How to create a mirror image on an external hard drive, reformat the hard drive, and reinstall the mirror image.

Basically I am tired of having to pay someone $300 to fix my computer every year because I get some terrible nasty virus that I can't get rid of on my own. I'm not very computer savy, so please dumb down all instructions!

So I bought 2 external hard drives.

One for extra storage and as backup, and one just for emergency backup. I got 2 in case one of the external hard drives die, I have a backup of it and my extra info.

I only own one computer, so when it goes I will have NO access to the internet. For this reason, I must have printed out directions on what to do when I get a virus so bad that I can't even get on the internet.

I am making the mirror image now while my computer is healthy. If you have advise for that it would be grand. I am putting the info onto a 1Terabyte seagate external hard drive. I am only asking it to hold about 75 gb of info (at least to start with). I'm going to keep it away from my computer as a pure backup. I am also going to make a mirror image onto a 500 gb seagate external hard drive, which I will use as extra storage and backup my computer more often. My computer is a Dimension E510 with 150 gb of hard drive. I can find mirror image programs, but if you can recommend one with procedures all the better.

I will also need to print directions on how to reformat my computer. I've found some of these online, but if you can suggest some really good ones that would be great. I have the disks Dell provided with my computer.

What I really need is directions on how to put the mirror image back onto my reformatted computer. I can't find this info anywhere. People say it is easy, but I don't have any idea how to do it. And obviously having access to only one computer I won't be able to ask when I need it.

I use excellent virus protection software, it just seems something gets through about once a year and I end up paying $300 to geek squad to come fix it. Using a couple of external hard drives and knowing how to use them when my computer junks out will certainly save me in the long run!

I use Microsoft Windows XP professional service pack 2 on a Dimension E510 with Intel Pentium(R) D 3.00ghz. My backup disc for windows is the home edition version of XP. (so the "mirror image" will have the professional version, while the computer will have on it the home edition after the reformatting). The external hard drives are Seagate.

Please provide printable easy to follow instructions on how to mirror image, reformat and place the mirror image back onto my internal hard drive!!!