Login to participate
Endpoint Management & Virtualization ArticlesRSS

How to Run Ghostwalker from the Ghost Console Independent of a Clone Task.

Randall Newnham's picture
Randall Newnham
June 3rd, 2009
Filed under: , , ,

You need to run Ghostwalker via the Ghost Console, most likely to change the Security Identifier (SID). This may result from not choosing this on a Clone Task, or needing to change the SID for another reason.

PLEASE NOTE: Symantec does not recommend the use of the Ghost Console Client on dual boot or multiple boot machines. There are known issues that can affect the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the client machine, possibly rendering the machine unbootable. Symantec will not provide support on this operation. These steps should be tested in a lab before using on any production machines. Symantec takes no responsibility for data lost through implemetation of this solution.

The Ghost Console can execute commands in its PreOS environment. This requires that a new Software and File Actions Task be created. These steps will accomplish this. This assumes the use of PC-DOS as the default PreOS in Ghost Solution Suite 2.5:

  1. Choose File > New > Task.
  2. Check the Software and File Actions box, and then click on the Software and File Actions tab.
  3. Click the Add... button.
  4. Click the radio button for Transfer Files and Folders, then click Next.
  5. Click the Add Files button, then browse to and select C:\Program Files\Symantec\Ghost\ghstwalk.exe and click Open.
  6. Click the radio button for Transfer to the Ghost Partition.

  7. Next to destination, click Edit. Make sure the Drive Letter radio button is selected and C is in the box. Click OK.
  8. Click Next, then Finish.
  9. Click Add again, then click the radio button for Transfer Files and Folders, then click Next.
  10. Click the radio button for Execute Command, then click Next.
  11. Type this in the command line:
    C:\Ghstwalk.exe /sure /ignore_domain
    This command line will change the SID on a machine, ignoring domain membership.
  12. Click the radio button for Execute command in the Ghost Partition, then click Next.
  13. Click Finish.
  14. On the Software and File Actions tab, verify that both items are in the Ghost Partition Actions section, and that the Transfer command is above the Execute command. Then click Save.

These instructions will allow you to change the SID on a machine via the Ghost Console. In a test environment, it has been shown that the Ghost Console will report errors in the logs, but the operation successfully performs the operation.

+1 (1 vote)