How can I do a system image for backup?

From: catpurrson (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 02/13/04 

Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 15:41:06 -0800

I've heard that one can do a system image for backup, and then do the backup, so in case your system crashes, you can restore it the way it was. My computer crashed last November and I had no backups of anything, much less the whole system or registry. There was some kind of partition problem, so I had to re-install WXP. And then go through the long and tedious process of downloading everything again. So, how does one do an image of their system, and then do a backup? Thanks.