[CALUG] Backup solution

[Jason C. Miller]

Hey guys.  I just started a new job and have received my brand new (POS) 
laptop.  Anyway...they've given me the whole speal about how the 
filesystems have to be maintained perfectly and how the 9-gig restore 
partition can't be touched. 

Anyhoo, I'm dying to nuke this hard drive and make it my own.  Can 
anyone suggest a good (free/simple) way to image a hard drive that  has 
NTFS and 'Compaq Diagnostics' partitions on them so that I can restore 
the laptop to its pristine condition later? 

Thanks!

                                                               -jason