It's funny, I started in computers with a 486DX2 PC running Windows 3.11 for Workgroups. 
Back then software crashes were fairly common and the best and fastest recovery method was to sit there and format the C: drive, reload everything (in a very specific order) and move on. In those early days I could do that in about four or five hours.
Can't do that now. So I really need to learn how to make images or ghosts of my setups and keep a backup of that backup. 
Same here, home built computer with a 486 and Windows 3.11. Format then load, load, load for a day. Before that it was a Kaypro2 then a generic 286 running DOS. I loved DOS and was sorry to see it disappear, it was so fast and never crashed.
Seems like you have a handle on what needs to be done. I've been running Windows 11 since July 2021 without as so much as a hiccup or burp, it is 100% solid.
Image files are a lifesaver, I have only had to use them twice. My music server SSD crashed without warning and I was back up running an hour after a new Samsung SSD arrived from Amazon.
