I have to say that I agree with Keef here. In a corporate environment mix is quite right - in fact in one big Co. that I've worked with, if a user's PC goes titsup , a PFY turns up with a new preimaged one, plugs it into the network and after a minute or two off they go. The old one just goes in the shredder (after a quick once-over for usable spares). Sorta like the old dumb terminals.
A home PC is another matter. Theoretically mix is right - a wipe/reinstall and data restore from backup is the way to go. I've done it, it works and it takes days of farting around to get things back where you liked it. I use a lot of applications for because one will inevitably do THAT PARTICULAR THING particularly well. Reinstalling even just the ones you really need is incredibly tedious and time-wasting (where DID I put that product key? Is is still valid for the new version?).
Sensibly, I have separate physical drives for my System(C:) and my Data(D:) so I don't have to restore the data, just tell the system where to find it - that saves a lot of time.*
I have't done a system restore for ages though I periodically create images). so after reading Keef's post I though I'd try it. So make fresh Macrium Reflect (not the free one) Rescue DVD, make fresh System Image on external USB3 HDD and take a deep breath.
Rip out System/boot drive and replace with blank one (both WD Velociraptors though not identical - plenty of room though). Boot from Rescue CD which pops up and asks me what image to restore and where to restore it. Give it the answer and chuncha-chunka-chunka. Go to sleep for the night. Wake up and look at system.
Well blow me down! System boots normally, looks normal and behaves normally (tho I haven't tested every last little thing). Yep, I could have got rid of a lot of crap and squeezed a couple of % of speed out of the box but then my weekend would have been down the drain, I'd be missing a pleasant cafe lunch with my friends and I'd have an awful headache.
Things have their uses, different in different situations and although I'd never DEPEND on a system image, if you're lucky it can save you an awful lot of time and hassle - quod erat demonstrandum.
And don't forget to have proper, standard and verified BACKUPS on a rotating basis on and off site.
Mac
*I do this on all the OSes and machines I have - I actually have no idea why people don't do this as standard except in one-drive laptops.
:ouch: