I am sure there must be a clear and full guide somewhere from some IT guy, maybe on youtube, with clear instructions on how to do this the best way, for example in line with 8Ball's methode. I am interested as wel, but in no way an expert, so if someone has a link ...

problem is my way is not a do one time and you're done
Just a idea to make and maintain this plus a lot of other things not mentioned.
1. Copy anytime - This is a folder can be dropped into C:\ fresh partition it does so much I could not begin to say from Program Data to userdata and all in between untold settings for standalone apps so they work like you never just did a fresh OS. Every sort of file from every folder that has been examined from a fresh setup 1 change at a time ! ( in W7 days )
2. Standalone apps - 95% of all my apps are standalone and reside with everything else to setup windows on an external SSD
3. Streamlined drivers - Slipstream has been around for decades.
I don't add driver to the OS setup. I leave that stock media tool 23H2.
I extract 90% of drivers, obviously some you don't want to or can't like AMD or Nvidia
I point the folder to "add drivers" bang done 14 drivers/ device combos
Registry and imports:
4.I import a advanced firewall setup 35 changes
5.I import Winaero Tweaker 40 changes
6. I import explorer patcher 20 changes
7. I import a basic registry 30 changes that oversee 100 actual OS changes
8. I import Open Shell 20 changes
So 4. to 8. take a few clicks and change 100's of things !
Then I have more registry and edits to cmd and reg I have to copy and paste
Then when everything is absolutely installed I have.
COPY ONCE ALL APPS INSTALLED - Another folder that totally transforms my desktop icons and entire startmenu. There is absolutely nothing Windows left only calculator and OSD keyboard in my taskbar.
My point is unless you do dozens ( more like 100's ) of OS installs you will never tweak this kind of setup to the level I do.
This is coming from some who brought True Image and used it and recommended it.
NO MORE best way is fresh OS but make it as painless and as fast as possible.
A image does not allow you this sort of customization so any changes made to last image update is what you get so forget to update your image and your most recent AC folder in docs as a example will be old.
For each person all that means totally different thing to the next.
Even now I think of new things I can do different or add to make it even better.
I think for mine, most important thing is I have absolute faith I can delete the primary partitions and be back to my absolute 100% best state in 2 hours............ if I put my head down that includes full rig setup ready to run.