Backing up - Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\Data "folder"

jjstccean, don't forget the transaction log. I'm familiar with SQL, but I'm no expert, but the few times I've needed to restore from a backup, I have just used the data file and the transaction log, but that hasn't been with a server rebuild, only recovering older copies of the database after attempting things and breaking the existing one.

The first thing you would definitely want to do is make sure you're getting all the data files you need to be saving, after that, somebody else will point out if I missed something.

Under Enterprise Manager, right click on the database and go to properties. Look under the "Data Files" and "Transaction Log" tabs, and you will see all the files being used. As mentioned above, I've never had issues so long as I saved all the files listed under those tabs. I recommend looking here, because sometimes people don't drop their files in the default areas, and I'd hate for you to be backing up an old copy or something to that nature. This will at least make sure you've copying the right folders.

Do not backup SQL in a regular (NTBackup) way. MSSQL has its own facility to backup the databases to disk. These files should be included in the standard backup.

It is called maintenanceplan in SQL.

Resources in Books Online for MSSQL:
http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&q=books+online

You can also buy an addition to your backupsoftware which will fully backup the servers databases.