Create image backup of fresh OS install?

[steffeeh]

So I'm about to flash my PC, backed up and ready. And suddenly I start thinking - should I perhaps once I'm done setting up my PC and it's fully operational again, do a full image backup?

That way the next time I do a reinstall I can just load up the image as a snapshot and be back with fresh and clean drivers and all and won't have to manually reinstall most softwares and such, and maybe just have to compensate with some Windows updates and additional files?

Or is there something that I've missed?

EDIT: To be clear, I'd do this image once all programs are installed again. and my manual backup has been added in etc.

[NotKalo]

Hello @steffeeh! 

I would like to let you know that this is indeed a great idea! 

I have been doing that with every computer device I have laid my hands on. 
If a customer needs reinstall and configuration I do the exact same thing and educate them on how to load the backup themselves! 

Please notice that this is in fact not error proof. In case you get a malware/virus/ransomeware you will have hard time restoring the mentioned backup. 

There are few other scenarios where you will not be able to work with the backup but if you get that far restoring the backup will be the last thing to worry about. 

Hope this helps! 

Regards, 
@NotKalo 

[keskparane]

I'm thinking it's so easy to download everything latest version at time of install. Then no patching the patched versions.

 

And that keeping an old image and restoring a backup could leave extraneous files on the system.

[MCManiac52]

35 minutes ago, steffeeh said:

So I'm about to flash my PC, backed up and ready. And suddenly I start thinking - should I perhaps once I'm done setting up my PC and it's fully operational again, do a full image backup?

That way the next time I do a reinstall I can just load up the image as a snapshot and be back with fresh and clean drivers and all and won't have to manually reinstall most softwares and such, and maybe just have to compensate with some Windows updates and additional files?

Or is there something that I've missed?

EDIT: To be clear, I'd do this image once all programs are installed again. and my manual backup has been added in etc.

Your best bet here would be using sysprep. There are great guides online on how to do this, but basically what you do is install the machine like normal but rather than complete the setup with cortana, you boot into windows, install any software you want, then sysprep the machine and create a custom install image that will install like normal but with all the software you've pre-installed. The best method is with a virtual machine as it can be easier to manager when creating the image.

The guide I followed is this: https://finalthought.org/2018/01/11/creating-customized-windows-10-version-1709-media-iso-wim-flash-drive/

[steffeeh]

My idea at the moment is to update Windows and all drivers, install all programs and move over my storage, customize it all back and fix the settings that I like. Then I'll run Macrium Reflect and image everything on my PC. Then I'll store the image-file on my NAS.

Essentially what happens every week for my system with my scheduled image backuping to my NAS, except I'll keep this file on elsewhere in the NAS and label it "Fresh Install" or something.

 

EDIT: How volatile is this with regards to hardware drivers and such? Obviously this idea won't work if I were to swap out the mobo, but what about excanging RAM, GPU, etc?

[homeap5]

You can swap mobo, cpu, gpu or ram.