What’s the best backup solution for a home computer?

We have two Windows XP SP2 computers. One has a 145 GB hard drive with about 52 GB used, and the other has a 111 GB hard drive with about 57 GB used. We need a complete backup solution that will allow us to recover 100% of a hard drive if there was a total failure, and also give us the ability to restore individual data files if necessary. What does everybody recommend?

Begin with an external USB drive that can be shared between the two computers. Purchase an "image" software such as Norton Ghost or Drive Image. It will allow you to make a compressed image of each of the computers on the USB drive for full recovery. These images should be updated about once a month, or anytime you make a major change to the system, such as adding new software.

Then do regular backups of the "documents and settings" directories from the two computers. These will hold your "My Documents" for all the users and other important settings. For most people, that will back up your data files (pictures, music, etc.) If you store data outside of the D&S directory, you will want to include that in the file backups. You should do this about once a week, or anytime you make major changes to your data. (You can always backup individuals files daily if needed).

In the event of a crash, you can return Windows and your programs from the monthly image, and then update with the last data backup.

The same can be done using a tape backup. They have the advance that they never run out of sapce – you just put in another tape and it continues to back things up. However they are slower then an external drive.