Backups

[pab1812]

I'm new to the PC game - XP (Home) was preinstalled on my machine, I have a boot floppy to recover the system after a crash but I don't have the CD which allows me to instal the backup utility - can anyone guide me to where I can download this, presumeably on the Microsoft site.
Failing that, can anyone suggest a good application for doing backups on XP.
Is it common practice to do a full backup of the hard disk using, say, 20 CDs or are there only certain files which require backup.?

Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks
Pete

 

[XPletive]

If you have the patience, space, and money to back up to
CDs, you can certainly do it that way.

I've heard that GoBack is a decent alternative to XP's System
Restore.

http://www.roxio.com/xpinfo/gbupgrade.jhtml