What is the V2I file format?
A .v2i file is a proprietary disk or partition image created by Norton Ghost versions 9 through 15 and the related PowerQuest Drive Image software. The format originated with PowerQuest Corporation's Drive Image 7.0 (circa 2003) and was carried into Norton Ghost after Symantec acquired PowerQuest in 2003. Norton Ghost 9.0, released in August 2004, was the first Ghost version to use .v2i - replacing the earlier .gho format used by Ghost 8 and before.
A .v2i file stores a sector-based copy of an entire disk partition, optionally compressed using a proprietary LZ-variant algorithm. Full backups are stored as .v2i files; incremental backups use the companion .iv2i format that references the base image. A .sv2i catalogue file links multiple .v2i and .iv2i files into a complete restore point set. Norton Ghost 10 and later added optional password-based encryption.
The name V2I stands for "Virtual Volume Image," a term coined by PowerQuest. No public specification or magic byte signature has been documented for the format.
Symantec discontinued Norton Ghost on April 30, 2013. Restoring a .v2i image today requires either an old Ghost 9-15 installation or Symantec System Recovery. Modern alternatives include Macrium Reflect and Acronis True Image.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWV2I files are disk images - they contain whatever was on the backed-up disk, including potentially malware-infected files. Restoring from an untrusted .v2i file could restore an infected Windows installation. Not an active malware vector in itself, but treat restored content with caution. Scan after restore.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open V2I files
Windows3 apps
Norton Ghost 9-15 (legacy, EOL)
Paid If you have a licensed copy: launch Ghost, Recovery Point Browser, open the .v2i file. Norton Ghost EOL 2013 - no longer sold or updated.
Symantec System Recovery (SSR)
Paid SSR 2013+ can open and restore from .v2i files created by Norton Ghost. Now sold by Veritas.
Macrium Reflect (migration)
Freemium Cannot open .v2i directly, but is the recommended modern replacement for Ghost. Convert workflow: restore from Ghost, then create a new Macrium image. Technical details
deep spec| Format origin | PowerQuest Drive Image 7.0 (circa 2003); adopted unchanged by Norton Ghost 9.0 (August 2004) |
| Image type | Sector-based full-partition or full-disk image |
| Compression | Optional proprietary LZ-variant; typically reduces image size by 30-50%; uncompressed mode also available |
| Encryption | Optional password-based encryption available in Norton Ghost 10 and later |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Incremental backup file | `.iv2i` stores incremental updates referencing a base `.v2i` image |
| Catalogue file | `.sv2i` links multiple `.v2i` and `.iv2i` files into a complete restore point set |
| Ghost version compatibility | Incompatible with Norton Ghost 8 and earlier, which used the `.gho` format |
| Platform | Windows only (XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1) |
| End-of-life | Norton Ghost 15 discontinued April 30, 2013; support ended June 30, 2014 |
| Successor product | Symantec System Recovery (SSR) 2013 Desktop Edition |
| Typical size | 330 MB - 470 GB depending on partition size and compression settings |
| Magic bytes / public spec | None documented; format is entirely proprietary |
| Released | PowerQuest Drive Image 7.0, circa 2003; adopted by Norton Ghost 9.0, August 2004 |
| Latest version | Norton Ghost 15 (final release, 2010); no updates since EOL April 2013 |
V2I conversions
Community Q&A
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