How do I backup a hard drive?

I need to backup my grandmother's backup hard drive because it's damaged. I guess she wants everything on it. It's between 200-300GB and 50-80% full. She wants to back it up to another hard drive. I think she should also backup her highly important files to DVD. Her method of backing up files/folders is to copy and paste. I know there is a better way. Ideally, I'd like to use free software. Any suggestions on software and how to do a proper backup?

 

I hard of many people who have frozen their hard drives and amaneged to get it running perfectly for about 30-45 minutes, which might be just enogh time to get an image snapshot of it.

COmbined with what stapp said above it could be worth trying out.

I don't have any direct expensive of it though, google it..

Oh and of course make sure that you freeze it in an airtight container to prevent it getting wet.