Standard "backup" programs only deal with files.  They check the dates and update the backup system with anything new.

The problem is that this doesn't work with certain Windows files, because certain system files are "in use" and won't allow themselves to be copied.  If you want to make a quick test, open your C Drive and try making a copy of "pagefile.sys".  Even if you instructed your expensive commercial backup program to back up the entire C Drive, it simply wouldn't be able to do it.

So, come that fateful day when your system finally melts down or gets bit by a serious piece of malware — and they all do at some point — that snazzy commercial backup program is basically worthless.

Enter the 'image file'.

An image file is one gigantic file of your entire C Drive.  The program doesn't recognize "files", as such, it just looks at the basic disc structure and backs it up sector by sector.

The result?  A perfect 'snapshot' of your entire system, right down to the last microbyte.  When your system melts down in the future and you hit that ugly black screen during boot-up, you'll pop in your True Image boot-up disc, load the last image file you made, hit the 'Start' button, then grab the scrub brush and head for the bathroom.  You've only got 5 minutes to pay for the heinous crime of hurting your poor, innocent computer, so I suggest you get busy.

If you're using Vista or Win7 and wondering about the Windows backup system, forget it.  You need a much more sophisticated program and one that runs from a boot-up disc.
 

Which Program?

Given the importance of the event, I've paid a lot of attention to the field over the years, and the program I have the most confidence in is Acronis True Image.  I'll tell you my horror stories with the other programs around the campfire some night.  True Image is the one.

Because I like the program so much and knew I'd be pushing it on this site, I've signed up as an affiliate with them, so if you would kindly use this link to purchase it, I'll make a buck or two.  I'm just barely hanging on these days so it would be appreciated.  The program's only $49, so it pays for itself — by far — the first time you use it.

And by all means register the program with them after you get it installed.  That'll give you free access to future upgrades and big discounts on later versions.

On the subject of later releases, while most programs tend to stay the same and their new versions are basically just a pretty repackaging of the interface, Acronis is constantly adding new goodies to the True Image suite.  They added a file-zapper in the latest version that deleted a folder that nothing else on the planet had been able to for a year, and that includes three sophisticated DOS delete programs using a DOS boot-up disc.  I mean, that sucker was permanent.

Until File Shredder blew its sorry ass out of the water.
 

Installation

Installation is the usual Next-Next-Next routine.  As soon as the system reboots, slap a blank disc in the burner and make a boot-up disc.
 

The Target Drive

You obviously can't store the image file on the C Drive, and you obviously need a drive with some space on it.  At a number of gigs per pop, these things add up quickly unless you keep the older files cleared out.  Make an 'Images' folder on the backup partition and keep all of the image files in it.
 

Testing

As painful as it's going to be, you're obligated to do this right now, just so you'll know everything works.  Better to find out something's amiss now, rather than when it's actually important.  You might want to glance over the 'Restore' part of the detailed instructions page first.

Mentally steel yourself and:

• Back up anything valuable on the C Drive, just in case something catches on fire
   
• Run True Image, make a backup file
   
• Make a new file on the computer, like a text file icon right in the middle of the Desktop, so you'll know you restored the older file after the reboot
   
• Put the boot-up disc in the drive, boot from the disc, do a 'Restore' and write the image file to the drive
   
• Yank the disc out of the drive, hold your breath and reboot

Upon bootup, that new file you created should be gone, ensuring the program correctly restored the saved image file.

And, interestingly, this is a slightly improved version of your system because it's written all of the sectors to the front of the disc, making things a tad faster, much like running a crude disc defragmenter.
 

Notes:

• I looked over the options but didn't see anything changeworthy.
   
• Don't bother with the "Add to existing backup archive" routine.  It'll just save you a few minutes of backup time and  we want this thing to be one solid package.
   
• The 'Comments' link over to the bottom-left when making a backup file is how to leave a description that can later be read when listing the image files during a 'Restore'.
   
• Whether you do a 'Backup' or 'Restore', use the routine on the upper-right.  Don't fool around with the stuff down below.
   
• I'm not sure if I'd trust the 'Try & Decide' feature.   It's supposedly keeping a record of any system changes so it can revert things back if something goes amiss — except that (1) what goes 'amiss' might be a complete system melt-down and non-reboot, or (2) some proggie might have been installed from a remote folder on a partition that's been changed and now it can't find its options file and etc, etc, etc.  Given that, admittedly, our bathrooms usually could use a quick cleaning, I think it's best to stick with the standard routine.
   
• If you want to access a file in the image file, just double-click on it and it'll open like a regular folder.  You can also mount the image file and it'll show up just like a regular drive in '(My) Computer'.
   
• I generally make an image file every few weeks, and I keep two or three back, just in case something got messed up and I didn't find out about it for a while.

If you're running Vista, read this.

If you're into installing Windows from scratch, read this.

Next up, you have a decision to make.