What is the best method to backup a hard drive. I have about 150 gig HD.  I want to weed out my unwanted programs and reformat my pc hd which runs xp and put the needed programs back again when finished.  My point is to start over again with just the apps I need. Any other suggestions are welcomed. Thanks

Types of Backup
   There are two basic types of backups that can be performed: backing up the disk image and backing up the files.
   What you don't want to do is make a backup of the disk image and then restore that entire image back to the reformated drive because that would put everything back on the drive that you want to get rid of.  It would just put the reformatted drive back to the way it was before you reformatted it.  If the program that backs up the drive image allows you to restore individual files, you could go that route.
   The other type of backup is a backup of files.  Our program, WinRescue (http://superwin.com/rescuemenu.htm) does that (you have to set it up to back up all of the files on the drive in Backup Properties).  WinRescue puts the files in a zip file which saves you space if space is an issue.
   If space is not an issue, you can just open Windows Explorer and copy all of the files to a destination drive (by selecting all and either dragging and dropping them to the destination while holding down on the Ctrl key or by right clicking, selecting Copy, then right clicking on the destination and selecting Paste).

Installation Disks and Files
   If at all possible, find the installation disks or files of the program that you want to keep.  For example when you purchase a program at the store, you receive an installation disk.  When you purchase a program online, you receive a file (this is the installation file).
   When you run that installation disk or file, it puts a lot of files in a folder on your computer and installs the program.  You will back up that folder because it probably also has data files in it but it is best to also have and know where the installation file is.
   Use the installation disk or file to install the wanted programs on the new drive and then add in the backed up data files.  This way all of the needed registry entries and drivers will be put where they should be.
   If you just restore from a backup without installing the program, the program may not work.

Destination
   Since you have about 150 gig to back up, you will need to back it up to another drive.  Any other way (to floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, or thumb drives) will be too much of a hassle and will not be reliable.  If you don't have a 150 gig HD, go out and buy one.  Either back everything up to the new drive or just start out with it being the drive that you reformat and don't reformat your old drives.
   Hook up the new drive, repartition and reformat it, then rehook it up so that it is in the C drive position (with it in this position you will have to use the Windows CD to start your computer).

Reformat and Restore
   Basically the process will be to repartition and reformat the drive (if you don't understand what I just said, don't do it, let the computer repair shop do it), install Windows, install your programs, and add in the data files.  If possible just restore back the data files from the backup and not the program files.  If not possible, you can restore the whole folder from the backup of that installed program to its new location.