#2 is the easiest. I'd use an external hard disk.
In fact, the next sequence is recommended:
1. Restore image.
2. Do all Windows updates (since you made that image).
3. Update your antivirus and all other programs you updated in the meantime to their latest (and safest) versions.
4. Install all programs you need and that aren't yet on that image.
5. Make a new image.
This, of course, is especially true after you the free update to Windows 10 this fall.
But I've yet to see a system slow down because of using a browser. All that does to your system is to write a few hundred MB's to your cache and a few hundred cookies to your profile. That really makes no difference in speed at all.
Kees
Hello!
I want to buy a desktop computer without OS and separately buy Windows 7 OS installation disk.
But I know that once you installed Windows, it works fast, but with time, especially if you browse the web, it really-really slows down (especially web browsers, but also other programs).
I want to make a setup, so every 2-3 months I re-install Windows completely, so it will always work fast.
I was thinking of the three ways of doing this:
1. Windows built-in backup-restore - does it really restore all programs (like web-browsers) to the original point, so all nasty add-ons will disappear?
2. Once I've installed Windows and all my programs I make a kind of image/clone of the whole disk (to a separate HDD or multiple DVDs) and then when I decide to re-install, I clone my main HDD from that copy.
3. Just format the hard drive and re-install Windows + all programs from the beginning.
What is the best and the easiest option?
P.S. I don't care about my personal files, I will save them separately. All I care is that Windows and all programs will run as fast as they do once the OS is just installed.

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