There's lots of backup and imaging utilities out there, but few are as easy to use as this one. Not only can you clone a complete drive, but restoring the mirror image of your data is a piece of cake.

Acronis True Image 8.0 generates a self-install executable-based backup that'll run from a Linux-based boot disk, either a floppy or a CD-R.

The program can copy data on to almost any PC storage device: local hard drives, PC Card, removable media drives, network drives, recordable CD/DVD, optical and Zip drives. This version doesn't work with imaging to tape drives, however; that's only supported by the server version.

For the ultimate in reassurance, you can both verify your backup image and save it in a secure zone, away from any possible operating system corruption. Saved images can be updated incrementally and even mounted as another drive letter if you need to get at a file. Backups can also be scheduled.