The backup solution that suits you will depend on several things:
What do you want to backup? Entire system or selected data files?
How secure a solution do you want? If it failed would there be high levels emotional and/or financial pain?
What hardware do you have available to backup to?
In my opinion the safest way to backup is to use software that will take a full image of a disk and save it to an external (or second internal) hard drive. This should save you in any circumastance e.g. Hardware failure, disastrous infection, human error etc. These soultuions are not generally freeware. Most popular are Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost. I've tried both and feel safer with Acronis. Both of these have a cost, but in my opinion it's worth it for peace of mind.
Need to think carefully about what level of protection YOU require.
PigDog
