(If any mod feels this should be moved let me know. I didn't think it belong in general hardware, nor general software, nor Windows):
 
  Over the past few years I have seen several questions about backups and backup software as well as hardware. I decided to take some time out to answer some of these questions. Please keep in mind that these are personal opinions and do not represent EVGA, Microsoft, and/or third party companies in any way. This info is mainly directly for users at home or very small home based businesses: 
 
1: Why should I make a backup?
Good question so the primary answer to this question depends on how important your data is. If you have nothing important on your PC that is stored such as music, word processing files, and so forth then you probably don’t need to worry too much about it. It also depends on how much you need your system to stay running smoothly. If you work at home and have a home owned business for example then it becomes even more important to make backups on recoverable media such as tape, hard drives, redundant RAID, DVD, or alternatively a network home based server. If you don’t want to spend hours installing software from scratch then a backup can make your life so much easier.
2: Doesn’t Microsoft offer backup in its operating system?
Yes all versions of Microsoft Windows 7 offers a software backup to recoverable media*.  If however you have a small at home business and wish to have a Group Policy control then you need Microsoft Professional or Microsoft Ultimate. You can compare Microsoft Windows 7 versions here:
(*or a home network server if you have Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare
More info here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/backup-and-restore
3: I thought Windows restore backed up all system and personal files:
Windows restore simply backs up your system files in case of problems. More info can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Restore
4: What backup should I use for my home based small business?
I personally recommend a PC small business consultant or a PC security consultant. Yes they are expensive but only you and the PC small business/security consultant can determine what type of backup you should have. I personally always recommend two backups. I recommend a RAID redundant solution for the PC itself in case of HD failure and daily backups to tape, HD, or preferably a small business network server that is protected by a firewall. One thing to keep in mind is that if you keep the small business server in your home there is always the possibility it could be stolen if someone breaks into your home. Keep one backup safe and secure. Encrypt your backup data if it contains sensitive data.
5: Are there really good backup software 3^rd party alternatives available:
There are quite a few companies that offer backup solutions. If you are a simple home user without a business then look around on the internet for ‘backup software’. This webpage contains a fairly comprehensive list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_backup_software
6: As a home user I’m confused about what backup software to buy:
There are numerous reviews of backup software on the internet. Read the reviews carefully and then decide what you think is best for you. If you have a particular question about a software backup solution contact the manufacturer of the backup software you are most interested in. Many of these companies also have forums available where you can obtain more info.
7: I use a laptop, what backup solutions can I use during travels from home:
If you have a backup home network server you need to set the server up so that you can make backups (incremental and/or full) to the server via the internet. Don’t give anyone access to the IP address of your home network server for any reason. I also recommend you encrypt the laptop files in case of laptop theft.
If you are a simple home user then you can try and backup files to an online backup service if you can afford one. External drives which can connect to your laptop might also work but if you use such devices for sensitive personal data encrypt the files/folders in case of theft. If you have a laptop and an external drive for backup and both are stolen then your data is gone. Keep that in mind
8: My motherboard failed and I have a new one installed. Can I still access my data?
As long as there was no damage to the hard drive you might still be able to access the data. I recommend a Windows repair installation to see if Windows can fix the startup state of the operating system if the new motherboard does not match the one you used previously. If you backed up your data then you can restore it if any data is found to be missing.

 
***EDIT: Always virus scan your PC for malware and viruses before making a backup***
 
***EDIT: It should be noted that RAID should never really be substituted for a backup solution. Especially if that PC is stolen***
 
 
 
 

In regards to #6, is there a reason that you do not mention that both Windows 7 and Vista operating systems come with backup software and image creation software?  You can purchase a third party solution, but for a home user (not small business), the OS included free software may be more than adequate.
In regards to #7, a good size USB flash drive could also be used for backup when traveling.

I didn't mention Vista because I wasn't too happy with backup quality. It failed quite a bit for me.

 
Thanks for the informative info there RJ!      

Good OP.
 
One thing you can add is something about SSD's and how/if it relates to them differently.  For example, if someone decides to back up their SSD to ghost onto another - if it's viable vs the hurdles one may face and provide choices.

What I like to do is have a spare hdd just for these cases.  Once a month I'll use Acronis and clone my hdd that I'm using onto the backup hdd.  This saves tons of time and saved me quite a few times.
 
Nice write up Rjohnson.

Blizzie, with BB you can simply navigate to your back up drive and grab anything that is there. It is just like a separate OS on another drive so is accessible. It will do automatic updates as often as every hour. The only downside I found was that if you do get some bad malware it will quickly copy over to the BB drive if you have it set for frequent backups.

Good guide RJ.
Just remember everyone - RAID, no matter the level, is not a backup!  Backups are Independant and Offline.
 
~Fus

I have added another comment to the post at the bottom concerning RAID.

Thanks for the excellent post rj.
 
Here I use an internal 2TB drive + Acronis to do auto backups weekly.  ~monthly I copy those to an external 2TB eSATA HD.  ~monthly email archive to DVD.
 
Ongoing projects (code, schematics, documentation) get backed up as each change is made to the flash drive on my keychain, emailed to my gmail account, and running copies to a multi-session CD.
 
Belt, suspenders, safety pins, and duct tape.   I should probably go to a daily schedule.
 
Z.