Image right after Windows Install?

I've been thinking about backing up my Windows install (planning on using BartPE and DriveXML). Right now I am a bit flustered on when I should make these images.

I've been planning on Installing XP, updating it from Windows Update, doing a few windows tweaks (cutting down services, registry tweaks, etc.) and then making a base image that I could later install the latest drivers to whenever I reimaged.

Then I was planning on installing the latest drivers for my hardware and installing a few key programs (AntiVirus, antiSpyware ,firefox, coretemp, uGuru, orthos, superPi, WinAmp, pidgin). and then imaging up again.

At this point in my mind, I feel that I am going to be making images of my install after every program install!!!

My main questions are these:

Can I make a usable image right after I install windows(assuming that it will only be used on this one computer)?

What is a good imaging strategy so that I can be back running my computer as it is now after a critical problem?

Thanks,
gulp35

I have a clean XP install image saved. I basically did what you want to do. Installed XP, ran windows update, installed all my latest drivers then made the image.

Making an image after installing each program is a little overboard. I would just make one after you are done tweaking XP. Then start installing programs.

The main thing is to have a clean XP install. After a while you can do another image with all your programs and data. This second image you can apend every once in a while if your software lets you do that so you have a fairly recent image.

I use Trueimage 8 and it has served me well. I can restore an entire image or just a section of an image.

If you are using XP (erm, that's a yes...), have a look at unattended.msfn.org.

I used to have a DVD for installing XP, that included service and settings tweaks, tons of other bits, and then to top it all, it installed Office and pretty much every program I ever used, automatically. The only thing I actually had to do to install was Select the partition to install on. Oh, that and turn the power on, and insert the DVD!