I have recently lost a hard drive and hadn't recently backed up. Having learned my lesson, I have bought a new external hard drive and I would like to use a decent back up utility (preferably free). Any recommendations?

I'm still trying to figure out which Paragon package to try.
 
I use Acronis, and used it today, but sometimes I can't get the boot disc process to recognize my keyboard and I have to cycle through a boot to windows and then start over to get Acronis to launch from the CD. That leaves me wondering what I'll do if/when my system will not boot to windows and I can't get Acronis to see my keyboard.
 
I'm ready to try Paragon as a back up to my back up strategy.

Thanks Mike - I will also look up Paragon

I'm not sure what the "best" backup software is, but did get Acronis 2013. I've never had to use it after backingup (so far) and it works as advertised without issues. Not free though.

Thanks Mesh - next time would you mind going out and testing all the back up software available before posting. 

I use Paragon Backup and Recovery 11 Home. It's what ADK put on my PC and works great.

I have used Acronis for a number of years now and it has saved my butt a couple of times.  I have it on all of our computers here at home.  The recovery has worked just fine when a couple of our HDs crashed.

I've used Acronis, but felt it was a bit overmuch. I've used Retrospect, which is really easy to use and will backup remote computers (win,linux,mac) as well.
 
Since I've recently provisioned a USB drive for every computer in the house, I've changed them all over to the built-in backup in Windows 7. If you use the default backup settings, you can't go wrong. It will make an image file of the hard drive, and will backup changed files as well. The image gets updated incrementally, and changed user files get backed up as well. Simple and free.

thanks folks - you've really given me some food for thought

Acronis has saved my bacon many times. Very easy to use. Very helpful.