Making system backups on Lenovo

Limited tech knowledge, have a new Lenovo T430s running Windows 7. Trying to set it up so if it ever gets a virus or the hard drive fails, I can restore it to new condition.

Two questions, all help appreciated.

I want to make one set of discs to restore to factory conditions in case I ever decide to sell it, and a second set once I've customized the software on the system to my needs.

1. In Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore, clicking "Create a system image," I select "One or more DVDs," and it automatically checks "SYSTEM_DRV (System)" as well as "Windows7_OS (System)" and I can't uncheck those two. I have the option of checking "Lenovo_Recovery (Q:)" as a third additional option, which would add another 12 GB to the backup. Do I need to backup Lenovo_Recovery (Q:) to use that set of discs to restore to factory if I want to?

2. On my girlfriend's old Lenovo, she tried to upgrade her hard drive and wanted to make system backup discs so she could install those on the new hard drive. She'd already made a backup a long time ago, and the system told her she couldn't make another backup set of discs. Is this going to happen to me too? Do I only get to make a single system image during the life of the system if I'm using a Lenovo, or is the number of images you can create unlimited?

I'd really appreciate some help from anyone who has done this before. Thank you!