Norton Ghost for Windows

Name: Norton Ghost
Rating: 2.8 (24 reviews)
Author: Symantec

By Symantec
Trial version
User Rating

Used Norton Ghost for Windows?

The product has been discontinued by the publisher, and Download.com offers this page for informational purposes only.

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffFebruary 25, 2026

Norton Ghost offers comprehensive disk imaging for seamless backup and recovery of all computer data. It provides a reliable, quick, and easy solution for protecting your important files.

Pros
- Create backup images without restarting computer
- Imaging occurs in the background without interruption
- Incremental backup saves time and storage space
- Restore entire system or specific files
- Comprehensive disk imaging solution
Cons
- Targeted for home and small office users

Norton Ghost for Windows

By Symantec
Trial version
User Rating

Used Norton Ghost for Windows?

Explore More

Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: July 24, 2011

Latest update: February 25, 2026

Version: 15.0

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 2003
Windows XP
Windows 10
Windows 2000

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 238,483

Downloads Last Week: 0

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Program available in other languages

Descargar Norton Ghost

Last Updated

User Reviews

2.8/5

24 User Votes

Fast and faultless clone
howardfernsJuly 28, 2013
Pros
Took about 15 minutes to clone entire hard drive of 80 GB to a new one. The result was 100% perfect.
Cons
The price
Summary
 Updated on Jul 28, 2013About time CNET updated the two and a half stars average user rating for this product - that includes some poor reviews for the previous version as well, whereas most of the reviews for the current version are enthusiastic.
Simply the Best!
ThatSwedeMarch 11, 2013
Pros
I've been using Norton Ghost for 10 years, from XP through Windows 7. It's fast, accurate, runs in the background, and restores easily. Highly Recommended!
Cons
None that I can think of.
Summary
Forgettable...It's a Nightmare.
CChiWangMay 28, 2012
Pros
free means nothing.Time is Money.
Cons
secure disk ALWAYS ERROR in any new PC.Backup Software???? May be backDOWN...
Summary
Great - no problems in 7 years
wpgwpgDecember 2, 2011
Pros
It simply works with no hassles. Set it and forget it. In 7 years I haven't seen the first problem with it in any version of Windows from XP to Vista to 7.
Cons
Not the cheapest, but you can find it on sale for next to nothing.
Summary
I don't think you can beat it. It simply works manually or automatically time after time with no problems or hassles.
Savior for my Lenovo
TheMarvickSeptember 10, 2011
Pros
Simple to use and create backups! Fully recommended! I have not tried to backup / restore from a remote FTP site.
Cons
Could not find any till date.
Summary
I used / use the Norton Ghost to restore my Lenovo laptop (restores all driver software / windows XP etc to the original state) Very useful when your system gets corrupt. I recommend the Ghost. I have made an initial image of the boot drive to a DVD. I use it to restore my Lenovo when my driver software gets corrupt. Restore takes less than five minutes.
Version 15 Appears To Be Better!
Digital_jammerSeptember 30, 2010
Pros
So far this version (with Win 7 Ultimate) and only 512Mg instead of 1 gig of memory runs faster, is NOT as complex to use, in fact it's easy to use, and I believe the price is cheaper.
Cons
Have yet to do a full restore, so I can not say it it restores correctly yet. I am worried because the back up images and files it wrote to my external hard drive show 0 Kb of space used,
Summary
I have only fot as far as a full back up of my C drive, I have not needed to do a full restore yet. I am very worried over the fact all of the back up images and files left on my 1 TB external hard drive read 0 KB! . I have done a full C drive back up and it took less than an hour for my 160 gig drive. Assuming this does restore everything correctly then it is much better. So far it was very easy to back up my C drive in less than 1 hour running Version 15, and Windows 7 only only 512Mb of ram. Either way Version 15 appears better all the way around. But I still have not done a full restore yet, and I question why the back up files and images are showing 0 Kb in size.
very dissapointed in the download
irishmistmrSeptember 5, 2010
Pros
none could not use the product
Cons
Was suppose to have full use during trial period but could only use to portions and these were the ones I didn't need.
Summary
The product gives false information before downloading trying to get you to by the product.
It's a rather complex program demanding time to learn
Wim_DamstraAugust 7, 2010
Pros
Automatically backups up harddisk(s) at a pre-installed date and time and apart from that you can backup f.i. daily selected files; furthermore you can make a separate backup of your drive(s) on an external drive.
Cons
It's rather complex to understand all the possibilities and in my dutch version the helpfile is in polish (help_nl) which can't be replaced by the english version as it is immidiately corrected (there are only a few dutchmen understanding polish!).
Summary
 Updated on Aug 7, 2010I don't recommend it as restores are unreliable. (I think back longingly to the former reliable DOS version of Ghost!)
unreliable
calebcrawfordMay 19, 2010
Pros
I don't know. I am just glad I never had to rely on it in the event of a catastrophic hard drive crash.
Cons
I can't rely on it. After the 4th time uninstalling and reinstalling I am giving up. The appended data backup will fail after sometimes 10 days, this time after 4. The computer backup is even worse - it never appends.
Summary
Bottom line: what happened to Symantec? Their whole product line has imploded. I have little control over the nature of the backup - there are no compression settings so everything is coded. I am a little old-school, and like to see the files and folders as they sit on my drive. Will Apple please come out with Time Machine for Windows?
I Killed The Ghost In My Computer
Gold DustFebruary 5, 2010
Pros
Looks Good Just Like A Picture That Hangs On A Wall.
Cons
It Killed My Hard Drive, I Had To Use System Restore To Get My Computer Back!
Summary
Do Buy This GARBAGE! Updated on Feb 7, 2010I Gave CPR To Ghost So Now It Is Back In My Computer, After All $70.00 Is A Lot Of Money To Throw Away, So I Am Learning How To Use It Right.......And Now I Love It, So Five Stars * * * * *! Updated on Feb 14, 2010Ghost Killed My Drive Again, So I Killed Ghost! Norton GoBack Is The Best, They Have It On eBay. Updated on Feb 23, 2010You Can Not Kill A Ghost So I Brought It Back, Since It Is One Of The Best Backups Out There I Will Just Have To Learn How To Use It, But You Never Know With Me. Updated on Mar 9, 2010GHOST REALLY IS DEAD NOW! Updated on Mar 10, 2010Error Has No Fix For Ghost (Error E7C30010: Device\\.Physicaldrive Cannot Write 8,192 Sectors Starting At LBA 63, Error 00000005: Access Is Denied)

Developer’s Description

By Symantec

Create automatic backup and recovery of everything on your computer.

Norton Ghost is a comprehensive disk imaging solution for home and small office users. Enhanced with Drive Image technology, which Symantec obtained through the acquisition of PowerQuest Corporation, Norton Ghost offers consumers the ultimate solution in data storage and protection with a complete, reliable, quick and easy way to backup system files, programs, settings, documents and other important data.

With Norton Ghost, users can now create backup images without restarting their computer or exiting Windows through the product's hot imaging technology. Imaging takes place in the background without interruption, allowing users to continue work on their system as the backup takes place. Users also benefit by saving valuable time and storage space with Norton Ghost's incremental backup and restore feature. Once an initial image of a hard drive is completed, users can make future backups incrementally - updating only the files and information that have changed rather than backing up the entire hard drive again. In the event it is necessary to restore data, users can choose to restore the entire system or just specific files or folders.

Norton Ghost for Windows

Editors’ Review

Pros

Cons

Norton Ghost for Windows

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User Reviews

Fast and faultless clone

Simply the Best!

Forgettable...It's a Nightmare.

Great - no problems in 7 years

Savior for my Lenovo

Version 15 Appears To Be Better!

very dissapointed in the download

It's a rather complex program demanding time to learn

unreliable

I Killed The Ghost In My Computer

Developer’s Description