BleepingComputer.com: Saving A Clean Install With Configurations As A Backup

I have done a cursory google search but am not sure exactly what I am looking for. I would like to install XP, get all updates, install all the programs I want (VLC, Firefox, etc) and get it to the point where everything I need is installed. Then I need to copy everything, Windows included, to a backup drive so that if/when I need to reformat I can just wipe and copy without hours of setup. Also it would be great if I could update it whenever I need to with new versions or programs I want the backup to have.

I know about some of the backup software available but I don't think any of them can restore everything to a reformatted drive like I am looking for. Any idea of anything that does something like this?

Thanks for any help.

Look no further than Acronis. It costs money. It's superb. Does everything you want plus few things you never thought about. I use it for exactly the scenario you described.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/produ...mage/index.html

There are a bunch of free imaging products, so check them out - Cobian, Digital Dolly, many more.
List of freeware replacements is in a sticky/pinned post in this forum section, so easy to find
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic3616.html

This post has been edited by tos226: 02 November 2007 - 10:26 PM

Thanks a lot! The Acronis software is perfect for what I need. The freeware list is awesome too since I'm a open source junkie. If only there was a open source version of Arconis... but beggars can't be choosers.

I personally haven't tried this, but the Seagate DiscWizard has a OEM version of Acronis True Image, this is a free download. It might be worth a try, I couldn't find out what the difference is between the OEM version and the retail version.

Wow It is almost the same thing... The only difference I can see is with the retail version there is a try it feature that lets you virtually install and test things and if you like it write the info to the drive... a nice feature but something I dont think I would use with other virtualization software out there.

Besides that and the OEM one having a partition editor, I don't see a difference. Awesome find dc3!