NOTE: This guide is intended for everyone. However, if you are not currently quite experienced at using your pc, I would suggest you thinking twice before following the suggestions presented below. As more experienced users know, it is mainly through trials and errors that you can learn about computers. Unfortunately, the risk in this case is that a mistake could cost you wiping your hard drive...therefore, if you are not more than keen to learn (and accept any consequences of any possible mistakes) it is probably better avoiding trying things out.

What does "taking an image of the Hard Disk" mean?

It means having the C partition (or any other partition you wish - what does it mean partitionin?) in one file only. This can be easily re-installed in case something goes seriously wrong (as when you get a virus, or with software that is not compatible and that does not let the computer reboot and so on). If you wish, you can save this file (called 'image') on one or more CDs or DVDs so that you can re-install it quite easily.

Why is it important to install software and applications on partitions other than C?

Because C already contains the operating system, probably with anti-virus, firewall and vital applications. If you also install other stuff (such as games, which take up a lot of space), the image becomes very big (several GBs). As a consequence, you will need several DVDs to save it (and hours for saving/restoring). Conversely, if the image is small you can save it on 1 CD (o 1 DVD), and update it frequently (and in a few minutes).

What software can I use to make these images of C?

Usually Norton Ghost by Symantec, or even True Image by Acronis. In the past Powerquest Drive Image was probably the best option. Now it has been renamed Norton Ghost 9.

Is it really that useful taking images of the Hard Disk ?

Just think that within a few minutes you can re-install the image that you have saved. Sometimes you can mess up your computer to the point that you cannot even reboot it, or Windows continues to show you the message 'error' (maybe because you have installed applications that are in conflict with one another). You all know that the more you install and uninstall applications from Windows the more problems you are likely to have. In all these cases, if you have an image stored somewhere, you can re-install everything you had in a fewminutes without having to reinstall the entire operating system and everything that goes with it.