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Question regarding ghosting on XP.

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by perps, 2006/03/26.

  1. 2006/03/26
    perps

    perps Inactive Thread Starter

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    Greetings.

    I'm looking at reformatting one of my machines, but before I do I wanted to attempt to ghost at least some of the information on there to save myself a lot of time when reinstalling.

    Specifically, I wanted to avoid having to reinstall a large number of VST plugins (basically .dll files) for use with Cubase SX 3 that take a long time to install individually. If I ghost my Cubase directory, which contains all the VST plugins, will the ghosting software also ghost all the appropriate VST registry entries as well, so that after i reinstall XP I can restore the ghost and be ready to go? Is there ghosting software out there that can do this, or will it only ghost the files and folders and NOT the VST registry entries, effectively meaning that most of the VSTs would not work?

    Thanks in advance,

    - perps.
     
    perps,
    #1
  2. 2006/03/27
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I have experience with Ghost 2003 only but I believe that this is true for all imaging software:

    You can only create an image of a partition or a disk. It is not possible to "select" certain contents.

    The registry is a set of files which imaging software handle like any other file is handled.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  4. 2006/03/27
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    I never worked w/ Cubase, but I don't understand why you must install VST plugins anyway. In most audio editors you can just copy the VST pliugins to the appropriate dir and the audio program will auto recognize them and add any needed reg keys next time the audio program runs, IF regkeys are really needed.

    For example, Audacity install dir is c/program files, audacity. In that dir is a plugins dir. One just copies the vst plugins there and next time turn on Audacity the plugins are available for use via a menu.
     
    TonyT,
    #3
  5. 2006/03/27
    perps

    perps Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks for the reply peoples.

    @ Christer: Given what you said, it would probably be best to do a fresh install, get everything set the way I like it, and then create an image yes?? That way, i can restore to that previous state if things get ugly.

    @ Tony T: Most VST plugs are just .dll files and installing them creates an entry in the registry anyway. Most of them could quite easily be copied into the VST plugin directory directly as you said, not needing a registry entry to function properly. However, most of the VST soft synths, especially those that can operate in stand alone mode, require a proper installation, complete with the relevant registry entries. Some of the bigger plugin packs also require this.

    - perps.
     
    perps,
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  6. 2006/03/27
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Yes and you can device an "imaging strategy" that suits your needs. I create several images during the installation such as Windows only, + Office, + other applications, + AntiVirus / FireWall and so on. This enables you to roll back to whichever state you like. Creating an image prior to installing AV / FW is a good thing which makes an uninstallation easy. It requires downloading of updates to Windows, Office and other applications installed prior to AV and FW in order to delay going online.

    If your XP-CD is not SP2, slipstreaming SP2 to whichever CD you have makes a cleaner installation.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  7. 2006/03/27
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    What you *could* do is make a copy of the QBase plugins dir on a cdr. Then on the newly installed system replace the fresh plugins dir with the cdr copy of it. Then all you would have to do is run the setup programs for those *larger* VST packages.

    But...even the larger VST packages will probably work fine without any registry entries at all. In most cases, registry entries for these types of software are only for preferences, dir locations, etc, and are not needed to make the software work at all.

    For example, I'll bet if you made a copy of one of those larger VST soft synths dirs and then put the copy on another comp, the app will run just fine without any installation at all, it will work just by executing the exe.
     
    Last edited: 2006/03/27
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2006/03/27
    perps

    perps Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks again for your replies guys, information muchly appreciated.

    Any recommendations with regards to ghosting apps?? I downloaded the demo to Acronis True Image 9, and it seemed pretty solid, but is there anything else you could recommend?

    - perps.
     
    perps,
    #7
  9. 2006/03/28
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    TonyT,
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  10. 2006/03/29
    skeet6961

    skeet6961 Inactive

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    only a suggestion here - something like aloha bob's pc relocator ultra might do as u wish on an app x app basis
     
    skeet6961,
    #9

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