What I currently do is
-Put in my external harddrive (I have seagate)
-Go to my documents, drag it to the ex hard drive
-Go to my music/pictures, do the same
1) What advantages does creating an image have over what I do?
2) I also don't seem to understand, when you create an image, is that
-Just an image of your desktop icons
-Or an image of all your files/folders/programs
Meaning if your PC got destroyed and you had to re-format, you could just put in the ex hard drive, click the image, and all the software files, icons, documents, pictures, and music would be on?
3) I don't plan to use the "paid" version, so it using one of those free versions worth learning as opposed to my status quo?
4) In Windows Vista, is there a way to get it so the PC automatically back ups daily/weekly or if not, can you get it to remind you (if so how)?
5) Last, what about system restore? What is that, I mean is that where your PC basically backs up on it's own C-drive, which is good unless the OS needs removed?
-How does system restore work and how is it best used or done?
Thanks!