Need backup software or something like it

I have a Sony Vaio PC. It didnt come with an official Windows XP disc. It doesnt have any backup software in it at all.
I was told Ghost doesnt work very well in event of needing to do a backup and that's the software I bought. I'm considering buying a new tower, and the store wants me to try Roxio so I make sure I have everything saved in case their tape transfer doesnt work.
Another friend suggested I buy an external drive.
Any thoughts on this would be very helpful.
thanks so much.

 

I don't know why someone would tell you this....GHOST has been a very good product over the years.

Lately though, I have been using TrueImage by Acronis with an external USB drive. Seems to work very well and I'm quite satisfied.

 

So if I do a correct backup to Ghost, would a computer tech be able to use it well for a system recovery? I really hate to purchase new stuff if I dont need it.
Most of the things I will need to backup (If the tape transfer fails) I have also put on old floppy discs.

 

Hold up....are you worried about transferring data from your VAIO to your new tower?

 

No, I was going to buy a new tower from a reputable local store. I got a quote and the lady said they would do a tape transfer, but always make sure I was backing up my drive. I said I was, I was using Ghost. She said recovery from Ghost, should I ever need it, is nearly impossible to do. She suggested Roxio. My schoolteacher tech friend suggested an external drive.
This is all just a safety measure for if we lose things either when we purchase a new tower, or just from daily living.
I thought Ghost was going to do just fine in the event of that.........?

 

If you're looking to use ghost, this probably isn't exactly what you're looking for, but DriveHQ is a free (for basic) service that allows you to backup critical files remotely at an interval of your choosing, or in real time. The related software runs it the background, but you can use windows task schedualer to open it only at the moment of backup:

http://www.drivehq.com/

 

OK......depending what version of GHOST you are running the options differ. What version are you running? Does the user manual contain a scenerio dealing with restoring files from images?

There are several ways to backup and file coping and disk imaging are two of those methods. Disk images are mainly used in the event of hard drive failure where you replace the hard drive and lay an image down on to it to restore the machine to the last image (GHOST, TRUEIMAGE). File copies are used to copy your importand "variable" data somewhere so it can be retreived in case you delete it or a program messes up a file. While some imaging applications can restore files from an image....it is not usually the preferred way of restoring one file.

I believe one should have both kinds of tools in his bag. I use Acronis TrueImage for my imaging software and Second Copy for my file copy software. I occasionaly build TrueImage images on an external USB drive and do Second Copy copies of variable data daily to the external usb drive.

 

read this article, as for me i'm totally for true image.

 

OK, I have Symantec Pro (premier?) 2005, with Ghost in it.
I just want to know, if this stupid computer had a real Windows package in it, which backup would I have to use in event of system failure?
I think y'all confused me.
PS My DVD drive is not working, the door wont open.
My CD rom drive is.
I have a C drive which is 70 percent used up and an NTFS drive which is nearly empty. I didnt even realize I had that, so I loaded most stuff on my C drive.
I wont buy anymore computers at Comp USA or from Sony!

 

You need to answer the basic question.....what do you want to protect yourself from?

Disk hardware failure?
Corrupt software, operating system?
or both?
What do you want to spend?

To give a proper recommendation I need to understand all of the variables.

 

Let's just say, Disc failure.
That's all.
I have my Quickbooks floppies for program problems.
The rest of my life is on MSN.
Not worried about photos or anything like that.
Maybe $100 or less.

 

OK......the solution I recommend for around $100 is Acronis TrueImage 9.0 Home around $50,a new DVD drive <$50 and media . TrueImage can backup IMAGES of your hard drive as well as specific file backups.

 

it's possible to burn images without using any 3d party progs, just using true image, so you will need only TI and dvd burner.

 

I have been using DriveHQ WWWBackup for several months now. The software is great as well as the email support. Typically, you don't really need to backup your whole computer. All major PC manufacturers give you Recovery CDs, just pop it in and your computers are back to normal. However, if you don't have your data backed up, you could end up losing important data. WWWBackup is more secure than conventional backup as it is an offsite backup, which means even if the PC or office facility completely burned down, the data is still safe remotely and can be restored on any new computer.

 

Use the Vaio Recovery Wizard; which, did ship with your PC and comes pre-installed, to creat the 'Recovery' CD set.