Best hack ever?

When you get a new computer...Clean off the crapware/trials, defrag the disk and then BACK IT UP. Make it bootable. Verify the image. Keep this separate from all your other backups.

Make backups...once a week: Scan your disk for malware, get rid of duplicate files, defrag and then MAKE THAT BACKUP to an external storage device (and MAKE IT BOOTABLE) or to the cloud (just NO sensitive info to the cloud)! [in that order]. Best? Make that image to two separate external devices.

Have an emergency boot disk. Always.

You can make yourself the Administrator, but then create a Guest Account and USE THIS ONE ONLY! That will keep your computer much safer than using an Administrator account to browse, etc. For additional good rules, ask the_Monk.

Before installing any software, be tough: Ask yourself will you be using it frequently or not? Do you really need it? Then, before installing it, MAKE A RESTORE POINT. 

Get a good antivirus...the best you can afford. 

Update your software, drivers and antiviral definitions.

I am ashamed to say that I don't know how to make a backup bootable... Any hints on how to do that?

Acronis and EaseUS have the option. 

As for MS native for W7, it doesn't but if you make an emergency boot disk, it should allow restoration from an external source...check this.

Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool 1.0.24.0 this allows you to create a copy of Windows 7 ISO file on a USB flash drive or DVD. All you need is a USB flash drive just insert it into a USB port and run Setup.exe from the root folder.

Or: 

To make bootable backup you need a software called as MagicISO Maker. Using which you can make a bootable backup. The magic ISO Maker is a CD/DVD-image-file editor, you can also burn CD as well as DVD it is also a CD/DVD-backup tool. You can also create extract, edit and burn iso files. To download this just click on the link below.
MagicISO Maker

Some backup software? I recommend Acronis. It's really worth it. You can also make the emergency boot disk with it as well as making the backup bootable.

Others?

• BackupAssist
• BootIt Next Generation
• Clonezilla
• CompuApps DriveBackup
• CopyCatX
• DCFLDD
• DD
• Drive Image
• Drive Snapshot
• DriveImage XML
• EaseUS Todo Backup / Disk Copy
• EASIS Drive Cloning
• EnCase
• Genie Backup Manager
• Ghost
• Macrium Reflect
• Microsoft Server 2008 backup Wbadmin
• Microsoft Virtual PC
• Nero BackItUp

Inexpensive zip ties are a big help in cleaning up messy wiring.

No.

" Cheat Engine makes use of some techniques also used in trojan rootkits to gain access to parts of the system, and because some executable files are too small (16KB or less), and therefore get flagged as suspicious."

Any proggy with references to ' trojan rootkit' probably should be avoided.

...like the plague.

I use Autohotkey to map some of my keys to whatever I want.

I use a pen/touch tablet by Wacom. A mouse is evil, my hand gets cramped. The pen/touch tablet is far more relaxed.

I use videolan to watch movies and series on my PC.