Partition serial number

When a HDD is formatted each partition is given a random serial number which is displayed when the formatting process is completed.
When I set up my HDD with three partitions and formatted, I took note of these serial numbers.

Is there a way to see these serial numbers somewhere?

The reason why I want to do this is to check if Norton Ghost really reformats the partition on the fly when restoring an Image.
If it does, this random serial number should change.

Am I totally lost?



Christer



I´d like to add that I´ve booted into DOS and with the DIR command I can see the serial number for D: and E: with little contents but not for C: with greater contents, it just scrolls by.

Is there a command switch to DIR step by step or something?

 

I found the switch: DIR /P.

The serial number hasn´t changed.

Does this mean that Norton Ghost doesn´t format on the fly when restoring an Image?

Does it mean that only DOS FORMAT assigns a new random serial number and Ghost actually has formatted on the fly?

I am totally lost!



Christer

 

Hello Alex, thanks for Your reply!

I asked Symantec Free Online Support and they say otherwise.

When making an image, Ghost reads the FAT and images used space only. Neither free space nor boot sectors are imaged.

If you wish to image the whole disk you have to use the switch -ia (image all). This only works when imaging a whole disk not a single partition.

I didn´t win the Symantec Lottery when they chose CD-writers to test so, mine isn´t verified compatible with Ghost.
Therefore I cannot image the whole disk but have to image C: to E: for later transfer to CD via my normal burning software.

However, I´d like to be sure that the partition is formatted when being restored, just to be sure that any possible virus is safely removed. If Ghost doesn´t do it, I´ll have to do it myself using the WinME startup disk before restoring.

I also wish the partition serial number to remain unaffected, otherwise I´ll have to bother a few software suppliers for new activation codes.

Maybe I´ll test my CD burner for compatibility myself but if anyone knows if the SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-408B is compatible, please, let me know!



Regards,
Christer