[LBo] How to make an image of a partition

[Frans Leerink]

Hello,

I have a new computer with Windows VISTA  installed on  the 320 MB Seagate 
Barracuda ST3320820AS ATA drive. In addition I have a 320 GB external USB 
HDDrive.                                                                   

I want to install openSUSE 10.2 on it and various other Linux distributions 
with one seperate /home partition so I have my data available on all 
distributions and NO Windows Vista.

For that purpose I want to free up the Seagate Barracuda and saveguard the 
Windows Vista :\C partion as well as the  :\D Support  Partion, that 
allows to restore the Vista system in its purchase condition, by making 
images of the 2 partions and store them on my external USB HDDrive.

My questions are:
1 What open software is available and recommendable

2 Is it possible to make those images without the empty space

3 What should I know to actually make those images

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

-- 

Regards,

	Frans Leerink