Whenever an individual asks me about the best way to backup their personal computer, I point them to the Macrium Reflect product. It has a free version, making it very easy to try out, and the free version is actually very full featured, probably enough for most people. Of course, they can always pay for a license, giving them support and some additional useful features, if they like it. I used it to backup my daughter's laptop before she went away for school several years ago. Now she is going away ......