Preparing for a crash...           
There are many different backup programs, media, and procedures. What's the best for my data? The most convenient? How much will it cost? Because of the tremendous value of your files, we've researched backup methods thoroughly and we'll describe some key conclusions below.

Readability- the backup should be completely readable,  no encryption, no compression, no multiarchive binary files, just plain windows files that you can click on and open.
Write Verification-After writing your data a good backup solution will verify the files. There's no better way to test the integrity of every file.
Versions- Many times you'll accidently save a file and decide you want to go back to the previous version. Some backup programs keep several versions of files which would normally be overwritten.
Real Time AND Scheduled Backups - Best to have both. Realtime does not protect from virus or user error. With a daily backup, you're protected from virus loss, but in other events such as hard drive failure, you may lose a days work.

RAID 1 (Redundant Array of Independent Drives)-This is a real-time second copy of your data. You have 2 hard drives that stay exact mirror images of each other via a special hardware controller. Advantage- This second copy of the hard drive is good protection from in particular, hard drive failure. Disadvantage- No protection from virus damage, accidental deletion, or voltage spikes.

Synchronization-A 'second copy' of specific files or folders usually created about once per day. You indicate what folders are important (usually My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, Desktop, Favorites, mailboxs and address books) and program keeps an up to date second copy on a second hard drive or flash drive. Editors Choice for Best General Backup Method. Step by Step Instructions

Archival-Copy files to a permanent media such as CD (700 MB) , DVD (4.2 GB), or Blue-ray Disc (50 GB). Hard drives are not permanent. Essential for photos, manuscripts, music libraries, or anything you'll want to keep for more than a year.

Disk Image-An exact image of your hard drive (include operating system) is made on a second hard drive. If your hard drives fails you can replace the hard drive with identical software as the backup in minutes. Advantages-the system is restored to exactly how it was before the meltdown. Disadvantage- time consuming, inefficient method to restore one or two missing files.

DirSync- **** Windows Explorer like interface for options, easy to use, difficult to tell how much time is remaining, CRC32 verification, Has revisioning, good scheduling options, email notification. Disadvantages, difficult to select subfolders.  No file transfer preview.$25
Super Flexible File Synchronizer- **** Very good progress reporting,  Many options in advanced mode sometimes overwhelming but also has excellent wizard mode, allows windows explorer-like individual folder selection, Binary Comparison, excellent scheduling options. Disadvantages – file transfer preview only shows filenames. $35
Bounceback Express- *** Shows progress, but no time estimate. Shows missing files in preview. Has copy verification. No single file or folder selection.  May be overly intrusive in reminding you to back up. No feedback as to what was copied except the total. Simple interface. Express Free with some hard drives. Pro $69
SyncbackSE-***** Easy to select indivual folders and files. Keeps versions, but in the same folder as originals. Good scheduling, results email, easy to use. Media recongnition feature. Excellent restore function. Different file comparison methods. $30
Second Copy 7- **** Easy individual file selection, easy scheduling. No Comparison information. Does versions but not an infinite number. No feedback as to how long something will take. $30
Vice Versa Pro- ****1/2 Excellent progress reporting – speed, time remaining, amount of data copied, Good interface, works on all systems, CRC verification, detailed yet easy to follow comparison of folders (shows entire path). Excellent Preview for file transfer. Has both real time and scheduled comparison. Does ‘versions’ of files. Can save preferences for files and filters. Disadvantages- cumbersome to pick and choose certain files, best when used to sync entire folder.$60

Roxio Media Creator Suite 7-The retail version includes write verification, an important feature. The free version that comes with a DVD burner or computer does not verify backup. Editors Choice for Archival Software.
Nero 7 Ultra Edition-Retail edition has write verification. Many extra features. Interface is a little less intuitive than Roxio.