[plug] suggestions for fast and simple whole linux disk backup?

[Daniel]

Hello All,
just lost a hard disk and hoping for a simple method to backup a whole linux 
disk in future.  It doesn't need to be an image (as presumably bzip2 would be 
smaller.).

What about something like
tar -jcf /mnt/disktwo/oldhda.tar /dev/hda/*  
\\above is mbr, the j to say use bzip 2, c for create, f for file

tar -jcf /mnt/disktwo/oldhda1.tar /dev/hda1/*  \\ 1st partition
\\skip swap
tar -jcf /mnt/disktwo/oldhda3.tar         \\ 2nd partition

... am I way off track?
So when I want to restore to another hard disk I partition and format and 
copy the files across.  Hoping the priviledges will remain the same and if I 
use grub it won't mind if I have the kernel in a different location.  How 
does this sound or is there a better way?
(I thought partimage.org would need to be insalled on a system before I could 
restore any files - wonder if it would work from a boot floppy and restore 
files from a cd?)

[I would hope restoration is much the same]
Thanks,
Daniel.