Acronis True Image (whatever the latest version is but I'm using True Image 2013) has always worked for me, never had a problem with it and I've been using it for more than ten years.
I can second True Image, but as Flops has already mentioned, it isn't free. However... which make HDD do you have (internal and external), as there are often free versions of True Image for most makes of drive. I'll find the link if you let me know the make .