>are cheap compared to Jaz cartridges, and hold significantly more data than a Jaz cartridge (at least 8GB for under $20 on a DAT vs $80 for a Jaz cartridge holding 1 or 2GB). I do have a Jaz cartridge with Win98 and the Adaptec Image Backup software, so I can fully restore an image even if I'm left with an unbootable box - boot from the Jaz, FDISK the boot drive with an empty partition table, and restore my image from tape onto the frobbed box. Saves lots of time reinstalling the OS and apps if something happens to a drive from my own insanity, destructive infections, or hardware failure. I'd hate to have to reinstall Win2K, O2K, VS6, VS.Net and the collection of other toys I regularly have on hand because I lost the first few tracks on the system disk, so I back up the current image regularly, especially before adding something like SP5 or the .Net beta. I can work on another machine, or sleep, or even read or talk to real people while the backup is running.

Ed,

I use Driveimage to do this - I have a second partition with enough space to store a few images (which are compressed)
a 2Gb OS install compresses down to about 600mb - This method is pretty fast (I imagine faster than using Jazz?) but the advantage you have over me is you have a backup

I suppose if I wanted to do this properly I could have the images on a second Removable HDD.

The other thing I do is have all my Emails and Docs on the second partition so I know I can wipe out the 1st without loosing any of my stuff. Works pretty well for me.

Will