How do you create a backup DVD of windows vista which is already on your computer?

I am getting a free express upgrade to windows vista home premium. Therefore I am not getting any backup DVDs of the software. I want to know if there is anyway I can make a backup of this OS.

get yourself a spare hard drive and use a disc cloning or imaging software to make a copy of your hard disk onto the spare,should you crash then you can swap the drives over and use the same process to copy it back to your original.ok you will lose your files etc since you got your pc but if you do regular backups on cdr or dvdr as you should do then you shouldnt really lose much at all.

Hi, try to use norton ghost for it I think it can be useful for you.

check it out http://norton.com

no, your screwed. Never get OS's put directly onto your HDD. Always go to the store, and buy the DVD's. You pay the same amount either way, MS is just trying to screw you.

I accidentally wiped XP from my HDD one time, I was F*cked. Luckily my friend was smart enough to have the CD's.