Best Way to Backup a Raid hard drive on Windows 7 Pro OS

This is my set-up
Lenovo W520 on factory installed Windows 7 Professional OS
Two 500 GB Internal Hard drive on Raid 1 (factory installed):
NO DVD burner
Have a 2TB External Hard drive partitioned into three -
#1--600GB; #2-- 600GB; #3--600+GB
I already created a "Factory recovery disk" from the thinkvantage tool and put it in partition #1
The next step is to create a backup of my system, application and data.
Thinkvantage tools offers 2 options:
1. Windows backup
2. Rescue & Recovery
Question 1:
With the set-up as listed above, what is the best & most effective way to backup a Raid 1 on Windows 7 Pro OS?
How do you do it? How often to backup? (I am just a beginner on RAID)
Question 2:
OR do you use other Back-up/ Imaging software??? (e.g. Acronis,paragon system backup,norton ghost , novabackup, nero backit up)

Hi, Herb,
   RAID is no substitute for backing up your hard drive. For example, if you get a virus it will destroy the data on both RAID drives. In fact, I don't think that RAID 1 has much value for most users. Odds are much higher that you will encounter a software (virus) issue than a sudden disk failure. However, if RAID makes you feel more secure, then by all means.
   I recommend getting Acronis True Image Home. It is cheap and it works. It will enable you to take a snapshot of your hard drive and recover with ease.
Acronis
   Last thing - I'm guessing your external drive is USB 3 or eSATA? If so, it has the speed you need to run complete backups. I do mine every evening, as I can't afford to lose a whole day's work.
                                                        Best, ZZ
P.S. I recommend rotating multiple external drives. I use three and keep one in my car. Yes, external drives can fail/ be stolen, etc.

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