Creating a Backup Partition

[Bozebo]

Hi, next week I am going to build a computer for a friend. What I want to do is have windows installed and get all the essential programs then copy that over to a backup partition so that, if the windows in use gets corrupted and/or slows down too much, documents can be backed up then the main partition can be wiped and replaced with the backup. I have seen that many shop-bought computers have a system like this that can be booted into.

So, are there any particular tools/utilities that I should use to achieve this? Or can a partition editor or something similar simply format the main partition and copy the backup one into the main one so it's all cleared out?

If it is relevant, the version of windows is Vista Home Premium 64 and the system specs are as follows:
q6700
p5ql pro
WD Caviar Black 500GB

Also, is it within the windows license to do this? I would be surprised if it isn't, but it is of course something I should consider.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Bozebo]

Great replies thanks, I'll check TrueImage out. Thanks for confirming my considerations of the windows license.

 

[Bozebo]

I am thinking of simply cloning now. Why is acronis an application? It doesn't make sense to me. I don't want the kind of thing that doesn't do a destructive restoration, plus acronis isn't free and cloning er... is.

The dvd thing is simply to verify the recovery and boot into the software (linux based probably) that handles the reformatting and recovery of the main partition.