There are a number of utilities available that can be used to make a ‘master image’ of your ideal software installation, and restore that image to the same computer, or another identical computer.
The big catch here is the word ‘identical’. The computer on which the master image is created needs to have the same peripheral components – network, video, audio cards, etc – as the computer which is to be re-imaged.
Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 include the built-in System Image Backup utility for creating and restoring an image of a complete software installation – operating system, settings, desktop apps, and all your personal files (Although backing up personal files is not likely to be particularly relevant these days as all of these files are likely to be stored in the cloud at Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.)
- Learn how to create and restore an image of your Win 8.1 or Win 10 PC >>>
- For a more advanced solution (and step by step videos) check out Macrium Reflect (Free) >>>
- For other options, and older OSs, check out wazmac’s legacy imaging info >>>