How to backup my Windows 7 computer?

Backup Recommendation

Use the Windows 7 System Image Backup utility to create a system image and a backup of personal data optionally
Install Crashplan and let it automatically backup your personal data to an external drive

Why the creation of Windows System Backup and when?

Because this way you can restore your system for example when the harddisk of your computer has died. You will want to create a Windows System Backup before you (i) set up your system from scratch and (ii) from time to time to be able to restore your system quickly in case of hardware crashes.

Why Crashplan?

Crashplan is Data Backup solution (including cloud storage). See the distinction between backup types below. So, why?

Crashplan offers to do backups to local external disks for free.
Crashplan allows to additionally backup your data in their cloud storage.
Crashplan is offering a Family plan (2 - 10 computers) for about 150 $ a year.
Crashplan is supporting both Windows and Mac.

Here is an article which is reviewing Crashplan and alternative data backup solutions.

Why backup to external disk, why not just cloud storage?

One main reason: restoring a complete backup from the cloud might be very slow. Another reason: you can't trust cloud solutions 100% in terms of reliability etc.

Distinction between backup methods

System images(all contents in one big image file)
Cloning drives (duplicates all files, partition tables and MBR to another harddisk or loacation - simply a duplicate)
Data Backup (Crashplan etc.)
Data Storage (Dropbox etc.)

Backup Vendors and Backup Solutions

A list of backup and restore tools (also Mac ones) I came across in my search for a good backup and restore solution for my Windows 7 machine.

Resources, Articles etc.

A list of helpful articles and resources I came across in my search for a good backup and restore solution for my Windows 7 machine.