On the subject of backing up Windows as a disc image, the best and most reliable I have found has been Macrium Reflect Free ( I have had problems with Acronis, and won't use it) -
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspxIf you write the recovery disc to an ISO file instead of a CD, you can transfer it to a bootable USB stick as many small laptops don't have a CD using Yumi -
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/I've also used Yumi to create a USB stick which will boot into Linux (I use Puppy Linux) which can get to files to copy them when Windows has terminally crashed or you want to delete Virus files when Windows won't let you. I'm not a Linux person (too complicated) but I could just about manage the Puppy version.
Brian