One of the problems I've found with data backup is that the default location for each programs data files are all over your hard disc. So its worthwhile creating a new directory (say c:/data) on your hard disc, and then organising your files from there. So I then have c:/data/word, c:/data/excel, c:/data/email folders, etc. It then takes a few minutes at the end of each day to copy these files to a CD RW, or whatever. I've got a small network at home, so I also keep a periodic backup on another machine, just by copying the c:/data directory.
And if you wonder why I bother taking backups so often, well you can probably guess .........
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