[peterm]

It's been very educational.

Not really I failed.

I used to keep my programs in a separate partition like you do untill one day I realised that it has no point as when you reinstall windows you have to reinstall most programs (not all programs but most)
I am more or less at the same point as you I have just reinstalled windows and I am installing all programs on the same partition. I am most likely to then make an image and keep it on an external or dvd.
If you like I can keep you informed as to what I am doing as I will be doing different methods to find out which seems to fit the best. I am looking at ways for people like yourself who rely on computers.
About 10 years ago I had a method of where I got the computer loaded and updated with all programs then made a copy onto another hard drive. I tested the drive to make sure all was ok. I then left the drive in the computer but not connected (so any power spikes would not knock the drive out). The day I had a major crash I just tok the cables off the crashed drive and put them on the clone and was back in business.
This method is not for everyone and that is why I am trying different methods to see what is good but also what is simple.
Cheers
Peterm