the
is 2048 MB.
-SRC Clone Used as a parameter with the -CLONE switch. Defines the
location of the source partition, disk, or image file. See the
document Switches: Cloning
-SURE User Used with the -CLONE switch to avoid the prompts "Partition
intervention size correct?" and "Proceed with disk load?"
• If -SURE is run from a DOS command line, Ghost

finishes the operation, bypasses the prompt
computer or continue?" and returns to a DOS prompt
• If -SURE is run from the Ghost.exe graphical user
interface (GUI), Ghost finishes the operation and
displays the prompt "Reset computer or continue?"
-SZE Clone Specifies the desired size of the destination partition for a dis
load or disk copy operation. See the documents
Ghost From Automatically Resizing Partitions
Switches: Cloning
-SZEE Clone Forces Norton Ghost to keep the sizes of all destination
partitions the same as in the source partition (no
This switch can be used with or without the -clone switch.
-SZEF Clone Forces Norton Ghost to keep the sizes of all destination
partitions, except for the first one, the same as in the source
partition. The first partition uses the remaining disk space.
-SZEL Clone Forces Norton Ghost to keep the sizes of all destination
partitions, except for the last one, the same as in the source
partition. The last partition uses the remaining disk
-TAPEBSIZE Tape Sets the block size on the tape you are writing an image to.
-TAPEBUFFERED Tape Use on old DAT drives with unreliable tapes.
-TAPEEJECT Tape By default, Ghost rewinds the tape after a tape operation an
then exits to DOS. This switch forces Ghost to eject the tape
following a tape operation. If the tape drive does not support
remote ejection you must eject the tape manually.
Ghost versions prior to Ghost 2001 and 6.5 ejected the tape
default.
-TAPESAFE Tape Use on old DAT drives with unreliable tapes.
-TAPESIZE=x Tape Not a valid switch. Ghost manuals that refer to this switch ar
in error. Instead, use the -TAPEBSIZE switch.
-TAPESPEED=x Tape X is the speed in hexadecimal, ranging from 0 to F, where 0

the default speed, and F is the maximum speed.
-TAPEUNBUFFERED Tape Use on old DAT drives with unreliable tapes.
-TCPM[:slave IP address] Peer to peer This switch sets Ghost to the TCP/IP master mode. The swit
causes Ghost to automatically use a TCP/IP peer
connection, with this computer set in master mode, and is
equivalent to selecting TCP/IP Master from the Ghost.exe or
Ghostpe.exe main menu. Specifying the IP address of the
slave computer on the command line is optional.
-TCPS Peer to peer This switch sets Ghost to the TCP/IP slave mode. This switc
causes Ghost to automatically use a TCP/IP peer
connection, with this computer set in slave mode, and is
equivalent to selecting TCP/IP Slave from the Ghost.exe or
Ghostpe.exe main menu.
-U[u|d|m] Sets the Data Transfer mode to unicasting, direct broadcast,
multicasting. Use the switch at a DOS command prompt in th
Advanced options on the Clone tab in a Task in
Console or in the "Command line" box in GhostCast Server.
For instance, the following command line runs GhostCast

Server in Directed Broadcast Mode to write the image
W2K.gho to all computers on a single subnet in a GhostCas
Session that is called Sales.
Ghostsrv.exe C:\images\w2k.gho sales

-UNPRESERVEIMAGE File After a failed restore, do not preserve the image file that was
Preservation used on the failed restore.
-USBM Peer to peer This switch sets Ghost to the USB master mode. This switch
causes Ghost to automatically use a USB connection, with th
computer set in master mode, and is equivalent to
USB Master from the Ghost.exe or Ghostpe.exe main
-USBS Peer to peer This switch sets Ghost to the USB slave mode. This switch
causes Ghost to automatically use a USB connection, with th
computer set in slave mode, and is equivalent to
Slave from the Ghost.exe or Ghostpe.exe main
-VDW Bad disk Verifies disk writes.
-VER Diagnostic Displays Ghost version number.
-VER=value Diagnostic Tests the version of Ghost. If Ghost is older than the specifie
version, Ghost aborts and exits, otherwise Ghost proceeds a
normal. The value is a three digit number and should be
specified without the period. For example, Symantec
is specified as -ver=700, and Norton Ghost 2001, which is
version 6.5, is specified as -ver=650. In Symantec Ghost,
switch is designed for use in batch files. For a list of version
numbers, see the document How to determine your version
Ghost
-WD Turns off Disk Write caching.

-WS Turns off Disk Read caching.
-WD- Turns off Disk Write caching.
-WS- Turns off Disk Read caching.
-Zx Image file When saving an image as a file, Ghost compresses the file.
Ghost uses the following compression levels:
• -Z defaults to level 1.
• 1 = Fast. This is lowest compression level,
fastest transfer rate (apart from no compression).
• 2 = High compression.
• 3 to 9 = Highest compression level and slowest transf
rate.
References
The -CLONE switch
This is used to specify a cloning operation. The arguments that are

used with it, MODE, SRC, DST, are SZE. See the document
Switches: Cloning (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082413392025) .
For other function-specific switches, see the following

documents
• Switches: Bad disk (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609405925)

• Switches: Cloning (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082413392025)
• Switches: CRC32 (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609442125)
• Switches: Diagnostic (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609465125)
• Switches: Drive detection (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609375125)
• Switches: FAT (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609110525)
• Switches: GDisk (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/2000030715304425)
• Switches: Ghost Walker command-line switches
• Switches: Image file (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082608512325)

• Switches: DOS Ghost Multicast Server and DOS GhostCast
server (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1999110108435725)
• Switches: NTFS partitions
• Switches: Sector copy (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/2001111413481325)

• Switches: -SLOWFILE and -BUFFERSIZE
• Switches: Tape drives (http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609192225)

• Switches: User intervention
Technical Information
Use of the term "disk geometry"
Ghost documentation often uses the terms "disk geometry," "drive

detection," and "disk access method" interchangeably. Normally,
you can determine the appropriate term by the context. Generally,
when Ghost documentation discusses the drive detection switches,
the correct term to use is "drive detection" or "disk access method."
When Ghost documentation discusses the size of the drive or
partitions, or the cylinder, head, and sector values (CHS values), the
correct term to use is "disk geometry." For more information on this
terminology, see the document Switches: Drive detection
(http://service1.symantec.com/support/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609375125) .
Why switches may not be present in later versions

A switch that first became available in one Ghost version might not
be necessary one or more versions later because the functionality of
some switches are sometimes incorporated into the Ghost program
(Ghost.exe, Ghostpe.exe, or Ghostwks.exe).
Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH130961
Terms of use for this information are found in Legal Notices

(http://www.symantec.com/about/profile/policies/legal.jsp)
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- Switches: Alphabetical list of switches Page 1 of 20

Switches: Alphabetical list of

• Ghost Solution Suite (index?page=landing&key=52023) -> 2.0 -> 2.5

• Microsoft -> Windows XP -> 5.2

You want to know more about the Ghost switches.

This document lists Ghost's command-line switches in alphabetical

• For Symantec Ghost Solution Suite 1.0 and Symantec Ghost

Switches and hyphens

Switches and versions

• The version information is not complete. Some switches are not

Switch Type Description

@filename Specifies a file that contains additional command

line switch file can include any Symantec Ghost command

@MTx Designates which tape device to use (0 through n).

-AUTO Image file Automatically names spanned image files during

-CLONE Clone Ghost.exe operation switch. This switch allows automation o

With -CNS: (Allows you to save in long file name format.)

The file is created in the root directory of the partition during

Consult the Symantec Ghost Reference Guide for informatio

-DI Diagnostic Display diagnostics.

Use this switch in the following circumstances:

• When Ghost does not detect a fixed disk. Use

-FDC Forces Ghost to check for a dongle. In Ghost versions prior

automatically forcing a disk initialization, which Ghost does b

-FFATID Partition ID Changes the partition ID of the FAT partition to the

This switch only works when Ghost creates and saves an

For example, if you clone a partition of type 0xA0 (which is a

This was default Symantec Ghost behavior before Symantec

aligned to cylinder boundaries, Symantec Ghost may leave u

When -FNI solves a disk access problem, -FNA and

Note the following:

• Use this switch with caution.

• EHCI controllers with BIOS support are taken over an

Note the following:

• Use this switch with caution.

-FX User Causes Ghost to exit to DOS after an operation is complete.

-H or -? or -HELP Information Shows the Ghost command-line switch Help page.

-IB Clone When creating an image or copying disk to disk, the

Use this switch when applications, such as some boot

• You cannot perform partition-to-partition or partition

• Partition sizes cannot be altered when using the

-ID Clone When creating an image or copying disk to disk, the

• Partition sizes cannot be altered when using the

-IGB Boot Ignore Ghost Boot partition.

When writing an image file to a disk, the -IGB switch tells

• The switch -SGB.

-IMGDESC Adds a single-line image file description to the image file. Th

• Cannot include any new lines

• Cannot be used with -imgdesc

• Clone switch mode must be create, dump, prcreate,

-MEMCHECK Diagnostic Displays a diagnostic memory dump for technical support

-NBM Launch Ghost as NetBIOS Master.

-NBS Launch Ghost as NetBIOS Slave.

-NO1394 Disk Access Disables Firewire 1394 support.

-NOIDE Disables access to IDE devices. This is equivalent to

-NOINDEX Prevents Ghost from creating an index when creating an ima

-NTC- NTFS Disables NTFS contiguous run allocation.

Ghost prevents CHKDSK from running on the client compute

-NTEXACT NTFS Enable an exact restore of the NTFS source volume

The -NTIID switch enables the Windows NT volume set

switch is intended for use under instruction from Symantec

• When you restore the image file (that is, you